The Press. — London, England, 1856-07-12 00:00:00

JULY 12, 1856. Creon into the classical manager of a Corinthian booth, Jason into the " star " of the acrobatic com pany, Orpheus into its regular poet and ballad-singer, and Medea into—Mr. Wright. The story is cleverly adhered to, and the piece is full of smart Punch writing. The aim of the author, as set forth in a prologue, is to let those who do not care to spend a guinea in a seat to see the "truly grand artist, Ristori," have— a notion Of what is now creating a commotion, And he adds that — On two points our own Medea's strong, It's twice as moral, and but half as long. The affair, of course, is exempt from grave criticism, but it is a favorable specimen of what stage tact and ready wit can do in defiance of difficulties, the chief of which is that the burlesqued play has been wit nessed by a very small portion of an Adelphi audi ence, and that the remainder do not possess that instinct, so curiously evident in French audiences, of comprehending satire and fun without having its intention previously explained. The piece held out even against this, and when it shall have worked up, and the performers are comfortable, it will be liked, we imagine, for its own sake. Wright, as Medea, played with artistic gravity ; Miss Wyndham, as Jason, looked admirably, and delivered the capital dialogue with much point; and Miss Mary Keeley, as Orpheus, acted and sang very piquantly. Mr. James Bland, as Creon, played with all his accus tomed force, and even Mr. Paul Bedford, though in female dress, as Creon's daughter, was not particu larly objectionable. The scenery is very pretty, and the dresses are quite splendid. We must not forget to mention that a very smartly-written playbill em bodies a goodnatured parody upon Mr. Charles Kean's fly-leaf of recondite learning and apologetic antiquarianism. WE are requested to call attention to the fact that only three more Friday Concerts will be given this season at the Crystal Palace. It will be remem bered also that the Great Fountains play for the second time this day at four p.m. pantg Varket ad ditg Initilignut. FRIDAY EVENING. Tax return of the Bank of England for the week ending July sth shows the following changes compared with that for the week preceding:— Increase in Circulation . Decrease in Public Deposits .. 887,496 Increase in Other Deposits Increase in Government Securities 132,360 Increase in Other Securities 728,954 Decrease in Bullion Increase in Rest .. . Decrease in Reserve Circulation, including Rank Post Bills Bullion iu Both Departments The most unfavorable features in this comparison are the considerable reductions in the Bullion and in the Reserve. The addition to the Private Securities, which is also large, is explained by the fact that the Bank usually makes large advances to different parties in anticipation of the dividends ; and it in no way proves that the ordinary dis count business of the establishment is returning. The decrease in the Public Deposits is large, considering that at the date to which the return was made up the payment of the dividends had not commenced. The Monthly Debtor and Creditor Account of the Bank of France, made up to yesterday, the 10th instant, was published this morning ; and, compared with that for June, it shows the following changes : Increase in Circulation Decrease in Public Deposits Increase in Private Deposits 1,056,458 Decrease in Bullion 2,232,380 Increase in Commercial Discounts 3,530,073 Increase in Advances on Bullion Increase in Advances on Public Securities Increase in Advances on Railway Securities Decrease in Premiums on Purchase of Specie Circulation on July 10 Stock of Bullion ... 