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z_- - p UL RATCLIFFE'S ADVENTURES.…
z_- p UL RATCLIFFE'S ADVENTURES. A STORY OF WILD LIFE, —♦-— CHAPTmin. PAUL RATCLIETE'S story of his adventure mthebush oriymade our ears itch for more. The was still pouring in torrents; we could not _think of removing our tents until it had ceased. We had provisions enough for two or three days in store, but our fuel was getting short, for we had not only to keep up a fire within camp, hut it was necessary to have a con tinuous flame without during the night, to prevent; wild bulls and boars making an onslaught upon us. In the day time we should have been obliged to them if they had given battle to us but these animals often roam about at night; and slumbering it would have been no very pleasant thing tc have such enemies goading or tearing a y tentwith insufficient light to make the amends honourable. So we cast lots who should go in search of fuel, who should attend to the horses, ani who should remain at home to cook a sumptuous dinner from the carcase of the ox killed the day before. I was unfortunate in my draw, and, with five others, had to procure the fuel. We had not far to go before we reached a clump of trees, maay of whose boughs, half rotten, were soon feewn down and carried to camp but short as it took uS to do this we felt that we had accomplished a great task, for previoms to this rain there had been a long drought, and the frogs, toads, and lizards that seemed to revel in the moisture were something horrible to my uninitiated mind. The Oregons told us that all these animals were perfectly harmless, but we must take care we did not disturb a peculiar kitfd of adder, which: occasionally lay secreted uuier the turf, or under the roots of trees where there was shelter. When I heard this I trod my way in fear and trembling, for if there is anything in the world I have a horror of, it is the snake tribe. We got to our tent again without damage of any kind, except being wetted to the skin, and the exertion we had gone through in carrying on each oi our shoulder^" nearly a hundred weight of timber, had pretty nearly exhausted us. We soon, however, put on dry clothes, and fell to the meal prepared for us with an appetite of no common order. Our plan was to put the partly green wood on the large fire outside our tent, and when it was nearly reduced to charcoal place it on the stove we had within. After finishing our repast we took to grog and cigars, and each questioned Paul Ratoliffe about the personages amod in the adventure he had related to us. va Ah v d" replied, "I see I ought to have begun at the begirtL^jg1, and told you how I became acquainted with my friend Jot and others. To begin, as I ought to have done in the first instance, then, I must give you a brief account of my first journey to India At the earnest solicitation of my friend, Captain Winslow, of the ship Massasoit, I went with him to India. My old companion, Ben Gilroy, was with me. One bright morning, while lying at anchor in the Hoogly, below Calcutta, Winslow came down from the city in a lighter, and requested us to follow him into the cabin. Gentlemen," said he, with some uneasiness, when I urged you to accompany me to this far-off spot of earth, I supposed that I should return as soon as I could exchange my cargo; but I have received an offer which makes me hesitate. My ship is wanted for trade between here and Canton. The way is open, to me for a fortune." You mean the opium trade P said I. "A little upon the smuggling order," suggested Ben Gilroy. Winslow acknowledged that we were right. And you fear that we shall be disappointed if you do not return us to the United States ? "Exactly, gentlemen. I can get you a passage home by the way of England immediately; and in the course of two or three weeks an American ship may sail. Or, I «an Send you as far as Cape Town by the Frenchman that sails to-morrow." Hold on I" cried Ben. I think I can see some- thing." He went to his state-room, and soon returned with a letter in his hand. "Colonel," he said, addressing me, don t you re- member this letter from Harry Rusk P He and Andrew Jackson are in Southern Africa by this time or, at „ any rate, they will be there within a few, weeks., I I caught at the plan in a moment. To meet Harry and A-clv- in; Africa, and lead them up among the wilds of the Bechuanas, wooM be glorious. We assured Captain Winslow that his new movement would not trouble us in theieast. In fact, we liked it. We had only one favour to ask would he see if the captain of the French barque would leave us at Algoa Bay ? Certainly. Within an hour we lear-ned that the French- man had intended to go in that direction, so he could drop us "without any trouble at Algoa Bay. Before night all owe luggaago w aa transferred barque, and on the fallowing morning we dropped down the river, and set sail. We reached Algoa Bay without accident of any kind; and when we went on shore at Port Elizabeth we found our friends already there. They had arrived about a week before us, and were ready for any plan we had in view. We had all left home for the sole pur- pose of recreation; and the manner in which we had thus met seemed to invite us to follow up the lead of the circumstances that had so far favoured us. My own plan was, to take a tramp to the northward, be. yond the lands of the Bechuanas, up among the lions and the elephants—to see the sights, and meet with adventures. I had not to press my plan, for my com- panions fairly jumped at it. if I would lead off, they would follow right