The Welshman

FOREIGN CORN TRADE. I For immediate delivery millers at Paris have found a more ready sale for their flour, and the best qualities have been placed with some facility at 108fr. per sack, good being held at 106 fr. to 107f., lower descriptions down to 103fr. per lal kilos. Nothing has been done for instant delivery, Good wheat, always scarce, maintains its price, inferior being still neglected. Rye is in much inquiry, and held firmly, first quality Normandy at 3Sfr. per 115 kilos. Oats more plentifully offered, and dull. The provincial markets show some variation in wheat prices, vijgj^a fall at Lille of 2 fr., and a rise at Caen of 37c. per lij hect. The Belgian markets still show a gradual advance in 1he price of wheat. Danish rye at Antwerp has brought 24fr. 50c., and heavy barley 16fr. 80c. per 82 kilos. Advices from Stettin, Cologne, and De Nicuss show great firmness in the wheat trade. The Dutch markets aie also dearer. Amsterdam notes 10 fio. per last advance while from Hamburg shipments of wheat and rye have been n.aking, the former for Belgium at great prices, and the latter to East Prussia. Throughout Courland and Finland the rye crop is very deficient. At Riga, where frost has been experienced, the arrivals of sowing linseed were 87,000 brls., price 53 to 7 s.r. 100,000 brls. for crushing had also arrived, price 3 9-10ths to 4 s.r., with 25 per ceut. hand-money. llempseed, 2 4-7ths for May. At Zurich the sales about equalled the arrivals, and the prices realised were 26 centimes over the previous quota- tions. I Advices from Sanlander describe an active trade for the Levant beyond former French conttnc'.f, and flour has been readily placed at Gis. G 1. to G.J. per sack for Constantino- ple. Buyers with orders find it difficult to act under such circumstances. Many vessels had set sail for the northern ports of France. Though arrivals at Berlin have been more abundant, by water as well as rail from Hungary, an ac'ive local en- quiry has surpri.-inglv reduced them, and much rye had been bought for delivery next May. Every description of grain was firm, and boiling peHS in great request, bei_ ng scarce and dear. Flour, notwithstanding, sold heavily, It is feared that the high prices here will lead to the pro- hiLition of distillation and export of a liquors. The thrashing of wheat at Dantzic only more fully con- I firms the truth of previous repor's as to the lightness and ueficiency of the crop, and it would seem this port will re- quire a considerable foreign supply. The commencement of frost is reported at Piilau, and at Archangel one vessel loaded with corn was hemmed in by the ice and twenty-seven more would have to winter there. Flour at New York, after a temporary advance, had again become calm, from the grer.tly increased supplies. Prices of good shipping qualities were 9d. 37|c. to Od. 62 Jc, per brl. Wheat was a few cents higher, but prices rather irregular. Canadian, 2d. 18c. to 2d. 27c. Genessee, to 2d. 20c. per bushel. Rye, Id. 18c. to Id. 22c. Indian corn had somewhat abated in value, and was in slow request at 9 > to I 96c. per bush,, though the arrivals were smaller than usual at this period. At Baltimore, flour was dearer, and in request; some had been sold at .10. per brl. There had been exported to Havre 6.247 bris., and for Cork, 11,540 brls. Arrivals at Philadelphia were scanty, and prices higher by Is. to 2s. per tnl. Rye flour was also in favour, as well as rye itself; but Indian corn was rather cheaper. The supply at New Orleans was quite unequal to meet the demand.

THE HARVEST IN IRELAND.—POTATOES. I We leain with satisfaction from the following article that the harvest in Ireland has been very good, and that Ireland is beginning to increase her exports of food to England. The account given of the potato crop, too, is satisfactory. It concurs with the information we have received from v-arious places. In France and Belgium, as well as in Ireland and England, the crop of potatoes is abundant and of good quality. In Germany the tubers are good, but not so plentiful, we believe, as elsewhere. The potato is, however, now used for so many purposes, making spirits, stc,rch, & thit t'ie ;vli,,Ie crop cannot be relied on for food By the assistance of Mr. Donnelly's statistics, which are admirably arranged, but perfectly useless for all commercial purposes, in consequence of the great delay in their pub- lication, we are enabled to form a pretty accurate idea of the produce of past years. The number of acres under each crop this year having been already published, we can also form a pretty safe estimate of their produce from the reliable information we have obtained. The following figures may be considered as approaching to the trutil Wheat Oats -Potttoes-, acres. qrs. acres. qrs. acres. tons. 18S3..3;J6,896 1,1 10,8 i0 2,157,849 11,0^7,800 89S,7S3 5,74 i ,500 1854..411,4 £$ 1,4.34,■><>!} !i,045,J!18 12,526,100 989,600 5,500,000 9,500,000 U81,529 (i,300,090 The number of acres in the above table for 1853 and 1854 are from llr. Doiiiielly'.i returii, but the produce for 1855 is estimated by ourselves. In this estimate we have taken the wheat crop as pro- ducing as much per acre in Ireland as in 1854 the oats as producing 4 qrs. per acre, or It measure less than in 1853 (which, vve are satisfied, is even less than the real deficiency), and the potatoes yielding an equal quantity per acre tu the largc crop of 1853. Ilere, then, we have for the produce of the last crop about 300,000 tons of wheat, 1,200,000 tons of oats, and 6,300,000 tons of potatoes, making in all 7,800,000, or, in round numbers, about 8,000,000 tons, as the yield of these three most important crops in Ireland. Should these figures prove nearly correct, there will be a large surplus available for export this season. Indeed, we find, by our commercial reports from all the shipping ports in Ireland, that the exports of grain to Great Britain have been on a much larger scale than for many years past, and, as prices have continued advancing, it is presumed they have been placed to good account. Our farmers must therefore be reaping a golden harvest, which we hope will be profitably expended in judicious improvements on their properties, and in the cultivation of their land, in which, generally speaking, they are still far behind their neigh- bours on the other side of the channel. The following intelligent letter, from an extensive -coutitry farmer, gives a very good idea of the gC:ifT,,1 re- sult of the harvest in Ireland. We think, however, that his estimate of the wheat and potato crops is within the reality The potato ciop is now nearly raised, and the reports of it are generally favourable, with less of diseased tubers than usual. Some growers speak of having a very large crop this, I expect, is the case with some, but I ap- prehend that many persons make a comparisou between thi* and ihe deficient crops we have had during the past ten years, which may place the present crop in a more favour- able point of view than the jield would warrant. Some crops are decidedly deficient. On the whole, I would estimate the average at about 200 bushels per statute acre. The yield of the oat crop is, I fear, very deficient per acre. I know a farmer who thrashed a field of oats, which looked well, and mostly standing, which did not produce more, at Is. per stone, than a good average crop, fiom a siuiilar ap- pearance, would have done at 8d. per stone. Wiieat also, I think, yields light per acre; and although there may be crops of both yielding well, and paying the grower largely, yet, from the general deficient yield, the farmer is not nearly so well paid as the prices he receives would iiidicate not that he has any right to complain, as I consider he is fairly remunerated. I consider the deficiency of pigs this year arises from the small crop of potatoes last season, and the high price of feeding of other descriptions. The price of poik otherwise would, I expect, have greatly increased the quantity of pigs a great many pigs were killed last sea- son long before they were fit for market, in consequence of the scarcity of feeding; this must tell against the sup- ply of the present season. My estimate of our grain and potato crop in Ireland would niake a sulficieiicy of food of our own growing for our population, calculating that the export of grain and potatoes would pay for our imports of wheat and Indian corn."—Belfast Mercantile Journal.

