The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-20 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at from 7,000 to 8,000 bales, of which
300 Pernam and Maranham, and 1,500 Surat were
taken for export and on speculation. The market
closed without alteration in prices. The sales com-
prised 800 Pernam and Maranham, at 6kd. to 71d.,
300 Egyptian, at 6d. to 8id.,4000 Surat, at 2d. to
41d., 20 Sea Island, at is. 2d. to is. 6c1., and the'
remainder American. Railway shares were quiet.
The following account of the Tallow Market at
St. Petersburgh and here is furnished by Messrs.
Smith and Charles
"The advices from Petersburgh are to the 27th No-
vember and Bth December. No business was doing in
tallow for next season, with the exception of a discount
transaction at 1224- to 123, cash account 130 to
132-10 down. The quotations must be considered
nominal, for in the present state of political affairs,
no exporter would venture to make purchases
on contract, and the consequence is that the Russian
dealers are represented as at a loss how to act in rela-
tion to laying in stocks for next year's supply. Our
market has been firm, with an advancing tendency since
our last circular advice. On Saturday after some
considerable business, the market closed at an ad-
vance of 6d. over Friday's prices; and to-day we
have had a further advance on those obtained already
for delivery all this month. Contrary to gtneral expec-
tation, we have to note that there is still a great scarcity
in the production of Town tallow. As compared with
the last few months, there is perhaps a slight improve-
ment, as compared with last year none. We have it
reported from the northern districts, that the home pro-
duction has improved, but that the numbers of store
cattle is short in this district, we confess we do not
anticipate any material increase in the production
from the source this season ; in fact, we are led to be-
lieve, we shall be- quite as short in quantity as last sea-
son.

The following, from official returns, compiled by
the Treasurer of the United States, is a table exhi-
biting the amount of coin and bullion imported
and exported, annually, from 1821 to 1853, inclu-
sive ; and also the amount of importation over ex-
portation, during the same years :

Excess of Excess of
importation exportation
over over
Yrs.. Imported. Exported. exportation. importation.
1821 58,064,890 $10,478,059 $2,413,169
1822 3,369,846 10,810,180 7,449,334
1823 5,097,986 6,372,987 1,275,091
1824 8 379 835 7,014,552 $1 365 283

„
1825 6,150,765 8,932,034 - 2,781,269
1826 6,880,966 4,704,533 2,176 433 -

1827 8,151,130 8,01080 136,250
1828 7,489,741 8,243,476 - 753,705
1829 7,403,612 4,924,020 2,479,592
1830 8,155,964 2,178,773 5,977,191

1831 7,305,945' 9,014,931 1,708,986
1832 5,907,504 5,566,340 342,164 -
1833 7,070,368 2,611,701 4,458,667 -
1834 17,911,632 2,076,758 15,834,874 -
1835 13,131,447 6,477,775 6,653,672 -
1836 13,400,881 4,324,336 9,076,545 --
1837 10,516,414 5,976,249 4,540,165 -

,
. .
1838 17,747,116 3,50%046 14,239,070 -
1839 5,595,176 8,776,743 - 3,181,567
1840 8,382,813 8,417,014 565,799 -
1841 4,988,633 10,034,332 - 5,045,699
1842 4,087,016 4,813,539 - 726,53::
1843 t 22,390,559 1,520,791 20,869,798 -

1841:t.' 0,830,429 5,454,212 376,215 -
1845 4,070,242 8,606,495 - 4,536,253
1846 8,777,732 3,905,268 - 127,536
1847 24,121,289 1,907,739 22,213,550 -
1848 1,360,224 15,841,620 - 9,481,396
1849 6,651,240 5,404,648 1,246,592 -
1850 4,628,792 7,522,991 - 2,984,202
1851 5,453,592 29,472,752 - 24,019,160
1852 5,503,541 42,674,135 - 37,170,591
1853 4,201,382 27,486,875 - 23,285,493

Total-278,678,615'293,158,070 112,361,545 126,841,000
* Years eliding Sept 30. t Nine months to June 30. 4 Year
ending June 30.

