The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-18 00:00:00

cal& Nominal kl ice& ''''/Inc"
to-day.
Agna Fria ...... ••• • .. 2 134.
Arglo Californian .. •• .. M P •
Ave Maria ••••• ••• • ••
Australian .. • •• .. 4 1% 234
Ilarossa Bulge ........1 13 0 334 --3%
Brazilian Imp (Is. 5/. p.) 24% ••
Do. Cocacs and Culaba all • •
Do. St. jobn del Rey.. 15 19% —2l cx .d.
Cobre Copier ... 40 33 3434
Copiapo ........ .. 14 634 734
General. • •• • •... • • all 13% 14
Mexican& S. American 9 3% 43(
Neuveau Monde .... • • .•
Real Del Monte, Unreg. 34
Do. Black Debentures. • . —••
Do. Red Debentures .. • •
Santiago de Cuba ...... Icl4 4 334
Tin Croft .. • • • • • • • 76%-8
United Mexican...—. •.28 2 8 % 3 2
West Mariposa 1 1 %
3OXNT STOCZt 8A1NT7313.
Anstralasia • . all 34 —79 "i
British North America.. 50 4636 49
Colonial .............. 25 10% 11
Commercial of London.. 20 25 —• 263(
London Joint Stock .... 113 18% 17%
London and Westminster 20 2834 29%
National Provincial Eng. 35
National of Ireland ...• 22% 18% 17%
Oriental Bank Corporat. all 27 28%
Provincial of Ireland.... 25 4334 45
Do. New all 15% 1634
Union of Australia .. • • all 35 3636
Do. New 3 834
Union of London •• •• .. 10 14% 15%
Union of Madrid •• - all
IYIISCELY..EINEOI7O.
Canada .............. 8234 48 4934
Gen. Steam Navigation . 14 27% 28
Penin. & Oriental Steam. all 72 —75
Ditto ditto 10 16% - 18
Royal Mail Steam ...... 60 79% 8034
Settling days in the month of December. Ticket days for regi

tered allarcs. 15th

nth of
id 20th.
Ole for tl
intereste

79Y; —BO% I
'seemlier. Ticket
Account days, ICti
he errors of the 01
d correspondents,

days for regis
and 3lst.

(We cannot be answer]
will not be influenced by

and

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS
CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.

The sales of Cotton at Liverpool, yesterday, were
estimated at 6,000 bales, of which 1,500 Surat were
taken on spcculatien. The market closed heavily with
American et *d. help 7,/ the rates of Friday lait The
sales comprised 3,500 American; 150 Bahia at qd.
to 50.; 250 Egyptian at kid to 6d., and 2,000 Surat at
lid. to 34d. per lb.—Rail way Shares were dull and closed
heavily at rather lower ratel.
The six weeks' average price c•f Wheat is 36?. 11d.
per quarter. The sales were 114,209 quarters.
Thu Belgians are still objecting to tae treaty of com-
merce wiih England, and the salt duties are unsatisfac-
torily adjusted, according to the Liverpool merchants.
There is, thus, dissatistac,tion on both sides, and it ap-
pears to have its origin in the fact that sufficient pains
have not been taken to collect information in the first
instance.

Accounts from SL Petersburgh state that the Isaac's-
bridge was raised on the 22d ult., and that the river be-
came frozen over the same evening.
The United States advicea of three days' later date
are favourable in connexion with mercantile matters.
A further large amount of bullion, nearly a million of
dollars, is added to our already abundant supply by this
arrival. Not much was done in breadstuff's, but cotton
was very brisk.
The news from California is highly interesting and
important. The gold accounts are of the most favour-
able character. The product of the mines exceeds the
most extravagant calculations, and ellen the preparations
now making for minit•g are completed, the must be
immense. Machines for crushing the gold quartz are
going up in every pert of the raining regions. At
the latest dates there were eleven machines in operation
in the southern districts, and thirty-three in course of
ev.ction. In the northern district there were eight,
machines in operation and twenty-six in process of erec-
tion. So fur as the machines in operation have barn
ksted they have proved to be everything expected.
Thus far the machines have been profitable, and it is
estimated that quartz, 3 ielding on an average as low as
one cent a pound, will pay handsomely. As soon as this
point is more definitively settled, there will be a great rush
into this method of mining, and the result will,
without doubt, exceed att3 thing ever before realized in
California. The product, this year, has been much
larger than the returnsfroca San Francisco exhibit.

