The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-01 00:00:00

ITALIAN MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Floretco, August 25.
The undersigned, ambassador
extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of his Majesty the King of
Prussia, has the honour upon beialf of his Govern-
ment to inform Signor Visconti
trenosta, his Excel-
lency the Minister for Foreign Affairs of his Majesty
the King of Italy, that peace vks signed at Prague
between Prussia and Austria le day before yester-
day the 23d inst. The chief purport of the
Italian peace treaty is therein included in the iden-
tical expressions previously agreed on through the
medium of Count Barral with the Cabin et of
Florence. His Majesty the Emperor of Austria
agrees (article II.) . • . While Prussia has
so conscientiously and completely fulfilled the ob-
ligations entered into by the treaty of alliance,
she warmly congratulatei herself upon having
contributed to the completbn of this national work,
begun and terminated b
Ythe illustrious ruler who
guides the destinies of tithed Italy. The under-
signed has the satisfactiaa of serving as the organ
of his Government in the assurances of friend-
ship it expresses upon the present occa-
sion. But the mission of the undersigned is not
ended therewith. He 15 at the same time desired to
state the express wish of the Prussian Cabinet that
the alliance of the two States should not cease with
the phase of war, butinay be strengthened and per-
petuated in the period of peace upon which we now
enter. In this ePth of European calm the two
nations will increasetheir beneficial nearer relations,
and abundantly gather the fruits of the union of
their government. The Prussian Government
flatters itself that, in view of these great objects,
Italy will prize 115 less highly than Prussia the
future union her ally proposes.—Receive, Sze.,
USEDO3I."

THE ITALIAN MINOITER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE
KING'S OI,IIRGE D'AFFAIRES IN BERLIN.
Florence, Oct. 12.
His Excellen74- Count Usedom informed me on
the 25th Augso last that peace had been signed
between Austia and Prussia at Prague, and that
his Majesty tk Emperor of Austria accedes by a
special articleof the treaty While I
hastened to reply, in a note of the 27th of the same
month, to tie wishes his Majesty the King of
Prussia upoil that occasion expressed, in the name
of his Goversm„ti for the continuance of a friendly
alliance between the two countries, it was re-
served for trie to communicate the important re-
sult of tie peace treaty between Prussia and
Austria o soon as it was definitely concluded.
The treaty of peace between Italy and Austria
by whirl the union of Venetia to the kingdom of
Italy, 'without any other condition than the partition
of the 4bts, is confirmed, was signed at Vienna on
the 3d inst. . . You will therefore communicate
this fact officially to his Excellency the Prussian
Minister for Foreign Affairs, and thus comply with
the reserve the King's Government considered itself
obliged to make in its reply to the despatch of the
Prussian Ambassador. Italy has now gained her
national independence, and the period of peace
opeting before us will show how useful and
manifold are the bonds of sympathy and common
interests which are to continue between the
German and Italian nations. I beg you to embrace
this opportunity to renew to his excellency the Mi-
Lister for Foreign Affairs of King William the ex-
pression of our firm hope that the alliance happily
commenced between our two countries may become
still more intimate, and that the advantages of suc
eessful friendship may survive the conscientiously
fulfilled obligations which were entered into in view
of a great national object.
You are authorised to communicate the contents
of this despatch to the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
and, should he so desire, to leave with him a copy
of the same.—Receive, &c.,

VISCONTI VENOSTA.

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Dec. 31, Two o'clock.—Fluctuations in
the prices of different securities are unimportant,
owing to the market being principally occupied with
the reponse des primes (options), which operation
has just taken place as follows :—French Threes,
69f. 621 c. ; Italian Fives, 56f. 65c; Credit Alobilier,
500 f. ; Credit Foncier, 1,390 f. ; Lyons, 898 f. 75c. ;
and Northern, 1,196 f. 25c. Quotations of stock
were generally higher at the opening, but have now
retrograded to about the same as those of last
close, and in some cases are rather lower.
French Threes are worth 69f. 47ie., or
the same as on Saturday. Italian Fives
are at 56f. 50c.—a decline of 10c. Credit
➢lobilier 496 f. 25c.—or 2f. 50c. lower. Credit
Foncier gain 2f. 50c.—at 1,390 f. No change on
Comptoir d'Escompte, nor any material variation to
be noticed on railway shares.
Three o'clock. The market has closed as
follows :

4i per Cents 9B 10
Do. and month -
3 per Cents. 69 55
Do. end month 69 47i
Credit Alobilier
Do. end month
Credit Fonder —
Do. end month 1390 -
RAIL

Bank Shares 3565
Italian Loan 56 50
Do. end month 56 43
Mexican Loan —
Do. Bonds —
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred
MAYS.

