The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-03 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The return of Michaelmas, which may be consi-
dered the termination of the farmer's year, has induced
me to send you the result of the average prices of wheat,
barley, and oats, for 52 weeks up to that time, viz :
Wheat s9s. 4Ad. per imperial quarter.
Barley 43s. 31d. ditto.
2
Oats

Some years ago I prepared a return commencing with
Christmas, 1845, so as to embrace the period affected by
the late Sir Robert Peel's Corn Bill, passed on the 26th
June, 1846, showing the average, as well as the highest
and lowest prices of wheat in each year ending Michael-
mas. I have continued this return up to the preaent
time, and as it may prove interesting to many of your
readers, I beg to annex a copy.—l remain, Sir, your
obedient servant,

_
CHARLES M. WILLICH,
Actuary, University Life Assurance Society.
26, Suffolk-street, Pall-mall, S.W., Oct. 31, 1857.

Annual average price of wheat per imperial quarter in Eng-
land and Wales, from Michaelmas, 1845, to Michaelmas,
1857, together with the highest and lowest weekly average
price in each of the respective years ending Michaelmas-
day :

Average price
for the Year Highest price week Lowest price week
ending ending ending
Michaelmas.
s. d. s. d. s. d.
1846 54 1 Nov, 1, 1845 60 1 Aug. 14, 1846 45 I
1847 71 3 May 29, 1847 102 5 Sept. 18, 1847 49 6
1848 51 3 Sept. 9, 1848 56 10 June 17, 1848 46 10
1849 46 7 Nov. 18, 1848 52 3 Sept. 22, 1849 41 9
1850 40 3 Aug. 10, 1850 44 1 May 4, 1850 36 11
1851 39 5 July 12, 1851 43 6 Sept. 27, 1851 36 7
1852 39 10 Sept. 4, 1852 4t 9 Oct. 11, 1851 35 6
1853 45 7 Oct. 1, 1853 59 5 Oct. 16, 1852 37 1U
1854 72 10 Jan. 28, 1854 83 3 Sept. 16, 1854 52 2
1855 71 10 Aug. 4, 1855 78 2 Oct. 7, 1854 56 7
1856 73 1 Dec. 1, 1855 83 1 Sept. 27, 1856 64 4
1857 59 2 Oct. 25, 1856 66 4 April 18, 1857 53 0

The above annual averages are based on the quarterly averages
for the respective periods.

