The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-25 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET.

on Fitidiy as before.
The accounts from Hull and Leeds, of Tuesday's date, de-
scribe the trade in wheat as firmer than it had previously
been, but certainly not more animated ; fine samples were,
however, quoted about la. per qr. higher than on that day
*slush/lit, at each of the places named.
At Birmingham, on Thursday, no advance could be esta-
blished ; and at Bristol, on the same day, a rise of Is. per qr.
was with difficulty obtained on Engloh,whilst foreign moved
off slowly at former rates.
Wakefield,
upwards,
fFridaayt net an t
so decidedly
so of a ime
di I
la;
charThseeteartuhnetatenfrdom ency being b
so as to warrant alteration in quotations.
The somewhat firmer tone of the &deices from the south,
and a falling off in the supplies of both home and foreign
grown wheat, appear to have imparted more firming*, to
business in the Scotch markets; still there was no actual rimel
in the vales of the article, either at Bdieburgh or Glasgow,
on Wednesday.
The letters from Ireland genteelly obsene silenee in re-
spect to the state of the potatoes in the pits, which induces
us to hope that they are keeping as well as was expected ;
but this supposition is somewhat weakened by the gradual
manner in which the value of Indian corn is advancing at
some of the large markets on the other side ofo nly .bootth suf-
Channel.
The supplies of grain appear to have been '
ficient for the demand, and quotations of wheat had rather
tended upwards.
The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have been
small, only 3,005 qee. having been reported up to this (Sit-
, turda) evening ; nor has any increase taken place in the
'quantity brought forward by land ge samples from the
home counties or the off. rs from the east coast. Trifling.
however, u have been the supplies, they have kept puce
with the demand ; the Lt tar having been very far team
waive.
On Wednesday the Essex, Hen& and Suffolk stands were
quite bare, and there was little offering from Lincolnshire
es Cambridgeshire, but the millers manifested nos ns of
being in any immediate meat, mid prime remained lima.,
many the same as in the beginning of the week. Blau then'
there has been no addition to the supply, and salaams* et
salinity
positiongars on }ri ds, as previously. Tee weddy
average price for wheat for the kingdom, published es
Thursday, 38s. Pd., is the lowest return we have had dace
1836.
The boisterous weather in the early part of the week
kept bath supplies, and but few cargoes of wheat have sr.
rived from abroad at this port, the total quantity received
amounting to only 12,338 qn. A large preportion of wheat
previously came to hand has new been landed by the im-
porters, and there is consequently at present no particular
pressure on the market. Meanwhile we are unable to notice
any improvement in the country demand, nor have local
buyers shown any disposition to add to their stocks.
The transactions on Wedaesday, as well as on Friday,
were on quite a retail scale, but there was no giving way
in prices; indeed, suu rim parcels of old were held fur
rather more money at the close than in the beginning of the
work.
The nominal top quotation for town-made flour has been
steadily supported, and fresh ship marks have excited rather
more attention. Norfolk and other country householi flour
has met a better demand this week, and the best kinds of
French have commanded fully former terms.
Barley of home growth has come rather sparingly to hand,
and the arrivals of foreign have been on a more moderate
scale than we have lately been in the habit of receiving.
Fine malting sorts have been in request, and have brought
lull terms ; but we can notice no improvement either
the value of or in the demand for the commoner descrip-
tions. Foreign barley has been taken to a moderate ex-
tent for grinding, at similar prices to thorns realised on
!downy.
The operatioas in malt have been of but little interest, and
the value of the et tiele has undergone no variation requir:ug
notice.
The arrivals of oats have been altogether small ; but a
good supply is known to be on pauses from Scotland, and
tolerably large receipts may also be expiated from abroad.
Under these circumstances, the dealers havean nd
t deemed
ss
it
advisable to follow up their late purchases, et
he
done, both on Wednesday and Friday, was of a compara-
tively retail character. tithe quantity on board ship at this
port baying, however, been greatly. diminished of late, the
one, and
throughout the week
as maintained a ecide
any pre-
TiAlll period.
The moderate rates at which beans have been offered has
failed to lead to a more active demand, and sales were as dif-
ficult to effect at the close of the week as oat Monday.
Nothing of interest has transpired in Indian corn at this
tiLta. at:tr diaiverPool, prices of this article have tended uu-
The weather appears to have undergone a somewhat simi-
lar change on the continent to that experienced here abut
the Itch ins,.
Letters from Hamburg and some of the near Baltic ports.
date i Monday and Tuesday last, inform us that the temps
?cre u had risen mantis ly above the freezing point, anO
chat much rain had fallen ; and, though the ice hadow of not,
the up
to that period, been sufficiently acted upon to all
navigation of the rivers being resumed, it was expected the
some of the vessels which had been fru m up would be
enabled to put to sea, if the thaw should only continue a
day or two longer.
From the Upper Baltic ports our letters are not of such
recent dates ;and up to the 15th lest. there sums to have
been little prospect of shipaientsbeiog resumed.
At Danzig, on the 15th, the weather was milder than it
had previous y been ; but the Vistula was fee ten over, and
there appeared
ailittlebrought forward chance of suppliesby frthe neighbouring
om P•sland. The
quantity of grn
growers had, meanwhile, been moderate; and notwith-
standing the direouraging reports from the British markets,
holders had refused to take lower rates fur fine
els.
qualities of
wheat. The best high mixed (old) was then still quoted
to 43'., and new from 355. to 38s. per qr., according to
weight, condi.ion, &c.
At lion'geburg, on the 141 t Dec., the frost was not so
severe as it had been in the month ; but there
There
WM I
then but slight prospect of the river being set free.
had been little or nothing dome in grain for spring ship-
ment, and the transaction, had since that day we, k been
altogether unimoortant. The value of wheat had rather
tended downwards, quotations beintenh for general runs
of red, 325. 84.; far mixed, 34e. to fi mixed, 365. to
37s ; and high mixed, 38s. per qr. free on board. Barley
bad slightly declined in value, large, weighing 52Ibs. per
base el, being then offered at equal to 155.; and small, of
5011ar• weight, at 13s. Bd. per qr.
From Stettin we learn, under date of 17th Decemand ber, that
the weather bad for tome days previous been mild wet,
but nothing is said about the state of the navigation. ,
of wheat were quoted higher there than at some of the
eighbouring puts ; still a fair extent of business had, we
are informed, -been done. Silesian red wheat, of 611 be., was
held sieges' to 345., and white at 381_ • whilst for Pome-
rania* and Uckermark, weighing 621bs. per bus heeded
365. per qr., free on board in spring, had been
Barley was quoted 17s. to 185., and oata 13s. per qr.

