The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-16 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXPRESS.

Sir,—You would do a humane set for a large class of
hard-worked LouJoners, if you would inform your readers
that many of them can co-operate in an attempt to give to
3,0110 clerk, of the London hooka a share in the general
holiday on the 26th. An effort is being made here to elms
toe Clearing House at 1.30 oti that day. Will those of
7our readers who are concerned, kindly pay their cheques
into the respective hanks ou the Friday preceding instead
of the Saturday!—We are, &a., HENRY WALKER. EDWAIID
KI-VNIDY, Secretaries to the Early Closing Association.

The Midland Railway traffic return shows this
week an increase of 4,402/. over last year ' • the
North Eastern an increase of 4,6561. ; the Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire a decrease of
290/. ; and the Lancashire and Yorkshire a decrease
of 741.

The directors of the Continental Bank Corpora-
tion have given notice, that the third instalment of
51. per share on the new shares is payable on the
2nd January.

A third call of W. is to be paid on the shares of
the Wait India and Pacific Steam Ship Company
(Limited) by the 6th January.
The first general meeting of the City Offices Com-
pany (Limited) is convened for the 23rd instant.
A special meeting of the shareholders in the East
India Financial Association is to be held on Tues-
day next, to "report program, and for other
business."
With reference to the market for American secu-
rities, Mr. E. F. Satterthwaite reports as follows :

We have to report a steady market for drastic.* securi-
ties in London now our last, sod quotations remain almost
+weltered, except for Erie shares, which have declined
2 dole. 5.20 Bonds, after touc►in` 42, have slightly im-
proved, closing arm, at 421 to Considerable tissue
tions have taken place in the scrip of the Atlantic sod
Great Western Certificates of Debenture, which declined
on the issue of the allotment letter to premium, but
have since advanced to premium.

In the Bankruptcy-Court yesterday there were
some further proceedings in the case of Mr. Kimberly,
formerly of the firm of Kimberley and Pope, soli-
citors, and who has been mixed up with various

I public couir.nies as promoter and otherwi-e. Some
discussion took place with regard to the manner is
which certain members of the Stock Exchange,
after being instructed by the bankrupt to buy a
large number of shares in the "New Theatre Com-
pany (Limited)," were left iu the lurch by him. The
commissioner, in giving judgment, remarked that
"when the bankrupt bought the shares iu the New
Theatre Company, if he had done it with a view of
sending up the price, it was nothing le-4 than a
fraud on the public, especially as the bankrupt
offered to buy the shares at a prewimu.' The
bankrupt's order of discharge was busprude.l for
twelve months, but protection is to be given for
three months.

The following, on the bullion market, is from the
circular of Messrs. Sharps alai Wilkws :
We have but little change to report in the market for
bar silver. The demand has ou the whole bets' good, and
the price toles. ibly well supported, particularly for ship-
ments from Marseilles. The telegram from Bombay now
some days overdue is anxiously is:pecked, as is the probable
event of a rise in the exchange very extensive transactions
in silver would doubtleas tale place. The reduction in the
Bank rate of disccant toelay may also tend to iteuence the
market. favourably. The irlairy for Mexican dollars ens
again been extremely limited, and but few a. des have been
effected during the past fortuight. The price closes nomi-
nally at :sa. (id. per though owing to the ::rrival of
the Louisiana at St.Nansire with upwards of .49.4ru0 on
merchants' account, the 'mulct has this after own an ex-
ceediegly weak appearance. The arrivals of gold from
America have been very cmsiderable, and thcet,h eirep-
tional purchases have been made for export, tie larger por-
tion has been sent into the Bank of England.
Subjoined is Mes.srs. Culverwell, 8r00k,,, and
Co.'s report of yesterday's hide sales :
At the 22nd series of hide sales for the year a fair de-
mand was explienced, and previous rate I were generally
realised. East India.—Ox and cow : Calcutta were in
steady request, both the home trade and exporters opera!,
mg to a fair extent. Ca:ca bides of good qradity were well
competed for, rod brought in some instances a slight ad-
vance, other deacriplums rea::aing about foriler rates.
Madras, Singapore. sec., brought fair prices. Toe analysis
of the sales is 81,7011 ; Calcutta new parcels, 7, 141 brought
forward from previous salsa, and ;Saki Madras, ;in all,
111,04;3 Lidos, of which rii,'JLV were sold. Ent ludia.—
BALI° realised full prices. Leather.—East Indian : Ma-
dras fairly. Australian was mostly pawed. Salted
hides.—Australian were in good request, ~ml a Lir propor-
tion (mud buyers at fully late rates. The reLtively high
price obtained for the Melbourne hides was in eetsequenoo
of their being of particularly good quality. Cape realised
former prices. South American : the few oderod mold
fairly. Dry and drysaltesl bieles.—Mogadore kips only part
sold. Mauritius mostly bought in. Huse 11 idtS. —North
American realised fair prices. German brought. Lde rates.
Berk.—Mimosa was mostly bought in.
The Emigration Commissioners will receive
tenders on the 22nd inst. fur the hire of a ship to
take pasqeugem to Sydney.
The return of the Bank of England for the week
ending Wednesday, Dec.l4, compared with that for
the previous week, shows the following change. :
- • -

