The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-20 00:00:00

cotrieT=rasitiorrAnzmi.

His Royal highness the Duke of Cambridge has issued
cards for a grand dinner at Cambridge-house, on Wednesday
next, to the Duke of Wellington, Earl of Cawdor, Arch-
bishop of York, Earl llowe, and a distinguished party. It
is an early dinner, as his Royal Highness and friends after-
wards adjourn to the Ancient Concert, of which the Royal
Duke takes the direction for the King of Hanover.
The Earl of Westmoreland is shor:ly expected from
Prussia, having obtained leave of absence from his Govern-
ment.

The Earl and Countess of Kinnoul, after a lengthened tour
in Italy, have arrived at Hampden-house from the Continent.
The Countess has since gone to Brighton, to join her youthful
family, who have been residing there (Ling the absence of
the Earl and Countess.
Earl and Countess Cadogan, and Ladies Augusta and
Honoria Cadogan, are expected at Queensberry-house in the
ensuing week, from Rome and Nice. The Countess has been
abroad nearly two years, and the Noble Earl and daughters,
with the exception of a few weeks' visit last summer, have
also been in Italy for that period.
The Prince of Solms and suite arrived at Mivart's Hotel
on Friday from Germany. His Serene Highness, it is said,
contemplates making a sojourn of four weeks in this country.
His Excellency the Rajah Meer Jafur Alee Khan, attended
by an extensive suite, and accompanied by Mr. and Mrs.
Scott, has arrived at Mivart's Hotel, from the East Indies.
Lady Peel had an assembly to-night. Invitations for above
400 persons were circulated.
The anniversary dinner of the Noblemen and Gentlemen
educated at Eton College, were celebrated on Saturday at
the Thatched-house Tavern, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone,
M.P., in the chair. A very numerous circle supported the
Right Hon. Chairman.
SIXSCELLAMEOI7B.
On Friday night, the second annual meeting of the society
for granting annuities to aged poor and infirm freemasons was
held at the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street. The Earl
of Zealand took the Chair as Grand Master of all England.
The report stated, that out of 15 annuitants.elected in May,
1842, one having died, fourteen of that number only conti-
nued on the fund at the annual aggregate payment of
290/. The balance on hand last year 'was stated to be
227/. ls. 2d. The dividends had amounted to 52/. Bs. Bd.
The amount of donations and annual subscriptions, from the
lath of May, 1843, to the 16th of April, 1844, had been
445/, 11e, and the further receipts to the day of meeting
181/. 11s. The annual payments by Grand Lodges and
Grand Chapters, 425/. Total receipts 1,311/. Ils. 10d. The
expense had been 879/. 4s. Bd., including payments to annui-
tants 3051.: and purchase of 400/., Three per Cent. Consols,
395/. 10s. The balance in the hands of the treasurer was
452/. 7s. 2d. _ _

On the same day the annual meeting of the supporters of
the Sailors' Home, Destitute Sailors' Asylum, and Episcopal
Floating Church Society, was held in the Hanover-square
Rooms. Admiral Lord itadstock, in the absence of Admiral
Sir Robert Stopford, took the chair. He was 'supported by
Admiral Hawker, Captain Gambier, Admiral Sir Edward
Parry, the Rev. Edwin Sydney, &c. From the financial
statement, it appeared that the total subscriptions, had been
9731., 'end that the sum received as board money from the
sailors amounted to 4,3361., which, together. with a previous
balance and some other items of resources, made the entire
receipts 6,5411. Deducting the expenditure, a balance of
3791. remained with the treasurer. Into the 'asylum there
had been admitted during the year 2,433 persons, making the
total number 'since the commencement (natives of various-
nations) 22,935.
It appears from a return made to the House of Commons,
that the total receipt for the sale of the Parliamentary papers
printed by order of the House, from the year 1836 to the year
1843 (both inclusive), amounts to the sum of 38,403/. ; and
the total net produce to the sum of 34,452/. The net profit to
the public by the sale of Parliamentary papers. has been re-
duced by the sum of 4,263/. lls., being the amount paid by
the country in the same period (1836-1843) for prosecutions
for libel, or actions instituted against the House of Commons
through its officers.
The annual dinner in aid of the Finsbury Dispensary, took
place on Friday, at the Albion Tavern. The °hair was filled
by the Marquis of Northampton, the President of the Society,
who was supported b 7 Mr. Byng, M.P., Mr. Burchell, Mr.
Nicholson, Rev. W. h aulkner, &c. It appeared that upwards
of 5,000 persons had received the benefit of its assistance
during the past year, and upwards of 230,000 since its estab-
lishment in 1780. This Secretary, Mr. Halliday, announced
a long list of subscriptions, amongst which were—the Presi-
dent and Chairman, 201. ; Mr. Byng, M.P., M. ; Mr. B. B.
Cabbell, 101. 103-; Mr. Nicholson, 10/. 10s. ; Mr. Pat-
tison, M.P., 10/. 10s. ; Mr. Hanbury, 10/. 10s. ; Sir F. Booth,
10/. 10s. ; Mr. E. Wigram, 101.105., &c.