MONDAY Sunrise.
The Eoglish funds were again slightly depressed
to-day, and no great amount of business was done in
them. Consols opened at 96 to 1, and after touching
981, they returned to the first prim and so closed for
the 18th January ex dividend. The Three per cent Re-
daoed marked 96 and 1. The New Three-and-4-
Quarter per Cents. were done variously, from 971 to
1, the last transaction being marked 971.
Exchequer Bills were in demand, and marked 55
and 58s. for all kinds. Long Annuities were done at
81 and 9.16. Bank Stock, 2021 and 2031. India
Bonds, 875.; ditto, under 1,0001. 88e. prem.
In the foreign securities the amount of business
done was on a moderate scale, with scarcely any va-
riation in pike. Mexican bonds, however, were not
quite so firm, the last price was 281. The dealings
include Six per Cent. Cuba Bonds at 98. Danish
Five prr Cents, at 100. Equador at 3/ and I.
Mexican (ex. January coupon), at 281 for mong, and
281 and fur account. Peruvian Four per Cents.,
1849, for account at 541. Portuguese Four per Cents.
at 38/. Five per Cent. Spanish Actives at 181, 1,
and 1 for money, and 181 for account ; the Passive
Dtbt at 31 and 4 ; the Three per Cents. at 381 for
money, nod 381 for account. Two-and-a-Half per
Cent. Detch at 661; ditto Four per Cent. at 841, 85,
and 811.
The returns of the operations of the Belgian banks
for the fortnight ending the 15th inst., give the fal-
lowing. The amount of notes in circulation of the
two banks of issue ,a—
Societe Generals
Barque de Belgique

Total 48.665103
The amount of discounts for the same period is :
ComptUr central 319,033f.
6ociet6 ge Lena'
Bauque de Belgique

Tots) 6,356,379f.

