The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-22 00:00:00

bills having more than 60 days to run, and even
now only admits paper up to 75 days. Many
persons are of opinion that the inconvenience to
trade would have been far less had the Bank been
enabled to lend for a longer date, if even at 7 per
cent ,or higher rates. It is urged in some quarters
that as regards rates, the Bank of France should
be invested with similar liberty of action to that
enjoyed by other great European banks.
It is stated that the stock of bullion in the Bank
of France has experienced some diminution since
the last balance sheet was issued.
A general meeting of the English Share and
Bondholders in the Royal Swedish Railway was
held this day. The report of the directors, con-
taining a proposition for the sale of the line to the
Swedish Government, was passed, and the meeting
separated.
The annual meeting of the London and West-
minster Bank was also held to-day. The report,
which was adopted unanimously, stated that the
profit of the half year was 93,26511.2 s 3d, of which
the directors added to the surplus fund 2,2871 ss,
making that fund 150,0001, and now declared a
dividend of 6 per cent per annum, together with a
bonus of 6 per cent on the paid up capital. The
total assets and liabilities was on both sides
12,679,4391 A resolution for the payment of the
dividend mentioned in the report was carried
' unanimously.
The bar silver brought by the steamer La Plata
was sold yesterday for Inda at 5s 20 per ounce
standard, showing a rise of id as compared with
the price realised for the remittance by the pre-
vious packet. In the interval, however, some
small private sales were effected at a further slight
advance. The present quotation in London for
five-franc pieces is 5s 08 dper oz.
The Stornaway has arrived from Shanghai in
the Downs, with 3,657 bales of silk, and 192,2001 b
of tea. _ _ .

The East India and China Association have
published a comparative statement of the number
of ships, both British and foreign, with their
aggregate tonnage, entered inward and cleared
outward with cargo from and to places within the
limits of the East India Company's charter from
the Ist of January to the 31st of December, 1855
and 1856.

According to the statement of vessels entered
inward, the port of Loudon shows a decrease of 40
vessels, but an increase of 9,828 tons ; the difference
between 866 vessels with a capacity of 488,766
tons in 1855, and 826 vessels, with a capacity of
498,594 tons, in 1855. In the case of. Liverpool
there is an increase of 73 vessels and 77,338
tons : the arrivals in 1855 having been 261 ves-
sels, with a capacity of 190,534 tons ; and in 1856
334 vessels, with a capacity of 267,872 tons. The
return for Bristol exhibits a decrease of 10 ves-
sels and 1,633 tons, the difference between 32
vessels, with a elpacity of 13,225 tons, in 1855,
and 22 vessels, with a capacity of 11,592 tons,
in 1856. From the Clyde, the statistics show a
decrease of 2 vessels and 1,011 tons, the arrivals
in 1855 having been 35 vessels, with a capacity of
14,721 tons ; and in 1856, 33 vessels, with a capa-
city of 13,710 tons. The net increase presented
by a review of this statement is 21 vessels and
84,522 tons, the arrivals in 1855 having been
1,194 veesels, with a capacity of 707.246 tons, and
in 1856 1,215 vessels, with a capacity of 791,768
tons. The principal increase in arrivals has
been in vessels from Calcutta, Madras, and
the Cape of Good Hope, The statistics
of vessels cleared outward present in the
case of the port of London an increase of 53
vessels and 50,079 tons ; the difference between
681 vessels with a capacity of 431,692 tons, in 1855,
and 734 vessels with 481,771 tons in 1856. In the
case of Liverpool the increase is 39 ves9els and
45,436 tons, the departures in 1855 having been 465
vessels wi h a capacity of 380,484 tons ; and in
1856 504 vessels with a capacity of 425,920 tons.
The return for Bristol shows a decrease of five
vessels and 1,022 tons, the difference between
13 vessels with a capacity of 7,986 tons in
1855, and eight vessels with a capacity of
6,964 tons in 1856. The figures for the Cl 3 de
exhibit a decrease of three vessels, with an
increase of 2,449 tons, the departures in 1855
having been 107 vessels, with a capacity of 62,899
tons, and in 1856, 104 vessels, with a capacity of
65,348 tons. The total net increase of vessels cleared
outwards appears by this statement to be 84 vessels,
and 96,942 tons ; the difference between 1,266 ves-
sels, with a capacity of 883 061 tons, and 1,350 ves-
sels, with a capacity of 980,003 tons. The principal
increase is in the departure of vessels for Bombay,
China, New South Wales, and the Cape of Good
Hope.