THE EXPORT OF SILVER, AN AGGRAVATION OF THE DRAIN OF GOLD. '.i he continued export of the precious mE la Is to the Bas l and the consequent aggravation of the drain caused by war, cannot be accounted for upon any commercial princi- ple. For the last three or four years, in short from about the time the new supplies of gold fiom California and Australia began to be felt, the amount of exportation to India and other parts of the East has been steady and rapid. The amount of about £ 300,000 carried out in the present week by the Ava is only a repetition of what has happened with almost every steamer that has left our shores for some time last. As we have said, there is nothing in the state of our trade with those markets to account for this continuous drain, which has very gener- ally equalled about half a million a month. No doubt our exports to China have suffered some diminution, and had the demand been conffned to that market, there might, have been some ground tor attributing the drain entirely to the unsettled condition of that country and to the dis- position to hoard, which always, and especially in the East, accompanies a state of political disquietude. The demand for silver, however, is felt as much in British India, and perhaps more, than in any other part of the East; and there, certainly, it cannot be attributed to po- 17tical causes. But, again, if our exports to one portion of our Eastern markets have fallen off, our imports, ge- nerally, fror.1 those quarters have fillen off still more. Taking the last published Board of Trade tables, that is, for the first nine months, we find the following compari- son of the imports in the last three years, for correspond- ing [)criod-, Of the articles of produce chiefly furnished by It, diA IMPORTED IX NINE MONTHS. 1853. 1854. 1855. East India Cotton, cuts 1,142,285 778,976 756,703 — Piece Goods.. pes. 308,166 296,386 179,881 Indigo, cwts 51,098 62,968 46,364 Silk, lbs 4,365,000 6,254,000 4,734.000 Sugar, cwts. 790,000 481,000 418,000 I Tea,lbs. 55,186,000 62,851,000 56,752,000 Ilere, theIl, in all important articles of import there is a large reduction in the present year as compared with the two past years. The only articles of any importance of which the. importation hfis increased is jute, but that must form a very slight counterpoise to all the others. The state of the trade with the East of the present year would, therefore, rather indicate such a state of the exchanges as should induce to an importatiun of bullion, than the actual reverse operations which cor tinue to take place month after nioijth ;-and we believe that the true cause is to be found in the change which has taken place in the relative price of silver and gold since the new dis- coveries of the latter. At a very early period we pointed out the necessary consequences which must arise ffom the fact that many of the continental countries had in use a double standard of silver and gold, which metals had by i law a fixed relative value to each other. It was evident that the relative value which had formerly existed would be disturbed by the increased supply of gold, while the supply of silver continued nearly stationary. France, Holland, and Belgium bad all this double standard in ac- tual use. They had gold money and silver money, coined according to the "fixed legal relative value of the two me- tals, and each was a legal tender to an unlimited amount. Very soon after the gold discoveries, Holland, seeing the difficulty that must arise, had recouise to the step of de- money tising gold, and of adopting silver as her sole stan- dard. Belgium shortly a'tei wards followed her example. The French Government aPPolIJted a commission to exa- mine the" hole question, and to advise whether resort should be had to a single standard, or a change made in the fixed relation of gold and siher. Unfortnnlltely the commission reported against doing anything at the mo- ment, and thus postponed the difficulty to a time when it would be much less easy to deal with it. What has been the conticqtiedee ? Day by day, week by week, year by year, France has been losing the enormous stock of silver which she then possessed, in the shape of coin in circu- lation and in deposit with the Bank, and has been subsM- i tuting gold in its place. The price of silver in the markets of the world has risen fully five per cent, in re- lation to gold, while in France, by law, it remains exactly as it was before. In point of fact, therefore, silver has a fixed price in France below its real price, and a profit is consequently always obtainable by purchasing silver in France with gold. A few years ago the annual coinage of France averaged Z,5,000,000 of silver and about £ 40,000 of gold; in *1854 the coinage in gold was E20,000,()Oo: and in silver £ 8,000; in the present year up to the latest period for which we have the accounts, the coinage of gold has been 1:14,000,000. and of silver about £ 30,000; and nt this moment it is understood that eveiy day the Bank of France has a drain upon it for silver. The question, then, is, if silver can be purchased in France below its red value in the markets of the woilu, what is the best and most profitable market to which it can be sent? In Europe the consumption of silver is determined by the demand for coinage and for purposes of trade it is limited to those two objects. In the East the demand seems to be limited. For years past the silver has gone from the West to the East, and there is as little appearance of a reaction as ever. For mint and jewellers' purposes the demand for silver in Europe has a clear and well-defined Jimit-for hoarding in the East there appears to be no limit, except the power of the people to obtain it. During the last three years the balances in silver coin in the various treasuries of the East India Company have been reduced from E16,6,00,000 to between E9,000,000 or EIO,000,000, th us throwing in to circ ul at ion about £ 6,000,000 more silver but even that, in addition to all the shipments from Europe, has not had the effect of satisfying the In- dian demand. It will thus be seen that the artificial low price of silver in France, which has led to its being exchanged at a profit for gold, has directly led to the absorption of an enormous amount of the latter metal. The inconvenience is now beginning to be felt in France very severely, and a remedy must very soon be adopted, cither by altering the present legal relative value of gold and silver, so as to restore the latter metal to its full present pi ice, or by adopting one or other of these metals as the sole legal tender, — leaving the other to fluctuate in price according to the supply and de mand, as is the case in England, and now in most of tile other European countries.—Examiner,