The discounts afforded by the special fund of one
million placed by the government at the disposal of
the Bank amount to 410,960 f.
The adjudication of the government tobacco con-
tract* at Paris hu been decided as follows : to M.
Pescatore, 1,800,000 kilog. Virginia at 1081. 89c.,
1,900,000 kilog. Maryland at 98f. 74c., 150,000 kilog.
Brazil at 1721. To Al. Korr, 2,240,000 kilog. Ken-
tucky at 85f. 14c. To M. Perrin, 400,000 kilog. Ma-
cedonia at 96f. 750. To M. Zizinia, 100,000 kilog.
Greek at 831.25 c. To M. Zangroni, 200,000 klieg.
Havana at 249f.96c. To M. Rothschild, 100,000 kilog.
Java at 2621.50 e.
Letters of the 14th from Naples mention that the
price of oil had advanced considerably, owing to ex. i
tenaive transactions which have been going on for I
some time on speculation ; but without an incressedl
export demand, it was generally thought the ruling
prices could not be maintained. Gallipoli was quoted
D. 25.58 per salon, equal to 281. Bs. 63. per ton, f. o.b.
Exchange, 579. Freights were scarce, with several'.
disengaged vessels in the reed : the rates were 40s.
to London. and ss. extra to Liverpool or Bristol, with
10 per cent, and 10 guinea,
At Leghorn the exchange bad fallen to 30.30,
owing, it is supposed, to the loan of 30 millions re-
quired by the government.
Hamburg advice@ of the 21st state that the specu-
lative demand for coffee continued unabated, and that
the transactions of the week amounted to 55,000 bags
Brazil, at 43 for ordinary, to 6 schillings for fine ordinary,
which is a slight advance over last week's prices ; and
abut 10,000 bags of other descriptions at correspond-
ling rates. Holders were very firm, and the market
wss still looking up. Au improvement was percepti-
ble in the sugar market, and business had been dune
to the extent of about 1,600 packages of various
kinds at full prices. In rice and cotton nothing was
going forward of the least importance. About
4,000 serous of Cuba tobacco had exchanged'
hands at market rate,. Pepper and pimeuto
were very firm, with an upward tendency, although
very little had been does in them during the week.
Cocoa had again advanced in price. Train oil was
held at 48 Intl kn. Business had been done in speller
to the extent of 6,000 centners at a slight reduotion
in price. The wool market had been rather active,
and several parcels of Prussian and Mecklenburg
fleeces were disposed of at 18; to 21 schillings hence.
In grain nothing was going forward; the prices,
nevertheless, were remarkably firm, and offers at a
reduction of one to two dollars had been refused.
The exchange on this country was a shade lower,
13.9 for 3 months ; gold, 436 marks. Public lands
were firm. Money was in more request.
St. Petersburg advice' of the 13th complain of the
continued absence of snow, which prevented the
opening of the communication with the interior, and,
consequently, scarcely anything Misdoing in imports.
In Russian products business was equally inactive.
Something had been done in tallow at 114 R. with
hand money for August, but since then the price was
not so firm. In flax nothing had been done, and it
was expected the pretensions of the holders would
h ive to give way, in consequence of the lower prices
which ruled in Riga. In hemp there was no change
to notice. Clean on the spot might be had at 80 to
84 IL prompt. The exchange we. : On London,
37 11-16 to 370.; Amsterdam, 1883 to 189.
The arrival of the steam-packet, Dee, at South-
ampton, puts us in potreestou of dates from Jamaica
to the 22nd November, and from Mexico, to the 15th
idem. She brings in specie from the Gulf 1,841 000
dollars, on merchants' account, 69,998 dolls. on account
ot the Mexican dividend., and 339 serous of cochineal.
Complaints are very gen. rat of the delay in the trans-
mission of the mails from Mexico by the \Vest Indio
steam packets, and the present is another instance of
the Justice with which these complaints are made.
The dates now received from Vera Cruz extend only
to the 17th November. Daplicates ot which were
received in the City five days ago in New York. This
requires amendment ; and it is to be hoped that ar-
rangements will speedily be made by the proper au-
thorities which will place the West India packet
service on a more efficient food• g, and be satisfactory
to the public generally, who have too much cause to
be diseatiefied with the present system.
At Barbados business was quite etagnent. " Oar
has lowlas, (.a,. the L.., 1,...,/:,.•.) a,. ~,, l• mil but, . Ass y t j.;
scarcely a vessel to tell of et stir in mercantile busi-
ness ; no r busy hum of men' on our wharf—only
persons pacing its dull path on their way to Commer-
cial Hall, the place at bend to relieve the tedium of
an idle day, catching at the newspaper files and
periodicals, which they take up merely pour passer le
temps, having probably read them all be-
fore, and then back again to their dull
counting-house or quiet parlour." It was
hoped, however, that this stagnation of the wharf
business would not last 1 ing, the tme being almost
at hand when the wonted bustle and activity would
revive, when the shies would he arriving in quick
succession with the Citrietm •it supplies, and all would
be cheerfulness and an'matton.
Letters from Aguathita of the 22nd of November,
mention that prices in the coffee market were on the
rise; 84 dole. had been off red but refused, and fir
a fine parcel 84 dole. had been maid. Little business
has as yet been done, however, owing to the con-
tinuance of wet weather, which prevented the planters
from drying the bean. At 'Mayaguez there was
rill mire excitement in the coffee market,
and 8} dollars were readily paid for ordinary
quality. Betides corsiderable orders from the
Mediterranean, a great 'timber have aho been lately
received from the Celled States. The prospects of the
next sugar crop were still very favourable. Small
parcels are expected to arrive in the market at the
end of December. With respect to prices, it was gist- I
rally thought that they will rule low. 1
At St Thomas, exchange on Loudon was 470 dols.
to 480 dole. per pound sterling.
Havana advices of the 27th November state that
the decline of about I real, which took place in the
price of sugar, bad given ripe to large trans-
action,. in that article, and the shipments from
the two ports for the month ending the
24th idem amounted to 41,284 boxes. Prices
were fully maintained, and quotations were, for

THIS DAY.
This being Christmas-day, it is observed as a clomp
holiday throughout the City.