For Account.
Orleans. BB6 25
Northern 1196 25
Lyons and Mediterranean B9B 75
Southern 5Bl 25
Westera
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
S aragosE a
Ditto to Barcelona
Boman.

- -
531 25

400 -
885 -
112 50
135 -

85 -

LITERARY NEWS.—Among Messrs. Hurst and
Blackett's Announcements for the New Year are the fol-
lowing Works :—" New America," by William Hepworth
Dixon, '2 vols. with Illustrations. "Two Marriages," by
the Author of "John Halifax," 2 vols. "A Trip to the
Tropics," by the Marquis of Lorne, 1 vol. with Illustra-
tions. "A Lady's Glimpse of the late War in Bohemia in
1866," by Miss Eden, 1 vol. with Illustrations. "Life in a
French Chateau," by Hubert E. H. Jerningham, Esq., I.
vol. with Illustrations. " Sybil's Second Love," by Miss
Kavanagh, 3 vols. "Nooks and Corners of Old Franca',
by the Rev. G. M. Musgrave, M.A., post Bvo., with Illus-
trations. " Our Peculiarities," by the Right Hon. Mary
Viscountess Combermere, 1 vol. " Wild Life among the
Pacific Islanders," by E. H. Lamont, Esq., 1 vol. with Il-
lustrations. "St. Alice," a Novel. Also New Works of
Fiction by the Hon. Mrs. Norton, Amelia B. Edwards,
Jean Ingelow, Mrs. Marsh, Sarah Tytler, Georgina M.
Craik, the Rev. J. M. Bellew, Walter Thornbury, &c.
THE AMERICAN YACIITSMEN.--His Royal High-
ness the Duke of Edinburgh, RN., attended by Lieutenant
Haig, honoured Lord Henry Lennox with his company at
dinner at the Admiralty on Friday last, the 28th inst. Sir
John Pakington and other distinguished guests were in-
vited on the occasion, among whom were Mr. MiVicar,
commodore of the New York Yacht Club, and Capt. Gor-
don Bennett, the owner of the successful yacht Henrietta,
who came up from the Isle of Wight to have the honour
of meeting his Royal highness on this occasion.

PORTUGUESE LI GIfIAIAOY—DoII
MIGUEL 11.

We transfer to our columns from those of the
Weekly Register of Saturday last the following re-
markable letter under the above title :

" Sir,--I have lust received for publication in
this country the enclosed declaration, written by
my esteemed friend, whose signature it bears, and
which the de jure Queen of Portugal, the widow of
the late King Dom Miguel 1., wishes should be
published in England, besides my own declara-
tions on the same subject. On my part, it is
scarcely necessary that I should reiterate what
I have so repeatedly maintained in your own
columns, and in other English papers—viz., that
Dom Miguel I. was, whilst living, the only lawful
King of Portugal, consequent on the death of his
father, John VI., and the recognition of the Bra-
zilian Independence by all Europe. In your paper
of the 16th January, 1864 (if I recollect right), you
inserted a demonstration, written by me, of that
ligitirnate right, which demonstration was pro-
nounced unanswerable, or uncontroverlible, by a
very high authority in the anti-Miguelite party; and
.I defy, even now, anybody to contradict it. I there
conclusively adduced the legal foundations of the
King's constitutional right, which, of course, ex-
cluded any other similar claim whilst the same
sovereign lived and did not abdicate. It is obvious
that such right passes on to Dom Miguel's eldest son
(and, in default of this, to the eldest daughter),
and, consequently, Prince Dom Miguel 11. lawfully
succeeds, in the right of his Royal father, to the
Portuguese Throne. This same declaration I had
occasion to proclaim at the time of the marriage of
that most virtuous and lamented Prince, Dorn
Pedro d'Alcantara, the eldest son of the excellent
Brazilian Princess, Donna Maria da Gloria (the
Quadruple-Alliance Queen imposed on Portugal).
When the negotiations were taking place at Berlin
for the above-named prince's union with that most
amiable and deeply-regretted Princess Stephanie,
it was given out in. Lisbon that the King, Dom
Miguel, had renounced his claims to the Throne'
in exchange for a pension. As soon as I was ap-
' prised of the absurd rumour I immediately sent to
Portugal my own printed protest, declaring that
the thing rumoured had no more importance or
effect, even if true—which I did not credit—than
obliging our Legitimists to append two capital I's
instead of one to the name of the Prince, and to
make us shout " Long Live Dorn Miguel II.," in-
stead of " Dorn Miguel I." The time has now
arrived for the Portuguese Royalists to double the
lon their banner. The change is, indeed, very
small, and I do think that the demise of the late
legitimate sovereign makes no difference in the feel-
ings and hopes of the true National Party, unless it
be the increasing of their hopes for the restoration
at some future time or other of ther legitimate
rights, influence, and position in their country.
I know that the party imposed on my country by
the Quadruple Alliance will laugh at such tenacious
hope, and that they will consider themselves as
secure in their mastery of Portugal as the Count-
Duke of Olivares and Philip IV. of Spain did in
1639 ; this, however, did not prevent the Duke of
Braganza being restored to his lawful rights some
time after. In our own days we have seen wonder-
ful upsettings enough in even the most powerful
States and Governments, not to be quite despairing
of still witnessing some turn in favour of the right-
fulsection, and the rightful sovereign of the country.
If Portugal got rid of Spanish usurpation at the end
of sixty years, may she not also free herself from
another intrusion, even within a like period, or
somewhat less, than that ?
Here is my friend's declaration :

