The Sun.
London, England, 1839-01-19 00:00:00

MONEY AND CITY NEWS.

(nom THE MORNING PAPERS OP THIS DAY.)
CHRONICLE.—A slight depression has occurred in
Consols.

There arc rumours afloat in the City to the effect that the
Bank of England has latterly been subjected to very extensive
losses by protested bills. .

A short time since, it will be remembered, we mentioned
that the Directors of the Bank of England had been sud-
denly thrown into a state of alarm by the arrival of a com-
munication from Paris, just after the weekly court broke up,
but we were uncertain at the time whether it had reference
to the position of Lafitte's Joint Stock Bank, or some pri.
vate establishment. We now understand that it bad refer-
ence chiefly to the latter • and, strange to say, was an appli-
cation for assistance from houses in Paris, through their connec-
tions here; while it will perhaps appear still more strange to
state that the accommodation sought for was granted ; but,
we understand, such was the case. In this respect no doubt
the Directors acted wisely, for the suspension of payment on
the part of any leading firms in Paris just alter the stoppage
of the Bank of Belgium, and the advance of eleven millions
of francs from the Bank of France to Laffitte, would have
completely destroyed all confidence, and brought on the finan-
cial panic which was so much dreaded in that capital, and
which necessarily would, at least, have created much uneasi-
ness here. The conduct of the B ink of England towards the
American houses has, no doubt, taught them a lesson of pru-
dence ; and we believe that the apprehension which was so
strongly felt in Paris, has been almost entirely removed by
the prompt assistance which all parties in need of it received
from their friends, as well as the Banksof England and France.

TIMES.—By the letters from Liverpool it appears that a
meeting has been called togetlit r of the Proprietors of the
Manchester mid Liverpool District Bank, at which some cu-
rious workings of the Joint-stock system in that part of the
country have bsen brought to light. This bank, it is said, is
admitted to have sustained losses by bad debts, according to
an estimate which has been piepared for the occasion, of
375,00u1., being an excess ef about 145,0001. over and
above the amount of the reserved fund, or accumulated
profits of 'the bank- since the period of its formation. We
have not seen any report of this meeting beyond wile.
is contained in private letters, but it is understood that
the, transactions ou. of which these losses have prin-
cipally arisen have been loans to different manufacturers
by way of mortgage. The "amount of the reserved fund
would be an indication cf,_a very prosperous career previ-
ously, if legitimately made up out of the profits of bank-
ing, the real merits of which, however, it will be the interest
of the shareholders to examine into very carefully, and they
will further consult the interest of the public at large if they
hereafter make all the particulars of. their inquiry knewn.
This is one of the banks which, when the Committee of the
House of Commons on joint stock banks first sat in 1536, de
dined giving in a written answer to the queries contained it:
the circular of Mr. Spring Rice, sent round shortly before
the inquiry, so that much less knowledge of the real state of
its affairs has been obtained than of most of the other banks.
The shares in this bank have declined in value in consequence
of these disclosures, but not such as might have been antici-
pated. They are at a discount of about 1 per cent.
POST.—The transactions in Foreign Bills this afternoon
were, generally speaking, at rates more favourable to the
drawer. Amsterdam was done at 12 3-1, Paris 25 50, Ham-
burgh 13 8.1, Antwerp 12 la, and Frankfort at 150. All
these quotations are rather lower than on the last post-day,
with the exception of that of Antwerp, which remains unaltered.
We perceive by the .Harnburyh Correspondent of the 11th
instant, that the Leipsic new year's fair is proceeding less
satisfactorily than could be desired. The attendance of
buyers was thin, while the sellers of goods, on the contrary,
were more numerous than usual. Of the former, those from
the banks of the Danube were extremely few. The sales of
English manufactures are found to be quite limited, and it is
remarked that these appear to be on the decrease every year.
The prices of woollen cloths are exceedingly low, but silk
goods are more in favour. The fair is now nearly over.
The private advices from Hamburgh make mention of the
overflowing of the Elbe, and of a great deal of damage having
been done to the shipping and the lower part of the town
The water had risen to the unusual height of eighteen feet,
but matters do not appear to be so bad as they are represented
to have been in the Newspapers.

