The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-11 00:00:00

3351. ; Basle, 220 f.; Dieppe, 352 f. 50e.; Paris and Stras-
burg, 478 f. 75c. ; Tours and Nantes, 490 f.; Paris and
Lyons, 507 f. 50c. ; Lyons and Avignon, 490 f. ; Bordeaux
and Cette, 470 f. ; Spanish Three per Cents., 38k.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 10.
Bordeaux, Toulouse and Cette (Espelete), "frs —East In-
dian, ;g—Jamaica South Midland Junction, I,4—Luxem-
bourg, ~—Namur and Liege, 358—Northern of France Con-
stituted, 9—Orleans and Bordeaux, B—Paris and Lyons
Constituted. 43'8—Paris and Strasbourg Constituted, 4
Sambre and Meuse, 41!2,—Tournay, Jurbise, 'Auden, and
Ilasselt,

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.
CITY, QUARTER TO THREE.
The demand for Cotton at Liverpool yesterday con-
tinued good. Sales, 15,600 bales, half on speculation.
There was no advance in prices, but the previcus quota-
tions were fully _maintained. The sales included 7,000
Americans et sd. to 7d., 7,000 Surat, at 4id. to 51d.,
600 Egyptian, at 7-id. to Bd., and 450 Pernam and
Maranham, at 6-id. to 7d. per lb. Shares were dull again.
An important exposé of the present state of the
resources, the population, &c., of the whole of China, is
about being made public, which may, and doubtless
must, prove highly satisfactory and important to all
parties connected with the history of that yet almost
unknown country. The work is undertaken by Mr.
R. Montgomery Martin, lately her Majesty's

treasurer for the colonial, the consular, and the
diplomatic services in China, and a member of her
Majesty's Legislative Council at 'Hong-Kong. The
object in view is stated to be, to awaken an earnest in-

terest in England on behalf of one-third of the human
race; to offer in a condensed view the past history and
present state of China in its domestic and foreign rela-
tions; to investigate the causes which prevent four hun-
dred million industrious, sober, obedient, pacific, and
educated people, holding the position to which they are
entitled among the other kingdoms of the earth;
to examine our own political, commercial,
and social position in that vast country, in
order that the statesman, the merchant, and

the philanthropist may be the better enabled
to direct their course of action to the production of some
beneficial result equally conducive to the welfare and
concord of England and China.
Unquestionable facts demonstrate that whatever
position England may acquire in China, it will not be
for her exclusive advantage; the time is happily arriving
when nations, as well as individuals, learn that a benefit
conferred returns to the donor with a blessing—that in-
juries reflect punishment on the perpetrators—and thus,
even in a selfish point of view, the exercise of good is
a far better policy than the commission of injustice.
A conviction of the truth of this divine precept is
slowly darning on the minds of men ; it is the high
behest of England to prove the reality by its practical
application. No sphere could be more appropriate for
its exercise than China, where myriads of our fellow-
creatures seem specially adapted for, and prepared to
receive, the influence of a Cnristian civilisation. It is
impossible to estimate fully the effects of such
an influence on so vast a mass of mankind ;

it is difficult to calculate the extraordinary com-
mercial power which would be created by four hundred
million active and intelligent beings, with numerous
desires, keen perceptions, and indomitable industr',
having full scope given to their singular energies ; it is
deeply interesting to confider the physical, moral, and
intent ctual results which would accrue, not only to the
continent of Asia, but also to those f Europe and of
America, from the christianization of China. Under
Providence, this glorious consummation may be wit-
nessed by the existing generation ; but, whether this be
permitted or not, it is the bounden duty of all Chris-
tians to aid in its accomplishments.
Consols for the Account have been quoted only this
morning at 93i and with the half-yearly dividend
deducted. These rates are but a mere shade lower than
those of yesterday morning. The transactions have as yet
been very slight. Exchequer-bills command lls. to 12s.
premium; Bank Stock, 2061; the New Three-and-a-
Quarter per Cents., 96k; and the Reduced Three per
Cents., 94k
The Committee of Portuguese Bondholders, in ad-
dressing the Finance Minister at Lisbon, upon the sub-
ject of the intended 20 per cent. deduction from their
dividends, remark that " they do not impugn the motives
which actuated the Council of Ministers in the measures
they have thought proper to adopt, as far as regards
levying taxes on the property and subjects of Portugal, in
which may also be comprehended the holders of local
inscriptions, or the internal debt of Portugal, but the
committee cannot sanction or recognise the principle of
taxing British subjects to meet the exigencies of a
foreign state, they having no voice in the Legislature ;
nor are they in anywise amenable to the laws of Por-
tugal. The committee, therefore, condemn the contem-
plated appropriation of 20 per cent. on the external debt,
as set forth in the fourth article of the said decree,
and they view in it not only a gross infringement
on their rights and property, but a violation of
faith on the part of H. M. F. Majesty's Government, both
uujustifiablc and without precedence, in proof of which
the committee respectfully refer your Excellency to the
conditions of the various loans contracted, and espe-
cially to the terms comprised in the bonds under the
decree of the 2d of November, IS4O, wherein the rights
of the foreign creditors are fully recognised, and
by the sth and 6th articles the integral, or entire
reimbursement and payment of both principal and in-
terest as the coupons respectively fall due, is faithfully
guaranteed, declaring that both shall be kept inviolable,
and shall in nowise be effected by any political change
or circumstance whatsoever."
In Portuguese Stock there has not been any business
done this morning. Mexicans are at 23i and 1.
Spanish for the Account at 26; Belgic Two.and-a-Half
per Cents. 54; the Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents.
at 60q; and the Four per Cents. 92k.
We cannot quote any important alteration in the
Railway Share and Scrip Market this morning. The
official prices are annexed.

