The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-19 00:00:00

SATUIIDAT EVDNINO.
The English stock market, and the Stock Ex-
change generally, were quite devoid of any interest-
ing feature to-day, business shoring extreme dulness
is every department. Notwithstanding, however,
the very unsatisfactory aspect of political affairs, the
fends were steadily supported at the closing range
of yesterday, and at one period of the day the ten-
dency was rather in the direction of improvement.
At the does the tone of the market was lees strong.
Consols opened and closed at 941 to 1 ex div. for
the opening of the 18th January, and advanced in
the meantime to 941 to 1. The official business re-
port is as follows:—Three per Cent. Console, for the
opening, 18th January, 941, I 1 ex div.; Three
per Cent. Reduced, 941, 4. Three-and-a-Quarter
per Cents., 96,951, 961; Long Anus., 1660, 51.
Exchequer Bills continue at their rduced range of
3e. to 6s. prem. India Bonds remain quoted par to
35. prem.
In the foreign stock market business was on the
most restricted scale, and prices showed little change.
Spanish was rather flatter. Peruvian Four-and-a-
Hal fper Cents. fell 3 per cent., and the Three per Cents.
2 per cent. During the greater part of the day there
was great indisposition in the Stock Exchange to
tratiseet business in this debt, but in the afternoon
the members were more wilting to deed, and trans-
actions to the extent of 20,000!., either in the way of
buying or selling, could probably have been effected
in the Four-and a-Half per Cents. at 64 to 66. Rus-
sian and Mexican stocks were unchanged. At 3
o'clock Mexican Bonds were quoted 241 to 1. Peru-
vian Three per Cents., 44 to 46. Sardinian, 90 to
92 ex div. Spanish Deferred, 22 to 1. Russian Five
per Cents., 112 to 114 ; ditto Four-and-a-Half per
Cents., 97 to 99. The list of actual sales includes
only the following, viz.:—Dutch Four per Cent.
Certificates, 951, 96. Granada Deferred Bonds, 8.
Greek Bonds (Blue), 7. Mexican Three per Cents.,
24/. Peruvian Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 64.
Russian Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 981. Spanish
New Deferred Three per Cents., 221.
It is confidently stated that an agreement has been
come to between the London and North Western and
Great Western Railway Companies, with the ap-
proval of Mr. Cardwell, to refer the differences
existing between these two companies to the arbitra-
tion of the Hon. Edward Lawn's, kI.P. for Ripon,
and brother of the Earl of Harewood.
The imports of the precious metals this week have
been extraordinarily large, owing mainly to the
arrival of a steamer from Australia. Our list of
arrivals comprises :-183,000 ounces of gold on
freight by the Victoria steamer from Australia
(besides the amount in passengers' hands); 066,061
dela. by the Arabia, from New York; 7,7001. in
specie on freight by the steamer Olinda, which has
has just arrived from the Brazils ; and 629,942 dole.
(of which 124,842 dole. was in gold, and 505,100 dole.
in silver) by the La Plata from the West Indies and
Pacific. The total value of these arrivals may be
stated at about one million sterling, of which only
about 100,0001. is actually known to be in silver. It
must be recollected, however, that the gold brought
in by the Victoria is not yet deliverable.
On the other hand, the shipments have been
limited. The custom-house statement of the ship-
ments of the precious metals direct from London
during the week ending Thursday last, includes 9,500
ounces, and 1201. in gold, and 156,800 ounces and
1,2001. in silver, representing an aggregate value of
-ant 77,0001. sterling. The statement in detail is
as follows :—Gold colts! to ?-t_:kuid, 6,006 ounces;
to Hamburg, 3,500 ounces. Gold bars: to Belgium,
1201. Silver coin : to Hamburg, 3001.; to Boulogne,
800 ounces. Silver bars: to Rotterdam, 156,000
ounces; to Belgium, 9001.
The other exports reported to us comprise 40,6001.
by the Calcutta (of which 28,2001. was in gold for
the Mauritius, 5,4701. in silver for Madras, and
7,0001. in gold for Ceylon ; and 277,022 dollars by
the Margaret steamer, from Liverpool for Havre,
this latter sum forming part of the specie brought
in by the Arabia from New York. The total ascer-
tained shipments of the week thus amount to only
about 180,0001. sterling. There is still some in-
quiry for gold for the continent, and it is probable
that further shipments of the precious metal have
' been made to that quarter, via the outports, but the
specie movement of the week is manifestly greatly
on the favourable side.
