The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-15 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Feb. 14.—Three o'clock.—The market
closed as follows :-
4i per Cent.
End of month._ Ital4an Loan
3 per Cent
End of month 6B 65 Mexican Loan 16 50
Credit Mobilier 212 50 Do. Bonds
End of month... 190 Spanish Threes
Credit Foncier —1412 50 Home Debt 34
End of m0nth...1383 75 Deferred
RAILWAYS.

Account
Orleans
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern..... 542
Western
Eastern
Sardinian

Austrian
Lombard

5431
363

North of Spain
Saragossa
Roman 45

7.11 E NEW AMERICAN CONSTITUTION.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF TIIE SUN.

Sin,—The importance of the telegram from
America published this morning, announcing that
Alabama had rejected the new Constitution, is not
generally known in England. The Representatives
sent two bills to the Senate : the one a new Recon-
struction Act, erecting General Grant into a mili-
tary dictator over ten States ; the other, known as
the Supreme Court Quorum Bill, practically re-
moving from the jurisdiction of that Court the
question of the constitutionality of Acts of Con-
gress. The Senate has dallied with these almost
revolutionary measures, awaiting the decision of
two events ; the one is the vote of Alabama on the
new Constitution, which, if accepted, would relieve
the Senate from the necessity of passing the Recon-
struction Act ; the other, the M'Ardle case, which,
if the Supreme Court throws out, would remove
the necessity for passing the Quorum Act. The
rejection by Alabama of the new Constitution will
bring on the crisis, as the passage of the new Re-
construction Act will be a step far beyond the point
at which the President' in his Message announced
his intention of resisting Congress by force.—
, Yours, &c.,

EDITOR "ANGLO-AMERICAN TIMES."
15, Catherine-street, Feb. 15, 1868.

MUSICAL ITEMS.

Madlle. A. Patti has been singing with her usual success
at Havre in Rossini's opera of " Il Barbiere."
At a late concert at Leipsic a symphony of Schumann's
was performed, and excited great enthusiasm.
Measures aro pending for a divorce between Heir Nie-
mann, the opera singer, and his wife, Madame Niomann-
Seebach.
The five-hundredth representation of " Guillaume Tell"
took place on Monday evening last at the Grand Opera,
Paris. After the performance the singers went to Rossini's
residence and serenaded the Maestro.
Auguste Charles, flautist to the Emperor of Russia, iS
the star of the Parisian music saloons this season. Ile
played some of his own compositions at Rossini's last re-
union, and the maestro was so delighted with his novel
style that he presented him with his portrait.
At a concert given at Paris by M. Pasdeloup the over-
ture of the " Phantom Ship," by Wagner, was on the pro-
, gramme. The majority of the audience determined not to
hear it, and whistled during its performance, the din being
increased by the minority applauding at the same time.
. new opera entitled "Hamlet" is shortly to be pro-
duced in Paris. It has been set to music by Ambroise
Thomas, and it is said that he has been working at it for
ton years. The composer, who is favourably known, has
already produced some four operas besides other works,
and according to the opinion of Rossini the coming worX
will prove his masterpiece. Mdlle. Nilsson will sing the
part of Ophelia. The opera is in active rehearsal,'"
Musical Standard.

ST. VALENTINE'S PAY.—Friday being St. Valen-
tine's Day, as usual there was a vast increase in the
delivery of letters. The first morning delivery commenced
at an earlier hour, the number being so immense that Oile
pernumerary postmen had to be employed to assist th
regular letter carriers. This delivery was not completed
until long after the ordinary time, and at 11 o'clock the
letters that passed through the Post-office exceeded DI
number that of previous years. At mid-day substantial
re pasts were provided in the several districts for the ea!:
riers and others, and those attached to the central district
had their dinner in tho great hall, General Post-office..
al
A YEAR'S BILLS OF EXCHANGE.—An
return which has been issued shows that in the financial
year 1866-67 5,996,703 inland bill stamps were supplio
by the Stamp-office to the public, and 2,507,476 forei
0
bill stamps. The inland bill stamps produced gro
sum of £421,941 ; the foreign, £323,368.
PRESENTS TO SUIT EVERY PURPOSE, TASTE, OD
POCKET AT PARKINS AND GOTTO'S.—Photographic a
choice of 3,000; despatch boxes, writing cases, dress.l
cases, travelling bags, envelope cases, blotting books, in
stands, desks, book slides, work boxes,
bags and reticules, card cases, purses, stationary cabin.e;
scent bottles, albums for postage stamps, crests, te-;
cases, card baskets, pocket books, electro-gilt and elegote;.
mounted articles. Bibles, Prayer-books, and ChurcilfPra.
vices, in every type. Parkins and Gotto, 25, 4:;s °ow
tea caddies,.l2l,
street. Tliousands of the above articles, all perfeotly
and fresh, couseciaant up' i a rapid sal64—bizorD)