It is right that public attention should be kept alive
with respect to a matter involving a most important
principle-- viz , the right to confiscate British capital.
The power unfortunately, in the case to which we allude,
indisputably exists, for the contest is with no less formi-
dable a Government than that of France. The share-
holders in the Lyons and Avignon and Bordeaux and Cette
Railways were induced, by representations made upin the
authority of French engin"crs, to subscribe the requisite
deposit, or "caution money" as it is termed, prior to
asking for the concession, but it subsequently appeared
that the estimates made, although official, were er-
roneous, and that a much larger capital would be
required than that originally stated. Under these cir-
cumstances the subscribers were not bound either mo-
rally or legally to construct the line, and the whole pro-
ceedings should have been cancelled, or a new and
ameliorated concession granted. This was not done,
The " caution money" was retained, and fur a
considerable period the shareholders have been deprived
of the use of their capital. The worst feature of the
whole business is the present effort making by a few
contractors and moneyed men to get the con-
cession which the Minister of Public Works
in France is again offering to public com-
petition, without having previously consulted
the existing shareholders. Now, as a question of public
morality, no British capitalist should compete for a con-
tract from any foreign Government that has not acted
with the strictest justice to his countrymen. We hope,
from all we hear, that this view will yet prevail, and
that whatever is done, the parties tendering will urge
the return or the taking into account of the " caution
money." _

The English Funds have been steady, but extremely

inactive. —This side of Christmas active speculation
is not to be looked for. Consols have been 961
and are now 961 The New Three-and-a Quarter
per Cents. realise 98* to 8. Bank Stock ranges from
2141 to 215. Exchequer-bills are supported at 48s. to
51s. premium.
Late yesterday afternoon there was a strong ru-
mour that the minimum rate of discount would be
reduced this day, but we hear nothing of the kind up to
this time, and attribute the rise to the receipt of higher
prices from Paris.
Foreign Stocks are looking up again. Mexican
bring 261 4, and Peruvian 90 to 901. Brazilian Old
Steck is at 94. Venezuela Bonds have been 35i.
Spanish Five per Cents. have been quoted 208 to 21,
and Portuguese Four per Cents. 33. French Five per
Cents. have been done at par. Dutch and Russian
Bonds have improved.

The last week's Railway receipts, ascertained up to
this day, are, in round figures, is under:—

1851. 1850.
Great Western..
North-Western
South-Western 9,194 ... 8,395
Brighton
Midland
South-Eastern
North Stafford 4,688 .. 4,514
Caledonian 7,532 ... 6,859
Great Northern 10,402 ... 6,814
Lancashire and Yorkshire
York and North Midland
Newcastle and Berwick
English Railway Shares are rather dull, but the
French lines have been brisk at advanced prices.
QUARTER TO THREE.
Consols for Opening, Jan. 16 ... 961 iex div.
BRITISH FUNDS Tl-116 DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(From the Official List.)
Bank Stock 214% 15%
8 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 97%%[4%•
New 3,4 per Cent. AIMS.
Long Annuities, Exp. Jan. sth, 1860 7
India Stock —

Do. Bonds, 10001 59 62 p
Ditto under 1.0001
South Sea Stock
Ditto Old Annuities
Con9ols for Opening
Exchequer Bills.
1,0001.
Small

904
9634%3A
I%d.
48 51 p
48 51 p
48 51 p

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Brazilian Bonds. 5 per Cent. 9l
Msxican Bonds, 1846, ex Jan. Coupons 261,1
Ditto Account
Peruvian Bonds, 6 per Cent
Ditto Account
Portuguese Bends, 5 per Cent
Ditto 4 oar Cent. ......
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent —
Ditto 4% per Cent. lO3
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent 8414 % 84
13panish Bonds, 5 per Cent,lB4o
Ditto Account • 2l 20%
Ditto lB4l 19%
Ditto 1842 19%
Ditto • • 1843 18%
Ditto 1844 1814
Ditto
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent. .. 40 %
Venezuela Bonds
Dividends on the above payable in London.
French Rentes, 5 per Cent.
Exchange ..
French Rentes, 3 per Cent ......
Exchange
25f. 25c.

... —..
Dutch 214 per Cent., 12 Guild ... 59% —.
Ditto 4 per Cent. Ceroificates ... 90A 893/4

NATIONAL PROVIDENT INSTITUTION.—A special
meeting of the members was held yesterday at the London
Tavern; Mr. Lucas in the chair. It was called in conse-
quence of the passing of the Act of Parliament, 13th and
14th Vic., c. 115, by which the members were deprived of
the power of appointing nominees in respect of any new in-
vestments„in lieu of which the society acquired the power of
granting anuities, which it had not previously possessed.
The object was to bring the rules and regulations of the so-
ciety into conformity with the Act. On the motion of Mr.
p. G. L'odd, the rules were altered in the ma leer proposed
by the directors.

The Lord Chancellor has appointed William Bald-
win, Esq., of Lisard Castle, to the commission of the peace
orthe county of Cork.