The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-15 00:00:00

THEE/DAY EVENING.

The English stock market today showed a
sensible improvement, and the upward tendency
reacted on the other departments of the
house. General shortness of stock, increased
by the failure of two speculators for the fall, who
were stated to have been oversold to the extent of
150,0001. and 50,0001. Consols respectively, caused a
, sudden demand, which was followed by other pur-
chases. Consols, which opened 1001 to / for money,
and 1001 to I for the 12th May, rose to 101 to - for
time, and subsequently receded to 1001 to 101, the
closing cash quotation being k lower than this price,
The market exhibited much firmness to the close,
notwithstanding the publication in the afternoon
of accounts from Constantinople detailing the various
demands of Prince Menchikoff—demands certainly
inadmissible. It had transpired, however, that some
of the Russian houses were in possession of intelli-
gence stating. that orders had been transmitted to the
south of Russia countermanding the naval and mili-
tary preparations making in that quarter. These
contradictory
.statements appear to have had little
effect upon prlces, which were chiefly effected by in-
fluences in operation within the market itself. For
sometime past the want of stock in the Consol mar-
ket has been evident, from the slight difference be-
tween the quotation for money and that for account,
and from the lower value which money has com-
manded in the house, as compared with the rates
current out of doors. Reports that the approaching
budget will be of a very favourable character have
further assisted the upward tendency of the funds.
The Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. continue to be
sought after for investment, and have reached 1031
to 104, being scantily supplied. This stock is evi-
dently in more favour than the other classes of the
home funded debt, in anticipation of the government
financial plan being carried into operation. The
government broker re-appeared as a purchaser to-
day, investing in Reduced Threes at par. The offi-
cial business report embraces the following, viz.:—
Three per Cent. Consols, for money, 1001, /, 1 do.
for account, 1001,101. Three per Cents. It/doted,
99/, 100. Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., 1031,1,
1. Long Annuities, 1860, 6 1-16, 6 ; ditto, 30 years,
1860,6 5-16. Bank Stock, 226, 225. India Stock,
260, 2621. South Sea Old Annuities, 991,.
The market for Exchequer Bills was again rather
better to-day, the June bills closing at 4a. to Bs. prem.
and the March 3s. to 7s. prem. India Bonds were
not so good, marking 38s. to 455. prem.
The business in foreign stocks was very restricted,
the settling engaging attention. Spanish declined
at the commencement of business, on the intelligence
o.• the fall of the ministry at Madrid, but subse-
quently rallied. The Deferred Threes closed 241 to
, and the Certificates 6; to 61 per cent., after being
sold as low as 8. Mexican Bonds were very good,
and rose to 28 to 1. Peruvian Deferred was also
better, and left off 67 to 1 for the end of the month.
The Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Bonds of this state
are quoted 88 to 89. Granada Deferred ruled at 11
to 111. Greek Bonds were rather flatter at 81 to 9.
Turkish scrip remains fixed at its former price, all
doubts es to this loan being now favourably resolved.
The amount of the bonds presented at the office for
payment today was 7,279,000 francs (291,16014,
making the total amount presented upwards of
sixteen millions and a quarter of francs, or about
650,0001. sterling. The list of sales is annexed :
Dutch Two and-a-Half per Cents., 651; ditto, Four
per Cent Certificates, 971. Granada One-and-a-
Half per Cent., ex Dec., 1849, Coupons, 231. Greek
Bonds, 1824 and 1825, 8/, 9. Mexican Three per
Cents., 271; ditto for account, 28th April, 271.
Peruvian Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Bonds, 881 ;
ditto Deferred Three per Cents., for account, 671,
661, 671. Portuguese Five per Cents., converted in
1841, 43; ditto Four per Cents., 401. Russian Five
per Cents, 1181, 1. Sardinian Five per Cents., 971.
Spanish New Deferred Three per Cents., 241, 231,
241 ; the Committee's Certificates, 6, 61, 6, 61 per
cent.

At the meeting of the Royal Mail Steam Packet
Company, held to-day, a dividend at the rate of 21.
per share for the half-year was declared. A report
of the proceedings will be found in another column.

Australian Agricultural shares experienced a fur-
ther rally to-day, closing 90 to 95. South Australian
Land, Van Diemen 's Land, and the other land com-
panies' shares were likewise better. North British
Australuian left off 13 to la prem. British Ameri-
can Land rose to 80 to 82. This property it is anti-
cipated will be improved in value by the construc-
tion of the Great Canadian Railway now on the
market. Australian Bank shares exhibit no move-
ment. Shares of the Colonial Bank were done at
20; London Joint Stock Bank, 22; London Docks,
124! ; Southampton Docks, 38; Crystal Palace (51.
paid), 6; ; Crystal Palace of France (21. paid), 21 ;
General Screw Steam Shipping (121. paid), 11. The
shares of the Grand Central Railway of France
were firm at 21 to 21 prem., and those
of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada at 23.
to 3 prem. North of Spain Railway shares were
quoted to prem. It is evident from the out-
cry in the Spanish Cortes that the terms
granted to this railway are considered extra-
vagantly good, and that the concession is
insinuated to have been obtained by corruption in
high quarters, the more especially as the Duke de
Itianzares is chairman of the undertaking. A con-
cession of a guarantee of 7 per cent. per annum, with
varions local advantages of importance, certainly
appears inexplicably. liberal, at a time when the
Spanish govornmeot is exerting itself in an extraor-
dinary manner to raise a new limn in England on
terms far less favourable to the subscriber. As it is
understood, however, that the promoters of the
new undertaking have in their possession the con-