The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-14 00:00:00

TILE lONIAN ISLANDS.

The lonian Parliament was opened on the Ist of
March by the Lord High Commissioner, Sir Henry
Storks, in the following Speech, read by his Excel-
lency himself in English and by Sir Peter Braila. in
Greek :

" Mr. President and Gentlemen,
" The last Session of the 11th Parliament com-
mences to-day, and important questions will be
submitted for your consideration and decision.
" The most illustrious the Senate, in conformity
with the provisions of the Constitutional Charter,
will lay on the table of the Assembly the Civil
List and Budget of these States.
" These have been prepared with a strict regard
to economy, and I trust to your liberality to make
adequate provision for the public service.
" In furtherance of a promise I gave at the close
of the last Session of Parliament, I appointed,
with the concurrence of the most illustrious the
Senate, a commission to inquire into the financial
condition of these States, with a view to the reduc-
tion of the export duties on currants and oil.
" I presided over the labours
of that commission,
and the result of our inquiries is embodied in a
report which has been already submitted to the
public through the medium of the Government
Gazette. _

" This report will be laid upon the table of the
Legislative Assembly, and it will be for you, after
due consideration, to adopt or reject the proposals
and suggestions it contains ; but I would observe,
it will be necessary to accept or reject the plan as
a whole, or with such modifications only as will
securely provide for the loss which the revenue
would suffer from a reduction of the export duties
on the principal sources of lonian revenue. On no
other conditions can the most illustrious the Senate
or myself entertain any proposition for a readjust-
anent of the public revenue. I have heard objec-
tions made in a general way to this report, but no
specific or tangible charge has been brought for-
ward impugning the principles it lays down, the
facts it adduces, or the calculations it sets forth. .
"It easy to criticise, but difficult to disprove
conclusions based on facts and on the evidence of
experienced and competent persons, and calcula-
tions founded on certain and established data.
" You will gather further from this report that
the whole system of lonian finance is founded on
mistaken principles ; that it is uncertain and fluc-
tuating in its character, and that the difficulties of
arriving at a more healthy state of things are, at
the present moment, almost insuperable.
" Four Acts of Government have been passed by
the most illustrious the Senate with my approval
during the Parliamentary recess, and await your
consideration and sanction. I would request your
particular attention to Act No. 4 for changing the
system of levying Customs duties ad valorem to that
of weight. This Act has been passed in compliance
with a resolution of the Legislative Assembly.
There was some public feeling exhibited against
this important measure when it was first put into
execution. Its object was misunderstood; its effects
unknown ; and like all new measures the opposition
of certain interested parties was directed against it.
"I am happy to say that the advantages of the
new system over the old have been so apparent, its
working so uniform and impartial, the protection
it affords to the honest merchant so clear, and the
just rights of the public revenue so secured, that
the wisdom of the change is undoubted. Certain
modifications in the application of the tariff may bo
necessary from time to time, and the Government
are occupied in dealing with cases as they arise.
Bills are prepared, and will be laid on the table of
the house on many subjects of great interest and of
a pressing nature. I recommend them to your
early consideration.

"In conclusion, I can only repeat the assurance
I gave you last year, that nothing shall be wanting
on my part to secure a cordial and harmonious
understanding among all the constitutional autho-
rities of the State. I reckon on your loyal assist-
ance and frank co-operation in legislating for the
welfare and improvement of the lonian people.
They are deserving of our anxious solicitude, and
you can best establish a claim on their gratitude
and sympathy, by faithfully discharging the trust
they have reposed in you,
" By his Excellency's command,
" 11, DRUMMOND WOLFF,
" Secretary to the Lord High Commissioner."

