The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-06 00:00:00

SPAIN.

Madrid journals of the 30th ult. have arrived.
The Gaceta publishes a royal decree granting a
new credit of 20,000,000 reels (200,0001.) to the
Minister of Marine for the construction of two
steamers of 500-horse power each, and for the pur-
chase of timber for the construction of eight war
vessels. The decree is founded.on the necessity of
augmenting the Spanish navy as demonstrated by the
late events in Cuba.

General JOSE DE LA CONCHA still refused to accept
the office of War Minister.

The Espana contains some important statements
with respect to the questions at issue between the
Spanish Government, and those of Naples and
the United States. It says that the news of the
projected marriage of the Count of MONTEMOLIN
with the Princess MARIA CAROLINA FERNANDA of
Naples is fully confirmed, and adds that the Go-
vernment have entirely approved the first step taken
by the Duke of RivAs in this matter, and " have
sent him instructions in conformity with what is de-
manded by our dignity, the national interests, and the
rights of the Crown of Spain." It also says that the
Minister of Marine has given orders for the Castilla
steamer to proceed from Alicant to Naples, and re-
main there at the disposition of the Spanish Ambas-
sador, in case he should find himself under the
necessity of asking for his passports and withdrawing
himself.
With respect to the points at dispute with the
American Government, it says :—" Accounts, which
we regard as highly correct, state that the reclama-
tion' made by the Government of the United States
on our own Government are of a sufficiently exigent
character, since they require not only that the pirates
made prisoners at Women's Island shall be set at
liberty, but also that the two vessels taken from
them by our own marine shall be given up." It
further states, in connexion with the Cuban affair, that
the Duke of SOTOMAYOR has had several conferences
with the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, "in
order to open negotiations for the purpose of forming
between the parties interested a treaty, which may
prevent the piracies that might be committed for the
future under the shade of the anomalous legislation of
the United States on this point. The French Mi-
nister, knowing the opportuneness o£_ the indications
of our Ambassador, and the fruits which so useful a
treaty may produce, has received the idea extremely
well, agreeing at once that England be invited, in
.11
order that they may-
proceed by common accord 1
everything which relates to this important subject.',
The Bolsa was closed on the 30th ult.

GERMANY.
PEACE WITH DENMARK.
Advices from Berlin of the 2d announce the con-
clusion of a definitive treaty of peace between Den-
mark on the one side and Prussia acting for herself
and Germany on the other. The Danish ultimatum
has been accepted with some trifling modifications.
The general conditions, in so far as relates to Schles-
wig, are agreed to, and Prussia and Germany are
bound to maintain peace and neutrality, supposing
that Holstein should remain recalcitrant, and offer re-
sistance. It is owing to the firm and at the same time
conciliatory conduct in which the British Minister
has conducted the mediation that the negoti-
ations have lead to this successful result,
The following telegraphic dispatch, announcing a
change in the Wirtemburg Ministry has been received
by the French Government :
" The Wirtemburg Ministry has resigned. The Kii,g
has accepted their resignations.
" On the 2d, the following were designated as the new
Cabinet :
" M. do Lindau ...... Interior.
M. de Piesten Police.
M. de Remhardt ... Foreign Affairs.
M. Knappe Finances.
M. de Muller War.
M. Kammener Public Worship."
The Vienna journals of the 20th announce that the
Minister of Finance has published his estimates,
showing a deficit of 22 millions of florins. The extra-
ordinary military expenses absorb 17,630,363 florins
of this' sum.
The Austrian Government is erecting on the Wie-
nerberg an, arsenal and citadel, covering 35 acres of
ground, capable of accommodating 20,000 men, and
to be surrouuded by coutillUQUi W 411; VlClPting 85

126,343

747,994

621,651

pieces of cannon. The Viennese
and call it the Bastile. There

regard it with horror,
is a famine in Istria.

POST-OFFICE DEBATE ON TUES-

DAY NEXT.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The following is a copy of a letter I have just
dispatched to a Liberal Memher of Parliament, whe
was not present in his place when Lord Ashley and his
miscellaneous band carried the late Address to the
Crown on the subject of the Post-cffice, and which ill-
considered move on their part, as developing itself in
practical results, should be designated, " A Scheme for
the more t ffectual increase of Labour, Toil, and Vexa•
tion on the Sabbath Day—for causing letters, hitherto
written on a Saturday, to be penned on the Sunday; and
for promoting disaster, losses, heartburnings, and ill-will,
every day of the week." I em, &c.,
J. J.,
Barrister-at-Law.

