The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-05 00:00:00

A PLEASANT COMPANION.

A laughable story is current in this city about Cal-
craft, the London hangman, who passed through here
on Thursday week, having " a retainer" which re-
quired lain presence It Monmouth. In the course of
the morning one of the Monmouth coachmen was ac-
costed by a tall, decent-looking man, bearing a carpet
bag, who wanted to learn whoa the coach started for
Monmouth. The knight of the road informed him
with all the suavity due to a customer. " Ah,"
said the strainger, "it is a long time to wait ; I should
like to take a glass of ale." " Well, sir," replied the
obliging coachman, "my house is the —, and you
will be well served there ; I will go with you. Sup-
pose you leave your carpet bag at the office ?" "N o,
no," said the stranger hastily, clutching the handle
firmly, " I would rather not part with that." To
make a long story short, the improptu friends
lunched together, afterwards dined together,
doubtless enjoying each other's conversation,
and then took a friendly pipe together. Whilst so
engaged, a brother R hip joined the party, and after
the usual greetings the discourse turned upon business.
"1 say," said the new corner, " I shouldn't wonder if
one of us has Calcraft to take down to-day." "Blow
me," was the reply, " if I take him. I drove that cus-
tomer before, a year agone, and a shabby customer be
is, too. He nevergives nothing to nobody,' he don't, and
he shan't have the opportunity with me." And then the
two friends joined in a full, true, and particular account
of Master Calcraft and his doings, and his looks,;habits,
manners were confidently, if not accurately sketched.
" Ab," said one, " he sold fire ropes as that which
Rush was hung with"—" and five suits of clothes as
the one he was hung in," chimed in the other. The
stranger meanwhile said nothing, probably having
too much taste to be so personal ; but a keen ob-
server might have noticed that his visage grew a
shade darker, and he puffed his smoke rather
more fiercely as the epithets of his companions
grew more racy. At length, the coachman and his
stranger friend started for Monmouth, and chatted
pleasantly on the road, whereat some brothers of the
whip passing up, seemed to stare, though the pace
was too fast to give or seek explanation. The de-
nouement occurred, we believe, at Ross. The coach-
man, to his chagrin, discovered that though he was
determined not to carry such a scurvy rogue, yet that
he had actually lunched, dined. and smoked
with Calcraft himself, and to make matters worse had
abused him before his face. "Never mind, my boy," said
Calcraft, tipping a shilling as he got down at Mon-
mouth, and a wag of a friend declares that the fellow
added, "we shall meet again." The carpet bag con-
tained the " materials" for the execution, as Calcraft
delicately styles the haltar and other small matters of
his craft. He was paid 151. for hanging the two
Irishmen at Monmouth, and was to have had, it ie
said, 101. for executing Hannah Curtis in this city.—
Gloucester Journal.

STATE OF TRADE.
(From the Manchester Guardian)
MANCHESTER, TUESDLY.—Three muds reaching
us in one day—from the ETA Indies, the West In-
dies, and the United States, the latter showing that
an advance of a quarter of a cent, per lb. in the
price of cotton had taken plac at New York—
have not only supplied no stimulus to our market,
but have failed to sustain matters in the position which
they occupied during the latter half of last week.
Extremely little business has been done in good.
of any kind, whether for shipment or fur home con-
sumption ; and the general tendency of prices is against
the producers. The Greeks appear to have had a
principal hand in the small operations of the day. The
India merchants have held more d-cidedly aloof than
they did before. As regards yarns, there has been, on
the one hand, an increased desire to sell, especially
warps and cops ; and, on the other hand, a further di-
minution of confidence, particularly among the buyers
of warps and cops. The consequence is, that the
quotations for these articles have again suffered some '
reduction ; while, with but partial changes in the
nominal rates of the lower and medium counts of mule
and water, in the bundle, concessions are made where
sales are ffected, though not in the same degree as in
the first-named articles. There can be no doubt that
the failure of a large manufacturer of domestics, and
the unsatisfactory character of the accounts of our
staples in the Calcutta market have contributed to the
state of things here described ; but this state of things
is, in a much greater degree, to be regarded as a
subsidence of that upward movement which, a month
ago, a ided id. to fd. per lb. to prices in Liverpool ;
and, though not in en equal degree, raised them in
Manchester also. For that rise no solid reason could
be assigned. It sprung out of a mere speculative
impulse, and was sure, therefore, to be followed
by a reaction. Such impulses and reac
tions have occurred several times within a few
months ; and their ill effects are deserving of serious
attention, and ought to be productive of increased
caution. 'Whatever may he the probability that the
value of cotton is not likely to be permanently lower
for some time to come, it must certainly happen,
with so high a range of prices, that, after every rise,
suddenly effected by artificial operations, there will
be a speedy rebound, to the great injury, not only of'
many individuals, but of the trade at large. The
confidence with which, but very lately, a progressive
advance was inspiring our customers, as to its perma-
nence, has been sadly shaken by recent recoils from
undue and unreal starts, and especially by that, which
commencing about three weeks since, has more de-
cidedly manifested itself today. Tnis is more particu-
larly the case abroad, where the spirit of our market
is but very slowly caught. The continental merchants
in this town are almost paralysed from this cause.
ROCUDALE, MONDAY.—So brisk was the demand
for fi innels to-day, that the pieces were all cleared
out by eleven o'clock in the forenoon. The wool
market is much the same as it has been for some
weeks past, both as regards prier- and demand.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—We have had a fair
trade doing to-day. The market begins to wear a
better aspect. New patterns for the corning season
meet with ready purchasers. Low woollens and
fancies continue to have'the best sale. ahe trade of
the week has been an average one.
HALIFAX, SATURDAY.—AIthough there was but a
glen ler attendance of buyers in the Piece Hall to-
day, yet there is no material alteration in the general
state of the worsted trade, which is steady and
healthy. The demand for yarn has suffered no di-
minution, and prices are without alteration. Wools
are rather quiet, and the quotations show considerable
firmness.
LEEDS,
doneTulastnithre.—ClAotlhthHottaglihs
ttoll-deraev, hsatsillnothte de-
liveries so much.
liveries of woollen ends to order continue very large ;
and, in consequence of the lowness of stocks, and the
advance in the price of wool, prices are looking up.
Business is good in the warehouses, both for the home
trade and for shipping.

