The Sun.
London, England, 1832-04-23 00:00:00

TILE ruling.

Consols, which left off on Saturday at 851 for Ac-
count, opened rather heavy this morning at 844, since
which they have been done at 851 for Account.
By our private accounts from Paris this morning they
expect that a new Ministry will be immediately formed,
and a manifesto issued that they will pursue the same mea-
sures as the former one.

HALF-PAST ONE.

Since we wrote our foregoing article, we are informed
from a creditable source that later information has been re-
ceived from Paris, that M. Perier is much better, as well
as M. Argout, and that no change in the Ministry is expec-
ted to take place as yet.
They write from Alexandria, March 15, that St. Jean
d'Arre still holds out, although reduced to ruins.
The Funds which had a good appearance in the early
part of the morning, has within a short period given way
from 851- down to 841 85, at present may be quoted 854.
for the Account. This decline was owing to a sale of
30,000 Consols ; reports were immediately afloat of the
death of M. Perrier, and the failure of a great house, at
present all remains as on dit. We have endeavoured to
trace the above to some authentic source, in which we
have not succeeded to the present hour.
A private letter from Paris, by the estafette, says that
15,000 persons have already died of the cholera in Paris;
and that, although the disease is abating, numerous deaths
take place daily.

In the Foreign Market Dutch Stock has been at 44i.
7 11REE 0' CLOCK.
Consols for Account B.ni.
FOUR O'CLOCK CLOSING PRICES.
Consols
Ditto for Account 81i b Greek, 1825.........
Brazilian Bonds 46 Mexican, 1825..... 314
Buenos Ayres... Peruvian ........
Chilian Russian 9B
Columbian 1824 Spanish

This morning seven unfortunate beings, without shoes
and stocking'', and almost naked, who gave their name,
James Matthews, James Shaw. John Matthews, Marl.;
[how, Elizabeth Cagney, Mary Turner, and Eliza
;)eth Matthews, were brought up by Mr. Superin-
endant Thomas and some of his officers, having beer
`mind huddled together in that notorious receptacle yclep,
R its' Castle," which is situate in Nottingham-court.
Seven Dials, at about nine o'clock this morning.
It appears that the house in question has long been the
refuge for beggars and other loose characters, with whicl
she streets abound, and is called by the inmates " Rats'
Castle." It is kept by an Irishman named Meehan, whi•
tecommodates, (if accommodation it can be called) these
wretched people with a bed nightly, upon payment of
penny, threepence, or sixpence a night—and in the morning
they take up their kit and go out cadging for the day, and
it night return to their damns and occupy their usual pallet.
The most immoral scenes take place there and in the
neighbourhood every night, to the annoyance of the mire
peaceable inhabitants, and the house has long been the
subject of complaint. This morning, Mr. Thomas, in
company with two or three of his officers, entered the
" Castle." the miserable state of the interior of which
he describes to be most horrible. He found thi e•
of the female prisoner,' and two of the males in
bed together (two of them brother and sister), and
th,. others were up drinking and smoking—the wall.
of the room were chalked all over with the most disgustine
expressions, and the whole scene was one of the most filthy
and immoral he had ever before experienced. He gave
orders to his men to take the whole of them into custody.
Several respectede inhabitants came up and spoke to
the intolerable nuisance they were subjected to by the
characters who lodged in the house, and said that it was a
complete warren for thieves and beggars.
The police-nfficers stated that the occupiers of the Castle
put them at fi 'nee.

The MAGISTRATE expressed his ►orrow that he could
not assist the inhabitants in removing the nuisance—for
his part, he would say, he wished the house was burnt to
the ground, but he dare not set it on fire. He could not
interfere, but he was cer•ain if a representation was made
to the parish officers of St. Giles's, they would indict the
house, and thereby rid the inhabitants of the pestilence.
Mr. Thomas undertook to cause the parish to prosecute,
and those of the inhabitants who now attended promised
to assist him in the furtherance of so desired an object.
The seven miserable wretches were desired to be set at
liberty.

-ANECDO*I E OF VOLTAIRE.