The Most Illustrious the President of the As.
terribly, Sir Dionysius Count Flamburiaris, then
addressed his Excellency as follows :
" Excellency,—l should consider myselffortunate,
and should wish, were it in my power, to reply to
your Excellency's speech in detail; but your Ex-
cellency is aware that my desire must be subser-
vient to the rules of the Constitution, which allow
me, as the Speaker of the House, to refer only after
and in conformity with their decisions. I feel
convinced that the Assembly will take the subject
into consideration without delay, and I must re-
serve the communication of their reply to your
Excellency until their decision has been formed.
However, I can and it is my duty to assure your
Excellency of my firm conviction that the lonian
representatives feel the difficulty of their mission
under present circumstances, and the necessity of
proceeding to the discharge of their .sacred duties
with frankness and patriotism, together with the
greatest prudence.

" By order of the Assembly,
"N. LUST, Secretary of the Legislative Assembly."
The islands are enjoying perfect tranquility, and
there is every reason to hope that the Session will
pass off quietly, and without the usual necessity for
a Uremature prorogation.

MIS DAY'S 111ARICETS.

CORN EXCHANGE.

bit ERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. Wheat, 545 2d ;
barley, 38s Ild ' • oats, 23s Gd ; rye, 34s 6d ; beans, 41g
8d ; and peas, 43s Bd.
THE Six WEEKS' AVERAGES. Wheat, 51s 5d ;
barley, 39s 4d ; oats, 23s ld ; rye, 35s 2d ; beans, 40s 3d ;
peas, 42s 9d,

ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.—Wheat, 64,930;
barley, 55,844 ; oats, 15,875 ; rye, 207; beans, 4,257 ; peas,
1,046 quarters.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.

Our market to-day was but moderately supplied with
beasts ; nevertheless, all breeds moved off slowly, at barely
Monday's quotations. The general top figure for beef was
44 8d per 81bs. The show of sheep was very moderate, yet
the mutton trade was inactive, at Monday's prices. Lambs
were in good request, at from 7s to 8s per 81bs—about 30
came to hand from the Isle of Wight. Calves were brisk,
and 2d per 81bs dearer—the top price being 63 per 81b. Pigs
supported previous rates, but mulch cows were very dull,

Per 81bs to sink the offal.
s. d. s. d., s. d. s. d 8
Crse. &inf. beasts 3 2 3 81Primecrs-wool do. 4 8 5 6
Second quality do. 3 10 4 0 Pme.S'thdowndo 6 8 5 10
Prime large oxen 4 2 4 6 Large crse. calves 5 0 5 6
Prime Scots, &e. 4 6 4 8 Prime small do 5 8 6 0
Crse. &inf. sheep 3 6 3 10 Large hogs 4 0 4 6
Second quality do. 4 0 4 4 Small porkers
Lambs, Os Od to Os Od.

Suckling calves, 18s to 22s ; and quarter .old store pigs,
22s to 30s.

TOTAL SUPPLY.

FOREIGN SUPPLY.

Beasts 950
Sheep and lambs 3,100
Calves ..►.
Pigs

Beasts
Sheep
Calves
Pigs

MEAT MARKETS.

NEWGITE AND LEADENHALL. - The demand for
each kind of meat is somewhat heavy, as follows :
Beef, from 2s 10d to 4s Od ; mutton, 3s 4d to 4s
8d ; lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal, 4s Od to 4s 8d ; pork,
3s 8d to 5s Od per 81bs. by the carcase.
SOUTHALL March 13. --A moderate _amply. Trade
heavy : Beef, 3s Gd to 49 8d , mutMO, 49 Od to
Gs Od ; lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal, 4s 8d to 5s 6d ; pork, 4s
Od to 4s 10d per 81bs to sink the offal.
ROMFORD, March 13.—A slow inquiry, as follows :
Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 10d ; mutton, 4s Od to Gs Od ;
lamb, Os Od to Os Od ; veal, 5s Od to 58 6d ; and pork, 4,
Od to 4s 10d per 81bs; Budding calves, los to 19s ; quarter
old store pigs; 228 to 29s each; and milch cows, £l4 04
to £lB 108 each.