Inner Temple, July 5, 1850.

(Copy Letter.)
My Lord,—May Ibe permitted, as one of your con-
stituents, who had the pleasure to vote for you at the
last general election, to express an earnest hope that
your convenience, and inclinations also, will permit you
to be present in the House of Commons, on Tuesday
next, the 9th current, and then and there to assist in
procuring the revocation of one of the most atrocious
and ILLEGAL orders, with ri spect to the non-collection
and non-deli►ery et letters by the Post-office on a Sun-
day, that the foolhardiness of a Minister ever caused
thp Crown to issue, contrary to his own convictions of
such order's utility, in excess of the Crown's power in
the special case; and from both these causes, in deroga-
tion of its dignity.
I am, my Lord, your obedient ser►ant,
J. J.

THE WATER IN THE SERFENTINE.—At the meet-
ing of the Botanical Society of London, held at the society's
rooms, 20, Bedford-street, Strand, last evening, Mr. J. H.
Wilson, in the chair, a paper was read by Dr.
Arthur Hassell, " On the Colouration of the Water of the
Serpentine." In this communication it was shown that the
periodical and coppery green colouration of the water of the
Serpentine is due to the presence of a minute plant belonging
to the tribe of Alga, of which the writer gave a detailed and
critical description, and which he named Thompsoni. The
development of this plant takes place early in the spring,
out of sight and at the bottom of the water, and it is only
on the approach of the warm weather of summer that it
diffuses itself through the water, deeply colouring it, and
that part of it rises to the surface, forming a scum or pellick
of a bright serugmous or coppery green colour. The whole
of the water of the Serpentine is not usually coloured at one
time, but different portions of it at different times, according
to the strength and direction of the wind, which drives the
plant before it. At one time it is found to collect at the Hyde-
park extremity ; at another it is present in the Kensington
division ; sometimes in the north and at others on the south
shore—the remaining parts of the Serpentine being entirely
free from the plant. This variable distribution, which unex-
plained would be apt to occasion surprise, accounts for the
tact that the observer may sometimes visit the Serpentine
and not see a trace of the plant in question, and hence he
might be led to form an erroneous conclusion as to the condi-
tion of the water. The observer, therefore, who wishes to
come at its real state should make the tour of the whole of
the Serpentine. Considered in a sanitary point of view, Dr.
Hassell is of opinion that the plant, when actually intro-
duced into the system, as when swallowed in bathing, would
not be productive of effects injurious to health, and regards
it as a test of impurity and as an evidence of the very bad
condition in which the water of the Serpentine now undoubt-
edly is. Dr. Hassell concluded the communication by ob-
serving that the coloration of large pieces of water by means
of confervie is by no means unfrequent, and cited as a re-
markable instance of it in the Red Sea, which derives its
name and colour, from the presence of a minute plant diffused
through the water of a blood red colour.
ALARMING EXPLOSION OF FIREWORKS.,--MIRACH-
Love EscArE.—Last night (Friday) the neighbourhood of
Brunswick•square was thrown into a state of considerable
confusion in consequence of a most fearful explosion of fire-
works taking place on the premises of Mr. Page, a pyro-
technist and dealer in birds, carrying on business in Cromer-
street, leading into the above square. The disaster occurred
from some unexplained cause in the front 'shop, in which a
large quantity of fireworks and gunpowder was deposited.
So sudden was the shock and so fearful the explosion that
the whole of the front of the shop was blown into the street,
and the goods in the window were sent completely across
the road. Several families were at that time in the upper
floors, and owing to the dense vapour which ascended and
filled the several apartments it was with the greatest clit'-
ficulty that the various persons were enabled to escape;
was they were nearly suffocated with sulphur. Owing to
the combustible nature of the stock in trade but few minutes
elapsed ere the whole of the ground-floor became enveloped
in flames. Mr. Page, in his endeavours to subdue the hre,
was badly burnt over the hands, and so were two or three of
the neighbours who volunteered their assistance. The fire
was extinguished, but not before the whole of Mr. Page's
stock in trade was destroyed and serious injury done to his
furniture, &c. The sufferer, unfortunately, was not insured
for a single penny. _ _

