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

V/,

MONEY MARKET and CIT
FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF

TIMES.—The premium on gold at Paris is 111 j, per mine,
which, at the English Mint price of 3/. 17s. laid. per ounce
for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25 46 ; and the
exchange at Paris on London at short being 25 64 it follow*
that gold is 0.64 per cent. dearer in London than in Pans.
• By advices from Hamburg'', the price of gold is 434 per
mark, which, at the English' Mint price of 3/. 17s. 100. per
ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 9i; and,
the exchange at Hamburgh 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 k
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-stock
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 known to
have been issued, which subjects the sellers on the day of
settlement to such terms as the fraudulent buyers may think
fit to impose. It would be unfair, perhaps, and certainlY
dangerous, to e
give publicity by name to parties against whom suchimputations are directed, but it is sufficient for the pur-
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 some instances be resorted to.
Tl:e 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-
sequences.
SUN.—The English securities leave off firmly, Consols being
99% 3/4 for Money, and 993/ % for Account. New Three-
and-a-Quarter per Cents. were 103% to 104, and the Three
per Cents., 108% to M. Exchequer Bills were 555. to 565.
premium.
The Foreign Bonds have been much the same as in the
morning. Spanish Actives hare realised 28M 36; the Three
per Cents., 411% %; Mexican, 36 to 35% for Money; and
Colombian, 14M. Dutch Four per Cents. were 983/4 3(3.
The additional transactions in Railway Shames have been
these;—Bristol and Exeter were 13; Chester and Holyhead,
21/, to 3; Churnet Valley, 7 to V; Chichester and Brighton,
1%; Cornwall, 2 to 1%; Eastern Union, 91/, ; Ely and Bed-
14d, 1,4 ; Great Southern and Western (Ireland) Extension,
4 to 3%; Great North of England, 72; Great Western, half,
51; Birmingham, 136 to 137 ; Ditto, Quarter, 273/. %; Man-
chester and Birmingham, 16M ; Midland. 231/4 ; Newry and
Enniskillen, %; Norwich and Brandon, 5%; South-Eastern,
15% to 14%; Ditto, New, No. 1, 161/2 to 151 ; South Wales,
31,4 ; Trent Valley, 15 ; West Cornwall, 2% ; and Orleans and
Bordeaux, 43% to 5 premium. Dublin and Galway, M ; and
Blackwell, 8% discount. Australia Bank Shares were 4%
pn mourn.
'1 he Foreign exchanges were well supported, with tho
exception, of a slight decline on Paris.
The following is the official return of the exports of Bullion
for the week ending Thursday last :
Silver Coin to China
DESTRT

34,000 oz.

UCTIVE FIRE at CHATHAM
DOCKYARD.
CHATHAM, Fes. 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 placer
minutely. They at length perceived a light between the palingi of
the gate which encloses the joiners' pound, filled with all sorts of
timber. The pound is situated between the joiners' workshop and
the storehouse for the reception of trunnails, in which stores there
was deposited about forty thousand. An alarm was immediately
given, and the dockyard bells sounded for assistance. Before kn y
engines could be brought into play, the fire burst:fearfully forth, and
owing to the combustible taaterials on the ptemises the flames spread
with such fearful rapidity that they extended themselves from one
end of the buildings to the other, nearly two hundred fe,t lengthways,
and about four hundred in depth. The whole of the dockyard.
engines, twelve in number, were soon manned by three divisions
of police, consisting of three inspectors, three sergeants, and
forty-six men, under the directions of the Director, Lieutenant
Wise, R.N. Tne Royal Marines, under the command of Colonel
Charles Menzies, K. 11., with their engines, were quickly on the
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; also
the Kent and the Sun engine, and notwithstanding the whole of
these engines were throwing tons of water into the blazing mass of
fire, the destructive element seemed to bid them defiance, and
burnt itself out. The banding, which are brick, are three stories
high, and are completely gutted, nothing but the bare wails 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-cast, carrying
large flakes of Are 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 Aocl fifty difrezent frames, which had been Made- for the
ships Raleigh, Active, Bulldog steam-frigate, Eclipse, and
Janus. There were upwarus of one hundred chests of tools, the
private prorerty of the carpenters, valued at i5l. 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 the fire should have remained
smouldering so many hours undiscoved. The water which supplied
the dockyard is from a reservoir at Brompton ; and it is calculated
that, during the fire, the engines poured 14,000 tons of water en
the flames. The dockyard school, with other small buildings, are
destroyed; about 601. of books, belonging to the school, are lost.
The total extent of the loss of property is estimated from 15,000/.
to 20,0004 Colonel Sir Thomas Will-hire, K.C.8., Burt., with
Brigade Makir O'Brien, of the garrison, aas on the spot ;
also the Captain Superintendent, Captain W. H. Sher-
rill'. 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 burping,
and the engines are working. An cxpress 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.

