The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-24 00:00:00

ItEMARIcS.

Extraordinary low pressures are reported this morning ; at no
British station does the reading reach 29 inches. The increase noticed
last evening in the S. of England has been followed by a rapid de
crease. The least reading, 28'57in., is at Holyhead, and that at Roche-
fort is 0 137 in. higher. Temperature has increased slightly. The S.W.
ale which blew during yesterday in the Bay of Biscay still con-
tinues there, and is very strong. It was felt also at Cape Clear and
Penzance. Winds are now fresh from the W. in the Channel : they
are S.E. on our E. coast, and have veered to N.W. in Ireland, but aro
not strong. On our Scotch coast the sky is clear, but cloudy or
overcast elsewhere. Rain has fallen generally on the S. and W.
coasts. The weather does not look any better, but the sea is still
moderate. Warnings repeated.

The Ritual Commissioners sat on Wednesday. It
is stated that there have been one or two close divisions
lately as to Liturgical Revision.
It is stated that the guarantee fund of the Church
Association for opposing Ritualism has reached the desired
amount —.£so, 0 00.

A Post-office order has just been issued to the
effect that on and after the let of January, 1869, dog
licenses will bo issued to the public at all Money Order-
offices in Great Britain.

It is generally believed that the Vice-Chancellor-
ship of the County Palatine of Lancaster, vacated by the pro-
motion of Mr. W. M. James, Q.C., will be conferred on Mr.
John Wickens, of the Chancery bar.

Lord Hatherley will not receive the judges, ser-
geants, and Queen's counsel on tho first day of Hilary
Term. This is an unusual step for a new Lord Chancel-
lor to take.

'I he fall of rain hat been so heavy in the north
that the public roads, in a parish near Montrose, were under
water on Sunday last, and the congregation bad to hire the
ferry boat to convey them to their place of worship.
Mr. E. B. Lockyer has lodged a petition against
the return of Mr. Loch for the Wick Burghs. Bribery, un-
due influence, violence, and gratuitous distribution of whisky
are among the corrupt practices alleged.

The Bishop of Peterborough will preach his first
sermon in Peterborough Cathedral on the morning of
Christmas Day. His lordship is about to pass ten days in
and around the city of Leicester, the most densely peopled
part of the diocese of Peterborough.

The death of Lord Belhaven, a peer of Scotland,
is reported as having taken place on Tuesday, at his country
seat in Lanarkshire. Lord Belhaven was a staunch Whig,
and for many years acted as her Majesty's representative in
the General Assembly of the Scotch Church.

Another captain was fined at the Liverpool police-
court, on Tuesday, for having gunpowder on board his ves-
sel when docked A trifling penalty was only inflict( d, the
defendant pleading ignorance in' consequence of a copy of the
port regulations not having been served upon him.
A return onlered by the House of COITIItiOiIS on
the subject of spirits and malt has just been issued. Th's
return gives the quantity of spirits and of rral on which
duty has been paid for each year, extending as far back as
1800 and ending 1867. Like returns are also given of the
quantities of foreign and colonial spirits importNi during
the same period, with the amount of duty paid.
Returns will be found of the quantities of British
spirits exported ill each year, and likewise of the
quantities meth) lated duty free, and on drawback of the duty
under the act. In the- returns on the malt duty, the popu-
lation, rates and amounts of duty, and the average price of
barley is given for each year from 1800 to 1807 iaalusive
ileturnS are likewise wade duty free for distillation, oxpor-
tetioP, or cattle boding i and of the trait and bur exported
fry nth nu Loa 100,.