The Press. — London, England, 1856-02-02 00:00:00

turn will be a curiosity as far as regards the manipu lation of the guarantee before the cash was parted with, and it will help to explain the considerable fluctuations which have taken place in this item of " Other Deposits " during the last three or four months. Tim diminution in the Bullion, though not important, reduces the stock to an amount that in the earlier years of the present law would have been considered not very safe in order to insure converti• bility. The active demand for money which set in towards the end of last week has continued ever since, and the market has been extremely t;ght. The supply has been short, and as a necessary conseqte nce some addition to the ordinary rates has had to be paid by all in want of temporary accommodation. Various causes are assigned for the pressure of the demand. One undoubtedly has arisen from an ex tension of manufacturing and commercial operations in various branches of trade, owing to the prospect of an end being put to the war. Another is the quiet Tat perceptible initiation upon the market of several speculative undertakings, which it is not necessary to enumerate, also arising from the probability of peace, the means for carrying on which naturally create some competition for money. A third is the desire of large capitalists to be prepared for the contin gency of a rupture of the approaching negotiations until peace is beyond doubt; for, if it should unfor tunately turn out that we have no alternative but a further prosecution of the war, the country must be prepared not only for large additional loans, but a c indition of the Money Market, the contemplatiou of which, even at this period, is quite enough to create serious apprehensions. Capitalists, therefore, are now anticipating their possible wants at a period when these evils may arise ; and, though it is to be sincerely hoped that their preparations may be found needless, the value of money is greatly affected by them in the meantime. Besides the demand on the part of the public owing to these causes, the Stock Exchange has, during the week, been affected in much the same way. The railway and foreign settlement took place a few days ago, and that in Consols is this day week. These have been two causes of pressure. In consequence of the great advance in Railway Stocks and some descrip tions of Foreign Securities, owing to Russia having accepted the propositions of Austria on the part of time allies, the Account proved very heavy, and the settlement was nut effected without difficulty. Three parties were unable to meet their engagements. The rases charged for continuations ruled very high, and for loans upon Government Stock for short periods interest averaging nearly eight per cent. was re quired. The Consol settlement next week is hoped to be concluded without difficulty ; but tie Account is heavy, and as considerable differences will have to be exchanged, the rate at which loans can be obtained is not likely to undergo much if any diminution. To. day the market was rather easier, the demand having slightly fallen off. The discount houses for the last day or two have bien requiring seven and a half per cent., and no instance is reported of even the best bills being done under the Bank minimum. Bankers now require at least six per cent. for loans on Government Securi ties immediately convertible. The import of specie during the week has been small—not so much as 100,0001. in gold, and about 40,0001. in silver. The exports of gold have amounted to nearly 20,0001., sent principally to the Peninsula. The silver bill go to China, as the rates of exchange; according to the last advices, were such as would stimulate its export hence. Of the gold brought last week (nearly 500,0001.), the Bank of France has taken 300,0001.; the remainder has gone into the Bank of England. No gold arrivals from Australia of