9,219,468 This return is not so favorable as those for the two previous months, showing, as it does, that along with a decline in the amount of the metallic reserve there has been a great increase in the applications for discounts and advances. The total increase in the advances over those in the previous month to the State and private individuals amounts to 4,036,0771. Some features of rather an anomalous character have characterised the Stock-Exchange markets in the week now closing. With an abundant supply of money, with the rates of discount practically lower than they have been since before last September. with a cessation of political anxieties, and an increasing trade both domestic and foreign, the value of nearly all descriptions of securities has fallen, and they continue to show a heavy aspect. There is nothing in our own commercial or financial posi tion calculated to suggest an adequate explanation of the THE PRESS. change ; but one or two may be pointed out to account in some degree for the sensitiveness manifested during the week. The first influence which adversely affected prices was the statement published by a contemporary, to which we referred last Friday, rather hastily assuming that we were upon the eve of a speculative mania. The depression produced by the gratuitous assumptions thus put forth was subsequently assisted by rumours to the effect that vast amounts of gold were being abstracted from this country to be sent to the Continent for the double purpose of maintaining the metallic reserve of the Bank of France and of paying for the large mass of silver recently bought in Holland and elsewhere to supply the demand from India and China. To these causes must be added the settle ments of one of the hugest accounts that has had to be effected in Consols for some years, with the approach of that in Railway Securities next week, which undoubtedly have caused stock to be rather pressed upon the market. Notwithstanding the influences thus brought into active operation, prices have been comparatively steady ; and the present heaviness will rapidly disappear the moment that our position is better defined with regard to the actual causes and extent of the continental demand for gold, and oar prospective supplies, which must be considerable, can be more accurately estimated. The July dividends are now in course of payment. The specie imports during the week have amounted to about 500,0001., exclusive of an arrival of sovereigns from the East to the extent, it is said, of 300,0001. The ex ports are estimated at fully 400,0001., but the data for cal culating them is imperfect, and they may be less; it is hardly probable they can be more. The Bank Directors, at their weekly meeting yesterday, continued the minimum rate of discount at four and a half per cent. The maintenance of this rate has altogether suspended their discount basiness ; but advances continue to be made, though to a limited extent, on securities. it is believed that no reduction will now be made until after the payment of the next instalment upon the new loan, and the return published this evening is calculated to confirm this impression. The amount is twenty per cent., or 1,000,0001., and it is payable on Thursday week, the 24th inst. Business has been languid in Consols, the dealers having been engaged the greater part of the week with the arrangements connected with the settlement. The new account is fixed for the 7th of August, the highest quota tion for which has been 963, but last night it closed at 96 exactly, and at 953 to 3 for money. To•day business has been dull and the market heavy; but prices were steadily maintained, closing at 951 to 3 for money, and 953 to for the account. Foreign Securities have been dull. The principal trans actions have taken place in Turkish Six per Cents., and they are two per cent. lower than last Friday, owing to rumours of the Ottoman Government contemplating a new loan. Nothing has transpired to confirm or to deny these rumours; but it is highly improbable they are well founded, although a loan may possibly be in contemplation before the end of the year. Railway Shares have declined since our last from the same auses that have depressed Consols, and from an absence of buying orders to support them, notwithstanding a tolerably general opinion