The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-24 00:00:00

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.

The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 3,000 bales all to the trade. The
market closed heavily, with but little alteration in
prices. The sales comprised about 2,5000 Ameri-
can, 20 Bahia at 61d., 100 Egyptians at Sid. to
Bid., and 100 Surat at 4d. to 4gd. per lb. Rail-
way Shares were quiet, but firm.
The state of the dried fruit trade is thus re-
ported on as regards currants, by Messrs. Witherby
and Hanson :

"The clearances for Home Consumption during the
four weeks ending 17th inst., show a considerable falling
off, as compared with those of the corresponding weeks
in 1851 and previous years, having been 1,200 tons in
1852, against 2,040 tons in 1851-2,000 tons in 1850—
and 2,100 tons in 1849, but the total quantity cleared
from Ist September to 15th November in the last three
years, has been in each year from 3,160 to 3,200 tons.
The clearances at Liverpool continue to show a great
falling off, owing principally to the small quantity held
by wholesale houses there. The Board of Trade returns
show an increase of 97 tons in the consumption of the
United Kingdom during the first nine months of this
year, as compared with those of 1851.
" Since our report of 6th inst., the Wholesale Grocers
have bought with great caution, but extensive.purchases
have been made on Liverpool account at very full prices,
and within the last few days by speculators here, with a
view, it is presumed, to investments, and to hold over
till next year. A great portion of our available stock
must thus have changed hands, which is a new feature
in the article. Several cargoes of New Fruit are now
discharging at the Docks. By the latest accounts from
the Islands, 1851 fruit, which in the spring of this year
was held at 20 dollars, was still being bought for market
at 80 dollars, which is much above the parity of our
present highest prices. Our quotations of New Currants
are nominal ; those of Old are as before."
The heads of departments have received instruc-
tions to the effect, that in consequence of the im-
proved condition of the colonial finances, the full
salaries which were fixed by the Appropriation Bill
of last session may now be drawn for, and also that
the anierence between those rates and the reduced
amounts which were paid during the first six
months of this year, may likewise be received.
1i iesterday afternoon bills of exchange were ne-
gotiated at very full rates on most of the Con-
tinental cities. Paris, 25 40 to 42i- ; Amsterdam,
1118 - to 19 ; and Hambro', 13 7 to f ; Trieste,
11 44 to 48.

During the fortnight to last evening, the Hon.
East India Company drew bills on the 3 presiden-
cies to the amount of 116,1481.
The Committee of Mexican Bondholders have
received the following letter, vici the United States
from Mr. Falconnet : •

Mexico, Oct. 16, 1852.
" Sir—l have had the pleasure of addressing you on
the 13th inst.,* and without any of yours to answer.
This is merely to enclose the speech of the President
of the Republic on the opening of Congress, in the
hope that my friends in Vera Cruz will be able to
forward this letter through the United States without
delay.
"No direct allusion to, or special mention of, the
foreign debt has been made in the speech, a circumstance
which has disappointed me, for although I am aware that
a separate report is to be addressed to the legislature on
that subject, yet I expected that their attention would
have been called at once to the importance of providing
for the satisfaction of our claims. You will find from
that document how many difficulties surround the Go-
vernment ; and from the answer given by the President
of the Chamber of Deputies—a very vague one indeed—
it is difficult to foresee bow far the Legislature will feel
disposed to help the Executive.
" The shipments from Vera Cruz and Tampico by the
last stainer have not been so large as I expected—a por-
tion ofthe bills in the hands of the agents not having fallen
due, it appears, until a few days after the departure of the
packet. However, the bills of lading sent to Messrs.
Baring Brothers and Co., for money out of the produce
of the Custom-house revenue, leave a surplus of about—
s 3,265 in favour of the July dividend.
32,000 are in course of collection at Vera Cruz.
130,000 in bills, according to advice just received, will
soon be delivered to the agents at that port.
We have about
36,000 cash on Matzatlan, ready to be shipped.
18,000 in cash and bills, at San Bias.
2,800 do. do. in Acapulco.
22,500 are settled out of the $102,000 of Matamoros,
&c., so that we can say to have secured
about
$244,565 for the July dividend.
" If the Legislature makes any favourable decision, I
think there will then be little difficulty in raising the
necessary amount to complete the payment of that divi-
dend.—l have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient
servant,

" FDE. 0. FALCONNET.
" To Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, Bart.,
" Chairman of the Committee of Mexican Bondholders,
27, Gresham-street."

