The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

ESCAPE AND CAPrriRS OF TWO CON VICTS: ONE OF THEM SHOT. Two convicts, named Gastridge and^ Jeffs, made their eseape from Knapffill under the fo11™ cumatances. Surrounding the .convict establishment there is a quantity of land in course of cultivation by the Government authorities, upon which gangs ofcon- victs, in the charge of officers, are sent to work. .0 I From one of these gangs the two convictsnamèd; selecting a favourable opportunity,, bounded off with the speed of greyhounds. The officer in charge observed the escape, and so did the sentry Toller. The latter, with great ^coolness, brought'his-tnusbefto-te-eaT on one ofc- the fugitives, and fired. The aim proved true, aod lodged a s.ug in the fugitive's back, not, however, at the Ume dis- abling him, and both runaways made for the copse- wood which abounds in the district.. A signal gun brought a number of officers from the interior of the prison and a most excising pursuit ensued. Some of the officers had almost overtaken the fogi-weu when the latter were brought to bay by some men in a nursery. One of them seemed inclined to show fight, but seeing his chance hopeless he allowed himself to be secured. They were conveyed back to the prison, where the wounded man was placed under the care of Dr. Campbell, who extracted the slug. The chase, which lasted about half an heur, caused a great sensa- tion in the neighbourhood.

HOM ES OF THE PEOPLE: DREADFUL ABODES IN SPITALFIELDS. An inquest was held on Wednesday in Commercial- street, Spitalfields, on the body of George Anson, aged thirty-eight years, and Margaret Anson, his wife, of the same age. The deceased persons lived in a room, at 27, Grey Eagle-street, for which they paid 2s. 9d. a week. For some time before their decease they complained of sickness, loss of appetite, and a sort of skin over their eyes. They spoke of the dreadful state of the p-remises-the water kept in an old tar barrel, the yard wet and dirty, the boards of the closet partly gone, and the door of it off. Mary Davies said that she lived on the ground-floor, where she had a coal-shop. Her sleeping room was three feet below the level of the yard, and the window was level with the surface of the yard. She paid 4s. a week to Mr. Waring. She lived there seven years, and during that time lost six children. They all died under the age of two years and a quarter. She had two children living now. Twenty people lived in the house. In the back-room on the first floor a man and his five children lived. They paid Is. 9d. a week rent, far the room was very small. In the next room the two deceased died. Over it lived a woman and her two children; and in the next room to hers was a family consisting of a man, his daughter, and a little boy, paying 2s. 6d. a week rent. In witness's room the flooring was laid level on the ground. There were no rafters. The floor was the height of a table beneath the level °f Some further evidence touching the state of the house and premises having been given, Dr. T. Jarvis said that he found both the man and the woman delirious from typhoid fever. They were so surrounded by unhealthy innnences, that their re- covery was hopeless, and they remained there. There was an accumulation of vegetable and other refuse outside the door, and the passage and the etairs were extremely dirty; the walls dirty and dilapidated; the closet in a disgraceful state; and the water very short in supply and unfit for drink from the exhalations from the drain. Dr. Henry Letheby, medical officer of health to the City, after describing the state of the placo in detail, said that the water was so filthy that it could only be used for washing. Mr. Isaac Battram, assistant inspector to the White- chapel Board of Works, said that he had served a notice on Mr. H. F. Waring, of 450, Hackney-road, m the 24th of October, and he got a compulsory order on Thursday last with reference to this house. i Some further evidence was taken in conjunction with the abominable and dangerous condition of the pre- m the 24th of October, and he got a compulsory order on Thursday last with reference to this house. Some further evidence was taken in conjunction with the abominable and dangerous condition of the pre- mises, and ,r » i The jury, after some deliberation, returned the fol- lowing verdict: "That George Anson and his wife, Margaret Anson, died from typhoid fever, and that the filthy condition and overcrowded state ot the pre- mises engendered such fever and the jurors further say that more prompt measures ought to have been taken with respect to the said premises by the district mspector.