any consideration can be expected for three weeks. The comparative exchanges yet show that gold cannot be profitably sent to this country from the United States, and consequently none came by the last packet. The continental demand is still in operation. Consols closed last Saturday at 911 to 1 for the 7th February, and subsequently they improved to 911 to j. For the 11th March, the next Account, transactions were effected in the early part of the week at 1)21 to 1, but these quotations have nut been since maintained. The closing price last night for the present Account was 901 to a, with a flat market throughout the day. The Queen's Speech, which was not preceded by an anticipatory notice, as on previous occasions, was interpreted to mean that the public must be prepared for a continuation of the war, and for further calls upon their resources. In fact, there was a disposition to take the worst view of the case in both those aspects, from the rather off-hand language of the royal address; and it was only surprising that prices did not go lower. To-day the market opened dull at 901 to 1, from which there was a decline of ; but the demand for money having fallen off, a stronger tone was soon apparent, and prices gradually improved, until they reached 104 to 91, which was the final quotation. Exchequer Bills are 12s. to Os. die. The Railway Share Market has not been quite so animated as last week, owing to the arrangements for the settlement, but prices have been well main tained. In some instances, such as Great Westerns, and same other heavy stocks, an advance has beet realised. At the present moment there is grea firmness, owing, partially, to the approaching half yearly dividends. That of the London and North- Western will, it is said, be at the rate of 51 per cent. per annum. The South-Western dividend is at the rate of 5g per cent., and the shares have improved 5 per cent. to day. The Foreign Market has been fluctuating, but its general character is that of firmness. The Turkish Six per Cents. left off at 31 to 3i ; the Guaranteed Stock at 101* to ex. div. The dividend was payable to-day. Joint-stock Bank Shares are still going up. The large profits which these establishments are now realising makes these investments popular. Canada Land Shares are nominally the same as last week. The South Australian Investment Company have declared a dividend at the rate of fifteen per cent. per annum. The company will probably be brought under the Limited Liability Act. The Electric Telegraph Company have declared a dividend at the rate of six per cent., free of income tax. The business of the company is increasing. The dividend of the Bank of New South Wales is at the rate of twenty per cent. per annum, leaving an addition of 8,282/. to the reserve fund, which now amounts to 100,0001. The nominal capital of the City Bank is to be in creased from 300,0001. to 1,000,0001. A scheme is revived for the construction of a Ceylon railway, to run from Colombo to the interior. The capital required is 1,C00,0001., in 201. shares, and the Government are to be asked for a six per cent. guarantee, secured as a first charge upon the revenue of the island. Mr. Waddington, at the meeting of the Eastern Counties Railway shareholders on Tuesday, beat the Committee of Investigation by 21,125 votes against 15,704. A stormy discussion, however, is expected between the rival parties at the half yearly meeting, which is to be beld in the course of the present month. The new Association of Railway Proprietors, whose object is to protect their interests as a class, IS in its executive to take the form of a council of 100 mem bers, of whom about one-third have already been nominated. THE PRESS. BANK OF ENGLAND. An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and tub Victoria, cap. SS for the week ending on Saturday, the 26th day of Jan.,1856. 19RUR DEPARTMENT. 