The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-01 00:00:00

EVENING, MAY 1, 1858.

COVENT GARDEN.
We were fairly supplied with both fruit and vegetables
to-day, and the trade generally ruled steady, as fellows :

Pine apples, per 1 b. 7s Od to 10811
Colonial do., ea. Os Od to Os 031
Grapes, per lb .....158 to 258
Foreign do Is Od to 5s Od
Melons, each Os Od to Os Od
Peaches, p. doz Os to Os Od
Nectarines, do. ...Os to Os Od,
Apples, p. h. sv. 3s Od to 6s Od
Pears, per doz ...6s to 10s Od
Oranges; per doz.. 6d to is 6d
Lemons, p. doz. is Od to 26 Od
Apricots,p. doz. OsOd to Os Od
Cherries, per lb. Os to Os Od

Filberts, per 10)1b 30s to 40s
Cobs., p. 100 lbs. 35s to 40,
Almonds, p. lb. Os Od to wd.
Walnuts, per 100 Os to Os Oil
Figs, per doz Os to Os Od
Strawberries, per

ounce .. ... 1.. Os 6d to is Od
Gooseberries, per
half sieve ....Os Od to Os Od
Currants, p. h. sv. Os Od to 0,
Plums, per do. Os Od to Os Od
GreAu gages , per h.sv.Os to Od
Raspberries, p.potl. Od to Od
TABLEt.

VE GE'
Greens,p. doz. bun. 3sod to la
Cabbages, do. Os Od to Os Od
Savoy do., p. do. Os 2d to Os .401
Cauliflowers, clods 6d to ls 0(1
Brocoli, p. doz . is 0,1 to 3s 0.1
Potatoes, per ton 603 to 190,,
New do., per lb. s 6d to 34
Peas, per puunet 3s to 4s Od
Turnips, per bunch 2d to 4.1
Carrots, per bunch 6d to 8d
Cucumbers, each cid to is 6d
Garlic, per lb , ...6d to Os 8.1
Sorrel, per sieve Od to Os
Spinach, p. d0...1s 6d to 3s
Brussels sprouts, per
half do 3s Od to 4s Od
Onions, p. bush Os 01 to 03 0(1
New do., per bunch Od to Od,
French beans, per
100............ ls Od to 2a Od
Leeks, per do 2d to 3d

Shallots, per lb. 6d to 84
lTorseraddish, p. b. Is6d to 49
Parsley, per do. ... 4d to 64
Celery, per do is 04 to Is 9d
Beet, per doz. is 04 to 2s 03
Parsnips, per do. Od to Os 04
Small salad, p. pun. 24 to 3d
!Washrooms, p.ptl.lsOdtols 6d
Artichokes, per doz Gs to 8s
Lettuces, per doz. is 64 2s Od
Endive, per scr. 2s 64 to 4s
Radishes, p.d.han. 4d to 0564
Tomatoes, per hsv. Os to Os Od
Walnuts per 100 ...0d to 04
Chillies, per 1001 s 6d to 2s Od
Capsicums, per 100 Os 04 to OF
Rhubarb, p. b. Os 6d to is 04
Asparagus, per bond 3s to 7s
Seakail, perpunds 3d to 2s 6d
Turnip greens, per

bush

NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.

Turkeys, 4s 03 to 8s 03 ' • Poults, Os 03 to Os Od; Geese,
6s t d to 8s Od each ; Goslings, Bs Od to 8s 03 ; Duck-
lings, 2s 01 to 4s 03 ; tame rabbits, is Od to is 641 each;
wild do., 10d to is 2d ; Pigeons, gd to 103 each ' • large
Surrey Fowls, 58 to 8s; barn-door do., 380 dto 5s 03; Chick-
ens, 4s 03 to 7s per couple; Capons, 3s 03 to 4803 ; Hares,
2s *d to 3s Gd ; Grouse, Os Od to Cs Od each • Pheasants,
Os 03 to Os ; Ptarmigan, is Od to Is 6d ; Woodcocks, 3s
03 to 4s 03; Snipes, Os 9d to Is 3d: Teal, 61 to is 03; Wild
Ducks, 2s 03 to 4s 03; Widgeons, Os 9,1 to is 6d; Plovers, 8d
to is Od each; Guinea Fowls, 2s Gd to 3s6d; Roasting pigs,s s
Od to 7s 03 each. Ostend fresh butter, —s to —s 03 ;
English do., is 2d to is 43 per lb. ; English eggs, 6s
Od to 7s 00; French do., 5s 6d to 6s 03 per 120; Leverets,
2s 03 to 3s Gd each.

