The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-20 00:00:00

above par, money stock, as is usually the case at so
high a range, has been more freely supplied ; and
to-day, perhaps partly in connexion with a less easy
position of the money market, these sales were re-
sumed. Sanguine operators, who bought in antici-
pation of a peculiarly brilliant financial statement
from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, finding the
market stationary on the publication of the Budget,
have also been realising, but it would not be correct to
interpret the decline in the funds, although
following so closely on the ministerial financial state-
ment, as an expression of dissatisfaction in commer-
cial and monetary circles. Ou the contrary, the
budget, as a whole, is viewed with favoar by these
classes as a masterly production, conceived in a pecu-
liarly comprehensive and free-trade spirit, but it is
felt that the praiseworthy boldness with which the
Chancellor of the Exchequer lays his hand upon a
great number of interests of high importance involves
the future course of the government in some uncer-
tainty. Whilst the reffitsstow or reduction of the
duties on soap, tea, and many minor articles, the ex-
tension of the income tax to Ireland, and of the
legacy duty to landed property, are regarded
with almost unalloyed satisfaction, it is yet
feared that some difficulties may impede the
progress of the measure. At the present moment, it
may further be remarked, not one, but two financial
schemes, each of great magnitude, and Infecting more
or less directly the position of the fundholder, are in
suspense. Should either of these meet with anything
like an adverse decision on the part of parliament, a
situation of considerable gravity would arise. It
thus happens that, chilst there is every disposition
to hope that the government may be allowed to pur-
sue a temperate course without being unfairly em-
barrassed by a factious opposition, monied and com-
mercial 113011 scarcely venture on the first promulga-
tion of the ministerial propositions to feel perfect
indifference as to the future.

Consols were first quoted 1001 to 1 for money, and
1001 to 101 for the 12th May ; but sales were made
as low as 1001 for cash, the closing quotation being
1001 to 4, and 1001 to 1 respectively. The govern-
ment broker re-appeared as a purchaser, taking a
parcel of Reduced Threes at par. The official busi-
ness report includes :—Three per Cent Consols, for
money, 1001„ 4 ; ditto, for account, 1001„ 101, 1001.
Three per Cents. Reduced, 991, 1001, 991, 1, 1.
Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., 1031, 1,, 1, t.
Long Annuities, 1800, 6 ; ditto 30 years, 1859, 6/ ;
ditto 1800, 6 3-16. Bank Stock, 2201, 220. India
Stock, 262. South Sea Old An' s., 99.
The market for Exchequer Bills is rather duller.
The June bills were douo at ss. to 9s. prem.; and
the March at 45. prem.
Foreign stocks were without animation, but prices
are well supported, and several descriptions show an
upward tendency. Spanish securities were generally
firm, but the Deferred stock closed not quite so good,
at 241 to Z. The Certificates, after rising to 71 to 2,
left off 71 to 71 per cent. Mexican Bonds were firm
at 281 to 1. Peruvian Deferred was rather better,
on purchases. It is in contemplation to convert these
bonds into an immediate Three per Cent. stock. The
Four-and-a-Half per Cent. stock of this state is also
firm. Grenadian stocks are better supported, the
Active Bonds ruling at 231 to 24. Ecuador
Bonds are looking up. Sales are recorded as follows:
Belgian Four-and -a-Half per Cent. Bonds, 1001 (ex-
change, 25f.) Brazilian Old Five per Cents., 1004 ;
ditto Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 1852, 991, 100,
991. Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents., 661, 1, 1 ;
ditto, Four per Cent. Certificates, 94 9. Ecuador
Bonds, 64, 6/. Granada One-and-a-Half per Cents.,
ex De.. 184% coupon, 24, 231 ; ditto Deterred, 11b
I. Greek Bonds, 1824 and 1825; cx overdue coupons,
81. Mexican Three per Cents., 281, ; ditto for
account, 28th April, 281. Peruvian Four-and-a-
Half per Cent. Bonds, 89 ; ditto Scrip, 31, 4 prem. ;
ditto Deferred Three per Cents., 671, 67. Porta-
guese Four per Cents., 401, 1. Spanish Old Three
per Cents., 481; ditto New Deferred Three per
. ! Cents., 241; the Committee's Certificates, 71, 7, 71
, percent. Venezuela Three-and-a-Half per Cents., 381.
