The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-26 00:00:00

RAILROAD BONDS,

Illinois Central 7 per Cent. Ist Mortgage,
not Convertible 1875... 89 91
Illinois Central 6 per Cent 1875. 86 88
Illinois Central 7 per Cent. Freeland
Bonds 1860...106 108
Illinois Central (Shares), $3O paid 19 21 p
Michigan Central Bp. Cent., Convert 1860...
Do, do. do. 1869... 89 91
Now York Central 7p. Cent., Convert 1864... 88 90
New York Central 6 per Cent., not
Convertible 1883... 78 80
New York and Erie 7 per Cent. 3d Mort-
gage 1883... 80 82
N. York and Erie 7p. Cent. Convertible 1862... 72 74
N. York and Erie 7 per Cent. Sinking
Fund ... . ............ . ............................ 1875... 80 82
Panama 7 per Cent., Ist Mortgage 1865...
Pennsylvania Central 6p. Cent., Ist Mort 1880... 89 91
To-morrow is "Making-up" day in the Railway
Share. Market, and the account is stated not to be
•so heavy as usual. Most of the principal shares
are firmer. There is an advance in Great Western,
Lancashire and Yorkshire, Brighton, Caledonian,
North-Eastern, and nearly all the principal lines.
The Foreign are quiet, and tha French . shares,
owing to a decline at Paris, are all lower. Indian
and Canadian shares are equally dull, and a decline
of 1/. to 11. 10s. has occurred in Grand Trunks.
Mines, banks, and miscellaneous shares are re-
markably inactive.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(From the Official List.)

Easiness done.
3 per Cent. Reduced AnnulLit.s
93 021. 3
New 3 per Ccnt. Annuities . 2i
luta Bonds, £lOOO ..... ....... _
Ditto, under £lOOO 4 Et
Co-Isola for A ceinur, , ... .. .. 93
Ditto for Opening cal
-Etahequer Bills, 24d.
21000 .
gina11......•.• •.. ... ..• •
Ditto Bonds, 1858, 34 per Cent. ... 9Bi
Ditto, 1859
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK
Russian Bonds, 1822, £ St., 5 per Cent llO
ElDitto Account 96;
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent.
Ditto Account lO2l 2
Dtmlends on the acre maple in Lon., n.
TWO O'CLOCK.
Consols:for Account
n,+ 00.0..., 931 i

RAILWAYS.

Closing Price%
eqc,r,lay

55 - 5B

8i - 9

70 - 72
7 -

- .
. -
4 - 5

8 7 d
97 98

6i - - Ei

83 =

99 - 101

8 - 9
98 - 9941
914 - 9211
122 - 124
LO4 - 106
64.1 - 65
63 - 65

70 - 74
6 - 8
6- 8 •
.0011 - 101'
-

6f - 61
12 - 113
03 - 1041

~ .". ...

id d
101 101.1,

ti - iiA

83i- _B4i
55 - 56

.ii -- l'a

63 - 6
3 -
43 -

92 93
-
2, - 2
24 - 11
44; 45A
71 - 72
96 - 991

4$ - 441
7I - 8
10 - 104
3274 -
- 5

106 108
24,1- 251
43 50
3 2d
18 19
75 i 6

88 - 89
5 - 44-f
5 -
9 - 11
40 - 42

21 - 211
31 -

7 - 9
3 - 3i
- 6

2BIARE MAltiiETZ—(This Day.)

90 - 92
74i - 754
36 - 37

Business done
this day.

9 - 10
19.4 - 23
113 - 111
51 - 53
- 34!;

4} f

THE SUN, LONDOK I FRIDAY

EVENING, JUNE 26, 1857:

LITERATURE.

Popiaar History of theAquariton of Fresh Water
Animals ami Plants. By George B. Sowerby,

