The Press.
London, England, 1856-03-15 00:00:00

loutiljarktt anb titg nitlligenct.

FRIDAY EVENING.
THE return from the Bank of England for the week
ending the Bth instant, shows the following changes
compared with that of the preceding week :

Decrease in Circulation £284,435
Increase in Public Deposits
Decrease in Other Deposits
Decrease in Other Securities 96'2,419
Decrease in Bullion
Increase in Rest .. . .
Increase in Reserve
Circulation, including Rank Post
Billy
Bullion iu Both Departments

This comparison presents no features of importance.
The Public Deposits are but slowly increasing, con-
sidering the approach of the period when the April
dividends will be payable; but it is remarkable that
there has been no change in the amount of Govern-
ment Securities held by the Bank. The decrease in
the Private Deposits is accounted for to some extent
by the preparations for paying the loan instalment;
while the running off of Private Securities has helped
to swell the Reserve. The bullion was not expected
to show a decrease, but it is of no great amount.
The Money Market has been subjected to extremely
heavy pressure during the week. In the first place,
there has Leen more than the ordinary demand for
discounts from mercantile and shipping houses,
while increased activity in some of the manufac-
turing districts has rendered extensive accommoda-
tion necessary, in order to facilitate increased pro
duction to meet foreign and domestic contracts
consequent upon a general diminution of stocks.
This demand is not yet satisfied, nor is it affected by
the high value put upon money, though giievoits
complaints are made on all sides of the disappear.
ance of profits. The next and main cause of the
pressure op to yesterday was owing to the pro-
vision of the second instalment of the loan, of
twenty five per cent., or 1,250,000/., and fur the
funding of twenty per cent. of the outstanding Ex-
cheqner Bills. The effect of these calls was princi-
pally felt in the Stock Exchange, but out of doors
they caused considerable inconvenience, and tended
to restrict the advances made by the banks and
discount houses in the ordinary course of business.
In the Stock Exchange money up to Wednesday
was worth as much as eight per cent. for shoit
periods; but the pressure " within doors," which
induced this high price, was aggravated oy the con-
currence of the settlement of the Consol account for
March, and by the preparations for the hall.monthiy
railway settlement which has just terminated. Yes-
terday there was considerable ease, and shoit loans
could be had at five per cent. Today the rates were
the same, and the great pressure is over until
towards the end of next week, when provision must
again be thought of for another twenty-five per cent.
instalment of the loan, amounting to 1,250,0001., and
for the funding of thirty per cent. of the outstanding
Exchequer Bills due on the 29th inst. Some banks
intimated to-day that the interest on deposits at call
would be reduced from 51 to 5# per cent.

gATURDAY,

The Bank, the East India Company, and other
great corporations, have been making advances on
Government Securities during the week in connec-
tion w►th the payment of the loan instalment. It is
understood that the whole amount was paid by twelve
o'clock yesterday.

The specie imports during the week are under
3,0001.; the exports about 50,0001. The state of the
continental exchanges is favorable to the return of
gold to this country from France and Germany, and
small amounts are coming in, but the effect at pre-
sent Is inappreciable. The course of trade with the
United States is not yet favorable to the remittance
of gold from California; there are, however, sump.
toms of a turn in the diminished import of lireal-
stuffs, and a larger export of our manufactured
productions. Several vessels from Australia, with
gold on board, are nearly due. It is thought that
one or more may have been prevented working up
the Channel by the prevalent easterly winds ; a
steamer will probably be sent to look after them
either from Plymouth or Falmouth. The steamer
Atlantic, from New York, which arrived yesterday,
brought no gold.
Consols' when the March account closed on Wed-
nesday, stood at 912 to 2. The rates for carrying
Stock over to the April account, which had previously
been I, advanced to I, being the highest point known
for a long time past. Under these circumstances the
first price for April 10, on Wednesday, Was 923 to 2 ;
and from that time to the present the market has
been gradually improving. The closing price last
night was 922 just, there being alternate buyers and
sellers at that quotation. The firmness of the
market, which is extraordinary considering the high
price of money, is due exclusively to the confidence
telt in the Paris Conferences ending in peace. The
admission of Prussia to the Conferences is regarded
as a most favorable sign of a pacific issue; it being
considered that the main question whether the war
be continued or not, had been decided by the pleni-
potentiaries before it was determined to invite the
presence of that power. Dissatisfaction, however,
is openly expressed at the jaunty and evasive answer
which Lord Palmerston made to a very simple ques-
tion on this subject in the House of Commons last
night. Consols opened this morning at 923 to 2, and,
after some fluctuations, closed at the same quotaticn
rather firm.

The Railway Market has been steady, but yester-
day there was a decided advance in most descriptions.
Lancashire and Yorkshire improved 305., London and
North-Western 205., Great Western 205., and other
lines in proportion. The public are increasing their
investments in railway stock, and the traffic returns
are uniformly good. Business in this market is now
animated; and, having regald to the demand for in•
vestment, along with the events that affect the price
of Consols, there is nothing to prevent a further
moderate advance in prices.
Foreign Securities have attracted a good deal of
attention during the week. Prices all round are
rather better tl an last week • but the principal in--
provement has been in Turkish Six per Cents., which
nave gone up 21. s.nce last Saturday. The Four per
Cent. Guaranteed Stock is three-quarters per cent.
better.

Joint-stock Bank Shares until yesterday were fiat
and drooping, but they are now better, with a fair
demand. The new undertakings have not been well
supported during the week.
The French Three per Cents., after being done at
721. 5c., improved to 73f. 00c., and last night they
closed at 731. 25c. The closing price today was
731. 35c. The utwost confidence is the restoration
of peace is still felt on the Baurse, but doubts are
entertained in the stability of present price, when
that event takes place, owing to the speculative
mania which has so long prevailed.
The half-yearly dividend of the Bank of England,
declared yesterday, was five per cent., free of income
tax, being at the rate of ten per cent. per annum.
The profits for the six months amounted to 705,3251,
and after providing for the dividend the " Rest" will
remain at 3,000,7291.
The monthly return of the Bank of France wag
published this morning. It does not show any very
striking change in the amount of the metallic re-
serve compared with the return for February; but
the overdue bills have largely increased, and there is
a considerable addition upon the amounts paid In
premiums to secure purchases of gold and silver.
the note circulation shows a falling off. On the
whole, the return is not so good as that for the pre-
vious week.
The General Screw Steam-ship Company are in
negotiation with the French company, which has al-
ready purchased eight of their large ships, for the
sale of four smaller vessels.
Messrs. Strahan, Paul, and Bates have passed
their last examination at the Court of BankruptcY•
but no date is fixed for the hearing of certificates.
If Mr. Bates obtains his pardon from the Crown be.
will then apply in the ordinary way. The affuri.ot
the Tipperary Joint-stock Bauk, and the extensive
frauds of the late Mr. Sadleir in connection there'
with, are exciting intense interest in Ireland.