THE GREAT ANNUAL FAT OATTLE SHOW AT BIRMINGHAM. Great was the company of the agriculturist^ .in Birmingham, the boasted metropolis of the Mid- lands, and groat were the anticipations. of the said agriculturists and of the general public with regard to the seventeenth annual exhibition of cattle, sheep,, poultry, &o., opened to public view on the 4th of December, in Bingley-hall. The gaunt spectre of the rinderpest, which is at this moment.stalking with awful tread from herd to herd all over the face of the country, threatened at one time to put a stop to the holding of the show for the present year, and, as showing that the fear of a visitation was not confined simply to the owners of cattle, who are primarily in- terested, but extended beyond this class, we may men- tion that »ije of the foremost members of the Cattle Show Council recently brought forward a resolution affirming the non-desirability of holding the exhibition this year. This proposition was properly and promptly negatived as soon as mooted, and all promised favour- ably until the resolution passed by the Council of the Smithfield .show—excluding all animals which had been exhibited in any part of the country within a month of the holding of their show—dropped among the members of the Birmingham Council like a bomb- shell. Here again annihilation was threatened, but, as the result shows, has not come to pass. In the first instance the entries this year of fat cattle were only sixteen less than last year, and only thirty-four more were withdrawn when it became known that stock, ex. hibited here could not compete for prizes the following week at the great Smithfield show. The total number exhibited at Bingley-hall this year after the with- drawal, of the thirty-four named-of cattle, sheep, and pigs, amounted to 296, against a total last year of346. The following are the prizes awarded:— FAT CATTLE. Class 1, Hereford Oxen or Steers, exceeding three years and three months old.-I. Mr. William Aid worth, Frilford, Abingdon; 2. Lieutenant-Colonel Lloyd Lindsay, M.P., Lockinge-park, Berks 3. Mr. Aaron Pike, Mitton, Tewkes- bury. blGlass 2, Hereford Steers, not exceeding three years and three months old.-l. Mr. Richard Shirley, Baucott, Mun- slow, Church Stretton, Salop; 2, Ditto, ditto; 3. Mr, George Pitt, Chadnor-court, Dilwyn, Leominster.. Class 3, Hereford Cows.—1. Mr. John Baldwin, Luddjng- ton, Stratford-upon-Avon; 2. Lord Bateman, Shobdon- court, Herefordshire. Class 4, Hereford Heifers.—1. Mr. George Pitt, Chadnor- court, Dilwyn, Leominster. Class 5, Short-horn Oxen or Steers exceeding three years and three months old.-I. Mr. Rowland Wood, Clapton, near Thrapstone, Northamptonshire; 2. G. a. ioljambe, Esq., Osber ton-hall, Worksop, Nottinghamshire; o. Mr. Joseph Lay cock, Low Gosforth, Northumberland. Class 6, Short-horn Steers, not exceeding three years and three months old.—l. Allan Pollok, Esq., Lismany, Ballinasloe; 2. Messrs. J. and W. Martin, Aberdeen; 3. Thomas Walker, Esq., Berks well-hall, Coventry. Class 7, Short-horn CowsV—1. Mr. William Fletcher, Radmantliwaite, Mansfield 2. Mr. John Lynn, ^Church- farm, Stroxton, Grantham 3. Mr. Aaron Pike, Mitton, near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. J Class 8, Short-horn Heifers.—1. Mr. William Woodward, Northway-house, Tewkesbury; 2. Mr. William Aldworth, Frilford, Abingdon; 3. Robert S. Doyne, Esq., Wells, Wexford. Class 9 Devon Oxen or Steers, exceeding three years and three months old.-2. Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey-court, Bridge water, Somerset. ,) Classic, Devon Steers, not exceeding three years and three months old—1. Mr. Harry Frampton, Blandford, Dorsetshire; 2. Mr. William Smith, Higher Hoopern, flats'11, Devon Cows.-l. Mr. William Taylor, Harptree- court, Somersetshire; 2, Mr. Walter Farthing, SoOwey- court, Bridgewater, Somerset. Class 12, Devon Heifers.—1, Mr. Walter Farthing, Stowey- court, Brldgewater. V «•' tr Class 14, Long-horn Cows or Heifers.—1, Mr. Joseph H. Burbery, The Chase, Kenilworth; 2. Mr. John Faulkner, Bretby-farm, Burton-upon-Trent. •_ Class 15, Scotch Polled Oxen and Steers. —1. The Earl of Crawford and Balearres, Haigh-hall, Wigan; 2. Mr. William M'Combie, Tillyfour, Aberdeen, N.B.; 3. Allan Pollok, Esq., Lismany, Ballinasloe. Class 16, West Highland Oxen or Steers.-l. Mr. Joseph Gray, Seatonburn, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; 2, Mr. Robert Mowbray, Cambus, Stirling; 3. Ralph Sneyd, Esq., Keele- ^lalltSch Cows or Heifers.-l. AllanlPollok, Esq., Lismany, Ballinasloe; 2. The Right Hon. the Earl of Craw- ford and Balcarres Haigh-hall, near Wigan. ■_ Class 18, Welsh Oxen or Steers.