BIRTHDAY OF TEE PRINCESS ROYAL.—We believe
it was intended to have a Court celebration of the
birthday of the Princess Royal on the 21st of this
month. The state of the health of the King of Prussia
will, of course, affect this intention. Hitherto only the
Queen's birthday has been observed in a public man-
ner, no public reception taking place on those of
the Prince Consort and the Royal children, except
when the Court has been either at Osborne or any other
country residence, when the event has been observed by
fetes to the tenants and domestics of the Sovereign.—
Court Journal.
THE PRINCE OF WALES INARA.CE.—Theßheinlandera
narrate with much glee anecdotes of the sojourn of the
Prince of Wales at the Drachentels. One is to the effect
that the Prince one morning assembled all the juvenile
Rheinschnecken (epalpeens) of the village, and offered al
prize of 10 thalers to the boy first at the top of the
mountain—with the proviso that he (the Prince) was to
be in the race. The line was arranged ; a fair start made;
when the Prince was first at the summit. He behaved
like a Prince, and enriched the whole fraternity by the
distribution of the ten thalers amongst them.—Court
Journal.
PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY TO THE ,
COMMANDER-IN-CNIEF.—Last evening the arrangements I
respecting the presentation of a military trophy, in the
shape of a richly-mounted sword, to his Royal Highness
the Duke of Cambridge, Commanding-in-Chief, were
nearly completed by Mr. Banning, the City Architect,
and his indefatigable assistants connected with the Hall.
Tan SiAmESE EMBLBBT.—Yesterday their Highnesses 11
honoured the establishment of Mr. C. F. Hancock, of
Bruton-street, with s visit, and inspected the great
variety of works of art on view. The princes were
shown the sword Mr. Hancock has just completed for
the Corporation, for presentation to His Royal Highness
the Duke of Cambridge to-morrow; and, after a stay
of upwards of three hours, their Excellencies took their
departure, expressing themselves highly pleased, and
having previously given orders for sundry presents to
take with them on their return to Siam.
THE RUMOURED Loss OF THE iIYDASPES, —A morn-
ing contemporary appears to have been infamously im-
posed upon yesterday, by information said "to have
reached the Admiralty," to the effect that " some serious
damage has happened to the Hydaspes, screw steamer,
on her way to India with 607 picked artillerymen, from
Woolwich, and two batteries." The Admiralty have
received no information from the Hydaspes, beyond the
fact that, after coaling, she left St. Vincent, on the 3d
October, for her destination.
THE " VICTORIA CROSS" AND THE LATE PERSIAN
WAR.—The following officers and men of the Bombay
army have been recommended for the decoration of the
"Victoria Cross," the Order of Valour, for their gallant
conduct in the battle of Koosbab, in breaking a Persian
infantry square on the Bth Feb., 1857 :-3d Regiment
Bombay Light Cavalry—Major Forbes, Lieut. Malcom-
son, Lieut. and Adjutant Moore, Capt. Moore, Car,.
Graves, Capt. Wren, Lieut. Spens, Cornet Coon-;pe
Cornet Hill, Capt. Oldfield, Jemadar Runjeet Sing, and
Trooper Lall Khan.
INDIA ITS PAST AND PRESENT CONDITION AND
FUTURE PROSPECTS.—La.t night a lecture was, 'delivered
at Exeter Hall by the Rev. J. M. Bellew, Irste chaplain
of St. John's Cathedral, Calcutta, "On Irsclia, its past
and present condition, and future prospeAs." The pub
lic interest in the question, which now absorbs all minds,
was manifested by a numerous and highly respectable
attendance, the vast area of the noble hall being well
filled, whilst the galleries and platform were crowded.
THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE --Ey her Majesty's brig
Spartan, which arrived at Plytnouth, we have advices
from the Cape of Good nape to the 22d Aug. Tranquil.
lily prevailed at the CP,pe. Three regiments and two
companies of artillery f.rad been sent on to India. The
ICiffirs on the frontier were dying by hundreds from
starvation, and sev'sral thousands had entered the Colony
where they were led and clothed by the colonists.
THE MAILS, &C.—SOUTHAMPTON, Monday.—The
Royal Mail Oompany's steamship Parana, Captain Bates, left t,o-day with the usual mails for the Westlndies,
&c., a Lull cargo, specie value 25,1021., and
jewellery value 21,4001. She also takes out 222 passes.
gers, au.icaog whom are Count de Mons, lady, and
family ; Captain M'Crea, Captain Omtnaney, Ensign de
Saucey, the Rev. H. Segrave and friends, General
LopeA and family, &c. The screw steamer, Indiana,
CCap-tain Baker, belonging to the European and American
eaupany, arrived here yesterday from London. The
.ollowing mail steamships leave during the week :—The
r Ripon, Captain Dundas, with the India and China
made, on Wednesday ; the Ariel, Captain Ludlow, for
New York, on the same day ; and the 12,uxine, with the
Peninsular mails, on Saturday. The ships due are the
Vanderbilt, Captain E. Higgins, from New York, on Tuesday ; the Colombo, Captain F ield, with the India
and China mails and passenger on Wednesday (ex-
pected on Tuesday) ; the Tage.d, Captain E. Christian,
with the Peninsular mails, on Wednesday ; and the
Australasian, Captain SC'eales, from Alexandria, on
Thursday. The last-on'-cted vessel, however, is not ex-
pected for some days, nothing having yet been heard of
the arrival at Sue; est the Australian mails. The Penin-
sular and Coriew,al Company's steamer Sultan, Captain
Cook, which took out two companies of the Royal En-
gineers to "Alexandria, is also expected here on Thurs.
day or Fr
,day, / with a number of invalided soldiers from
Malta.
The, general business of the port of London during the
Pes.'s week was to an average extent. The number of
&nips reported inward was 263, being 50 less than in the
previous week. Those included 56 with cargoes of grain,
rice, &c., 12 with sugar, 11 with fruit, and 3 with coffee.
The number cleared outward was 131, including 17 in
ballast, showing an increase of 6.
It is believed that the object of calling the meeting of
the Liverpool Borough Bauk is to submit a plan for sus-
taining and re-establishing the institution. The list of
shareholders contains the names of a great number of the
largest capitalists in Liverpool and the neighbourhood,
and an opinion appears to be entertained that it would
be a much less onerous task to sustain the bank than to
supply the deficiency which would arise if it were at
once wound up. In 1847 one of the largest banks in
Liverpool was, it is asserted, rescued from similar diffi-
culties by firmness and by the prompt raising of addi-
tional capital. That tank, it is stated, still stands, and
stands without the least suspicion being entertained of
its stability, and it is presumed that the Borough Bank
may be revived in the same manner.
A meeting was held yesterday afternoon of creditors
of Mr. A. Hill, shipping agent and commission mer-
chant, whose suspension followed upon the announce.
meat of the failure of Messrs. Roes, Mitchell, and Co.,
with which firm he had had some rather large accommo-
dation transactions. A statement of affairs, prepared by
Mr. Chatteris, the accountant, was submitted, from
which it appeared that the total liabilities expected to bey
proved against the estate are 61,2681., of which 50,477/.
is on account of accommodation bills. The assets are,
estimated at 17,4301. A proposal was made on the
part of the insolvent that a composition be accepted
of ss. 83. in the pound,payable in three instalments, ex-
dtending f
2s.
over
4d,
to theyear,ttorabjeecreditors
succeeded
only, securedbyafurther divi;

