The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-11 00:00:00

The Nur( li.,r,ty of the system of marking dates
on railway tickets by means of perforation, instead
of by ink, has lately been disctused in letters
printed in this journal from two or three railway
shareholders. The system of perforation is now
adopted by the South Eastern, London, Chatham,
and Dover, Great Eastern, and Brighton com-
panies, as regards their coupons and for other pur-
poses, but nut as yet for dating railway tickets.
The London and North Western Company,
however, date their tickets by perforation, and a
similar plan is adopted, we believe, by the South
Eastern Company when excess fares are paid. The
use of ink for such purposes is objectionable in
many respects, especially because of the facility of
erasure; and the recognition of the advantages
altogether of perforation where cancelment of docu-
ments or a check upon the honesty of employds is
desired. has made such progress among mercantile
people during the last year ur two as to amount to
quite a revolution in a not unimportant part of the
routine of business. Machines invented and
patented by Mr. tqoper are in use by the
London and St. Katharine Docks Company, at
Doctors' Commons, and by a number of
the principal bankers, to whom the process
for crossing and cancelling cheques, and for can-
celling other documents, especially commends
itself. There can be no doubt that the system is
as yet only in its infancy, and that it is calculated
to obviate a vast deal of clerical labour, and at the
same time to afford an effectual protection against
fraudulent dealings.

TgEHDAT ECTICITO.

Consols, which closed yesterday at 921 to 93, ex
div., for the 7th January, opened this morning at
the same quotation, and closed at exactly 921, oar
92 13-16 to 15.16. For money the last pries
was 921 to 1. The Three per Cents. Re-
duced and New Three per Cents. were quoted
at 3 o'clock 92,:f to 1. The official business
report is as follows :—Three per Cent. Consols,
for money, 921, ex div.; ditto, for account, 921,
ex div. ; Three per Cents. Reduced, 921, 1 ; New
Three per Cents., 94, ; ditto Two-and-a-Half
per Cents., 751, ex div. ; Bank Stock, 244, 3 ;
India Stock, shut ; ditto Five per Cent., 1121,
1, ex div. ; ditto Four per Cent., 1001, ; ditto
Bonds, 58s. prem.
Indian government securities were unaltered.
Exchequer remain at 28s. to 31s. prem.
Only a few dealings occurred in foreign stocks,
and prices in most cases closed the same as yester-
day. Brazilian of 1865 and Russian of 1859 im-
proved 1 per cent., Portuguese 1, and Italian of
1801 1,, while Egyptian (1001.) declined 1; Turkish
of 1862, ; and Mexican, Spanish Passive, and
Turkish of 1865, n.
The Egyptian Nine per Cent. Loan was last
quoted I toll-prem., and the Honduras Govern-
ment Railway Loan 1/ to 1} prem.

MINES.-(THIS DAY.)

On *Thom.

In the mining market there is not much general
business, and prices are without change, owing to
the settlemeut. West Caradon shares are still in
demand, at 11 to 12. Great Vor are quoted 171.
to I ; Chiverton Moor, 5i to 6l; West Chiverton,
65 to 67 ; Prince of Wales, 48s. to 50s. ; Clifford,
6to6k ; Great Retallack, 2i to ; East Rose-
warne, sa. to 7s. Gd. ; West /Cady 14s. to 16s. ;
Wheal Basset, 821 to 85 ; and Northf Chiverton,
4} to A.
Foreign and colonial mining shares are steady, at
the following prices :—Bt. John del Rey, 60 to 62 ;
Don Pedro, 2A to 2.11 prem.; Anglo-Brazilian, par
to hoe= ; Pestarena, dia. to par; Chontales,
;11to ol dia. Rona Grande, to a ; Anglo-
' Italian par to I prem. ; United-Mexican Ijl to
; Frontino and Bolivia, 15-16 to 1 1-16;'
Port
Phillip, 1 5-16 to 7-16 ; and Central American,
to die.
With reference to the Italian Consolidated
Mining Company (Limited), we are requested to
call attention to the announcement endorsed upon
the prospectus, that of the 25000 shares of 21. each,
" 10,000 shares have been already subscribed for
by shareholders in the Pestarena United Gold
Mining Company (Limited)."

[For to-day's Slurs Lists see page 4. J

COMMERCIAL AND 'MARKETS.

MARK-LANE.—(T- HIB DAY.)
The quantity of home-grown wheat on sale at Mark-lane
to-day. although only moderate, was quite equal to the
demand. For both red and white parcels the trade was
inactive, at Monday's .juotations. The quality of the
supply was only middling.
Fu average supplies of foreign wheat were on sale.
The transactions were confined to the immediate wants of
millers. at late currencies.
The floating cargo trade was, on the whole, quiet. Maize
was scarce and dear. Other descriptions of produce, afloat,
I met with but little attention.
Fine malting barley, being scarce, readily found buyers
at the recent advance in the quotations. Grinding and
distilling sorts were dull of sale.
Malt commanded but little attention on former terms.
In oats, a fair average business was concluded, and the
tendency of prices was in an upward direction.
Beaus changed hauls to a fin extent, on former terms.
The supply wet moderate.
The transactions in peas were on a limited scale, at late
rates.
No change took place in the value of flour, the inquiry
for which ruled heavy.
Linseed and rapeseed were quiet. Clover seed, both red
and white, was firmly held otherwise, the market for
agricultural seeds was dull. Cakes moved off slowly.
ARRIVAL, OF GRAIN. . INTO LONDON BY STATED.
THL4 WEEK.
Whist.; Barley. lista Oats. I Flour.—
ere
30
or. qrs. gra. bets. luck=
taatlshandScatee 610 1140 1196 .. 10r0
Irish
Ensign 3064) I eon .. 37530 ilia), In
Toted

AILVOING-LANE.—(THIS DAY.)
SCGAR.—There is no im ement in the demand, only
moderate sales are rei at rather easier prices. Deme-
rara end Berbice, MAI. to Xis. ; refined is in rather more
request at late rates.
Cowen.—The parcels of Plantation Ceylon brought to
public sales have sold irregularly, good %militia for home
use at ea per cwt advance, but other kinds were dull of
sale at easier prices; good and fine ordinary sold at
tiOs. to 675. Gd. ; fine fine ordinary to middling, 7G.. to 7e.;
good middling, 71is. to See. lid.
TEA. —The market for China teas continues quiet.
GUIGEIL—A. parcel of African sold at 295. kid-
Run.—A small parcel of Jamaica sold at steady prices.
ice.-2.50 tans dacca Bengal sold et lls. lid.
SaLverrag.—•oo bags Bengal sold at 19s. 41d. for re-
fraction short prompt.
Corrox.—At • futther decline of id. per lb. a fair
amount of boobiees baa been done.

TALLOW MARKET.—(T)IIS DAY.)
The market is ilAt at the following prices:—Town
tallow, One. 9.1. ; Petersburg Y.C. on ems,,
December, 42c 91, sellers; Spring, 43a. sellers ;
March, 44.., sellers.

BOROUGH HOP MARKET.—{THIS DAY.)
Iletirs. Panned= and Smith report an improved
demand for both English and foreign, at the me
roved
rates.