—1. Richard Doig, Esq., Lillingstorie-hall, near Buckingham 2, Henry Platt, Esq. Bryn-y-Neuadd, near Bangor. wir ™ Class 21, Fat Oxen or Steers.—1. Mr. William M Combie, Tillyfour, Aberdeen; 2. Allan Pollok, Esq. Lismany, Class 18, Welsh Oxen or Steers.—1. Richard Doig, Esq., Lillingstorie-hall, near Buckingham 2, Henry Piatt, J^sq., Bryn-y-Neuadd, near Bangor. wir ™ Class 21, Fat Oxen or Steers.—1. Mr. William M Combie, Tillyfour, Aberdeen; 2. Allan Pollok, Esq. Lismany, **Class^ijf Fat Cows.—1. Mr. Aaron Pike, Mitton, Tewkes- bury, Gloucestershire. Class 23, Fat Heifers.—1. Mr. John Faulkner, Bretby-farm, Burton-on-Trent.. Class 24. Oxen or Steers, not qualified to compete in any of the foregoing classes.— £ 5. Mr. Frederick Lythall, Spittal-farm, Banbury. SHEEP. Class 26, Fat Leicester Wethers, not exceeding twenty- two montbs .old.L Mr. John Boast, North Dalton, Drif- field; 2. William Perry Herrick, Esq Beaumanor-park, Leicestershire; 3. bitto, ditto. Class 27 (long-woolled Sheep not being Leicesters), Fat Wethers, not exceeding twenty-two months old)^—l. Mr. Ciarles Kearsey, Glewstone, near Ross, Herefordshire. Ola's 28 (Solth and other Down Sheep), Fat Wethers noT exceeding twenty-two months old.-l. ^he Right HoQOuTable the Earl of Radnor, Col^hill-house Highworth, Wiltshire • 2. The Right Honourable Lord Walsmgham, Merton-ball, Thetford, Norfolk; 3. Ditto, ditto. Class 29 (South and other Down Sheep), Fat Wethers, 8xc66cliiig' twonty-two but not Gxcocdiug tb.irty-four montlis 01d.-2. The Right Hon. Lord Walsingham, Merton-hall, Thetford, Norfolk. Class 31, Pens of Three Fat Wethers not exceedingtwenty- two months ald.-I. The Right Hon. Lady Willoughby de Broke, Compton Verney, Warwick. 2. Mr. Joseph Beach, The Hattons, Breewood, and Dudley; Mr. James Hand, Ludlow. Class 32, Fat Shropshire Wethers, exceeding twenty-two but not exceeding thirty-four months old.-l. Mr. Henry Smith, Sutton Maddock, Shiffnall; 2. The Hon. Beilby Law- ley, Escrick-park, near York. Class 33, Single Shropshire Wethers, exceeding twenty- two months old.-I. Mr. Henry Smith, Sutton Maddock, Shiffnall. Class 35, Cross-bred Sheep, Fat Wethers, not exceeding twenty-two months 01.;1.-1. 1,ir. John Overman, Burnham Sutton, Burnham-market; 2, Mr. Zachariah W. Stilgoe, Adderbury-grounds, Banbury, Oxfordshire. Class 36 (Leicester Ewes), Fat Ewe of any age, having bred one or more lambs.—1. John Gregory Watkins, Esq., Woodfield, near Droitwitch; 2. Mr. William Browne, Hihg- gate-farm, Holme on Spalding Moor, York. Class 37 (Lincoln and Cotswold Ewes), Fa;t Ewe, of any age, having bred one or more lambs.-l. Mr. Thomas B. Marshall, Branston, near Lmooln 2. Mr. Charles Kearsey, Glewstone, near Ross, Herefordshire. Class 38 (South and other Down Ewes), Fat Ewe of any age, having bred one or more lambs.-1. Duke of Marlborough Blenheim Palace, Oxon; 2. Mr. William Hemming, Col- dicot, near Moreton-in-Marsh. Class 39 (Shropshire Ewes), Fat Ewe, of any age, having bred one or more lambs.—1. The Hon. Beilby Lawley, Escrick-park, York; 2. Mr. John Coxon, Freeford, near Lichfield. FAT PIGS. Class 40, Three Fat Pigs of One Litter, hot exceeding ten months old.—1. Mr. Samuel Geater Stearn, Brandeston, Wickham-market, Suffolk; 2. Major-General the Hon. A. N. Hood, Cumberland-lodge, Windsor; .3.. The Countess of Chesterfield, Bretby-hall, Burton-upon-Trent. Class 41, Three Fat Pigs of One Litter, not exceeding fifteen months old.-I. Majoi-General the Hon. A. N. Hood, Cumberland. lodge, Windsor; 2. Mr. Thomas Crisp, Butley- abbey, Wickham-market; 3. Mr. Samuel Geater Stearn, Brandeston, Wickham-market, Suffolk. Class 42, Fat Pigs exceeding fifteen months old.-I. Mr. George Mangles, Givendale, Ripon, Yorkshire; 2. Mr. Samuel Geater Stearn, Brandeston, Wickham-market, Suffolk; 3. Mr. William Smith, Bibury, Fairford. BREEDING- PIGS. Class 43 (Pigs of the Berkshire breed), Five Pigs of One Litter, exceeding three and not exceeding six months old. —1. and 2. Mr. Joseph Smith, Henley-in-Arden; 3. Bell Fletcher, Esq., M.D., Dorridge-house, Knowle, near Bir- mingham. Class 44 (Pigs of other Large breeds), Five Pigs of One Litter, exceeding three and not exceeding six months old." 1. William Bradley Wainman, Esq., Carhead, near Cross- hills, Yorkshire; 2. Messrs. James and Frederick Howard, Britannia-farms, Bedford; 3. Mr. Frederick Fiddymont Wells, Weston-under-Wetherley, Leamington. Class 45 (Pigs of a Small breed), Five Pigs of One Litter, exceeding three and not exceeding six months old.-I. Mr. George Mangles, Givendale, Ripon;. 2. William B-adley Wainman, Esq., Carhead, near Cross hills, Yorkshire; 3. Mr. Samuel Geater Stearn, Brandeston, Wickham-market, Suffolk.

