The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-08 00:00:00

THAMES.

COWARDLY ASSAULTS ON CILILDRRN.—James Hall, a
dissipated looking-man, about 40 years of age, and de-
scribed as a labourer, was brought before Mr. Yardley,
charged with violently assaulting two boys, named William
Rowland :and Thomas Sanderson, One of the boys had
been seriously injured, his head having been cut open,
and he lost a large quantity of blood. The other boy had
also received a serious blow on the head.

The prisoner was before Mr. Selfe yesterday afternoon,
and conducted himself in a most violent and outrageous
manner. lie cursed, raved, and swore, gave utterance to
the most blasphemous language, walked in a hurried
wanner up and down the Ale& .and repeatedly d—d the
magistrate and the people in, court, All efforts to quiet

Crew: James Lang, joiner;' John Herron, sea-
man ; John E. Morgan, seaman ; Henry Carroll,
seaman; William Loss, third engineer; tobert
Ritchie, fourth engineer; John Millan, firemen;
James Standwell (boy), assistant-steward; Alfred
Walshnoy), assistant-steward; and Thomas Lloyd,
chief cook.

The loss is attributed entirely to the state of the
weather, there having been a dense fog, with sleet
and snow, from within a few hours after the vessel
left Cape Race, on Saturday, the 19th, until she
struck at Marie Joseph, Gnysboro', at five o'clock
in the morning of Monday, the 21st. She had 38
passengers, with crew numbering 100, 300 tons of
cargo, and some specie.

FINANCIAL CONDITION OF BELGIUM:

The Belgian Minister of Finance has just laid
before the Chamber of Representatives tho balance-
sheet of the Public Treasury, made up to the Ist of
September last : _ _

‘` From this statement it appears that the budgets of the
years 1830 to 1357 left a total deficit of 10,265,406 f., which
was reduced by a surplus in the receipts of 1857 to
7,412,621 f. With respect to the year 1858 the total receipts
are set down at 155,807,715 f., while the expenditure is only
149,050,312 f., leaving a surplus of 6,757,403 f. The current
year, so far as it can be yet ascertained, will probably pre-
sent a deficit of 795,957 f. The actual situation of the Trea-
sury is, therefore, as follows :

Deficit at the end of 1857
Probable deficit of 1859

8,208,579 f. 3c.
Probable surplus of 1858 6,767,402f. 43c.

Total deficit at the end of 1859.. 1,451,176 f. 60c.
The annual interest on the funded debt is 15,556,605 f.; the
sinking fund 1,462,246 f., and annual expenses 34 6961. The
interest of loans contracted for the execution of public works
amounts to 10,341,165 f., with 1,710,196 f. for the sinking
fund, and annual expenses 50,504 f. The capital of both
these debts was originally 839,988,563 f., of which the sink-
ing fund has paid off 240,218,616 E, leaving the actual capi-
tal 509,739,917 f. still to be redeemed."

The Duke and Duchess of Manchester have passed
through town from Kimbolten Castle, Hunts, to join the
circle assembled at Tottenham Park visiting the Marquis
and Marchiones of Ailesbury.

The Marquis of Lansdowne is entertaining a select
circle at Bowood.

The Earl and Countess Granville are passing the
season at Brighton.

The Earl of Shelburne arrived in town last even-
ing from Bowood. _ . _

The Earl and Countess of Tankerville have left
town on a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of Ailes-
bury at Tottenham Park, Wilts. _ _ _

