The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-22 00:00:00

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

LIVERPOL, SATURDAir EVENING.
The Persia's advices have had a stirritilating
effect upon our Cotton Market to day. Speculators
have become active operators, and prices have
advanced id. per lb. To day the sales reported
were estimated at 25,000 bales, of Which speculators
and. exporters took 15,000. The market closed
with a hardening tendency. From New York we
are advised that the receipts at the ports, made up
to latest mail dates, in the Mercury Prices Current,
dated Charleston, sth instant, are 939,007 bales,
against 958,022 bales last year. The export to
Great Britain, 164.611 bales, against 321,429 last
year. To France. 87,269 bales, against 112,658 last
year. Respecting the crop, we are informed that
the extreme figures, advised from any quarter, are
000.000, and we notice in our corresponience of
the past week a leaning generally to lower figures.
The market closes to day with a limited enquiry.
The Liverpool Share Market has been. rather
quiet to-day, The business trajisacted was liniited,
but prices generally were pretty well supported.
There is still an active demand for Money, both
at the Bank of England and Lombard-street, so
that full rates of discount have been paid, for all
descriptions of commercial paper; and, owing to
the settlement of outstanding claims usual at this
period of the year, unemployed capital finds ready
employment. We regret to say that at present
there are indications of some few suspensions.
Already two or three small firms have announced
their inability to meet their engagements, but
their affairs are not likely to involve other parties.
The names of one house in London and another
in Manchester alone require mention, but it is
possible other failures may occur in the course of
the next few days. Inquiries in the proper
quarters, however, show that trade is regarded as
unusually sound, and that no great embarrassments
are in the least apprehended. The houses referred
to are Messrs. Robert Johnson and Co.. warehouse-
men in'Watling street, and Messrs. G. Ashworth
and Co , of Manchester.
There has been an improvement in the English
stock markets of to 1- per cent., but the trasac-
tions have continued of a circumscribed character.
The favourable Bank of England return, the steady
influx of gold from the United States, and the
large sum anticipated by the Red Jacket,
encourages speculators to look for a rise in
prices, and, although their dealings are con-
tracted, they impart additional firmness to the
market. Consols were 934 to 04, and afterwards
94 to 94k, at which they officially closed. Subse
quantly, however, a reaction of k per cent. took
place, and the latest quotation was about 94, sellers.
The Unfunded Debt was heavy, namely, par to 3s
premium. Exchequer Bonds were 984 and
India Bonds 2s discount to 2s premium. The New
Three per Cents, were 94 to 941-, the Reduced
931 a. The following statement shows the fluctu-
ations in consols during the week :
Lowest lazhest Clrs;ng
prices. prices. prices.
Monday ... Money ... shut -
Account .. 93
Tuesday ......Money . . shut
Account ..., 93;3- 941 93
Wednesday... Money .. 9l shut
Account 934 931 93Z
- Thursday . • Money .. shot
Account .. 933
Friday ....Money ... shut
Account .. 932
Saturday.... Money ... shut
Account ... 934 . J 1 94
The London Railway Share Market was quite
inactive, and in some instances a slight decline
upon yesterday's quotations may be reported.
Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee, Lancashire and
Yorkshire, South-Western, North-Eastern Berwick,
and South Eastern were about 5s loser, East
Anglian, Great Northern, North British, and
North Eastern were about ss, and Brighton
V- to 1/. ss, Grand Trunk of Canada adven,:ed
about ss. Joint Stock Bank and Miscel-
laneous Shares are dull at previous
rates. • The sales included Eastern Counties 9; 1.
hdinhurgh, Perth, and Dundee, 36!. Great
Western, 691 p Lancashire and Yorkshire, 911.
London and North Western, 105. London and
South 'Western, 107. Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire, 34 331. North British, 40, South
Eastern, 74. There was a steady inquiry at the
close.

