The Press.
London, England, 1854-12-30 00:00:00

rpm Starke anb Citlinnitiligtita.

FRIDAY EVENING.
Tu past has been a holiday week in almost all
business circles, and the speculative transactions on
'Change have consequently proved dull and circum-
scribed. Probably in anticipation of the approaching

- -
interval of inaction, prices declined on Saturday to

the extent of / per cent. in Consols, and the market
closed flatly. On Tuesday, when the Stock Exchange
reopened, there was some partial recovery exhibited,
owing to a few purchases for the account made in
anticipation of possible results from the mission of
the new Prussian envoy. The closing range of
quotations was nevertheless almost the same as on
the previous Saturday. Next day the market was
unfavourably influenced by the reports from Paris of
the Emperor's speech upon the opening of the Legis-
lative session. The announcement of extended
armaments, and a new loan which it also transpired
was to comprise a sum of 500,000,000 francs, or
twenty millions sterling, led the speculators to
apprehend a drain upon the English market for
capital, and induced a decline of the quotations,
which left off weakly at a shade above 911 per cent.
Business still remained very circumscribed, and the
fluctuations either way were upon an exceedingly
limited scale throughout tho day. Yesterday a
similar inactivity prevailed. The transactions pre-
sented little variety, and no change of importance
was notified in the quotations. Consols were dealt
in between 981 and 911, and closed at the lower limit
of that slale.

To-day the market has been somewhat more
active. It is now apparently understood upon
'Change that the French war will be, like the last, a
national one, of which the whole, and more than the
whole, will be offered for among the native popula-
tion, without requiring any aid from this side of the
Channel. Stocks have accordingly evinced more
firmness, and prices advanced fully 1 per cent.
Consols for the January account were quoted at
911 to 1; Reduced Three per Cents. were dealt in at 91,
and New Three per Cent. Stock 911, 1, 1. Bank
Stock has been at 208 to 2091; India Stock 226 ex.
div.; Exchequer Bonds 991; ditto Bills ss. to 7s.
premium.
The only artival of gold during the week of any
magnitude is that of the Tagus, with 100,0001. in gold
bars, shipped from Calcutta on account of the East
India Company. On the other hand, the Madrid has
taken out 71,500/., chiefly in gold, to Lisbon, Cadiz,
&c., principally on account of payments for grain.
Money continues in good request in the Discount
Market, but the demand does not exceed that which
is usually observed at the close of the year.
SHARES.

The traffic returns continue to present a favour-
able aspect, the increase on the revenue of last year
being considerable on all the principal lines. The
" making up " for the half-monthly account was
completed on Thursday ; and, Stock appearing
scarce, the market exhibited much firmness. Ope-
rators were, nevertheless, extremely cautious, and
speculation may almost be said to be extinct. This
afternoon prices have been :—Caledonian, 601 1 ;
Eastern Counties, 111; Great Northern, 91; Great
Western, 691 701; London and Brighton, 107;
London and North-Western, 101 ; London and
South-Western, 84 31; Midland, 681 01; Oxford
and Wolverhampton. 31; South Devon, 121.
FOREIGN.
There has been little doing in Foreign Stocks,
and prices have ruled dull. Turkish have shown
some tendency to improvement, and at one moment
reached 76, buyers for the new account. To-day
this stock receded again to 551, but may still be
called better than during the previous depression.
The Bank of France has declared a dividend of
82f. fur the last six months of 1854.

BRITISH F
oFFiI

rNDS.— ClOl
[AL QUOTA'
'Mond. intent.

'ION.
Wed.

▪ per Cent. Consols
Dato for Account
S per Cents Reduced
S per Cents
Long Annuities
Bonk Stock, 7 per Cent
India Stock, 101 per Cnt.
Ruh. Bills. 2ld. per diem
India Bonds, (1,00014

Thur. Friday.
Tre 1911exd
190 le( 90e le
e,i)le A
4 5-16
209 e 20$ 9
7 4
12

911
91i 1
olt g
4i5.161
209

(911 ill
,9ut 1,

201