willingly. Ben Gilroy was with me formerly in Texas, and had been my companion for a long time. At the time of which I now write, Ben had grown exceedingly fat. lie weighed over two hundred pounds P-,ad Yet did not measure more than Rve feet eight m his hoots. A noble-hearted, brave, jolly fellow was old Ben. flarry F-usk was small of stature, with raven hair; a keen grey eye; and possessing thews ;and sinewa r the toughest material. He was a civil engineer by j profession; and had carried his compass and signal- j flags through thousands of miles of the Western J solitudes. Harry was -the youngest of the party, as well as the smallest of frame; but a very important member did we find him after we reached, the wilder- ness. t Andrew oackson was a shrewd, calculating fellow, with a true heart and instincts. He had occu- pied the post of sutler with our army in the West, and had consequently seen something of life. It was while operating with my regiment on the frontier that I became acquainted with hitn; and from that time our friendship remaned unbroken. He was of middle age; of* medium size; with brown hair, and bluish grey eyes and possessing jpod powers of endurance. He was ome of the best horsemen 1 everaaw-. In short, we were four firm, fast friends;! and we were pledged to enjoy ourselves to the utmost, and to stand by each other through thick and thin. Surely there was prospect of sport ahead. And," suggested Andrew, with a calculating a0d Qf the head, if we get up where the ivory is we may make something." .) Ufen laughed. ) But I decided that Andrew was right. If we could make out adventures pay our expenses, the thing was worth looking after. We spent a week in looking around, and observing the manners iw-^ customs about us, and then we set at work to preph.re for our journey; Andrew was the man to purchase lhO thousand-and-one nick-nacks we needed, and while h and Ben remained in town to select our small_ Harry an(j j went into the country to purchase ow. j had already .bought a couple of horses; and Harry had done the same. And one thing more I had dine; I had hired, aprivate servant, and now I must tell about him. One morning, as I sat. in iay chamber writing a letter, the landlord poked in his head,, and informed me that a Caffre boy wished to see Presently the applicant stood before me. He w^s a bright-eyed, woolly-headed fellow, with a skin ,.Ii\f pure copper colour, and with far more top to his head than is usual with his race. He was about fifteen years of age; and though small of frame, yet the cat-like move- ment of his limbs betrayed that he did not lack strength nor energy. He said that he belonged to the northern tribe—the Zoolahs and that in a war with the Manibookis he had been taken prisoner, and carried off to be roasted and eaten. He made his escape from his captors by strangling his guard, and had been in Port Elizabeth two weekp., during which time he had been stopping with an old Englishman, who » was floon to leave for home. He had learned to speak English from one of his own people; and since he had been in the town he had so far perfected himself in the tongue that ,he spoke it quite fluently. He had heard that I was going away into the interior to hunt, and he had come tp r himaell as my private -se-- vant. If I liked him I might pay him what I thought he was worth, and if I did not like him I might set him adrift at any time. I wanted a servant; but I had calculated upon one with a little more age and experience than this appli- cant had. "Try me," begged the little fellow. There was a whole volume of argument, persuasion, and promise in that simple expression, and the look which accompanied it. He seemed to say that he would serve me to th extent of his life if I would take him and treat him well.. I told him I would take him, and he sank upon hia knees and kissed my hand. He would have kissed my foot if I had not prevented him. „ „ His name, as he pronounced it, was a sort of snappish grunt, and the nearest Christian ap- proach I could make to it was Dan. So I called him Dan, and he liked, the sound ot the new form better than he did the old. I went with him to the bazaar, where I bought him a pair of blue frocks, and some short drawers of the same colour. He asked for a sash, and I got him one of red cotton; and I also provided him with with two red cotton handkerchiefs. A good dagger—the blade of trusty steel, and the sheath of ox-hide- completed his outfit; and a happier fellow I never saw. And Dan went with Harry Bask and me to look after oxen. About fifteen miles back from the bay we came to a settlement of Boers, where cattle were plentiful. I found an old farmer, named Peter Marburg, who had fine oxen, and who offered to let me have what I wanted upon very reasonable terms. We spent the night with him, and on the following morning we went out to the pastares. Peter's pasture was a large one, containing some two thousand acres, and handsomely diversified with hill, plain, vale, and forest. About a mile from his house was a yard, or pen, nearly square, of some two or three acres in extent, enclosed by a stout, high fence of logs and brushwood. Six of the Boer's men were sent to gather the cattle, and before noon two hundred oxen had been driven into the pen., Now," said my host, if you wish to select you can do so. Nearly all of these will work in a yoke." They were mostly the small, red oxen, known as the Zuur-feldt—tough and hardy; and, when well broken and carefully handled, as serviceable as an ox can be. Harry went off in one direction, with Peter's