On the subject of the claims of the holders of the
certificates which have been issued by the Committee
of Spanish Bondholders u vouchers for the half of
the overdue coupons so unjustly confiscated by the
last Spanish conversion law, Mr. Bauer, who has
succeeded Mr. Weisweiller as representative at
Madrid of the English holders of Spanish bonds, has
addressed a letter to the Minister of Finance. Pri-
vate letters mention an impression prevailing in
many Spanish circles, and even in well-informed
quarters at Madrid, that, owing to the silence lately
observed on the subject by the English press, the
opposition at first shown to this unjust enactment
has calmed down, and that the affair will soon be
forgotten. Of the fallacy of such reasoning no
demonstration is required ; as long as the disgrace
involved in this repudiation of the most sacred part
of a debt, i. e., the overdue interest, rests upon
Spain, so long will the English press continue, so a
warning to the public, to keep. the nefarious trans.&
Lion open on all proper occasions.
It appears that some of the holders of the S'.: per
Cent, guaranteed stock of the Great Luxembourg
Company, are opposed to the proposals submitted by
the board for the consolidation of the several classes
of shares. We insert a letter from one of the com-
plaining parties, merely premising that he is in error
in stating that the new stoat—viz., shares of 20!.
each, with 101. paid—will bear no interest, inasmuch
as this new stock will bear an interest at the rate of
4 per cent. per annum until the complete opening of
the line from Brussels to Strasbourg.
GREAT LEXEXDOURG RAILWAY.
TO THI AMOR OP Tall DAILY NAWIL

Sir,-Boms time since I purchased Six per Cent. Gus-
I matted Stuck in the Luxembourg Railway, at a premium
of 10s. per share, upon the understanding that the gua-
rantee of interest assured by the Belgian government was
to be pe-ietually assigned to them. I now perceive by
report from the Luxembourg Company, that they propose
to give this class of sharrholden 101. sham without any
guarantee, and a 41. obligation or bond bearing 4 per cent.
per annum interest fur two of these shares, making 101.
paid ; so that I am to be obliged to take a 10/. share yieliiing
no interest at all, and a 41. bond bearing 5 per cen.. in-
terest, for my 101. guarantee Six per Cent. stock. Although
I cannot see any reason why these shares, being guaranteed,
should be altered at all, still, if altered, ought it not to be
as near as equivalent as the guarantee, upon the faith of
which they were purchased? It will injure so many, I trust
the directors will alter their proposals.
Your obedient servant,
A Six PEA CENT. HOLDER.
Brighton, Des. 14, 18.53.
. It may be advisable to quote the exact words of
the directors in their proposal to convert this class of
the company's stock :
For the holders of the 60,000101. belt-shares, guaranteed
6 per cent., upon which 51 have bees paid, the folios ing es
the arrangement we propose—that they shall receive in ex-
change 30,000 'hares (101. paid) " to I:roarer," subject to tom
payment of the other 101 , and a bonus of 30,000 paid up 41.
Obligations beating interest at 6 percent., and reimbursable
at St. There would thus he given to the shareholders of this
claw one share of 201. (101. paid) sad one of 41. Olfiqration,
reimbursable at 51. for two half shares of 101. each, upon
which St. have been paid.
Land shares to-day wore steady at former ratcs
but the shares of the Scottish Australian Investment
Company were higher. Bask shares were quiet.
IThose of the Bank of Australasia ruled 11. lower.
The shares of the Australian Royal Mail Steam
Navigation Company were dealt in at 21 (8/. paid);
Berlin Waterworks at l (2L 105. paid); General
Steam Navigation at 271; Netherlands Land (4/.1
paid) at 3; and Peninsular and Oriental Steam at
69 to 69f ex div. and bonus.
Annexed are the latest reports from continental
bourne, as received by Mr. Renter's express :
Amsterdam, Friday, closing prioes:—Dutch Four
per Cents., 921; ditto Two-and-a-Half per Cents.,
61 11-16. Spanish Deferred Three per Cents.,