The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-15 00:00:00

TALLOW MARKET.-THIS DAY.

-
The tallow market TEMailli steady. The demand is
slinhtly improved. Town tallow, 665. ; Petersburg Y. C.
on the spot, 56a. ; Dec., 55e. 64. ; January to March, 665. ed.

SMITHFIELD lI.►Y MARKET.—THIS DAY.
Mr. B. S. Davie reports the supply shorter but quite
equal to the demand. A slight improvement in the price of
the best meadow hay. Prime meadow lay, 84e. to 105 e. ;
Inferior, 50e. to 70s ; Konen, 4•Ss. to 865.; Mover, 70.. to
Ilbt.; second eat, 60s. to 100$.; straw, Ns. to 42..

WZDNNISDAT EVZNINO.
The English funds opened at a further depression,
and, though an improved feeling was for a time
shown, the general tendency of the market is evi-
dently downwards. The quotations at 4 o'clock
were not lower than those current at the same hour

yesterday ; but the closing tone must be pronounced
flat, owing to the gloomy view generally taken of
fereign politics, and to intelligence of a tall of 4 per
cent. in the French Three per Cents. at Paris to-"day.
The Four-and a•Half per Cent. Rentes were at the
same time reported from Paris as stationary in price,
circumstance which is regarded as confirmatory of
the recent reports that the price of the French
Three per Cents. has been artificially raised of late,
with a view to some financial operation in this stock
by the French government. The business in the
English funds to-day was of a more restricted cha-
raver, sales, however, preponderating. It is under-
stood that the sales of Consols and French shares are
partly on account of influential parties who hitherto
have been steady supporters of the market.
Consols were first quoted 941 to 1 only, the tone
being unsettled and weak. A rally afterwards took
place to 941 to 3 ex div. for the opening of the 18th
January, at which range the market stood at 3
o'clock; but at 4 o'clock the quotation was only 945
to and finally stock was offered at 945. At one
moment, subsequently to 3 o'clock, the price was
even as low as 941. The official business report is
as follows:—Three per Cent. Console, for money
(shut), 955; ditto, for the opening, 18th January,
941, -, a, 3, I. Three per Cent. Reduced, 943 s
1,3, "93. Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., 965, 3,
1, 3. Long Annuities, 1860, 51. South Sea Old
Annuities, 993. Bank Stock, 2203. India Stock,
for account, 2485 ex div.
Exchequer Bills remain quoted 6e. to 9s. prem.,
and India Bonds, 2s. to ss. prem.
In tke foreign stock market business was quiet.
Russian was weak in the morning, but rallied.
Spanish continues to show a declining tendency,
owing to the unsatisfactory position of public affairs
at Madrid. Peruvian is more offered at present
rates, and closed flat this afternoon. At 4 o'clock

Mexican Bonds were quoted 241 to 1. Peruvian
Four-and•a-Half per Cents., 69 to 71. Granada
Deferred, BtoBl ; ditto Active, 21 to 22. Sardinian,
90 to 92 ex div. Spanish Deferred, 22 to 1.
Sales are thus recorded :—Brazilian Old Five per
Cent. Bonds, 98; ditto Four-and-s-Half per Cent.,
1852,931, #ex div. Chilian Six per Cent., 103.
Granada Deferred Bonds, 81, 8. Peruvian Four-
and-a-Half per Cent., 70; ditto for account, 30th
December, 69. Russian Five per Cents., 1121,
114 • ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 981, 2.
Sardinian Five per Cents., 901 ex div. Spanish
Old Three per Cents, 461, d•, ditto New Deferred
Three per Cents., 221, 22; the Committee's Certifi-
cates, 61, bk per cent.
There is still a limited inquiry for gold for remit-
tance to France; but the large amount of the precious
metal brought in by the Victoria from Australia has
not vet reached London.
Letters received to-day from Amsterdam, and
entitled to the fullest credit, state that the gold
lately withdrawn from the Bank of England on
account of Russia had been removed from that city
under charge of Russian government agents, but
its destination is not stated.

