The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-20 00:00:00

MONEY MARKEr

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLoCK
The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturdat
were estimated at 4,000 bales, including 1,000 Ame-
ric to taken for export. The market closed heavill
without alteration in prices. The sales comprised
3,500 American, 120 Pernam at qd. to 7id., 50
Egyptian at 61d. to 7d., 200 Surat at 31d. to 31(1.,
and 40 Sea Island at is. 2d. to 2s. 2d. per lb. Rail-
way Shares were dull, at lower prices.
The letters from Anstralia by the Sydney steamer
were delivered this morning, and they are of a che-
quered character. The gold production continued
good at the Victoria diggings, but many of tilt.
miners were returning from them to spend the
Christmas holidays. The Melbourne markets are
reported to be overstocked, the arrivals of goods
adding to the glut. Beer and .Manchester goods
were most plentiful. Building was going on ac-
tively, but house rent was lower, except for busi-
ness premises in first-rate situations. The roads
to the mines allowed of merchandise being more
freely sent up from the capital.
Mr. Khull, in his Melbourne gold circular, ob-
serves :

" A considerable falling off has taken place this week
in the produce from Bendigo, amounting to upwards of
7,000 ounces. This is partly to be attributed to a con-
siderable number of the diggers being attracted to the
Ballarat side and to Forest Creek ; and it is well known
that many of them keep back their gold at this season,
so as to accumulate as large a quantity as possible to
spend at Christmas. From Ballarat a slight increase
in quantity over last week has taken place. From
M'lvor an average quantity has come ; but, owing to
the Goulburn being nearly deserted for want of water,
a considerable decrease has taken place. In fact, this
field may be almost considered deserted until the rain N,
season sets in. Upon good authority we are informed
that there is abundance of gold to be got, when the
proper season comes round."
The Geelong gold circular of Mr. William Pater-
son, is as follows :--
"The price during the week has continued at 77s
There has not been much offering. Sellers seem inclined
to hold for a higher figure, and on the other hand buyer:-
are not disposed to advance, and look for a lower quota-
tion. The price of the metal on the diggings has risen.
They seem to have calculated on a higher rate in town
in consequence of the demand for the Great Britain ;
but it must be evident that at the present quotations,
there is very little margin for spenulation or profit on
the article.
"There is nothing fresh in the way of news from the
diggings. At Mount Alexander the escort returns show
an improvement. There are reports of fresh discoveries
in this quarter, but not enough is known as to richness,
or the exact locality to report particularly. The pro-
spects of Ballarat for the season seem to give general
satisfaction to the diggers ; the population is increasing
fast, and there seems altogether a satisfied tone on the
part of those employed.
Of the labour market at Melbourne Messrs.
M'Cormack and Co. report thus :-
"The demand for all kinds of labour continues steady,
as by our report of last week, shoprnen and clerks being
seldom looked for. At the close of this week, the rates
were :-Married couple., per annum, with rations, &c.,
801 to 1201. ; shepherds, per annum, with rations, 351.
to 561. ; hutkeepers, ditto, ditto, 351. ; bullock-drivers,
for the roads, per week, 21. lOs to 31. with rations ;
bullock-drivers, with ration, 21. to 21. 10s. per week
(on farms) ; cooks (male), per day, 21. to 41. ; ditto
(female), per annum, 401. to 601. ; grooms, per ditto,
521. to 70/. ; carpenters, per day, 30s. to 355. ; black-
smiths, 20s. to 255. ditto ; masons, 30s. to 355. ditto ;
gardeners, per annum, with rations, 601. to 801. ; fun
labourers, with rations, 30s. to 355. per week ; labourers
on the roads, 12s. a day, with wood, water, arid tent
accommodation waiters, 30s. to 40s. per week ; female
servants of all work, per annum 251. to 35/. ; house-
maids, ditto, 201. to 301. laundresses, ditto, 351. to 401.;
nursemaids, ditto, 251. to 251."
Freights to London are given as under :--.
"Gold, 40. per oz., delivered at the Bullion Office ;
do. in quantity, 34d. Wool, greasy, Id. per lb.; do.,
washed, id. per lb. Hides, 20s. to 255. per ton. Tal-
low, 40s. to 50s. per ton, and 5 per cent. Oil, 31. per
tun.
" Lighterage, from Hobson's Bay to the Wharves,
Melbourne, was for Measurement goods (free) 20s. per
ton; do. (subject to duty) 255. do. Casks of all kinds to
be taken at measurement of extreme length and breadth.
Flour, 8 barrels, 10 bags to the ton. Timber, 4s. per
100 feet."
The Exchange on London at 1 per Cent. discount
for drafts against gold.
The Report of the Select Committee on the New
Constitution was regarded as satisfactory.
The New York accounts report a quiet stock
market_ _ 1714.1...w=wpc.bed
during the month of Feb., 1854, was 312,126,110
dole., against 17,358,490 dole. in the same month
last year. The exports were valued at 6,537,821
dole. this year, against 4,680,337 dols. last year.
The imports of specie into Boston during February
amounted to 25,003 dols., and the exports during
the same time were 78,992 dols. In wheat a
moderate business was doing, but flour was less
active.