PROGRESS OF STEAM.
MAGICIAN AND METEOR STEAMERS.

In the present age there seems to be no limit to the
march of improvement whether on land or water. Our
forefathers boasted of the march of mind ; but we can
boast not only of the march of mind but of the march of
matter also .1. What the ancients dreamed of as barely
possible, we prove to be easily practicable and marvel-
lously true. With us the old idea of impossibility has
lost its fettered charm ; and mind and matter, yoked in
happy felloa ship, realise far greater wonders than the
magician's wand ever attempted. By the agency of
steam, places once remote are brought'so Pear together
as to seem neighbourly hamlets:; and to people now set-
ting out on a journey or voyage to a distant
land, the idea of parting with friends has lost
its terrors. Instead of the anxious question,
"Do you think you will return next year ?"—the
jocular observation is—" I suppose you'll, be back to-
morrow, to dine at six ?" and the prompt reply is,
"Railway time—all right !" Nor is' this the only ad-
vantage—the concentration of time and space so fami
liarises the mind to action, that we lose sight of the
narrow prejudices of mere locality, and become denizens
of the universe ! The mind expands with the rapidity of
motion, and objects which once appeared too gigantic for
contemplation, now dwindle into ordinary circumstance.
Prejudice becomes self-abashed, and would fain harmonise
with the ruling spirit of the scene. People grow wiser
and better the more they see, and more tolerant the
further they go—till, in due time, we realise the noble
idea of the poet, that

" Man and man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be, and a' that."

Steam is now, and will become daily more and more, the
grand agent of civilisation. Interchange of sentiment
and manner, beget a community of feeling. Such
being the happy result, how much praise is due
to those whose active genius never tires in the
march of invention—improving upon improvement I
It was but the other day the world was astonished at a
speed of a few miles an hour on the river by steam ;
but now we behold vessels urged three times as fast
against wind and tide ! Thus one improvement suggests
another ;—" Go ahead" is the moving principle. Com-
petition moderates vanity, while it stimulates ambition.
For example—the last new wonder on the Thames is
the Meteor, which has come out as a Star of the first
magnitude, and the greatest wonder in the Channel is
the famed Magician, which runs from Dover to Bou-
logne, and from Boulogne to Dover in two hours, some-
times in less I This is the true antidote against sea-
sickness. In former times the passage to Gravesend
took a long day—it is now performed by the Meteor in
an hour from Blackwall. This is rather sharp practice
for the old stagers, but it is a stirring lesson ; and the
dullest must profit by the force of example.. What the
Star Company have done for Gravesend 'by the Meteor,
the. General Steam Navigation Company have achieved
for Boulogne by the Magician ; and of either vessel it
may truly be said—
' " She walks the waters like a thing of. life."

THE CALEDONIAN BALL.—The Duchess of Suther-
land and Marchioness of Ailesbury are, we understand,
forming fancy quadrilles for this annual ball, now fixed for
the 28th instant, and two other sets are said to be in contem-
plation. The Ladies Patronesses have already disposedof the
number allotted to them, and they meet on Tuesday next re-
specting a second issue of vouchers, but the issue is likely to
be limited, as the original price will not be altered. In addi-
tion to the late Duke of Sussex's piper and the Duke of
Sutherland's piper, the celebrated Stewart piper is engaged to
come from Scotland for the performance of Scotch reels. The
Duchesses of Norfolk, Somerset, Buccleuch, Montrose, Rux•.
burghe, and Sutherland, Marchionesses of Abercorn, Ailes-
bury, and Breadalbane, and twenty other ladies of title con-
nected with Scotland, have undertaken the patronage, under
the immediate recognition of her Majesty. It is expected
that at least 1,000 tickets will be taken, so that the surplus
fund is likely to be handsome.
Tt is confidently rumoured in the legal profession
that the venerable Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Sir
icholas C. Tindal, has expressed his resolution to retire
from the bench he has so long adorned, on the termination
of Michaelmas Term next.

