The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-07 00:00:00

-------.
ing to this doctrine the Royal Commission will Devisnes were put up for sale, as he does not in-
tend to hunt again, at all events for the present.
have to be the slaves of the unions as much as
an of the poor victims they delude and denounce. No less than 7,8751. were paid for 13 pair of hounds.
y Baron de Herissem paid 1,550 f. for two, named
We hope that more moderation will be displayed
Fanblas and Pandour. An amateur paid 1,700 f.
before the proceedings actually commence, or for 12 beagles, and 12 puppies, not of very splendid
the Trades' Unions will rank still lower in breed, realized the sum of 2,860 francs.
public estimation, instead of cheating themselves. The Minister of the Emperor's Household and
Those who have demurred as to the necessity for the Fine Arts has drawn up an account of the gene-
_ ral position of the Haras (the establishment for
having this commission had better peruse the re
breeding and improving the culture of horses). It
port of this meeting, and we think that the tone
is about to be presented to the Chambers. This ac-
there met with will convince them of the propriety
count particularises the present number of horses in
of some restraining influence being used when such the 23 depots for stallions and their value. The
extreme opinions are held on matters that affect I horses which entered the establishments up to the
such great interests. end of December last were, in number, 1,074, valued
at 3,964,551 f., and the horses which left for sale,
123 in number, produced 495,1001. There remained
in the establishment, on the' 31st of December, 951
horses of the estimated total value of 3,469,451 f.
Shortly before I closed my letter it was snowing
heavily, and it had been snowing for more than an
hour previously. The French weather prophets
have been remarkably accurate in their predictions
up to the present time.

The 'proceedings of the North German Parlia-
ment do not appear to be exactly what Herr Ns-
MARCK desired. In the first place, the election of
the President is not what was anticipated, and we
question very much if Herr SIMSON prove so mode-
rate as some seem to expect. We never thought
that the Berlin Government would find things go
so very smoothly as they declared at first, and it
was not natural that they should care for the feel-
ings of the various States and provinces that bad
been greatly outraged by the harsh course of the
Prussians, and they were certain to wake out of
their dream before long, and to recognise that
German unity means Prussian exterminers. The
object of Herr BISMARCK'S present decision is to in-
duce the Southern States to join, and then to con-
vert the Prussian Sovereigninto a German Emperor.
This, we trust, that he will not succeed in doing; but
if he does, he cannot possibly prosper in the long
run by so doing. The best proof of the folly of
talking about this new order of things improving
the freedom of the German is that the most strin-
gent regulations are laid down, and we find it
said that the Government will not make any real
objection to the publication of reports of what
takes place in the North German Parliament so
long as the speakers keep within proper limits.
This is liberty after a fashion, and we wonder at
any one allowing themselves to be taken in by such
very transparent devices. " Prciper limits" is a
very significant term, and includes a wide or
narrow range of subjects as may suit the
convenience of the authorities.

STATE OF TRADE.

-4----

There is too much reason to fear that another
distinguished name must be added to the long list
of brave and good men who have fallen martyrs in
the cause of science and enterprise. .The name of
Dr. LIVINGSTONE is known and honoured through-
out the whole civilised world, and to him belongs
the glory of having greatly increased our know-
ledge, not only of the African interior, but of
the character and habits of its people. His
achievements are familiar to all of us, and
there seemed good reason to hope that
before his career was finished he would leave
permanent traces of his exertions even in that
barbarous and dangerous country. If the news
which Sir RODERICK MURCHISON transmits to us
should unhappily prove to be well founded, Eng-
land has lost a man of whom she may well be
proud, and the accounts bear, unfortunately, an
appearance of probability. We must hope even
yet that they may be exaggerated or mistaken, and
in this hope all Europe will share.

Railway and Other Companies.

RAILWAY PASSENGERS ASSURANCE.

