The Press.
London, England, 1857-08-22 00:00:00

quoted at 1 dis. The two discount companies have also
receded a point or two.
The nominal quotation of the shares in the Atlantic
Telegraph Company (9001. paid) is 200 die. ; but no trans-
actions are reported since the failure in the great work of
laying the cable. There is a general desire that these
shares should be converted into 1001. stock. The failure
in laying the cable is clearly attributable to the want of
strength in the working staff, as may be seen by referring
to the report of the engineer. So far as it went, the
experiment was perfectly successful; and it is satisfactory
to know that the work will be resumed the first favourable

opportunity.
It is stated that a plan islander the consideration of
the Board of Control and the India-house for establishing
a postal communication with India vii Asiatics Turkey,
by which ten days or a fortnight may be saved in the trans-
mission of news. The construction of the European and
Indian Junction Telegraph is about to be commenced
north of Bagdad. The Euphrates route to India is to
be left to private enterprise in all respects.
Mexico is now awakening some interest as a
cotton-producing country ; but, owing to its disturbed
condition, English capitalists will naturally exercise a good
deal of caution before embarking in such speculations
there. Heavy profits are said to result from the cultiva-
tion of the plant, which is described as of fine, clear fibre,
and to be of quicker growth than in any other climate.
The estate of Messrs. Carr, Brothers, the extensive
colliery owners, who failed on the 6th inst., is to be wound
up under inspection, so as to insure a fall return to the
creditors, and to enable Messrs. Carr to make suitable
arrangements without the transference of their property.
Those two important insurance companies, the Eagle
and the Palladium, have now completed their amalgama-
tion, and the result has proved most satisfactory in all
respects. The financial accounts of the united companies
show that the income for the year ending June 30th was
270,0001., against 160.5001. in the previous year, and a
profit of more than 52,0001. After making a provision for
every possible contingency, the surplus fond remains at
442,2871., out of which it is proposed to divide 185,8581.,
leaving 306,4281. for the like purpose in future, and for
other contingencies. This gives the proprietors an extra
dividend of fifteen per cent., or 15s. per share, making
in the whole twenty per cent., or 20s. per share. On
the other band, the participating policy-holders are en-
titled to a payment of 108,6871. in cash. This sum is
nearly equivalent to an aggregate reversionary addition
of 208,0001. to the sum assured, or about forty per cent.
on an average of the premiums paid since the division
in 1852. The investments of the company produce
nearly four and a half per cent. annually. The dividend is
payable on the first Monday in October. Three assu-
rance companies, one proprietary, and the others mutual,
are about to be merged in the Eagle ; and they will, in
the aggregate, bring an additional annual income of
110,0001. The meeting at which these facts were stated
was held last Friday, and they gave the utmost satisfac-
tion to the numerous shareholders then present. When
the amalgamations just referred to are effected, the Eagle
will rank nearly at the head of the important class of
institutions to which it belongs, and be second to none
in stability, influence, and usefulness.
The Trade Reports of the week are satisfactory, in
so far as they show an absence of undue speculation ;
but it is apparent from most of them that there is
diminished activity in several of the most important
branches of manufacturing industry.

THE PEES