The amount of the precious metals shipped on
board the Indus, which will leave Southampton for
Alexandria to-morrow (Wednesday), is 83,3901., of
which 33,100!. is in gold and 30,290/. in silver. The
destination of this sum is as follows, viz.: For Malta,
gold, 2,90411.; for Alexandria, gold, 40,600!.; for
Bombay, silver, 9,8001. ; for Ceylon, gold, 1,6001.;
for Madras, gold, 2,100/., and silver,
9901.; for Cal-
cutta, silver, 17,0001.; for Penang, silver, 3001.; and
for Singapore, silver, 2,0001.
Australian Agricultural shares were very heavy,
and left off only 80 to 83. These shares, and those
of the Peel River Company, still suffer from the late
active speculation for a rise, now suspended for fur-
ther advice% with a surplus of floating stock
on the market. British American Land fell to
80 to 82. South Australian Land closed 49 to
61; Scottish Australian Investment, 11 to 1/
prem., and other Land shares the same as
quoted in the official list. Most of the Aus-
tralian Banks were flat, and South Australian fell 1/.
Shares of the Bank of British North Amelica have
been done at 62; London and Westminster Bank,
334 • Provincial Bank of Ireland, 481; Union Bank
of London, 18 ; London Docks, 120 ; General Steam
Navigation ; General Screw Steam Shipping
(121. paid), 101, 111 ; Peninsular and Oriental Steam,
83; ditto, (251. paid), 461; Submarine Telegraph
(11. paid), 1. Shares of the Grand Central Railway
of France after reaching 21, closed 21 to 24 prem.;
Grand Trunk of Canada left off 11 to 11 prem. ;
Berlin Waterworks, 1 to 1 prem. •, North of Spain
Railway, par to 1 prem. ; Melbourne Docks and
Railway, par toy prem.; Royal Danish Railway,
3 to 34 prem.
There was but little alteration in the market for
foreign exchanges to-day, but on the chief continental
places the tendency of prices was downwards. Paris,
at short, was generally done at 25.021; Hamburg,
three months, at 13.71 to 13.8; and Amsterdam,
three months, at 11.181. The inquiry for hills on
the abovementioned markets continues, as well as for
paper on Italian places, which still remains very
scarce. Vienna and Trieste were also in good re-
quest at 11.4 to 11.6.
Insurance shares this week have been well sup-
ported. Marine and European Life shares arc better,
and Universal Life are looking up. The present
quotations of the market are subjoined :—Albion, 90;
Alliance Marine, 60 ; Atlas, 22 ; British Commercial, 7;
Church of England, 31 ; Clerical, Medical, and
General, 201; County, 121 ; Crown, 171 ; Eagle,
71; Equity ani Law Life, 51 • English and Scotch
Law Life, 31; European Life, 201 ; Family En-
dowment, 4; General, 51; Globe, 130; Guar-
dian, 611 • Imperial Life, 191; Indemnity Marine,
37 53 ; L'aw Fire, 41 ; Law Life, 50 ; Lon-
don Fire, 281; London
Ship, 281; Marine, 2.5;
Medical, Invalid, and General, 3; Minerva, 6;
Monarch, 1,1•, National Loan Fund, 21; National
Provincial, it; Palladium Life, 21; Pelican, 451'
Phenix, 173; Professional Life, 1 prem.; Provi-
dent Life, 41 ; stock Life, 84 ; Royal Exchange,
2:36; Sun Life, 03; Union, 220; United Kingdom,
5; Universal Life, 431; Victoria Life, 54. The
Equitable Reversionary Society's shares are quoted
1161 cx div. Reversionary Interest Socie.,y, 1051.
Of canal shares the latest Stock Exchange quota-
tions arc subjoined :—Ashton and Oldham, 133, 140;
Breeknock and Abergavenny, 821; Birmingham
(gnaranteed 4 per cent. by the London and North
Western Railway), 1‘.51; Derby, 63 ; Ellesmere and
Chester, 34 t ; Grand Union, 124; Leds and Liver-
pail, 330; Leicester, 643; Leicester and Northamp-
ton, 441; Loughborough, 510 ; Macclesfield, 50;
Peak Forest, 70; Regents, 161 ; Stafford and Wor-
cester, 405 ; Stourbridge, 290 ; Severn and Wye Canal
and Railway, '24 ; Warwick and Birmingham, 40;
Warwick and Napton, 28; Wilts and Bei ks, 7, 71.
Shares in bridge associations command the follow-