head man, while I went in another with Peter himself. I had selected half a dozen animals, and was moving to- wards a group that stood near the centre of the enclo- sure, beneath a clump of trees, when a loud cry from one of the herdsmen startled me. "Run! run!" shouted Peter, at the top of his voice, and at the same time making for the fence. For your life, Mynheer Colonel! The mad hull the mad bull!" At first I stood stock-still, not kmowing what to make of this outcry; but I was not long in discover- ing the cause. Three men, who had kept us company for the purpose of marking and fettering the oxen which I had selected, were already clambering over the distant fence, while Mynheer, I*eter was making the best of his way in the same direction. Between myself and the fleeing Boer 1, saw the object of their terror—a huge black bull, foaming at the mouth, and tearing up the sod with his horns. I comprehended the trouble at onee. This bull had strayed into the enclosure unebserved, and was really mad. The fever of his blood might have been eaused by disease —by some venomous, bite—and it might have been only anger. At all events he was mad—crasy mad, and seemed bent upon most terrible mischief. When he ploughed his horns into the ground he bad dis- covered that those whom he pursued had escaped him; and, as he gazed around through the cloud of dirt, his eye rested upon me; and with a roar that made the solid earth tremble, he plunged towards me. I was taken at a disadvantage. The bull, was between me and the nearest point of fence, and to escape in any other direction seemed impossible. I looked for a tree, but did not see one which I thought I could reach. The only weapon which I had about me was a pistol, and to havo used that would have been simple madness. I looked for HaTry-just one instantaneous look-and saw him by the fence in a far-off comer. I fancied that I could see the terror in his face, and that I could mark the quivering of his frame, as he viewed my situation. Bum run I heard same one cry. It might have been very good advice under some other circum- stances, but it was entirely useless to me now. I might rua, but the bull could run too fast for me. i Twenty rifles might have been discharged at the infuriate beast without effect, and yet I would have given half a lifetime for my trusty rifle at that moment. An age was crowded into a few short seconds. The bull was dashing towards me, and I had not yet moved. I was not weak-I do not think I was frightened—I was fairly stunned. There was chanoe for thought, for "there seemed no possible chance of safety. To stand these and await the coming of the monster appeared as favourable as any move 1 could make. It may have been six seconds that I stood thus. Six seconds is a short space of time under ordinary circumstances; but you who have held a watch upon the speed of a flying horse have learned to realise how much may be gained or lost in a single second of time. Six secoiads had passed perhaps more—and the ball was within half a dozen rods of me. His great swart breast was dripping with foam; his eyes glared like balls of fire; and at each leap he made the distance frightfully less. At the moment when I was calculating my chances, of escaping the brute by dodging him, something flashed past me, and a voice sounding ia my ears, tell- ing me to stand still. It was my Caffre boy, Dan. He had glided directly in front of me, and was waving his fiery red. handkerchief above his head. In an instamt the bull changed his course. The flaunting handker- chief of fiery hue, completely distracted his attention from me; and Se now dashed on towards the boy. I felt a momentary relief, but the relief was, not pleasurable. It seemed to me that Dan had offered himself a sacrifice. But the question was to be quickly solved. As the boy ran past me, he kept on a few rods, and then turned and faced the beast. I caught the expression of the lad's faee, and I thought I could discover something more than resignation in his look. ~.eJ?oy Put his handkerchief into his bosom, and laced the ball, while I, now trembling at every joint, expected to sea him crushed to death in a very few seconds. On dashed the bull, roaring and plunging, with his frightful horns aimed at his intended victim. The boy stood upon tiptoe, with his form slightly bent, and as the bull almost touched him he gave a sudden leap, upon one side, and fell flat upon his bally. The animal passed him, and went some twenty yards beyond before he eouiId stop. Seconds were then like lifetimes. Dan started to his feet, gave his kandker- chief one more flauntn the air, and then, sprang towards a small tree which stood not far away. I might have made for this tree in the first place, only, beforb, the tree had been between mealâd the bull, and he might have reached it before I could. Dan gained the tree, however, arid was quickly resting upon-a branch some ten leec from the ground. Now-waa the time when I could save myself by flight: but I waa chained to the spot wherel stood. The tree was a very small one, and I looked to see the monster bear it down at the first onset. It could not be-other- wise. The slim trunk even bent beneath the weight of the lad; and it would require but a moiety the bull?8 tremendous force to snap it down like a reed. 0ne77tw<?