The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-10 00:00:00

MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were
estimated at 5,000 bales, of which MO American
were taken for export. The market closed flatly.
Compared with Friday's rates prices may be quoted
an itd. per lb. lower. The sales comprised 4,000
American, 300 Pernam and Maranham, at 61d. to
64d., 200 Bahia, at 6d. ; 200 Egyptian, at ,6d. to
Bd. ; and 300 Surat at 3id. to 44d. per lb. Rail-
way shares were flat, at lower prices.
The six-weeks average price of wheat is 455. sd.
per quarter.
The report which some time ago was circulated
with reference to the alleged difficulty, experienced
in certain railway quarters in obtaining money,
has received confirmation, from the suspension to
which we yesterday alluded, of Mr. George Hen-
nett, the well-known contractor. The amount of
liability is stated at 200,0001., and if the assets
could be fully realised, there would be sufficient to
discharge all the claims. It happens unfortunately,
that a breach of confidence upon an enormous scale
has been perpetrated, and that there is no possibility
of bringing the party to justice, the alleged fraud
being construed into a debt of 90,0001., in bills
handed over to the person in question for discount.
The proceeds to Mr. Hennett were but 10,0001.,
and nevertheless the whole of the paper appears to
have been circulated. Finding this, there was no
resource but to stop payment, although the larger
creditors would all willingly have come into an
arrangement to prevent such a step. The contracts
in hand are said to be of a very remunerative
character ; offers by responsible parties having been
made to take them off at a great advance upon the
original bargain. The preparation of the accounts
is entrusted to Messrs.. Quilter and Ball.
It is understood, that the accounts received at
Lima from Port Philip direct, and which are to
the 6th December, as mentioned yesterday under
this head, are of an extremely favourable charac-
ter. The gold diggings of New South Wales
especially were yielding well ; therefore, even if
Port Philip has fallen off, there would be coun-
terbalancing production. The Peel River advices
also, by way of Ceylon, are most encouraging. It
is now ascertained that the steamer Sydney
left on the 4th December, consequently she is full
three months out, unless she was detained at the
other Australian ports. Such a voyage, for a
steamer, tis withimt the*slightest advantage, and
inclines one to acquiesce in the loud complaints
uttered upon all hands. The passengers by the
Australian are becoming extremely impatient, but
it is obvious their safety would be jeopardised if
they were to proceed before the vessel has under-
gone a thorough overhauling.
The steamer Antelope, which left Liverpool on
Monday for Australia, took out 30,0001. in specie.
In consequence of the destruction of a large
quantity of the letters in the mail bags of the
steamer Australian, a party writing to the Morn-
ing Advertiser makes the excellent suggestion, that
all letters for the colonies should in future be
placed in gutta percha boxes, and be then herme-
tically sealed. This would not only protect them
from damage, but even afford a chance of their re-
covery in the event of shipwreck, the packages
being
,adapted for floating. The Post-office
authorities, it is said) have' the matter under con-
sideration.
The market for English Stocks is firmer, Consols
having been done at 99i for transfer. The
prices for April are about 99 it, consequently the
1 " continuation" is slightly ower. The New 3k
per Cents. have been at 1031 to f, and the 3 per
Cents. at 99k I. Exchequer Bills are Bs. to 135.,
and India Bonds are 48s. premium. The foreign
accounts generally read well, and there is more
confidence in respect to the forthcoming Australian
advices.

In the foreign market there is not so much ac-
tivity. The recent advance in Greek Bonds has
tempted one or two parties to realise, and Greek
Bonds have been 8 I-, buyers holding off tem-
porarily, with the view of supplying themselves
cheaper if possible. In 1845 these Bonds were
dealt in as high as 15. Equador Stock is supported
at 5 g. Grenada Active Bonds are at 221. Bra-
zilian New 4 per Cents. are at 97i. Mexican have
been at 251 8. The Peruvian Scrip is at sto pre-
mium. Spanish Certificates are steady at 7f pre-
mium. Russian Bonds are higher.
The second reading of the Upper India Railway.
Bill is postponed until the 12th April, at the ex-
press instance of Sir Herbert Maddock, and Mr.
Lowe, who introduced it. The object in view is to
await a dispatch expected from the Governor-
General of India, in which it is hoped there will
be full corroboration of the importance of the line,
and the expediency of carrying it promptly out.
The last week's railway receipts ascertained up to
this day, are in round figures as under:-
1853. 1852.
16,613 15,322
43,063 41,173
• 9,252 8,877
7,982 7,868
21,250 20,843
10,217 9,747
• 8,375 8,456
12,352 10,802
18,133 16,477
7,035 7,226
13,099 14,144

