The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-19 00:00:00

THE SMITHFIELD MEETINGS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIIN.
Sin, —Will you do me an act of justice by insertion of
the following

The low-priced daily papers of the metropolis, in pre-
tending to give a report of my speech at Smithfield on
Tuesday, have published as such an unconnected farrago
of nonsensical declamation, not one syllable of which I
ever uttered. The threepenny papers appear to have
had but one reporter between them, for their reports
are identical. Their misrepresentation is calculated to
do me serious injury, and I come to you for justice.
Your report of my words, so widely different from
theirs, is correct, and I may, perhaps, be permitted to
observe that, widely as you differ from my views, you
never condescend to misrepresent the words I utter in
the reports you give.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ERNEST JONES.
143, Strand, Feb. 18.

The sums paid into the Paris Savings Bank last week
amounted to 518,584 f , from 5,133 depositors, of whom
787 were new ; and the reimbursements to 498,323 f.
THE RIISSIAN-DTJTCII LOAN.—Yesterday a Parlia-
mentary paper was issued, showing that on the 31st
December last the interest due on the Russian-Dutch
Loan was 743,750 florins, and the principal 15,000,000
g )rips.
The Moniteur publishes a decree extending to the 30th
June, 1859, the authorisation previously granted to the
Mouzaia Mining Company, to export direct from Algeria
to foreign countries copper ore to the extent of 6,000
tons.

A Parliamentary paper published yesterday shows the
bullion operations of the Bank during the past year.
The amount of bar and foreign gold taken to them was
7,070,831/., while the sums withdrawn were 1,967,6301.
of bar and foreign, and 5,632,2761. of British coin,
making a total of 7,599,9061.
The weekly reviews from the Amsterdam and Rotter-
dam produce markets state that business had been
rather more animated, and that prices continued to he"
well supported. The operations in refined sugar had
been at an advance, while coffee, tea, and indigo showed
increased firmness. The lettere from Rouen speak of a
rather better demand for manufactures, but there was
no alteration in rates.
It is now estimated that the Peninsular and Oriental
steamer C.,13mb0, to sail on the 20th for India, will take
out 660,0001., principally silver. For the succeeding mail
of th 3 4th, which will include remittances to China,
about 230,0001. is already engaged. Not withstanding
these arrangements, the stock of silver on the market has
not been entirely absorbed, and the price yesterday
showed inerea-ied heaviness.
A correspondence between the Government and the
Bank, just printed, shows the only advances on deficiency
bills during the year to have been 2,000,000/. in the
quarter ending the 31st of March. In the December
quarter the Bank agreed to purchase at par 2,000,0001.
out of the 4,000,0001. of Exchequer-bills authorised to
be created last session, but the amount negotiated was
ultimately limited to 1,000,0001.
The half-yearly meeting of the Great Northern Rail-
way Company, called for the 28th inst., has been post-
poned'until the 12th March. This meeting will be made
extraordinary, "to receive a report from the directors on
the subject of the forgeries and frauds committed by
Leopold Redpath on the company, and to authorise the
directors to make application to Parliament, and take
other measures they may deem advisable in reference
thereto."

A BISHOP PREACHING IN A PRISON.—On Septuage-
sima Sunday the bishop of this diocese attended divine
service and preached in the county gaol. The text
selected by his lordship was Isaiah, chap. i., v. 18 :
"Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as
snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as
wool." From these words he addressed his hearers, first,
on the plainness of sin ; and, secondly, on the fullness
of pardon. The sermon was listened to with marked at-
tention, and several of the. prisoners were moved to tears.
—Carlisle Pat., iot.
DISSOLUTION OF THE STEPNEY UNlON.—Yesterday,
Mr. South well, bhe vestry clerk of the hamlet of Mile-
end Old Town, containing 65,000 inhabitants, received
an official letter from the Central Poor-law Board, giving
orders for the separation of the hamlet from the Stepney
Union. The separation is to take effect on Lady-day
next, and a board of guardians, to consist of 18 persons,
are to be elected on the 14th of March.
THE ART TREASURES' PALACE.—The Art Treasures'
Palace at Manchester being now covered in and com-
pleted externally the executive committee threw open
the great halt and picture galleries yesterday to the sub-
scribers to the guarantee fund and their friends, and to
season ticketholders, for a promenade. A band of music
was in attendance, and the ladies and gentlemen who
availed themselves of this unexpected invitation to view
the building in its present unfinished state were between
6,000 and 7,000 in number, despite the unfavourable
weather which prevailed during the day.
MADAME TIISSAUD'S EXHIBITION. The splendid
chamber termed the Napoleon room has just been com-
pleted, and has opened the entire length of the various
rooms containing the groups and figures exhibited. This
room now contains most splendid mirors nearly sur-
rounding the appartment, ard giving great lightness and
brilliant effect to the chamber. The figure of Napoleon
1., surrounded by Murat, King of Naples, MarshatNey,
, DasveLee of Anetria, Frederick Wiliam, the u
King of Prussia, Alexander 1., of Russia, and Field-
Marshal Pr.ll`e Blucher.
The Australian mail steamer will leave Liverpool
about five days previous to her sailing from Southampton
wi h the mails. It is probable, however, that now there
is a direct railway communication with the north of
England, that before long the Australian packets will
take in ail their cargo and passengers, as well as mails,
at Southampton, and also land all their cargo and pas-
sengers at that port. This will depend, however, on the
charges for the conveyance of goods from the north-west
to the south of England by rail being moderate. It is
expected that the Australian mad, which will be de-
spatched on the 24th in 4., will consist of about 600
boxes of letters and newspapers, each box weighing about
three quarters of a hundred weight.
LIVERPOOL, Feb. 18.—The United States mail at( am
ship Atlantic sailed hence for New York to-day, with
nine passengers, a full carp, and the usual mails. There
is also on board, in custody, the man Winter, who, as
stated in The Sun on Monday, was chased across the
Atlantic by one of his employers in the Persia, and cap-
tured on entoring the river, charged with stealing $2,000.
The ship Fortune, belonging to the "Black Ball" lire
of packets, will 'sail to-morrow for Melbourne with about
157 passengers. She was to have taken her departure
to-day ; but this meshing her first and third mates
(Joseph Duncan and John Jones) were sent to prism
for three months each, and their certificates were can-
celled, for having broken into the spirit stores, opened
several packages, and wasted and drunk a considerable
quantity of brandy, wine, and other liquors. They have
been replaced by better men.
THE VALPARAISO PACKET-STEAMER CHIME. —Th e
Chilie, the first of a new line of packet steamers to run
between London and Valparaiso, has been obliged to
put back. She left the Channel in the early part of last
month, but met with a severe storm in the Bay of Biscay,
and was completely dismasted. The storm commenced
during the night of the 20th of January, and at half past
3on the following morning her foremast went. All her
rigging and gear, as well as her maintop Mast, were then
cut away, and in the afternoon of the 21st,her mainmast
went by the board, taking with it the second mate and
a boy, who were, however, got on board before the mas
was clear of the side. Part of the rigging became en