-three bounds, and the mad beast was upon the tree. He seemed to know that the frail sapling could offer no tough resistance, and a snort of defiance escaped him as he bent his head to the work, -tia. What a thrill went through me when I saw the boy drop upon the back of the infuriate monster. Me leaped down like a cat, and strode the bull at the shoulders. I saw his stout dagger flash in the sunlight, and In another moment the keen blade had been d_riven deep into the spine of the brute, directly behind the point where the spinal process enters the skull. He struck m the exact spot where the life is seated, ana the huge beast fell dead in an instant. I hurried up to the spot just as the boy was wiping his dagger, and in the excess of my gratitude and admi- ration I fairly caught him in my arms. I've killed a good many cattle in that way," he said, after I had set him free: but this is the first time I ever perched upon a mad ball." I asked him if he had planned all this when he flew past me. He said he had. I then asked him if he had not feared for the result. He replied that he was sure of his mark when once upon the bull's back, and the chances of reaching that back were very good." At all events," he said, with a peculiar twist of his lithe body, "my chances of success were much better than yours could have been if I had not some." I I discovered that my boy servant was devoted to me. and from that moment I loved him. He felt the influence of my love and I know1 that he would have, died for me at any time. Once, at least, he had saved my life so I had reason to bless the hour that sent him to me. And now, after a. little breathing time, I will tell you how your friend Jot was engaged. i;ToMe continued) v.i. {.» •- 1
A EAMBLilE'S JOTTINGSO »----'-
A EAMBLilE'S JOTTINGSO »- I AN examination into the foundation schools in England is now going forward, and at the meeting of the next Parliament some extraordinary disclo- sures are expected to be made. The reports upon many of the London ones have already been made, and as edusation is one of the principal topics of the day, I will endeavour, in a succession of arti- cles during the vacation, to describe some of the principal metropolitan institutions. The total number of free schools, with per- petual endowments, in and near London, is forty- five, and the number of children educated and partly maintained in them amount to nearly four thousand; besides which there are about two hundred and forty parochial schools, supported by voluntary contributions, rentals from bequests, &c., in which from ten to twelve thousand boys and girls are regularly clothed and instructed. In addition to these there are numerous Lancastrian and National schools, besides Wesleyan, Baptist, and other Nonconformist seminaries, which have wholly originated during the present century, and are now rapidly increasing, not only in London, but over every part of the British empire. The new impulse given to the public mind by these institu- tions is materially altering the constitution of so- ciety, and the old prophecy has been fulfilled that they who run may read." Not content with the education afforded toy the ordinary eleemosynary means, philanthropists have struck out a new path and established schools for the raggedy schools for the orphan, for children of soldiers, for children of sailors; night schools for those em- ployed during the day; and mechanics' institutions for the rising generation who are more advanced in years and in knowledge—all of which will doubtless tend to the general good and to our ad- vancementin civilisation. I particularise London, because, on all matters, I speak from ocular dem onstration, and because this great metropolis so influences the whole of England that the example set here generallypervades the na- tion. It might be interesting just at the outset to say a word about the immensity of London. It is the largest city in the world, in population, if not in size. Taking in the suburbs,; it has p.t least Intl-, three million of inhabitants. This is more than all England had 500 years ago. And even now it, is a great deal more than many whole countries; for instance, the population of the kingdom of Saxony is not quite two-thirds of the population of London; that of the kingdom of Hanover still less; and so is that of both Wurtemberg and Baden. Not one of the chief cities of Europe comes near to London in population. Paris has not so niany inhabitants by nearly a million. Petersburg and Vienna not one quarter the number. London has fiw, times as many inhabi- tants as Madrid; nearly seven times as many as Berlin; eight times, as many as Amsterdam; nisae times as many as Rome; fifteen times as many as Copenhagen; and seventeen times as many as Stockholm. London has 3,000 miles of streets; stands upon '620 acres; employs 3,000; omnibuses, and 3,500 cabs; consumes yearly 240,000 bullocks; 1,600,000 quarters of wheat;! 1,700,000 sheep; 28,000 calves; and 35,000 pigs. London is a busy hive of industry, and though the dron/vs hang about society, living a miserable and precarious life, the bees can gather honey sufficient to live comfortably. The idle, the care- less, and the dissolute are sores upon the great city, but those who have by careful industry worked themselves up to a position are regarded as useful members of society, and respected accord- ingly. There is xo city in the whole world where genius and industry are better rewarded than ija London, and the path is open to all who have health and ability to acquire independence. I am, however, diverging from the point I entered upon, namely, schools. Well, the rail- ways that have recently been formed have knocked down many an ancient fabric, they have driven the poor man to seek shelter in regions far removed from his work, they have forced the professional