Mr. M ACAULAY.—The Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay,
with his sister, Lady Trevelyan, and her daughter, remained
in Inverness over Thursday last, and proceeded on Friday
morning by the steamer to Fort-William. The party at-
tended divine service in the High Church here on Thursday
forenoon (it being a fast-day), and in the afternoon drove to
the battlefield of Culloden. In this Highland tour Mr.
Macaulay has witnessed the scene of some important events
that will fall under his review as an historian, namely, the
Pass of Killiecrankie , where Dundee received his death-
wound; the field of Culloden; and the rugged valley of
Glencoe, connected with one of the darkest and least defensi-
ble actions in the reign of William the Third. To one who
is no less felicitous in brief sketches of local scenery and
manners than in the higher and graver duties of the historian,
these personal visits will he as valuable as the out-door
studies of the artist. —lnverness Courier.
ELECTION OF SHERIFFS or LONDON AND MIDDLE-
SEX.—Andrew Caldecott, Esq., who was on Midsummer day
elected, with Alderman Carden, to fill the office of sheriff of
London and sheriff of Middlesex, having intimated his in-
tention of declining to fill the office during the ensuing
year, several candidates have already been named to be put
in nomination at the next Common Hall, and yesterday
morning the Town Hall as well as Guildhall were exten-
sively placarded with the names of Henry James Coombes,
Esq., citizen and ironmonger, and George Edmund Hodg-
kinson, for sheriff. No day has yet been appointed for the
election, as no official announcement of the refusal to serve
can be made, Mr. Caldecott having fourteen days from the
day of election to appear before the Court of Aldermen, who
then, on failure of appearance or sufficient excuse, order the
fine of 5001. to be recorded, and the Lord Mayor issues his
precept for another election. Had Mr. Caldecott refused
before being chosen, the fine would only have been 4001.
ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—His Excel-
lency the Nepaulese Ambassador, his brother, and suite,
visited this institution yesterday afternoon. The visitors
were accompanied over the different departments by Mr.
Longbottom,the secretary, who explained the mode of ex-
hibiting the Dissolving Views. Their Highnesses were much
pleased, and immediately requested to have a similar appara-
tus constructed for them. The boat-cloak of Lieutenant
Halket, R.N., for preserving life, which was exhibited on
the water, also attracted attention. Their Highnesses then
visited the chess-rooms in connexion with the Institution,
and the ambassador gave a position of the game which will
puzzle our best players to unravel.
OFFICIAL CHANGES.—Mr. Tuffnell retires from
the Treasury; Mr. Hayter takes his position. Mr. George
C. Lewis, now Under Secretary for the Home Department,
succeeds Mr. Hayter, and the Hon. Ed. Bouvesie, the Mem-
ber for Kilmarnock, goes to the Home-office.
GREAT EXHIBITION or 1851.—Yesterday a nume-
rous meeting of the City Committee took place at the Man-
sion-house. Sir Moses Montefiore, Bart., in the chair. Mr.
Wire read the report ..f the deputAion and subcommittee
upon the protection of designs. It stated that the princi-
pal feature of the proposed measure was the privi'ege of
provisional registration, which it conferred on all parties de-
sirous of the opportunity of exhibiting publicly their designs
or inventions wit bout forfeiture of their copy or patent-right
therein. The report was agreed to. A paper containing
the particulars of a conference held on the 27th June with
the Royal Commissioners was then read. It related to a
great variety of matters, amongst which were the appoint-
ment of juries to award the prizes for objects in each branch
of trade, the combination of price as an element in the esti-
mate of excellence, the price of admission, which was not in
any case to be gratuitous, &c. &c. The paper concluded
with the announcement that a resolution approving of the
site of Hyde-park for the buildings, was signed by a large
majority of the delegates present. A resolution approving
of the selection of Hyde-park for the site of the building for
the Exhibition was adopted, and the meeting separated.
Tar Mown —We have further accounts of the
appearances on the Moors. Grouse and deer are plentiful,
but some of the gamekeepers state that, owing to the snow-
storm in May, one-half pf the birds win be late ill arriyigig
to matuxity. lUCTIMIB 00 ;frier.

