The Press.
London, England, 1857-04-25 00:00:00

TIC E PRESS.

male up, or nearly so. But the scheme has been very
coldly received by capitalists in general ; and though the
shares have been voted in the Stuck Exchange at a
nominal premium, most of the dealers there have refused
to enter into any transactions in them previous to the
regular issue. Since the prospectus was issued a plan is
said to have been adopted by interested speculators to
entrap subscribers by inducing respectable parties to act
unsuspecting the part of decoys. It is thus described by
the most influential organ of the Money Market :

"A respectable stockbroker's firm having received an
order from a Protestant clergyman at Brussels to invest
20,0001. in Russian railway shares, deemed it expedient to
make inquiry, and found that their client, the clergyman,
was not the principal in the transaction, but had k e tit the
order in his own name to oblige a very rich and influential
friend in that capital. Having mentioned the circum-
stance to a friend they ascertained that another order for
the purchase of .20,00:1/. had been transmitted by a clergy-
man through a mercantile house. Their first impression
was that it must have been the same individual in each
case. On inquiry, however, they gathered that in this in-
stance it was an English clergyman, although the resem-
blance was still perfect, since this gentleman, also, has
since admitted that he was acting merely as an agent
If it were necessary, fresh details could be furnished which
would probably fix the responsibility of these attempts in
a manner to leave no uncertainty as to their design or
origin. One case is mentioned of a mercartile house
writing from Dunkirk on behalf of a friend—whether a
clergyman or otherwise is not stated—to know how he
could invest '20,0001 —apparently the favourite sum—in
those shares in London. The rejoinder was, that as he is
a French purchaser his best course will be to apply for an
allotment in Paris "

Tlys circumstantial statement, added to the disfavour
with which the scheme per se is regarded here, has corn.
pletely destroyed all present chance of success in this
market. What may next follow is therefore looked for
with an amout►t of interest that has not for years been
given to any other great financial operation.
Mr. Stapleton, late Deputy-Governor of the Royal Bri•
tish Bank, has been further examined before the Court of
Bankruptcy. The hon. gentleman did not come out of
the ordeal in a way calculated to raise his character as a
business man int►usted with the heavy responsibility of
attending to the interests of his fellow•sharehol,lers.
The Scottish Australian Invesement Company have
sanctioned the sale conditionally made to the Bon
Accord Copper Company of their interest in the Ban
Accord property in South Australia for 12,0001. in cash,
and 8,000 shares of I/. each, 103. paid up.
A committee of investigation hss been appointed by the
proprietors in the North British Australian Company.
The Grand Surrey Docks and Canal Company have de•
dared a dividend of four per cent. 1,0001. was placed to
the reserve fund, leaving a balance of 5,501/. to the credit
of the next hallyear.
At the Court of Bankruptcy yesterday a dividend was
declared under the estate of Mr. J. C. Mare, but the
amount cannot at present be precisely determined.
The consideration of the certificate of Mr. \V. Smith.
late of the Hemel Hempstead Bank, has been adj ourned
by the Court of Bankruptcy.
Sir M. Peto has taken the contract for the Portuguese
Railway from Lisbon to Oporto. The line is to be com-
pleted in four years, and the Government are to pay the
company 8,8501. per mile towards its cost, as each section
is completed. The total outlay will be about 2,000,0001.
The Trade Reports of the week show some dulness
and generally less activity in the manufacturing districts.

BANK OF ENGLAND.
An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and 801 Victoria. cap. 32
for the week ending on Saturday, thr loth day of April, 1857.
ISRUR PFPARMENT.
Notes issued .... 2f;,383,965 Government Debt 411,015,1G0
Other Securities .. 3,459,9 N)
Gold Coln & Bullion t 4,505,905
Silver Bullion .... --•

A 23.383,265
BANKING DICPARTKIIINT.
Proprietors'Capital/14,563,000, Government Seon•
Rest
Public Deposite 4,851,401 Dead Weight An.) 411133.12 S
9ther Deposits
Svv•n Day 4 other ' Notes 3,64'0,220
Bills . 761,286 Gold 4 Silver Coin 626,784
-

423,383,965

234,083,i37 L 34,0.5307
• Including Exchequer, Commissioners of National Debt,
Savings' Banks, sod Dividend Accounts.

BRITISH FUNDS.— Closing Prices.
OFFICIAL. QUOTATIONS.
Mond. Tuesd. Wed. Thurs. Friday
- - - -,--
3 per Cent.Consols ..•• 192! 3 921 I 931 1931 93 1
Ditto for Account :234 93 t :)i)t 1331 031
I per Cents Reduced 9l/ i 91' ; 92 9ll 91; 2
3 per Cents
Long Annuities
Bank Stock 7 per Cent 212 ,213 2 21; 13 214434;213 15
New 2; per Cent Annuit I 761 : 77 I
Ruh. Bills, 24ti. .. (June) 10 5d i 4 23 I 2 5d 3 2 4d! 1 d
India Donds,(l,ooo/.) I bd ; 3p i 6 3d 6 331 3 d

FOREIC
Mond.
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