man and the business man from his long re- nowned establishment, and have oftentimes ill- repaid him for the loss. BuMic institutions alike fall to their bidding, and this brings me to the Charter-h^if.se and. Schools. The Charter house is a corruption from Chartreuse, and was aneiently a priory of Carthusian monks, founded on a spot where 50,000 persons were buried who had fallen victims to the great plague of 1372. It included a very extensive area, comprising the entire space, be- tween the northern side of Charter-house-square and Wilderness-row, Goswell-street. The present institution was founded by Thomas Sutton, Esq., an eminent London merchant, who, on the 9th of May, 1611, purchased the Charter-house, and its appurtenances, from the Earl of Suffolk for £ 13,000. In the following month he obtained letters patent, and a licence of mortmain to convert the purchase into an hospital for eighty deeayed merchants, a military school, and a free school for forty-four feoys. On his decease in the follow- ing December, he endowed it with fifteen manors and other lands to the then yearly value of C.6,490, but this annual revenue has been since aug- mented by the increased value of land to at least < £ 20,000 a year. The boys are instructed in classi- cal and other learning; some of them being sent to college and others apprenticed with a fee of £ A0; whilst the former have an annual stipend of £ 2Q for eight years. The pensioners are allowed J14 per annum, with provisions, lodging, ifre, ,&c., The buildings were fast going into decay some forty years ago, bat the matter being then taken up by the City authorities, sufficient money was obtained by granting leases and disposing of pro- perty to buildasious and handsome school-house, capable of containin g some 200 to 300 scholars, and the accom modation f or th epensionerfirwas made more comfortable. The number of persons receiving pg salaries from this institution is extraordinary. For instance, there are seven schoolmasters—a chief, five under-masters, and a writin g-master, besides several other principal and inferior officers. All the schoolmasters have the privilege of taking pupils for their own advantage. Whilst only forty boys have a. gratuitous education, there are about two hundred who are paid for. The Queen and chief officers of State are the governors. Well, it is said that this Charter-house property, over which Thackeray has; thrown a poetic halo, is about to be wholly removed to make room for the Metropolitan Railway. Already has the lower part of the square been razed to the ground. The renovated buildings which occupy the site presented by the original founder still remain; but it is said negotiations have been entered into for the sale of the whole of this ancient property, and that land has been purchased at Dunmow, in Essex,. whereon new asylums for decayed mer- chants, and new schools for the education of boys, will be erected, still to be called the Charter- house Charity. We presume that the youths will here be taught the additional accomplishment of good temper, so that when they leave school and take to themselves wives, they will be en- abled to live in happy pairs for one whole year, without a single quarrel, and thus obtain the cele- brated Duamow flitch of bacon. Westminster School is about to follow the example of the Charter-house and remove into the country. Long, long ago, when. this school was established, the site it now ucuiuit-s was coti- sidered quite a, country spot, and its proximity to the then sparkling Thames, far above the London traffic, permitted the sport of fishing and boating, and gave a healthiness to thewaspect. How things are changed It ite now surrounded with the densest population, with narrow streets, and dilapidated dwellings—its very name a bye-word. Westminster School will shortly be removed, higher up the river, to Henley-on-Tcames. The history of this school, together with the leading facts connected with it, will be the subject of my next article.;
OUR "CITY." ARTICLE. ( -—♦—;…
OUR "CITY." ARTICLE. -—♦—; THERE are two points which we should do well to keep steadily in view at this season of the year, and to which persons of a practical turn of mind mainly direct their attention. One point is the state of the harvest, and the manner in which it has been housed; the other is the amount of bullion which the Bank of England holds in its coffers, and the probability of its being diminished by large im- portations of food. As regards the state of the harvest, it is considered by those who are compe- tent to judge, and whose avocations necessitate their having a large breadth of land under view, during its being gathered in, that it may come up to an average in point of quantity, but as respects quality it is inferior to many that have immediately preceded it. On the light landt1, for instance, owing to the excessive heat of May, and to certain nipping frosts in the middle of June, when the wheat was in its tenderest stage, the crops were generally thin and poor; while upon the heavy lands, which gave early promise of a good harvest, from their having more nutriment for the growing grain in the hot days of May than the lighter lands, the recent and continuous showers, over a considerable breadth of land, completely changed the condition of the crops. With the exception of tolerably favourable weather in some parts of the south and, south-east of the country, the accounts commonly mentioned mildewed wheat, grain sprouting, and heavy downfalls, which interrupted harvest operations. On the other