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, TW 0 O'CLOCK.
The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were esti-
mated at from 10,000 to 12,000 bales, of which about
6,000 were taken on speculation. The market cloud
firmly.--In Railway Stares a fair business was done ai
improved quotations.
The accounts received from the manufacturing dis,
tricts relative to this week's operations aro very satis-
factory, whether as regards cotton or woollens, but the
latter especially; and _%tr. G. F. Maudley remarks t f the
Bradford trade as follows :

" The upward tendency of prices noticed in my last re-
port has been fully developed, and augmented prices have
been paid both For the raw staple and finished labile. Wool
has been moved off freely at an advance of some 15 per
cent. on Middle Wetheis. Yarns continue to be pro-
duced to order, and spinners thus engaged will not accept
contracts at a less advance than 4d. to 61 per gross, or
say Id. per lb. Indeed spinners of Mohair and Alpaca
Yarns are so full of orders that they are unwilling to give
quo'ations. Piece goods of all sorts are taken off as soon as
out of the looms, and all the best makers are under con-
tract for some months to come. A further rise of about
a shilling per piece bas been established for ail descrip-
tions. These :•auses, combined with an advance in the
prices of dyeing, strictly unforced by the master dyere,
who have entered into a le ague for the upholding an
uniform and higher tariff, render the market a very
awkward and unpleasant one for buyers, and for agents
under limits especially, and there appears to be at pre-
sent no prospect of a speedy reaction,—the probabilities
being rather in the country direction. This district has
now, for some eighteen months past, been in a highly
prosperous condition; the operatives all fully employed
at excellent wages, and their employers realising hand-
some profits."

The weekly account of the Bank of England looks
well again, and better than before in ri spect to the em-
ployment of the assets of the establishment. The ad-
vanees upon Other Securities were greatly extended, and
this led to an int:re Ise of active circulation, n, t so large,
however, as it would have been, because of some addition
bring made to the deposits. The amount to the credit of
Government has reached its maximum for the present.
The bullion was a little diminished. Compared with the
preceding week, the results are as follow :
Notes issued ... ... ... 30,225,755
Increase . . 33,470

Rest ... ... ... ... 3,067.250
Increase ... ... ... 2,620
Public Deposits ... ... ... 9,679,111
Increase ... ... ... 405,992
Other Deposits ... ... 9,167 709
Decrease ... ... ... 305,431
Seven Day and other Bills ... 1,244,787
Increase ... ... ... 63.557
Government securities ... ... 14,375,826
Increase ... ... ... 60.056
Other Securities ... ... .. 11,679,773
Increase ... ... ... 564,337
Notes ... ... ... ... 10,924,910
Decrease ... ... ... 414.465
Bullion ... ... ... ... 16,957.103
Decrease ... ... ... 9,720
Active Circulation ... ... 19,300,845
Increase ... ... ... 447.935

There was a little improvement yesterday afternoon
in the rates at which bills were negotiated upon some of
the continental cities, but still with no large amount of
busim st doing. Elamburgh, 90 days, was quoted 13 11
to 12, Paris 25 67f to 70, Antwerp 25 65 to 70, and
Trieste 12 10 to 12 12.

The exports of bullion from London this week have
been 130,000 ounces of silver, 15,150 ounces of gold, the
former to France and Belgium, and the latter to Ger-
many,

There are Rio de Janiero advicea of May 6. They
report trade as being dull. Exchange on London, 27k.
The Funds opened high this morning, Consols being
96i to 97 for special transfer and ex-dividend. Speculative
sales to realm- prufiis have just been made, and these
have reduced the quotations to 96i :1. The New Three-
and-a- Quarter per Cents. are 981 to 99. Exchequer-
bills realize 675. to 70s. premium.
Foreign Stocks have gone back a little. Mexican are
30 to ; and Peruvian 821 and 82k. Grenada are bat-
ter, viz., 181 -I. Spanish Three per Cents. realize 37-i.
Dutch Two-and. a Halt per Cents. have been 561 ex div.
Railway Shares are rather in favour of buyers, but
with few sales.

QUARTER TO THREE.

Consols ••• .. ...
Ditto Account ... ...