MANCHESTEII2 March O.—Messrs. Ellison and
Hey wood,:cottonbrokers, of Liverpool, have issued
their circular for the present month, and in their re-
view of the trade during February estimate the im-
ports into the country at 239,364 bales; total ex-
ports light, being 64,287, against 91,687 for the
same month last year. They estimate the quantity
taken for home consumption at 38,793 bales per
week, and the actual consumption at 40,000 per
week, against 42,000 in the previous month, and
45,000 per week during the latter part of last year ;
the receipts at the American ports up to February
22 they give at 1,309,000, against 1,295,000 the
same date last year. Of the Manchester market
they give what appears to be a very reliable account.
With the exception of a temporary improvement
at the close of the first week, during which a com-
paratively good business was done at low prices, and
whereby producers were to some extent relieved of
stocks, the Manchester market has been exceedingly
dull and gloomy in tone during the month ; and,
notwithstanding the return of goods has been much
reduced by the further spread of the short-time
movement, the tendency of stocks has been to accu-
mulate. The uncertainty iu which the ultimate ex-
tent of the American crop is involved, and the dis-
couraging accounts and returns received from the
principal foreign markets, have deterred buyers
from operating to an extent sufficiently large to take
off the reduced production of manufacturers. All
departments of the trade, both home and foreign,
have been slack, buyers for the more distant mar-
kets being very cautious. Under these circumstances
it is not surprising that the position of producers
continues most unsatisfactory. It has improved a
little during the past week, owing to the rapid de-
cline in the price of cotton, but it is still very
unremunerative. Messrs. Ellison and Heywood's
comparative table of prices shows a decline of id.
per lb. in cop twist, id. in mule and water twist,
3d. to 9d. per piece in 411 b. to 51d. printers, 6d. to
9d. per piece in 71h. to 811 b. shirtings, and id. to
id. per yard in domestics.
BELFAST, sth.—Flax.—The supplies in the mar-
kets of Ulster during the past week were about equal
to those of the week preceding. Demand, except
for very fine qualities, has not been by any means
active. Prices have not undergone any change of
importance. Yarns.—The demand during the early
part of last week was decidedly dull ; towards the
close of the week improvement was apparent, which
was the result of the abandonment of the proposed
American Tariff. Not much improvement in home
demand. The business on English account was
considerable. Scotch orders more numerous. A
fair continental trade has been accomplished. Stocks
not large. Very little change in prices. Linens, brown,
power-looms.—Heavy linens, cloth suitable for
the foreign clothing trade, printing lawns, and
coarse sets of roughs are not in active demand.
Prices of cloth for foreign clothing trade are a shade
easier, others without change. Fine and medium
sets of roughs are in active demand, at full rates.
Cloth for dyeing and hollands continues in fair re-
quest, at steady prices. An improved demand ex-
ists for light linens. Handloom.--Light linens for
bleaching, heavy linens, diapers, and damasks con-
tinue in moderate demand. Prices of all, except
heavy linens, have a slightly downward tendency.
Linen handkerchiefs and the finer sets of cloth for
dyeing and hollands are in active request, at full
prices. Cambric handkerchiefs and printing lawns
are dull of sale. Bleached and finished linens.—A
fair home trade has been accomplished. Conti-
nental demand not active. No ranch doing on
American account. Stocks small, prices firm.
NOTTIIsrGHA3I, 6TH.--In hosiery the home trade is
good, but not particularly busy, as, owing to the pre-
valent idea that cotton will be lower, buyers are ex-
casively cautious. There is evrey prospect, how-
ever, of a thoroughly healthy Spring trade. In the
foreign department there is not much doing, as we
are now between the seasons when business is active.
Yarns keep their, price, and have not at any time
fallen in proportion to the reduction of cotton.
The workmen in the hosiery manufactures are
moderately well employed. During the wbek there
has been a marked improvement in the lace trade
generally, but principally in the export business.

Themeeting of this company was
held yesterday,half-yearly
the office, Cornhill ; Mr. J. Clay,
M.P., in the chair.
The report stated that there had been a con-
siderable falling off in the number of poli-
cies and; tickets issued, the causes of which were
attributed to the commercial depression of the
year 1866. The income of the company from pre-
miums increased from £84,543 in 1865 to £91,682
in 1865, or at the rate of 8.44 per cent. The total
income from all sources was £94,091. The total
number of general accident policies on the books
during the year was 33,957, and of railway accident
policies and tickets 471,262, making together
505,219 insurers during the year. The balance at
the credit of revenue account was £45,891, out of
which the directors proposed to pay interest on the
paid-up capital at the rate of 3 per cent. for the
half-year ending the 31st of December, making,
with 3 per cent. in September, 6 per cent. for the
year. In addition to this a bonus of 10s. per share was
declared, of which one moiety would be paid in cash
to the shareholders, and the other moiety applied in
augmentation of the share capital. The claims for
compensation during the year had been 24 for fatal
accidents, amounting to £14,600, and 2,584 for
personal injury, to £35,077—total, £49,677, being
54.18. per cent. of the income. The directors
bad made arrangements for issuing short term
policies for one or three months, to cover the risk of
accidents of all kinds during tLe journey to and
from Paris, and while residing there. They had
also prepared journey and excursion tickets cover-
ing the risk of accident by railway or steamboat
alone during the journey.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN the report was
adopted, and the retiring directors and auditors
were re-9lected.