The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-18 00:00:00

COIIR.T-TASHIONABLM.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has issued
cards fur a grand dinner at Cambridge-house, on Wednesday
next, to the Duke of Wellington, Earl of Cawdor, Arch-
bishop of York, Earl Howe, 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 shortly 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 during the absence of
the Earl and Countess.
Earl and Countess Cadogan, and Ladies Augusta and
Honoria Cadogau, 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
yesterday from Germany. His Serene Highness, it is said,
contemplates making a sojourn of four weeks in this country.
Ilis 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 has an assembly to-night. Invitations for above
400 persons have been circulated.
The anniversary dinner of the Noblemen and Gentlemen
educated at Eton College, is to be celebrated this evening at
the Thatched-house Tavern, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone,
M.P., in the chair. A very numerous circle have engaged to
support the Right lion. Chairman.
-

MISOZILLANEOI:7S.
Qn 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-strect. The Earl
of Zetland 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
2901. The balance on hand last year was stated to be
227/. Is. 2d. The dividends had amounted to 52/. Bs. Bd.
The amount of donations and annual subscriptions, from the
16th of May, 1843, to the 16th of April, 1844, had been
445/. 11s. and the further receipts to the day of meeting
181/. I ls. The annual payments by Grand Lodges and
Grand Chapters, 4251. Total receipts 1,311/. lls. 10d. The
expense had been 879/. 4s. Bd., including payments to annui-
tants 305/. : and purchase of 400/., Three per Cent. Consols,
395/. 10s. The balance in the hands of the treasurer was
4521. 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 Radstock, 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
973/., and that the sum received as board money from the
sailors amounted to 4,3364 which, together with a previous
balance and some other items of resources, made the entire
receipts 6,541/. Deducting the expenditure, a balance of
379/. remained with the treasurer. Into the asylum there
had been admitted during the year 2,4.33 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 fur 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 38,4031.; 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/. Ils., 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 chair was filled
by the Marquis of Northampton, the President of the society,
who was supported by Mr. Byng, M.P., Mr. Burchell, Mr.
Nicholson, Rev. W. Faulkner, &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. Tin Secretary, Mr. Halliday, announced
a long list of subscriptions, amongst which were—the
andPresi-
dtaltbeib Chairman,lol.io.
s
Pat-
tison, M.P., 10/. 10s. ; Mr. llanbury, 10/. 10s. ; Sir F. Booth,
203/i.
r; Di r.
Nicholson, y- n M.P.,
10/. 10s. ; Mr. ; Mr. B. B.
c
10/. 10s. ; Mr. E. Wigram, 10/. 10s., &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 f 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
lest its fettered charm ; and mind and matter, yoked in
happy felloss ship, realise far greater wonders than the
magician's wand ever attempted. By the agency of
steam, places once remote are brought so near 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 fur
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 nova, 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 !
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 tido ! 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 1 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 ba said—
" She walks the waters like a thing of life."

-----
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.--A few days since, one of
the shipwrights engaged in repairing the Superb, 80, in
this dockyard, descended from the quarter-deck to the
main-deck, and walking forward fell through the hatch-
way, which he did not perceive, having been momen-
tarily blinded by the sun, in the glare of which he had
just before been working. In his fall into the hold of
the vessel, a depth of between 40 and 50 feet, he came in
contact with a piece of half-inch deal, which was
shivered into 20 pieces, and after turning and tumbling
over several times, he fell with considerable force against
the bottom of the vessel. Ilis fellow-workmen picked
him up to all appearance dead—but in a moment after
they were astonished, as well as relieved, by the revivi-
fication of the lucky fellow. Clapping his hand on the
he exclaimed, Well, I have hit myself a terrible
P4' n the head !" On examination it turned out that
crack oh- -fusion of the thigh, no injury whatever had
beyond - this tremendous fall.--West of Eng-
boen sustained *oh,
land Conservative,

THIS DAY'S NEWS.

MONE WAND COMMERCIAL NEWS.
CITY, QUARTER TO THREW.
The Cotten 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, 26i ; South-Western, Eighths, 41; North British,
; Not th Midland, 90; Norwich and Brandon, 21; Paris and
Lyons, 3h ; Paris and Orleans, 381; South-Eastern, 38* ;
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. Peel.
The English securities have to-day been heavy, and there
is but little doing. Consols for Transfer have realised 991
to 991, 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 1011; and
the Three per Cents. 991 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 Spanish Bonds have
been 23; to 24; and the Three per Cents. 35 to 341. The
Passive are 51 to 6, nominally. Portuguese Converted have
been marked 461, and Russian 1171, the latter being a decline.
Brazil Stock is at 811; Dutch Five per Cents. are 1001 to 1;
and the New of 1837, 99i. 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.
BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK
(From the Metal List.)
Bank Stock. «....».......»....».......„«..........« 192
5 per Cent. Reduced Annuities ........- 28% %
3fr Cent. Consols. Annuities 98%
8 per Cent. Reduced Annuities
ew 35j per Cent. Annuities.... .. ... . ...... 192
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan. 1880 IA 7-16
Consols for Account
Exchequer Bills, 150. I%d
1 0001. ........................ ..... 72 pm.
Ditto ..... 72 pm.
FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto New Bonds, 1829 and 1839. 784
Portuguese Bonds, h per Cent.
Ditto Converted
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent 1174
Spanish Bonds, Five per Cent 1840
Ditto for the Account ........«.«....»....» 24
Ditto Three per Cent.
Ditto for 'the Account
Dutch 5 per Cents. .............. ....... 1004
New Loan 1837, 5 per Cents...... 99%
PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE.
RAILWAYS. PAID. PER SHARE.
Bristol and Exeter 7O 82 ..„..... to 81

