The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-23 00:00:00

MONEY MAREET.-aillB DAY.)

Two o'ClooL
The stock markets to-day are firm, except u re-
gards Consols, which have declined 1-16 to per
oent. Home railway stocks are rather better,
and a rise has taken place in Spanish Passive Bonds
and Certificates. As regards other securitie3, steadi-
ness prevails, notwithstanding the thane's of bud-
Dees.

The discount market is rather quiet to-day, but
no transactions are reported below six per cent.,
the supply of money being still somewhat limited.
In the Stock Exchange loans on English govern-,
ment securities are in strong demand, owing to the
approaching holidays, and the rate is firm at 6
per cent.
At Paris to-day, aecording to Mr. Renter's tele-
gram, the Three per Cent. Bente; were quoted
65fr. 35c., being sc. better than yesterday. The
weekly return of the Bank of France shows an
increase of 500,0001. in the coin and bullion.
Console are now quoted 89k to 4, ex div., for
money, and 89 7-16 to 9-16, or 894, for the account
(January 10). The official business report is
as follows :—Three per Cent. Consols, for
money, 894, 1, ; ditto, for account, 894,
; Three per Cents. Reduced, 884, 4 ; New Three
per Cents., 884, 4 ; India stock, shut ; ditto Five
per Cent stock, 1024, 4 ; and Exchequer Bills,
par, 3a. prem.
Foreign stooks are generally firm. Spanish Pas-
sive Bonds have risen per cent., the Certificates
4, and Turkish Consolida 4. Other stocks are quiet.
Some of the present quotations are annexed,
viz. :—Greek Bonds, 234 to 14 ; Mexican,
294 to 4 ; Confederate, 61 to 63 ; Spanish
Passive, 324 to 4 ; the Certificates, 14 to 4 ;
Turkish, of 1868, 70 to 71 ; ditto 1862, 72
to ; and the Consolidds, 474 to 48.
Transactions are recorded as follows :—Brazilian,
1863, 834 ; Egyptian, 954 ; ditto second issue,
1001. Bonds, 96 ; ditto 1864, 944, 95 ; ditto
scrip, 4 prem. ; Mexican, 29J, 4 ; Portuguese,
1856, etc., for account, 484 ; Russian, 1822,
881 ; ditto 1850, 871 ; Spanish for account,
484 ; ditto New Deferred, for account,
414, ; ditto Passive, fur account, 32k,
; ditto Certificates, for account, 14k, 14 ; Turkish,
1858, for account, 701 ; ditto 1862, 1001. Bonds,
724, I ; ditto Guaranteed, 100 ; Venezuela,
1862, for account, 524 ; ditto 1864, 444, 4.
Egyptian Loan scrip is now quoted 4 to If prem.;
Danubian, k dis. to par ; Monte Videan, 2 to
prem.; and Atlantic and Great Western Railway!
Certificates of Debenture, to 4 prem.
International Financial shares are now quoted
24 to 4 prem. ; General Credit, 24 to 1
prem. ; London Financial, 94 to 4 prem. ;
Imperial Mercantile, 34 to prem. ; Hudson's
Bay, 16 to 4 ; Anglo-Egyptian Bank, 4to 1 dis ;
and Ottoman Socidtd Gdndrale, 14 to 24 prem.
Fors o'Cwcx.
Consols are fractionally better, at 894 to 4, ex
div., for money, and 894 to 4, ex div., for the
account. No gold transactions have occurred at
the Bank.

No gold transactions were reported at the Bank yes-
terday. The arrivals just announced from America
may, perhaps, be taken for abroad, but the demand
for that quarter will probably diminish, owing to
the fresh decline in the rate of discount of the Bank
of France, together with an advance in the Paris
exchange. It is also stated that the exchange at
Alexandria has risen to 93, owing probably to the
large remittances of sovereigis to Egypt. These,
it is believed, will now slacken. The tendency of
the bullion movement is thus improving at several
points.
The Edinburgh has brought 83,0001. in specie,
and the Bremen 58,000 L—both from New York.
Much annoyance was expressed in commercial
circles yesterday at the absence of any notification
from the Poet-office authorities with respect to the
suggested delay in the despatch of the mails for
Calcutta, China, and Australia, from the 26th to
the 27th inst. It is apprehended that the making
up of these mails on the former day will involve the
attendance in the City of a large number of persons.
It is notified that the discount department of the
Bank of England will be closed on Monday next,
the 26th inst.
The Birmingham Post announces the stoppage of
Mr. Edward Lloyd, foreign timber dealer, with
liabilities "said to be very heavy."
With reference to the affairs of Messrs. Early
and Smith, export clothiers, of Houndaditch, who
failed on the 30th September last, a balance-sheet
has been issued by Messrs. Coleman, Turquand,
Youngs, and Co., showing liabilities to the extent
of 81,3691., and assets 23079/.. The accountants
state as follows :
We are requested by the inspectors to forward yea the
ed statement of the aliens of this arm, and to inform
you that part of the stock has been sold from the premises
in the usual course, and the remainder at discounts ranging
from 20 to 2t per cent., payable one-fourth part in cash,
onefourth within one month from this date, and the re-
mainder at six months. We may add that in consequence
of the imperfect state of the books, more particularly the
cash account, we have been espied in an examination
thereof on behalf of the Leeds Banking Company, who have
the largest interest in the estate. Prior to the payment of
a dividend, which we have no doubt may be declared in the
course of next mouth, we shall be glad to receive • state-
ment of your claim.
We are informed that the directors of the Rio
de Janeiro City Improvements Company have re-
ceived by the present mail a copy of the imperial
decree, approving is the most satisfactory manner
the drainage works of the first district of the city.
Considerable progress has already been made with
the other two districts.
A general meeting of the shareholders of the
Bank of London is convened for the 19th January.
At an extraordinary meeting yesterday of the
Grand Surrey Docks and Canal Company, a dividend
of 11. 10s. on the ordinary Mimes was declared, free
of income tax, in accordance with the terms of
amalgamation with the Commercial Dock Company,
which dates from the 19th of January next.
The arrangements are notified in connection with
the payment of the half-yearly interest on the
shares of the Madras and East India Litigation
Companies.
With reference to the market for American rail-
way securities, Mr. E. F. S.itterthwaite reports as
follows :