hand, the root crops, which form so important an item in farming pro- duce, are, on the whole, in a very excellent condition. The mangolds have a very healthy appearance; the swedes and turnips, with a few patchy exceptions as regards the latter, have come well uj), and have both substance andquality. This augurs well for stock during the forthcoming winter and spring, and will in some measure (assuming the cattle disease to be eradicated), tend to reduce the present high price of meat, which has become a serious item in household expenses. Stock- farming-is growing, and in a few years, will be largely developed in this country and Ireland, otherwise stock-produce cannot keep paee with the enlarging demands made upon it by our thriving population; while wheat-farming, on the other hand, is likely to decline, as in ordinary smeons we-can make up any additional supply we may require by importations, either from European countries or from the United States. Under these circumstances it is fair to assume that our importations of corn will be considerable, but by noeans what they have been when an extremely indifferent harvest has ordinarily befallen us. But, even conceding that our imports of corn will be as large as they are when a good round sum of bullion is required to pay for them, and a consequent derangement of monetary affairs en- sues, are we enabled to meet with comparative ease such a contingency ? Before answering this question we must remark that the Board of Trade returns, just published, show, that up to the -end of July there was no increased demand for foreign corn, in anticipation of a possibly deficient harvest-the time, generally speaking, when the initiative is taken by importers on such occasions. But, be that as it may, the questiexa arises, axe. we in a position to meet any large Msiportafcioiis of food, without materially deranging our other relations-of industry ? Fortu- nately we are, and much better enabled to meet such a contingency than probably we have been, under sunilair circumstances, at any former period. The amount of bullion in the Bank's coffers is large--mucli :larger than it usually is at this season of the .year. It has been gradually increas- ing, and it appears likely to increase further, as the exchanges are in our favour, and there is no disttt-rioing elesent on the Continent that is likely to derange it. On the contrary, the Bank of France is plaeedin a similarly fortunate position, and; having a large stock of bullion on hand, with an abundant and harvest to deal with, and with the interest money at one per cent, lower than in that bank is-not, therefore, likely to perplex oOur position in the slightest degree, but rather tend to improve it,Ifoy extending her aid in case -of nooti. The amount of bullion in the Banks of England and France, according to the last return, was as follows Baok of iEngland X14,489,612 Brak of France 19,959,110 TotaL. JS4,448.722 In 18(}, the year of the last iadifferent harvest we had to contend against, the bullion in the Bank of England amounted, it is true, to • £ 15,021,420 in August, but it rapidly declined to « £ 13,665,^66 in the month of December, owing mainly to our large importations of food. The rate of discount is. August was 4 per cent., as it is at the present time, but in Deeeihber it rose to 6 per cent., which materially disturbed the mer- cantile and manufacturing interests. The bullion in the Bank of France at the two periods men- tioned" was in August X21,289,100, while in December it had fallen to < £ 17,650,000, owing to very eijnilar eauses^ and nearly in the same ratio as bullion fell in this eountry. There is also another advantage which we have this year as compared with the year 1860. Our imports and exports are at present comparatively steady; while in 1860 they were in a very different condition. The value of our imports, it is true, has decreased, but that is owing to articles of raw material, and certain commodities wbich are largely consumed—cotton, for instance—receding nearer to their normal condition of price. This renders it the more likely that any considerable imports of corn, or other food-material, can be paid for by certain portions of our exports, without de- pending exclusively upon the bullion stores of the Bank for that purpose. Again, our im- ports of cattle in 1860 were very large as com- pared with several years preceding, and have only been equalled by those of 1§64, which were the largest ever. known. This year, it is true, we are also importing cattle to as large an extent as we possibly can; and though the disease prevails to a considerable extent amongst them, our neces- sities will require as large a supply as that of 1864, if it be possible to procure it. Looking, then, at the condition in which the harvest has been gathered, and the consequent importations of food that may possibly be required, and comparing these with the stock of bullion in I the Bank of England, and the active state of trade, we have little reason to apprehend any great disturbance in monetary and mercantile affairs, and believe that industry, in its various branches, will keep on its quiet way of accumulation, though the prospects of the harvest were not so cheering as could have been desired. The position of the market for public securities continues encouraging; steady purchases for in- I vestment are being made, and quotations arv* supported. The demand for money at th* Rasir | has been moderate, and the rate of discoK&t ptEfc rally has a tendency to decline. Consols for money, and 90i for account.