ROYAL OEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

A very crowded moetieg of this society was held
on Monday evening at Burlington-house, Sir Rode-
rick I. Murchison, president, ie the chair. Among
those present were Prince Nicolas of Nassau, the
Earls of Ducie and Sheffield, Generals Jochmus,
Portlock, and Mont-ith, Admiral Scott, the Dean
of Westminster, and numerous literary and
scientific persons. After the election of a number of
candidates the paper read was, "On the importance
of opening the navigation of Yang-tse-keang, and
the changes that have lately taken place in the bed
of the Yellow River, .tc. By W. Lockhart, Esq ,
F.R.G.S." The Yang-tse-keang, called by the
Chinese "the girdle of China," traverses a rich
and fertile country through the whole t f the centre
of the empire, and is the main channel of commu-
nication between numerous important cities and
districts, having on its banks a population
of nearly one hundred millions of inhabi-
tants. It enters China on the borders of Sze-
chuen, passes through the north-west part of this
province, and then into that of Yun-nan. On leav-
ing the province to the north-east, and receiving a
large stream, the river takes a south-easterly course,
is joined by fresh streams, and atter a junction
with another river loses its name and takes that of
Ta-Keang, or " Great River." After tracing its
course and mentioning its numerous affluente to
Han-Khoo, at the confluence of the river, which is
the greatest depot of commerce in the interior, and
where, among ce her merchandise, a brisk trade in
Manchester and Leeds goods'is carried on, the
author remarked on the gt eat importance of securing
access to this spot. Nankin, the capital of the
united provinces, and formerly the capital of the
empire, is situated 200 miles from the sea.
It was here that our fleet anchored in 1842,
when the last treaty was made. The Wa-
sting river, on which the important city
of Shanghai is placed, falls into the Yang-tse-keang
at the town of that name, and a vast foreign trads
has sprung up here during the last 15 years. The
foreign settlement is on the north side of the large
native city of Shanghai, which is a place of extensive
native trade. The author here insisted upon the
importance of throwing open this great river to fo-
reign enterprise. The paper then described the
important changes that have lately taken place in
the Yellow River, which rises in Tbibet, 35 deg.
north latitude, 34 deg. east longitude, passes
through many important cities, and is tortuous in
its course, but almost unnavigable. In Chinese
history it is shown that the present is not the an-
cient site of the mouth of the Yellow River, its
former outlet being in the neighbourhood of
Teen-Tsin. The bed of the river at its. mouth is
so much above the sea level as to prevent the
ingress of the tidal wave. In consequence of
the constant increase to the bed of the river, owing
to the perpetual transport of earthy matter from
the west to the lower regions, the emptying of its
waters has ever been a source of difficulty and in-
quietude to the Imperial Government, which, at an
enormous annual outlay, maintained an extensive
staff for the purpose of keeping the work on the
banks in repair. Financial embarrassments since
the outbreak of the present rebellion necessitated a
diminution in the staff employed, which has resulted
in tke stream breaking through its borders, directing
its course into other channels and causing great de-
vastation. The author next noticedthe course of the
Tai-ping rebellion through the centre ofChina. This
commenced in 1849 in the province of Kwang-Se,
and the rebels, having increased in numbers and in
strength, after taking various cities, unsuccessfully
attackedKwei-lin. They then proceeded to the north
and entered the province of Honan, and, after at-
tacking different cities on their route with varied
success, they besieged and took;Wie-c hang, and
wholly destroyed the family of Commissioner Yeh,
who, in consequence, ordered the execution of all
rebels taken during the contest. After mentioning
their last long and sanguinary struggle with the
Imperialists near Pekin, in which they lost some
35,000 men, and their recut n to Nankin, the author
observed that the Imperialists appear to be hem-
ming them in, and doubts whether they will con-
tinue long to hold that place. At the conclusion
of the paper a very spirited discussion ensued, in
which the chairman, Capt. Collinson, Mr. Craw-
turd, Consul Alcock, Capt. Vansittart, the Rer.
Mr. Mylne, Mr. Pliny Miles, Mr. Williams, Dr.
Truman, and the author took part, when, owing to
the lateness of the hour, the reading of the second
paper, by Mr. Wilson, on North-West Australia,
was deferred till the 10th of May, and the meeting
separated.

THE ROYAL INaTITIITION.—Yesterday evening an
interesting lecture was delivered at the Royal Institu-
tion before a crowded audience, by Professor Ramsay,
upon the " Development of the Geological Features of
the Province of Canada." The lecture was of an un-
usually interesting nature, and during its course Mr.
Ramsay gave a very lucid description of the gradually
receding of the Falls of Niagara, by the wearing away
of the rocks from the action of the water, The dis-
course was listened to with great attention, and the lec-
turer was warmly applauded at its conclusion.
rHE SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—The committee of
the Sacred Harmonic Society have entered into an ar-
rangement for a great vocal performance by the London
members of the Great Handel Festival Choir, in con-
junction with some of the members of the provincial
choral bodies, to take place at the Crystal Palace o❑
some afternoon early in Juiy next. It is intended to
augment the number of voices in the London division of
the choir. Tile oratorio will probably be "Israel in
Egypt."

