The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-10 00:00:00

IRONMASTERS' QUARTE.LY MEETING,

BIRMINGHAM, APRIL 8.
The principal quarterly meetieg of the ironmaQi-
ters of Staffordshire, 'Worcestershire, and Shrop-
shire, was held in the Town Hall of this town this
afternoon. There was an average attendance, but
the amount of business transacted, although larger
than by some had been anticipated, was, as com-
p tred with the corresponding period of last year,
extremely limited. The recent shock given to the
credit of the district is still seriously felt, while the
American trade has not revived to the extent
which was expected. There were present several
well known agents for Liverpool and London
houses, chiefly engaged in the foreign trade, and
some few orders were given out at the rates fixed
in January, and confirmed at the preliminary meet-
ing at Wolverhampton in the course of last week.
From these there was no disposition to recede, and
the general impression was that, although trade was
undeniab' y dull, the probability was that the known
necessities of the foreign and home markets for ma-
' nufactured iron would iu the course of thespring lead
to an advance rather tliarr to a reduction of prices,
which now stand as follows :—Bars, 8/. per ton ;
hoops, 91. ; sheets and plates, 9/. 10s. There is no
doubt that in some instances contracts may be
entered into for deliveries at lower rates ; but it
was stated at Wolverhampton yesterday, as well as
in Birmingham to-day, that there is less undersell-
ing going forward at the present time by solvent
or existing firms than has been known for some
years past. The forced sales now in course of pro-
gress under bankruptcy arrangements. are chiefly of
pigs and inferior qualities of manufactured iron,
and will, it is thought, have little effect upon the
future prices of " best brands." It is somewhat
remarkable, however, that, notwithstanding the
numerous failures which have recently occurred in
South Staffordshire, pig iron keeps up its price, and
that bestfo r
thehot l
blastsas t
few weeks, quoted at 3/. 10s. pigs were to-day, as they have
been
par ton. Pig iron seems to have found its level,
and cannot-, it is said, be made lower, to a profit,
with ores at their present prices. Cacieed stone
is quoted at 17 s. per ton, the price vary iug with
the price of delivery. Stone of the district, of good
quality, at 16s. 6d. to 179. per ton.
The demand for coal, as might be expected in the
present circumstances of the iron districts, still con-
tinues only moderate, but prices notwithstanding
are well maintained. The colliers have generally re-
turned to work at the reduced scale of wages, but
sill many are out of employ in consequence of the
comparatively small demand for fuel required at
the works. The agitation for a strike appears to
have subsided, and the colliers seem inclined to
wait for better times before they insist upon a re-
turn to their old rates of remuneration.

From inquiries made to-day it was gratifying to
be informed that, although the iron and mining
districts are still suffering from the late commer-
cial disasters, confidence is gradually return-
ing, no further failures of anyimportance are anti-
cipated, and that trade is apparently assuming a
healthier condition. The quarterly meetings do
not, however, terminate until Saturday, and until
the concluding assemblage at Dudley on that day
it is impossible to speak with certainty with re-
spect to the general result of the customary quar•
terly settlements.
The attendance of Birmingham merchants and
factors in the Town-hall to-day was numerous.
Complaints were made of the general slackness of
business, but engagements upon the whole were
understood to be satisfactorily met.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the official
residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in Down-
ing-street. The Ministers present were the Earl of
Derby, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Salisbury,
the Earl of Ilardwicke, the Right Hon. B. Disraeli,
Mr. Secretary Walpole, the Earl if Maltneebury, Lnrd
Stanley, Gen. Peel, the Earl of Ellenborough, the Right
Hon. J. W. Henley, and Lord John Manners.
DEPARTURE of THE COURT FRO! WINDSOR.--Her
Majesty the Queen
junior members of the Royal family
and his Royal Highness. the Prince
Consort, with the
and suite, will take their departure from the Castle for
Buckingham Palace, on Monday next. Her Majesty
and the Prince Consort will return to the Castle at the
latter end of May or the beginning of June, to dispense
their hospitality to the numerous illustrious visitors who
are expected to arrive at the Castle on the let, 2,1, 3d,
and 4th days of June—the days of the Ascot races.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, attended by
Mr. Gibbs and other gentlemen of the Court, will leave
Windsor Castle t••-day, on a tour through Ireland.
DEPARTURE OF THE PRINCE OF SAXONT.----Southanlp-
ton, April 2.—Prince George of Saxony arrived here by
the 10 o'clock train this morning, in the Royal mail
steamship Tyne, Captain Sawyer, which sailed in the
afternoon for Lisbon, Madeira, and the Brazils. The
Prince was attended by Count' Vitzthum, the Saxon
Mini.ter ; Lieut.-Gen. Ri-ichardt, Capt Von Thielau,
Dr. Cairns, and Lieut.-Col. Ponsonby (equerry to the
Prince). H. M. steam tender Sprightly, Master Com-
mander Allen,which bad come round from Portsmouth
for the purpose, conveyed the Prince from the dock
wharf to the Tyne, which was lying in the river. The
Saxon Minister and Col. Ponsonby returned to London
after tke Prince's departure. Tne Tyne takes out the
newel mail', 127 passengers (includirife, besides the illus-
trious p,rsOnagos named above, the Hon. Win. Stuart),
11,1701. in specie, jewellery voice 17,900/., and a fell
cargo of merchandiee. This is the last of the Brazilian
mail steamers that still touch at Madeira and Tenerife
on the outward and homeward routes, the call of the
vessels at these islands being discontinued for the pur-
pose of accelerating the transit of the mails between
Ecgland and the Brazil .
The Countess de Montijo, mother of the Empress,
arrived in Paris yesterday, and alighted at the Hotel
d'Albe,
in the Cbatnps Elysees. A Madrid letter says
that she left very suddenly, and countermanded a ball
at her house, f r which cards were out.
The Couetei-s de Persieny, who has been indisposed
for some days past, is much better. The countess, we
believe, intends v siting one of the watering places on
the south coast before returning to France
The Lord Chancellor will receive the Judges, Queer's
Ceensel,.&ce, at his 1 irdehip's residence, In Eaton-square,
on Thursday next, the first day of Easter Term, at twelve
o'clock.