ACCIDENT ON TUE SOUTII-WESTERN RAILWAY;
An accident occurred on the above railway on Tuesday night.
Tne 7 r.st. down train left the Waterloo road station at the
usual hour for Guildford, and proceeded onwards without
meeting with any interruption until it had arrived about
midway between Esher and Weybridge. Shortly after pass-
ing the first-nam,d station the engine-driver espied some
moving objects on the line; he therefore shut off .he steam
and sienalf d to the guards to apply the breaks, but before
they had sufficient time to do so the engine came i❑ contact
with the obstruction in front, which was dashed to pieces,
and in an instant portions of flesh and blood were scattered
over the driver and stoker as well 8.9 over several of the car-
riages. It was then ascertained that a great number of
sheep had strolled upon the line from one of the adjoining
meadows, but owing to the train not being impeded in its
progress the driver proceeded on its journey, leaving word
as he went by the different stations for hiquiries to be made
as to the extent of mischief done- Yesterday morning it was
clearly a>certained that from 20 to 25 sheep had been cut to
pieces, and their mangled remains were found scattered in
sundry directions on the line. They were picked up by
the driver of the goods train, and conveyed to the nearest
station. The animals, it seems, had obtained an entrance
upon the line owing to some defect in palings which sur-
rounded the meadow where they were at pasture.

MISCELLANEOUS.
Dividend Amount
Name of Company. per of Paid. Price.
Annum. Share.
X. s. d. X. s. d.
inetion Mart.. ••• • • • 21. ss. 50 0 0 , 25
tustrallan Agricultarl 11. 100 0 0 3O 0 0 15
5.1410-Mexican Mint.. 11. 10s. 10 0 0 110 0 0 20
Ditto, Half Shares.. I 2 10 0 5
Canada ... • • ........ 61. per cent. 100 0 0'32 10 0 SG
Uppr Canada Bonds 51. per. cent. 1
flity Navigation .... 9554
Gen. Revers. & Invest. sp. c.lk bs, 21 100 0 0 100 0 0
Equitable Reversleary 5/. pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 106
Gea.Steam Navigation 11.8 s. 15 0 0 14 0 0 27%
London Institution ... 78 15 0
Russell Institution.... 26 5 0
Peninslr& Orient.Stm. 81. per cant. 50 0 0' 50 0 0
Reversionary Int. Soc. 041. pr cent. 100 0 0 100 0 0 95
Royal Mail Steam •• •• 61 18.4. p. c. 100 0. 0 60 0 0
South Australian ..• • • 11. per share. 25 0 0 25 0 0
Van Dieman's Land. 100 0 0 29 0 0 13i

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
BRISTOL, Szrr. 4.

STOCK EXCHANGEL—The share market presents a much
brisker appearance than it did on Tuesday, and prices are is
shade better. The sales were—Great W estern, 61'4—York
and North Midland, 163% ex div.
LIVERPOOL. SEPT. 4. _

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The share market was dull to-day,
bat prices remain without any material deviation. The
transactions were as follow :—Lancashire and Yorkshire,
consolidated, 4214—Ditto, Fifths, 9 dis.—Ditto, 321. Shares,
834 dis.—Lancaster and Preston, 8 p.—Dittto, Three-quarter
Shares, 18 p.—London and North-Western, 110—Ditto,
New Quarters, 15-16 p.—Midland, 3334—Ditto, Halwei. 25
dis. —South-Eastern and Dover, l6l6—Ditto (No. 4), Regis-
tered, 514—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Pur-
chase, 6 per cent. till 1150), 5 1-16 dis.—York and North
Midland, 1678.

MANCHESTER, SErr. 4.
STOCK EXCRANOK. —The share market was firm to-day,
hut there was little business doing. The transactions were as
follow: Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire Junction
(Chester and Birkenhead), 121/.l—Lancashire and Yorkshire,
42%—llitto, Fifths. 9 n. d.—Ditto, 321. (late Extension),
Ft-9 dis.—Ditto ( West Riding Union), 73.; dis.—South-
Eastern and Dover, 1634—Ditto, Consul. (No. 4), 5 9-16—
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 15V,. 7'

BIRNIINGHAM, SEPT. 4.
SIONC ExcriANGE.—There was a fair amount of bri.sCiness
transacted to-day, and prices had an upward tendency.
London and North-Western, New Quarters, were done at
p.—Shrewsbury an
yd
c .c,
sT. Birminghamzp (A),3 8/. 18s. 9d. dis.

STOCZ EXCHANGE.—The transactions to-day were as
follow: —York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 15178—Caledonian,
B:lc—Great Western, 61—North British, 636 —York and
North Midland, 1633.

Sir George Grey has left Balmoral for his seat,
Fallodon, Northumberland.