VACANCIES, APPOINTMENTS, AND PROMOTIONS
THE CIVIL SERVICE.—General Post-office: Mr. Rowland
B. Evans, General Post-office, Dublin, has been pro-
moted from the first class in the Accountant's-office to
be one of the deputy-controllers in the sorting-office, vice
Mr. W. C. Thompson, appointed controller. The Dock-
yards : Mr. John W. Clarke has been appointed tem-
porary clerk in Sheerness dockyard ; Mr. Ernest B.
Curtler has been appointed a third class clerk in the
storekeeper's department. Customs: There will shortly
be vacancies for clerkships in the Examiner's, Comp-
troller-General's, and Long-room offices, owing to the ex-
tension or re-arrangement of these departments ; Mr. C.
Bro wne,' princi pal coast officer at Solve, has been appointed
principal coast officer at Milford. Inland Revenue
Department.—Excise Branch : Mr. George Simpson,
supervisor, Limerick, has been promoted to the rank of
surveying general examiner ; Mr. T. Reilly, supervisor,
Colchester, has been appointed to Limerick district ;
Mr. 9. R. Davis, examiner, has been promoted to be
supervisor of Colchester district ; Mr. J. K. Hart, ex-
aminer, has been promoted to be supervisor of Tralee
district ; Mr. Alex. Miller, supervisor of Caotpbelton
fifth district, has retired, after a servitude of twenty-two
years. East Indies : Mr. W. Grey has been appointed
to officiate as director-general of the Post-office of India
during the absence of Mr. Riddell ; Dr. J. P. Walker,
of the Bengal medical establishment, has been appointed
superintendent of the settlement at Port Blair, in the
Andaman Islands, with full judicial and executive autho-
rity throughout the islands ; Mr. A. Littledale has been
appointed civil and sessions judge of Shahabad.—Civil
Service Gazette.

Au entirely different feeling from that which has been
for some time exhibited appears to have suddenly come
upon all connected with the Mining Market, which has,
within the past few days, shown evident signs of
activity ; and as there is an abundance of money, and
the rate of discount is extremely low, there is every
prospect of the improvement continuing. The recent
fall in the price of copper has placed the copper market
in a far more eatisfaotory position, and the shares in
copper mines have, consequently, been more readily
saleable, although in most instances lower prices have
been accepted. Copper has now, doubtless, reached its
lowest point, and this opinion has probably caused many
capatalists to come in, and by so doing they can
scarcely fail to realise large profits for their invest-
ment. The price of shares in tin mines has not
been so much affected, but this is easily accounted
f .r. There has been no variation in the quota-
tion for tin, and looking at the supply and
demand, it seems certain that the only change
which is at all probable to take place would be in fa-
vour of the producer. .reLiny projected companies which
have long ramain,d in abeyance, owing to the apathetic
state f the market, are now being brought forward, and
one or two of the foremost having experienced little
difficulty in obtaining the required capital. Several pro-
spectuses have already been issued, and it is gratifying
to find that there is an evident desire to appoint direc-
tors practically connected with commerce, in preference
t gentlemen with aristocratic namee, and little else to
recommend them, and that from the encouragement
which the new Joint-Stock Acts give for securing pri-
vileges to all companies, which were previously granted
only in exceptional cases to those who were fortunate
enough to obtain a royal ciarter of the most f ,vourable
description, capitalists embark with considerably more
confidence then they have ever been enabled to. As re-
gards the mines themselves, there has been but little
change worthy of remark.—Mining Journal.
RELICS OF RACHEL. —At the sale of the effects of the
late Mdlle. Rachel, which fetched very low prices, al-
most all the linen, handkerchiefs, gloves, head-dresses,
&c., of the great tragedian were purchased by dealers in
second-hand articles. Among the porcelain, a breakfast
cup and saucer, which had belonged to Mille Clairon,
were cold for 150 f. ; a malachite box of good s'ze fetched
2 500 f. ; a watch in metal, curiously ohasei, made in
1574, and which belonged to the Empress Elizabeth
of Russia, was purchased by a member of the Rue-
sian Legation for 505 f. ; two silver cups presented
to the deceased by the young ladies of Moscow
sold for 1,200 f. ; a workbox presented to Mdlle.
Rachel while at Moscow by Prince Gortsehakoff,
whose palace she had accepted as a temporary residence,
sold for 2,775 f. Some of the articles of jewellery were
purchased by Baron de Rothschild, Baron Selliers, Lord
Hertford, the Princess Potocka, &c. An American
bought for about 20,000 f. A ring, in emerald and bra-
liantg, presented to Mdlle. Rachel by the Emperor
NiebolaQ, was sold for 1,620 f. ; a bracelet, with the por-
trait of Mdlla. Mars, by Mdme. de Mirbel, fetched
8001. ; a bracelet, given by the queen of F_Tql:,nade:
7,800 f. ; two brooches, given by the Emperor_N__elc2,. 1. a
6,100 f. and 3,7701. ; two diamond brooches!,
cos-
diamond necklace, 21,800 f. ; and a brooch given by the
Emperor Napoleon 111., 2,370 f. The theatrical
turners fetched prices varying from 50f. to 400 f, each,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took hiB st,at on Mao woolsack
at five o'clock,