The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-31 00:00:00

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK..
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 4,000 bales, of which 300 American
were taken on speculation. The market closed
heavily with prices of all kinds, a shade in favour
of the buyer. The sales comprised 3,000 American,
390 Pernam and Maranham at 6d. to 71(1., 50
Bahia at 64d. to Cid., 200 Egyptian at 60. to 62d.,
and 700 Surat at 3/d. to 4d. per lb. Railway
Shares were flat.
Privately there has been business done in many
staples this week, at very full prices. Of Sugar
the quantity consumed this year shows a great in-
crease. IPrices are expected to open firmly in
January. Native Ceylon Coffee has been brisk at
475. for good ordinary. Tallow has been dull and
Cotton steady. In Hemp, Oils, and Tea there is
not much doing.
The year that this evening closes has been one
of almost unexampled commercial prosperity. Mer-
cantile transactions have been conducted upon a
profitable basis. Money , has been plentiful ; cre-
dits have been remarkably short. The artizan has
received better wages ; and' the necessaries of life,
while they have paid the producer or importer,
have been, notwithstanding, obtainable at com-
paratively low rates by the consumer. Such has
been commerce generally during the year 1852.
The New Year will open with even brighter
prospects, owing to the last news from the land of
gold--a land included in the British. Colonial Em-
pire, concerning whose future destiny, in a commer-
cial sense, it would be speculative to make any cal-
culation, and whose political future it would ba
hazardous, to predict. • To the mother country the
consequences are obvious. A surplus population
that has hitherto been ill-requited for its
launched into fields of wealth, the description of
which, but for evidence that has put a'veto upon
doubt, would have found a congenial place in fabled
story. The end of the emigration that is daily
increasing is to transmute the idle into the indus-
trious, the dependent consumer of others' earnings
into the independent -enjeyer of his own. In other
words, the labour market is relieved, and the de-
mand for the productions of the artisan increased.
The effect, consequently, is twofold on our hives of
industry. Gold, of itself, neither feedslior clothes,
but it can at all times command the necessaries of
life. Two millions of 'the precious metal were
shipped in a few days from the Australian ports.
A very insignificant proportion of this enormous
export was drawn against. It is , to- be inferred
that the bulk is sent here to cover orders for
provisions . and manufactures to be shipped
to these possessions. It will not come
here to be , . warehoused. If people send
gold, it is because they require something returned
—not to have it invested 'here permanently. The
disposition of an agricultural people is to obtain a_
status by laying out their surplus moneys in lands.
The old country offers no inducement for such pur-
chases. The attention of the colonists is, there-
fore, turned to their adopted country. It is to be
perceived that this movement is not only by rapid
strides producing an equilibrium of the labour mar-
kets of England and her southern territories; but
alsb equalising the values of their respective lands.
The opinion of- those who; trom their experience
and disinterested poSition, are able to give an un-
blassed judgment, is, that 'purchases on English
account of Australian lands are still likely to attract
a large amount of attention, . although some lands
have already advanced 1,000 per cent. in value.
We refer not so much to Gold, Companies
proper 'they being purely 'corporations of mining
adventurers, subject to all the • freaks and vi-
cissitudes that characterise = every mineral specu-
lation. These undertakings, as a whole, will
no doubt amply repay the spirit with which they
have been set on foot ; but we allude specially to
those simple associations that have purchased lands
to wait the effect of the enhanced gold value upon
such properties. Such companies as the Australian
Agricultural, the South Australian Land, and the
Australian and the Australian Consols, whose lands
are in the auriferous districts, will derive large in-
comes from their gold royalties, and not small ones
from their agricultural leases, since it is quite clear
that all farming. produce will find their most remu-
nerative markets where the easy gold getters are
located.

It is reported that the Adelaide steamer will not
be able to get away to-morrow, but no notice to
this effect has been given at the Post-office.
The English Stocks are rather heavy again, but
with very little doing ; Consols are at 1004 to
The New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have
been marked 104 to f, and the Three per Cents.
101 i to f. Bank Stock is worth 223 i to 2244.
Exchequer Bills of March have been quoted 695.
to 725. premium.

The Foreign Securities have been rather brisker.
Mexican are worth, however, only 23k to g.
Grenada Deferred are up to 13i Equador
Stock is at sg. Peruvian Deferred have been' at
65, being steady. Portuguese 4 per Cents. are up
to 40i and 41, because of the proximate payment of
the dividend. Spanish Certificates are at 4/ and
very firm. Sardinian Bonds have been at 951
Russian 5 per Cents. keep firm at 1211. Dutch
21 per Cents. brin-, 681..
The Railway Share Market is firmer, but with
limited dealings.
Gold Mine Shares are at full rates, but the Land
Companies of Australia are not generally in de-
mand. The Banks look up.

BRITISH FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK THIS DAY,

(From the Official List.)

• Bank Stock
2244 3i
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities.......
New 31 per Cent. Annuities..........
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jau., 1860 6s
Consols for Opening 18th Jannary
Exchequer BIN I,ld. March. June.
£1000........... 69 72
£5OO
69 72
Small
69 72 , _

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK
Equador Bonds
Grenada Bonds, Deferred,
Mexican 3 per Cent.....::.....
Peruvian Deferred 3 per Cent
Portuguese 4 per Cent.
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. ...... •• • .....
Ditto for the Account 953
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup, not fun 4i p e
Dutch Exchange 2i per Cent
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates

i!ig -4 4
23$ 4.
65
41 404
121