The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-31 00:00:00

LAMBETIL

This morning the New Police-court in Kennington-
lane commenced business for the first time. Mr. Henry
took his scat on the bench at eleven o'clock. The court,
though small, is replete with every convenience, and
furnished with great neatness. Attached to the court is
a range of small cells, for the accommodation of the pri-
soners, which are exceedingly well ventilated, and
thoroughly warmed with hot air. There are also win-
4lows, which admit a good light into each cell, and the
prisoner can communicate with his friends by a small
opening in the door.
. . . . _ .

The only fault to be found with the fitting-up of the
court is the small portion allotted to the public, nor has
the convenience of the reporters been in the least con-
sulted, the only accommodation provided for them is a
small box, scarcely large enough to hold one person.
George Cook was the first prisoner brought up and
placed in the felons' dock, charged with passing bad
money on Saturday afternoon, at Mr. Kemp's, chemist
and druggist, Lambeth.
The prisoner was remanded until Saturday. in order
for the attendance of Mr. Powell, the Mint solicitor.

STATE OF THE COTTON TRADE

(From the Liverpool Albion of yesterday.)

The annual circulars of the cotton-brokers, showing
the imports, &c., during the year commencing. on the
Ist of January and ending on the 21st of December,
will be made up to-morrow. It may be useful,
meanwhile, to extract from their circulars the amount
of the business transacted in the staple up to the 27th
instant, four days only within the close of the cur-
rent year.
IMPORT.—The returns of the import of cotton from
the Ist of January to the 27th of December instant,
show, as compared with the import in the corre-
spondent period of 1843, a decrease to the extent of
74,290 bales, the amount in the respective years being
1,477,537 bales this, against 1,551,827 bales last year.
In 1843, up to the 22d of December, there was an
increase in the import beyond that of the preceding
year of 322 024 bales.

EXPORT.—The export of cotton ha,s iw!teased by
4,870 bales us compared with the years 1842 and
1843, betwe.n which there was hut an extremely
slight difference. Up to the 27th instant, the export
amounted to 67,060 bales, against, same ilate last year,
62,190 bales.

TAKEN FOR CONSUMPTION.--The large increase on
this head in the years 1842 and 1843 has again been
experienced, though, certainly, not by any means to
the same extent. Spinners generally, however, have
held back until lately. On Saturday week and Mon-
day last the sales were enormously large, amounting
to not less than 15,000 bales each day, showing an
extraordinary activity in manufactures at`this, which
is generally the dullest season of the year. The re-
turns for 1842 showed an increase of 57,500 bales,

those for fifty-one weeks of 1843 an increase of
185,100 bales, and now there is again an in-
crease, in the period between the Ist of January and
the 27th instant, as compared with the correspondent
period of last year, of 25,700 bales, the figures being
1,330,400 bales this, against 1,313,700 bales last year.
The average weekly consumption, of course, also
shows an increase, being, this year, about 26,000
bales, while, last year, it was about 25,147 bales.
STOCK.—With a decrease in the import of 74,290
bales, an increase in the exports of 4,870 bales, and
an increase in the quantity taken for consumption
of 25,700 bales, making a total drain, as we may
term it, upon the stock here of 104,860 bales,
there was, on the 27th of December instant, the
large increase on the head of stock of 101,000
bales as compared with the correspondent period in
1843, the stock being, on the 27th instant, 725,100
bales, against 624,100 bales on the same date last
year. This is accounted for by the fact that we com-
menced the present year with a much larger stock
than in the previous year.
FORWARDED UNSOLD.—This head shows a de-
crease, this year, of 42,240 bales, the quantity for-
warded unsold this year being 24,060 bales, against
76,300 bales last year.
TAKEN ON SPECULATION.—AS compared with last
year, the operations of speculators show a decrease of '
13,600 bales. Up to the 27th instant they had taken
476,600 bales, against, up to the same date, 490,200
bales.
PRlCES.—Prices have been low.

STRANGE SIGNS.

RE-OPENING Or THE CHURCH OF ST. PETER-LE-

BAILEY.—This church, which has been closed for

some weeks for alterations and decorations, was re-
opened for Divine service on Sunday last, and this
event has since formed a topic of discussion in the
city in consequence of the unexpected character of
some of the decorations.

The whole of the pews, which were of very fine
oak, have been removed, and are replaced by open
seats formed of the old materials; and the whole of
the interior has been painted and coloured ; the church
furniture—the pulpit hangings and cover of the coin •
munion table are new.

A new and very large dipping font, in the style of
the early Norman period, has been placed just is ithin
the door.

The walls of the church have also been somewhat
profusely covered with. Scripture texts in the Old
English character.

Some of these texts are disposed in the form of
crosses ! One of these text-forlned crosses of small
proportions ii placed ever the north door exactly op.
posite the worshipper as he enters the church. Another
of larger proportions stands out boldly from the east
end of the church above the communion table. The
crucial figure being very bold and distinct, but, of
course, not the text or the letters of it.

A large cross embroidered in gold enriches the
velvet pulpit cloth, and two large gold, or silver-gilt
candlesticks, with tapers, decorate what must now be
called " the altar."

The most startling thing of all, and which cannot
be seen without a shudder, is what looks like a bold
yet artful attempt to enforce the doctrine of tran-
substantiation on the people. The text wrested by
the Roman Catholics, and by Dr. Pusey, in order to
sustain the idea that the literal body and blood of our
Lord is taken in that Sacrament which was instituted
to commemorate our Blessed Lord, is written imme-
diately over, almost upon, the communion table. Our
Lord's own explanation of his words, which would
seem to have been given to prevent so gross a per-
version, are nowhere to be seen. He said, " The
words that speak unto you they are spirit and they
are life." The text inscribed over the communion-
table is the well-known declaration, "Except ye eat
my flesh and drink my blood," &c.
Before the re-opening of the church the curate
(Rev. W. B. Heathcote, of New College) addressed a
long circular letter to the parishioners, in which he
made and argued two requests :—First, a division of
the sexes in the church; and next, that none would
place cushions in the seats, so as to make a kind of
appropriation by so doing.
With these requests the parishioners complied on
Sunday last, when the congregation was larger than
usual, though there was much uncomfortable feeling
on account of the novelties.
No collection was made towards the expenses, the
curate being responsible for the entire charge of these
somewhat costly alterations and decorations ; it has
been suggested that certain members of the Camden
Society, who are anxious to bring our churches into
external conformity to the plans and designs adopted
in our ancient churches for the purposes of Roman
Catholic worship, will assist in defraying the expense.
An intelligent and observant person, who has
travelled much in Catholic countries, has" loudly ex-
pressed his wonder and astonishment at the resem-
blanee to a Roman Catholic Church which St. Peter-
le-Bailey now wears.
The great size of the font (above which is the text
enjoining faith and repentance before baptism)
leads to the idea that the curate, who is a rigid Ru-
brician of the Tractarian school, will obey the rubric
which enjoins dipping as the mode of baptism in our
Church.—(From a Correspondent of the Oxford
Chronicle.

The Earl and Countess of Egremont are surrounded
by a circle of friends at Coombe Satehrille, Devon,