The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-23 00:00:00

285

We believe that it is the sincere wish of the two
Governments to unite England and France by
indissoluble ties of mutual interest, and we mention
this lest any alarm should arise from the formation
of a camp at Boulogne, which we understand is con.
templated.
Money continues in good demand for commercial
purposes, the rate being ;i to I per vent.. but on
the Stock Exchange it is very abundant, and can be
borrowed on stock at 1 per cent.
We observe that the Chancellor of the Exchequer
has taken the hint, and postponed his Savings batiks
Bill until next year. We believe that a measure
might be propounded which, while it would give
se-
curity to depositors, would relieve Government from
that liability to loss and embamtssinent which the
present system would sooner or later entail.
The meetings of joint-stock banks have been very
satisfactory. The London and Westminster pays et
the rate of U per cent., but will declare a bonus of
probably 2 per cent. more in January.
The London .loint•stoek Bank has declared a di-
vidend of 4 per cent for the half-year, and has a
guarantee fund of about 150,M1/.
The London and County Bank is making progress,
and will, we mulersttul, pay a dividend at the rate
of U per cent. for the half-year, and show a balance
of protita which will enable the directors to declare a
bonus of 2 per cent., in January next, beyond the
dividend.
This is most gratifying, as it will enable the di-
rector.; of these establishments to carry out the wish
they have so much at heart—to improve the position
of those bees of their establishments, the clerks, who
at present are very inadequately paid.
The exchanges this afternoon are higher. The
telegraph also brings a slight improvement in French
mutes. The business in the funds today has been
very limited, and prices steady. The closing quota-
tions will be found below.

FOltEltiN FUNDS.
There has been but little business doing in the
foreign funds during the week; but the markets are
thin, and show a tendency to improvement, especially
Spanish and Portngtusse stocks. Mission stock has
also iniptin ed.

RAILWAYS.
Nothing can be more satisfactory than the eon.
tinned increase of the triliitt' receipts of the various
lines; hut, as we have before observed, the working
expenses seem to go on in it greater ratio.
in order that our reader.; may understand this
►natter fully, we subjoin an Rhstlllet. of the receipt,'
and expenditure of the Brighton Railway Company
for the first half year of--

--.----
1810. !NMI. IStil. Isl 4. DOM
--- ---
lteepts. from irate X210,7110g224,:11 I f 211,7511 £218,044 R 205,940
lteeeipla (ream-cults
and v.lserrfage 11,502 5.1150 3,801; 5,184 8,0E14
Daimler, from for
liner half-year 1,2301 1.415 3,218 1,470 1,1511
—.
G rOl4B reecipts 215,2921 120,1549 2:e1,883 250.170 273.004
---
.
We irking P %posies 73.3011 el .48r. , t49.3e9 145,93:,, I I 11i,N4 7
Duty. rates, anti
Wes
Rents and lolls - -
Mortgage, nacres' 21,9418 113,•2:1 :II ISO 31,191 3r..21,7
l'refereneo diva. 97,8!01 2; mete 211 tan 41,188 2;.141-;
,------.--- ---- - -
lirosS ex penditurel 11470.15 159,7 II 0 11'0 i. 1112 1; 4.g4 I I Mil , ri.: '4
Dividends on ordi-
Murry staxl .. (a ) 60,927 1111.234 83,1a41 73.8511, 143,0:e I
Milano, to next
474
1.1.11. car
4
215,2108 229,11/04 214,5013 1150,17,1 273,118
Illvirlen,k for £'l
alegre3 (a) 14s. &I. Dm. \ Doi. ins. lea,
t L t ~ f
Mortgage debt _11,111,837 50m,,33; 1,62:L11Ni I:.; 1111.112ml:1

0.41:ft04 :,7:::;119111,772,1)1 2
Mortgage debt ..11311,x:171,
It will be observed that, although the reeeipts
the present. half-year exceed those of ItsM by no less
a sum than 21,000/., the dividend paid per share
is
precisely the same—the working expenses having
absorbed the increased receipts to the extent
otst
17,5i10/.—the increase of the mortgage 410,1
ing the rest.
We hope, at the approaching meetings, the share-
holders will most strennow ly insist on the closing,.
whenever practicable, of the capital accounts. I toil
that is done, we defy any one to lie able to esti.
mate the real value of railway •
We observe with satit‘ hex
this year made a move in the rig , by
throwing out every bill which provided for the mixed
gauge. This will in some measure check those
wars of the gauges which have been attended W*)
such ruinous consequenees to the companies and in-
convenience to the public.
We believe the law expenses of the North-Westent
line average about 1,00111. per week—the Great
Western probably as much. Let the shareholders
calculate what they would gain were this sum dibled
amongst them in the shape of dividends, and what
they lose in the price their stook would bear in the
open market.
We hear that a very sotisfactory trattie