ITimkmr, anb Cotmirg
ITimkmr, anb Cotmirg Money Market. CITY, SEPT. 6.—The stoak markets, though. AAS very firm to-day. The Government broker has brow,gb.(,; W- tiay £ 10,000 New Three per Cent, for- the Sinking There is a large amount of money seeking ss. the discount market to-day, aitd transactions conutuKs'w. take piaee in the best short-dated paper at 3| per cern.. <k below the Bank min. The rate in the Stock ElLeutage-Cw short loans on English Government securities is 3 Consols are now quoted 90 to t. both for moneyandtod. morrow's settlement, and 90j to f for the new aacmmh (Oct. 10). The official business report is as foilews:— Three per Cent. Consols for money, 90, J, 89J; ditto Sac account, 90, i; Three per Ceats. Reduced, 88^, f, ex New Three per Cents., 88f, India Five per Cent Suxdc, lOSt; and Exchequer Bills, 2s dis., 2a Vrem- The railway market is firm, and prices are again hecter ia several instances. London and North Western, stock is awwr quoted 124J to 125, ex div.: Great Western, 67 to J,ld. land, 128^ to 129, ex d-iv.; Lancashire and Yorkshire, tOf, ex dlv.; South Eastern, 81| to f; Metropolitan, lUi to t, ex div.; Great Northern, 132 to 131, ex div.; ditto A, 151 to 152, ex div.; London and South Western, tc 9, ex div. Great Eastern, 474 to f: and Caledonian, life to 1354. The Corn Trade. SIARK-LANE, SEPT. 6.—The supply of English Wborafc JP sale in to-day's market was only moderate. It was chieie compohed of new produce in but middling condition. Safer progressed slowly at Is to 2s per qr. less money when pam.- pared with last week. There was a fair show of foreign wheat, in which very little business was transacted <* rather lower terms. Floating cargoes of grain comma»3k«i very little attention. The barley trade was in a sluggtsfe state. In prices, however, no quotable change took pl&as. We have to report a fair sale for malt, at McB.aa.yY currency. The supply was seasonably extensive.—Tb.e?» was a, fair inquiry for oats, tlle show of which was good, -ak late rates.—Beans were In short supply, and in moderate m- quest, on former terms.—In Peas next to notbirgwardowk, yet the quotations were well supported.—The Fleur taufe; was heavy, at barely previous currencies.—New Mustar<i- seed was held at 12s per bushel.-The Seed trade was heavy. Cakes were very dull. LIVERPOOL, SEPT. 5.—The market fairly atteneteau Wheat only in moderate request, and sellers submit te e decline óf 6d per cental on parcels below Friday. Ftour ig 6.:1 per sack lower; ho change in barrels. Indian ears. lower, with fair business doing: mixed 298 ftato 30s. Beaten, oats, and oatmeal unaltered.
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HAY, SMITHFIELD, SEPT. 5.—Mr. Chailes James Mmekxa. reports trade at last day's pricesPrime old clover- fetus-. 120a to 140s; inferior ditto, 100s t9 110s; prime hav, 110s to 123s inferior ditto, 95s to 105s; straw, oo to 42s. TALLOW, SEPT. 6.—The market is quiet; prices uo, quoteci as followsTown tallow, 48s 9d; Petersburg Y.C., oil the spot, new, 43s; ditto, old, 43s 3d; October.toDeeessa- ber, 45s 9d; December, 46a 6dj January to Mardii, 40" Sd; March, 47s 3d to 47s 6d. HOPS, BOROUGH, SEPT. 6,—Messrs. Patteaden and Boot&. report a good demand for all new hops, a large quamtity.af whieh "nave now arrived at market, and"are realising- Mijf late quotations.. COTTON, LIVERPOOL, SEPT. f>\—The strong- tone of tiae cotton market continues, and holders still offer their-eptfesei freely the sales -will probably foot up from 20,000'to 25,#» £ bales, one-half of which will no doubt be for speculation amZ export; EEUIT AND VEGETABLES COVENT GAEDKUV— Vegetables continue abundautand good. Large im tions of French pears, peaches, nectarines, &c, stul tinue to arrive. English pears comprise me, Bon Chretien, and Beurre d'Aiaanlis. Pine-apples &ee Re- alising larger prices than they did IaSt week. grapes there is still a heavy sale. Apples and abundant. Kent filberts are coming in in good oonofUbcu Good kidney potatoes ayeabundant. flowers-ehiefiy eaar- sist. of orchids, heaths, carnations, picofcees, nrigiumeMe, and rosee 7 EGGS, SEPT. 4.-1I!ore Eggs arriving than required, and-IIM. rates taken for English, Scotch, and Irish, 5s HI to 6s 9dpe;r 120 French, 4s 4d to 6s Sd; Spanish, 4s 6a to 48 10(1, aaci Ostend, 5R lOd to 6s 6d. POULTRY, SEFT. 4.—There are gnod supplies of Poultry, but trade rather brisk, and rates generaLy steady: Geese selling at 5s to 6s 6d each; Fowls. 2s lOd to 3s Chickens, Is 9s to 2s Ducklings, 2s Gd to 3s; tume 'Rabbite- ls 5cl to Is 7d pigeons, 5d to 9d live Fowls and 22s to 24s per dozen. ■. Cat-tie Market. Cat-tie Market. I METROPOLITAN, SEPT. 4.