The Sun.
London, England, 1845-02-12 00:00:00

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MONEY MARKET and CITY 1Y.1148
-AvE,

FROM THE 310111.4 Na 4., _ins OF TlflB DAT.
CITY, ITFADAY ErnND".
TIMES.—The premium on gold at Paris is 12i per mille
which, at the English Mint price of 31. 178.100. per ounce
for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25 46 ; and the
exchange at Paris on London at short being 25 62k, it follows
that gold is 0.64 per cent. dearer in Landon than in Paris.
BY advices from Hamburgb, the price of gold is 4.34 per
mark, which, at the English Mint price of 3.1, 17s. 100. per
ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 9 ; and
the exchange at llamburgh on London at short being 13
it follows that gold is 0.80 per cent. dearer in London than
In Hamburgh.
The course of exchange at New York on London is 110 i
per cent. ; and the par of exchange between England and
America being 109 23-40 per cent., it follows that the ex-
change is 0.68 per cent. in favour of England ; but the quoted
exchange at New York being for bills at sixty days' sight,
the interest must be added to the above difference.
Some of the indications which preceded the crisis of 1825-6
are beginning to appear in the Money Market, and should
not be allowed to pass without observation. Letters are
constantly received denouncing the Directors of Joint-etock
Companies for all sorts of irregular practices, including the
formation of them with insufficient means • the withholding
of shares from bona fide subscribers, and selling them surrep-
, titiously at a large premium at the same time ; and, finally,
a resort to the old and nefarious system of " rigging," se
often exposed on former occasions, which means the purchase
for time of a larger number of shares than are knoern to
have been issued, which subjects the sellers on the day to(
settlement to such terms as the fraudulent beyers may think
fit to impose. It would be unfair, perhaps, and certainly
dangerous, to give publicity by name to parties against whom
such imputations are directed, but it is sufficient for the Tar-.
pose of further warning to the mad speculators of the day,
to advert to them generally, and to observe that where such
manifest temptation to such :frauds existed, it is extremely
probable that they should in sonic instances be resorted to.
the unwary and credulous speculator, therefore, in such
transactions, who has numerous chances against him when
all is fair and above-board, is certain to lose, or perhaps to
be ruined, when exposed to such frauds as those described,
The protection of manifest and wilful dupes is perhaps of no
great consequence ; but the trade and monetary operations
of the country, which are now threatened with disturbance
from this cause, should be saved, if possible, from its con-
sequeneea,
SUN.—The English securities leave off firmly, Consols being
99% N for Money, and 993 A % for, Account. New Three-
and-a-Quarter per Cents. were 103% to 104, and the Three
per Cents., 10811/3 to 4. Exchequer Bills were 555. to 565..
premium.
The Foreign Bonds have been much the same AS in the
morning. Spanish Actives have realised 28:i %; the Three
per Cents., 4i1,4. •, Mexican, 36 to 35% for Money,; And
Colombian, 144. •
Dutch Four per Cents. were 983: N.
The additional transactions in Railway Shales have beela
these :—Bristol and Exeter were 13,; Chester and Holyhead,.
2b to 3; Churnet Valley, 7 to N; Chichester and Brighton,
4 ; Cornwall, 2to ;I:astern Union, 91,2 ; Ely and Bed-
6,rd, ; Great Southern and Western (Ireland) Extension,
4 to 3i ; Great North of England, 72; Great Western,
51 ; Birmingham, 136 to 137 • Ditto, Quarter, 27N 144NklAn-
chester and Birmingham, 161,4 ; Midland. 23%; Newry and
Enniskillen, 1,1'3; Norwich and Brandon, 5%; South-Eastern,
15% to 14•`?, ; Ditto, New, No. 1, 161;4 to 151/, ; South Wales,
31/, ; Trent Valley, 15 ; West Cornwall, 2%; and Orleans and
Bordeaux, 4 to 5 premium. Dublin and Galway, 1.4 ; and
Blackw all, Bsy discount. Australia Bank Shares were 43t
premium, premium,
'1 he Foreign exchanges were well supported, with the
exception of a slight decline on Paris.
Ilion
The following is the official return of the exports of 24
for the week ending Thursday last :
Silver Coin to China

DESTRUCTIVE FI

:E at CHATHAM

DOCKYARD.