THE REV. A H. SPURGEON IN DE- FENCE OF THE BAPTIST MINISTERS IN JAMAICA. After an absence from his church for about a fort- night, caused by a somewhat severe cold, from which he has now almost wholly recovered, the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon resumed his ministrations at the Metropo- litan Tabernacle on Sunday morning, and addressed an unusually large congregation, partly in defence of the conduct of the Baptist ministers in Jamaica, and partly in reference to the slanderous attacks and fires of persecution to which the Church of Christ, in the persons of her faithful followers, ever has been sub- jected. He selected for his text the 3rd chapter of Daniel and the, 25th verse-" He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." He said the mar- vellous, history of the three faithful champions who had been cast into the burning fiery furnace, nd which this chapter contained, afforded in itself abundant proof that firmness and steadfastness aer e at all times to be manifested by those who upheld the truth, and that on no occasion were the dictates of conscience to sacrificed. It was to be always expected that persecution, in one shape or another, would be the portion of those who maintained the cause of Christ unflinchingly. Sometimes it was persecution by fire, and at -others it was persecution by slander. Lately it had assumed the latter form, for the Baptist ministers in Jamaica were now held up as the friends of sedition. His answer was that those ministers were the friends of liberty and not the friends of sedition. They had vindicated the prin- ciples of liberty for all men alike. It made no matter to them whether the skins of men were black or whether they were white; they held that liberty was, the birthright of all without distinction. Murder they held in abhorrence. Murder, whether committed within the dominions of the British, the Russian, or any other Government, was alike atrocious every- where; and if the negroes of Jamaiea had risen, and, for a moment forgetting themselves, had imbrued their .hands in blood, it should be recollected that oppression very often made men mad, and that some of the blame of the rebellion might fairly be laid upon the shoulders of those who for a long time had ground those negroes down and held them in bondage. But though the B aptist ministers of the island wera the friends of liberty and not of sedi- tion, the persecution by means of slander now raged against them. The old furnace, which was occasion- ally in all ages heated seven times" more than it was wont to be heated for the people of God, was once more lighted up, and so it would ever continue to be lighted until Christ came again. These persecutions were productive, however, of great benefit. The three champions for the truth were cast into the burning fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar with bonds on them, but they came out of it without their bonds; and in like manner many of God's people never enjoyed full liberty in Christ until they had been cast into the furnace, where noth- ing belonging to them was consumed except their bonds and fetters. It was only when Luther said, The Pope has excommunicated me and I ex- communicate the Pope," that he lost his bonds. Never did John Knox's tongue become bolder, never did Wickliffe's heart throb quicker, never did John Bradford confront Popery more openly, than when they passed through the furnace of perseeution and were loosed from their bonds. Persecutions were like waves of the sea, each one of which drifted tha bhip- wrecked sailor nearer to the rock. The worst wind soon blew over, and only brought the children of God closer to their everlasting home. If any one would read the Naphtali," a Scotch book of the lives of the saints, then would it be seen what persecution had wrought in the work of real joy and hope and faith among the inhabitants of the bogs and grey- sides of Scotland. Then, if "Poxe's Book of Martyrs was read—and every family ought to buy a copy of it—it would be seen that there was more of joy experiencedin the Lollard's Tower than was perhaps ever known elsewhere. Like as Paul and Silas sang in the gaol in Philippi, the saints now could sing even in dungeons, and participate in the joys of heaven while suffering the pains of earthly persecution. When poor Samuel had only bread without water one day, and water without bread the next, he had a dream of elysium, and was told by an angel that he should soon eat and drink in the kingdom of his Father. Ih all their persecutions the people of God had consolations from on high, and, like as with the three in the fiery furnace, Jesus was ever with them. This discourse, delivered with great power and elo- quence, was listened to throughout with marked atten- tion.