EURATUNI in yesterday's Earnings' Tax So met.—
For " toproot," read, " taproot."
MELANCHOLY DEATHS FROM POISON.—A very
melancholy occurrence took place yesterday morning in the
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 consi-
derable degree 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 affair. It
would appear that about half-past eight o'clock yesterday morning
Mr. and Mrs. Montague, who kept a eheesemonger's and sort a
geeeral shop in the Grove-lane, next to the George Canning' public-
house, sat down to breakfast in their accustomed way, when lies.
Montague did the duties of the breakttest-table. After pouring
out two cups of tea, Mrs. Montague drank one almost at a
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 shoputan did as he was desired,
and jocularly said to his mistress that she must have emptied the
pepper-box into the teapot. Ile drank, however, the remainder of
the cup, and was nearly losing his life by so doing. In a shirt time
after, the three—namely, Mr. and Mrs. Montague, and George May
the shopman, were taken ill by vomiting, when at surgeon was sent
for by a neighbour (the landlord of the George Canning), who as
dentally heard of their illness), and Mr. Fox, Mr. Massey, Mr. Cake
and other medical gentlemen attended, and applied c.v; ry remet
that skill could suggest for the preservation of the lives of ihe patients
The stomach-pump was applied, but only iii one instance (tint of the
shopman) was it et-textual. Mrs. Montague died in about one hour
after breakfast, and her husband expired at two o'clock. Mr. Mott
taeue wee Shout 62 years of :nee, and his wife near 45. he. had no
issue from their marriage, but were ,uppose t to lire in a comf eta ele
anti amicatne way. By what meals the poiton got into the teaeot is
a mystery, but it :s ette-osed that the deceased, Mrs. Montane, had
; tit it there, believing It to be carbonate of soda, which she applied to
soften the water. As st,on as the lamentable nth& became 'eternal to
the police authorities, Sergeant Kendall, 1 I', took poste,ssioe 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 left
on the table. From an analysis since made by the medical gentle-
men it has transpired that the poison contained in the teapot was
oxidic acid. It mete- be here re.narked, that Mr. Montaeee dealt in
some few drugs, but no oxalic acid has been Ibund on tile premises
since the occurrence. It appears that Mr. Montagu was the first to
find that there was something obnoxious in the tea, and on s,:eaking
of it his wife coincided with him in opinion, but yet drank her cup of
tea. As before stated, the husband and wife both died el spite the
aasistance of the medical gentlemen before named, but the shopmart
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 b 3 held on
Friday, after a post no/lean examination has been made by order of
the Coroner.
THE SNOW SI OIM AND FROST —The az ow storm
which.CoMmenced on Stualay evening did not terminate until be-
tween three and four p lock yesterday (Tuesday) morning. In the
neielSeeurhood of the m tropolis the snow in many place s lies to the
depth of nine Melee' an lin exposed situations it has been &Med t y
the E.S E wnd ti, the depth of several feet. Travelling ITtistiahne.
coaches and other land eonreyance is, in consequence,
at the Dockmaster's °nice. St. Katharine's,
peded. Yesterday the sun was cloudless. M nocetthlee.t!l
st°°(*l;er is accumulating,
hilnaldn'el(natet3eoar,
degrees ; baromet, r, 29 32. The ice on the d rdlownwaid
with the
and lag quantal, aof it floated upwardssii
tfiloool.deatpradr