I AMERICAN SYMPATHIES WITH RUSSIA. I It cannot, we fear, be denied that, in the contest which we are now carrjing on wi.h the gigantic despot of Northern Europe, the feelings and wishes ofa considerable portion of the citzcns of the United States are not with us, but against us. This is, explicable enough there are many reasons for it, some creditable, some much the reveise. Itussia and America are both great slaveholders both are given to aggression and territorial aggrandisement; both indulge in dreams of universial dominion: the one aspires to the supremacy in the Old World; the other to the sovereignty of the New. As yet there is no rivalry between them nor can there he for generations; nor need there ever be. Iney come into collision nowhere; their commercial interests are nowhere competitive or hostile. The Russians, moreover, have taken considerable pains to cultivate the personal good-will of the American, especially of the travelers and manufacturers of the great Republic; and of late theyhave purchased "golden opinions" amang the industrial interests by large orders for machinery, ships, and other articles of Amcl ican production. Great Britain, on the other hand, though the best customer and the closest business connection of America, is also every- where her commercial rival and most formidable competitor; and severe competition, in narrow minds, often breeds incipient enmity. The Americans, too, have a strong impression that we uie haughty and dictatorial, and they would not be sorry to see us humbled. We do not mean that these sentiments are universal, or that they go very deep;—but they exist among a vast proportion of the people;—who would grieve indeed to see us seriously injured or disabled, but would rejoice at any smart rap on the knuckles that did not compromise our safety or our liberties. But among the worth^ i_ er and more cultivated classes in the United States, the want of sympathy of which we speak is mainly traceable to two causes, which we have ourselves heard alleged by Americana and admit to be not irrational. Iti the first placc, they look with jealousy and alarm upon the close alliance between England and France. These two mighty nations of the old world, firmly and permanently united," they say, "win be too powerful for the independence of the world they will be able to dictate to all States; and America will not be dictated to." If we are thoroughly successful in this contest, they fancy, our only ical European rivai will be effectually humbled, and can no longer be a counterpoise to our pretentions; we shall then virtually rule Europe, and shall soon turn uur attention to the proceedings in the New World. If we continue as close friends as now, even the United States will not be able to resist us. Now, we may fairly allo.v that there is same ground for this feeling, and that a slight and transient jealousy may be excused on the part of a young and powerful States of vast energy and unlimited pietensions. But we have no hesitation in saying that this jealously and uneasiness ought Hut to be shared or encouraged by reflecting all 4 honourable Americans. They should leave it to the filbusters, the annexers, the slave-dealing Southerns, the West, in I)arbai iL,,is. For it is only such that have any- thing to dread from French and British interference. Tt:e alliance bet ween France and England can be dangerous to no American designs except such as cannot be openly avowed it is hostile to no pretensions except such swollen and aggressive ones as ought not to be for a moment entertained The two great great nations of Europe are occupied with the affairs of the European continent, and will find euough to do in regulating and amending these- there is little likelihood that they will seek work elsewhere. The only iiiterference which the United Stales can have to fear from Fiance and England must be in cases ia which that illte. fueuce would be admitted to be warrantable and necessary by all the virtuous and patriotic among the Americans themselves. Those who are alarmed at the Anglo French alliance are men bent on projects which they are concious no two great and honouiaude nations can or ought to tolerate :-tile alliance can be "a terror to evil doers" only. To all others it ought to be a source of the liveliest delight. Not only must the prospect of universal and enduring peace be greately enhanced by the union between those rivals who in past times have most often disturbed the tranquility of the world, but civilisation and freedom must be extended and secured by their friendship. por though France has only at present the faintest vestiges of representative institutions though her municipal liberties have for a time been seriously curtailed, and she has given to herself a Government which, though not an autocracy, is neatly allied to a dictatolship j -still no one who com- pares her even now, in the matter of liberty of speech, of writing and of action, with the unhappy lands which groan under Austrian and Russian away, can doubt that her influence must be infinitely, preferable to theirs, and her condition immeasurably more advanced and that the cause of progress and well-being must be vastly promoted by her cordial connection with the freest land in the known world—freer even, in all that relates to individual emanci- pation, than the boasted Republic of the West. It is not easy to believe that man a real well-wisher to his fellows who does not rejoice from the very core of his heart at the alliance of the Western Powers,—nor that any one can dread it who does not secrttly cherish miquilious designs which will not bear the light. The sccciid cause of the uti-English sympathies of the United Stales to which we have alluded, has been very clearly and succinctly stated by a writer in the last uumber of the North British Reoieic. We give it, therefore, in his words;- These considerations will help us to explain a matter which has given rise to much natural vexation and not quite just disappointment, viz the coldness or non-sym- pathy of the Americans. It is difficult to make i^t clear to them that the war we are waging is in any intelligible sense a war Oil behalf of freedom. There is an unquestionable inconsistency, indeed, in the same people who feted and glorified Kussuth, now sympathising with the despot, by whom Kossuth was crushed. But, on the other hand, the partialities of America are necessarily republican and republicanism is the avowed horror of both the English and the French Governments. If there i, (,,Ile Court in Europe which the Americans especially dislike and despise it is that of Austria and to obtain the aid and alliance of Austria in this war has been the ceaseless endeavours of the Western Powers. The sjm- nalhiPfi nf Ampri^a on a 1 it w?»*i » V. „ A ft" MTV.FIUV lUll:' ut'P'e;,t"u nationalities; and it has been the most anxious aim of the Allies from the outset to prevent these nationalities from mingling in the strife. Of the four Powers who were, or were supposed to be, arrayed against, Russia, one was a constitutional monarchy, but the other three were despots; the first of whom was the supposed tyrant of his Christain subjects the second, the notorious and brutal oppressor of all those republican aspirations which America longed lo aid while the third had just transformed a republic into an empire. How could such a war, waged by such parties and with such Allies, be represented as a genuine war of liberty ? It caanot be gainsaid that it was not the standard of justice, of civilisation, of established treaties, of the status quo, of the balance of power in Europe. How could we reasonably ask American sympathy or aid for snch a complicated, hydiid, conventional, old-world banner ? If, indeed, as at one time seemed not impro- bable, Austiia had taken her natural tide and cast in her lot with the aggressor, and Italy, Hungary, and Poland had risen, and we had welcomed them as comrades, and espoused their cause, and furnished them with arnis,- and if, then, America had stood or given amity or countenance to our antagonist, no reproaches could have been too bitter or too just, and no plea could have wiped away the strain upon her character. But that she should feel no good-will towards the success of a struggle, which, though carried on against a despot, is not carried oil for freedom—or at least, only distantly: contingently and inferentially so-need excite little surprise, and scarcely warrants any heavy condemnation.—Economist.

