The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-01 00:00:00

THIS DAY.
Two o'Ctocx.
The Bank of England minimum rate of discount,
after standing lbr upwards of twelve months at 3
per cent., has lit length been reduced to 21 per
cent. by the hard of directors at their weekly
meeting this day. The meeting having been unnsu-
ally long, the information has only just reached the
Stock Exchange, where its effect upon prier has
been Namely so marked as was expected, a eueum-
stanco mainly duo to the continued reports
of the • of the Cabinet.
4ri
1 Console yesterday at the reduced rate of
961 to 97 cx div. for the 16th January, on males
founded upon ministerial embarrassments. To-
day the market opened gather better, the
price beiag first market 711, and Mier a
little weakness, the easeememimil et do lisp taken
by the Bank serried it to 971 to 1. Sellers again
offering, however, the present quotation is only 97/
to 1, but it meg be noted that more decision is now
given to the dealers, operations having been much
interfered with by the prevalent uncertainty with re-
kenos to the rate of discount. At the figure of
974 the wer unmet broker has again invested in
liteterei_Vrem. Mad prices are :—Thres per
-Cent. Illronsols for account, 97/, 97. Three per
Cent. Reduced, 971, 1. New Three-and-a-Quar-
ter per Cents., 981, 1, I, /. Long Annuities,
1860, 7 1-16 ; ditto 30 years, 1859, 61. Bank
Stock, 216.
Exchequer Bills have remained well supported at
565. to 595. prem. What effect the measure of the
Bank Directors will have, remains to be seen, but it
has been in a great measure anticipated. India
Bonds rule at 655. to 68s. prom.
With the exception of Mexican Bonds, which
are lower, the foreign stock market is firm,
but the dealings to-day have not been extensive,
operators awaiting the course of events. The
sales as yet recorded are as follows: Dutch
Twcrand-a-Half per Cents., 581, 591, 59 ex div.;
ditto Four per Cent. Certificates, 901. French Five
per Cent. Rentes, 100 fr. 75c., 100 fr. 50e. (exchange
25fr. 25c.). Mexican Bonds, 281, 28, 1. Peruvian
Five per Cents., 1849, 94; ditto, Deferred, 471, 471.
Portuguese Five per Cents. (Brazil guarantee), 921;
ditto Four per Cents., 34. Sardinian Five per Cents.,
87. Spanish Active Five per Cents., 211, 22; ditto
Old Three per Cents., 401, 1 ex div.; ditto New
Deferred Three per Cents., 171, k ex div.
The market for Gold Mining shares is flat, with
little doing. Aqua Frio are rather lower at 1 to
1 prem., and Nouveau Mondes at 1 to 7 prem.
Anglo Californians rule at k to 4 prem; and"British
Australian Gold at par to 1 prem. English and
Australian Copper Companies shares are worth Ito
Am-
o
lthough tho tendency. of railway. traffic, as
shown in the returns now in course of issue, is not
so strikingly in the direction of an increase as
hitherto, still the receipts, on the whole, keep up
very well. 'fhe London and North Western return
for the last week is 41,6791. against 41,5531. in the
corresponding week of last year, being an increase of
1261.; the Mid1and,24,5411. against 23,8081.—increase,
7331.; the Lancashire and Yorkshire, 15,9971.,
against 13,4061.—increase, 2,5411.; the London and
South Western, 9,0541., against 9,sB7l.—decrease,
5331.; the Great Western, 15,8201., against
14,8441.—increase, 9761. ; the York and North
Midland, 7,7881., against 6,B99l.—increase, 866/.;
the Bristol and Exeter, 4,2241., against 3,6811.
—increase, 643/. ; the York, Neweastk, and Berwick,
14,8671., against 13,8551.—increase, 1,0121.; the
Great Northern, 11,3881., against B,3osl.—increase,
3,5331.
The suspension is this morning announced of
Messrs. James Bult, Son, and Co., bullion dealers,
in Cheapside. who are also designated bankers.
The arrival of two-and-forty tons of gold valuta
fremiCledihrula-bisaiiseited mask lutenist, and
the con.siment was shown on the premises
Messrs. Davies, of Gracechurch-street. Tha prod",

