The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-22 00:00:00

KILLION CHARGE FOR WORKING STOCK.

Charged to Capital. I Aver-
Total
Total charge f Tae-----...Ttlias
For Stock Mil sits
as reduced by Stock is . per
Deterioration Store. la use. worked. mil..
Feud,
Year ending £ £ £
JIM 30, 1840
~ 1841 628.700 260 2,411
99 1812 68.5,916 2,630
„ 1843
„ 1844
„ 1845
„ 1846
„ 1817
„ 1848
„ 1849 1,864,932 1,761,536 664 2,631
~ 1850 2,002,077 1,940,491 794 2,427
„ 1851
_ „ 1552

„ 18 51 2,097,539 I 8831 2,430
1552 2,103,010 866 i 2,427
Half d
y
Dec.
31, 18.52 I
With the single exception of South Australian
Land shares, which were rather weaker, all securities
connected with Australia were very firm in prim
The shares of the Bank of Australasia and Unioe
Bank of Australia, were both higher. It is knows
that both these banks will pay extraordinarily large
dividends for the current half-year, with the cer-
tainty of an excellent business in future, so that in-
vestors offer eagerly. It is evident that the public
at large have imbibed a strong relish for Australian
securities, and are becoming awake to the magnifi-
cent prospect that is now being opened up for those
valuable colonies. Australia must, for many years,
present an inexhaustible field for enterprise, and
thus it is not surprising that so many thousands of
shares in the land, bank, and mining companies con-
nected with this southern continent are being rapidly
absorbed by the public. Indeed, there is still great
probability of a spesies of mania setting in in this
direction.
Amongst the miscellaneous share business of the
day there were transactions in the following:—
Colonial Bank, 17, 1 ; London and Westminster Bank,
36; Oriental Bank Corporation, 50, 491; victoria
Docks, old shares (21. paid), 41; Australian Royal
Mail Steam (61. paid), 51; Crystal Palace (51. paid),
31, 5; Royal Mail Steam, 821; Ebro Canal shares
are quoted 1/ to 11 prem. ; Chiriqui Road, par to
1 prem. ; Beziera and Graissessac Railway, to 1
prem. ; Royal Swedish Railway, to die.; French
South Eastern Railway, par to 1 prem.; Chartered
Bank of Asia, 2to 1 dis.; Great Western and City
Junction Railway, dia. to 1 prem.
We understand that at the meeting of the Scottish
Australian Investment Company, to be held at
Aberdeen, on the 2nd of March next, the directors
propose to ask the shareholders to agree to alter the
contract of copartnery so as to give them power to
form a London board of management, and t i transfer
the office of the company here. This arrangement
seems natural in view of the large number of shares
that have passed during the last few months from
the hands of Scottish into those of English
holders.

The quotations of stocks at Amsterdam on Satar-

day are thus reported by telegraphic exiirt.ss:
Dutch Four [per Cents., 96 7-16; ditto Two-and-a-
Half per Cents., 651. Spanish Deferred Three wet
Cents., 23 9-16. Mexican New, 2.1 7-16. Portu-
guese New, 38 15-16. The Spanish Committee's
Certificates, 4 1.5-16. Austrian Five per Cent. Me-
tallic*, 81 13-16.

MIS DAY.—Two CLon.

The English stock market remains steady, sup.
port being afforded by the renewed purchases of the
government broker in Consols, but busine,,s continues
very limited. Consols are quoted 99; to for money,
and 994 to 1 for the 10th March, and present no
fluctuation. The Thre• per Cents. Reduced mark
1001 to 3 ; the Three-and•a-Quarter per Cents. 1034
to 1; Bank Stock, 227 ;India Stock, 269; India Bonds
30s. prem. Rachelper Bills arc rather firmer, at
10s. to 20s. prem. for the June, and is. to ISe. prem.
for the March issue.

Foreign stocks are generally firm, including Spa.
nish, Mexican, Grunadian, Dutch, Russian, and Sar-
dinian. Spanish New Deferred Threes mark 231 to
; the Committee's Certificates, 5: per cent. ; Sar-
dinian, 941 to 7, ; Russian Fires, 1201 to 121 ; I)utch
Fours, 991 to 99; Mexican, 24 ; Granada Deferred,
111; Swedish loan, 1f to 1j did.