• This has not yet been received.

The King of Holland designed, and in part 'com-
pleted a railroad from Amsterdam to the borders
of Prussia. In order to raise the funds for this
purpose he issued 9,000 bonds of. one thousand_
florins each, or about 831. 6s. Bd., bearing interest
at 4 per cent., guaranteed first by the railway,
and secondly by the king himself.
In 1845 the King of Holland sold this (now
called the Dutch Rhenish) railway to an English
Company, who subscribed for a capital of
2,ooo,oool.—first, for the purpose of completing
the railway to Prussia secondly, to make
a branch to Rotterdam, and thirdly to pay off the
9,003 Bonds, above mentioned. Of this capital,
800,0001. have been paid up, but in consequence of
certain unforeseen impediments with Prussia, as to
the junction with their lines, a considerable delay
has occurred in the completing of the road, and
about 400,0001. subscribed, but not immediately
wanted, were invested in the purchase of 3,700 of
these Bonds, as also 100,0001. in the purchase of land
for the Rotterdam Branch. All difficulties are
now at an end. Treaties with Prussia, and con-
tracts with Mr. Brassey, have been signed. The
Railway is to be completed in two years, and the
Government have agreed to guarantee the interest
on 400,0001. while the works are in progress.
200,0001 is wanted for immediate purposes. A call
could be made, but the Shareholders, considering
that they paid the 800,0001. for making the
line, and not for purchasing Bonds, wished
the Bonds in possession of the Company
sold or pledged to raise the money now
required. To this the direction assented,
and it not being advisable to part with the Bonds,
the Directors have placed in the Bank of the
Netherlands, in the names of certain English and
Dutch Trustees, 2,400 bonds of 1,000 florins, or
831. 6s. Bd. each, and are now about to issue against
them 2,400 Certificates or Loan Notes, (also of
1,000 florins each), to be repaid by calls, July Ist
1858, and bearing interest at per Cent. The
Certificates are secured, first by the Bonds de-
posited, (which are themselves guaranteed, first by
the line and secondly by the King), and secondly
by the Company, who engage to make a particular
call to redeem these - Certificates, and in payment
of which call these Certificates will themselves be
received.

The debate upon free trade policy has not pro-
gressed sufficiently to allow of a very correct esti-
mate of the result, and the amendment of Lord
Palmerston would, it is thought, probably give a
new feature to the matter, and prove favourable
to Ministers. The uncertainty, however, affects
prices, and Consols have been rather heavy
at 1011 to k, though now 101 k for Trans-
fer, and Mt to for Account. Exchequer
Bills of March are 725. premium. Bank
Stock is supported at 223, and East India Stock
has risen to 277. The New 3* per Cents. have
been quoted 104 and the 3 per Cents. moil I.
A bargain has been effected in South Sea Old An-
nuities at par.
The Committee of the Stock Exchange have
taken a most important and highly-creditable step
to prevent bankrupt or dishonest States forcing
morel securities upon the English market. The
Central Peninsular Railway Shares will not be
quoted in the official list, as will be observed by
the following reply to an application of the com-
pany :

(Copy..
"
November 22, 1852.

" Sir' —I am instructed by the Committee to inform
you, that they have taken your letter of the 30th Octo-
ber into consideration, and after communicating with
the Chairman of the Committee of Portuguese Bond-
holders, are unanimously of opinion that the security
upon which the proposed guarantee of 6 per cent. is
based, has already been mortgaged to the Portuguese
Bondholders, and that consequently, until the Committee
receives from them a communication that this security
is given with their consent, they cannot recognize the
dealings in the railways of Portugal with this guarantee.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
GEO. WEBB, Secretary.
Robert W. Kennard, Esq., on behalf of the Provisional
Directors of the Central Peninsular Railways of
Portugal."
No other reply could in fairness be given, for the
Portuguese Government which confiscates the divi-
dends on its debt, actually guarantees 6 per cent.
to this railway out of the taxes assigned to the
bondholders.
Spanish Stock is firm, the Deferred being 25k k;
Peruvian Deferred Bonds are 62i, and Grenada
Deferred, 11k. There have been large dealings in
Brazilian New, at 94.t0 ; Turkish Scrip is 2k
to premium a dec_me. In Dutch and Belgian
Stocks, there has been some activity; Mexican, 25
to f.
The railway share market opened very buoyantly,
although it has gone back a little in some instances
since. The English lines have been higher gene-
rah —North-Western, East Anglian, Aberdeen, .