fills about a hundred barrels, which gave rise to the
report that the quantity was one hundred tons. It
is from the now favourite district of Nevada county,
being raised from Grass Valley, and being shipped
by mail steamer at San Francisco, was transshipped
at Panama for Chagres, thence carried by steamer to
New York, and from the latter place brought by the
Hendrick Hudson liner. Tho specimens are of
various degrees of richness, some small choice ones
abounding with gold, but in the great bulk as yet
unpacked, gold is thinly disseminated. In many
cases there are no outward signs of gold, but there is
every reason to believe that the cargo is a rich one.
The picked specimens are valued at the rate of
7,0001. per ton, and have been anxiously sought after
by some of the Californian companies that lave no
local habitation in the golden regions; the balk of
the rock is valued to average 1001. per ton. This con-
signment creates great interest, because it will to
sonic extent afford materials for future operations
of the same kind. The quartz is in such lumps and
in such quantities as to enable effectual experiments
in stamping to be made, which will throw some
light on the nature of tho machinery expedient to be
used here and in California. If, too, the venture
prove in any degree satisfactory, it will lead to fur-
ther consignments. It is very true the freight on
this cargo has been very large, and the freight on
quartz rock from San Francisco to London must,
under any circumstances, be high, but it is tree.
tionablo whether the expense of maintaining and
working reduction machinery iu California is not so
considerable as to more than counterbalance the

freight.
In the general joint stock share market there is
an absence of active movement, with the exception
of insurance shares, to which a certain amount of at-
tention continues to be directed. Generally, how-
over, there is no disposition to concede lower prices.
Very little business has been done in bank shares
during the week, but prices are well supported, and
Oriental Bank, National l'rovincial of England, and
Provincial of Ireland, have met with purchasers at
full rates. The sales are limited to :—Australasia
(401. paid), 39 ; British North American (501. paid),
48 ex div.; National Provincial of England- (331.
paid), 41; Oriental Bank Corporation (251. paid),
30; Provincial of Ireland (25/. paid), 45; Union of
Atutralis (21. 10s. paid), 31.
Duck shares are quiet and steady. Commercial
stock is worth 831; East and West India, 145;
London, 121; St. Katharine, 81.
In steam-boat shares there is also an absence of
movement, but a few sales of Peninsular and
Orientals have been made at a rather lower figure.
General Steam Navigation shares mark 28, 271;
Peninsular and Oriental, 74), 731; ditto, Now (101.
paid) 18; Royal Mail Steam, 801, 1, 1.
Insurance shares remain firm, and an improve-
ment has occurred during the week in Alliance,
Atlas, and Clerical, Medical , and General Life shares.l
The latest quotations of the market are u follows :
Albion, 86; Alliance, British and Foreign, 211 ;
ditto, Marine, 42l ; Anchor, 11 • Atlas, 171 • ' British
Commercial, 71 ;Clerical, Medical, and General Life,
271 ; Crown, 1.5; Eagle, 0/ ; Equity and Law, 4 h
English and Scottish Law Life, 31; European Life,
12; General, 31; Globe, 133 ; Guardian, 5.5!„ 1, 35 ;
Imperial Fire, 243 ; Imperial Life, 18; Indemnity
Marine, 48 ; Law Fire, 31; Law Life, 461;
Legal and General Life, 41; London Fire, 201;
London Ship, 201 ; Marine, 151 ; Medical, Invalid,
and General. Life, 21 ; Monarch, 19s. ; National Loan
Fund, 24 ; Pelican, 38 ; Phrenix, 100 ; Professional
Life, ; Provident Life, 30 ; Rock Life, 04' ; Royal
Exchange, 225 ; Sun Fire, 209 ; ditto Life, 48 ;
United Kingdom, 4 ; Victoria Life, .5, 61.
The General Reversionary and Investment So-
ciety's shares are quoted 95 ; Equitable Reversionary,
1071 ex die. ; London Reversionary, 44 ; Reversion-
ary Interest Society,lool.
Miscellaneous shares are quoted as follows in the
official list:—Assam Tea Company, 91; Australian
Agricultural, 13 ; Australian Trust, 201, 1; Anglo.
Mexican Mint, 241; Canada Company, 49 ; Had-
son's Bay Stock, 206; South Australian, 231; Van