A Child Poisoned by Colours.—An inquest was held at York on Tuesday, to inquire into the cause of the death of a female child, thirteen months bid belonging to a cabinet-maker, of Swinegate, York named Bean. On Saturday night, after playing with a halfpenny box of colours, the child suddenly became ill, and troubled with vomiting. The father became alarmed, and, having reason to suspect that the child had suoked one of the squares of colour, went for Mr. Bird, surgeon. That gentleman pre- scribed but the vomiting continued, and the child died at half-past one o'clock on Sunday morning. The father had thrown the colours into the fire as soon as he found his child ill, but another box of the same de. scrirttion had since been purchased, and arsenic found to be in one of the squares in such a quantity as would ^F^centages to Servants a Hundred Years .Ago,Ja,ckson's. Oxford Journal for Sept. 14,1765, Stains the following in its London correspondence, n rider date of Sept. 10:—"Yesterday a lady of quality at the west-end of the town discharged her house-steward for exacting a quarterly fine from her butcher and hftker on the payment- -of their bills, and at the same time removed her custom from both those trades- men for not acquainting her ladyship with the im- position."

OUR "CITY" ARTICLE, j I During the past week the money market gene- j rally has been in a depressed condition, owing in j great measure to a feeling of uneasiness as to the future course of events on the part of both dealers and investors. The demand for money early in the week was very moderate, as in many quarters it was thought probable that the meeting of the Bank directors on Thursday would be followed by a further reduction in the rate of discount. Inquiries for accommodation were therefore de- layed, but when it was found that no alteration had been effected in the rate, and that supplies could not be obtained on easier terms, a heavy demand arose at once. In consequence, discount business was done in the Stock Exchange at an advance of fully 1 per cent, on the quotation of the previous Saturday, the rate in some cases reaching that of the Bank minimum—6 per cent. This had the effect of checking the demand, and re-establishing the rates of the previous week in the open market. Nearly all classes of stocks during the week have experienced a decline. One of the chief reasons for this depression is the fact that the investing public have lately committed themselves so largely to many of the new schemes brought forward, that they are compelled to dis- pose of stock previously in their possession, to meet their new liabilities. It is a marvel to all acquainted with the real state and prospects of the money market—a marvel even to those who have made themselves familiar with the history of the speculative manias of past days—how ready the public are to fall into the traps set for them in the flourishing prospectuses of new bubble com- panies." The word limited" in recent years appears to have exercised a peculiar charm. Under its magic influence the most absurd pro- jects are often received with favour, and embraced almost without inquiry. So long as liability is limited to the amount of shares subscribed for," as the prospectuses emphatically announce, investors appear perfectly reckless as to what becomes, of that portion of their capital. One would imagine that the constant occurrence of petitions for wind ing-up" new projects, many of which have come before the Court of Chancery even within the last few days, would operate as an effectual check upon the rashness of the public. At present, however, no sufficient indication of this can be noted. Ic remains to be seen whether the cautions so repeatedly offered of late will.prove of any service, in preventing such a crisis as must inevitably follow any continued period of wild or incon- siderate speculation. 1.1, Consols during the week have declined fully i per cent. For money they arejaow quoted without the dividend due in January, and therefore the price in Saturday's official list was 87§, f, for both money and account. Several purchases were made in the week by the Government broker, but his operations failed to counteract the downward tendency of the market. No': only, as we before observed, do many of the public make sates of stocks long held, in order to oaeet the calls of new associations, but so many specious attractions are .offered to the unwary in these ephemeral projects, that the much-loved andtrus.ted" Three per Cents." of former days fail to be sought as an investment so frequently as in years gone by. Hence, in great measure, the lower rate which has lately existed in the market, at a time when neither our domestic affairs nor our foreign relations would in them- selves justify a depressed condition of the Govern- ment Securities. Saturday's official quotations for the Three per CeEts. Reduced were 87, i,J; New Three per Cents., 87J, i;, Bank. of England Stock, 248^, 9; India 4 8 Five per Cents., 102|, Transactions, however, are done in the market after the closing of the official list, and these in most cases showed a ten- dency to further deeline. It was thought that the apparently dangerous conditlonof the health of the King of the Belgians was sufficient to account far the increased heaviness observable in the market. The, depression in foreign stocks in tne course of the. week was. almost universal.