The Press. — London, England, 1858-12-18 00:00:00

THE PRESS, DECEMBER 18, 1858. e nd, as a prominent attraction amongst the male vocalists, that of M. Emon, of the Paris Open Co inique ; whilst, as stars of ltsser magnitude, though of remarkable brightness, if rumour may be trusted, s hine conspicuously forth in all the effulgent glories of ornate typography the names of Mlle. Celine Matthieu, from the Grand Opera of Bordeaux, and M. Fougeres, from the Court Theatre of Amsterdam. Remusat himself will, we presume, officiate as conductor. The season will, it appears, commence on Wednes day, December the 29th, with Auber's sparkling and delightful opera, Le Part du Diable, in which Mme. Faure is to sustain the principal character. qt girama. HAYMARKE'r THEATRE. WE are glad to be able to congratulate Mr. Buckstone on the perfect success of his new comedy The Tide of Time; a success attributable almost as much to the manner in which it was presented to the audience, especially by Mr. Buckstone himself and Miss Reynolds, in the characters of Molehill and Mildred Pendarvit, as to the talent with which Mr. Bernard has conceived the piece and sketched the characters. The play consists of a clever and animated sketch of the incidents which naturally attach to the position and career of an enriched Man. chester man trying to grow into a Country Gentle man. The comedy, which is full of dramatic effects and of productive collisions between characters whom present position and previous education render often antagonistic and always incongruous, has had an un precedented success, and continues to be repeated to crowded Houses. THE FRENCH NEWSPAPER PRESS RETURNS show that at the present moment the leading organs stand thus in point of daily circulation :—Le Siecle, 36,000 per diem ; Le Constitutionnel, 24,000; La Presse, 18,000; La Patrie, 14,000; Les Dibats, 9,000; Cour- Tier de Paris, 12,000 ; La Gazette de France, 3,000 ; Charivari, 3,000; L'Univers, 4,000; Gazette des Tribunaux, 1,200. LONDON BRIDGE is the oldest in London. It was originally built of wood, but at what period is not known, though it must have been prior to ;he year 10:6, when, the passage of Canute's fleet up the Thames being onstructed by the bridge, he caused a canal to be made round the south end of it, for conveying his vessels further up the river, and subsequent to 993, when Anlaf the Daue sailed up the Thames as far as Staines, with 93 ships, and ravaged the country on both sides. This wooden bridge was, in a great measure, destroyed by tire, in the year 1136, and notwithstanding the reparations then made, it was in so ruinous a condition in the year 1163, that it was thought necessary to build a bridge of stone, the superintendence of which was first given to Peter, the curate or minister of St. Mary, Colechurch, but was finally committed to Sear! Mercer, and two other merchants of London, under whose inspection the first stone bridge was com• pleted in 1:209. The unanticipated reduction in the minimum rate of discount by the Bank Directors last week, has, so far, most certainly fulfilled the purposes for which it was adopted. If its primary object was to draw business to the establishment, that has been effected, as is shown by the above comparison ; and on the other hand, if its subordinate purpose was to indicate that the market price of capital is really no more than 21 per cent., that has been accomplished, for at 21 per cent. any man in London possessing good bills may obtain as much as he needs. The principal effect of the movement, however, has been to place the Bank in the discount market just at a time when from various circumstances there was a commercial demand for money. Ilad the change been made a month earlier, when it was generally looked for, it is doubtful whether the Bank would have much enlarged its business, whilst it is tolerably certain that it might have been taken to indicate the prospect of a less inquiry for money than actually exists. We are therefore constrained to repeat that the Directors exercised a wise discretion in abstaining from the reduction at the time we, with others, expected it ; and that they manifested equal wisdom in adopting it last week. We now hear no complaints of their proceeding in that respect, for all parties have adapted themselves to the change. • In the Money Market this week there has been a very active demand. At the Bank the daily applica tions have been numerous, increasing as the week has advanced ; and in the open market the inquiry has been sufficient to cause a practical assimilation of the rates, inside and outside, to 21 per cent.