cionnosregeunegnesen,
ia,tifttetrif:eootnie.rs Tohfestitiaipvpiginag-
etioabilet•kol(;sstieusetteerddairT
den: er. The docks or canape mooted in various parts of
It:I
aerrelvkeerptafrreeeibloytaarstiliTetiaeixtplicesaend,,o
Atany
a
dGis. n t, wa the fall of snow has been more cop:0 ts. The
ford t,lio.°auclh r as unable to reach town on Monday, hti .g detained
by an ac annular. d ,new drift about three miles on the 4.omben-road.
The road to P kin; was almost impassable, and Mr. Broad, the
proprietor of the only remaining four-horse coach on that roal,
was
compelled to stop for some time at Leatherhea4, yesterday Meriting.
unt 1 a passage was cleared, under the apprehension that he would
not be able t continue his journey. On Monday the accumuletion of
snow was so g:cat on the South-Western Railway that the I eg
t rrbyivtehehstamt7enonuven;_iali,Le,edtur:da:aoyei
Ytraiesterday
morning
oenmdal
14i;
ao
reach the Vauxhallpttht::rminus until half-past 11, having the South-
ampton, Portsmouth, and Yeovil mails. The delay took place from
the Andover-road to the 'Woking station, and for some distance the
speed of the rain did not exceed four miles an hour. There was no
although a great many of the branch annuirilosid
delay of importance in the arrival of
neral delivery in the afternoon of. dtid not
to,ttl,:tar•rrirailroad
itnracionns.,
sequence a the deity in the western trains there was second ge-
neral
S severe; the barometer slo2--Zet•erraii'3n.g., Darin; last night the
Bost we
KlXfa
--- —laws YHIx.IPPh ON POPULATION.—We
take the following from the Wasp:a eireus of January 30: it proves
how decided is the spread of true principles on " the Pepulation
Question Another curious question which was propounded by
Mr. Doubleday, in a recent treatise, aleo arises out of this. In con-
zequence of the imperfect registration in Scold/net, there is no meet's
of arriv:ng with any deeree of certainty at the number ot lerfhe ;
but if there were, it would he prof:table to inquire whether, us Mr. •
Doulleday propounds, the births, in proportion to the population, ia-
variably fuel ease in years of scarcity and depression of trade. It is
asserted by that gentleman that they do—and lie alleges, as a proof,
a fart which Dr. Itetehan notices in ids celebrated work, and which
every person must have observed --that the more squalid and wretched
ne:ghivrritetel is, the greater 13 the number of chilli-en in it. Ills
theory is. th, t whenever a species of animal or vegetable is
threatened with eetinction by a deficiency of nourishment, natu o
[lies to the relief of the individuals and species so threatened, and
increases their fecundity We should like to have tested this prin.;
'eiple, by a comparison of the number of births in this city during the.
years 1842-8-4; i tu in the absence of the data, we can do no more
than throw Out the suggestion for the consideration of• those .rho
take an interest in the details of statistics, and the truths dent re'
be derived from them. it would, perhaps, throw sonic light
i
inquiry, if Dr. Watt could eteeertain whether the very reiu arl:atl,le
increase of twin birthsewhich he mentions, took place
lit poor.or
euenee. Iles _ea-
whith had ample, or perhaps more thancn,,i,plz,,t,,..
families—in famines which had not sufficient ftski, or- among:tirre
gr,:at letterset
ice:), King Lows Philippe, whe well oe to t
in this curious question, inclines. to the opinion ofMr. Doubleday;
asserted recently as a reason for the non-appearance of heirs 10
certain noble families, that " theyted too much.' "..nine JArcury,

T Y NE WS.
THIS
SHAY EVENING.