- Mexicans, especially, were flat, in consequence of unfavour- able rumours as to a prolongation of the dis- turbances in which the country has so long been plunged.. Spanish, in spite of the assertion that the Ministry would maintain, the course taken by, its admiral in Chili, and set at nought the re- monstrances of foreign Powers, were done at the quotations of the previous week. Egyptian Seven per Cents, of 1862, and RupsianFive per Cents, of 1822, were exceptions to the general decline, 'and showed a slight improvement on the week's operations. Railway shares were dull, and if they did not exhibit so great a tendency to decline as other classes of stocks, it must-be attributed to the fact that the period of dividends is approaching, prior to which an improved demand is always apparent. Very little business, however, was done, and this, in some cases, at a reduction. Great Eastern, which had been looking up during the last two or three weeks, went back about 1 per cent. Great Northern and Great Western were rather lower. London and North-Western, South-Western, and Metropolitan, also declined slightly. Of foreign railway shares, Belgian remain firm, at an improving tendency, while others generally were lower. In some cases colonial shares im- proved. Grand Trunk of Canada showed"a rise of about 2i. per, cent, in the week. In miscellaneous shares, Royal Mail Steam de- clined about 2 per cent. Australian Agricultural, in consequence of favourable advices, experienced an advance of about 7 percent. The shares of new banks and finance companies were dull. The general produce markets were steady dur- ing the week: supplies were somewhat smaller. Coffee maintained the advance lately apparent; tea went at the full prices of the previous week, although less activity was perceptible in the de- mand, Sugar was flat, and a, decline of about 6d. per cwt. was established, Pepper, the consump- tion of which increases in winter, was in more request, and white qualities were rather dearer. Only moderate supplies of Wheat were brought forward in the markets. The prices were fully maintained for good qualities, but wheat of in- ferior condition declined. Indian, corn was in better* demand, and advanced 3d. to 6d. per qr. In the Meat market prices remained the same; but retailers, who are beginning to feel that the public are alive to the fact that the market rates have not warranted their recent exorbitant de- mands, find it necessary to make some reduction in their prices. The threatened establishment of one or more associations, and even co-operative societies, to supply the consumer at a reasonable rate, will not be without its effect upon a class who have certainly taken advantage, without scruple, of the ignorance of the public. An active demand has existed in the Cotton market, and an advance of about Id. per lb. was established. The trade generally is active, and the reports from the manufacturing districts con- tinue favourable. —; <»

The House of Commons and the Clubs.— Ladies may decry club-life, bat oar legislators have a strong appreciation of the advantages of those insti- tutions. 160 members of Parliament are free of the Carlton; 131 may take their ease at the Reform. The other clubs are represented in the following pro. portions r—Brookes's, 79 Travel! ets', 62; Athens am, ■5t; Oxford and Cambridge, 40; White's, 30 Boodle's, 23; Guards', 21; Conservative, 20 University, 19; Union, 18; Army and Navy, 16; United Service, 16; Garrick, 6; and Windham, 5.

Money Market CITY, DEC. 5. -The stock markets remain dull, with little business. The funds are steady at yesterday's closing- quotations. There is a fall in Great Northern A etosit, and a recovery in Greek Bonds, but, with these exceptions, prices are quoted much the same as they closed yesterday, though the general tone is rather fiat There is very little business in the discount market to-day, and the supply of money is large. The rate for good bills, however, is still 5| to 6 per cent. The charge for short loans in the Stock Exchange, on English Government securities, is 4r| to 5 per cent. Consols are now quoted 87t to i, ex div., C-oth for money and the account (December 7). BANK OF ENGLAND.—An Account pnraaant to the Act 7th and 8th Vie., c. 32, for the week ending on Wednesday, November 29,1865. ISSUE DEPARTMENT. Notes issued £ 28,498,065 Government debt £11,015,100 Other securities. 3,631,900 Gold coin & bullion 13,848; 095 Silver bullion — £ 28,498,005 £ 28,498^ BANKING DEPARTMENT. Proprietors'capit'l £ 14,553,000; Go cernment secu- Rest 3,185,9171 rities (inc. dead Public Deposits 6,5 (4.382: weight annuity) £ 9,741100 Other Deposits 12,471,52i.jOther Securities 18.950,510 Seven day and jNotes 7,776,350 other bills 494,023j Gold & silver coin 780,883 £ 37,248,8431 £ 37,248,843 I Nov. 30, 1865. W. MILLER, Chief Cashier.

