The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-30 00:00:00

MINES.

(From the DmIN Airs)
BATUILDAT EVIIIINO.
For the last few days the general business on the
market has been flat, although several large private
orders have been executed. The transactions of the
week have been below the average, which may be ac-
counted for principally by the Christmas holidays.
Prices have ben s'eadtly maintained, and the dispo-
sition in most cases is rather to buy than to sell.
The following are the latest quotations: Alfred
Console; 19, 20; Bedford United, 61, 61; Bleck
Craig, 5 ; Butterden, 8 ; Cern Bruno, 45, 50 ; Cock's
Kitchen, 9, 10; Devon Great Consols, 250, 280; East
Pool, 130; East Tamar, 11 ; East To!gus, 19, 21;
East Leisure, 33, 35; Great Paddern, 80 to 100;
Gustavus Mines, 661 ; Kirkcudbright, 51, ;
Lelant Console, 21, 22 ; Mill Pool, 4 ; Merllyn, 51,1;
North Busett, 15, 20; Pendarves Console, 61, 71;
South Tamar, 21,1; St. Aubyc and Grylls,s, 6; Tregor-
dan, 7,9; Treviskey and Barrier, 275, 280; West
Alfred, 111, 12; West Cuadon, 971, 100; West
Providence, 671, 70; West Tolgus, 10; Wheal Mary
Ann, 64, 86; Wheal Trefusis, 20; Tremayne, 22,
221 ; Wheal Venton 91 101.

In foreign shares i—Alten, 3; Australian, 21, 3;
St. John del Itey, 14, ; Im.,:erial Brazilian, -I!, .5! ;
United Mexican, 54, ; Cobie, 35, 36; Cupiapo, 5, ;
Cows, 21, 31; Santiago, 6, 7.
At the weekly sale of copper ores held at Itedruth
on the 26th instr.nt, 2,398 tons realised 10,7321. Is. 6d.,
average price per ton 41.9.. 6d., average pr.( duce 62.
The following amounts were realised by the different
mina: Crated Mines, 757 tons, 3,3771. 155.; Tre-
myelin. 410 tons, 1 2001. SE; Par Consols, 314 taus,
11,6331. 61. ; South Caradon, 225 tons, 1,8051. 12s. 64.;
South Tolgus, 205 tone, 1,0941. 1 le.; Wheal Comfort,
180 tons, 3211. 9s. 6d. ; Treleigh Consols, 114 tons,
4571. 18s. 6d.; Wheal Mary, 100 tons, 4231. 8,. 6d.;
West Wheal Jewel, 59 tons, 2801. Os. 6d. ; West l're-
thellan, 14 tons, 371. lls.; Richard's Ore, 14 tons,
611. 12s. ; Respryn, 6 tons, 361. 12s.
METALS.—'.decals remain very quiet, consumers

are delaying purchues till the tarn of the year, and
but few shipments are taking place. Scotch pig iron
has advanced fully
.2s. 6d. per ton, and the market is
firm. Lead is quiet, but prices remain unaltered.
Foreign tin has been in good demand, both for Straits
and Barra, at advanced prices. Copper remains as
our last. Tin plates in large demand at full rates.
Speller very dull of sale, stock about 6,750 ton.
The Daily News commenced giving exclusive in-
formation respecting mines and mining, under a con-
viction of the importance of the subject, both with
reference to the country generally and to the public,
who have invested largely in the numerous adventures
afloat. A single day often produces a great change
in the prospects of a mine. Hence, early and public
notice of the change is desirable, to guard against as
improper use of exclusive information. Next in im-
portance to our mines of coal and iron are those of
copper, tin, and lead, and it is in these
that we find the greatest fluctuations, and con-
sequently the widest opening for speculation. The
dealing in the shares of mining adventures has grown
into a businessof considerable extant, but, at the same
time, so open to abuse as to call for the adoptioa of
some plan of proceeding by which a more regular
market may be established under the control of a
responsible committee. This will tend to inspire the
confidence of the public, many of whom have suffered
from the unprincipled conduct of agents, who un-
blushingly give a false colouring to their reports
merely with the object of raising the price of the
shares. Great caution is at all times required on the
part cf the public in laying out their money in this
class of speculation, bat experience has thown that with
proper judgment and holding in several mines a very
ample return may on the average be obtained. Is the
published list of mining adventures there will be found
many that will prove to be utterly worthless. This
to be expected when we consider that the list com-
prises from 200 to 300 mines. The present year has
been a very favourable one for mining; the prices of
metals have been moderately good and the great no-
oses of a few concerns, both at home and abroad,
created a stimulus which has led to a larger number of
new adventures than perhaps in any former year, and
we believe we may also say that of the new concerns
there is a larger proportion of good and promising
mines; whilst some of those which last year were
only in the " promisiog" state have this year
been paying dividends to the holders of the shares.
It may he observed, however, that the market
prices of shares do not always indicate the true value
of a mine, for many mines that have brought high
prices have afterwards failed ; and, on the other hand,
many of those mines which now bear a very low pries
are probably destined to become of great value. In
the absence of dividends, therefore, it is math safer
to take the price as a means of showing the estima-
floe in which the mine is held; and there are now
many undertakings bearing a good price which will
soon be in a madam to pay dividends.