1 Notes issued .... ,C 24,173,580 Government Debt 211,015,100 Other Securities .. 3,459,91N1 Gold Coin& Bullion 0,01!8,58(1Silver Bullion .... -- 124,173,530 524.173,5d0 BANKING DEPARTMENT. Protnistors'CapitalAl4,s63,ooo Government Semi- Rest Public Deposita , — 3.264,203 Dead Weight An.) £12,636.261 Other Deposits Seven Day & other Notes 4,174.975 844,027 Gold & Silver Coin 047,623 43 i,001>,415 • including Exchequer, Savings Banks, C , National Debt, and Dividend Accounts 811AREd. Mond. rum:. 24 6 24 6 71 8 i 8I ba Slit 1* >it lse RAILWAItI A berdeen Binn.lVolv.& StourVal Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester and Ilolynead Cork and Bandon Dublin & Belfast June. East Anglian Eastern Onioc (B) East Lancashire Eastern Counties Great Northern Gt. Sth. and Wat of ire.' Great Western Lancashire & Yorkshire Lon., Tilbury, & Sthend I Lon., Brighton, &c London and Blackwalf London and N rth- West. Midland Newmarket Newry and Enniskillen Norfolk Salim. Counties Union north British North Staffordshire North-Western Oxf., Wrcstr., and Wolv. Scottish Central Scottish Midland South Devon ..... South-Eastern and Buy. South- Western South Wales Waterford & Limericl‘ Wed. ,NFitur. 23 7 1 25 7 71 0t t• 4 8:0 G ai 11564 1124 241122 51 4 2:1 1 12 3 ld 20 73 4 9 1 1 94e toil 1;04 61 61 60i 1 9d l 121 $ 13 2U 72 4 9 th 114,6 6 :•71 180 t MISCELLANEOUS— AustralianAgricultura: Canada Crystal Palace Crystal Palace of Ft anct 1 North BritishAus.Lau,. Peel River Land &Mi.,. Scottish Aust. Invest. South Australian Land Van Diemen's Land 99 101' G I ma 9. Cu a 144 G 34 14 74 74 4 t ea 103 1 ' 73 lA $ '6 .7 I Gi $ 99 101 98i 91 69 2dl 124 sil I 6 22 1 7 2 4 100 il 151 - 152 i 28 7 131 6 21 ,143 7 _dl 30 s 1j 7; 7.3 e j 22 4 109 6 73 6 12 3 161 2 878 !67 9 146 201 lei 71 7tl b 4 22 4 103 11 74 12 3 61 2 671 81 0870 If 2d 13 4 19 21 172 4 92 3 104 C b74B ldli $1 26 7 131 6 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 LI 07 9xcl 6 4 1G9% I. I I lb 7 —d 8O lj 17$ did :t It Sbi 64 1101 oil 26 7 130 Co 2 1 1 .11 I S ti6i - I 9 6 9A i IOU 991 Tut 22 4 104 6 74 6 12 3 61 2 19120. 68 70 28 130 n 31 48 8 - 41 30 1 22 4 104 6 74 6 12 3 614 24 94 6 63 70 25 C no 5 2i le 4 '2i it 3be 64 13 61 I 2i 14 4 tosi ,C34,90U,415 illllllolltlfb of 25 7 7L 64 6 I 12; j 4 2 d 18 4 19 21 ; .2 4 9 1 i vl4 24 104 6 b - 314 97 9 SATURDAY, Closing Prices. lAL QUOTATION. Mond.. Tuesd. Wed. Thurs. Friday I'9l 01,91 01 90i 1 91 f 91a 191 011 01 201 1 911 292 l l' 9l } 11 911 901 14 1924 a 94 91 1.92 11 311 / 1 31 1 31 31 3 9.1u 1 1210 1 212 212 1 212 11 V 3d 0 — 1019 10 d I 6 — 2dl6 2d 4 :1 64 ,70r SI 120 1 i —a d . Thurs. I Friday 817 8 3 aid iP34 2f4 4 213 2f 211 24 p '204 f I Sue f Zba 6, 231 6 7 4 B iP 9 4P 119 e 19 f be 6. Of 6 ;WI 8 e 7 1 473 361 71 7 7 41 81, 48 47 I 9 A 9 GO -- REIGN FUNDI Mond. Tuesd. II 101 i 2' 64} I , . ,0: 90c '9s:'3sc'9bf 75c 1.1 f. '2Ud 20i InO 1 - 6 4 69: 6fic! !:15!25,:' 48i 74 10i :it 41y d 106 I 106 42 '42 14 a _u FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Mond. Tuesday. Wednes. iw kid 31 2 4 IP d 3} kid ca 4 4 IP -li4i xi 2 2a ,21,1 2i 20a ixa 20a 2 0„ 24 tia' 8 1P xl mill 1 1 11 , 1s oa Idi 91:19 8 4 I 5a a Si 61 ',6a C . a 'Si 61:35i d I 8I 7 8 4T 4 48j 481 74 [U 8 . 47 9 1 47 9 - 1 OFFIC: 3 per Cent. Consols Ditto for Account per Cents Reduced 3 per Cents Long Annuities Batik Stook, 7 per Cent Omnium Kxch. Bills, 20. per diem India Bonds, (I,uUUI.) FO] Per Ceut. Brazilian b Daansh Inch. (Ex 12 Guil )21 French 3. Do. 4e --- Bunk Stock Mexican 3 Peruvisu 44 Portuguese 4 Russian 6 Spaulislt 3 turkisit A ec 4 Antw.& Rttrdm. Belgian East. J. Dutch Rhenish East Indian Lit. Indian Pen G. W.olCau.,Sh Lyons & Geneve Madras Nu. & Lge.