Sir,—ln presence of the great misfortune which has just
afflicted the partisans of Legitimacy in Portugal by the loss
of their august chief, the King Dorn Miguel 1., it is im-
portant that public opinion in Europe should be fixed, and
regularly acquainted with the attitude, the hopes, and the
intentions of that eminently National Party in their actual
sew circumstances. This, lam going to state, not on my
own authority, but as duly empowered by the Queen
Adelaide Sophie, in her quality of mother and natural
guardian of Prince Dons Miguel, the son, successor, and
the heir of the rights of the deceased kint..: A very few
words will suffice to make this attitude, as well as such
hopes and intentions, understood. "Rd mono, Rd pogo"
(King dead, King raised) is our ancient Portuguese for-
mula for all circumstances similar to those in which we
find ourselves placed at this moment. One King being
dead, his Crown, his authority, his rights, immediately
pass on to the person of his natural successor, and the
national life is continued without interruption as regularly
as before.
According to those principle; the position of the great
Portuguese National Party remains precisely now what it
was before the sad event which occasions this declaration,
with the only difference that those who formerly shouted
"Long Live Dons Miguel I." will now shout for "Dom
Miguel .11." The great Portuguese national and truly
constitutional party has lost one man, and that is all.
Now, for what concerns the solidity of the incontestable
rights transmitted by the deceased monarch to his son,
they have ben o rly enough defined by the Courts of
Lisbon of 1 44 IV rose enactment was confirmed by the
letters patent of King John IV., of 12th September, 1642,
so as to render it unnecessary to speak of it again. And,
indeed, the de facto Government themselves have posi-
tively admitted thise rights when they proposed to King
Dons Miguel a renunciation of his claims in exchange for
the restitution of a portion of his own property, the whole
having been purely and simply confiscated, informally,
and in contradiction to the principles of justice held by
all Governments of the like origin. Such proposals were
peremptorily rejected, and most certainly would be so
again, should they be brought forward anew. In fine, as
to the conduct of the National Party upon those new cir-
cumstances, it will be as follows:—Remembering St. Paul's
doctrine, in his Epistle to the -Romans, the Portuguese
Legitimists will obey the constituted authorities until it
shall please Providence to change the state of things im-
posed by the Quadruple Alliance, founded on the right of
force. But their aspirations, their hopes, their fidelity,
their love, will constantly persevere for the king of their
heart, the only one they henceforward will recognise as
such. This one is but a child as yet, who shall, however,
be soon a man, and is already a handsome young prince,
as handsome in personal appearance as he is richly en-
dowed in intellectual qualities. [The Ed. of the W. R.
here interpolates a notification to the effect that, in addi-
tion to this son, we believe that the late ex-King leaves
issue by his marriage six daughters.] lie is now 13 years
and some weeks old, having been born September 19, 1853.
Ho finishes his education under the vigilant eyes of his
mother, and the direction of his tutor, Doctor Gomes
d'Abren, ono of the worthiest men in the National Party.
This gentleman, long before accepting his honourable
charge, had already won the high respect of his political
partisan; by sacrificing his professorship in the University
of Coimbra the moment an oath was demanded from him
of fidelity to a prince whom his conscience did not allow
hint to acknowledge as the legitimate sovereign..
I beg you kindly to publish this declaration .in your
valuable paper, and am, with great respect, your obedient
• servant, J. GAMA DE CASTRA.
Paris, Nov. 20.
This gentleman, one of great literary and scien-
tific acquirements, a very distinguished doctor of
the Portuguese University, has been always a most
staunch and consistent partisan of King Dom
Miguel and the Legitimate system in Portugal.
Resident in Paris now for many years, he has been
there the confidential agent and representative of
the deceased king—this honourable contidencebeing
continued to him by the widowed queen and the
royal family.
. _ _

_
A. R. SARAIVA.
21, Nottingham-street, Marylebone, W.,
London, Dec. 19.

Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., AND THE BOLTON CLERGY-
MAN.—A Short time ago the Rev. W. Chamberlain,
incumbent of St. John's, Bolton, delivered a speech at a
Conservative gathering in that town, in the course of which
the rev. gentleman made some remarks strongly reflecting
on the political character of the hon. member for Birming-
ham. Observing that there was a vast amount of " hum-
bug" in the world, the rev. speaker added, " but I never
did think that my fellow-countrymen could swallow all
the abominable trash that John Bright utters. I look upon
him as a most ignorant, unfortunate man." A Bolton gen-
tleman wrote to the hon. member, protesting, on behalf of
the people of Bolton,
against the abusive language used by
the rev. politician. In reply, Mr. Bright sends the follow-
ing note :—" Rochdale, Dec. 17, 1866. Dear Sir,—I must
write to you one line, to thank you for the newspaper and
for your kind note. 1 hope that the result of our labour
may show that we have been in the right, and that the
abuse of our opponents has been undeserved. I pity the
congregation which is doomed to receive its weekly supply
of spiritual instruction from the ignorant and vulgar minis-
ter whose speech has been recently reported in your papers.
He is a poor guide for this world, and I know not how any
one can trust him for the next.—l am, truly yours, Join;
BRIGHT." _

BROCCOLI.—Within the last few days upwards
of 2,000 crates of broccoli have beou sent from West Corn-
wall to London and the north.

(IJ fin rit Mar
7

HER MAJESTY, &c.

OSBORNE, Dec. 31.

The Queen and Princess Christian walked in
the grounds this morning, attended by the Dowager
Duchess of Athole.

Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, Princess
Beatrice, and Prince Ileury of Prussia went out
aho.

Prince Christian, attended by Major-General F.
H. Seymonr, visited the American yacht Henrietta
this morning, on board which he was received by
Mr. Bennett, the owner of the yacht. Ilis royal
highness afterwards rowed round the Fleetwing and
Vesta.

Commodore AP-Vicar of the New York Yacht
Club, had the honour of being presented to her
Majesty yesterday.

- -4> --

Iles MAJESTY'S NEW YEAR'S GIFTS.—In former
years these gifts have been distributed on New Year's-
day in the Riding School, in the presence of her Majesty
and the Royal family, by a mixed committee of the clergy
and laity of the parishes of Windsor and °lower, including
the district of the Holy Trinity Church. This year the
distribution took place under the Town-hall yesterday
morning, where the royal butchers distributed the meat.
This plan was found more convenient than if, as origi-
nally intended, the gifts had been given in the shops. The
meat was arranged on tables under the Town-hall used by
butchers and poulterers on market-days. Each ticket-
holder entered from the corn-market, and left, after receiv-
ing his or her portion, through the fish-market, so all con-
fusion was obviated. The coals were sent to the parties.
The arrangements at Windsor wore carefully and judici-
ously made by the Rev. E. L. Thompson, and by Church-
wardens Griffin and Frowd ; at Holy Trinity, by the Rev.
11. C. Hawtrey ; and at Glower, by the Rev. T. T. Carter.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.--Yester-
day the Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the
ladies and gentlemen of their suite, and accompanied by
the Duke of Edinburgh, left Sandringham House for Holk-
ham Hall, where they will pass the remainder of the week
with the Earl and Countess of Leicester. The royal party
travelled in carriages to the Wolferton station of the Lynn
and Hunstanton Railway, and proceeded thence to the
Heacham station. From Heachatu they travelled over the
West. Norfolk Junction Railway to Holkhatn. The train
in which their Royal Highnesses travelled was due at the
Hulkhaun station at 4.45 p.m., so that it was quite dusk
when the royal visitors arrived.

HER MAJESTY'S STAGIIO UNDS. —We are requested
to say that a special train for hunting-men and horses will
leave Paddington °SFriday, at 9.30, for Taplow station.
The Marquis apd Marchioness of Done;al have
been entertaining a select circle during the past
week at Hampstead Marshall, near Newbury.
The Earl and Countess of Derby will come t 3
next, from Knowsley, for the
town on Monday
season.

Countess of Wilton are entertain-
ingT
ah The Ea
selectr and
party at Egerton Lodge, Melton Mow-
bray.

The Earl Howe is, according to the latest ac-
counts
a received
from Gopsall Hall, considerably
better,
favourable change having taken place.

V Chelsea and her infant son are both
goinigscoonunftaevsoslltably.
The Baron
i3,13.de, First Secretary to the French
Embassy, accompanied by the baroness and family,
has left
h and Lady residence in Eaton-terrace for Paris.
Lord
George Paget have arrived in
is
town from visaing the Marquis and Marchioness
of Donegal ataampstead Marshall, near Newbury.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mrs. Dis-
raelilefCthGrwenor-gate yesterday for Hughenden
Manor.