Bristol and Gloucester
Caledonian
Dublin and Cashel 234 4% to
E tstern Counties

Edinburgh and Glasgow 5O ......... 66N % ... to
Great North of England.--
Great Western
75
19.118% to 120%

Ditto 4 Shares 5O 7634
Ditto Fifths
Harwich (Braithwaite)
Ditto ( Locke) 1! 23{ 3l
Lancaster and Carlisle 5 704... to
London and Birmingham. lOO ... cip 225 to 224
Ditto New Thirds 2 37% to
Ditto % Share,
London and Blackwall
London and Brighton 5O ..... .... 453,1434 to
London and Greenwich
- - London and Greenwich (Prete' once) 183
London and South Western 41% 87% to 88
Ditto Eighths
London and Croydon
Manchester and Leeds 7O lO6 to:—
North Briti,h 23{
North Midland
Norwich and Brandon
South Eastern and Dover ...... ... 32% ......
Ditto New
Trent Valley
York and North. Midland
Paris and Orleans
Strasburg and Basle
MANctiEsTER STOCK EXCHANGE, MAY 17.—The market
has been dull to-day, and stocks more freely offered. London
and South-Western, 88i
~ • Manchester and Birmingham, 57 ;
North Midland, 901 ; Paris and Lyons, 3A ; Blackburn and
Preston, 5% ; Eastern Counties Perpetual No. 2,12 s. Gd.
premium. -

MARKET NEWS.-(THIS DAY.)
qOVMNT-GARDEN.
Our market was somewhat extensively supplied with choice
fruit and vegetables, yet the demand was throughout steady, at
prices about equal to those obtained on this day se'nnight. Pota-
toes from 2s 6d to 5s per cwt; young Onions, is 3d to 2s 6d;
Turnips, is 9d to 2s 6(1 ; Carrots, 5s 6d to is ; and Leeks, 9d to
Is 2d per dozen bunches ; Spinach, 4d to 6d per half sieve ;
Asparagus, 3s to 7s ; French Beans, 9d to is 6d ; Oranges,
8s to 15s ; and Lemons,. 8s to 13s per 100 ; new Potatoes,
3d to 6d ; Pine Apples, 7s to 9s per lb ; Hot-house Grapes,
5s to 6s ; and Forced Cherries, 25s per lb ; Peaches, 40s
to 455; and Summer Cabbages, 10d to is 9d per dozen ;
Strawberries, 4s per small pottle ; Cucumbers, 8d to 7s per
brace ; Cauliflowers, 2d to 6d each ; Horse-radish, 2s to 5s ;
Celery, 8d to is 3d ; Rhubarb, 4d to is 6d ; and Brocoli,
10d to 2s per bundle ; Sea Kale, 9d to 2s 3d ; Mushrooms,
9d to is 6d; and Small Salad, 2d per punnet ; Radishes,
3d to 6d per dozen hands ; Lettuces, fid to is 6d per score ;
green Gooseberries, 4d to 6d per quart.
NEWILAMEI AND LEADZIVEA.ZI.

We had: only a. moderate supply of poultry here
yet the demand was heavy, at barely late rates. Capons, 4s
to 76 ; Guinea Fowls, 2s to 3s 6d ; Fowls, 2s to 4s ; Chickens,
2s to 3s ; Ducklings, 2s 3d to 3s ; Goilings, 5s to 8s ; Pigeons,
54 to 9d ; and Rabbits, 9d to is 6d each. For each kind of
prime Meat we had a steady demand at a trifling improve-
ment in the quotations, while those of other qualities were
fully supported. Beef from 2s 4d to 3s 4d ; Mutton, 2s Gd
to 3s 8d ; Lamb, 5s to Gs ; Veal, 3s 6d to 4s 6d ; and Pork,
2s 4d to 4s 2d per Blbs.
HUNGERPORD.

Although the supplies of most articles on sale were by no
means large, the demand was throughout heavy, at barely
late rates.

NEWPORT.

The supplies of Meat were only moderate, while the trade
ruled steady at our quotations. Beef from 2s 4d to 3s 6d ;
Mutton, 2s 6d to 3s 8d ; Lamb, 4s 10d to 6s 2d ; Veal, 3s 6d
to 4.3 6d; and Pork 2s 8d to 4s 4d per 81bs.