(w.in ) Nrthru.oi Frne, . Norw. Trak. Prl. Paris do Lyons Paris & Urleanb Paris & Rouen gle4ropolitan Rtarktis. (Reportedexclusivell for "Tax Passe.") CORN EXCHANGE—Very moderate supplies of English wheat—chiefly in poor condition—have arrived up to our market this week. The demand, however, for all kinds has ruled very inactive, at about stationary prices. Foreign wheat—•the im ports of which have been seasonably good—has met a dull inquiry, at almost nominal terms. In floating cargoes very little doing. Fine barley has changed hands at full currencies; but inferior qualities have sold heavily, at late rates. Malt has moved off heavily, on former terms. Oats have given way fitl to Is per quarter. N% kite peas have advanced 2s. In the value of grey and maple qualities, including flour, we have no change to notice. ENGLISH—Wheat, Essex and Kent red, Gas to 335; white, 60s to ens; Norfolk and Lincoln red, 58s to 645. Malting barley, 35s to acs; grinding ditto, 33s to 34a: istilling, 343 to 3tia. Malt, 84a to 60a. Feed oats, 248 to 275; potato, 27a to 33a. lye, 47. to ;..os. Tick beans, 35s to 395; harrow, 39a to 43. ; pigeon, 41a to 475. Grey peas, 30. to 3.. 4 8 ; maple, 36s to 39a; white boilers, 4714 to :Aid per quarter. Town-made dour, titis to 70s; country marks, 53. to ssa; households, Gla to titls per übOlbs. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour. English .. 3150 3x 10 .. 2890 .. 720 k4ret2tt 175G0 4:40 .. 92110 sks. 1710 LONDON AVERAGES DECLARED ON FRED kY—Wheat, 3,693 quarters,7es 3d ; barley, 3.705 quarters, 39s 3d ; oats, 5,t , 38 quarters, 2as ; rye, 7 quarters, 1,3 s ; beaus 645 quarters, 41s 6d: peas. 443 quarters, 4.5 s 3d. IMPEIII AL W EEELY AVERAGES—Wheat, 713 s lid; bar ley, :386 4d; oats, 2.7.11 bil; rye, 51* ed ; beaus, 45s 3d; peas, 43s 4d. THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES Wheat, 775; barley, &As lud; outs, kGal C4l; rye, Ws lid; beaus, 47s 61 ; yeas, 46 , 2d. ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK—Wheat,lll,243; barley, ;110,790; oats, 91,6; 6; rye, 667; beans, 6,234 ; peas, 2,154 quarters. BREAD—The prices of wheaten bread in the metropolis are from lud to Ild; of household ditto, rid to 91d per 4lbs loaf TEA—During the past fortnight the clearances have es• seeded 2,200,01i01b5. The demand by private contract, however, is by no means active, yet prices aro well supported. Common sound Congou, 9id to 91d per lb. 'The show of samples is large, and the imports are oo a liberal scale. sUOAß—There has been no inclination whatever shown on the part of dealers to operate in our market this week. The tiansmetions have been wholly confined to limited parcels for immediate use, and prices have given way from Is to Is tid per cwt. Refined goods have realised his Gil to 548 041 per cwt. The stocks are rather increasing, and the supplies on passage from various quarters are very large. MOLASSES—DeaIers have purchased cautiously, and prices have been drooping. Inferior Antigua have cold at Lis per cwt. COFFEE—Nearly all kinds have moved off slowly, on former terms. Good ord native Ceylon has sold at 141 s Gd ; and plants. lion, 58a 041 to bas per cwt. COCOA—We have a very dull market for all kinds, and to effect sales lower rates must be submitted to. RlCE—Several parcels offered at public sale have been withdrawn. Owing to the inactivity of the corn trade, and the large supplies of rice ou passage from India, prices are almost nominal. COTTON—About 4,000 bales have found buyers, and prices are a shade higher than last week. The market is very scantily supplied HEMP AND FLAX—AII kinds of hemp are very dull, and Petersburg clean is nominally quoted at 411 per ton. Flax is heavy, at barely late rates ; but Jute and Coir goods ere selling on former terms. WOOL—The next public sales of colonial wool will commence on the 14th inst. The quantity advertised, including 3,174 bales East I ndia, is 40,554 bales. INDlGO—Spanish has sold briskly, at an advance of 4d per lb. In East India a moderate business is Coin& at very lull prices. METALS—Scotch pig iron has sold at from 75a Gd to 775, at which an average business has been dune. hpelter,on the spot, 116