93,71 93Z-

931 93;

`93; 931-

a-to inn►:t►fi►oturing districts continues
steady. From Leeds we are infcirmed that the
improvement reported last week in most descrip-
tions of business has been fully maintained, and
first-class buyers from Loml.m, Liverpool, Glasgow,
and Manchester had operated rather freely, and
imparted a very animated tone to the market gene
rally. The shipping houses were fully employed,
but the country trade, as usual at this ti►no of guar,
ruled rather dull. At Bradford the worsted trade
had been rather active, with a large fetendance of
buyers, consequent upon the approach of Christmas
week, and the prices of all descriptions of wools
were steadily supported. In the piece trade a fair
business had been transacted at, i❑ some instances,
rather better pries. At Halifax business is very
dull, the high price of the raw material effectually
preventing any large transactions being entered into
in either yams or piece goods. At Manchester there
has not been quite so much activity, but prices rule
firm, with an upward tendency for goods suitable for
the India market. Domestics, T cloths, and printing
cloths have been in fair demand at steady prices.
The accounts from Manchester state that Messrs.
George Ashworth and Co., agents and manufac-
turers, have failed, with liabilities variously stated
at from 30001. to 100,0001. The other firm
already alluded to was engaged in a similar branch
of business in London, viz., Messrs. Robert John-
son and Co., and their engagements are estimated
at from 50,000/ to 00,000/. During the week, also,
intelligence has been received of the stoppage of
the Kidderminster Bank (Messrs. Farley, Turner,
and Co.), owing to the dr ath of the last representa-
tive of the firm. The estate is said to be perfectly
solvent, and arrangements have been in progress
for a resumption of business. While on the subject
of banking, it may be mentioned that the recent
decision of the Lord Chancellor in the case of the
Tipperary Bank caused the run upon the branch of
the National Bank located in that town, to resist
which large sums of coin have had to be sent from
London as a measure of precaution. It is expected,
however, that the panic among the depositors will
speedily subside.
The reports from Birmingham inform us that,
circulars have been issued announcing another
advance of 41. per cwt. in the price of tin ; com-
mon blocks from 138 s. 6d. to 1425. 6d. per cwt;
refined block, 145 s ; lead to 1495. per cwt.; ingots
and bars in the usual proportion. The trade of
the town is gradually quieting as the year draws
to a close ; it cannot be said to be any reaction, for
the manufacturers continuo to be pretty full of
orders, and in some branches, in which they are
not usually so at this late period of the year; the
jewellers, for instance, are tolerably busy, and for
several months they have had a very good and
steady trade. In the district, trade presents un
appearance of increased animation ; business is
rather slack at Willenhall ; but at Darlaston and
Wednesbury, it is reputed healthy ; the works in
the neighbourhood of the latter town, being in
more active operation than they were at the corns
meneent of the quarter. The iron trade is
undoubtedly firm ; there is a better demand for all
descriptions of finished iron, both here and in
Wales ; the latter chiefly for rails.
By recent advices from the United States we
learn that the various connexions of the Michigan
Southern Railroad are being rapidly pushed for-
ward. By the completion last month of that part
of the Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad lying
between Fort Wayne and Plymouth (65 miles), the
Michigan Southern becomes the last link in a direct
chain of communication between Philadelphia. and
Chicago, by way of Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, Ply-
mouth, and Laporte. Before the end of the year
the Michigan Southern line will also be connected,
through the opening of the Detroit and Toledo
railroad, with the Great Western railway of Canada,
when there is little doubt it will share, along with
the Michigan Central, a large portion of the Great
Western traffic. The completion of the Goshen
branch, which will take place about the same time
with that of the Detroit and Toledo road, will pro-