Circulation issue
Circulation active 19,17g.715 Decrvaae 463.496
Public depovite
Other deposits
Government securities in

bau Mrs% .1 eyArt meet 10,474,542 No change
Otherseeunties us banking
department
Coin and bullion in both
departments
Seven day and other bilk, 4111.117 Im:seam, 15,211
The Kest 3.325,L'5.4 increase 11,780
Notes in reserve
Total reserve (votes & coin
in banking department) . 9,5:13,993 Increase 745,512

The withdrawals of private deposits have been
much more than covered by the rapid influx of the
revenue, as usual at this period of the year, and, is
the private securities have at the same time largely
fallen off, the increase in the reserve is as much as
745,512 t. Hence the reduction in the rate of dis-
count announced to-day. The increase iu the coin
and bullion, iu face of the large withdrawals of
sovereigus for Egypt, indicates that coin is flowing
back rather freely from the provinces.

BANK Mr ENGLAND.—An Account pursuant to the Act Itt
and :Ut Vtc , c.g3, forth. week ending on Wednesda), Dec.l4.
left.

nCE IMPARTMI:N. T.

Notes Issued
d28,004.,075 t debt.. C11,015,14*
I other secotritto-s 3.634.9611
Gold coin and 6ut-
-12,3:4.075
Silver ...

C28,004,0;6

BLICIDO DI
Proprietors' Capital L 14,553,000
Rest SAM,296
Public Deposits (in-
cluding fading.,
Say. Basics Com-
mis. of National
Debt, sad Div.

MPARTILICIT.
Ger.:mutat Secu-
rities iiiteudiug
Weight Ate
—"--•

£25,004,071

stay)
Other Securities
Notes
Gold end
Coln

Acc,;ints
Other Deposits 12.53/.474
Seven day and other
BIW 491,117

537.798.004
Dee. 13.186/

763,411116

437.71111.4011
W. 'MILLER, Chief lta.hier.

:THUS/MAT_ EntlfDlo.

Consols, which closed yesterday at 89; to 1, ex
div., for the Bth January, opened this morning
at the same quotation, and, after advancing to
891 to 1, closed at 893 to I. For money the last
price was 89} to g. The official busi-
ness report ix as follows :—Three per Cent. Con-
sols, for money, 89g, g, g, g • ditto for account,
891 ; Three per Cents. Reduced, 880, ; New
Three per Cents., 884, #, ; India Stock, shut •
ditto Five per Cent. stock, lon, 103, 1028 ; ditto
Four per Cent. Debentures, 1866, 974.
The India Five per Cent. stock was rather dull.
Exchequer Bills were quoted Gs. to ls. dia.
There was not much alteration in foreign stocks,
hut the tendency of prices was favourable. Vene-
zuela Bonds of 1862 and 1864 improved about per
mut.; Turkish of 1862 and Consolid:;s, 1 ; and
Mexican, g per cent. Spanish Deferred Three pee
Cents. however, declined per cent., and the Pas-
sive, }. The amount of business in this department
was (-lily moderate. _

- - Bankshares were rather firmer. Au improve-
ment was quoted in Alliance, Colonial, Bank of
British Columbia, International, London and
County, Merchant, and Union Bank of London.
Bank of Wales and Bank of Ausualasia shares,
however, were lower.

Hudson's Bay shares were last quoted 16 to
being dull ; Egyptian Trading. 1 to 1.! prem.,
being firmer ; National Discount, lthir to / prem. •
and Joint Stock Discount, fto dis. Contract
Corporation, Otago and Southland investment,
Societe Fimuiciere d'Egypte, and Upper Assam
Tea shares were all rather better. Madras Irriga-
tion slightly receded. Ottoman Socit.l G4nerele
shares were quoted 21 to 2} prem., and Imperial
Austrian GiLS shares to I prem.
The shares of the financial companies were firm at
former prices. The closing quotations are annexed,
viz. :—lnternational, 2i to prem. ; General Credit,
21 to prem. ; London Financial, Of to A prem. •
Imperial Mercantile Credit, 3g to prem. ; and
Credit Foncier and Mobilier, si to If prem.
_

United States 5-20 Bonds Wer;quoV.l 42,i to f.
Messrs. C. J. Hambro and Bon have ielvertised
the interest due the lst Januaryon the Italian Five
per Cent. Loan of 1862, Danish Five per Cents. of
1864, and New Zealand Railway shart.,.
The dividends are also announced on Portuguese
Bonds.