Colonel te Hon. James and Mrs. Macdonald
have It Badminton from Hampstead Mar-
shall,
aneiavre(l l,;wbury.
The ri-tge of Lieut.-Col. Clive with Miss
Webb is x
o take place at St. Paul's, Knights-
bridge,rhe mfi ar t
on Vednesday, the 9th inst.

DEATH opLORD ADAM LOFTUS.—We have to
n sudden death, by apoplexy, of the
Rev.nno u
Lordce t 6
Adam Loftus, at the Rectory House,
a
Ardess, Kell, Ireland, ou the night of the 23th ult.
Ilis lords 4, who was greatly respected, and dies
deeply reatted, was brother of the late and uncle
Marquis of Ely.
t o t 1
Viscounte p re
and Viscountess Castlerosse and Lady
Alice Kerr wive arrived at Cannes for the winter.

The Ritt Hon. S. Walpole arrived in town on
Saturday fi Cambridge.

We ansorry :to announce the death, in child-
birth, of 34. Holman Hunt. She died at Florence, where
Mr. Hunt ltd taken a studio.

'WHO'S WHO," FOR 1867.

- - •

This °Val and very interesting publication is an
epitome Of the personal and public position of every
individual of any celebrity in the country. It «m-
-braces tlb Royal Family and its branches, the Royal
householi, the nobility—their rank, name, ages,
9—the Cabinet and chief officers of State,
the
ed
members of the Privy Council, the members of
the He of Commons, their ages and politics, &c.
It i
ftrms us, inter alia, that the oldest duke is
Hobe
the Dike of Northumberland, aged 88 ; the
younget, the Duke of Norfolk, aged 19. The
oldest garquis, the Marquis of Westmeath, aged
81 ; tlit youll6est, the Marquis of Ely, aged 17.
The oldest earl, the Earl of Onslow, aged 89 ; the
youngtst, the Earl of Waldegrave, aged 16. The
oldest viscount, Viscount Gough, aged 87 ; the
youngtat, Viscount Clifden, aged 3. The oldest
baron, Lord Brougham, aged 88 ; the youngest,
Lord llodney, aged 9. The oldest member of the
Privy icounoil is Lord Brougham, aged 88 ; the
youngt,st, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,
aged 25. The oldest member of the House of
Commons is Sir William Verner, Bart., member for
the cothty of Armagh, aged 84 ; the youngest, the
Earl q Carrington, member for Wycombe, aged 23.
The Oldest judge in England is the Right Hon.
Steplen Lushington, aged 84; the youngest, Sir
James P. Wilde, aged 59. The oldest judge in
Ireland, the Right Hon. Francis Blackburne, Lord
Chancellor, aged 84 ; the youngest, Justice Keogh,
aged t 9. The oldest Scotch lord of Session, the
Right "lon. Duncan M'Neill, Lord Justice-General,
aged 73 ; the youngest; David Mure, Lord Mure,
aged 55. The oldest archbishop, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, aged 72; the youngest, Archbishop of
York, aged 47. The oldest bishop, the Bishop of
Exeter, aged 89 ; the youngest, the Bishop of Glou-
cester and Bristol, aged 47. The oldest baronet,
Sir Stephen L. Hammick, aged 89 ; the youngest,
Sir Renry Hayes Lawrence, aged two years. The
oldest civil and military knight is Gen. Sir Arthur
B. Clifon, aged 94 ; youngest, Sir Charles T.
Bright, aged 34.
The 'louse of Peers at present consists of 1 prince,
2 royal dukes, 3 archbishops, 25 dukes, 31 marquises,
159 earls, 31 viscounts, 27 bishops, and 165 barons
—the total number of peers being 445. The Bishop
of Bath and Wells sits also as Baron Auckland. The
following clergymen have also seats in the House of
Lords as lay peers :—The Rev. A. E. Hobart, Earl
of Buckinghamshire; the Rev. Wm. Geo. Howard,
Earl of Carlisle; the Very Rev. William John Bro-
derick, Viscount Midleton; the Rev. William Nevil,
Earl of Abergavenny ; the Ven. Frederick Twisle-
ton-Wykeham-Fiennes, D.C.L., Lord Saye and
Sele; the Rev. Alfred Nathaniel 11. Curzon, Lord
Scarsdale. The heir-presumptive to the title of
Lord Arundell and Wardour is his brother, the Rev.
Everard Aloysius Gonzaga, a Jesuit priest. There
are 110 peers of Scotland and Ireland, who are not
peers of Parliament ; there are 220 members of the
Privy Council; and the archbishops, bishops,colonial
bishops, bishops of the Episcopal Church of Scotland,
and retired bishops number 98. There are 856 baro-
nets, 446 civil and military knights, 111. noblemen
and baronets who are Knights of the various Orders,
25 Knights of the Order of the Star of India, 726
•,
Knights Companions of the Order of the Bath, 3
field-marshals, 584 general officers in the army, 311
generals in her Majesty's Indian army, 329 admi-
• rats in the navy, 54 judges in the United Kingdonl
and Ireland, 180 Queen's counsel and sergeants-at-
law in England, and 87 in Ireland. There are 18*
deaths recorded of those whose names appeared 10
" Who's Who," and who died between Nov. 301
1865, and Dec. 1, 1866, with the dates of their
birth and death.