Great Western
North Western.
South Western
Brighton
Midland
South Eastern
Caledonian
Great Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire ..
York and North Midland
Newcastle and Berwick

These returns may be considered satisfactory, as
there are but one or two of the northern lines that
show a decrease.
The Railway Share Market is looking up, and an
advance has occurred of to 1 per cent. in Great
Northern, Great Western, North Western, Mid-
land, Caledonian, and Eastern Counties. The
general business, however, has not been of any
magnitude. French Shares are rising, Northern
being about ss. to 10s. better, and also Paris and
Lyons.
Gold Mine Shares are extremely quiet, and a
further decline has occurred in Port Philip of ;
the Great Nugget are firmer ; United Mexican
are rather heavy.
The Land Companies shares are rallying, and
with more inclination to do business In them.
South Australian are up 21., and Agricultural 21.
to 41. The Peel River are 10s. to V. better than
they were yesterday morning.
The Joint Stock Bank Shares have been dull,
-but at rather fuller rates.
The following is from Messrs. Tredinnick's re-
port :

" The continued and progressive rise in the price o
metals induce many capitalists into British mines, and a
very large extent of business is daily transacted in shares
—the prices continue to advance, yet we fear in dividend
stock, before many months elapse, a reaction must take
place. In times past, purchasers looked for 20
to 25 per . cent. per annum in dividends upon the
current price of shares. Many mines now command
prices yielding only 10 to 12i per cent., and although
we can see no just cause or reason why established
Mines should not sell at ten years' purchase, wherein
reserves of ore are maintained, the works fully developed
and the - requisite machinery erected, still we must
remind our readers that great caution, discrimi-
nation, and judgment should be observed in the selec-
tion of Mines for investment ; and on the whole we
are inclined to suggest to their notice a preference to
dividend over speculative stock, It should not, how-
ever, be lost sight of, that it is from a judicious selec-
tion from the latter class, that large and rapid fortunes
are often realised with comparatively small outlay; and
from thehost of companies now catered to the public,
some few can be selected at the present moment, offer-
ing advantageous prospects of success, at prices much
below their intrinsic worth."

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

Business done.
shut

Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities • shut
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 31 per Cent. Annuities..... ........
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860 shut
Ditto 30 Years, Expire 10th Oct., 1859
India Stock . shut
India Bonds, £lOOO , 4B
South Sea Old Annuities
Consols for Account 13th April
Exchequer Bills lid.
£1000......... ........
£5OO
Small
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. —
Ditto New, 1852, •ii per Cent 97i
Equador Bonds si i
Grenada Bonds, Deferred,
Ditto Ex; Dec., 1849, Coupon..M
2n
Greek ex over-duo Coupons
Mexican 3 per Cent —
Ditto for the Account 253 4
Peruvian Deferred 3 per Cent —
Ditto Scrip
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
Ditto, 4A per cent lO3,
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 4B
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent 24
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 74 P c
Turkish Loan, 6 per Cent., 1852 2 p
Dutch Exchange 2i_per Ceut 66
Ditto 4 per Ceut. Certificates.... • .... •

-1* 813
8 13
8 13

HALF-PAST TWO.

Consols . 99
99 iii
Ditto April Account

DELICATE GOSSIP IN PARIEL—We received on Tues-
day a communication from Paris, from a private source,
in which it was stated, that an extraordinary rumour
was not only current, but generally credited, in the
French capital. We abstained from making use of our
information from considerations of a delicate nature,
which will most probably suggest themselves to the
minds of our readers. We have reason, however, to be-
lieve, that to-day most, if not all, of our contemporaries
will make the announcement, that it is confidently
affirmed in the better-informed circles in Paris, that the
French Empress is in an
" interesting situation."—
Morning Advertiser.