" When at Geneva, I was invited to Fernev,

to assist at the presentation of the Prince Doul-
gouroukie, a young man of very high rank in
Russia, who came to Voltaire at the head of a
deputation from the Empress Catherine 11.,
than whom, perhaps, no one has ever been more
anxious as to what should be said of her by the
world. Voltaire had contributed to foster, at the
same time that he gratified, his passion, by
writing a great deal in the Empress's praise ; and
the presents which were brought by the Prince
Dolgouroukie were probably intended either a,
a reward for past praises, or as a retaining fee
for the future. I say nothing of the truth of
what he has written, but content myself
with recording what I witnessed at the
reception of the en,bassy. The presents were
produced by the Prince in succession, and
exhibited with great state and ceremony. The
first was an ivory box, the value of which con-
sisted in its being the work oldie Empress's own
hands. The next was her Imperial Majesty's
portrait, brilliantly set in diamonds, of very
great value ; and I could not resist the idea
that the eyes of the philosopher sparkled
with delight at the splendid setting of the picture,
rather than at the picture itself. Then followed
a collection of books in the Russian language,
which Voltaire admitted that he did not under-
stand ; but he admired them, and very justly,
as rare specimens of typography, and as being
bound in a style of magnificence befitting an
Imperial gift. The last of the presents
was a robe, the lining of which was of the
fur of the black fox, irom the Kurile isles. It

was certainly of immense value, and such only
as the Empress of Russia could give. The
Prince, on producing it, begged to be shown into
a darkened room, where, on drawing his hand
across the fur, it produced so much electrical
tire, that it was possible to read by it. This was
ascribed to the extreme closeness or thickness
with which the hair was set on the skin. In
return for these princely gifts, Voltaire had his
portrait drawn by my friend Hubert, in which he
was exhibited in rather an extraordinary position,
rising out of bed in an ectasy upon the presents
being presented to hini. The picture was ac-
companied by a copy of verses in the Empress's
praise, in the taste of the period, and, of course,
sufficiently nauseous and fulsome."—From a very
curious and amusing publication, entitled Me-
moirs of Sir James Campbell, of Ardkinglass,
written by himself. The writer is the father of
Mrs. Thomas Sheridan.)

MEETING OF THE COUNTY OF YORK,
The High Sheriff of the county of York, RICHARD YoRK,
Esq. of Wighill Park, in compliance with a requisition
signed by 632 persons, chiefly freeholders, has convened a
county meeting on the Factory Bill, to be held to-morrow•.

HUDDERSFIELD MARKET.--This market,
on Tuesday last, was locating up, and rather more busi-
nem was transacted. The principal articles in demand
were cassinets, merinos, and union cloths, for the conti-
nen t. —Ha ar Express.

CARPET TRADE.—We are glad to hear that
at Kidderminster the carpet trade has latterly improved.
—Worcester Journal.

Mr. WASHINGTON IRVING, in his new
"Sketch-Book," we understand, is about to give to the
public the result of all that he has seen and heard in the
course of the numerous interesting excursions he has made
during the last three years; and, if we may believe the re-
ports of his; moat intimate friends, among whom it will be
recollected are Mooas and ROGERS, it is likely even to
exoel his former work in the novelty of its incidents, the
raciness of its descriptions, and the originality of its cha-

SHIPPING INTELIAGENCE-crmg DAY

FROM LLOYD'S.

DEAL, Aran, p.m. S.E.—
Arrived and sail. .d for the Raver, Indiana, Webster, an.
tbel Gower, Smith, from Mauritius; Manfield, Stainbauk
rom New South Wales ; Crisis, Leader, from Oporto
Jane, Eaens, from Me.nel.
PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 20.—Arrived the Thom,
King, Williamson, from Li.bon, for D-merara; tLe El zi
,eth, Davis, from Smyrna ; the Margaretta, Cooper, front
Lisbon ; the Hans Go%samer, from Lichen ; the Lomeli.
Driscoll, from Bombay.
PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 22, S.S.W.--Arrived his Ma-
iesty's ship Metior, from Malta—sailed the 29th ult., ir.

,!ompany with his Majesty's slip Mastiff, for England ;
Premium, Young, from Maranham, with loss of boats
&c., and part of the cargo thrown overboard, having ex
.aerienced a severe Bale on the 31st ult.