The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-17 00:00:00

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, Two o'CLoci.:.

The sales of Cotton at Liverpool on Saturday
were estimated at 7,000 bales, of which 2,000 Ame-
rican were taken on speculation. The market
closed with animation, and prices of all kinds,
compared with Friday's rates, were extreme, ex-
cept Egyptian, Brazil dearer, and Maceios
to Id. up. The sales comprised 5,000 American,
500 Pernam and Maranham at 6kd to 71d, 200
Egyptian at 7id: to 10d, and 1,200 Surat at 3kd.
to 41d. per lb. Railway Shares were dull at lower
prices.

The railway meetings announced aro the fol-
lowing :—Australian Agricultural, Jan. 21, London
Tavern ; London, Brighton, and South Coast, Jan.
28, Bridge House Hotel ; Maria Antonia, Feb.
14, Florence ; Paris and Rouen, Jan. 29, Paris ;
Western of Switzerland, Jan. 22, Lausanne.
There are various arrivals from different quar-
ters, and the news they bring is of general interest
rather than of special import.
The United States accounts describe the money
market as being easy, vessels having arrived at
New York with upwards of three millions of dol-
lars in gold from California.
The accounts by the Overland Mail from India
are fully given in another column. On the whole
they read well, and the prospect of the Burmese
war being terminated is, of itself, a subject for con-
gratulation.
There are dates of November 8 from Sydney and
November 12 from Melbourne, by this opportu-
nity. The " Biggins " were yielding as plentifully
as ever. In the week preceding the date of these
advices, there had arrived at Melbourne, by the
escort, 65,605 oz., and at Geelong, 12,714 oz. The
ratio of production, therefore, is evidently main-
tained. Notwithstanding the enormous influx of
emigrants, and the high price of food, the want of
labour is much complained of.
The following graphic account is from a private
letter written at Melbourne : •
" I left home for the Bendfgo gold field on the Ist of
the month. Rode up 100 miles in three days, over the
most execrable roads you can conceive. Got kicked on
the leg by a vicious brute of a horse, which laid me up
lin my brother James's tent two or three days. Turned
my horse out amongst the ranges in hobbles to pick out
a livelihood as he best could, oats being 60s. per bushel
of 40 lbs. Walked here 15 or 20 miles each day, as the
circumstances required, purchasing gold from the various
storekeepers and diggers, scattered over a country 20 or
30 miles square—lumping home to my tent it may be
20 lbs. weight of gold, first having carried away all my
pockets, then tiring both arms, and at length carrying
the bag at the end of a stick over my shoulder, covered
with a handkerchief or a piece of calico, purchased in
meet
that behalf at one or two shillings per yard. Go and
look after my horse in an interval of two or three days,
walk about the ranges all day in a drizzling rain. Can-
not
animalin v withery
li k
ea
minem an
goinginstead,
who
tellsfin d
me him,he saw but
an
1 search of lost bullocks or horses, with a heavy man
upon his back with a blanket folded up for a saddle, and
I, a piece of rope as stirrups ; which circumstantial detail
sends me home swearing ! Oh, not at all. Reach the
tent wet and weary, every thing uncomfortably moist,
and the fire smoking most consumedly, no grog allowed
at the diggings, warm tea imbibed instead. Next day
sallied out with a keener relish for a bargain, calculating
my horse's loss at 301., consequently, returned with a
very light scrip—at this kind of work about a fortnight,
when I succeeded in investing all the money I had brought
up with me, viz., 3,0001. Went out again to look for
, my horse, and lo ! I find him, returned to my brother's
horses, but my friend had forgot to leave the hobbles
on him. This slight omission I heartily forgave
led him to the tent in triumph tied him up
'to the chimney-post for the night, with a nose-
bag full of oats to amuse him, and draw his attention
away from the smoke. Started in company with
two friends for town—they carrying gold, also carried.
revolvers. Mine transmitted by the armed escort at
6d. per oz., without responsibility. Rode 50 miles, and
swam one river, besides getting bogged times innumer-
able. Reached one inn at sun-down completely baked,
both horse and man. The former shoved into a
stable without bedding, with doubtful oats, and de-
cidedly musty hay, and all the mud of all the swamps
of each of one of the 50 miles caked hard upon him.
Next morning, at six o'clock, horse saddled—looking
grey-houndish—lostler touches his cap—' 30s. to pay,
Sir.' Something to myself, Sir ?" D—n yourself,
you villian, look at my horse, utterly neglected.' A
good whip played a little around his face and shoulders,
and the cavalcade depart amidst showers of the warmest
expressions, and handfuls of mud or stones. That night
home, knock into a comfortable bed, and thorough
wash. Stiffish next day, and horse with decided symp-
toms of elephantiasis in the legs. Mounted another,
and rode into town to inquire aout the price of gold
—gold, 675. 6d. Australian steamers delayed at Sydney
for want of men. In next day, and the next, and at
length to-day the steamer has arrived. Gold, 68s. 9d.
in the afternoon sell for 695. ; and your friend is richer
by some 1401. or 1501., but alas still twelve and a half
stone weight to the contrary notwithstanding. There,
my dear friend, you have a vile picture of two or three
weeks divertisement to the diggings—for the remainder
see envelope."
Buenos Ayres letters of late date have been re-
ceived by the steamer Tay. Political disturbances
had arisen, and a contest, which might degenerate
into a war, was going on with Urquiza. The local
demand for goods was therefore languid, although
credit and confidence are described as being strong.
The Money Market was tranquil.
At Rio de Janeiro, on the 2d Dec., an average
business was doing. The imports were on a large
scale. Money was easy. Coffee less firm. Exchange
271 d. to 28d.
The Stock Market is firm this morning, but very
inactive. With finer weather, a revival of confi-
dence at Paris, and the further 'arrivals known to
be on the way from Australia, two vessels that had
left Melbourne having about 700,0001. on board,
there may be expected to be a slow improvement
unless something new and untoward occurs. The
interview between the Governor and Deputy-Go-
vernor of the Bank of England, and Lord Aberdeen,
last week, is supposed to have hadreference to the in-
come-tax, in its bearing upon terminable annuities,
a matter in which the insurance offices are also
greatly interested. Consols have been quoted 991
i. The settlement of the account takes place
to-morrow, and this likewise has its influence upon
prices, various " puts " being likely to
tcthee e 3
per
off.
The New 34 per Cents. are 1031 a, and
Cents. 104 4. Bank. Stock
6isit
esteady_Th at 225.
and _
Exchequer Bills have been at s. 65 .)
India Bonds at 78s. premium.
The Foreign Securities have been quiet. Mexi-
can are dull, at 234 1—
the Ministry having again
been at 4--g. to 5.
Equador Bonds have
resigned.
Grenada Deferred are worth 121. Brazilian New
Bonds are at 98 Chi'Ewa Stock is firm at 106.
1.
Th 3 Turkish Loan is
at 4 premium. Portuguese
4 per40.
Cents, are supported at Spanish Threes
are 23 for the New Deferred, and 47 fortheThrees.
are worth 104 n, with the
French 41 per Cents.
Exchange at 104 75. Dutch 4 per Cents, bring
971 to 984.
The Railway Share Market opened rather more
buoyant than on Saturday, having participated in
the improvement in the Funds, but has since be-
come flat. The advance was at first generally
about -15- per cent. Among the exceptions now are
North British, which have dropped 4 to i ; South-
Eastern, which are down 11., and York and North
Midland 1 to 1. Midland and Lancashire and
Yorkshire are cheaper. French shares are steadier.
The Gold Companies have risen. Some of the
Companies have excellent advices, and their staffs
remained with the agents, among them the
Freehold. _ .