CHATHAM, F2B. 11.—This morning, a few minutes before two
o'clock, a destructive fire broke out in Chatham dockyard. A
smell of fire had been for some time previously very strong, causing
the sergeants of the police on duty to examine every place
minutely. They at length perceived a light between the palings of
the gate which encloses the joiners' pound, filled with all eerie Pr
timber. The pound is sittrated between the joiners' workshop sod
the storehouse for the reception of trunnails, in which stores there
was deposited about forty thousand. An alarm was immediately
given, and the dockyard hells 'Winded for assistance. Before any
engines could be brought into play, the fire burst:fearfully forth, and
owing to the combustible Materials on the premises the flames spread
with such fearful rapidity that they extended themselves from one
end of the buildings to theother, nearly two hundred feet lengthways,
and about four hundred in depth. The whole ofthe dockyard
engines, twelve in number, were soon manned ttl three divlaiens
of police, consisting of three inspectors, three sesi:eants, and
forty-six men, under the directions of the Director, portenant
Wise, R.N. The Royal Marines, under the command of eek3net
Charles Menzies, K.H., with their engines, were quickly on thee
spot, and was soon followed by the whole of the troops of the
garrison, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Kelly. The
Royal Engineers, with their engine, under the command of Lieu..
tenant. Colonel Sir Frederick Smith, K.H., closely followed; aloe
the Kent and the Sun engine, and notwithstanding the whole of
these engines were throwing tons of water into the blazing meal of
fire, the destructive element seemed to bid them defiance, sod
burnt itself out. The baildings which are brick, are three stories
high, and are completely gutted, nothing but the bare walls stand-
ing. For nearly one hour and a half the interior of the place had
all the appearance of a burning furnace, and as the flames extended
to a considerable height, the heavens appeared illuminated for miles
round. The wind blew strongly from the north-east, carrying
large flakes of fire all over the dockyard, and the extensive shed.
The ship Queen, of 110 guns, In dock, being so close to the scene
of destruction, fears were entertained for her safety, and the au-
thorities stationed engines pouring copiously streams of water.
The joiners' shop, which Is entirely consumed, contained three
hundred mid fifty different frames, which had been made for the
ships Raleigh, Active, Bulldog steam-frigate, Eclipse, and
Janus. There were upwards of one hundred chests of tools, the
private property of the carpenters_ valued at 9.51. each, which
are totally consumed. At present no account can be given
how the fire originated. The workmen leave the dockyard at
five o'clock in the evening, and as neither fire or candle is al-
lowed, it is somewhat surprising that fire should have retuatnod
smouldering so many hours undiscoved. The water which suppliers
the dockyard is from a reservoir at Brompton ; and It is calculated
that, during the fire, the engines poured 14,000 tons of water ors
the flames. The dockyard school, with other small buildings, are
destroyed; about 60/. of books, belonging to the school, are lost.
The total extent of the loss of property is estimated from 15,0001.
to 20,000 i. Colonel Sir Thomas Will.hire, K.C.8., Bsrt., with
Brigade Major O'Brien, of the garrison, was on the spot ;
also the Captain Superintendent, Captain W. If. Sher-
riff. Great praise is due to the officers and troops under
their command for their strenuous exertions during the c nflagra-
tion. The fire was subdued about four o'clock, but is still burning,
and the engines are working. An express was sent this morning
away from the dockyard, at six o'clock, to the Board of Admiralty.
During the time of the drums beating to arms the officer command-
ing, Sir Michael Creigh, K.H.G., officer of the 11th Regiment,
was at a grand entertainment given by the officers of the regiment,
at which there were upwards of one hundred officers attending,
many of whom repaired from the ball-room to the scene of destruc-
tion in their full dress.