M‘.. RIAIt.KET

AND
CO:111AEROL iL IN TELL IGE

TWELVE O'CLOCK.

The 31st'i of December—the making-up day of
bankers—having passed, the Money Market is
already easier, and the supplies are excessive. From
present appearance it is quite reasonable that many
should incline very strongly to the opiLion that the
minimum of the Bank of England will soon be
placed at a lower figure.

There was an h....flux at the Bank of England
yesterday to the amount of £lO,OOO in bars, and
also 3,000 sovereigns from Australia.
The Douro has arrived at Southampton with
£46,000 in. specie, and the Heckla from New York
Nvith £23,000.

Messrs. Baring Brothers and Co. have received,
ou account of New Granada dividende,:a remittance
of £7,545 7s. Id. from the Custom-house of Santa
Marta.

Atlantic and Great Western Railway Debentures
have advanced 1, to 51 53, but the Consolidated
Mortgage Bonds have declined 11, to 39i 40k.

The London Bank of Mexico and South America
(Limited) have received the half-yearly 3 per cent.
dividend, and 3} per cent. Amortisation Fund, 3-1-
amounting to the sum of £13,493 Bs. 7d., for
account of the holders in this country of their cer-
tificates for the English Convention Debt of
➢lexico, 1861.

The General Credit and Finance Company of
London have just received the following from their
agents in La Guayra, Messrs. H. L. Boulton and
Co., relative to the Venezuela Loan of 1864 :—" On
the 30th ult. Government published a decree an-
nouncing the reduction of export duties to two-
thirds of the old rates. Another decree of the same
date states that 75 per cent. of the new duties will
be applied to the payment of the loan of 1864, and
the remaining 25 per cent. will be retained by Go-
vernment to pay off a domestic loan of $150,000.
This arrangement makes it equal to a reduction of just
50 per cent. on what the bondholders formerly re-
ceived. By this mail we send you two Caracas
newspapers, the Federalista and Porvenir, contain-
ing these decrees, and on this date we have received
a communication from Government, under date of
the sth inst., confirming the same. Acting upon
this communication we applied at the Custom-house
for the proceeds of the duties, and we are pleased to
inform you that at the last moment we received the
sum of $2,141.189, being 75 per cent. of the total
export duties at this Custom-house for the week
ending the Bth inst. We shall remit this amount by
next mail ; it is too late to do so by this."
The Northern Assam Tea Company, Limited,
announce the payment this day of the usual
guaranteed dividend, at the rate of 10 per cent, per
annum for the past half-year, on the A Shares.

Two o'CLoca.

There is a healthy but a quiet tone in the present
condition of business at the Stock Exchange. The
English Funds are firm, Consols being 90 3-16th
5-16th for money and the present account, and
90k j for the account in February. Foreign
Stocks for the moment are attracting little atten-
tion, but more firmness is manifested in the market
for Railway and other shares. One of the features
of the day is the absence of business in Crystal
Palace Shares, which are nominal at the price to
which they descended yesterday.
Foreign Stocks are a shade flatter. Turkish 5
per Cents, have declined to 31; 32 ; Spanish
Passive, to 211 21i ; and the Russian Loan Scrip,
to prem., while Greek Bonds have advanced
to 14:1 15 ; Italian 5 per Cents., 1861, are quoted
Business i❑ the Railway Share Market has been
moderately active, and a further advance has taken
place in values. Great Eastern have improved ;
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, ; Lancashire
and Yorkshire, North Western, and South Eastern,
each 1 ; Great Western, I; Middlesex, 1i; and
Metropolitan, 2.

The Foreign and Colonial lines have been in fair
demand. Dutch-Rhenish have improved to ''ol ;
Northern of France are marked 47/ ; South Aus-
trian awl Lombardo- Venetian, 15/ Grand Trunk
of Canada, 191 ; East Indian, 104/ j ; and Great
Indian Peninsula, 1034 1041.
Miscellaneous and Finance Shares are dull.
Crystal Palace Stock has receded to 30/ 31; Bud-
son's Bay Company, to 161 1 ; National Discount
Company have improved to 15 and Peninsular
Oriental Steam, to 641.
Bank Shares continue in limited demand.
Alliance, however, have risen to 191 ; Chartered
Mercantile of India, London, and China, to 33/ 4 ;
London and County are steady, at 644 ; and
Oriental Bank Corporation, at 42i 1.
There is very little basioess in American securities,
and the prices remain firm. United States 5-20
Bonds are 721 ; Erie Shares, 461 ; and Illinois,
80 1.