VIENNA, Ftn. 19.—Five per Cent. Metalltques,
93!. New Loan (Series A),— ; (Series 11),
.106 ;
Four-and-a-Half per Cents., Bank Shares, 1,396.
Exchange on London, 10.49.
BERLIN, FEB. 19.—Voluntary Lnan, 101; ; New
Loan, 4} per Cent. (18.50), 1021 ; ditto (1852), 1021;
National Debt, 931; Commercial Marine Society's
Premium, 1481; Bank Shares, 109).

COMMERCIAL AND MARKETS.
. _
MINCING-LANE.—THIS DAY.
St oan.—The public sales are progressing steadily at the
full prices of last week. The refined market also wears a
firm appearance.
Curran.-200 base native Ceylon sold in public sale with
spirit at 434. ; one lot at 48s. 6d., and this article has an up-
ward tendency.
Cncoa.—A large sale of Guayaquil went off freely at full
prices, 34a. to 355. Trinidad sold 335. to 395.
Ta►.—The market is not active, but prices are fully sup-
varied.

INDIOO.—No alteration in prices to-day.
Currox.—We are without transaction of importance to
report to-day.
In other articles no material alteration.

SMITHFIELD HAY MARKET.-TIIIS DAY.
Mr. E. J. Davis reports the supply short, and trade brisk.
Quotations:—Prime meadow hay. 84.. to 9th.; inferior,
7is. to 80s. ; Rowan, 50s. to 63a. ; Clover, 955. to 105 a. ;
second cut, 755. to 90s. ; Straw, 30s. to 335.

TALLOW MARKET.—THIS DAY.
The market is quiet, at the following quotations :—Town
Tallow is quoted 445. nett cash ; Petenbarz Y.C. oa the
spot, 4.50 ; March aid April, 445. 9d. to 45e.; October to De-
cember (new), 454.

