The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-20 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL
INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton. at Liverpool yesterday were
12,000 bales, of which 1,000 American, 500 Pernam
and Maranham, and 1,000 Surat were taken for
export, and 1,500 American on speculation. The
market was very animated, and compared with
Friday's rates prices of all kinds were extensive.
The sales comprised 8,000 American, 1,000 Pernam
and Maranham at 68d to Bd., 400 Bahia at 61d. to
6id. 100 Egyptian 'Td. to ls. ld., and 2000 Surat
at did. to sd. per lb. In the Railway Share
Market there was a considerable rise.
The Indigo auctions are progressing with more
animation, and the wool sales yesterday evening
went briskly.

From the Continent the news is generally of a
better complexion this morning. In nearly every
instance the writers of private letters state that
they have been holding off from dealing with the
desire of awaiting a solution of the Eastern
question, while others add the weather as
having a deterring influence. It is but reason-
able to conclude, therefore, that if both
these causes happily cease, a very marked
improvement would occur in the principal
branches of industry. One department of trade
has never flagged throughout the uncertainty felt,
viz., that of Australia. It is scarcely possible to
execute sufficiently fast the orders given out, and
we apprehend that the statements to which many
journals are giving such prominency, about high
prices, will lead to an excess of shipments. It is
known that the number of vessels which have left
is large, and that the bareness of the Sydney
very
market up to the middle of April was temporary.
At the meeting of the Australian Agricultural
Company, now in progress, the Chairman has
stated, in allusion to the Peel River Company, that,
taking the shares at their par value, they had never
been lower than the price at which the shareholders
had them. A fact, almost unprecedented, was,
that not one of the shareholders in the old company
had refused the Peel River shares. The coal mine
accounts were very satisfactory. The sales of coal
during January and February, which are summer
months in the colony, were double those of the
corresponding period of last year, and the export
demand was good: Notwithstanding the scarcity
of labour, their wool clip, 650 bales, was very
slightly below the average. The price of coal was
13s. 6d. per ton at the pit's mouth. To set the
mind of the shareholders and public at rest as to
what are the mineral resources of their property,
the directors had obtained the services, for three
years, of a celebrated German geologist, who had
taken his passage in the Vimeira, and whose inves-
tigations and reports would doubtless give satisfac-
tion.

The half-yearly meeting of the London and
Westminster Bank Proprietors has been held this
morning, and proved highly favourable. The fol-
lowing report was adopted :
"The directors have the pleasure to report that the
net profits of the last half-year, after making provision
for all bad and doubtful debts, paying the income tax,
and setting apart 2,0001. towards the new buildings in
Lothbury and Bloomsbury, amount to 54,525/. Bslld.
"Out of these profits, the directors now declare a di-
vidend at the rate of six per cent. per annum, upon the
paid-up capital of 1,000,000/.
"Alter the payment of this dividend there will remain
24,5251. Bs. 11d. to be added to the surplus fund, which
will then amount to 133,689/. 16s. 9d.
LONDON AND WESTMINSTER BANK, 30TH JUNE,
Dr.
To proprietors for paid up capital
To amount due by the Bank on depo-
sits, circular notes, &c
To rest or surplus fund
To net profits of the past half-year

£1,000,000 0 0

6,219,817 19 7
108,164 7 10
54,525 8 11

£7,383,507 16 4