The corn market to-day exhibited a decidedly
firmer tone, at an advance of Is. per quarter for
wheat over the rates of Monday. At this improve-
ment a brisk business wu done in corn off the stands.
In floating cargoes several sales are reported, there
being still considerable demand on French and Bel-
gian account. From nearly all the country markets
held yesterday an advance in the price of corn is
reported. At Liverpool the advance in wheat was
3d. to 4d. per 701ba.; at Hull 2s. to 3s. per qr. ; at
Newcastle, 2s. per qr. • at Ipswich, la ' per qr. • and
at Dublin 6d. per barrel. Nearly all the French corn
markets advise a fresh rise in the price of corn,
averaging 1 fr. per beet. (about 2e. 6d. per qr.)
The top price of flour at Paris is now 102 f. per 157
kilo., or 66a. per 280 lbs.
A numerous meeting of the shareholders of the
Great Luxembourg Railway Company was held at
the London Tavern to-day to ratify the alliance made
with the Paris and Strasburg Railway Company,
and with the Credit MO:oilier Bank of Paris, also to
consider and determine on the consolidation of the
different classes of shares, so as to reduce all to one
simple denomination and enable them to take their
position on the Bourse of Paris. From the remarks
made by the President, Sir William Magnay, it tran-
spired that the undertaking having now surmounted
its difficulties, has been enabled to approach the Paris
and Strasburg with propositions for • junction;
that this Great French Company fully recognises
the value of the alliance, and that a treaty of a
simple and oomprehensive kind has been concluded,
whereby the interchange of traffic between the two
companies will be carried on in the most friendly
manner. The president of the Strasbourg Company
and two of his colleagues have consented to join the
direction of the Luxembourg Company, and afford the
benefit of their practical experience. With respect
to the condition of the line itself, the works, the
chairman stated, are being prosecuted with the
utmost vigour, and all is expected to be ready for
the opening from Brussels to Namur in the spring
of next year. It appears that no less than 8,000
men are now employed, and the number will soon
be much augmented. The principal station at Brus-
sels is far advanced towards completion : the sheds
for the locomotives and carriages are covered in, and
the rolang stock is in course of delivery. It was
further stated that such has been the stimulus given
etthe construction of the line, that the proprietors
the quarries, mines, and forests through which it
puma are prepared to send along it at once an
amount of goods traffic that would yield a net re-
venue upon the capital of at least 5 per cent., irres-
pective of the merchandise which will pass from
Antwerp into the heart of Germany, and of the large
passenger traffic which will be brought on by the
junctionofthePariaandStrasburg Railway. The Credit
Mobilier Bank have consented to act as the bankers
of the company in Paris, and thus insure a favour-
able reception for the new consolidated shares, and
the obligations or bonds. The shares are to be pre-
eisely.similar to those of the Paris and Strasburg,
with interest coupons of 4 per cent. attached to
them, and no call will be required during the whole
of next year. M. Boseange, the Secretary-General
of the Paris and Strasburg Company, then addressed
the meeting, and was received with great applause.
He stated that the advantages of the junction were
,so obvious, that it did not require much diplomacy
to being it about, and as to the results, he remarked
that, whilst the Paris and Strasburg was an incom-
plies line, they could calculate only on moderate re-
turns; but that, as soon as a connexion was eats-
UAW with the other great lines, the traffic had, as
if by magio, doubled, and that they had experienced
much difficulty in supplying he requisite rolling
stock. Still, the company had been able to do such
an extent of business as would enable them to pay a
dividend of 10 per cent. this year, and probably 11
or 12 per cent. next year. He added that, inasmuch
as the present arrangements would make the Lux-
embourg form the head of the great European rail-
way system extending from Antwerp to Marseilles,
he saw no reason why similar results might not be
expected in this case. The proceedings closed with
a cordial vote of thanks to the directors for the
success which at length has crowned their exer-
tions.

This was "making up" day in the railway mar-
ket. At the commencement of business light rates
of " contango" in many cases prevailed, but the sub-
sequent arrangement of the account showed stock to
be more scarce in the afternoon. Great Western,
Lancashire and Yorkshire, and Caledonian stocks
were throughout the day wanted for the settling,
particularly the two latter. Dovers continue plenti-
ful. Generally the settlement now in progress indi-
cates that business in the railway market has hecnme
more and more contracted, owing to the political un-

certainty now prevalent, but that the balance of spe-
culative operations is still for lower prices. An-
nexed is a statement of the rates ruling at four
o'clock.