THE CANADIAN MAILS.—The Montreal Ocean
Steam-ship Company's screw-steamer North American
sailed from the Mersey, at ten o'clock yesterday morning,
for Portland (Maine), U.S., with the Canadian and United
States mails, from 20 to 30 passengers, and a full cargo.
TIIE WESTMINSTER BELL.—" Mears v. Deni-
son."—This cause was entered for trial for the sittings after
Michaelmas Term in London, and would have been tried by
Lord Chief Justice Cockburn and a special jury. Mr.
Denison had pleaded a justification to the libel with which
he was charged. The cause was yesterday. withdrawn, Mr.
Denison having abandoned his defence. The plaintiff will
therefore take a judgment by default. The enly matter re-
maining to be determined is the amount of damages, which,
in the usual course, will have to be assessed in the Sheriffs'
Court.
THE BALLOT.—Yesterday evening a public
meeting of the members and friends of the Society for Pro-
moting the adoption of Vote by Ballot was held at the
Whittington Club, Arundel-street, Strand. The Hon. F.
H. F. Berkeley, M.P., was to have presided, but was pre-
vented by indisposition. In the absence of the hon. gen-
tleman the chair was occupied by Mr. J. F. Bontems.
Amongst the gentlemen on the platform were General
Thompson, M.P., Mr. G. Thompson, Mr. Whitehurst, Mr.
Sydonham, Mr. Nodes, Colonel T. Wilson, Mr. Elt, &c.
An address put forth by the society stated that there are in
the present House of Commons more members pledged to
vote for the ballot than in any former Parliament. The
address went on to state that—" If the metropolitan con-
stituencies do not need the ballot so much as others, yet
they are not strangers to the evils against which we seek
the protection of the ballot ; and they are equally interested
in procuring the benefits we expect from Parliaments which
shall be the free and genuine choice of the people. The
ballot, we are convinced, lies at the root of the political,
financial, and administrative reforms sought by all classes
of reformers ; and we now appeal to the enlightened under-
standings of the inhabitants of the metropolis, and to the
power they always exercise over public opinion, to aid us in
our exertions to secure for every elector the same power of
voting freely and indifferently as is possessed by our fellow
countrymen in the Australian colonies." Several speeches
were delivered in support of the objects of the society, and
the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.
SAN JUAN ISLAND.—WASIIINGTON, NOV. 25.
The Secretary of War to-day received the following des-
patch from Lieut.-Gen. Scott, dated Straits of Fuca, and
sent by way of Leavenworth .—" Two days ago I despatched
from Fort Townsend a communication to Governor Doug -
lass, proposing a temporary adjtistment of the existing diftl-
culties on the basis suggested by the President in his sug-
gestions to me. There has been no answer yet, but there is
no doubt the proposition will be accepted. Everything is
tranquil in then o ielands."—New York Paper.
OPENING OP THE THE VICTORIA-BRIDGE, CANADA.—
All Canada was rejoicing on Thursday, the 24th of Novem-
ber last, as the great Victoria Tubular-bridge, the most
stupendous work of the kind in the world, and the connect-
ing link between two important sections of the Grand Trunk
Railway, was being opened on that day. The first train
consisted of an engine and single car, containing about 50
persons. The time occupied in passing was about 12 mi-
nutes and a-half. Among the gentlemen in the car were
the Hen. Mr. Cartier, Premier; Mr. A. M. Ross, chief
engineer of the bridge; Mr. Blackwall, managing director,
and several directors of the Grand Trunk road. Two of
the tubes are not quite finished, but the bridge is expected
to be fully completed and open to traffic about the 15th
inst. This will be exceedingly opportune for the trade of
Canada, which is expected toerlve alenewed impulse, as
the water navigation has ceased. The `:traffic over the line is
rapidly increasing. The receipts for the week preceding
the opening to Detroit, which took place on the 21st ult.,
amounted to 60,560 dole., being 10,000 above the receipts
of the corresponding period of last ye,b4 The prospecte. crf
througll Western freight are very good. •

A draught of 360 infantry and artillery has left
the Indian army depot at Warley, Essex, for ent-
barkation to Madras.

The military authorities of Woolwich have been
occupied for some days in arranging a classification
of the troops according to the new regulations
issued by the Commander-in-Chief for the Army.
A similar code has been issued throughout the
Royal Marines by order of the Admiralty. The
classification, which has involved a considerable
amount of labour, was yesterday completed. and
the regulations were publicly read on the marine
parade at a general muster of the troops. Each
individual has been accordingly registered in the
class to which his known conduct entitles him. All
those whose characters are registered 'as " bad"
during the pest two years now compose the class of
delinquents, or second class, and on future convic-
tion by court-martial of any grave offence they will
be subject to corporal punishment as heretofore.

