The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-23 00:00:00

0N E Y MARKET IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

AND
COMALls11:0I AE, INT ELLTGENCE.

CITY, TWO o'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 7,000 bales, including 1,000 Ameri-
can taken for export and on speculaiion. The
market closed tamely at former rates. Railway
shares wero firm.

The intimation by the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer last evening, that the duties upon tea will not
be further reduced at present, is acquiesced in as a
proper course, considering the peculiar circum-
stances of the country, and the necessity of-raising
money ; nor is the objection to this measure so
forcible as it otherwise might have been, seeing
that the further reduction has not yet come into
operation. It is rumoured in commercial circles
also, that a higher duty upon timber is to be fin-

posed.
The most intense dissatisfaction we have wit-
nessed for a long time prevails with respect to the
declarations of Government last night concerning
the blockade of the Black Sea ports. It is per-
fectly notorious that cargoes are constantly shipped
from Odessa to Constantinople, as well as from the
Sea of Azoff, and that there is, in fact, no blockade
whatever, and if it be true, as stated in a letter to one
of our merchants, that the British Ambassador in
Turkey actually assured. the captains of trading
vessels that they might proceed unmolested to
Odessa and other places, it is impossible to recon-
cile the declaration last night made that there is a
blockade. Unless some definite policy is adopted,
we may expect Ministers to be much more severely
handled than they have yet been. No one would
complain if the intentions of Government were
understood one way or the other, but to assert that
there is a blockade is contrary to truth.
There is no important alteration shown in the

wookly account of the Bank of England, made up
to the 16th inst. ; but the close of the year makes
money temporarily in more request, and this is
shown by the increase of other securities. The
bullion account remains about the same ; but there
is a decided increase of assets arising from the ad-
dition made to the deposit accounts, both of the
Government and private parties. Compared with
,he previous week, the changes are as follows :
Active circulation £19,039,065
Decrease
Bullion
Increase
3,132,039

Rest

Increase
Public Deposits

7,328
6,035,675

Increase
Other Deposits
Increase
Seven-Day and other Bills
Decrease
Government Securities

490,267
9,710,512
19,139
923,112
28,995
11,565,237

Decrease
Other Securities 13,869,287
Increase
Notes unemployed 8,330,780
Increase 401,950
Bills of exchange were negociated yesterday
upon most of the Continental cities at about the
former rates, viz. :—Paris, 25 321 to 35 ; Amster-
dam, 11 171 to 172 ; Hamburgh, 13 51 to 52 ;
Frankfort, 1172 to 118 ; and Trieste, 12 39 to 45.
The shipments of specie direct from London
during the week to last Thursday comprised
243,383 ounces of silver and 6,335 ounces of gold,
principally to Hamburg, Belgium, and Boulogne.
The English Securities have been very inactive,
and prices have remained almost entirely as they
closed yesterday. Consols have been 91g 1. Bank
stock is firm at 209. Exchequer Bonds are 99/ ft.
The New 3 per Cents. have been 911 to g.
Foreign Securities have been heavy. Turkish
Bonds are marked 75i to I. The Spanish Com-
mittee's Certificate is at si. Russian Five per
Cents. have been dealt in at 98, and Danish at
1011.

The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks:—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 to 6; Mexi-
can, 21 to 211- ; Peruvian, 69 to 71 ; ditto
3 per Cents., 48 to 50 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents.,
41 to 43 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 97 to 99 ; ditto
44 per Cents., 87 to 89 ; Spanish New Deferred,
ISt 191; ditto 3 per Cents., 3Eq to 39,1 ; ditto
Certificates, 51 to 51 ; ditto Passive, 4 to 4ft.
The Railway Share Market has been inanimate,
but the quotations are not generally lower. The
foreign lines are at full rates.
Foreign Mines have been at about the previous
rates. The Banks are a shade higher, and Peel
River arc in demand.

BLUTISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES.
( Front the Official List.

nn dness done
sink Stock .... ... 209
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities .. 91h
3 per Cent Cersols Annuities
dew 3 per Cent. Annuities
1 eng Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 -16
India Stock
India Bonds, £loeo
Consols for Account, 10th January
Exchequer Bills, 24d.
£1000
k5OO
Small , 4 7
Exchequer Bonds 1858, 3. per Cent. —
Ditto 1859, „ , 99A fl
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent —
Ditto 5 per Cent
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £St 9B
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 39
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent lBi
Spanish Committee Cort. of Coup. not fun sa
Curkish Scrip, paid up in full
Ditto for the Account 75 a CI 5
Dividends on Me al,ove payable in London.
THREE O'CLOCK.

i'ongols
Ditto, January Account' .......

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(THIS DAY.)
Their lordships met at the unusual hour of a quarter
to nine this morning.
The only peers present were the Lord Chancellor,
Earl Granville, and the Bishop of St. Asaph's.