The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-17 00:00:00

The shares of the Westminster and Southwark
Bank are quoted to-day f to 1 prem.
There is an impression that Confederate Govern-
ment cotton warrants; are now in circulation in
England. We are assured, however, that this is
an error, such of these documents as were created
previous to the issue of the Confederate Govern-
ment Loan having been redeemed through the
medium of that operation.
About 9,0001. in gold was sent into the Bank
yesterday.
The Etna, from New York, has brought 83,0001.
in yenta.
The Tasmanian will take to-day only 1,000/
in specie for the West Indies.
The bar silver by the steamer Atrato has been sold
for the Continent at ss. Id. pre ounoe, showing no
change.
The Great Western Railway traffic return shows
this week an increase of 4,8161. over last year ; the
Great Northern an increase of 2,274/. ; the North
Eastern an increase of 2,3111. • the Midland a
decrease of 541. ; the Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire an increase of 1,2751. ;Sand the Lanca-
shire and Yorkshire an increase of 2,4371.
The Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada
announce that the hall-year's interest due on the
Atlantic and St Lawrence Sterling Bonds under
the amended lease, will be paid on the Ist of May
next, on all bonds previously sent in for registra-
tion, on leaving the coupons at the office.
The Consolidated Bank (Limited), which has been
formed by the amalgamation of the business here-
tofore respectively carried on by Messrs. Heywood,
Kennard", and Co. in London, and the Bank
of Manchester, his issued its business pro-
spectus. It is scarcely necessary to state
that so public subscription is open. The
authorised capital, made up by the amalgamation
of the two concerns, is 2,000,0001., in 200,0001
shares of 101. each. The subscribed capital con-
sists of 1,134,620/., of which the proportion paid
up is 453,848!., or 41. per share on 113,642 shares.
The direction, as a matter of course, is of the brut
respectability, and the fact that the dividends paid
by the Bank of Manchester during the last six
years have been at the rate of 10 per cent per
annum, with occasional bonuses, and with consi-
derable additions to the surplus fund, affords a
favourable augury of the profits of the new
establishment. _ _

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A dividend of 15 francs, or 125., will be payable
on the Ist proximo on the shares in the Great
Luxembourg Company.

A special meeting of the Midland Railway Corn-
' pony is convened for the 6th of May, at Derby, to
approve the bill now before parliament "for the
amalgamation of the West Midland Railway Com-
pany with the Great Western Railway Company,
and for other purposes."
' The half-yearly meeting of the Cape Town Rail-
way and Dook Company is called for the 30th
inst., when it will be proposed to authorise the
directors to temporarily raise a sum of 50,0001.
The annual meeting of the proprietors of the
National Provincial Bank of England will be held
on the 14th of May.
The colonial wool sales are fined to commence on
Thursday, the 30th inst. The fresh importations
up to the present date, since the beginning of last
sales, comprise 72,131 bales, viz.:—Sydney, 10,620;
Victoria, 33,4d5 ; Van Diemen's Land, 2,562; Ade-
laide, 17,701; New Zealand, 2,069; and Cape of Good
Hope, 5,694. Further arrivals (observe Mews.
Richard Dutton and Son) are daily expected, many
vessels from the several colonies being overdue.

The following is Messrs. Culverwell, Brooks, and
Co.'s report of yesterday's hide sales :
' " .•

At the seventh series of hides gala for the year, there was
a fair demand for both salted and dry bider' ; the exporters
were the principal buyers of East India hides.
East India.—Ox and Cow.--Calcutta were in fair request.
particularly for bides of good to prime quality, which
realised *atrium prima. Other descriptions also sold in
most eases fairly. The greater portion of the business does
was for export ; although prima were well supoorted, but
little more thee half the quantity offered was sold. The
analysis of the sales is 124,678 Calcutta, new parcels ; 16,421
broeght forward from former salsa; and 8.838 Madras, ;
is all, 149,925 hides, of which 86.470 were sold.
East lodia. —Buffalo were dell of sale, and nearly all
bought in.
leather.—East India realised fair prices. Australian was
only part sold.
Salted Hides. Austmlian. —A moderate besieges was
door in there hides ; the quantity brought forward was in
excess of the demand ; holders were firm, and for the por-
tion sold late rats were obtained. Cape The few of
ware all sold. South American all bought in.
Dry Hider.—South American sold at rather easier prices.
Hone Hideo—Dry all bought in.
Berk. —Mimeo sold rather lower.
The return of the Bank of England for the week
ending Wednesday, April 15, compared with that
for the previous week, shows the following changes :
Circulation isms
Circulation active ...
Public deposits 5.769,276 Decrease 944,833
Other deposits
Government securities in
banking department 11,129,445 No cheap
Othersecuritiss in banking
rdepartmeet
Coin and bullion In both
departments ._ . 15,229,237 Inman 265,402
Seven day end other hils 620,040 hennas 41,791
The Beet

Items is mom 9,342,445 Iscresse 271,136
Total mom (Dotes kooin
is booking dopartmont). 9,172,457 Tawaito 210,712
Had the Bark rate been reduoed upon these ac-
counts, the step would have been acospted without
hesitation, for although the increase in the bullion
and reserve is of only moder►te amount, the Bank