... 964 i

ONE CLOSING
PRICES OF BRITISII FUNDS O'CLOCK. PRICES.
3 pea Cent. Reduced ACIIS ... 971/2% 97%
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities........ 9674 97 96% 96% xd
Sew 34 per Cent. Ann 5.......... ...... 99 983% 983/4
Long Anne. to expire Jan.lB6o Bl% 8 5 -16 8 5-16
Ditto, 30 years, Oct. 10, 1859
Ditto 30 years, Jan. 5, 1860. 7 15-16 8
• n tiik Bonds, 1,000/

Ditto under 1,0004.-- 9O 67 p 87 p
C,nsols for Account 9l 96% % 963/4
xchequer Bills. 1,140.8 r 2d
1,0001. June 69 67 70 p 70 p
Small. June
5001. June

ONE CLOSINu
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES.
Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent
Ditto, Account
Danish Bonds, 1825,3 per Cent
Ditto 5 Der Cent ... lOO% 101 101
Equador Bonds
Grenada Bonds, 11% per Cent 18%504 18 %
Voxican. 5 per Cent. 1846, with Coupons—
Ditto, Ex Jan. Coupons ....
Ditto, Account
Peruvian Bonds, 41/s per Cent —
Ditto, Account ..... ..
Ditto, Deferred
Portuguese a per Cents.
&usAian Bonds
Ditto:44 per Cent
Ditto Scrip 5% 5 p 5 p
,phtnni, •. psi t,t.nt. 1144(, —
Ditto, 3 per Cent
Ditto, Account .... 37 IA 37'4
Venezuela Bonds, 214 per Cent ... 341/4
Ditto Deferred
thvidernis on the above payable in 1...ai1t,.,
... _ __ .

Dutch 214 per Cent., 12 Guild. 563/ ex 4. 5634 ea d.
Ditto. 4 per Cent. Certifeatep... 88% 88 A,

.qt ICES OF PAID. BUSINESS DONE CLOSING
RAI[.WAY SHARES AT ONL O'CLOUL. i xtiCE ~
isirininghtun and Oa-
I, I'd Janet., calls duly
paid, or with a guaran. 20
Do, without guarantee 20 ..... 25%4 253%
slristo, and Exeter .100 ...•.. - ••
Ditto, !Inds .... ..... 33i
, .aledon, an
Do. New 10'. Pr0f..... 10
astern Counties... ..... 20 ...... 71/s 7li
Ditto. 5 per Gent.... 50
Do. Scrip (6 per cent.) 20 •••••• ..... 164
East Lancashire 25 —
east Lincolnshire, guar.

6 per Cent. — 25 'AV% ...... 29
ireat Northern
Do., 5 per Cent. Pref. 12%. lO3/4.. ..... 10%
;rent South. and West.

(Ireland) ..-..- ....... 50 ..-.. ......... .....
Ditto, Eighths 1111... .. 1%
,4real *iii estdro
Lancashire& Yorkshire 100 ...... 37 ,
Do. Quarters ......... 231 74/4 ......... ...... 7:-1/4
DD. Fifths.... ....... .... 11 V 2
Do. Thirds ...... .18 ...... 846 Bl
Leeds and Bradford 5O .93
London &Blat kwa11...11/. 6s. 3d... ... ....... ... 4?4,
London, Brighton, and
... . .

South Coast..... 100
Do., New, guaranteed

6 per Cent
London and i,. Western 100 ......109,,, 3/4 110 10934
Dittc, New Quarters 12
D‘tto,Fittk, l2 ... . 13
London &S.Westorn -100 ... 59!.ia 5814
Do., New Preference.. 6
Midland .lOO ...... 35 34% ...... ... 3478
Do., 501. Shares ..... 35
Do.Birm., and Derby ICO
Do. Consolid. Bristol &
Birmlng., 6 per et.... 100 ..... 123 ..... ...... ... 123
go-th British .. .... ... 25
Ditto Preference .
gorth Staffordshire ... 17% 6%14 6%
Preston & Wyre 25 ... ..
heading, Guildford, and
Reigate
oath hastsrr.
York Newcastle. and
Berwick..... ~.. ..... .. 25
_..F.i

Do. Newcastle Eiden. 20
Do. G.N.E.Preterence 9 ...
York and North Midland 50
0; tik, P ererenoo