The Express.
London, England, 1854-01-14 00:00:00

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FRIDAY EYINING.
In the absence of further news that can be inter-
preted as decidedly bad, the English stock market
showed renewed firmness to-day, although the best
prices of the day were not maintained to the close.
After a rise of per cent. the market closed only
per cent, better than yesterday. The approach of
the settlement, though it does not bring with it the
pressure for stock observed on similar occasions of
late, yet tends to strengthen the market. Stook is
still lent for the February account by the dealers, the
rate being quoted "even to 1-16 oontango." This
greater supply of stock, however, is not believed
to be caused by the existence of any ex-
tensive speculation for the rise, the balance
of outstanding speculative operations being
at present, so far as can be ascertained, deci-
dedly in the direction of a fall ; but the higher value
of money out of doors appears to make bankers and
others glad to lend Consols to the Stock Exchange
at present, seen at a trifling rats of " continuation°
or interestrane repotted sismomse of the Turks cat
the Danube are considered unfavourable to hopes
of peace.
The French Three per Cent Relates were reported
by telegraph from Paris to-day as closing at a rally
of per cent The other continental bourses, after
their late severe fall, were generally telegraphed to-
day as showing a tendency towards improvement ;
but the actual rally in prices is unimportant
Letters from Paris refer to rumours current in that
city relative to the alleged borrowing of a large sum
of money—some reports say 200,000,000 francs, or
8,000,0001. sterling—by the government from the
Bank of France, upon the security of Rentes. This
report seems to have had considerable influence in
causing the late severe fall in the shares of the Bank.
So arbitrary is the power of the French government
that it would be hazardous to limn that a measure
of this kind could not be carried out. Meanwhile
the disadvantage. and impolity of the prohibition of
free discussion in the press and elsewhere are strik-
ingly illustrated by the variety of disquieting ru-
mours afloat in financial circles in Paris,
which of course react on the bourse. Anxiety
is further stimulated by the knowledge that
a vast number of industrial undertakings, lately
ushered into existence, have yet to onme upon the
market for calls. No Paris journal wouldbe allowed
to publish suck an enumeration ; but, if a list could
be compiled of the amount of capital remaining to be
called up on shares and bonds of various descriptions,
including those of railways, banks, docks, mines,
canals, &a, it is believed an aggregate sum would be
arrived at, calculated to canes considerable anxiety.

Console opened at 921 to Mk, ex div. for Wed-
nesday next, advanced to 931 to 1 and were quoted
at the official close 93 to 1. Subsequently the rice
declined 1 per ant., transactions being entered into
at 921 to 93. The official business report is as fol-
lows :—Three per Cent. Consols, for mosey, 93,
921, 99, 931 ex die.; do. for the opening, 18th
instant, 93, 931, 93 ex div. Three per Cent. Re-
duced, 931, 3,4, Three.and-a-Quartee pee
Cents., 941, 3:4, 1, 3. Long Annuities, 1880, .61 ;
ditto 30 years, 1859, 6 ; ditto 30 years, 1880, 6 ex
div.
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Exchequer Bills remain quoted 7s. to 10e. prem.,
and India Bonds par to 4s. prem.
The foreign stock market was generally firmer,
especially for Russian, Mexican, and Peruvian.
Business, however, was the reverse of active.
At 4 o'clock Mexican Bonds were quoted 231 to 3.
Peruvian Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 65 to 67 ;
ditto Three per Cents, 46 to 48. Sardinian, 87 to
89. Spanish Deferred, 204 to 1. Russian Five per
Cents., 109 to 110; ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents.,
91 to 92 ex die. Granada Active, 19 to 21; ditto
Deferred, 63 to 73. Sales are recorded as follows :-
Austrian Old Five per Cent. Bonds, 753, 3 (exchange
fixed at 10fi. per pound) ; Ditto Five per Cent.,
1852, 88, I. &seinen Four-and-a Half per Cents.,
1852, 901, 911. Buenos Ayres Six per Cents., 62.
Danish Five per Conti, 993. Dutch Two-and-a-
Half per Cents., 62, 613 ex div. Equador Bonds,
41. Mexican Three per Cents., 231, 3. Peruvian
Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 66, 65. Portuguese
Four per Cents., 393 ex div. Russian Four-and-a-
Half per Cents., 90, 913, 92 ex div. Spanish New
Deferred Three per Cents., 203 ex div. ; the Com-
mittee's Certificates, 41, 43 per cent.
Money continues easy, and discount of good paper
is readily obtained at a reduction from the Bank of
England minimum rate of 5 per cent.
The anxiety respecting the Madagascar, so long
overdue from Australia, has become more intense
during the last day or two, and the rate of insurance
at Lloyd's has risen to fifty guineas per cent.
The quotations of foreign exchange to-day were
generally rather more unfavourable to this country.
Paper on Hamburg was in request from 13.43 to
13.5. Drafts on Amsterdam were also in demand at
11.151, with few bills offering. On Paris the rate
was larawies rather lower, at 25.271, at three months,
and 25 to 25.023 at short, The quotation on Ant-
werp remains at 25.173 to 20. -Frankfort ruled
at 1183 to 3. For bills on Vienna and Trieste there
was rather more inquiry to-day; and although busi-
ness was dime at a material advance on the quota-
tions of last post, transactions taking place as high
as 12.15 to 20, still the rise is comparatively less
marked than that advised from the other side. The
rapid rise in this exchange, however, sufficiently in-
dicates the general distrust of the political and finan-
cial prospects of Austria.
The bar silver brought in by the Magdalena was
sold today for the continent at ss. l3d. per ounce
standard, being a reduction of Id. from the price
previously established. The dollars by. this vessel
have not yet been sold, holders preferring to wait
till Monday or Tuesday in preference to accepting
the reduced price now offered. There is still some
demand for India and China, and a considerable
amount of silver will probably be sent by the Penin-
sular and Oriental Company's steamer which will
leave Southampton for Alexandria on the 20th isst.
The quotations at present ruling in the bullion
market are thus reported 'by Mears. Sharps and
Wilkins ; viz., bar silver without gold, ifts. lid. per
oz. standard; do. containing gold (all gold above 6
grains in the pound to be paid for), Os. 13d. per es.
standard; Spanish Doubloons, 78e. 6d. per on.;
Columbian do., 775. 6d. per os. ; bar gold, 771. 9d.
per oz. standard.
The corn market to-day was dull, at Wednesday's
rices; bat for wheat Monday's rates were in some
instasece acceded to by sellers. Oats were rather
dearer, and for barley more money was asked ; but,
in genial, buyers showed hesitation. Since this day
wok, the arrivals of floating cargoes off the coast are
limbed to eighteen, of which nearly all were sold
tame arrival The country markets held yesterday
report as follows for wheat :-At Btowmarket, a rise
of se. par qr.; at Gloucester, a rise of 61. ; at Bristol,
a rice a 3e. Birmingham dull at previous prime;
Mamaseter, 9d. to Is. per bushel dearer. At Paris,
flour and wheat were rather dearer. At Antwerp
and Amsterdam, prices are saliently low to admit
of shipments to England.
This was " making-ay day is the railway mar-
ket. Oa the whole, steel has proved more abundant,
sad the mescal make than at the heat settling. Of
the heavier steels, Loan sad North Western was
eidely earn Great Western eammeaded a slight
" eentliage Insaine sad Iferkeldre and Mid-
land slake were dame "oven." Donn sad Ox-
ferias& Wereeetemeamia a " mating" and Great
Northam bemuse abundant Is the afteramm ; but
the anent la Calamine remaki evemold. Bub-