I ontevideau 6 per Cent.
Nloorish Imperial 5 per Cent
Sew Granada —
Do 3 per Cen —
Do. Deferred
Do Land Warrants (Hectares)
'eruvian 5 per Cent., 1865
Do Account _
Do 44 per Cent. (Uribarron)
Do 41 per Cent., 1862
Do Account
Portuguese 3 per Cent., 1853
Do 3 per Cont., 1856, '7, '9, 'GO, '62, '3,
Do. Account
Russian 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St —
Do 41 per Cent. 1850
Do 44 per Cent., 1860
Do 3 pet Cent. 1859
Do 5 per Cent. 1862
Do 5 per Cent. 1864 —
Do. Anglo-Dutch, 1866, all p•tid B6l
Do. do. £lO paid 1 pm
Sardinian 5 per Cent

Do. Account
Spanish 3 per Cent
Do Account
Do New Deferred
Do Account
Do Passive
Do Account
Spanish Cert. of Coup not funded
Do Account
S cvedish 4 per Cent.
Do. 44 per Cent. 1864
Do. Scrip, £6O paid
Curkish 6 per Cent. 1851
Do. Account
Do 6 per Cent. 1858
Do. Account
Do £lOO Bonds
Do 6 per Cont. 1862
Do Account
Do £lOO Bonds
Do 6 per Cent., 1863
Do 5 per Cent., 1865
Do. Account
Do. 4 per Cent. Guaranteed
Venezuela 3 per Cent.
Do Account
Do 6 per Cent., 1862
Do Account
PO. 6 per Cent, 1864
Ditto 11 per Cont.
Dividends on the above payable in London,
Austrisn,_ 5 p:Ar Cent., Ex. 10 Florins
13,41gian, 44 per cent., Ex. 25f.
Dutk:u ih por font -!':11C. 12 Gull_ -
Do. Do. 4 per Cent. Certificates .. .
French Rentes, 3 per Cent., Ex. 2M.
Itaiim. 3 per Cent. 1831, Ex. 25f.
Do. 5 per Cont'Account

Consols, Money ,
Dc. Account, Jan

TWO O'CLOCK.
901
901 ±

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.---This Day.

MANSION HOUSE.

William Clark, described as a baker, living at 29, Surrey-
street, Blackfriars-road, was charged with stealing seven
handkerchiefs, value 175., the property of Mr. Brown,
hosier, Cheapside.

Alfred Hughes said that about 11 o'clock this morning
he saw the prisoner coming out of a shop in Cheapside,
and perceived that he was endeavouring to conceal some
handkerchief under his coat. He followed him and gave
him in charge.

James Dunn Parsons, assistant to Mr. Brown, identified
the handkerchiefs as being the property of his employer,
and said they were in a basket in a lobby leading into the
shop. There were several other articles in the basket
also.

When the prisener was taked in charge he said that the
property had been given him by a little bcy, and that he
was out of employment and was looking for some work.
He was not known to the police.

The prisoner repeated this statement, but admitted that
ho was endeavouring to make away with the property.
Sentenced to 21 day's bard labour.

THAMES.

A REFRACTORY PAUPER.—SEDUCTION AND ITS CONSE-
QUENCES.--Margaret M'Taggert, a young Scotch, with an
infant in her arms, was brought before Mr. Partridge
charged with violently assaulting Mary Greary.
Both woman have been forlorn° time inmates of the
Stepney Union-house at Bromley, Middlesex. The com-
plainant was described by Mr. Parker, the master of the
house, as a well conducted person, the prisoner was the
reverse, and had violated all the rules and regulations of
the establishment, was continually quarrelling with the
inmates, and doing acts subversive of good order and dis-
cipline. Mr. Parker's statement was certified by one of
the nurses, who said the prisoner was a bad tempered
young woman and continually quarrelling with
the other females. She would not do her work
properly. It appeared from the evidence of Geary that the
prisoner had quarrelled with her about her cleansing, and
threatened her. Yesterday the prisoner struck her with a
pannikin, and threatened to split her with a pannikin. Mr
Partridge asked the master if the other inmates provoked,
the prisoner. Mr. Parker believed not. The prisoner was
a very ill-tempered morose woman, and quarrelled with any
ono on the most frivolous pretences. The other women
did taunt her occasionally, when she insulted them, with
being the mother of two bastards. The prisoner's history
was a singular one. She was the daughter of a respectable
and. nterprising Scotch farmer, settled in the Cape Colony,
and he sent her to Glasgow to assist her aunt,
and to finish her education in Scotland. On the voyage
she was seduced by the captain of the ship, a Scotchman,
and became pregnant. She was delivered of a chiid in
Glasgow, and her aunt sent her back to the Cape in the
same ship that brought her here. The intimacy with the
captain was renewed, and she became enciente a second
time, and gave birth to the child she was now carrying.
She found her way to this country again, settled for three
weeks in the dwelling of her seducer, who was a married
man. Quarrels took place between the captain's wife and
her rival, and the prisoner was turned out of the house and
found her way to the Union, where she had since re-
mained.