F.L.S. • -
Popular Greenhouse Botany. By Agnes Catlow.
Lovell Reeve, Henrietta-street, Covent Garden.
There appears to ba a natural tendency in the
human race—at least in the bAter port'on of it, to
pet and cherish samething belonging to the lower
orders of creation. In Mrs. Thomps.ol'A duodicemo
style of residence where a large famly and small
means are curiously ma le to balance every Christ-
mas and where, we know, every extra quartern
loaf is a matter of itnportanca ; yet, there, wa sea a
favourite canary hanging, at the w:ndow ; whose
cage must have involved the disburdemeut a a
serious capital, and whose luxurious support must
add somewhat to the weekly expenditure : but the
family would go into deep mourning if aoything
happened to that graceful little embodiment
of silver note, and golden caat. Mrs. Thom-
son has bean known to keep her uttcle
waiting in the back parlour, while sh 3 finished
attending to Bijou's domestia comforts in the
front one. Mr. Thompson may be seen •on the
fiercest of dog-days burtheniug himself with a
bunch of chickweed and plantain for ajOu's ex
press delectation ; and the undeveloped Th.omps-nts
are so duly impressed with Bijou's valu that their
affection and admiration for hint are screpulogsly
exempt from the usual juveni'eadm:xture of insult

and injury. The house is certainly no:, big, but we
question it its occupants would not deem it much
less if it did not contain that pretty, useless little

bird.

Those rich people, the St)ckmans of Stamford-
hill, have such exquisite carpets and s )fas, that
one almost doubts the propriety of their being
used by more material beings than Oberon and
Titania ; but there is an old fox-dog and a young
setter who are privileged to parade the velvet
pile without even rubbing their shoes, and to repose
on the damask cushions, as though they could order
new furniture and pay the upholsterer whenever
they chose.
The cobbler round the cernerVatroniseS a huge
tabby ca+, whose wonderful ablity he is never tired
of eulogizing, on the score , that it sits by his side
and insists on helping him to pull out the wax ends
at every sfcb. It is a verit tble fact that he loses
time and profit by Grimalkin, but it is an equal
fact that the dumb thing is an essential adjunct to
the cobbler's comfort and content.
The boudoir of the Fitz Cavendish's noble man-
sion, exhibits an Indian paroquet, and an Italian
greyhound ; and all visitors enjoying the entree to
that sanctum, would, run some risk of losing the
good opinion of the amiable lady dowager and her
lovely daughters, if some gentle words of courtesy
were not bestowed on " Vert" and " Zephir."
The tiresome young Biukles, of. Tooley-street,
have contrive Ito surreptitiously establish ,a Lilipu-
tion rabbit hutch in the lower regions of the domi-
cile, and are in a state of perturbation lest the
matter should be known in the upper department.
Of course it does become recognised by the inferiors,
and a degree of threatening and expostulation itn-
plies the possibility of Mrs. Double Smut being
immediately ejected from the premises; but
in due time Mr. Binkle is seen peering with
some degree of interest into the secret chamber,
and heard to give a sort of indifferent hint, that a
larger hutch had better be had, now the doe has
young ones ; while Mrs. Binkle may be discoverd
on the stairs, enquiring, in the true maternal tone,
breathing something of the caudle-cup and cradle
hymn, as to "How many there are, and what co
lour?" The young Binkles are extatic, and the old
Binkles go on encouraging the population of
" long ears" until they might stock a warren.
Some would experience no delight in the "great
globe" itself, unless it contained go'd fish. Monkeys
are fraternized with in, many families. (We are
simply alluding to. the natural and most agreeable
of the genus.) Pet pigs are to be met with, (and
again we would intimate that we touch only on
those of the quadruped order), and dormice, white
mice, squirrels, parrots,and silkworms, are common
and familiar residents among us—though, as re-
gaids the latter "pets," we fully concur in the
opinion of a gentleman, who remarked the other
evening that he could "see no fun in keeping
them."

However, pet what we may, it is pretty certain
that so doing is indicative of a loving and benevo
lent nature ; and despite the empty-headed
sneers launched against that unjustly -vitupe-
rated
-race—old maids—regarding their affec-

