The Press.
London, England, 1858-10-02 00:00:00

her parting courtesy to an English audience, Mlle.
Piccolomini received such flattering proof of the
estimation in which she is held as cannot fail to
impress her with a kindly remembrance of the
people whose shores she has just quitted,
while at the same time they were highly gre.
tifying to her pride as an artiste and her
gentler feelings as a woman. The pro-
gramme, which was most judiciously selected,
embraced many of those pieces in which Mme.
Piccolomini has achieved so great a success and to
which she did full justice on this occasion. Sig.
Giuglini also met with a most flattering reception.
A vocal and military festival, under the auspices of
Mr.J. Distin, sen., assisted by several distinguished
artistes, is announced to take place at the Crystal
Palace on Saturday next.

Voneg Vadat anb Qt,ttg tintettigence.

FlunAit EVENING.
THE return of the Bank of England for the week
ending Wednesday 'wit, tho .29th ult., shows the
following changes compared with that for the week
preceding :

Increase in Circulation .. £520,549
Increase in Public Deposits
Decrease in Other Deposits
Increase in Private Securities ..
Increase in Bullion
Increase in Rest
Decrease in Reserve
Bullion in both Departments 19,290,479
Circulation, including Bank Post
Bills 21,295,913
Such an addition to the circulation at the close of the quarter
is rather an unusual feature, but it is caused by the India-
house having withdrawn a large amount of deposits for pay-
ments in couriection with the transport and other branches of
the military service. Thu general effect in the changes in
the public end private deposits, as acting noon the circula-
tion, has been to cause a decline in the Reserve, which,
however, is still more than thirteen millions and a quarter.
The Bullion has agsin received a considerable addition,
and there is every probability that in the course of the next
fortnight it will reach an aggregate of twenty millions.

The improvement in the demand for money, to which
we alluded in our last, though extremely slight, has con-
tinued through the current week, being stimulated by the
approach of the period when commercial acceptances
usually fall One. lint it is an improvement that bears no
comparison whatever to the increasing magnitude of the
supplies. Nor does it correspond in importance to the
►ncreased operations of trade. It is, indeed, a growing
improvement ; but to a great extent it is owing not so
much to the requirements of commerce, present or pro.
spective, as to the incidents of the period, such as to
revenue and other payments connected with the close of
the quarter, and to the maturity of bills at the end and
beginning of the month. Rates remain at from '2l to tti
per cent., quite as much business being dove at one as
at the other.

Our impression that the Bank Directors would fur the
present decline to reduce the minimum rate of discount
from 3 to 2i per cent. was confirmed yesterday by the
existing terms being maintained. Having regard to the
heavy stock of bullion now held by the Bank, to the
enormous amount of unemployed notes in reserve, and to
the stationary character of the discounts and advances, the
expectation of a reduction was somewhat general. When
this expectation was disappointed something like anger
was expressed, and the temper of some parties has led
them to make bitter attacks upon the management of the
Court. The Directors, however, know their own policy
best; and we have not the slightest doubt that they
have good reason for abstaining from a reduction for a
week or two longer. Indeed, it is admitted on all hands
that they could scarcely expect their discount business to
he increased by such a movement, as the competition of
Lombard-street would neutralize the attempt as effectually
as it now secures the great mass of mercantile paper.
The reduction, however, must come either next week or
the week after ; if it does not we may, under present
circumstances, prepare for a declining business even in
Lombard-street, for the dispersion of the dividends will, as far
as possible, increase the circulation in the direction of trade
without the intervention of brokers or Stinkers. In other
words, money will find the proper market level whatever may
be the terms asked in Lombard street or at the Bank. But,
with a strange inconsistency, some of the parties who
complain most of the policy of the Bank in not reducing
the rate are openly urging, for the benefit of capitalists
alone, such a diminution in the existing circulation as
would effectually pre.,erit the rate ever going below three
per cent. With nearly 20,000,0001. bullion in the Bank
and 13,000,00 a notes in reserve, it is gravely recom-
mended, in the interest of certain great monied houses
that measures should be taken to aecnre a return of three
per cent. Every thing is to be sacrificed to three per cent.
Such wild dreams are not likely to be realized

- - -----
Until this morning the only arrivals of specie during
the week were from the United States, the Peninsula,
and Russia, amounting altogether to attout 350,0001.
But this morning one of the overdue vessels from Aus-
tralia arrived with 162,0001.; so that the aggregate arri•
vals of the week have amounted to 511000/. Fully
250,000/. have been sent into the Bank, and probably the
whole of the present Australian receipt will go there either
to-morrow or on Monday. Next week large amounts are ex-

pected from the United States and South America, in
addition to which Russia will supply further sums, and
more than half a million is still due from Australia. The
prospects, therefore, of further addition to the already
heavy stock of bullion in the Bank, are exceedingly f avour•
able. The Tamar arrived at Lisbun to-day with 43,0001.
from Brazil.

The Stock Exchange has recovered some portion of the
animation which has so long been suspended ; and the
consequence ban been a decided increase in the number of'
transactions, and a considerable degree of buoyancy. The
Funds have advanced considerably, owing to the genetel
sentiment of confidence ; and Railway Shares have par-
ticipated in the improvement naturally arising from a
greater disposition to invest. Much of the improvement
has arisen from the internal strength of the market. It
has been supported but little by the investments of the
Governmeut broker, or by the operations of the Bank;
still it has risen, and it has risen from causes which
are obvious to all the world—the abundance of money and
the desire to place if safely. Railway shares, of the guaran-
teed and preference classes, have absorbed a good deal of
capital during the week, and to-day there has been no
adverse change in the general prospects of the market.
Consols, which left off last Friday at 97i exactly, have
steadily improved until to-day, when they tuched 94.
They closed, however, at 9S to with a somewhat dull
tendency, caused by the sales made during the day to
realize profits.
Nothing of importance has occurred in the Foreign
Market during the week. It has, however, been firm.
Turkish New Lnan has been done as high as 3 preen.
In Railway Shares the improvement which commenced
on Monday has been general, and it has suffered but little
from reaction. Great Westerns, London and North Wes-
terns, North Easterns, and others of the heavier stocks
have been principally in request. The rise in some cases
has been between three and four per cent.
In Banking Shares much firmness has been visible.
Ottomans were done to-day at 19 without the dividend.
Atlantic Telegraph Shares are at 400 to 450. The
transactions in them have been very few. Red Sea were
done today at d prem; and Indian and Australian were
negotiated at prem. It is stated that the latter com•
pany are certain of obtaining a Government guarantee of
41 per cent.
Exchequer Bills have advanced Is., being now at a
premium of :151. to 353. for the March Bills, and of 255.
to 28s. prem. for those of June.
The advance established in Consols during the month
of September was nearly two per cent., the price on the Ist
having been 90i, and on the 30th (yesterday) 98i. Rail-
ways improved on an average two per cent.; and the
Rentes on the Paris Bourse two per cent.
The Chinese Treaty, which was published on Monday,
has given general satisfaction to the mercantile community.
It is understood that the Bank of England have taken
the balance of about 150,0001. which was left in July last of
the New Zealand Four per Cent. Loan of 500,0001. This
loan is guaranteed by the Home Government.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.
Tuesday, Sept. 28.

BANKRUPTS.—WiLmast SMITH. (ir.yLoun.i•yard, Smith.
field. gas meter mansfseturer—Wtusat Lkwaort, Howland.
street. Fitzropaquare, euraeon--CHARLES OARTEN, Bristol,
brewer—THOSIAS GODSELL BILES, Bath, ltuendraper—RlCHAßD
HENRY H►YLEN, Cardiff, tan•ier.