ERRATUM in yesterday's Earnings' 'lax Sonnet.—
For " taproot," read, " taproot."
MELANCHOLY DEATHS FROM POISON.—A very
melancholy occurrence took place yesterday morning in toe
Grove-road, Camberwell, by the accidental (as at present it appears)
administration of oxalic acid, instead of carbonate of soda. From
the inquiries that have been instituted, there appears to be a cowl-
derabletegree of Mystery involved in the transaction. The matters
pertaining to the lamentable event will be hereafter investigated
by proper authorities ; therefore it would at present be wrong to
State more than the bare facts relating to the shocking atralr. It
would appear that about half-past eight o'clock 'yesterday morning'
Mr. and Mrs. Montague, who kept a cheesemonger's and sort et
general shop In the Grove-lane, next to the George Canning public/-
house, sat down to breakfast In their accustomed way, when Mrs..
Montague did the duties of the breakfast-table. After pouring
out two cups of tea, Mrs. Montague drank one almost at
draught. Mr. Montague partook of. the tea, and complained that
there was something hot in the teapot; and immediately called to
a young man in the shop named George May, and requested him to
taste the contents of the cup. The shopmatt did its he was desired,
and jocularly said to his mistress that she mast hAvg emptied the
pepper-box into the teapot. He drank, however, the reiZtainder of
cup, and was nearly losing' his life by so doing. In a sh'i't time
Etter, the three—namely, Mr. and Mrs. Montague, and George iday
the shopman, were taken ill by vomiting, when a surgeon Waif atilt
for by a neighbour (the landlord of the George Canning), who nee•
dentally heard of their illness), and Mr. Fox, Mr. Massey, Mr. Cock*.
and other medical gentlemen attended, and applied every remedy
that akin could suggest for the preservation of the lives of the petiolate
The stomach-ptunp was applied, but only in one instance (that of the
shOpmati) was it effectual. Mrs. Montague died in about one hour
after breakfast, and her husband expired at two o'clock. Mr. Motet
tague was about 62 years of age, and hifewife near 45. Thee had no
issue from their Marriage, but were suppose t to live in a eorntruOale
and amicable way. By what means the poison got into the teepee Is
a mystery, but it is suonosed that the deceased, Mrs. Montague, bad
et it there, believing It to be carbonate of soda, which she applied to
soften the water. As soon as the lamentable affair became known to
the police authorities, Sergeant Kendall, 1 P, took possession of the
premises, and collected together the remains of the tea in the cups,
the tea-leaves from the teapot, and the bread and butter that was lett
on the table. From an analysis since made by the medical gentle-
men it has transpired that the poison contained in the teapot was
oxalic acid. It may be here remarked, that Mr. Montague dealt he
some few drugs, but no oxalic acid lute been found on the premienr
since the occurrence. It appears that Mr. Montagu was the first to
find that there was something obnoxious in the tea, and on speaking
teat his wife coincided with him in opinion, but yet drank her cup of
. As before stated, the husband and wife both died deepito the
assistance of the medical gentlemen before named, but the shoptnan
is likely to recover, being much imprOved at 11 o'clock last night.
The sad affair has made a great impression in the vicinity—the de-
ceased being well known. It is expected the inquest will be held Ora
Friday, after a post mortem examination has been made by order of
the coroner.
THE; SNOW STORM AND FROST.--7The snow storm
which commenced on Sunday evening did not terminate: until be-
tween three and four o'clock yesterday (Tuesday) mondifg. In the-
neltlf)ourh(x)d of the is etropolls the snow in many plans lies to des
depth of nine inches, an in exposed situations it has been drinks' by'