that they have not yet reached their maximum in relation to their perspective dividends and the future value of money. The decline has princi- pally been confined to some of the heavy stocks, and it is attributed, for the most part, to speculative sales, based upon the adverse rumours respecting the demand for gold. The traffics are all favorable, and the earnings will, in most cases, justify higher dividends than in the corresponding half-year of 1855. To day the markets closed weaker, and with a not very favorable aspect. The premium upon Exchequer Bills has fallen ".1s since our last. Joint•stock Bank Shares have been in moderately good demand daring the week. Ottomans have been chiefly in request, and they are higher. Miscellaneous and Mining Shares have met with but little inquiry. The North of Europe Steamship Company have declared a dividend at the rate of eight per cent. per annum. The Colonial Bank have declared a dividend at the rate of five per cent. per annum. The banking-house of Messrs. Alliez, Grand, and Co., of Paris. has stopped payment. The dividend of the Bank of London for the half•year is at the rate of five per cent. per annum. BRITISH FUNDS.— Closing Prices. OFFICIAL QUOTATIONS. Mond. Mead. Wed. 'Thurs. Friday. 3 per Cent.Consols r 5l i 97 .-- 1 I I 9" . 1 951 i Ditto for Account 3 per Cents Reduced 3 per Cents 1961 7 ief 71961 71 97 6f l 94 1 Long Annuities Bank Stock, 7 per Cent 2lBl 2181 2181 12181 1217 81 Omnium — I I Exch. Bills, 21d. India Bonds, 1,0001.) — 22 pl 9 22 29 pi 20 3 FOREIGN FUNDS. Per Cent. Brazilian Danish 5 Dtch. (F.z 12 4tnl )211 French 3 Do. 4e _ Mond. Mead. Wed. Mini. I 109 e —1109 i SS 66 L - - 1 L, Ele 71:40 !St 25e 651 id - Do. Bank Stock Mexican 3 Peruvian 46 Portuguese 4 Russian 6 Spanish 3 Turkish &cc 6 L 94; 694: ej L I Li LI 81# 2i 1 49 113 -- 1121 46it -- I 46i 6, 104 1041 1104 311 - - 46 f 103 4j 103} 3 669 BANK OF ENGLANi.). An Account, pursuant to the Aot 7th and Bth Victoria, cap. 32 for the week ending on Saturday, the 28th day of Jute, 185 G. MOE DIPtRTYINT. Notes Issued .... X26,199,3e5j Government Debt 111,016,100 Other Securities .. 3,459,900 Gold Coln & Bullion 12,024 365 Silver Bullion ~.. 198,499,385 ELNKING DI Preprietors'CapitalAl4,ss3,o9o l Rest Public Depoeito• 4,817,074 Other Deposits Seven Day & other Bills Government Seen- rities (includin! DeadWeightAn.) 11!,8(8615 Other Securities 16,27.919 Notes 8,659 7 23 Gold & Silver Coin 688,577 133,97.;,724 £53,975,744 of National Debt, • Including Exchequer, Commissions Savings' Banks, and Dividend Areniintv. Vitroplitan Cuirkets. (Reported exelusivellifor "ThaPastis.") CORN EXCHANGE—OnIy a moderate supply of English wheat has been received up to our market this week, coastwise and by land carriage. For moat kinds the demand has been far from active, at about stationary prices. Foreign wheat—the imports of which have been limited—has met a dull inqoity, on former terms. Floating cargoes of grain have commanded less attention. The receipts of barley have been trifling, but equal to the demand. In prices no change has taken place. Malt, owing to the change in the duty, has gone lower. There has been a fair inquiry for oats. on former terms • but beans have given way is per quarter. Peas have realise d full quota tions. In flour very little has been doing. ENGLIBH—Wheat, Essex and Bent red, 6.9 s to 795; white, 688 to 85s; Norfolk and Lincoln red, 66s to 775. Malting barley, 40s to 458; grinding ditto, 35. to 388 ; distilling, 38s to 41.. Malt, 82. to 775. Feed oats, 258 to 28s; potato, 278 to 325. Rye, 40s to 428. Tick beans, 368 to 40s; Harrow, 38s to 41s; pigeon, 428 to 455. Grey peas, 388 to 40s ; maple, 42. to 44.; white boilers, 458 to 49. per quarter. Town-made flour, 65s to 888; country marks, 53s to 555; households, 57s to 806 per 2801bs. ARRIVALS THIS WZEI. Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour. Enslish 1570 .. 20 .. 1090 .. 370 .. 1070 Irish — .. 120 .. .. 3100 .. Foreign....4Blo .. 140 .. -- .. IdBo .. 