London and North Watern " even " to boekwaraa-
tion.

Mtdland

Laacashire sod Yorkshire 1-16 to ditto.
Great Western even " to I ditto.
York and North Midland " even "to
.-16 ditto.

Dopers -32 to 3.32 cooing°.
Great Northern' -10 backwardation to 1-1 t

coating°.
Caledonians -32 to 3.32 backwards-
In French shares the late extensive speculation for
the fall appears to have been mainly closed, and the
rates of " backwardation " have almost entirely
passed off. Most of the speculative shares have been
carried over " even." On Luxenshourgs there was
a " contango" of 1 :)2. to 3.32 per share.
The shares of the British American Land Company
rose in the morning to 80, consequent upon the re-
newed reports relative to the discovery of gold on
this com?any's property. but closed at 76 to 79.
The Australian Agricultural and Peel River Com-
panies' shares were rather cheaper, and other land
stocks steady. In most of these stocks the settling
discloses a moderate speculation for the rise. On
British American Land shares the " contango" was
to 2. •on South Australian Land, 1.10 to ;on
Australian Agricultural, to ; and on Peel River,
4d. to 6d. per share. Bank shares were steady.
Victoria Dock shares (6/. paid) have been dealt in
at it ; Australian Royal Mail Steam (8/. paid), at
21 r•Crystal Palace of France, at prem. ; and tle-
neral Screw Steam Shipping (181. paid), at 13.
Subjoined is a letter from Mr. Charnock, who, at
the meeting of dissatisfied shareholders held at the
London Tavern on Thursday last, made some remarks
unfavourable to the management of the Melbourne
and Colonial House Investment Company :

MELBOURNE AND COLONIAL HOUSE INVEST-

DIENT COMPANY.
TO THE EDITOR, OF TILE DAILY NEWS.

Sir,-I•.ptarsiiar;;eora letter from the directors of the
above company, a copy of which appeared in your impres-
sion of Saturday, requesting my attendance at the office of
the company, and nftering a full and fair inspection of its
affairs,;l* on Monday last attended there, and am happy to
say, for the information of the shareholders, every requisite
laformation was readily given to me. There appears to
have been a lapse of time without active operations ; hut
this is accounted for by the delay in the Registration Office,
over which the directors say they had not c mtrul. The
books of expenditure were laid open, and by them It
appears that the outlay up to the present time
has been trifling, and I was informed that the
annual expenses are only nominal. As to the
operations of the company, they seem at present
to be limited. The directors, however, informed me that
they have taken about six acres of land at Bow on lease
at a reasonable rental, and intend commencing business in
earnest forthwith. In the meantime a number of houses
have been constructed for the company, which wiU shortly
be despatched from Bristol. The directors, lam instructed,
hold a very considerable stake in the adventure, sad they
seem sanguine on their ultimate success. I understand the
books are open to any of the shareholders. Trusting to
your courtesy for the insertion of this, which I feel to be
only fair on my part, to the directors,-1 am, &c.,
W. W. CIIAILNOCK.
3, Trinity street, Borough, Dec. 14, 11343.

Annexed are the latest reports from continental
bourses, as received by Mr. Renter's express :
Amsterdam, Tuesday, closing prices :-I)utch Four
per Cents., 93 1-16; ditto Two-and-a-Half per
Cents., 61 13-16. Spanish Deferred Three per Cents.,
2la; the Coupons, 5 5-16. Austrian Five per Cent.
Metallic', 761. Portuguese New, 36i. Mexican
New, 221 ex div. Granada Active, 211; ditto
Deferred, 81. Peruvian New, 67f. These prices
generally show a little flatness. The exchange
nn London comes reported the same as
before, at 11.65 short. Paris—closing prices of this
day: Three per Cent. Renter, 75.10; ditto Four-
and-a-Half per Cents., 102 ; Bank shares, 2,930.
The Three per Cents. exhibit a fall of per cent. ;
whilst the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. are quoted the
same as they closed yesterday.