tangled in the after part of the ship, and for some days
prevented the screw from being lowered into its place,
and it WM with great difficulty that she succeeded in
reaching Plymouth, where she arrived on the 13th inbt.,
and now remains to refit.
THE Loss OF THE STEAMER RAVENSBOI7RNE. —Not-
withstanding the assistance afforded by the Dutch Go-
vernment to raise the sunken steamer .Ravensbourne,
which foundered on the morning of the Bth inst., off
Flushing, abreast of the Royal Dockyard, all attempts
to accomplish that difficult task have failed, and it is much
feared that this vessel, will become a total wreck. The
Ravensbourne left Antwerp at noon for London, and, in
accordance with her usual custom, she brought up on
reaching Flushing, in order to discharge the river pilot.
There was also on board the Dutch Admiral (FUrguson)
and his daughter, who being desirous of landing at the
Arsenal, the Ravensbourbe, it is understood, was endea.
vouring to effect that object when she unhappily was
carried by the current on to some sunken piles, and in
extricating herself no doubt stove in the forepart of the
ship. The captain, finding the fore-compartment rapidly
filling, immediately ran her for the dockyard, and suc-
ceeded in reaching the entrance of the main basin, when
she grounded, and all efforts to get her in failed. About
2 o'clock the following morning, owing to the fore-com-
partment giving way, the mainhold and afterpart imme.
diately filled, when the vessel slipped off the bank where
she bad grounded and went down in deep water. All
the passengers and crew (excepting captain and chief
officer), with specie and deck cargo, had been previously
lsnded. The captain and chief officer were on deck at
the time when she foundered, and only escaped by jump.
kg overboard and swimming ashore. Part of her cargo
was insured at Lloyd's on the morning the steamer was
lost.

TRH CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANY.—In making
comments on this undertaking, we have only acted in
accordance with our acknowledged object, that of pro-
moting all legitimate enterprises that support the mining
interest, or that have a tendency to develops such in-
terest ; and we repeat, that a water company, for the
purpose indicated, is the most legitimate ; and, from the
data that has been furnished us, it appears to be most
profitable. We are glad to find that our opinion is con-
firmed by our excellent correspondent, Captain Matthew
Francis, but as to the amount of capital required he ap •
pears to be in error. The absolute capital asked for
does not ixceed 145,0001., which cannot appear large if
the extent of distance is looked to-35 miles in length
and 600 miles in area—and through which hundreds of
miles of parallel flumes or ditches are to be cut. There
are, no doubt, valuable rights to be paid for, but the
arrangement wade by the California Water Company, in
this instance, seems most unexceptionable to the Eng-
lish investors, as those rights, whatever they amount to,
will be included in the gross capital, and are to be paid
for in class B shares, which are not entitled to receive
dividends until 20 per cent, has been paid to the sub-
scribers. It must not be overlooked that the calculations
made in the company's pamphlet, to which we have fre-
quently referred, are upon the maximum,, amount of
capital, and whatever difference may arise in the pro-
jected arrangements will be so much saved.fcr the gene-
ral benefit of the shareholders ; but thoiie advantages,
as stated, are solargo. that if only one-half were realised
it would amply satisfy the English investors. All the
accounts from California agreelithat such enterprises are
much wanted, while those ,in "existence at present pay
almost fabulous diiidends.--!•ffinirl
1857. Journa/, Feb. 14,