The oommittee appointed a few days since by the
shareholders who met at the London Tavern, for
the purpose of eliciting balance-sheets from seven-
teen Gold Companies that were named, have been
much more active than from their outward quie-
tude might be supposed. Letters have poured in
upon them from all parts of the lJnited
Kingdom' --- some quaint, others lachrymose,
many bitter, but all truthful. We will ven-
ture, indeed, to assert that no body of men
having an intention to act honestly, could possibly
withhold information after such appeals. And yet
the company with which the committee has com-
menced the onslaught, simply because its case in-
volved the largest capital, has not evinced that
alacrity which might have been anticipated. A
delay of 'many days has elapsed, and still no
explanations, no balance-sheet, no answer to the
queries categorically submitted. What are we
to conclude then ? That there is something
wrong, od that there is a paltry official reserve
which cloaks itself beneath an affected dignity.
Perhaps neither, or perhaps both ; and may be that
" Christmas is coming" and the members of the
Board are indisposed for business. So are the share-
holders ; put this is a sorry business for many of
them, and if the loss of one day's shooting to "a
member of the Board" will enable a single unluckly
subscriber the better to enjoy his dinner, absence
from towii should no longer be pleaded as an
excuse. A is singular enough that companies
are ever fond of volunteering information that
no one wants. They tell the world, through
the colunins of the newspapers, that they ex-
pect to obtain the lease of an excellent mine,
that they expect remittances, that they expect
dividendsl in short that they expect anything or
everything, but not a word do they say on the
pounds, shillings, and pence of the question ; how
much has been spent, how it has been spent, and
who has Ispent it. And yet "to this com-
plexion it must come at last." If the money
has been! dissipated among half a dozen pro-
jectors, stoner or later the shareholders must
know it ; if it has been judiciously invested,
how agreeable the task at once to communicate it I
In short,' view it which way we will, the directors
have as obvious an interest in presenting balance-
sheets as the proprietors have in asking them, and
if they await further advices from the colonies, let
them fairly state as much; but in, the meantime
furnish such an account as they best can. On
Wednesday (to-morrow) there is to be a meeting of
parties interested in the Lake Bathurst' Company,
which so disgracefully figured on Saturday in one
of our law courts, and forlorn indeed is the prospect
of those who hold its scrip.
There is an improving tendency in the English
Stock Market, but the business doing is limited.
This is attributable, in part, to the absence of any
unfavourable foreign news, and also to some buy-
ing back by the Bears. Consols opened at 94a
and have since been 94i f. The New 3 per. Cents.
have been 9G to 96k, and the 3 per Cent. Reduced
944 and 942. Exchequer Bills are 2s. to ss. pre-
mium, being without alteration. Bank Stock is
heavy at 219.
Foreign Stocks are extremely inactive, not half
a dozen bargains being officially recorded. Grenada
Deferred Bonds are firm at 8i and Chili= Bonds
are marked 103. Spanish New Deferred Bonds
are rather better, being 221. Brazilian New Bonds
are 97k. There are no dealings in Russian, Mexi-
can, or Dutch Bonds.
The following is a letter from Lord Howden to
Ignace Bauer, Esq., stating that he would forward
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs a copy of the ap-
plication made to the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
on behalf of the Spanish Bondholders :
" British Legation in Spain,
" Madrid, Dec. 9, 1853.

" SIB,—I have had the honour of receiving your letter
of the 6th inst., and shall lose no time in transmitting
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs a copy of your appli-
cation to the Minister of Finance, in the cause of the
bondholders so ably maintained by Mr. Weisweiller,
and which I make no doubt will find the same energy
and intelligence in your hands. I shall request his
Excellency Senor Calderon de la Barca to give this just
claim, so often and so fruitlessly urged, his early and
most serious consideration.—l have the honour to be,
sir, your obedient humble servant.,
(Signed) " HOWDEN.
Ignace Bauer, Esq."
Railway Shares are quiet, and prices are steady.
The lines most dealt in are—Eastern Counties,
North-Western, South-Western, and South-
Eastern. More has been 'done in French lines,
and at rather improved prices.
There is very little doing in the Gold Mine
Shares, and prices have undergone very little varia-
tion. Australian Consols have been in request at
par.
Joint Stock Bank Shares are very dull.
Australian Agricultural Land Shares are rather
higher, and the South Australian are also better.
The British American Land Shares are about 10s.
lower.