The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-24 00:00:00

NEW PUBLIC OFFICES.

It will be in the recollection of our readers that
a select committee was appointed last session for
the purpose of considering the present state of the
public offices. The committee reported that it were
most desirable for the public lorvice' both at; re-
gards economy and efficiency in the transaction of
business that there should be a concentration cif the
public offices, and that such concentration should be
effected in the immediate vicinity of Whitehall and
the Houses of Parliament. Soon after this report was
presented to the House of Commons the session
closed, and the First Commissioner of Works, • act-
ing upon the substance of that report, issued no-
tices that specifications would be drawn up, in ac-
cordance with which surveyors, engineers, an d ar-
chitects might send in plans consisting of, firs t,
bloJs plan for laying out the whole of the ground
,between the back of Richmond-terrace.; the front
of the Irish office and Downing-street on the north/
Great George-street and Westminster-hall on the
south, the Thames on the east, and St. Jarnos's-
park on the west ' • secondly, a plan for ane w fo-
reign-office ; and, thirdly, a plan for a new wa; de-
partment, the sites of both of which were to be
between Downing-street and Charles-street. T.nese
specifications were accompanied with a map of the
ground, which was to te dealt with in the 15,1.0 ck
plans to be sent in. Various premiums were oaM red
to competitors, and a competition was opened to the
whole world. A material item in the instruction sas
regards the block plan was, that the site of W est-
mins ter-bridge should form aprincipal feature in any
design to be sent in. The time allowed for com-
pleting these designs was limited as regards t;-gists
resident within Great Britain to Friday, AI-arch
20, and as regards other artists the period was ea'
tended to-the 4th April. All the designs we re ,to
be sent to Westminster-hall. For the last few d aYe
a person has been stationed there to receive. the
plans, and as the clock struck 12 on Friday xii Ott.
the doors of the hall were closed. The scheme 0'
open competition has teen thoroughly successful
notwithstanding the opposition that was o ffore
when the First Commissioner determined up an it.
No less than 188 competitors have entered the. lists,
some of whom, ibis believed, have sent in chasigns.
for each of the prizes; and when the fru'as of
foreign genius are received, the great hall, • which
is to be the scene of these results of artistic skill,
will be scarcely large enough to hold the pines-
It is intended that there shall not be an p dis-
tinction as to place between the British an.d the
foreign productions. They will be arranged indie*
criminately, so that no favour may be HI) own
to either the one or the other. As sc ma as
the 4th of April has passed away, the plans al-
ready sent in, and those to be then received„ Nvul
be opened, and within a fortnight afterwards it is
expected that arrangements will be so completed
that the public will be admitted to view this. inte-
resting exhibition of the talent of all nations.

Cou'itry Markets.

CHELMSFORD—MARon 20.

The wheat trade to-day was somewhat dull, at barely 125 t
week's prices. Barleys were scarce, and being in rev) col
for seed must be quoted ls. dearer. All other things. nn-
altered in value.

Wheat, white, old, per s. s. o._ a.
qr. 34 721 Oats, per qr 2t 36
new.... 37 71 Peas, Partridge 41 43
red, old 32 62 i White 39 46
new.... 32 62 Boiling 39 46
Barley 35 46 Dan 37 39
Chevalier 40 54 I Beans, Tisk .35 3,9
Grinding 35 46 1 Harrow ticks 39 41
Malt 73 77 Mazagan 34 3:
Chevalier 75 791 Ditto, ne w _34 31

COLCHESTER—MARCH 21.
A good supply of wheat, and only a limited business 'wall
done, at rather lower prices. Barley not much inquired fe•
and prices wee liper qr.- lower ou all descriptions. 33,'"
and peas at an advance of Is per qr.
Prices to-daywere as follow :—Wheat' white, 60s to 6 64
red, 50s to 58s; barley, 41s to 503 ; oats, 224 to 283 ; hev
Mazagan, 34s to 364; middle and small, 36s to 445; puma
white, 383 to 42s ; grey, 38s to 425.

Official Statement of the Quantities of Corn, &c,
in the port of London, from the following pi
March 16 to 21, both, inclusive.

~
).rt, fro,

•ti
370 r
240 22
290 -
708 119

Colchester
Harwich
Leigh
Mahlon

KIRKO.

500
1601
250

To-day- we had fair
Salcs not so brisk. Pri,
chas3r.

23
92
6091

LDY-MARCH 21.

0

25 250
_ 992

11
ov

nipp7ies of wheat, barloy, and oats•

;es generally in f'vour of the pur'

Wheat. I Barley. f Oats. I Beans.
First
Second 523_ I
,0d 42s Od I 27s 01 Os Od
Third 3os Od 331 01 I 201 Ud I Os 01

Oatmeal, 3G

to 38s

per bag of 2801 b .

COAL MARKET.—MAAcH 23.

Prices of Coals per ton at the close of the market.
5. (3.) ,Walleend, to.
Tanfield Moor Butos 13 01 0d•
fiolywell ..... ........ ..... l5 e Hough Hall ~.16 . 3
Wallsend, &a. roes l7 6
South Hetton 17 3 Conndon Tees l5 -3
Northumberland . l4 9 Haswell 17 6
Riddell l4 .9 South Kelloe 1G 9
Belmont 15 6 Hartlepool l7 0

Mhlps et market... 16 I Sold l6

LOCAL SHARE MARKETS.

LIVERPOOL, MAnca 23.

STOCK EXCHANGE. —The market is active, and prices
about stationary. London and North Western, 104 A 4--*
Eastern Counties, 108 —Lancashire and Yorkshire, 100—
Ditto, 9/., 15-16 pm.—East Lancashire, 971 Midland, 811
—Manchester. Sheffield, and Lincoln, 3SA a—Grand Trunk
of Canada, mg—South Eastern, 221 A a--North Eastern.
Berwick Capital Stock, 21a— Buffalo and Lake Huron,
1i pm.—Whitehaven and Furness, 7 11-16.—Blackburna