of last year. Prices in England continued to rule high, but as the supply of pigs in the kingdom was very large, and as the pork season had opened at very moderate quotations, it was expected that a fall in the value of salted meats would take place. The imports in ten months are subjoined:

There has been no abatement in the value of butcher's meat in England, consequently prices remain at a high point. The cattle plague cannot be said to have died away, for several cases have recently been reported; and as such have occurred, fears are entertained that in the event of the Government modifying or cancelling the present regulations in reference to the cattle traffic of the kingdom, further serious outbreaks will take place. Some of the leading farmers, who have even incurred much loss and inconvenience, are strongly in favor of an adherence to the existing rules for a further period of six months. The following are the figures relating to the imports of live stock for the ten months:

EXPORTS OF BRITISH AND IRISH PRODUCE AND MANUFACTURES.

The following table shows the declared value of the exports of British and Irish produce and manufactures from the United Kingdom to this country during the first ten months of the present and last two years:

The following figures relate to the shipping trade between this country and the United Kingdom for the month of October and the ten months ending Oct. 31:

AMERICAN VESSELS ENTERED AND CLEARED INTO AND FROM ALL PORTS.

VESSELS OF ALL NATIONALITIES ENTERED AND CLEARED INTO AND FROM AMERICAN PORTE

The Southwestern Railroad leaves the Central of Georgia (Savannah to Macon) at Macon, and extends to Albany, giving off branches to Butler (where the Muscogee Railroad commences, and runs to Columbus), and to Eufala and Fort Gaines. The following shows the length of these several constituents:

The Fort Gaines Branch, from which the iron had been taken dur

ing the war, was not in use for the fiscal year 1865-66, and hence the length of road operated was only 187.18 miles. The relaying of that branch, however, has since been accomplished.

The motive power on the road during the year consisted of 20 locomotives, besides which the Company have two others not in use. The car stock at the commencement of the year embraced 13 first-class and 7 second-class passenger cars, 8 mail and express cars, 12 conductors' cars, with 103 box, 53 platform, 4 stock and 3 provision cars. During the year the Company purchased from the United States Government 32 box and 15 platform cars, increasing the rolling-stock by that number. The business of the road in 1865-66, as compared with that of 1859-60, shows, as might be expected, a considerable falling off. The total quantity of cotton transported during the year 1865 66 was 87,250-in 1859-60, 206,307 bales; a decrease of 119,057 bales. The quantity received at Macon in 1865 66 was 29,133 bales; in 1859-60, 32,641; a decrease of 3,508. Of this, the quantity from Columbus was in 1865-66, 1,660 bales; in 1859-60, 138 bales; an increase of 1,522 bales. The great loss has, therefore, been the receipts from the Southwestern Railroad proper; and the general loss on the quantity carried South to Eufala and Fort Gaines on the Chattahoochee for shipment to the Gulf. The number of passengers carried during the year 1865-66 was 115,787, being an average of 317 per day. The average in 1859-60 was 353. The receipts from traffic, compared with those of 1859-60, were more favorable than the material business. The following statement shows the whole in detail, thus:

$507.289 48

308,054 50

41,501 62

-making a net increase of receipts in 1865-66 of $179,949 73.

Total freight earnings in 1865-66, were.....

Included in these payments are the bonds due in 1862-3-4-5, amounting to $60,500, which had not been presented as they fell due; also the interest coupons accrued prior to 1865, and retained in the hands of holders upwards of $50,000 and the cost of freight cars $36,598, being together an extraordinary addition to charges of $147,098.

The financial condition of the company as shown on the general ledger as of the 1st August, 1866, is shown in the following statement:

This is a very fair showing, but only such as might be expected from such a company which from the first has been conducted with great economy. The road is a first class one for the South, and was built and equipped for cash (chiefly share capital subscribed almost wholly within the State) at a cost of $18,000 per mile. On this sum it had never failed to pay dividends until that of August, 1866, which was passed because of the large extraordinary expenses disbursed on account of bonds and coupons past due. For the future the Board sees no reason why regular dividends should not be declared and paid to the stockholders of at least eight per cent per annum." To meet the exigencies of the times, however, the tariff of charges for freight and passengers has been raised fifty per cent above that of 1860, and this will have to be maintained until the prices of labor and material warrant a reduction.

LIFE INSURANCE-RIGHTS OF SOUTHERNERS WHOSE LIVES WERE INSURED IN NORTHERN COMPANIES.

A decision was lately rendered by Judge Robertson of this city in an action against the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York which defines the rights of Southerners whose lives were insured in Northern Companies on the breaking out of the war. It seems that the plaintiff, a resident of the State of Alabama, had a policy on his life for $1,000 insured by the defendant. That during the war he continued to pay the

premium to the company's agent in Alabama, in confederate currency, and as soon as practicable after the war closed offered to pay the premium due in that year to the defendants, who refused to receive it, claiming that the policy had become forfeited by non-payment of the premiums for the four previous years (1861, 1862, 1863 and 1864.) The plaintiff then tendered, in the year 1866, the amount of premiums for five previous years, with interest from the time when they became due, which the defendants refused.

The defendants demurred to the complaint setting forth these facts assigning for cause: 1. That the court had no jurisdiction of the subject of the action. 2. That the complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.

The questions raised on this demurrer having been argued Judge Robertson delivered the opinion of the court which was in substance as follows:-No obligation was imposed upon the plaintiff by the terms of the policy in question. It bound the defendants only to pay to his representatives a certain sum after his death, upon the performance by him of certain conditions, which were entirely at his option. The only means they had to secure the performance of such conditions was his own sense of self-interest, in not losing the advantages of their contract, as such conditions consisted mainly of periodical payments of certain sums of money, he was required to relinquish all right to reclaim any money previously paid by him, in case at any time he should neglect to pay those payable subsequently.

The rights of the plaintiff under the policy, and by virtue of his membership of the corporation of the defendants, with the exception of his right to a share of the profits of the latter, and that of his representatives to the payment of the sum insured in case of his death are so nearly identical, that they must be governed by the same principles. No case is made for claiming such share by alleging profits, the equitable allotment of a share of them to the plaintiff by the Trustees of the Company under the 13th section of the charter, or a demand for them and non-payment. Of course, while the plaintiff is alive, any contingent right of his representatives cannot be determined in advance.

I do not see very clearly what or upon what this Court can adjudicate under these circumstances. I mean make an adjudication; not merely promulgate an opinion. The objection perhaps does not rank very pre cisely as one of those to jurisdiction over the subject of action, but it is rather one to the sufficiency of the cause of action stated. No account can be decreed of profits made by the defendants for the reasons already stated. The Court cannot make a declaration or proclamation of its opinion to the world now, to be of any avail to the plaintiff's representatives in recovering the amount insured hereafter; no transfer or vesting or divesting of rights would ensue from such a declaration, and nothing could now be decreed to be done as a consequence of such a declaration. Rooke vs. Ld. Kensington, 2 Kay & J. R,, 753. Grove vs. Bastaid, 2 Ph. Ch. Ca., 619. Jenner vs. Jenner, Law Rep., 1 Eq., Pt. III., 361, Baylies vs. Payson, 5 Allen Rep., 488.

Such a judicial declaration appears to be only known to the system of jurisprudence peculiar to Scotland. Bell's Principles, &c., §2,252.

If the present complaint were directed to the restoration of any rights