The prisoner, in defence, said the compiainant calledhor
Mimes.

Mr. Partridge said the prisoner had behaved in a very
refractory and violent manner, and sentenced her to one
month's imprisonment and hard labour for the assault on
Greaney.

MARKETS T his day.

HA Y.

- -
SMITHFIELD.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 4s; clover,
£1 Os to £5 15s Od; and straw, £1 16s to £2 4s per load.
Trade quiet.
CumßEltrAND.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 4s Od; clover,
£4 Os to £5 15s ; and straw, £1 183 to £2 5s per load.
Demand inactive.
WILITECHAPEL.—Meadow hay, £3 Os to £4 48; clover,
£4 Os to £5 13s Od ; and straw, £1 16s to £2 4s per load.
Trade heavy.

COLONIAL
The foreign and colonial produce. markets are closed for
the Christmas holidays, but business will be resumed to-
morrow the 2d inst.
TALLOW.—There has not been much business doing in
the tallow market during the past week, but prices have
been rather on the advance, 45s having in one or two
instances been paid to clear outstanding contracts for the
month. The demand from the trade has been small, as
is usual at this period of tho year. At St. Petersburg a
few hundred casks have changed hands for August de-
livery at 501 silver roubles; the Exchange was 311
15-l6ths. To-day the market is steady, with, perhaps,
rather more tallow offering ; 44s 9d is the price at which
contracts have been closed for the month ; 44s 9d is de-
manded for January to March; 45s 3d April to Juno ; and
45s 9d October to December. On the spot new Y. is
sold at 455. ; old at 445. 6d. South American town tal-
low fetches 43s 9d nett cash (for March only 455. 3d
for Y.C.

A CAB SET ON FlRE.—Yesterday morning a cab-
man, after setting down his fare at Kennington• road, dis-
covered the cushions and linings of the cab to be on fire,
and before it could bo extinguished the sides and roof of
the cab were burnt off.

---
THE BOROUGH OF ARMAGH.—The representation
of Armagh will be vacant in a few days on the appoint-
ment of Mr. Miller to be judge of the Court of Bankruptcy.
Mr. Vance will, we believe, be teturned without opposi-
tion.—Dublin Evening Mail.
THE SENSITIVE PLANT.—In a letter of Dr. Siger-
son's to the Atheneum, he states that the folioles of
the Sensitive Plant were touched by him with a non-con-
ductor, and exhibited no movement. The sensitive plant
is a common weed here, and is at present, as in his expe-
riments, in flower. I touched it with glass, sealing wax
iron, and the hand, and in all cases found the usual move-
ment, which also took place when the plant was gently
blown on with the breath. No such difference as, on any
electrical hypothesis, we should expect, existed between
the sensitiveness of the ends and middles of the
folioles. Another fact about the sensitive plant,
which the electrical theory does not explain, is
the closing of the loaves at night. Perhaps the
more hopeful question would be not " why do they shut P,
but " why do they open ?" And I may be permitted to
guess that the solar rays in the morning, or the solar dif-
fused light, throws the molecules of the folioles into some
now condition, the result of which is their opening, and
that such a molecular condition is destroyed by the vibra-
tion caused by touch. What this molecular condition is
perhaps we shall never know, or, if over, through micro-
scopic analysis. Dr. Sigerson's observation, that children
affect the sensitive plant more than adults, I confirmed by
comparing the effects of my own touch with that of a child
of seven years' old, who affected the plant more powerfully
than I could do.—W. E. HAMILTON.— Greyto wn, Nicaragua,
Nov. 15, 1866.

Mr. CHARLES DICKENS will give a public reading
of " Barbox Brothers, and " The Boy at Mugby," at Leeds,
in the course of a week or two.

The Examiner, we are interested to remark, on
announcing that its index for 1866 will bo given with the
number for the 12th of January, 1867, takes occasion to
add that after this week more rcom will be made for cur-
rent criticism on books, plays, music, and pictures, by a
change or two in the plan of its news columns.