ONE CLOSING
PRICES or BRITISH FUNDS. O'CLOCK. PRICES.
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Anns 941/4 Al 94%
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities 95 with div 95
3 per Cent. Annuities, 1726
New 31/4 per Cent. Annuities 961/4 96 9614 96%
New 5 per Cent. Annuities 121 121
Long Annuities to expire Jan.lB6o 9% 97/6
Ditto 30 years, Jan. 5, 1860 lO% 10%
Consols for Opening 9313/4 ex div 95%
Exchequer Bills, 10001. 11Ad. ... 12 11 p 14 p
Ditto, 5001
Ditto, Small .. 912 p 14 p
ONE OLOSINti
O'CLOCK PRICES

PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS.
Mexican, 5 per Cent. 1846
Ditto, Account . 23%5/8
Portuguese Bonds, 4 per Cent
Ditto, Account ... . —
Russian Bonds ••• .....•••
Spanish 5 per Cent. 1840
Ditto. Account . ... 26
Ditto, Passive
Ditto 3 per Cent.
Ditto, Account
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Belgian, `2l, per Cent 54 55
Dutch, 2i4 par Cent .
Liao. 4 per Cent. Certificates 92 th 92:!4
PRICES Or BUSINESS DONE CLOSING
It:IILWAY SIIARES PAID. AT ONE O'CLOCK. PRICES.

Aberdeen
Amber., Nott., Boston,
and Eastern Junction 2% V"tirgi
Armagh, Coleraine, and
Portrush l% ......
Belfast St Countx_Down
_4%

Birmingham andbudley 41i. •••• • .....
Dirinin. and Gleueester..loo ...•••1`29
Ditto New 172.•••••

Birmingham and Ox-
-8% 9 ..........
ford J unction ......... 2
Birkenhead, Lancashire,
and Cheshire June .
—. gi. -_
.............
Buorissttooni,ASntaamEtx'd
-- • ..... • ••••
eSiterli..i ....... 75
Bl3rrpiissitttootiloa;
nnNddeElloeurc.:eit.ukir.c.......
8354205 ix: ...........
_...-7 4 .... .................
Buckinghamshire
... 25 •.. 23 t/ Y
ealedoman .......
Cal=tinialt (TrhaTisit;n•.c. 422‘2 ............ --
Chester and Holyhead... 27% ...... 25 „••
I.:!aurnet and Blythe 2 ...... ..
Chester and Manchester 425. .... ..... ....
..
Cheltenham and Oxford 2
...... ___
Clarence .. .......... ... lOO .....
..
Do. Ist C,lass, 6 per Ct. 10
Do. 2d Class, 5 per Ct. 10 ....
••••••
Do. Government Loan,
Cork,cl3l,- ta
.1. 4es sspdatega riel
aesCeJk
ret in. I.oit. cel
kt..i..,0..
..... .1;1 .: : : !2 l°) .....
••••
1.1.(:i. 225.
Cork and Killarney ... % 2
Cork and NVaterford ... I%‘ —
Cornwall
Ditto, Half Shares ... 21/Q —
Direct Lincoln, East liet-
ford, and Sheffd. June. 2v —
is
Direct. Northern
Direct Norwich
Dublin and BelfastJunc. 12112 — •
Dublin, Belfast, and
Coleraine
Dubliu and Galway..... 4
Dundalk & Enniskillen 10
Eastern Counties 14/. 16s 227.‘ 23
Ditto New
Ditto Perpetual, 5 per
Cent, No. 1....... 6/. 13s. 4d... % p
Ditto ditto. No. 2... 6/. 13s. 4d... % p...
Do., York Extension.. 2 ...... 31/2%
EastDerelern andNioech 1
Eastern Union 3s_ .. ...

Ditto, Quarter Shares 8%
Do. Exten.(Harwich) 1
Do., Catnb. and Ely.. VA
East Lancashire
Ditto. New ....... 5 ..
Do., do. (late Preston
and Orniskirk)... .. 5
Do., do., New Scrip... 114
East Lincolnshire ...... 21A1
East & West of England 178......
Edinburgh and Glasgow 50 ..... 7514
Ditto Half Shares ... 10
Ditto, Quarter Shares 121,4 i
Edinburgh & Northern.. 121,4
Edinburgh and Perth... 3
Ely and Huntingdon ... 12% 1314%
Enniskillen and Sligo ... 21/2 —
Exeter, Yeovil, & Dorset 514 ....
Glasgow, K ilmar.,&Ayr 50
Ditto, New .. 15
Do., 14 Shares (5 per
cent. guar.)
Goole, lloamtOr) &c 2 ...... 214
Grand Union (Notting-
and Lynn
Great Eastern &'Western 2 •••
Great Seuth. axed West.
( I re.lar,d) ..... . ......... 2711
Great Mun5ter............ 21/z......
Great North of Scotland 2%......
G reatNorth of Erlicland„loo 2361/
Ditt9 New... 5 mg..