Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-28 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL.

The bulk of the business in the Stock Exchange is still
for cash, and, as purchases predominate, the tendency of
prices in the several markets to-day was decidedly favour-
able, although the best quotations of the day were not
generally supported to the close. In the Discount Market
business continues. First-class bills are taken at 3to 34
per cent., with occasional transactions at lower rates. No
bullion operations of any importance took place at the Bank
to-day. China exchanges appear to be rather worss. At
Calcutta little change is presented. At St. Petersburg
exchange on London has advanced to 33i- to 331 per cent.—
Daily News City Article, Friday Evening.
The expectation that the result of the general reduction
in the rates of the Bank and Discount Houses for money
on deposit would cause an increased flow into the Stock
Market for investment, caused the English Funds to open
this morning at another aavance of per cent ; but,
although there was subsequently a further rise, a change
of tone took place before the close, and a relapse occurred
to the quotations of yesterday. The London and County
Bank have to-day formally reduced their allowance on
deposits to 21 per cent. The Exchanges at Shanghai show
an adverse alteration of fully 4 per cent. At Calcutta it
was about per cent. The Produce Markets have not
presented any further alteration of importance during the
week, and rather more business is reported in a few of the
principal articles for exportation. Times City Article,
Friday Evening.

The death of the Dowager Duchess of Hamilton is
announced. _ _ _ _

The Times says that the last circular of the War-office on
the rifle corps snows that on the main point official opinions
are in accord with those generally prevailing.
Two companies from each regiment in garrison at Ports-
mouth- are ordered to be placed under canvas at Browndown
for rifle practice:
at Vienna, on Friday, it was reported that Prince
Gortschakoff had withdrawn from his post of foreign
minister in the Russian Cabinet, because the Emperor
Alexander had resolved to abandon the engagements under-
taken with France and was inclined to save Austria.
The new warrant, by which the rank, pay, and general
position of the medical officers of the royal navy are
henceforth to be regulated, is spoken of with great appro-
bation in several of the papers. The Daily News says it is
a proof of Sir J. Pakington's zeal and honesty of purpose.
TEE WAR AND STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.—The
directors of the African Steamship Company state, in their
report, that they reserve a balance, as they do not deem it
prudent to disburse the whole, looking to the effect the
Coitinental war,and the demand for seamen for the royal
navy, are likely to have upon the future expenditure of the
eompany.
According to the Times, the arrangements of the leaders
of :the Opposition are not so complete as was believed..
The Times says it is evident Lord J. Russell and Lord
Palmerston are not prepared to undergo the least sacrifice
for the sake of reform or any other public object. Each is
ready to be the chief of a reform cabinet, but not otherwise
to assist the cause.
AUSTRIAN EXTORTIONS AT VERCELLI.—The Ddily News
has received a telegram from its Turin correspondent, which
says that an official inquiry made on the spot, with the aid
of the Inspector of Customs, establishes the fact that the
contributions levied by the Austrians at Vercelli, and which
the special correspondent of the Times, in his letter of May
15th, declared had not been raised, amount to the sum of
2,000,00 D francs.
ThE NEW IMPORT DUTIES IN INDIA.—A deputation,
representing the exporting- interest to India, waited upon
Lord Stanley, yesterday, to explain the hardship caused by
the sudden increase of import duties at Calcutta. Lord
Stanley, in reply, assumed the suddenness to have arisen
from the discovery of the alarming state of the finances.
The measure had also been decided upon here, but Lord
Canning, before the receipt of instructions from this side,
had been obliged to make the change_at once on his own
responsibility. His lordship promised to consider the
paertophoesaclosn of the dasepiumtpatoisosnib,
impossible
the postponement of the.