The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-19 00:00:00

blowing, and the thermometer has stood all day at
six degrees below freezing point.
The Government has suppressed the report of the
trial for a separation between Count Migeon and
his wife on account of a well-known political per-
sonage having been mentioned by M. Jules Favre.
All the London evening papers were seized
to-day. _ _ _

The Moniteur publishes the official return of the
Customs revenue for the month of November, which
amounted to 15,485,434 fr., being an increase of
2,857,723 fr. on the corresponding month of the pre-
ceding year. The receipts for the 11 months of
1859 amount to 173,165,308 fr., showing an improve-
ment of 5,800,209 fr. on the corresponding period of
1858.

" It is rumoured," says a Paris letter in the Nord
of Brussels, " that the Prince de la Tour d'Au-

vergne will assist at the Congress, in the place of
Baron de Bourqueney, who positively declines the
post, for family reasons."
Tut BOURSE, Dec. 17.—The market was rather
heavy at the. opening, but afterwards somewhat
recovered. Threes, after having been done at
70f. 40c., improved to 70f. 55c. ; Mobilier varied
from 842 f. 50c. to 850 f. ; Lombard, 573 f. 75c. to
576 f. 25c. ; Austrian, 572 f. 50c. to 575 f. ; Lyons,
035 f. to 0401. ; Orleans, 1,417 f. 50c. to 1,4221.50 c.;
Southern, 535 f. to 537 f. 50c. The following were
the last quotations

4i per Cents. 96 9a
Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 7O 60
Bank Shares 2900

Credit Fonder 725
Belgian 4i
Piedmontess (5)
Roman B4 75
Austrian

CrMit Mobilier 845
Do. Account

Spanish Threes •
•
Home Debt 4-41

BAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern 971 25 .. 970
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 935 .. 940
Geneva. 517 50 .. 545
Southern
Western 582 50 .. 580
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard .. . 577 50 .. 676 25

Exchange on London, at sight, paper, 25f. 10c. ; money,
!H. 9c.; three months, paper, 21f. 050. ; money, 24f. 931 c,

THE lONIAN ISLANDS.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.
CORFU, DEC. 11.
The following is the Lord High Commissioner's
speech at the opening of Parliament :

" Mr. President and Gentlemen,—
" Since I assumed the duties of her Majesty's Lord High
Commissioner, it has been my endeavour to become tho-

roughly acquainted with the internal administration of these
States, with the wants of the country, and with the means

best calculated to improve the moral and social condition of
tho people.
" To assist me in this task, I appointed, with the concur-
rence of the most illustrious the Senate, a Commission,
over whose inquiries I myself presided. Tho cordial co-
operation of that Commission and the valuable assistance
I received from them demand my warmest acknowledg-
ments. The result of their labours, in the shape of a report,
and the details of their sittings as consigned to the proces
verbaux, will be laid before you.
" I have also visited all the islands composing the Sop-
tinsul ar State, and have endeavoured, as far as time and cir •
cumstanccs would permit, to become acquainted with all
classes, and personally to inquire into their wants and wel-
fare. I have been welcomed everywhere with kindness and
attention, and have received marks of sympathy and good-
' will for which lam very grateful. The local Governments
and municipalities have, with one exception, assisted me to
the utmost of their power, and have shown a laudable soli-
citude for the improvement and well-being of their respec-

tive islands.
" After a careful consideration of all I have seen, and of
the different circumstances elicited by the inquiries I have