FEELINGS AND REASON.—Fine feelings, without vigour of reason, are in the situation of the extreme feathers of a peacock's tail, dragging in the mud.-Foster. He that is taught to live upon little owes more to his father's wisdom than he that has a great deal left him does to his father's care.-Penn.

I THE DISPUTE WITH AMERICA, I (From the New York Herald.) The object of the new West Indian squadron is not to pro- tect Ireland, it is to watch this country. There arc lour subjects of pending dispute between the United States and Great Britain an relate to American territory alone. To account for the despatch of the new squadron—First there is Cuba, about which it is understood that a long and acrimonious correspondence has lately passed between Mr. Buchanan and the British Foreign-office. The question concerning the future fate of this island must have been seriously complicated by the diplomatic arrangements recently concluded between the Western Powers and Spain. Next, St. Domingo has given rise to a misunderstanding between the two GoveuHllents-Great Britain insisting on the right to interfere in the affairs of the native author- ities, the United States resisting this inference on grounds of principle, and demanding that 110 foreign Power should pro- sume to control the insular Government. Then we hear from Washington that the State Depart- ment has recei ved notice from the Minister to London that the British Government have formally and definitely refused to recognise the construction put upon the Clayton-Bulwer treaty by the American diplomatists. This opens quite a number of grounds of quarrel. It may be made to amount to a positive recognition by the British Government of the Mosquito King, and an establishment of a British colony in Honduras. In connection with the Walker and Kinney movements in Central America, it is not unlikely to precipi- tate a collision between the British Consular authorities in in that region and the American adventurers who have migrated there to civilize and colonize the country. Viewed in its bearings 011 the recent bombardment of Grey town, it may assume the colour of a menace of European interference 111 case me uoverritnenc or tins country suoum nereatter presume to meddle with any independent communities or nests of pirates that may choose to settle on the Central American coast and claim the protection of Great Britain. In a word, nullification of the (Jhiytoii-Bulwer treaty places Great Britain in a position in which she may at a moment espouse the cause of either contending party in Nicaragus, and send her soldiers to expel Walki r and Kinney, or take any other mea-ures which Lord Palmerston may deem advis- able to strengthen British influence and British supremacy in the countiies to the south of Mexico. Finally, it is well understood by England that the Ad- ministra lÎOll of thi country d.'es not contemplate receding from the ground assumed by its predecessors in reference to the Sound dues; and it is conjectured that if Denmark should have the temerity to attempt to enforce its claims, the United States would operate, not in the Baltic, but on the Danish Western Indian Islands. St. Thomas, lying in the line of the future European and Central American steamship lines, would o" a most valuable prize, and it has occurred to the astute politicians of England that this would be the point at which a blow would be struck in the event of Denmark not coming to terms. (From the New York Times.) It is not easy, therefore, to divest ourselves of the belief I that our relations with Great Britain are not in a satisfactory condition that upon various subjects serious differences f exist between the two Governments—some of them involving our interests, some our rights, and all of them enlisting rational pride in their adjustment. It is very clear that no one of these questions is important eitou li to warrant any serious misunderstanding with Great Britaiu. And yet it is no less certain that it is oat of just such complications- paltry and inconsiderable in the interest they involve—that those international disputes arise which result in war. And the conviction is gaining possession of the public mind that, trifling as are the interests involved, izid iriatl as would seem any thought of war, there is still danger that, through the pride, the obstinacy, and the reckless arrogance of the two Governments, our peacoful relations with Great Britain may be interrupted. (From the Courier and hiquirer). There is a variety of conjectures as to the real objects of this singular proceeding. One is that it is meant to intimi- date the Administration,and thus induce it to withdraw from its demand for redress on accouut of filibustering at- tempts, by the British Minister and consuls in the United States. The ILrraiaj Post explicitly asserts that this is one of the objects of tlia expedition. In its own words, the design is to lower the arrogance and cool the s nsitiveness of the American Government. Another supposition, not less probable, is that, as the Clayton and Bulwer Treaty has been, after more than two years' discussion, just abrogated, this fleet may be intended to take forcible possession of Greytown, expel Kiiuiey and his and restore the authorities whom Captain Hollins found there previously to the gallant and glorious exploit of the bombardment. The restoration of the Mosquito King, the defence of the Ruatan group, and perhaps the chastisement of Walker and his filibusters may bc illdaJed in this enterprise. And there is still a third explanation of the movement which appears natnral and obvious enough. It is that a secret tripartite treaty exists between France, England, and Spain for the defence of Cuba, and that Spain has insisted upon the de- spatch of this fleet as a proof of the sincerity of her allies, and as a condition precedent to her iaising an auxiliary army to aid them in the Western war. If it is the purpose of the British Government to make a demonstration in support of their pretensions in Central America serious work may be cxpected. Our position is such that wo should be obliged in that case to support the filibusters 011 both Coasts against three European invaders. Let but the word be given by the Government, and thousands of gallaut and adventurous sgifits will rush to the standard of the latter to repel the ryk., g;tnce of foreign intervention. 1,0"00 men are already organized in California to support Walker, and thousands more in all parts of the country arc eager to join Kinnev the moment that interdict of our Government, which stamps his enterprise with illegality, is removed The Mosquito pro- tectorate is au obsolete idea, and so is the notion of any sort of a European protectorate over Greytown and the great line of overland communication bet.veen the two oceans. It also says — "It is understood that Conmotloro Paulding has been summoned to Washington on business of the highest im- portance. lie has arrived this morning. He wilL doublless aid in making up his own instruct ions. The occasion is of the highest importance. The Commander of the Gulf squadron must necessarily be invented with the highest responsibilities and with corresponding powers. In his hands will be placed the duty of vindicating the rights of the country, and perhaps of repelling insult. Orders, I am informed, have been given for the concentration of a powerful naval force at or near San Juau, and the utmost activity is displayed in fitting out the vessels designed to compose it. rhe Merrimac, the first of the new steamers likely to be finished, will be prepared for sea with all possible expedition, aud will be, when ready, flagship to Commodore Paulding, though of course the squadron under his command will not wait for the completion of this vessel."