HERALD.—Money stil continues to wear much the same
value in the Discount Market as it did at the close of the last
week, and the bankers and leading bill-brokers still give 9 per
cent. on temporary lodgments. The continental exchanges
wear precisely the same tendency downwards as on the last
post-day, whilst there has not bet n any material alteration in
the quotations.
The business in the British Funds is still on the increase,
and the quotations have rather improved upon the closing
prices of yesterday. Consols for Money closed at 921 a
and 921 a for the Account. The Three-and-a- Half per
Cent. Reauced Annuities are 100 k a and the New Three-
and-a- Half per Cents. are 1004 aI. Bank Stock is 203, and
India 2574 time. The premium upon Exchequer Bills rules
at 68 a 70, and on India Bonds at 64.
The Foreign Market continues in the most active state of
speculation, and the mania for gambling in the Peninsular
Bonds has been carried on to-day at a rate not warranted by
the financial situation of either Portugal or Spain. It is
most generally considered to be the r esult of the operations of
a party who were initiated in the rig of 1835. Portuguese
Five per Cent. New Bondi have advanced to 36, and the
Three per Cent. ditto to 23. Spanish Bonds with the May
Coupons are 181, and Deferred 71. Brazilian Bonds are 78:
Buenos Ayres 18, Cuba 74 ; Colombian 281 a 29, and
Mexican Six per Cents. 24} a 8. Belgian Bonds are
991 ; Danish are 75f ; French Four-and-a- Half per
Cent. Rentes are 106 f. ; and the Exchange 25f.
40c. ; Dutch Two-and-a- Half per Cents. are 54i- ; the
Old Five per Cents. are 1021 a i; and the New Loan, 1001.
The dealings in the Share Market have not been of much
importance, neither have the quotations much altered. Great
Western Railway are 13 prem. ; Brighton are 21 dis. ; and
Blackwell lf dis. Southampton are 6f a 6 dis. ' • the New
Ditto Shares 19 prem. ; and the North Midland 1 prem.
Australasian Bank Shares are 30 prem. ; Colonial Bank
Scrip is 51 prom. ; and the Shares of the Union Bank of
Australia arc 5 prem.
The interest which is generally taken in the promotion of a
sound and comprehensive principle of steam navigation be-
tween this country and India has been manifested to-day
by the numerous and respectable meeting held at the Lon-
don Tavern. The importance of so desirable a consum-
mation was so fully demonstrated that all opposition to it soon
gave way.

The following resolution will prove that now it is determined
to carry out the plan of a comprehensive steam navigation be-
tween this country and India:—
" Resolved—That T. A. Curtis, J. P. Larkins, T. Bag-
shaw, and John Mackillop, Esquires, be requested to take
measures for forming a board of direction and preparing a
prospectus to carry out the proposed Company, and that the
East India Association of London, and the respective cham-
bers of commerce of Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol,
and Birmingham, be respectfully invited to co-operate with
the proposed Company.

MURDER AT NEWCASTLE.—The authorities are
still following up an investigation into this melancholy
affair, and among other witnesses examined has been
Appleton, the foreman of the North British Fire Office,
whose evidence, it will be seen, is of the most important
character. We understand that he was prevented from
attending at the inquest in consequence of having been
severely scalded on the leg on the morning of the fire.
He states that on the morning of the fire, after enter-
ing the waiting-room, he proceeded to the middle door ;
it was very much burnt at the top and other parts ; he
tried it with his hand, but could not open it ; he then
applied his foot to it tivice, but with no better success ;
and he states that he felt considerable awe, as it appeared
as if some person was leaning against it. He plied his foot
for the third time, which had the effect of shattering it, and
he advanced into the room, but was driven back by the
smoke, which rushed through the aperture, and he made
towards the fire-place, and in his course he came against a
body, since ascertained to be that of Millie ; he called for
a light, and one of the firemen brought him one in a horn
lantern, and he found it was a (lead person. He exclaimed,
" There must be somebody else here," and turning his
eyes to the left, he observed the figure of a man lying in
a reclining position, supporting himself on his left elbow,
with his head raised, with his hat on, and a plaid wrapper
round his shoulders. Appleton then took off his hat, and
discovered it to be Bolarn, as he knew him, he being a
depositor, and he called out " Bolarn," who opened his
eyes, and looked intently at him ; he then took his plaid
off. By this time other parties had come in, and what
then took place has been stated ut the Coroner's inquest.
We have leirned that the magistrates were on Thursday
engaged at the Police Office examining Mary Walker,
Bolam's housekeeper, and the result is, that they have felt
it their duty to remand her for a week for further exa-
mination.—Newcastle Chronicle.

A YOUNG EXPRESS MESSENGER.--Yester night
week the arrival of the packet ship arford, from New
York, with' important news from Mexico, made it indis-
pensably necessary for an individual, who is in the habit of
transmitting intelligence to London, to send a messenger
thither with the news in question. Time pressing, and
there being no person at hand convenient but a boy nine
years of age, him he placed in the six o'clock Grand Junc-
tion train, and despatched him to town. The child arrived
safely at his journey's end, notwithstanding the terrific storm
of the night, took a cab at the Euston. square station, and
drove thence to the Times Office, to which his despatches
were directed, delivering them as cleverly and as early as
any grown man, who knew London well, could -have deli-
vered them. The boy, on the day of his arrival in London,
forwarded, through the Post-office, a very characteristic
letter, stating how he had discharged the duties of his mis-
sion, what sights he had seen, and announcing that he
should return home on Thursday night, which he did ac-
cordingly, safe and sound, and highly pleased with his sud-
den and unexpected visit to London. The Tower, West-
minster Abbey, and the British Museum, about which he
had often read, seem to have engrossed his attention the
most.—Liverpool Albion.

On Wednesday morning an elderly woman, named
Griffiths, the wife of a smith, iesiding in King-street, Long-
acre, committed suicide by cutting her throat in a frightful
manner, in consequence, jt is said, of some family differences.