The Corn Trade. MABK-LANE, DEC. 4.-Tbe supply of WJleat from Essex and Kent to this morning's market was very moderate: dry samples were taken freely at the extreme prices of last week; but all other qualities, and also of foreign, moved off slowly.-Fine malting Barley brought last week's rates, but secondary sorts were difficult of sale, and rather cheaper; grinding unaltered in value.-Beane brought an advance of 6d per qr.—Peas were fully as deax.—Of Oats there is a large arrival, and to effect sales it was necessary to submit to a decline of 3d to 6d per qr.—Flour was un- changed in value. CURRENT PRICES OT BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR. Shillings per Quarter, WHEAT, Essex and Kent, white new 4G to 52 i, „ red 1, .38 47 Norfolk, Lincoln, and Yorkshire, red 40 47 BARLEY., 27 to 31 Chevalier, new 33 38 Grinding 26 29 Distilling 30 32 MALT, Essex, Norfolk, & Suffolk.new 54 61.old. 56 66 Kingston,Ware,&town-made.new 51 61.old. 58 66 Brown 48 53 RYE 26 28 OATS, English, feed 21 to 26.Potato. 25 30 Scotch, feed .21 26 Potato 25 30 Irish, feed, white20 23 Fine 24 27 Ditto, black .19 23 .Potato 24 27 BEANS, Mazagan .43 45.Ticks 44 46 Harrow 47 49 Pigeon 48 53 PEAS, white, boilers 38 '45 Maple33to42 Grey,new37 40 FLOUR, per sack of 2801bs., Town, Households 42 46 Country,on shore 33 to 35 37 39 Norfolk and Suffolk, onshore. 32 34 FOREIGN GRAIN. WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed .51 to 54 old, extra 54 60 Kijnigsberg 48 52 .extra 53 55 Rostock .48 52 fine 53 55 Silesian, red.46 48 white 49 51 Pornera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk red old. 45 51 Russian, hard, 42 to 44. St. Petersburg and Riga. 44 47 Danish and Holstein, red 44 46 Trench, none ..Rhine and Belgium 46 52 American,redwinter46to49,apvii!g45to47,white 50 64 BARLEY, grinding 24 to 2 j distilling and malting 30 34 OATS, Dutch, brewing and Polands.22 to 23 feed 21 25 Danish and Swedish, feed 22 to 26.Stralsund. 23 36 Russian, Riga22 to 24.Arch., 21 to 24.P'aburg 23 27 BEANS, Friesland and Holstein 37 42 Konigsberg .40 to 44.Egyptian .— — PEAS, feeciingand maple 36 40.fine boilers 39 43 INDIAN qORN. white.31 33.yellow 31 35 TARES, p. bush., winter 5s 5s 6d.Lautils — — FLOUR, per sack, French 33 33.Spanish, p. sack 33 36 American, per brl 23 25.extra and d'ble. 26 29

Meat and Poultry Markets METROPOLITAN.—A statement of the supplies and prices of fat live stock on Moadny, December 5, 1864, as compared with Monday, December 4, 1865 :— Per 81bs. to sink the offal. Dec. 5, 1864. Dec. 4,1885, a. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Coarse and inferior Beasts 3 6 to 4 2 3 2 to 3 6 Second quality ditto. 4 4 410 3 8 4 4 Prime large Oxen 5 0 5 2 4 6 4 10 Prime Scots, &c. 5 4 56 5 0 5 2 Coarse and inferior Sheep 3 10 46 4 0 4 8 Second quality ditto4 8 50 4.10 56 Prime coarse-woolled ditto 5 2 5 6 5 8 6 2 Prime Southdown ditto 5 8 5 10 6 4 6 8 Large coarse Calves 4 4 4 10 4 0 4 6 Prime small ditto 5 0 54 4 8 5 0 Large Hogs 3 6 44 4. 0 4 6 Neat small Porkers 4 6 4 10 4 8 5 2 NEWGATE AND LEADENH ALL.—These markets are moderately supplied with meat. The demand is steady. Per 81bs. by the carcase :— s. d. B. d. s. d. to s. d. Inferior beef 2 10 to 3 4 Capons, each. 4 0 5 0 Middling ditto 3 6 3 10 G'nickens, each 19 2 6 Prime large 4 0 4 2 Ducks, each 2 6 3 6 Ditto small 4 4 4 6 Rabbits, each. 10 16 Large pork 3 10 5 0 Hares, each 3 0 4 0 Inferior mutton 3 8 4 4 Grouse, each 2 6 2 9 Middling ditto 46 50 Ps.rcridges.each 13 19 Prime ditto 5 2 5 4 Pheasants,each 3 6-39 Veal 3 10 4 8 Pigeons, each. 0 9 6 10 Small pork 5 2 5 8 Ostendfr. butter, Lamb 0 0 0 0 per doz; lbs. 11 6 14 6 Turkeys, each 4 0 7 0 English ditto. 12 0 16 0 Geese, each 5 6 7 0 French eggs, 120 7 6 9 6 Fowls, each 26 3 6 I English ditto. 10 0 11 0