instituted, I have formed an unfavourable opinion of the
existing system of administration, and a painful impres-
sion of the wants and requirements of these States.
With a view of obtaining employes of superior attainments;
and of opening the public service to all who may desire to
enter it, I have established a system of competitive exami-
nation for the departments placed by the Constitution under
my superintendence and control. The most illustrious the
Senate have authorised a similar course for first appoint-
ments in the departments of the general government, I feel
confident that public competition, if strictly and justly car-
ried out, will provide enzployes better caltulated for the pub-
lic service than those appointed under the old system of
favouritism and protection.
" But, to obtain good and well-informed servants, it is
necessary for a State to watch, with peculiar attention, the
progress of public education. I regret to say, that no sub.
ject requires the anxious care of Parliament more than the
one referred to, Parliament has set aside annually
£12,000 for the purposes of public education; but in the
apportioning of this sum the schoolmasters of the country
receive a miserable pittance, on which they cannot exist,
and the children are left in a condition of ignorance and
neglect at once discreditable and dangerous to the State.
" The report of the Archon will be presented to the As-
sembly, and I invite your serious attention to this important
question.
" Bills will be submitted to you on subjects of great inte-
rest, and which require immediate legislation. Among the
most important is a bill to regulate the establishment and
administration •of joint-stock banks. The charter under
which the lonian Bank has acted for the last 20 years ex-
pires in March next, and the Government, being of opinion
that all exclusive privileges are detrimental to the public
interests, asks your consent to a bill regulating banking
companies, on what I believe to be sound and equitable
principles. I cannot dismiss this question without referring
to the valuable assistance the lonian Bark has at all times
rendered to landed property and commerce in these islands,
and my sincere desire is, that the constitutional authori-
ties of the State may be able to pass such an act as will
enable the country still further to enjoy the advantages and
assistance of that institution.
" A bill will be presanted for your consideration on the
subject of a further extension of the system of district
jurisdiction. I have received many applications from the
country districts for increased facilities in obtaining an im-
mediate and cheaper settlement of local differences. I have
carefully considered the question, and am satisfied that
a system of local tribunals, which has answered so admir-
ably in other countries, is likely to be attended with the
same beneficial results here. It is a duty which the Legis-
lature owes to the country to afford the opportunities or
cheap and prompt justice to the poorer classes, and by the
means of loeal tribunals to put a stop to the delays, ex-
pense, and inconvenience which a reference to the superior
courts in the cityinvariably entails.
" I would also call your attention to the unguarded state
of the coasts and ports of the different islands. It is hope-
less to attempt to improve the revenue unless the facilities
and encc-aragement offorded to smuggling are removed. A
remedy is absolutely repuired for this state of things, which
is not only detrimental to the public revenue, but demoral-
ising to the people. A proposal will be made to you on this
subject, which I consider one of great importance.
" Bills are prepared, and will be laid on the table of the
house :
" 1. To amend the law regarding usury.
" 2. To regulate the valuation of the olive crop.
" 3. To limit the power of arrest in civil action.
" 4. To permit Coloni to dispose of colonial property.
"5. To put a stop to the delays which take place in ex+.
amining witnesses before the magistrates.
tc6. To amend the 71st Act of the Bth Parliament, with
refdrence to the security required of certain public func-

tiona ries.
7. To punish persons who encourage or who aro parties
to the desertion of non-commissioned officers and soldiers
of her Majesty's forces.
"S.: To abolish the postal tariff now established, and to
return to the old system.
" 9. To provide substitutes for the judges.
" 10. To establish a system of district jurisdiction.
" 11. To regulate and establish joint-stock banks.
" Five Acts of Government have been passed by the most
illustrious Senate, with my approbation, during the recess,
and will be now submitted for your consideration and sanc
tion.
" In accordance with the provisions of the constitutional
Charter, the most illustrious the Senate has laid before you
the civil list and the budget for the present biennium. I
trust to ycur liberality to make the necessary provision for
the public service.
" The finances require careful supervision and strict
economy. The number of employes who are borne on the
civil list of these States is remarkable. They aro out of all
proportion to the requirements of the service—badly paid,
and as a natural consequence in many instances inefficient.
It will be the duty of the Government, when time and cir-
cumstances permit, carefully to consider this important
question, and, with a due regard to existing interests, to
Propose such changes for the future, by abolishing useless
offices and consolidating others, as will give increased effi-
ciency to the service, and produce a real economy in the
public expenditure.
" The receipts and expenditure of the Local Governments
should be no less anxiously considered, and prudently ad-
ministered.
"The public charities equally demand the careful super-
vision of the competent authority. Institutions which are
intended for humane and moral purposes become sources of
immorality and vice when not administered with a strict
supervision and wise forethought. It is only necessary to
instance the Foundling Hospital of Zante, which costs a
sum of £2,282 annually, being more than the third of the
whole municipal revenue. It is not to be wondered at that
a municipality complains of poverty, when the third of its