3570 bli. sks LONDON AVERAGES DECLARED ON FRIDAY—Wheat, 3,171 quarters, 81s 7d; barley C 7 quarters, 40s; oats. 3,194 quarters, 27s 4d ; rye, quarters, —; beans, 927 quarters, 42s 841; peas, 69 quarters, 42s 7d. IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES—Wheat, 74s 7d; bar ley, 19s 7d ; oats, 26s Id , rye, 48s Ild ; beans, 44e sd; peas, 435. THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES—Wheat, 70e 2d; barley, sae 9d; oats, 24a 3d; rye,4ss 104; beans, 43e 3d; peas, its 3d. ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK—Wheat, 91,312: barley, 2,749; oats, 10,068, rye, 49; beans, 2,779 ; peas, 187 quarters. BREAD—The prices of wheaten bread In the metropolis are from 9id to 100; of household ditto, fid to 9d per albs loaf TEA—.Oar market is extensively supplied, and the demand is rather heavy, at the late rates. Congou, mid to is 641; sing Yong and Oolong, 10d to is 10d; souehong, tid tots ad ; Flowery Pekoe, is 4d to 8.10 d; Caper,— to ; Scented Caper, Is 9d to Is lid; Orange Pekoe, to ; Scented Orange Pekoe, 1s 4d to Is ad ; Twankay, rd to Is 2d ; Hyson Skin, 8d to Is 2d: Hyson, is Id to 4s ; Young Hyson, aid to Is 6d; Imperial, lid to 2s 4d; Gunpowder, 8d to 33 6d; Ausm, Is lid to 4s 441 per lb. Up to Saturday last duty wee paid en 24,538,1311b5, against 24,631,5551bs in 1855. The stock in the United Kingdom is 87,865,0001b5, a g ainst 78,148,0001b5 In 1855. SUGAR—The demand for all kinds of sugar has ruled brisk, and prices generally have advanced is per cwt. liarbadoes has realised 40s to 475; Mauritius, 42. to 48a; Bengal, 40s to 48s 6d per cwt. Floating cargoes of sugar have sold to some extent, and the quotations have had an upward tendency. Re fined goods have moved oft briskly, at 57s 6d to 59s 6d per cwt for grocery lumps. English crushed is held for more money. MOLASSES—About 500 tons have found buyers, at full quotations—viz., 205 6d to tis per cwt. COFFEE—Good ord native Ceylon has sold steadily, at 512 to 51s 6d per owl. Plantation kinds have ruled firm, but not dearer. Most other kinds of coffee support former terms. COCOA—The demand is very firm, and the quotations have as upward tendency. Fine red Trinidad, has realised 38s to 60.; grey, 645 to 568: Granada, 48e to 635 6d; Bahia and Para, 428 to 435 ; and Guayaquil, -Os to 49s per cwt. RICE—The stock still continues heavy. For most kinds there Is a moderate inquiry, at late rates. Patna, 14s to 18s id per cwt. COTTON—There is • slight improvement in the sale for American qualities, at full quotations. WOOL—Owing to the near approach of the pu bile sales, there Is very little business doing in our markets, and late rates see barely supported. Over 5,000 bales have been imported tells week. HEMP AND FLAX—Russian hemp is 7ery firm. Oid qualities are selling at 311 to 321; new, 311 to 231 10s per ton. We have no change to notice in the value of flax. Jute and Coir goods continue firm. INDIGO—The public sales are progressing slowly, and pries, show a slight decline compared with the former auctions. SALTPETRE—There is more doing in this article, and foe Calcutta is worth 33. per cwt. SILK—We bat e a very large business doing in all kinds, and prices continue to &dunce. METALS—Scotch pig iron has fallen to 71s fid cash; and manufactured parcels are dulL Sheets, single, in London, 11l to 111 ss; and nail rods, 912. 64 to 91 5. par ton. Tin is dun. Bence, 134 s 6d to 1.35 s ; Straits, 133 s to 134 s ; end refused 139 s to 140 s per ton. Tin plates are rather drooping. Lead moves off slowly. British pig, 251 to 251 os ; Spanish, 241; and milled sheet, 261 to 28110 s per ton. Copper is firm, at very Bill prices. English zinc is steady, at 311; Spelter, on the spot, 241 per ton. SPIRITS—We have had a good demand for rum, st quottuons. Proof Leeward., 2. 2d to is 3d ; East India, 25 Id to ts 23 per gallon. Foreign, proof to 10 per cent over, is selling at 2. to ts Sd. Brandy supports late rates. Cognac, best brands of 1835, 703 44 to 10s 3d ; 1831 ditto, les (hi to