Fruit and Vegetables. GOVENT-GARDEN.-Little alteration has taken place ice our last report, with the exception of pine-apples, which are unusually abundant and cheap. Pears consist chiefly of Winter Nelis, Dachesse d'Angouleme, Beurre Diel, ani Yah Mons Leon le Clerc. Grapes continue to fetch good prices. Oranges are becoming more plentiful. Pota- i toes of good quality are also abundant. French asparagus continues to make its appearance. Flowers chiefly consist of orchids, heaths, {mignonette, chrysanthemums, Chinese j primulas, and roses. FRUIT. e. d. s. d. s. d. B. d. Pineapples, p. lb. 4 0to6 0 Oranges,p.100 4 OtolO 0 Peaches, p. doz. '0 0 0 0- Lemons,p 100 8 0 14 0 Plums, p. quart 0 0 0 0 Nuts,cob,1001bsl20 0 130 0 Apples, p. sieve 2 0 3 0 Brazil,p.bush. 18 0 0 0 Pears, per sieve 2 6 4 6 Filberts, per lb. 0 0 0 0 Grapes/per lb. 4 0 8 0 Almnds.p.bush.18 0 20 0 ■Melons, each 3 0 5 0 Figs, per doz. 0 0 0 0 VEGETABLES. ■Melons, each .8 0 5 0 I Figs, per doz. 0 0 0 0 VEGETABLES. sdsdi sdsd Cabbaees, per doz. 1 0to2 0 Cucumbers, each .0 9tol 0 a Kale, per pun- Beet, per dozen 16 2 0 net 2 6 3 OjSballots, per lb, 0 8 0 0 Potatoes, York Re- |Garlic, per lb 0 8 0 0 gents, per ton 80 0 100 0| Lettuces, per doz.1 0 0 0 Socks, per ton 55 0 65 0iB.od.ive, per score .1 0 2 6 I Flukes, per ton .HO 0 140 01 Artichokes, per doz. 4 0 6 0 Kidneys, per cwt. 8 0 1'2 Oj liorseradish,p. bun.l 0 4 0 Carrots, per bunch 0 4 0 6|Muahrooms, per pot.l 0 2 6 Turnips, per bunch 0 4 0 6 Parsley, p. doz. bun. 2 0 4 0 Celery, per bundle 10 1 6; Herbs, per bunch .0 6 0 0 MINCING-LANE, DEC. 5. The Sugar market bes opened very quietly, there being no sales of importance to report. Refined: Dried goods are without change in price, but the demand is very inactive. Foreign goods, although offering at easier rates, do not find ready purchasers.—No public sales of Ceylon Coffee were brought forward to- day, and but little business done by private contract, the recent arrivals not having yet bees placed on the market — The Tea market is steady, but quiet.-Rice and Saltpetre continue dull of sale.-The demand for Cotton has again been very active, at a further advance of Jd to %d per lb. Tinnivelly, fair to good fair, 17d to 18d; Madras, 15d to 17d; Coconada, fair, 16d; Bengal and Scinde, fair to fully fair, 12Jd to 13d.-The Hemp market is quiet, at £ 34 for St. Petersburg; Manilla in more active request at firmer prices. PRICES OF BUTTER, CHEESE, HAMS, &c., at per cwt. —Butter: Friesland, 124s to 126s; Jersey, 1129 to 126s; Dorset, 132s to 136s. Fresh: per doz 14s to 18s; Cheese: Cheshire, 66s to 78s; Double Gloucester, 68s to 72s; Cheddar, 70a to 7,8s; American, 58s to 66s. Hams York, 118s to 122s; Cumberland. 118s to 122s; Irish, new, 90s to 104s. Bacon: Wiltshire, 70s to 74s Irish, green, 62s to 6is. WOOL, CITY, DEC. 4.-Although only a moderate business is doing in this market, holders almost generally refuse to sell except on higher terms. The rise in the value of Colonial wool at the public sales just concluded is likely to have con- siderable influence upon the quotations of English for some time, more especially as the supply offering is limited. HOPS, BOROUGH, DEC. 4 —Market steady, with good de. mand for all fine qualities, at former quotations; but no alteration has taken place in lower grades, whick are still in very limited request- Mid and East Kents, ldos to 190s Farnhams and Country, 109s to 160s; Weald of Kents, 80s to 130s; Sussex, 70s to 112s; Yearlings, 953 to 135s. TALLOW DEC. 5.—The market is steady at thefollowing prices Town tallow, 493 net cash; Petersburg Y.C. on the spot 49s December, 48s 9d; January to March, March, 51s, buyers." HAY MARKETS— Smithfield. Cumberland. WbiteehapeJ s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. a Meadow Hay.. 105 0 to 110 0 84 0 to 115 0 84 0 to 110 *0 Clover 110 0 130 0 105 0 130 0 105 0 135 C Straw 36 0 40 0 40 0 45 0 38 0 45 0 J ■—"—: -♦ — A very interesting Caligraphic Mystery "has

been introduced by the London Stereoscopic Coir ar y. which will doubtless afford young people many icurs' amusement in the ensuing Christmas.