NORTH Thwart RAILWAY AND DOCK.—The half-
yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the
yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at the
Lcndon Tavern, Bishopsgatewtreet, John Sharland, Esq.,
in the chair. Mr. Harris, the 'secretary, read the report,
from which we extract the following passages :--." The
directors have the pleasure to state that the works continue
to progress to their ;satisfaction. With reference to the
finances of the company, your directors beg to state that
they ahstainei from making any call during the whole of
the six months ending the 31st 1) ~ember last; having suc-
ceeded in providing sufficient funds on the company's de-
bentures, and from arrears of calls, to meet the current
demands on the company, which enabled your directors to
refrain from pre'sing on the shareholders. Mr. Breasey
has contracted conditionally to construct the /3idefurd ex-
tension at • sum within tho eneineer's estimate, and to
work it in connexion with the North Devon Railway for
seven years, at a net rental of 2.2501., equal to ei, per cent.
on the outlay of 50,0001. At the termination of Mr. Bras-
sey's lease (in 1861), your directors have agreed (subject I.
your approbation) that the North Devon Company shall
lease the line to Bideford, at the same rental, in perpetuity,
or to purchase it at a premium of 10/. per cent. on the cart
of coustruction. Your sanction to this arrangement will be
required. Your directors consider that the Bideford Rail-
way will be an important feeder to their own line, and is a
legitimate development of it, and only regret that the
financial position of the North Devon Company did not en-
courage the proprietors themselves to raise the necessary
capital, and undertake the work. The total receipts were
284,8851. las. ffil., and the total payments to December lot,
24905641. 18s. 2d., leaving a balance in hand of 35,2311."
The chairman alluded to the forward state of the works,
and the satisfactory financial position of the company. The
line would, he hoped, be opened by February next. In
respect to the line to Bideford, the money was all obtained
from Mr. !trusty and the landowners ; there was no doubt
that, when made, it would be a great feeder to the North
Devon Railway, and, under that impression, the directors
would ask the sanction of the proprietors to their purchas-
ing or leasing the Bideford line at the proper time. The
directors, some time ago, pointed out the advantage of this
branch ; but, when asked for their aseistunce, only three of
the proprietors, out of 700, offered to subscribe towards
making it. Mr. Tite seconded the motion, and the report
was adopted unanimously. The directors retiring were
John Sharland, Esq., the Hon. Francis Scott, M.P., Ed-
ward Woolmer and John Goodman Maxwell, Esqs., who
were re-elected. Mr. Henry Brown was re-elected auditor,
A resolution then passed far authorising the directors to
purchase the Bideford line, at • premium of 10 per cent.
upon the cost of construction, or to lease it at the sum of'
2,2501., after the termination of Mr. Blaney's lease. After
• vote of thanks to the chairman and directors, the meeting
adjourned.
BURNING OF WHITBY THEATRE.—The inhabitants
of Whitby were aroused from their slumbers on Thursday
night last by the outbreak of a destructive fire on the pre-
mises known as the theatre, situate in Baxter's-gate, which,
with a tavern connected with it, soon fell a prey to the
ravages of the flames. No amusements have, it seems, been
enacted in the theatre for several weeks ; the fire there is
no doubt originated in the bar of the tavern. The property
burned down is insured in the County Fire Office.
RAILWAY BILLS ON STANDING ORDERS.—Yes-
terday, on the standing orders before the Examiners, the fol-
lowing bills were declared to have compiled: Bideford
Extension Railway; South Wales Railway (Pembroke-
shire) ; Newport, Abergavenny, and Hereford Railway
(sale or lease to London and North Western Railway) ;
the Darenth Valley Railway; West End of London and
Crystal i'alsce Railway ; St. Ives and West Cornwall
Junction Railway; Whitebaven and Furness Junction
Railway ; London aid South Western and London and
South Coast Railway Amalgamation ; Newport, Aberga-
-1
venny, and Hereford Railway (extension to Brecon).
THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS.—During the
night of Sunday the thermometer at the Royal Humane
Society's receiving-house did not fall below 25, being se
'veral degrees higher than it had been on any night sin e
the frost set in. The cold, notwithstanding, was sufficient
to freeze the water that had accumulated the preceding day
on the surface of the ice, so that yesterday a great many
persona ventured upon the Serpentine. A number of im-
mersions occurred in St. James's-park. The round pond,
i Kensington-gardens, end the long water were visited by a
1 Freat number of persons who disported themselves on the
tee, and several accidents occurred, but only of a trifling
character. The ice upon the °reams ntal waters in the
: Regent's-park was literally covered with sliders, but to-
wards the middle of the day the sun shone forth most bril-
liantly, the mercury in the thermometer rapidly ascended,
anti the whole surface of the ice became covered with water.
The skaters, finding the frozen waters breaking up, com-
menced by degrees to clear off, but several of them fell
, through into the water.
1r
THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT IN ST. JAMES'S-
-1 PAux.—Yesterday Mr. Bedford held an inquest at the
Feather*, Dean-street, Westminster, on the body of James
Cooper, aged 22, a smith, who lost his life by breaking
. through the ice in SL James's.park. on Friday lest. James
' Hill, of 24, Little Chapel-street, Westminster, alma that
he was in the park on Friday morning. when he saw the
deceased go on to the ice. A soldier went on, when several
others foil wed. The deceased fell in first, an.l two others
after hint. The icemen came, and in attempting to get the
gtherereedopuetrwohnesywaelrectertewelluined.,
bEivtetnhteueoltlhyetrwo of h
could
tnoetenbdearne:
. covered until life was eztinct. This aline's, Wt. hster, the
park-keeper, R. Maskell, and Henry Martin, iceman to the
'loyal Humane Society, confirmed what has previously ap-
I peered in our journal, that the deceased and the others
were frequently warned of the danger they exposed them-
selves to, and were even ordered off, but without effect.
The jury being satisfied that everything had been done to
save the deceased, they returned • verdict of "Accidental
death."

FIRE AT HANLEY CASTLE.—On Thursday night
a fire broke out in a farmyard in the occupation of Mr. W.
Shipway, jun., at Hanky-common, bylonging to Sir Ed-
mund H. Lechmere, Bart. The flames coon extended to a
wheat rick, which, together with the staddles and the straw
in the yard, was entirely consumed. The barn was slightly
injured, and portions of a shed and some mangers were
burnt. It is thought that the damage to the building: can
be repaired for 301. or 40/. Mr. Shipway will be it e•.n•
siderable loser, having hothing left for hi, young cattle to
eat, and no manure for bis crops.—Glorteester Chronicle.

IM PERIAL PARLIAMENT
W)USE OF LORDS.—MosnAT, F. 21.
ROYAL ASSENT.

The Enyal Arent was given by commission to the fol-
lowing
b.lls—lbe Transfer of Aids ; Valuation Act Amend-
ment; u.d use Stamp petits as rates, Inventions ;
The Lords Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor,
the Debt. of Argyll, snit Earl Granville.

T►c Luau Crarcpu.ua took kis scat at i o'clock.
_ PEI ITIONS PRESENTED.

Cot Illy COI:1116.-11y L UROUGHachi, from a plant
not Malta. praying fee the eatonaion of the junulictiun of
county rearm.
MAIINUOTII.—By the Earl of SHAFTESBURY. from
the pariah of Heerlen, ac.tinm the crane to Maynooth.