Land Companies are flatter, though property
had further risen in Australia.

BRITISH FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK THIS DAY.
(From, the Official List.)
Business done.
Bank Stock
3 pee Cent. Reduced Annuities... lOOl 3
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 31 per Cent. Annuities IO3A 3
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 —
Ditto 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859
Ditto 30 Years, Expire sth Jan., 1860 64
India Bonds, £lOOO 7B
Consols for Opening 18th January .......• 99i I
Exchequer Bills 4d. March. Juno.
£lOOO GS 1
£5OO
Small —
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Austrian Scrip, 5 per Cent B4
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto New, 1852, 44 per Cent 9Bi
Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent
Equador Bonds 4B
Grenada Bonds, Dee....red,
Mexican 3 per Cent
Portuguese 4 per Cent. 4O
Rnssian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto 4i per Cent.......... ...... ...
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent 23
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 5 p e
Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852. A p
French Routes, 4i per Cent lo4f 75c Ex. 25f 15e
Dutch Exchange 2i per Cent CG i x d
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates...- ..... .

HALP-PAST TWO.
Consols
Ditto February Account

THE INVASION.—We understand that the Government
have lately been making inquiries at the various rail-
ways for the purpose of ascertaining what number of
carriages, waggons, and engines could be placed at their
disposal, and what facilities could be afforded in the event
of any sudden emergency, for the conveyance of troops,
horses, and artillery to any given point. These inquiries
are merely made wiih the object of ascertaining how far the
railways may be rendered serviceable in concentrating
and rendering available the military resources of the
country should the necessity unhappily arrive.