The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-10 00:00:00

The English stock market opened this morning
withmit any essential change in prices; but an
improving tendency soon set in, and the market
finally closed at nearly the best point of the day, and
about per cent. higher than the closing rates of
yesterday. Some influential purchases were made
soon after the commencement of business, partly by
parties who usually act on French account, and
whose operations were reported to be based on intel-
ligence from Paris. On the publication in the second
editions of the morning journals of a summary of
the statement of the Paris Moniteur (given in full in
another column) a further advance took place, and
the market during the rest of the afternoon was sup-
ported at its higher range by purchases either to cover
previous speculativesales, or on account of parties who
thought a further advance probable. It transpired
to-day that, before the opening of this day's Paris
bourse, the Three per Cont. Rentes were dealt in in
that city at 76 ex div., or more than I# per cent.
above the closing rate of yesterday. This was also
the closing quotation of the bourse, the advance
being maintained. It must be mentioned, however,
that a report, for some time put current in Paris,
has again been in circulation to-day, to the effect
that the Paris bourse is being ",worked" by influen-
tial parties, who are instructed to prepare it for the
introduction of a French loan. Both in the Paris
and London markets the advance is assisted by
the existence of a still considerable outstanding
speculation for the falL As the rise progresses,
many of the late operators for for lower
prices assist it by buying back to cover
their sales, and in this way the two markets act
on each other. As regards the statement of the
Moniteur, many parties are unable to see that it in-
volves any real change in the aspect of the Eastern
question. That the Four Powers are united in a
desire for peace was known before, and was suffi-
ciently indicated by the pains taken by their respec-
tive representatives in drawing up the abortive
Vienna note of some months back. As we expected,
no combined compulsive action of the Four Powers is
even so much as hinted at by the French official
organ.

Consols were first quoted 94; to 95 ex. div. for
the opening of the 18th of January, ascended to 951
to 1, touched for a moment 951, " bgyers," and were
quoted at the official clove at 95; to 2. After that
hour the market was firmly supported at 951 to 2,
equal to 97 to 1, with the div. For money, although
the transfer books are shut, there were transactions
at 961 to 96; with the dividend. The official business
I report is as follows:—Three per Cent. Consols, for
money (shut), 961, 961 ; ditto, for the opening, 18th
January, 941, 951, 1,1; Three per Cent. Reduced,
951, 1,2, 2, 2. Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents.,
971, 97, 974, 4,4, 4, 2. Long Annuities, 1860, 51,
6 5.16. South Sea Old Annuities, 991. Bank
Stock, 220.

On Saturday last Consols closed at 941 to 95,
with the dividend; and the closing price of to-day
being 954 to 1, ex div., the rise is shown to be no
less than 2} per cent. within six days. At Paris on
Saturday the Three per Cent. Rentee closed at
74.73 with the dividend; and the closing price of
to-day being 76 ex div., the rise within the same
period is equal to 2} per cent.
Exchequer Bills remain firm at 6s. to Ss. prem.,
with some purchases at 9s. prem. India Bonds closed
Is. higher, at 2s. to ss. prem.
The foreign stock market showed an improving
appearance, and closed firm. Peruvian Four-and-a-

Half per Cents. and Sardinian and Russian Five per
Cents. were severally 1 per cent. higher. Spanish also
showed an improving tendency, which, however, was
not maintained to the close. Other stocks were firm.
At 4 o'clock Mexican Bonds were quoted 24; to 251
ex div. Peruvian Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 69 to
71. Granada Deferred, 8 to 4; ditto, Active, 21
to 22. Sardinian, 89 to 91 ex div. Spanish De-
ferred, 221 to 1 ; the Certificates, 51 to 51 per cent.
Russian Five per Cents., 112 to 114; ditto Four-
and-a- Half per Cents., 97 to 99. The list of sales
includes :—Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Bonds,
961, ; (exchange, 26f.) Brazilian Old Five per
Cents., 99; ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 1852,
921, 93 ex div. ; ditto Five per Cents., 1829 and
1839, 991. Buenos Ayres Six per Cent., 65. Dutch
Two-and-a-Half per Cents., 641, 1; ditto Four per
Cent. Certificates, for account 16th December, 961.
Equador Bonds, sf. Granada Deferred, 81, 81.
Mexican Three per Cents., 241, 251, 241. Portu-
guese Four per Cents., 42, 1. Rumba Five per
Cents., 1124; ditto, Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 981,
4. Sardinian Five per Cents., 90, 91 ex div.
Spanish New Deferred Three per Cents., 221, 4,4;
the Passive Bonds (Converted), 3; the Committee's
Certificates, 51, 51, 5,1 per cent. Swedish Four per
Cent. Provincial Mortgage Loan, 911 ex div.
The money market continues to maintain a less
stringent appearance.
In the market for foreign exchanges to-day the
rate on Paris was steady at 25.271 to 30 at three
months, and 25.021 to 25.05 for short paper. Bills
on Hamburg were again in great demand, and
dealt in from 13.4; to 61; and Amsterdam at 11.151
to 1, at three months. The quotations on both these'
last-named places show a decline. On Frankfort
the rate was 118; to 1, showing little changis.
Owing to the more pacific statements circulated with
reference to politics, bills on Vienna and Trieste
were more inquired for, at 11.32 to 38. Generally,
it must be observed, the aspect of the foreign ex-
changes shows no turn in favour of this country.
In the corn market to-day a firmer feeling was
observable, and in floating cargoes of wheat an ad-
vance of ls. per qr. may be quoted. A large busi-
ness has been done this week in floating cargoes,
chiefly for the continent. Most of the cargoes re-
cently arrived off the coast have already been dis-
posed of. Nearly all the country markets held yes-
terday report a slight decline in the price of wheat.
At Birmingham, Gloucester, and Bristol, the decline
was ls. per qr. ; and at Leith, Glasgow, and New-
market, is. to 2s. At Manchester the market was
quiet, and prices were the turn cheaper. The ten-
dency of the French corn markets is upward. At
Paris flour rose yesterday 2 to 3 francs per sack, and
wheat Ito 2 francs per beet. Several orders to buy,
on Belgian and French account are still in the
London market, awaiting execution.
According to a telegraphic despatch received to-
day from Odessa, that port is frozen up.
We are informed that the Darien Slip Canal Ex-
pedition will sail from Southampton in the West
India mail steamer Orinoco on the 17th instant. Its
object is the making of a detailed survey of the route
from Caledonia Bay and Port &cows to the Gulf of
San Miguel (first announced to the public in the
Daily News of May 17, 1850), and of inaugurating
the great work of the junction of the oceans. It
will consist, on the part of the Atlantic and Pacific
Junction Company, of Dr. Cullen, the discoverer of
the route and concessionaire, as pioneer; Mr. Gis-
borne, C.E., engineer-in-chief, Messrs. Forde and
Bennett, and four assistant engineers. On behalf of
the British government it will be accompanied by
Lieut. Singen, R.E., and staff. At Jamaica the ex-
pedition will be joined by Lieut. Strange, U.S. navy,