The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

this event is yet regarded in many quarters as
imminent, consequent upon the entrance of the com-
bined fleets into the Black Sea. With the rupture
of diplomatic relations between Great Britain and
Russia, we shall enter upon a new phase of this mo-
mentous question. As regards the divisions in the
English Cabinet, there was no new fact in the City,
but much speculation. There is still an impression
in many well-informed quarters, that Lord Palmerston
will not remain long out of office.
Consols opened 941 to 3 ex div. for the 18th Jan.,
and, after being purchased at 941, fell to 941 to 1,
and thence to 93 to /. At the official close the price
was 931 to ;at 4 o'clock still 1 better again, at 931
to 94; and after that hour 94 exactly. The official
business report is as follows :—Three per Cent. Con-
sols, for the opening, 18th January, 941, 1, a, I,
93?„ 93: ex div. Three per Cent. Reduced, 943,
1, 94. Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., 961, 96, 961,
951, 931. Long Annuities,lB6o, 31, S 5-16. Bank
Stock, 219.
Exchequer Bills remain quoted 3s. to 6s. prem.,
and India Bonds par to 3s. prem.
The foreign stock market was also heavy in cha-
racter; but, on the whole, prices in this department
are not greatly affected by politics, though ordinarily
very sensitive to apprehensions of any disturbance of
European peace. Peruvian declined 1 per cent.,
Mexican f, per cent., and Spanish Deferred 1 per
cent. Russian was more offered, but the price is
steadily supported, doubtless by the agents of the
Czar. At 4 o'clock Mexican Bonds were quoted
23; to 241. Peruvian Three per Cents., 48 to 50 ;
ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 68 to 70. Sar-
dinian, 90 to 91 ex div. Spanish Deferred, 211 to
22; the Certifs., 41 to 51 per cent. Russian Five
per Cents., 112 to 114 ; ditto Four-and-a-Half per
Cents., 98 to 99. Granada Active, 21 to 22 ;
ditto Deferred, 8 to BA. Sales are recorded as follows :
Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Bonds, 931, 1
(exchange, 23E) Brazilian Four-and-a-Half per
Cents., 1852, 923 ex div. Buenos Ayres Six per
Cents., 631, 63, 66. Danish Three per Cents., 1825,
831, 841. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents., 643;
ditto, Four per Cent. Certificates, 961, 951. Granada
Deferred Bonds, 71. Mexican Three per Cents.,
241. Peruvian Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 681, 691.
Portuguese Four per Cents., 431. Russian Five per
Cents., 112, 1121. Spanish Old Three per Cents.,
461; ditto New Deferred Three per Cents., 22, 1.
There was rather more demand to-day for money
in commercial circles, but this may be partly owing
to the fact that the engagements of Monday next
will be generally met to-morrow (Saturday).
As will have been perceived by the statements
already made in the public journals, Monday will be
very generally observed as a holiday in the City.
None of the produce or other markets will be open ;
and, as regards the Stock Exchange, the committee
will to-morrow, in all probability, come to a decision
in a similar sense.
The Chowringhee has arrived from Melbourne
with 59,868 ounces of gold, valued at nearly
240,0001. Having sailed on the 7th Sept., her dates
are old.
The amount of specie brought in by the Baltic
from New York is very large, being stated in the
telegraphic despatch at upwards of a million of dol-
lars, or 200,000/. sterling.
In the market for foreign exchanges to-day the
tendency of rates was generally rather more favour-
able, especially for bills on Paris, which were offered
at 25.30 at three months, whilst for short paper
money was to be obtained at 25.05. The exception
was in bills on Hamburg, which are scarce, owing to
the season preventing shipments of produce and
goods from that side, and were in fair demand at
13.4 j to 5. With the increase of political distrust,
bills on Vienna and Trieste were again much offered,
and dealt in as high as 11.40 and upwards. Business
generally was limited.
The corn market to-day was firm, at Monday's
prices. As usual at this season, there is little dispo-
sition to engage in new operations. For floating
cargoes importers continue to ask extreme prices, the
demand for the Continent continuing. The reports
received from the country markets indicate generally
a quieter tone, though in most cases a rise in price
is announced. At Bristol the rise is 4s. per quarter ;
at Birmingham, 25.; at Manchester, Is. to 25.; and
at Newmarket, 4s. to ss. The French corn markets
have also assumed a quieter tone, but prices are firm.
Hamburg letters of the 20th mention that money
was easier at 41 to 41 per cent. Bills on London
were consequently in demand. Funi.s and shares
were quiet, but steady. Trade was suspended, the
navigation being closed.
The amount of bills drawn by the East India
Company on their respective presidencies from the
Bth to the 23rd inst, is as follows :
Rate of Exchange.
Madras
Bengal
100 103 )21. Old. per Co's. rupee.
Bombay

Total 06,282 8 7
Within the last month a committee of Spanish
bondholders has bee; formed in Antwerp, and has
put itself in communicattCn with the. London cum
niittee, with a view to concertto: action for the re-
cognition of the certificates representing the half of
the unfunded coupons confiscated at the last con-
version, and since so unjustly ignored by the
Spanish government. With this view the Ant-
werp bondholders have addressed to the
Spanish Minister of Finance a memorial, which is to
be strenuously supported by the Belgian government,
in accordance with a promise made by the Belgian
Minister of Finance, at an interview which the mem-
bers of the Antwerp committee recently had with
him. a

The half-yearly guaranteed interest at the rate of
6 per cent. per annum is advertised u payable on
the 2nd January, on the shares of the London, Til-
bury, and Soul hend Extension Railway.

Australian Agricultural, South Australian Land,
and Peel Ricer shares were more offered to-day, and
all declined. The late excitement in British Ameri-
can Land shares has subsided, and the price has re-
ceded to 70 to 73. Bank shares were rather flatter,
and Union Bank of Australia shares declined 11.
Crystal Palace shares, on continued sales, have fallen
to 1 to 2 prem. Several thousand shares of this
Company, it is stated, have been placed upon the
market this week. Victoria Dock shares (61. paid)
have been dealt in at 71 to A ; and Peninsular and
Oriental Steam at 68 to 68i ex div. and bonus.

Native Ce)lon Coffee has risen this week 2e. per
cwt., and sugar 6d. per cwt. The annexed sum-
mary
of the produce markets during the week is I
extracted front the circular of Messrs. W. J. and H.
Thompson, issued this evening:
In the colonial markets this week there has been MOM
animation than for come time put, and prices have ad-
vanced. There has been considerable inquiry for sugar,
and the calee mule have been at a rise fully Gil. p.•r cwt.
The native deveripteml of Ceylon coffee have been in request,
andsalso to some extent have made, the latest price psid
being 505., or 2s. per cwt. &see:than this day week. Rion
has been in fair ,entanil, the Madras kinds have fully ye.
covered the decline, and Bengal descriptions have also im-
provediavalue. Lea remains firm; common congon has