SIR COLIN CAMPBELL.—A pieliininary meeting was held on Friday at Glasgow, under the auspices of Sir Archibald Alison, for the purpose of taking measures to procure subscriptions for the purchase of a stvord to be presented to Major-General Sir Colin Compbell.-Edin- burgh C our ant. SPAIN AND THE WESTEUN POWERS.—In answer to a question whether there was any truth in the rumours of a projected alliance between Spain and the Western Powers, Espartero is said to have given the following reply There is not at present any alliance. But Spain is a Latin nation, and if the war goes on she will certainly take pal t ill it ultimately on the tide of France and England. I incline to think that the war will become general in the spring. Should events compel Spain to draw the sword in this quarrel, you may be assured that the manner of her doing so will be such as to sustain the old Castiliati glory, aud that she will not accept a ship, a man, or a crown piece from any Power in the world." OLIVER GOLDSMITH ON RUSSIAN POLICY. Some wonderment has been made about a pamphlet published in 1791 on the aggressive and aggrandising policy of Russia. The author of the pamphlet was certainly not the first Englishman who foresaw the tendency of Rus- sian policy for in "The Citizen ef the World," published thirty years before, when the Russians were taking a con- spicuous part in the Seven Years War, Oliver Goldsmith, simple Oliver, thus expressed his views on the matter You tell me that the people of Europe are ivise, but wheroin lies their wisdciii ? They are engaged in war among each other. yet apply to the Russians, their neigh- bours and ours, for assistance. Cultivating such an alli- auce ergues at once imprudence and timidity. All sub- sidies paid for such aid is strengthening the Russians, already too powerful, and weakening their employers, al ready exhausted by intestine commotions. I cannot avoid beholding the Russian empire as the natural enemy of the more Western parts of Europe; as an enemy already possessed of great strength, and from the nature of its government, every day threatening to become more povv- (,riu It was long the wish of Peter, their great monarch, to have a fort in some of the Western parts of Europe many of his schemes and treaties were directed to this end but happily for Europe be failed in them all. A fort in the possession of this people would be like the possession of a floodgate; and whenever am- bition, interest, or necessity, prompted, they might then be able to deluge the whole Western world with a barbarous inundation. Believe me, mv fiiend, I cannot sufficiently conLemn the puliticians of Europe who thus make this powerful people arbitrators in their quarrel. If once they (the Russians) get footing in the Western parts of Europe, it is not the feeble efforts of rhe sons of effeminacy and diesension that can serve to remove them." Titis in 1'160 Since that date, Poland, something more than 'G a fort in Western Europe," nay, perhaps, the strongest offensive position in Western Europe, has fallen into the hands of the Hussions. Perhaps Germany can estimate the danger it runs daily from the floodgate of Poland, of which the Czar keeps the key ? Perhaps Ger- many can tail us who are the" sons of effeminacy and dissension" in this our day, and what will become of ihern when the floodgate, at a convenient season, may be open- ed? Every day, says our Chinese letter-writer, this people threatens to become more powerful. Iu two years more Catherine ascended the throne and within twenty-three years, the Russian Baltic fleet, officered by Scotchmen, had beaten the Tuiks in the Mediterranean the Crimea had been conquered and annextd; the Turks had signed the treaty of Kainarclji the frontier of Russia towards the Caucasus was the Koubari and Poland had been par- titiotied What Russia was in 1760 she was in 1853 but what a vast hold on the floodgates shutting off her armies from Western Europe and Asia—on Poland, the Baltic, the Black Sea, the Crimea, Transcaucasia, the Amoor Certainly, an ambition threatening to become all-power- ful eve;y day, when England, France, and Sardinia, the three most vital States cf Europe, took the matter in hand and determined to get hold of at least some of the floodgates" themsalves. Not one moment too soon.

I MONEY MARKET AND CITY INTELLIGENCE. Wednesday Evening. The English Stock Market maintains the firmness of yesterday, and a further advance has been established. As the account will be settled iu a day or two, the operators are making the usual arrangements, and the charge for continu- ation continues heavy. Consols have risen to 89 and 894 for Money, and to 89g to 891 for Account. The January price is 89g öGi. Exchequer Bills, 5s to 2s dis. PRICES OF THE FUNDS AT FOUR O'CLOCK EACH DAY. ;Th Fri. SatJMonTuejWed Bank Stock 208 209 203i209209'— 3 per Cent. Reduced 88J 86. 87? 86 ?88 ?— 3 per Cent. Consols 88a 88? 88',? ? j88? ?9 .89? ?88. :?89 8 91 India Bonds.? 5 ,5 5 ? 3 3 inew 3 per Cent. Ann 8 7 -,a 88 87| !88| S3J £ 8 Bank Long Annuities 3| 31 4 3! (34 3| < India Stock 228 227 228 |225 225 | Exchequer Bills .8 8 18 13 8 \5 RAILWAY SHARES. Wednesday Evening. Transactions in the Railway Share Market are, to a moder- ate extent, with very little alteration in the quotations. Eastern Counties, 91. Great Northern, 87]. Great Western, 49, to 50. London and North Western, 93f. Midland 63J 631 o;sg. North Stafford, 9J. South Midland, 73. Great Northern 5 per Cent. Preference, 113. Oxford and Worces- ter, 93. Aberdeen, 101. East India 5 per Cents., 21. The quotations give the actual price, without reference to premium or discount, and amount paid up. Share. Paid. 1- Names of Lines. j Tues. Wed. 50 I 50 Aberdeen 23 23 20 20 Birmingham and Oxford June. Stock 92 Bristol and Exeter 85 85 Stock 100 Buckinghamshire Stock 50 ?Caledonian. 55? 55? 50 50 Chester and Holyhead 12? 12? 50 45 Dublin and Belfast Junction 4? 44 Stock 20 Eastern Counties 91 93 Stock 100 East Lancashire. 68 68 Stock 100 East Lincolnshire, 6 per cent. Stock 50 Edinburgh and Gltsgow .1:l 51 51 Stock 100 .Great Northern. 88 88 100 100 jGreat North of England 100 100 jGreat Western 50 50 50 50 JInlland Sclb) 50 50 ?Lancashire and Carlisle 75 75 100 98 !Laiicasliire and Yorkshire 75? 75? 50 all ?Leeds Northern — — 11? 111 |London and Blackwall 61 6? Stock 100 ?London, Brighton, and S. Coast I 95 95 121 12? ?London and Greenwich — — Stock 100 4 ?London and North-Western 941 94? Stock 100 ?LondonandSouth-Western &51 861 Stock 100 IMidlaiid 63} 63i 20 100 jDitto Birmingham and Derby.. 38 38 Stock 100 1 Ditto Bristol and Birm. 6 per ct. Stock! 100 Norfolk 46 46 Stock 100 North British. 27 27 20 17.1 {North Staffordshire 8 8 20 50 Oxfd., Worcester, and Wolver, 25 50 100 Scottish Central. 101 104 Stock 50 South Devon. 114 114 50 100 South Eastern 574 57! Stock 50 South Wales 314 31A Stock 100 TaflT Vale 20 all Vale of Neath 194 194 50 100 York, Newcastle, and Berwick — Stock 20 York and Newcastle Extension — 25 100 York and North Midland — j 25 16 Northern of France 3i 35j 20 10 Paris and Lyons 454 406 20 20 Paris and Rouen 52 20 20 J Rauen and Havre. 