The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-06 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

TEA.—The public sales have proceeded without any
animation, and prices generally are inactive.
SUGAR.—There have been no public sales, but the ad-
vices from the continent have caused a firmer tone, and
holders are demanding a slight advance on present rates.
COFFEE. —A firmer tone was apparent, caused by the
favourable character of the continental advices. Superior
qualities of Plantation Ceylon sold readily at an advance of
is to 2s per cwt.

RicE.-:Business has remained very quiet, and prices
generally are firm.

SALTPETRE.—There have been no sales of importance,
and late rates are generally current.
TALLOW.—The market is quiet. P.Y.C. on the spot
is quoted 44s 9d, and last three months 46s 6d. per cwt.,
buyers.

GREEN FRUlT.—Market quiet. The season for oranges
being over, some parcels Messina and Palermo lemons, sold
by Keeling and Hunt at public sale, went at similar prices
to those obtained last week. Nuts of all kinds dull, the
quantity of fresh fruits now being received interfering with
the sale.

MAGNETIC PERTURBATION.--The Academy of
Sciences has received a paper from M. Mermet, Professor
of Natural Philosophy at Marseilles, on certain curious
perturbations of the needle in consequence of the earth-
quake which occurred in that town on the 19th of
May last. The circumstances were as follows:—On
that day Professor Mermet was explaining to his
class the use to which the mariner's compass is
applied, and he had just made it deviate eastwards from its
original position, when, instead of oscillating regularly
right and left of the magnetic meridian, it suddenly
veered to the west, at the same time oscillating irregu-
larly from left to righi and up and down, just as if it
were forcibly acted upon by a magnet. The professor,
attributing this action to three small keys he had
in his waistcoat pocket, put them away, and re-
commenced the experiment, going to some distance
from the table by way of further, precaution ; but the
same abnormal motions were perceived. While both he
and his pupils were observing this singular phenomenon,
two shocks were felt: a strange noise was heard proceed-
ing from the cabinet of Natural Philosophy, separated
from the amphithsetialtlreaubfyveing
arthinuopdarotritiotnh,o and while
of the e
h floorei
rshock g
st,he glass doors of the presses grated
on e h
the receiver of the air-pump shook
t t
hinges,
i wna s
e
on its plate, the bell of a telegraphic apparatus
sounded, and the shutters of the windows knocked against
the wall. Before the effects of the two shocks were quite
over, the needle returned to the magnetie meridian, and
soon became stationary there. But for the space of 14
minutes it remained in a ease of tremor which can only
be explained by the. subterraueanean action in pro-
gress, since, the experiments being soon after resumed, no
further irregularity was remarked. Hence M. Mermet con-
cludes that the generally received opinion, according to
which earthquakes do not disturb the regular action of
the needle, except mechanically, can no longer be main-
tained, since the needle in this instance was disturbed five
minutes before the shock occurred.

CONSCIENCE MONET.—Iu the financial year end-
ing with March, 1866, sums amounting together to £7,434
were remitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by sundry
persons for conscience' sake. In the previous year the
amount was £7,184.
ETON COLLEGE.—The examination for the Tom-
line Mathematical Prize has just been concluded at Eton
with the following results :—Lock, K.S., prizeman, Gosset,
K.S., secoud prizeman ; Buckland, Hoare, mi. The fol-
lowing are in alphabetical order :—Bousor, ma. ; Hardy,
ma. ; Rawlins, ILS, Thompson, ma. ; Wilson, ma. ; and
Wood, K.S. The, examiner was the Rev. N. M. Ferrers,
DALIN,/ and Tutor of Gouville and Caius College,
Cambridge.