the E.S E w'nd to the depth of several feet. Travelling by stager
coaches and other land conveyance is, in consequence, oluertocmr:
peded. Yesterday the sun was cloudless. At noon theethElr;nteo
at t3e4
at the Dockmaster's office, St. Katharine's, stood in
de,grees ; barometer, 29 32. The Ice o an with the
and large quantities of it floated oPwarl:UnAlr-..... The
flood and ebb tides yesterday morntott•
on the. ilvwernt,,ihs ac
t,uti.
moored in various parts of theaiver
free by artificial means. At a.
flint 55 partially obstructed in corequenarcee,„l:4lltasth,e.ettieerxspoestdf shtoIOPLIT
e
delver. Thu docks or canals
of snow has been MOTE COpilrls• The
distance from town t
bytai
an accumulated .now
Geibjere coach was unabdrile toft
shoat
tuoiwretel onfitiltfoonhdauyi,ebeLoi:
higdod
f The road to Dorking was almost impassable,
horse
on nd Mir.
a.
t roadßroad, the
proprietor of the only
rmemainlogour-orse coaee
time at Leatherhead, yesterday 'was
morning,
m
cleared, under the apprehension that he would
not be able t.. continue his journey. On Monday the accumulation of
asetoap,as
for so
not ralipe passage d
as to
pee, was so g:eat on the South-Western Railway that the luggage
assarlel
ttehermminausil-trwailnti,lbhyatlhf_ep
train from Southampton did not arrive in town until yesterday;
im'aournxhingall
,ml:avteinagntchee. diSoduntliot-
reach Yesterdaytiie
ampton, Portsmouth, and Yeovil malls. The delay took place from
the Andover-road to the Woking station, and for some distance the
speed of the train did not exceed four miles an hour. There was ma
delay of Importance in the arrival of any of the other railroad trains.
although a great many of the branch mailsdid not arrive, and lit con-
sequence of the delay in the western trains there was a second ge-
neral delivery in the afternoon of yesterday. During last night %tut
frost was severe; the barometer
slowly rising.
KING LOUIS PHILIPPS ON POPULATION.—WO
take the following from the Glasgow Argus of January 30 : it prove.
how deeldeil, is the spread of true principles on " the Population
Question :"—" Another curious question which was propounded by
Mr. Doubleday, in a recent treatise, also‘arises out of this. In con-
sequence of the imperfect registration iu Scotland, there is no means
of arriving with any degree of certainty at the number of births t
but if there were, it would be profitable to inquire whether, as Mr.
Doubleday propounds, the births, in proportion to the population, in-
variably increase in years of scarcity and depression of trade. It is
asserted by that gentleman that they do—find he alleges, as a proof,
a fact which Dr. Buchan notices in -his celebrated work, and- which
every person must have observed—that the more squalid and wretched
a neighboughbod is, the greater is the number of children in it. Ms
theory is, that whenever a species of animal or vegetable is
threatened with extinction by a deficiency of resurisinr.er.t, natere
files to the relief of the individuals and species so threatened, and
increases their fecundity We should like to have tested this prin-
ciple, by a comparison of the number of births in this city during the
years 1842-3-4 ; int in the absence of the data, we can do ne WV)
than throw out the suggestion Oar the consideration of thohse wb•
take an interest in the details of statistics, and the truthsthat may
be derived from them. It would, perhaps, throw some lighterka
inquiry, if Dr. Watt could ascertain whether the ver
fn e;
or rich
increase of twin births, w hich p lac he mentions, took laver y poo
among those
families—in families which had not sufficient Coed, or ,
mple aastename. Ills Ma
which had ample, or perhaps more than a
n to take great interest
jests King Lows Philippe,
who Is
weilknoolnion of Mr. Doubleday;
in this curious question, inclines to the p
for the non-appearance of heirs en
and asserted reeentil as a Pawn
reintitssiihnt tJorfrd too Much.' "sr Trai *Mtn/.
certain nobee
•