—We have A short supply O- beasts, and especially of good qualities.. There is cor-se,, qaently an,advance in price of choicest kinds. The nnrafeer of sheep is about the same as on Monday last. Chookic qualities are dearer. Infarior meet with a dull sale. TSsie trade is brisk for good calves at rather more money. PIKKE Germany and Holland there are 2,140 beasts, 15,5*0 Sheep, 233 calves, and ISO pigs; Spain, 60 bessts; Scotland, 67i Ireland, 170; and 1,610 from the 'Northern and Midti&ad counties. counties. | Per stone of 81bs, s. d. a. d. Per stone of 81bs. s d. a. <8* Best Scots, Hf-ids. 5 4 5 8 Best Long-wools 6 (t 6 & Best Short-horap 5 0 5 4 Do. do. shorn 0 0 <5 <S 2nd. qual. beasts 3 8 4 0 Ewes 2d, quaL 5 0 & calves 3 8 5 6 Do. do. shorn. 0 (, 0 <i Pigs S 0 4 10 41;. BastDna&l-bdas, 6 6 6 8 Beasts Sheep and 2.43; Pigs, 340. The Produce Maspket 1 MINCING-LANE, SB».' 4—Sajgtfr. is vel/.<a. a ctive demand, and prices steadily sjiyanciiig, whilst suaoltac are falling off: Mauritius of low to fine brownquaMfvnew brings 27s to 32s: yellow, 32s 6d to 35s; grainy SSs ur&s Barbadoes, 29s 6d to 37s; Porto Rico, 30s to 39e; Cuba vadore, 29s to 34s; Mariilla, clayed, 30s to 30s 6d orifcoftmir clayed, 27s 6d to 28s 6d; native Madras, 27s to 29g. Jagg-ery, 2os 6d^ to 27s 6d; HavannaL, brown, 80E TO £ 2s^ yellow, 32s 6d to 37sj Floretta, S7s 6d< to 32s- white, 40s to 42s 6d; Brazil: brown, ,Os fd tc, 29s 6d; yellow, 30s to 31s 61; white and grey, 3as to SE-s. A strong market for Refined, andmsny tf^iisactious: braw&~ lumps bring 42s; common to fine grocery, 42s 6d to 45o cd tittlers, 42s 6d to 47s; and pieces, 3U Gdto 38s.—Prices far Coffee are still in purchasers' favour, in consoquenoe of al) enormous suppIT.-In Cocoa still an extensile business terms obtained for red Trinidad are 68s to 116s, and 3iI te 67s for other sorts.—A large demand for fine new seasoEir" China Green Tea, and high rates obtained: Hyaon fceiliar at 3s to 4s 4d; Gunpowder, 3a 4d to 3s Kid; and yocl4 Hyson, 28 Gd to 3s per pound. A fair business in Com. gou, and prices steady: dusty and broken leaf selling fi 8d to lid; good ordinary, Is to Is Oid; other sorts Is 3*?V Is 6d; Copack and Moning, Is 7d to 2s 8d.—There'is vet? great demand for Biee, and prices stiff; common tn soft grain selling at 10s to 12s 6d white Benaal 12a 16s Gd; and Patna, 24s «d to 23s.-A slowSe L visions the currency ranges for Irish Batter aTtn at 106s to 120s; fine Friezland, 110s to Z voile, 104s to 108s; Granengen, 88s to
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^rum-Head Couft maytia,. incident ooearred towards the close oit-hc annual prize shooting of the St. Åustellolnn ™e ot the members retired from shooting for oriicers' prizes, and was soon afterwards caught fire- ball cartridge at his shako some distance from (&«". ground in or Bear the pablie highway. He was seep to fire two baU cartridges when Lieutenant Hrmeçc;* reached the spot and brought the offender before the captain commanding, and after a brief inquiry he W c then and there formally dismissed from the corps. e Fire at the Thames Embankment Works, -Ea,r-ly on Tuesday morning a fixe brol-e out on tbt, Thames Embankment near Somerset-houae. The was discovered by a polieeman who was in the ■Jnla.iLg Revenue-office, and who raised the alarm, Serpeanf Jacobi instantly ordered the hose to be attached^ the mains in the Inland Eevenue-ofEce. An abuntiaDif supply of water was soon brought to bear flames before the engines of the Fire Brigade arrir-f? but the fire was not subdued until the engi^SX was destroyed, and the Steam firs. oir.iL drawing ballast damaged. The cause dsnorSd t? ^Hvd5D&obSeS8iM Wlns the woXS u v f^ • i. ,anehester.—Mr. Herfocrc ^ManoheatrfBoyal Infi^ on the body ot Frederick Cuccliffe son cf a saWv^ living m the vicinity of Oxford-road, who had diedSS iivi living m the vicinity of Oxford-road, who had diedSS the bite of a dog. The deceased was about 15y€ax aeo ^He^did r nfn by dog afeoufc six o complain particularly till he ksd e t work on Saturoay, when he said he was ill, slept well on Saturday night, bat again eomplaiBed of illness on Sunday. On Monday he became deiiriocs, and was taken to the infirmary, where he died at h!iR{ past seven in the evening. The evidence of tbe meaical men in attendance at the infirmary wes to too effect that it was a decided case of hydrophobia aad the jury found a verdict that the boy had died ÍWRJ. the effects of that shocking disease. ISFANTS will often thrive upon the PEARL SE £ «T?KT wnen everything else fails.. For Children it forms a Viet very valuable)cyi"Invalids. Sold by Grocers &c. J F £ sW IPSWICH, MANUFACTURER. Agents, Hicks Brothers," &C