—a circumstance of rare occurrence. The minimum in Lombard street to-day was 21 per cent. The consequence necessarily is that the highest class of bills are taken to the Bank; but, meanwhile, the c onimercial inquiry arising from enlarged opera tions, and from the arrangements connected with the close of the year, maintain the demand upon the Lombard-street houses and joint-stock banks. The supplies are very large, and, as may be expected, this fact has induced the proposal of several undertakings, some of which have lain dormant for a Img time. The most important proposal, however, and that which will affect the Money Market longest, of any yet introduced is the placing of 7,000,0001. of the bonds of the Government of Victoria for railway works in that dependency in the course of the next four years. About 700,000/. of these bonds have already arrived, and they are being disposed of by the London and West minster and the London Joint-stock Banks. If the operation be prudently conducted, as no doubt it will, there will be no serious difficulty in placing the full amount; but it is a large aggregate, its influence will unquestionably be widely felt in the Money Market during the whole period, and it ought to constitute one of the first elements in the calculations of those who contemplate embarking in enterprizes dependent upon the contingencies of the market for capital. During the week the imports of bullion and specie, including about 317,0001. by the Orwell from Mel bourne, have amounted to 511,0001. The exports have been 122,7201., principally on avcount of the Chili Loan, most of which was withdrawn from the Bank, and about 200,0001. are already engaged for export to Calcutta and China on tLe 20th. All this is in silver, for which there is a demand at higher prices. Very little gold is now coming from the United States. Until yesterday the general tone of the Stock and Share markets was one of extreme firmness: in shares, particularly, a decided advance was established, the traffics being nearly uniformly favourable, and the public being ready buyers of some of the heavier stocks. The reaction, which was continued to day, was owing to the announcement respecting! the Bonds of the Victoria Government, the sensitive members of the Stock Exchange being of opinion that so long as they are hanging over the market, speculative operations for a rise must be conducted in the dark. They therefore have been selling, partly to realize the profits of the previous advance and partly in the expectation of a lower average of prices than is yet settled. In the Funds the decline has taken place, notwithstanding a fair absorp tion of Stock and of daily purshaaes on public 1.43 account by the Government Broker. The public, as such, that is they who are not speculators, are now waiting to see the effects of the present unexpected state of transition. To-day the reaction made further progress and the market was very unsettled., Consuls, which left off this day week is 071 t x div. have averaged a fall of per cent. To-day they opened at 90i to 07 ex div., and closed at 00} to j. The fall auring the week has therefore been per cent., and from present appearances it is not likely to be immediately arrested. The purchases on public account have been altogether in Reduced. In the Foreign Market very little business has been done during the week. Railway Shares were buoyant in the early part of the week, but the reaction referred to above has since completely changed the tone. The difference in quotations since this day week is about one per cent. upon the average, with few exceptions. Miscellaneous, Banking, and Mining Shares have presented no unusual features. In consequence of certain statements recently made in one of the Bankruptcy Courts and elsewhere the East and West India Docks Company, the London Duck Company, and the St. Katherine Dock Com pany have officially annourced that no person can obtain possession of any mei chandize for which those companies have issued warrants without lodging those warrants duly endorsed by the parties to whom, by such document:, the goods are deliverable; and that the Dock Companies are responsible to the holders for the goods represented in those warrants or the value of them. The great meeting of the shipping interest held at the London Tavern on Wednesday is referred to elsewhere. It was one of the most important ever held in the City, and its claims for consideration can hardly fail to be admitted. Since it was held the accounts from India are very bad. Mr. T. M. Weguelin, M.P., and