274 Messrs. Warner, of the Crescent Foundry, Jewin-street, Cripplegate, London, have received the order to cast the bells for the great clock of the Houses of Parliament. The great bell is to be nine feet diameter, and to weigh fourteen tons, and will be the largest bell ever cast in England. It is calculated that the four quarter bells will weigh about ten tons more. The work is to be done from the directions of Mr. E. 13. Denison, Q C., from whose design the clock has been made, and the bells are to be subject to the nn.d approval of that gentleman and the Rev. W. Taylor, F.R.S., and Professor Wheatstone. A SNAKE IN TIlE RAGS.—In Juiy last Messrs. G. and J. Bash, merchants, of Bristol, warehoused a quantity of rags, ex the Seringapatam, from Melbourne. On Friday afternoon, as som? of these rags "ere being removed, the men enagfd were somewhat alarmed by the appearance of a large snake upwards of four feet in length, which, however, quickly got among the rags again, and is at present concealed in the loft. The Seringapatam was upwards of 100 days on her passage from Melbourne, so that the snake must have been about eight months enscon- ccd in the rags. The creature when disturbed appeared quite lively, but it is not known whether it is a venemous I eptile or 11ot. Miss Nightingale is still at the camp in the Crimea, but we are told that she is hardly ever seen out of doors. Her father, enclosing an order to Messrs. Li;tie and Co., iron- mongers, Glasgow, for forty stoves, for presentation to the various regimental and general kitchens, adds that he receives good accounts from his daughter, "although the fatigue of setting in order the Crimean hospitals, and preparing them for the winter, is very great, and she has hardly recovered from a severe illness she had in the summer at Balaklava. She has no thoughts of returning home at present, as she cannot bear to leave her work, and though this winter will not be like the last, there will, doubtless, be still a large number of sick." ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.—The following pre- ferments and appointments hav been recently made Caoonry the Rev. J. G. Lonsdale, to the Canonty of Lichfield Cathedral, vacant by the death of the late Arch- deacon of Stafford. Rectories the Rev. W. T. Freer, to the rectory of flougliton-on-the- Hill, Leicestershire the Rev. II H. Still, to the rectory of Cattistock, near Dor- ches'cr. Vicarages: the Rev. C. R. Andrews, to the vicarage of Houghton-on-the-Hill, Lincolnshire the Rev. W. Wilson, to the vicarage of Corse, near Newent, Glouces- tershire. Curacies, &c the Rev. W. T. Barry, to the curacy of Coaley, near Dursley the Rev. W. K. B Briscoe, to the Sunday evening lectureship of Mold the Rev. E. H.Gray, to the curacy of Borley, Essex the Rev. R. Hunt, to the curacy of a licensed schoolroom, in Pleasant-street, Liver- pool the Rev. J. Stephenson, to be a surrogate for the diocese of Salisbury the Rev. T. Sharp, to one of the curacies of the Abbey Church, Bath; the Rev. E. 1. Well- don, Cambridge, to the second mastership of Tonbridge School; the Rev. T. B Wrentfond, to the stipendiary curacy of the building recently licensed for Divine service at Stockport Great Moor, Stockport. THE LUTOSTOR ALICE GREY.—Of all the extraordinary revelations which have been made known in connexion with this woman, the following which has come to light, is perhaps the most startling. An account was published in the Times of November 1, 1854, of a shocking outrage" which was committed upon a woman in the neighbourhood of Exeter on the night of the 29th of October. The circumstances, as then related, were these- very early on the morning of the 30th of October some fishermen, when off the coast near Powderham Castle, the seat of the Earl of D-.von, heard piteous cries on shore. On putting in their boat they found a woman in a state of nudity with the exception of a shift. They immediately took her to the house of Lord Devon's boatman, and the policeman of the district having been sent for she gave an account of how she came in the condition in which she was found. She alleged that her husband was a soldier in one of the regiments in the Crimea, and that she had come to Exeter on her way to her friends in the south of Devon, where she expected to be shortly confined. She remained in that city a little time with one of her relatives, and not having sufficient money to take her the whole distance by railway she determined on walking the first eight miles to Starcross. It was while on this road that she said she was overtaken by two or three men, who used her violently and who, having taken away, the small sum of money she had about her, undressed her and left her naked on the beach, she being at that time pregnant. Her story excited great interest, and much sympathy was manifested. The constable, however, was determined to ascertain the truth I of her statement, and he visited Exeter, but could find no such persons as those whom she had represented as her relatives, .htforts were, however, made to secure the men she had accused, and policemen were sent into various towns after them, but they did not succeed. The woman then took her departuro, and nothing more was heard of her till the examination of Alice Grey at Wolverhampton, when the police officer of the Kenton district, near Exeter, wrote and obtained a daguereotype likeness of that notorious character. It was then ascertained beyond all doabt that she was the-same woman who was found naked on the beach. RAILWAY COMPANIES AND LUGGAGE.—In the Liver- pool County Court, on Tuesday, judgment was given in the case of Wignall v. the London and North-western Rail. way Company," in which the plaintiff, a comniercial travel ler, claimed £2iJ as compensation for the loss of a desk stolen from a carriage in tne Lime-street-station (where it had been placed by one of the company's porters) while the plaintiff was in the refreshment loom. Three grounds of defence were taken:—that the plaintiff not having booked when the desk was taken, no contract had been entered into, and therefore the company were not respon. sible for the loss that the desk was not luggage," within the ordinary meaning of the act of Parliament; and that the order books and private papers in the desk were writings" within the meaning of the Carriers Act. His Honour decided that the first objecrion could not be sus- tained, as the company's servant had taken charge of the plaintiff's luggage and placed it in the carriage; and, as to the second and thitd objections, that nothing could be more essentially luggage than a travelling desk, except, perhaps, articles of apparel required for the journey, and order books were absolutely necessary to commercial travellers in order to carry on their business. He then gave the plain- tiff a erdict for jE3 10s., the declared value of the desk E2 10s. for the inconvenience arising from the loss of the order books; and Id. as the nominal value of the private papers. lIe also allowed the plaintiff his costs.-Man- cheskr Guardian.

