The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-15 00:00:00

A comparison of the exchanges shows that at the
present time gold is about the same price in London
as at Paris ; that it is 0 29 per tent. dearer in London
than in Hamburg; and that the exchange is,
nominally, 1.08 per cent. in favour of New York ;
but, allowing for charges of transport and difference
of interest, there is no profit on the transmission of
gold either way between England and the United
States.

The reports from the manufacturing districts keep
up tolerably well ; but complaint is made of small
profits and difficulty in making sales. There is no
laying in of stocks. Buyers, both of Yorkshire and
Lancashire goods, only purchase for present wants.
Corn is showing a tendency to go rather lower;
and the wholesale prices of sugar and other produce
have fallen.
The monthly remittance on account of the Buenos
Ayres debt is to he increived from 5,000 dols. to
10,000 dots. per month. A semi-annual payment is
advertised.
At the Court of Bankruptcy on Monday it was de-
cided that there could be no separation of the assets
of Halford and Co., army agents, from those of
Strahan, Paul, and Bates, bankers. A joint account
will, therefore, be taken, and the whole of the cre-
ditors equally Participate in the aggregate proceeds.
At the examination on Tuesday it was reported by
the accountant that the actual liabilities of the bank
were 652,593/. The assets were estimated at 127,670/.
If this amount is realised, there will be a distribu-
tion of about 4s. in the pound.
On Thursday the East India Railway Company
paid to the East India-house 415,0001., on account
of their extension capital. This amount bears five
par cent. interest.
The Bank of Ireland has declared a dividend of
four and a-half per cent. per annum, and 15,0001.
have been added to the " Rest."

The monthly debtor and creditor account of the
Bank of France was published yesterday. It appears
from this return that for the first time for several
months the drain upon the metallic reserve has taken
a turn. In October the decrease was 56,298,351 f.,
and in November 20,796,764 f.; but the December
return shows an excess over the reserve in Novem-
ber of 7,351,466 f. The discounts are 38,189,016 f.
13ss than in November, while the circulation has
d tnininished 21,464,500 f. The Government deposits
*tow an increase of 1,277,510 f., and the private de-
p sits have diminished 41,727,104 f. Altogether, the
raturn may be regarded as comparatively favorable.
The next half-yearly dividend t,t the Bank will be
about 100 f , being at the rate of 200 f. per annum.
This is more than was expected, seeing that a sum
of 8,500,000 f. has been expended during the last three
months in premiums upon the import of gold. The
Shares (1,000 f.) were done on the Buur-e yesterday
at 3,2001., and are in demand at that quotation.
Business on the Stock Exchange was flat to-day,
and, in the absence of any political news of im
portance, prices showed a slight tendency to decline.
Co isols opened at 884 to 1, and for a time advanced
to Hsi b ; but they soon receded to the opening quo-
tations, at which they remained until the close. In
the course of the day a considerable operator for the
advance became a seller for the fall at 881.
Railways afforded but few transactions, and quo-
tations were generally lower. Great Northerns,
however, were an exception. The settlement of the
account yesterday and Wednesday was very light.
The 24th is the next account day.
Foreign Stocks partially neglected and all lower.
A fair business has been done in Joint•stock Bank
Shares during the week, and most of them are firm
at present prices.

Exchequer Bills, is. to 3s. dis.
The French Three per Cents. to-day came at
05f. 10c. for the account, showing that the recovery
of nearly yesterday was maintained. Credit Mobi-
lier Shares improved 25f. This security fluctuates
daily, and present prices, 1,320 f., may show an equal
reaction to•morrow.

The meeting of the Crystal Palace Company to.
day was adjourned t'or three weeks, after a most
stormy discussion.
_ _

The official return of the Bank of England for the
week ending Saturday last, the Bth instant, shows
the following changes compared with that for the
week preceding :

Decrease in circnlation 354,600
Decrease in Public Deposits
Decrease in Other Deposits 51:5,608
Decrease in Government Serunties 11,104
Decrease in Other Securities
Decrease of Bullion

Increase of Rest
Increase of Reserve

The first remarkable fact in this return is the con.
t:nued decrease in the Public Deposits. Last week
this item showed a diminution of 359,365/. It is
true that 23,3591. is not a large amount, but it must
be regarded not merely in relation to its amount, but
to the'period of the year. The public balances at