Mr. W. C. Curtis, have become partners in the banking firm of Messrs. Robarts, Curtis, and Co., the future designation of which is to be " Roberts and Co." Colonel Sykes has been elected chairman of the Court of Directors or the East India Company. The Provincial Trade Reports, considering the period of the year, are upon the whole rather more favourable than we described them last week. At all events there is no change for the worse. BIRTHS. BROWNE—On the 11th instant, at Exmouth, the wife of Lieut.. Colonel Browne, Military Train, of a daughrt•r. CHI rwysi.).On the 12th inst..nt, at :ipringfield, South Queensierry, N. 8., the Hon. Mrs. Henry Chetiv)ud, of a son. MARRIAGES. OAST—LANCHIAM—On the 13th instant, at Hastings, Wm. John, son of the late Lieut.-Colonel Gant, to Augital . s Caro line, daughter of James George Lanham, Esq., of Hastings. HOitsFALL—OGILVY—On the 9th instani, at Coventry. Thomas Marsh Horefall, Esq., 15th King's Fluasars, son of Thomas Horefall, Esq., M.P., to Emily Sarah Lingard Ogilvy, daughter of James Ogilvy, Esq., M. 0., of Coventry. TIDY —EDWARDS--On :the 11th instant, at Paddington, Col. T. Holmes Tidy, Deputy Adjutant-General, Jamaica, to Mar garet Jane, daughter of the late John Edwards, Receiver. General of Jamaica. lane B,larket anb ditg Ifittelligente. FRIDAY EVENING. TEE return of the Bank of England for the week ending Wednesday last, the 15th inst., shows the following changes compared with that for the week preceding : Decrease in Circulation Increase in Public Deposits Increase in Other Deposits Increase in Securities increase in Bullion 103,198 Increase in Rest Increase in Reserve Bullion in both Departments Circulation, including Bank Post B'lls This comparison shows that the Directors were fully justified in reducing the rate of discount last week; for while they have been able to employ more capital in discounts and advancer, their resources have been increased by considerable additions to the Reserve. These additions have proceeded not alone from reserve payments, but from private deposits. The stock of Bullion has enlarged until it exceeds nine teen millions, and the unemployed notes amount to 13,106,0001. The Public Deposits now amount to the enormous sum of 9,526,0001. They certainly include those belonging to the India-house ; but in dependent of that element the aggregate is very large, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer is now certain to have a strong balance in his favour when Parlia ment meets. DEATHS. DAVYS—On the 14th instant, at Peterborough, Marianne Dims wife of the Lord Bishop of Peterborough, aged 6 9 . HODDLE—On the 11th instant, at Peckham, Surrey, Mrs. Elizabeth "toddle, aged 05. HAYWARD—On the 7th instant, at Kennington, Wm. Hayward, Esq., Deputy Comwisearp•Geueral, agetre3. MATSON—On the 14th instant, in Relp.nt•street, John Matson, Esq., aged (44. RAFFLES—On the 12th instant, a'. kiii,hwood, Sophia, widow of Sir T. Stamford Radlea, aged 72. TAYLOR—On the Ist instant., at Richmond, Richard Taylor, Esq.. F.S.A., &c., aged 76. TURNOR—On the loth instant, in Cutaon•street, Mayfair, Major•Oeneral Turin". aged 79. WHARTON—On the 24th ult., in London, Colonel Anthony Wharton, late of Doncaster, aged es. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE Tuesday, Dee. 14. BANKRUPTS—THOMAS WILLIAMS, Jermyn street. dealer In wines and spirits-DANIEL MESNARD, Park street, Grosvenor square, ender—MANES and WILLIAM BARKER, Albany road, Old Kent road, builders—Jom TeanuT, juu., Yesding Hayes, Middlesex, corn dealer—HENßY IRANOER 141'ms, East Green wich, Kent, grocer—EDWARD Houma STANLEY, Kirby street, Hatton garden, jeweller —ELizA PKRRINS, Saltley, near Bir mingham, artificial flower maker—JAMES lIF.NLY (ant not HENRY, as in former Gazette) Nose's. Birmingham, paper dealer —JOSEPH GOODBARN THURSTON, Richmond, YUlkbhITS, watchmaker. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS-WILLIAM arTo WsTsox, Glasgow, spirit merchant -JAMES FINLAY, Nee,lands, Ktur ,se. shire, farmer—Joule CARRUTHERS, Annan. innkeeper -HOBERT and Witt:Ast Him. Hamilton, ale and porter dealers -ALEX. SINCLAIR, Wick, tiabcurer. Friday, December 17. BANKRUPTCY ANNULLED.—WILLIAM WELLER, WOOIWiCh stone mason. BANKRUPTS —Gronox Rooms, Abchurch lane, City, stock broker—FREDERICK EDW %Rf) BEAR. Crown row. Mileend, tobacconis.—GEoltos HENRY VE?ABLEB, Clepton'a Milli, near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, paper maker—SAMUEL UNWIN, Nottingham, draper—WILLIAM JACKSON, elder, Kingstou•upon- Hull, soap manufacturer—THOMAS HASTINGS and SAMUEL Kingston-upon• Hull, drapers. • ,/ 111