CARMARTHEN CORN RETURNS. WEEK ENDING, NOTSXBSB 24, 1856. busk.l; Total Quantities. Wheat 50 quarter., 1 busikol; barley, 35 quarters, 1 bushel; oat., 182 quarts., 6 bushels. Averageper Quarter.—Wheat, 77s. Id.; barle)-, 43.. 1111. oats, 26s. Id. CARMARTHEN.—Beef, (per lb.) S?d. to 8d; Mutton ?' K&X.1 to 7d.; Veal, 5d. to 6d. per Ib. Fr?h bSS' (2 oz. Is. 9d. Salt, l?d. to Is.; Chicken., 2?. 4d ?.r couple; eggs 3 for 2d.; cheese 28s. to Potatoes, 7 to 8tb. for 6d. Household Bread, 811. the 41bs. Loaf.

I LONDON MARKETS, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26. MARK-LAE.- The supply of Wheat from Ewx and Kent to this morning's market was moderate; but, having the addition of that left over from last week, the whole made a fair show; and the condition being generally wretched the great bulk remained unsold to a late hour although offered at a decline of 3s. to 4s. per qr. The few sales effected in foreign were at former prices. There was a good supply of Barley, which met a slow sale at a decline of fully 2s. per qr. Beans and Peas are 18. to 2s. per qr. cheaper. The Oat trade is very dull, and last weekVralet are barely supported. There is no alteration in the value of town-made Flour, but country marks are 24. per sack cheaper. AVERAGE PRICE OF SIX WEEKS. Week ending Nov. 17 Imperial General W..kly Average.-Wheat, 80&. 10d. Barley, 39.. lid Oats iS» Od.; Rye, 52s. lOd. Beans, 52s. Od. Pea., 50it 4d LONDON AVERAGES. £ 1. d. f,? Wheat.. 5479Qu. 4 6 11 Rye 20 or« 2 W i Barley 2205 2 2 6 Beans. 514 29M Barley 7252100 5 1 2 7 2 1 6 I Peas 412 2 19 0 Oats PRICES OF BUTTER, CHEESE HAMS, 4e. Butter, per cwt. 8. 6 ?Cheese, per evrt. Fne?nd.lIO?H4 Cheshire 70 84 K?I. 1()o 1101 Double Gloucester 66 76 Dorse. 110 116 Single do. 60 70 55 ?™et'0-"V 1 I8 J"2 H? York SiS XfTr KTV* 9? 106 Irish on as Cork 998 4 l1oC 2 'I ?.,rn .76 tiO ?I'go. 91 102 Green .:? ?M BARK AND OTHER TANNING MATERIALS. per load of 45 cwt. vEnng„v lis1 h, T Tree £ 13 10 0 to f 15 a 0 Coppice £14 0 0 2 16 0 0 Mimosa. per ton ?2 0 0 = ? ? ? V?onia and Smyrna.. 915 00 £ 17 ?0 BHEAD.—The prim of Wheaten Brpa? 5in £ iro p'S.nd-tom- io! £ £  loal HOP. Since the announcement of the duty, our market has improved in demand for fine and middling quaHtiu, (or which rather more money is obtained. Inferior and brown samples remain without much inquiry. OIL.- Linseed Oil is rather lo?er. The r.riep  the  i? 44. and for forwaid delivery 45s. 6d. 'o 46? per c Brown rape is dull at 59s., pale 62.; Gallipoli is Worth y 10.. to £ 56; Palm is steady at 49s. to 51s 6?8? £ 127. Lard Oil is worth 67s. to 68.. Turpent?i. m,iet Ihere is no Archangel Tar in the market. PROYISIOXS. There was only a moderate extent of business done in Irish Butter last week. The demand "as chiefly for any not exceeding 98s. to 104s. A few best brands of Limerick were sold at 1Sl to 2s. over previou. rates. The finer descriptions were in limited request but the market was very firm, and holders confident of higher prices. In foreign no alteration worth notice. Bacon was dull. Irish and Hambro' very sparingly dealt in and pyires Is. to 2s. lower. Hams and Lard as last reported. TALLOW.-As the imports have considerably increased, "ur market has ruled heavy, and prices have been drooping To-day, P.Y.C., on the spot, is quoted at 70s. per cwt. Town Tallow, 69s. nett cash, with a limited supply on salee- Rough fat, 4s. per SIbs. J WOOL.—There is no material alteration in either demand or price of English wool. We have rather more enqtuiry ?Jr?.,lS?:°°. late prices. ?———————? MM more plentiful, arc 8htionary as to price and 'd'?' Dear provisions and the high price of discounts make t?w home trade slack, and business dull. We have moreb. quiry just now for skin wool, at a trifling advance (or Roo4 =??????????and woo], for the .Mson. tolerably U supphedwithsk.ns and wool, for the season JilLINT0N/ 7The ?""? of '?? ?°' I??"d 'Mt vw.eek direct by sea, were 43 Beasts and 125 Pigs.