Col. Tulloch, Superintendent of the Royal Carriage
.
Department of Woolwich Arsenal, has been soli-
cited by the Secretary of State for War to undertake
the provisional appointment of Inspector of Artil-
lery, for the purpose of proving and examining the
Armstrong and other guns intended for distribution
for the two services. The gallant Colonel, whose
duties in the carriage department have latterly
much increased, having accepted the appointment,
pending some ulterior arrangements, yesterday
attended a committee assembled in the military store
department of the arsenal for the purpose of ascer-
taining and adopting the safest and most desirable
method of packing and transporting the equipments
about to be transmitted overland to China. The
committee consisted of Col. Bingham, Adjutant-
General of Artillery ; Col. Tulloch, Superintendent
of the Royal Carriage Department and Inspector
of Artillery ; Col. St. George, R.A., C. 8., President
of the Ordnance Select Committee ; Capt. Boxer,
Superintendent of the Royal Laboratories • Sir
William Armstrong, C. 8., Superintendent of the
Royal Gun Factories; and Capt. Gordon, Principal
Military Storekeeper. The battery intended to be
forwarded by the Overland route is in perfect readi-
ness, according to stipulation, and, with the excep-
tion of the guns, will be to-day consigned- to the
Storekeeper's Department to be packed for depar-
tire. The guns arrived yesterday from Elswick,
and will be proved this morning at the proof-butt
in the Plumstead marsh. The Duke of Cambridge
has expressed his intention to inspect the equipment,
and will visit Woolwich for that purpose during
the ensuing week.

•
2111 S 11.4 I'S MA RKETS.

CORN EXCHANGE.

IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. cheat, 44s 8d ;
barley, 36s 5d ; oats, 21s 9d ; rye, 39s ; beans, 41s
9d ; and peas, 39s 3d.
THE Six WEEKS' AVERAGES. Wheat, 43s 5d ;
barley, 35s Ild ; oats, 21s 9d ; rye, 29s 8d ; beans, 40s 4d ;
peas, 33s 9d.
ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEER.—Wheat, 129,620;
barley, 103,125; oats, 12,092 ; rye, 266; beans, 5,801, peas,
3,501 quarters.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE 14A.RKET.
Our market to-day was seasonably well supplied with
boasts as t• numbers, and we observed a considerable im-
provement in their general quality. The beef trade was
somewhat inactive; nevertheless, Monday's prices were
supported. The show of sheep was only moderate, yet all
kinds moved off slowly on former terms. Although the
supply of oalves was limited, the voal trade ruled heavy,
and the quotations gave way 4d per Sibs. Prime small
pigs moved off steadily at extreme rates. Otherwise the
pork trade was inactive. In milch cows very little was
doing.
-

Per 811ss. to sink the offal.

s. d. s. d.
Crse. &inf. beasts 3 0 3 2
Second quality do. 3 4 3 10
Prime large oxen 4 0 4 10
Prime Scots, &c. 5 0 5 2
Crse. & inf. sheep 3 2 3 4
Second quaity do. 3 6 4 0
Suckling calves, 19s to 22s
22s to 28s. .

a. d. s. d.
Priraecrs-wool do. 4 2 4 6
I Pme. S'thdowneo. 4 10 5 2
Large crse. calves 3 10 4 4
Prime small do 4 6 4 10
Large hogs 3 6 3 10
Small porkers
and quarter •old story pigs,

TOTAL SUPPLY
Beasts 1,600
Sheep
Calves
Pig5....

FOREIGN SUPPLY,
Beasts 2lO
Sheep
Calves
Pip

MEAT MARKETS.

NEWGAIT AND LEADENUALL. The Supplies of meat
are moderately good, and the trade rules steady, as fol-
lows :—Beef, from 2s 8d to 4s 6d ; mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 6d
lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal,, 3s 8d to 4s 4d ; pork, 3s 8d
to 5s Od per Sibs. by the carcase.

SOUTHALL, Dec. 7.—The supplies of stock here were
only moderate, and the trade generally ruled firm, at full
prices :—Beef, frem 3s 4d to 58 Od ; mutton, 3s 8d to 5s
2d; veal, 48 Od to 4s 8d; pork, 4s Od to 5s Od per 81b8 to
sink the offal.

ROMFORD, Dec. 7.—Prime beasts and sheep were in
good request, at very full prices. Otherwise the trade
ruled inactive : Beef, from 3s Gd to 5s Od ; mutton,
3s 8d to 5s 4d ; lamb, Os Od to Os Od; veal, 48 Od to 4s 8d ;
and pork, 3s 10cl to 4s 10d. per filbs ; suckling calves, 188 to
218 ; quarter old store pigs, 29s to 26s each ; milch cows,
£l4 Os to £lB each.