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.
(.-From The Sun of Saturday Evening.)
The Cotton Market at Liverpool yesterday closed very
heavily, prices having a downward tendency. The demand
was limited, and the sales were only 2,500 bales. The heavier
Railways were rather firmer, and there was A good inquiry
for French. Edinburgh and Glasgow, 661; Grand Junction,
221 ; Great Western, Fifths, 22 ; Birmingham, 225 ; Ditto,
Quarter, 261; South-Western, Eighths, 4g; North British,
21; North Midland, 90 ; Norwich and Brandon, 21 ; Paris and
Lyons, 3A ; Paris and Orleans, 38/ ; South-Eastern, 381;
Trent Valley, 81.
There are no arrivals to-day.
The result of the interview between the delegates
of the joint-stock banks and the Premier was just that which
was anticipated and noticed by us. Sir Robert Peel is re-
solved to stand by the principle of his plan for the future
conduct of banking and currency. There was some-
thing of sarcasm, it was thought by some of
the delegates, in the reply of Sir Robert that
he was not desirous to fetter the transactions of the bank-
ing interest, while he, at the same time, would not concede
the principal point asked for, an extension of the period
within which the average maximum of issues was to be esti-
mated. However, the question of any liberal concessions to
the private and joint-stock banks as requested, may be con-
sidered as settled, for in Parliament no effectual opposition
will be made to the new scheme of Sir R. I'eel.l
The English securities have to-day been heavy, and there
is but little doing. Consuls for Transfer have realised 991
to 99i, and for Account the same. Exchequer Bills are at
665. to 725. premium ; and India Bonds at 945. premium.
Bank Stock is flat again at 192 ; and East India Stock nomi-
nally is 286 to 287. The New Three-and-a-Half per Cents.
have been 1021 to 1021 ; the Reduced, 1011 to 101 i ; and
the Three per Cents. 99a to 991.
The Spanish market has been a little better this morning,
but there is not a large business doing, as the French mail
did not arrive in the ordinary course, and the jobbers
leave early on Saturday. The Active panish Bonds have
been 231 to 24; and the Three per Cents. 35 to 34g. The
Passive are 5i to 6, nominally. Portuguese Converted have
been marked 46/, and Russian 117/, the latter being a decline.
Brazil Stock is at 81/ ; Dutch Five per Cents. are 100/ to i ;
and the New of 1837, 991. There is nothing doing in Mexi-
can or Colombian.
For Railway Shares there has been a moderate inquiry,
prices being generally good. The rejection of several new
lines, by the Parliamentary Committee this week, will per-
haps check the too indiscriminate promotion of doubtful
projects.
MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE, MAT 17.—The market
has been dull to-day, and stocks more freely offered. London
and South-Western, 881 ; Manchester and Birmingham, 57 ;
North Midland, 901; Paris and Lyons, 31; Blackburn and
Preston, 51 ; Kitstern Counties Perpetual No. 2,12 s. 6d.
premium.
CLOSING PRICES.
BRITISH FUNDS.
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Red 91334 Ditto Bonds
3 per Cent. Cons.
334 per Cent. Red • lOl Ditto New Annuities... ,

31.)vi- 3% per Cent lO2
New 5 per Cent.
Long Annuities to expire
Jan. 1860 ..... 12 7-16
Oct. 1859
Jan. 1860

Ex. Bills, 1,0001. 1%d... 72 pm.
Ditto 500/ . ..... ......... 68 pm
Ditto 5ma11..,,........... 72 pm.
Bank Stock for Acct.... 192%
Consols for Acct....—. 99%
India Stock for Acct.... --
i FUNDS.
Austrian, 5 per Cent — Portuguese, 5 per Cent —
Belgian, 5 per Cent — Ditto, New Ditto —
Brazilian Bonds -
Buenos Ayres, 6 per Cent... ißussian 5 per Cent llB
Chin
Chinon, 6 per Cent — (Ditto, Metallic .... ........... ...
Colombian, 6 per Cent
Ditto, 1824 — Ditto, 3 per Cent 34
Cuba Bonds, 6 per Cent — Ditto, Deferred ....... ...........
Danish, 3 per Cent — French, 5 per Cent —f. —c
Greek, 18,5, 5 per Cent — Exchange —f —c.
Mexican, 5 per Cent . .... .... 3.5% French, 3 per Cent. —f. —c
Ditto, S per Cent., 1837....... Dutch, 2% per Cent 6034
Peruvian, 1825, 6 per Cent... 'Ditto. 5 per Cent lOO%