- Our letters from Holland state that the d.?nd  stock on French account has become )e? active. Prices, ho-ever, rule very high. The show of Irish stock this morning was composed of 400 Beasts, and 1,400 Sheep all in good eond,non. With foreign .lock we we£ re Jb5u2t moderately supplied. Fresh up from our own RrM.M* districts the arriuls of Beasts were limited, but in ?mfen what improved condition. All breeds sold br?dy ? an advance in the quotations realized on Monday !ast of fn? 2d. per 8!bs.,and a clearance was effected. The primed Scots sold at 5s. 2d. per BIbs. From Lincolnshire. Leices. tershire, and Northamptonshire we received 1,500 short- horns from other paits of England, 400 of various breeds; and from Scotland, 80 Scots, chieSy polled, There was a very limited supply of Sheep in the market, and at least a moiety of it was in poor condition. The Mutton trade WM active at an improvement in value of 2d. per 81bs The best Downs were worth quite 5s. 2d. per Sibs. Although the supply of Calves was limited, the Veal trade ruled heavy, at Frid ay's decline in value of from 6d. to 8J. per 8ibs. The highest quotation was 4s. Sd. per 8lbs. There e, ?""? for Pigs, and prices were W*U ?port PSt%«t0 sink the offaL-Coarse and inferior beuh Ss. 8d. to 38. lOd. second quality do. 4s. Od. to 4< '4<J ire lageoxS4s-6d-to 48. 10d. prime scou &c. 5s. Od. to 5s 2d. coarse ?°d ?- inferior sheep, 3a. 6d. 3s. Sd second quality do. 38. 10d. to 49 4d. prime coars* woolled sheep, 4s. 6d. to 48. 8d. prime South Downs 4a. 1M to Os. 2d., Lambs', 0s. Od to Os Od 8 « °'' 3s. 6d. to 4s. Od. prime smai? dUto, 4s. 2d '^keV. large hogs, 3s. 10d. to 4s. 4d neat stall 4. 8d Pigs 560 Od. Beasts, 4614, Sheep, 21,920, ?:; & Sgs 560. HIDE AND SKIN MARKETS. 8. d. s. d. Alarket Hides, 56 to 64 Ibe. 0 31 to 0 0 per lb. Do. 64 72 lbs 0 3f 0 4 Do. 72 80Ibs. 04 0 41 Do. 80 88 lbs 0 41 0 44 Do. 88 96 lbs 0 4| 5 0 Horse Hides 6 6 0 0 each Calf Skins, light. 20 SO Dcwns 2 10 3 4 2 9 4 6 METALS. £ s. d. ESGI.TSH IROX. Bars at Caidill and Newport. 8 5 0 Rails (Wales) 8 0 0 Staffordshire 11 0 0 FOREIGN STEEL. Swedish keg. 21 100 Do. Faggot. 0 0 0 ENGLISH COPPER. Sheets, sheathing and bolts per lb. 0 1 2 Tough cake 126 0 0 Tile 126 0 0 Old copper per pound 0 0 0 ENGLISH LEAD. Pig per ton 27 0 0 Sheet. 27 0 0 ENGLISH TIN. Block per cwt 6 6 0 Bar 6 7 0 f.?. Refined 6 11 8 Grain. 0 0 0 Fine Grain 0 0 0 Ditto bars. 0 0 0 FOREIGN TIN. Banca, in bond ..679 Straits. 6 TIN PLATES. IC Charcoal per box 114 0 IX do. 2 0 0 IC Coke per box.. 18 6 IX do l 15 6 ZINC. In Sheets. 30 0 0 FOltIGN IRON. a. Swedish 15 10 0 Russian CCND.. 17 0 0 Ind. Ch. Pigs in London 6 6 0

WEEKLY CALENDAR. THE MOON'S CILA.N-GFS.-Last quarter, Dec. 1st. at 2h. llm. after. HIGH WATER AT THE FOLLOWING PLACRS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. Carmar- 1 Cardigan Tenby lA.b t DAYS. then Bar. and and rY8- :LlanellYIJ.I. H. M. H. m. JH. M H M Saturday, Dec. 110 53 ill 43 10 38 10 13 Sunday, 211 51 il2 41 11 26 ill 11 Monday 3; 1 3 j 1 53 :12 38 12 23 Tuesday 42 11 3 1 I ) 46 1 31 Wednesday 6 3 9 3 59 2 44 2 29 Thursday 6 4 3 4 53 3 38 J 3 23 Friday. 7¡ Õ 23 j 5 13 3 58 3 43

| LONDON GAZETTE BANKRUPTS. (Friday, Nov. 23.)-J. Davis, tailor, Worcester.—J Steed, grocer, Leeds.—H. Carney, builder, Brighton.—F. F. Fox, tailor, London.—R. Gadsden, ce- ment maker, Millwall, Middlesex.-R. Butler, ironmonger, Bayswater.—D. Davies, glass merchant, Newington Cause- way, Surrey. J. Phillips, rag merchant, Clerkenwel4 Aliddlesex.-T. Williams, brewer, Aberdare, Glamorgan- shire.—S. Smart, builder, Luton. Nottinghamshire. G. Hannaford, baker, St. Mary's Church, Devonshire. 111 Briant, Hoxton, Middlesex.-J. Smith, worsted spinner. Low Moor, Yorkshire.-O. Williams, corn dealer, Man- II chester. BANKRUPTS.—( Tuesday, November 27.) — F. Potler watchmaker, Newington-causeway.—J. Bapty, woollen ma- nufacturer, Hunslett, Yorkshire.-J. V. Bellamy, wine merchant, Sheffield.-F. Scaife, cutlery manufacturer, Shef- field.-R. Cronk, milliner, Conduit-street, Regent-street.- H. Palmer, linendraper, Portsmouth.—R. W. Street, gro- cer, Weston -s u per-Mare.-B. Scott, blanket manufacturer, Earlsheaton, near Dewsbury, Yorkshire.—R. Burns, miU- l wright and engineer, Lireri)ool. F. Every, scrivener, Exeter.—J. Dyer, builder, Devonport.E. Trails, cotton apioner, iualey Brook Hills, near UWJwD.