an assignment of claims of the estate upon the drawexs
of the irregular paper, After a short discussion a reso-
lution was passed accepting the terms, subject tq coofir.
*nation by all the creditors within one month.

LATEST NEWS.

THE INDIA MAILS.

My ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY, 10 A.M.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Colombo, Captain Field, arrived at three a.m.,
but her papers, &c., have only just come to hand.
Her passengers have not yet landed ; they are
135 in number, including Prince Victor Hohen-
lohe. She had three boxes of specie, value
5,2661., and a large miscellaneous cargo, including
2,099 bales of silk and 31 cases of shawls.

Lord Lyons and his squadron were at Candia,
but were expected at Malta soon for the winter.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Sultan was at Alexandria when the Colombo left,
expecting to come home with invalids.

The Colombo's dates are—Alexandria, Oct.
21st ; Malta, 25th ; and Gibraltar, 29th.
Gibraltar exchanges on the 24th were—Lon-
don, 50i ; Paris, sf. 37c. ; Marseilles, 538 ;
Genoa, 539.

THE PENINSULAR MAILS.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY MORNING.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer Tagus, Captain Christian, has arrived.
She left Gibraltar Oct. 24th ; Cadiz, 25th ;
Lisbon, 29th ; Oporto, 30th ; and Vigo, 31st.
She has 15 passengers, 5001. ix specie, and
a cargo of fruit, &c.
She passed, Oct. 29, the steamer Teutonia,
steering for Lisbon ; Nov. 2, passed the steam
brig Brilliant, steering S.W.
The average number of people dying daily at
Lisbon from fever was from 80 to 100.
Little money offered upon the Lisbon Exchange
—London, 54k ; Paris, 520 ; Amsterdam, 43i ;
Hamburg, 48k. Business generally suspended.
Stocks same as last packet.

VIENNA, OCT. 31.

Austria has joined Prussia in the step of placing
the Holstein question before the Diet. This circum-
stance greatly increases the serious character of
that question.

HAMBURG, Nov. 2.

After seven clays' debate in the Chambers of
Sweden, the law on religious liberty was rejected
by the orders of the Nobles, the Clergy, and the
Peasants; the order of the Burgesses alone adopt-
ing it.

BERNE, OCT. 31.
The federal council has come to an important de-
cision on the s abject of the separation of the
parishes of Tessino from the Lombardian bishoprics.
One of the principal legal authorities has been
directed to draw up a complete statement treating the
question both as regards public and ecclesiastical
right.