A communication has been received by Messrs.
Anderson, from Hamburgh, to the effect that the
Baltic fleet was reported to have arrived in the
Sound. They have, likewise, an extract of a
letter, dated St. Petersburgh, March 11, which
mentions the expectation that the holders of deals
would have to remove them from the docks at
Cronstadt, as the Russian Government wanted to
take possession of them. Whether this would
have to be done, however, before open water, re-
mained doubtful, for if such removal were insisted on
it would put the owners to much increased expense.
The rate of exchange at St. Petersburg on London
was 37 1-16 to', on Paris, 380 to 385. The banks
at Hamburgh were giving out less gold in their
payments, but the regular proportion of silver.
It was rumoured that the export from St. Peters-
burgh was about to be prohibited.

The English Stock market has been depressed,
with very little business doing, the transactions
being principally for money. Pending the further
proceedings in the affair of the war, speculators
hold off. Consols have been 9.) to 94 for money,
and 90 to for April. Exchequer Bills have been
ss. to 7s. premium, a decline of 2s. to 3s.
Foreign Securities have been inactive. Mexican
Bonds have been at a decline to 24 and 231. Pe-
ruvian 41 per Cents. are at 59. Brazilian 5 per
Cents. have been at 951, and the .New 41 per
Cents. 90. Spanish 3 per Cents. have been at
363/4, and Portuguese 4 per Cents. at 36. Dutch 4
per Cents. have been at 86, and Danish 3 per
Cents. at 72i to 73. Russian 5 per Cents. bring
85 to I.

The English Railway Shares are fiat at f to i
per cent. decline. French Shares have been rather
weaker.

The Foreign Mining Shares have been heavy,
and the Australian Agricultural Shares are barely

so good.
The current prices for the Jamaica Mines not
officially quoted, were as follows :—Metcalfe, i to
i premium ; Port Royal, a to i premium.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
( From the Official List.

B t.,,,ies. i•.,,,-
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 9O i 90 i
Consols for Account 18th April 9O b
Exchequer Bills, 2d.
ClOOO

57 p
2500 5 10 p
Small 5 JO p
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK
:rarlian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto Small
Ditto New, 1852, 4A per Cent 9O
Danish Bonds, 182.5, 3 per Cent 73 2A
lexical:l :1 per Cent. 24 31
Peruvian Bonds, 4A per Cent. 59 x d
Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent 36
ussian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent, XSt BSA 5
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 361
Dividends on the above payable In London.
Dutch Exchange, 2. per Cent. 12 Guil —
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates .. ..
HALF-PAST Two.
90 i
90

Consols
Ditto April Account...,

THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR • AND THE EASTERN
STAFF. —His Excellency the French Ambassador and
the Countess Walewski intend giving a grand banquet
to-morrow evening to his Royal Highness the Duke of
Cambridge. Lord Raglan, and the members of the staff
about to proceed to the East. The entertainment will
take place at the new residence of the e•abassy, Albert-
gate, Hyde-park, so long in the possession of Mr. Geo.
Hudson, M.P.
SINGAPORE.—The advioes from Singapore by the
overland mail are to the 3d of February, at which date
the demand for imported articles was exceedingly dull,
and the stocks of cotton goods heavy. Large remit
tances of specia bad been attracted to China, and com-
plaints are made of the want of sufficient banking ac-
commodation. From Labuan the accounts were to the
17th of January. Her Majesty's screw-ship Encounter
had called at the island to coal, and it is mentioned that
the collieries now establishing by the Eastern Archipelago
Company in Borneo and Labuan, will shortly be capable
of suppl 3 ing whatever quantity may be required fur the
purposes of steam navigatic!is in that quarter.