tions for birds and brutes—we- are inclinei
to think that the disposition which prompts the
exhibition of tenderness and love, even towards the
meanest of dumb things, is one of God's most
blessed gift, and that " old maids" are by no
means more objectionable, either in amoral or so&al
point of view, than "old bachelors," who too fre-
quently "pet" nothing but their own stomachs or
their own pockets. • ,
Fashion has a control over this department of
our civilised constitution, as it has over every other.
Once upon a
,time monkeys were all the rage.
Long- eared, snub-nosed spaniels were in the ascen-
dant in the " merrie monarch's" days, when his
Gracious Majesty could not walk in the Mall, or
enjoy his luxurious saturnalia, without the company
of half-a-dozen of these celebrated "bow-wows."
Then, French poodles became promiuent features on
the face of English society. More lately, Skye and
Argyle terriers have asserted their supremacy,
being recognised by quick-witted people as "ani-
mated door-mats," "loco-motive m las," and "self-
acting brooms." At this present epoch of petting
fancies, the strange and unfamiliar creatures of
" the vasty deep" command our devotion and ex-
cite
our curiosity, under the form of "Aquaria."
Our drawing-rooms and conservatories now present
to our notice " crystal palaces" on a minor scale,
wherein we may gaze on star-fish without the
aid of a telescope, and dilate on the beauty
of sea anemones without presunring to pluck
one. There we may revel in "Sea Cucum-
ber" without thinking of the cruets in conjunc-
tion ; make pleasant company of coral skeletons,
and sport with Sea Urchins who never plague us
with their noise or mischief. This novel and in-
teresting introduction not only serves to amuse
the idle and ornament our dwellings, but ministers
to the elevating general knowledge of natural his-
tory, and the abstruse pursuits of the scientific in-
vestigation of Creation's wonders. With a com-
paratively inexpensive receptacle, stocked with
tiny tenants of the lucid flood ; and with
this work of Mr. Sowerby's on the tab'e
beside it, much may be learnt, even by
the most uninitiated, of the functions, habits, me-
tatnorphOae3, and construction of the astonishing
family leaping, floating, and diving before ns. The
volume is a compact and simple book of reference,
though thoroughly correct in its details of natural
classification. A. great number of coloured plates
illustrate the various orders and characters expa-

tiated on, which are very attractive, and help the
young disciple of the aquarium school most ma-
terially. In short, we can only pronounce the
publication to ba worth much more than its cost.
Of Miss Agnes C ttlow's Popular Greenhouse
Plants, we need say little, as her works on Garden
Botany, and Field Botany, have rendered her name

honourably familiar to ail-lover 3 of Fiona nature,

Miss Catlow, in her present production, fully El
tains her reputation, and the most exquisite in-
habitants of the greenhouse are al ably and charm-
ingly described by her pen, as they are beautifully
represented by the pencil, in the plentiful and gor-
geous illustrations.

TUE Moons.—Throughout the winter grouse have
been :n fine condition—their plumage glossy, flight
vigorous, and the wed-known crowing of the cocks
loud and clear. The nesting time is now over, with
very favourable weather. On all low moors the young
broods are strong, and counting from eight to ten in a
covey. A sportsman, well known for great feats on
the moors and in the deer glens, writes from his shooting
quarters on the 4th of June :—" Grouse are quite
healthy, and stags are getting very forward in condition.
I expect better herds this season than we have seen
for the last three or four years." Another sportsman
writes on the 7th of June :—"I am happy to give good
accounts of my bill, disease having quite disappeared.
A great many grouso are hatched and strong ; and,
should the fine weather continue, and water not bcome
scarce, I think we may promise ourselves a capital
year." From all we have heard it appears certain
that wherever there was a sufficient breeding stock
there will be at least average sport. No season
for a long time has promised better for deer-stalking
—grass is earlier by a month than last year, and
those who are versed in the beauties of anilers will be
gratified to find the caberfeigh in perfection.—lnverness
Courier. _ _

CRIME IN SCOTLAND.—A blue-book just published
gives long tabular statements of crime in Scotland in
the year 1856. From the abstract it would Appear that
the number of persons eharq,ed with offenws in 1856
exhibits an increase of 2'2863 per cent. ; 2,591 nvilms
and 1,122 females were committed, 2,996 tried, 2,762
convicted, outlawed, or found insane, 926 convicted as
relapsed or previously convicted culprits, and three con-
demned to death. The proportion of c invictions to
committals was 74'3373 per cont., and the proportions
of acquittals to committals 25.6127 per cent. ; 1,046
were offences against the person, 39 against property
with and 1,912 against property without violenc, 79
malicious offences against property, and 85 offences
against the currency. Offences against the person have
increased 7'613 per cent. ; offences against property,
without violence, 5.77342 per cent, and malicious
offences against property, 1.282 per cent. Forgery and
currency offences have decreased 31.451 per cent. 716
persons (of both sexes) could read or write, 2,352 could
do both imperfectly, 556 could do both very well, and
81 had a superior education. Of the 234 acquitted, 179
got off by the open verdict of " Not proven." Three of
the criminals were sentenced to be hanged, 72 to be
transported, 202 to penal servitude, 2,170 to imprison-
ment, nine to be flagellated, and 223 to lines.