vide the shortest route between the Great Western
railway of Canada and Chicago.
The traffic returns of railways in the Uoired
Kingdom for the week ending Dee, 13, amounted
to 397,5861, and for the corresponding period o
last year to 388.3641., showing an increase of
9,2221 The gross receir sof the eight railways
having their termini in the metropolis amounted,
for the week ending as above, to 173,143/, and for
the corresponding week of last year to 173 695/.,
showing a decrease of 2521 The decrease on the
Great Northern Railway amounted to 1,7291 ; and
on the London and South Western to 1,397/. ; and
South Eastern to 1931. ; together, 3 3191. But from
this must be deducted the increase on the Eastern
Counties, amounting to 6051 ; on the Great.
Western to 971.; on the London and North
Western to 5871. ; on the London and Blackwall to
166/. ; on the London; Brighton, and South Coast
to 1,6131.; total, 3,0671. ; leaving the decrease as
above, 2521. The receipts on the other lines in
the United Kingdom amounted to 224,1.111., and
for the corresponding period of 1855 to 214,6691,
showing an increase of 9,474/. in the receipts of
these lines, from which must be deducted the
decrease on the Metropolitan lines, le tying the
total increase 9,2221. as compared with the corres-
ponding week of 1855. The following are the
comparative states of the traffic:—London and
North Westerns, 5861. more; Great Westerns,
971. more; South Westerns, 1,3971 less ; Midlands,
4901. more ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 2,001/ more ;
York and North Midlands and Berwick, 1471 less ;
Eastern Counties, 8041. more ; Erightons, 1.6121
more ; South Easterns, 193/Jess ; Great Northerns,
1.7291. less , Caledonians, 1,5731 more.

Daring the past week the arrivals of the precious
metals have been considerable, viz., about 071,1801.;
consisting of 83,0001. by the Niagara, 10,0001. ;by
the Ericsson, and 172 800/. by the Persia, from the
United States; 194,000/. by the Magdalena, from
the West Indies and Pacific; 40,500 by the Alham-
bra, 20,880/, by Colombo (both from the Peninsula);
and 150,000/. in silver, from the Continent. The
exports have been 492,5851. to the East Indies by
the Indus; 29,0001. to the Peninsula, 4,5001. to the
West Indies, and about 80,000 to the Continent,
through the London Customs, making a total of
606 085 j., exclusive of about 200,000/. sent to
France by private hands.
The run upon the branch of the National Bank
at Tipperary, consequent apparently upon a blind
panic, caused by the recent decision of the Lord
Chancellor in the case of the Tipperary Joint stock
Bank, has necessitated the hasty transmission from
London of a large amount of gold coin. Between
100,000/ and 200,000/ in sovereigns has been with-
drawn from the Bank of England, and it was to
this circumstance, that a sudden pressure for dis-
counts observable towards the close of business
seemed attributable. Not the slightest question is
raised in any well informed quarter as to the sound-
ness of the establishment, and there is no reason
to hope that the alarm will have passed off even
before the arrival of the present remittance,• and
that in the course of a short time it will be sent
back.

The royal mail steam-ship Persia arrived here
this morning with New Yolk advices of the 10th
instant, and a. large quantity of specie on freight,
namely, 803A26 dollars. The money market was
steady at New York, and discount accommodation
rather more easily obtained. One of the money
circulars issued for the sailing of the Persia, says
—There is a full supply of money, at 7 per cent on
call, and 8 to 9 per cent for first class paper,
although, during the last few days, the banks, in
consequence of a drain of specie to the other cities,
have been rather stringent. The Foreign Exchange
market has been rather firm for this mail, with
considerable activity in sterling and francs-. Bread-
stuffs were in active demand for home purposes,
and prices generally were well sustained. Cured
provisions maintained firmer terms. We under-
stand that the Insurance losses at New York have
been this year very large, and have disabled several
of our old companies. The losses by the British
underwriters have also proved very disastrous.
According to the English papers the advices that
have lately been received at Lloyd's furnish a
fearful catalogue of losses at sea. During the
last eight or ten days of November no fewer
than Di losses have been recorded on the books.
Amongst the number are three steamers. Nor is
this the extent of the disasters, for nearly 500
casualties aro reported during the same period.
Happily, however, the loss of life has been com-
paratively small.