The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-23 00:00:00

IVIINES.

Paid. Nominal Prices. Business doneto-day.
_
Australian .......... 4 1% —2%
Barossa Range 1 13 0 334 834
Blaenarvon Iron and Coal 50 .. ••
Bolanos Scrip ••
British Iron 13 5 ..
Brazilian Imp. (is. 51. p.) 2434 —••
Do. Cocaes and Culaba 30 32% —32
Do. St. John del Rey— 15 16% 16%
Cobre Copper ...... . 40 35% 383
Copiapo ........... •• . 14 634 735
General..
Mexican to S. American 9 376
Real Del Monte, Uareg. 54 —34
Do. Black Debentures. . •
Do. Red Debentures • •
Santiago de Cuba ...... 10 734
Tin Croft .. ••• • . ..... 7 10%— 11
United Mexican— •••••• 28 2 8% —3%
JOINT STOCK BANNS.
Australasia 40 33 32%
British North America.. 50 42% —43%
Colonial .............. 25 9% 12
Commercial of London.. 20 25 25%
London Joint Stock .... 10 18% 17%
London and Westminster 20 2734 27%
National Provincial Eng. 35
Do. New .... • ... 10 • • —• •
National of Ireland .... 223( 18% 20%
Provincial of Ireland • ... 25 42 43%
Do. New ............10 15% 15
Union of Australia .. 25 35 33%
Do. New ............ 234 3 336
Union of London • . 10 12% 13%
Union of Madrid 40 -•
MISCELLANEOUS.
Canada .............. 3234 4234 —46
Gen. Steam Navigation . 14 2634 28
Penin. & Oriental Steam. 50 65% —66
Ditto ditto 5 11 11%
Royal Mail Steam .. • ... 60 75 —76
IWe cannot be answerable for the errors of the Official Lists, am
will net be influenced by interested correspondents.]

fWe cannot be answer
will net be influenced by

,e errors of the Official Lists, and
correspondents.]

MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of Cotton at Liverpool yesterday were esti-
mated at 2,000 bales. The market was flat; American
were ki. per lb. lower, and the same decline may be
quoted generally for all other kinds.—Railway Shares
were firm.

The accounts from America, received yesterday after-
noon, supply very favourable information from San
Francisco. It is stated, under the latest date, that—
" Quartz rock mining and crushing by machinery is
being prosecuted with great vigour. Nay, discoveries of
the gold bearing quartz have been made in ♦arious lo-
cations, the rock containing a large proportion of gold,
and being easily crushed, numerous orders have been
given for crushing machines, and in the coming season
the yield from this source is expected to be very large.
A new feature in the business of gold mining has been
introduced, in the shape of dredging machines, which
are used where the water is too deep to allow the earth
to be taken from the bottom by any other means.
Two small steamers have been engaged for a short
time past in dredging the bed of the Yuba River.
There have also been discovered new mines in the
neighbourhood of Monterey, Los Angeles, and San
Diego, which are said to be very productive. The ac-
counts received here from those places do not, however,
go into particulars, but merely say in general terms that
they yield abundantly. It will be seen, therefore, that
though the want of rain has been a very serious draw-
back to the prosperity of the country, the miners having
lost several months' labour in digging earth which they
cannot wash for the want of rain, yet there is a good
prospect opening before us for the summer, and it is to
be hoped that the bright anticipations which are
formed may be realised. Agriculture, which has
hitherto been a very subordinate interest,
in our state, now bids fair to assume its proper posi-
tion in relation to a wealthy and prosperous community.
The high prices of agricultural produce of all kinds
have induced large numbers to undertake the cultivation
of the earth, and the fertile lands of the river, bottoms,
and valleys, are being rapidly settled by industrious and
energetic farmers. The prospects for au abundant
yield of every description of produce were very ex-
cellent, until the long continued and unusual drought
had induced apprehensions that the crops in many parts
will be a total failure. Serious fears are entertained for
the grazing of the cattle, which, if there shouid not be
any more rain, will be very scant, and probably
occasion immense loss of stock. Irrigation on an exten-
sive scale is recommended, and in some instances has
been undertaken as a remedy for the deficiency of rain.
Altogether the prospects for the yield of crops in portions
of the recent agricultural settlements are not en-
couraging, though there are other portions where the
drought has not in appearance effected so much injury.
As an evidence of the forwardness of the season, the
beauty of the climate, and the fertility of the soil, it
may be mentioned that on the first day of March there
were 35 acres of barley, only a few miles distant from
San Francisco, which averaged ten inches in height.
New potatoes had also been dug and brought to San
Francisco on the Ist of March."

It is with great pleasure that we copy the following
announcement from the Montreal Pilot :—" We under-
stand that it is the intention of the Trinity Board to
lower one-half the dues payable by vessels coming to this
port. The Act imposes specific rates, but an Order in
Council has been obtained, authorising the above-men-
tioned reduction, and a Bill to impose the lower rate
will be brought into Parliament next session. This will
be a great relief to shipping. The excess of income over
the expenditure enables the board to effect the change.
_ _

The attention of the people of St. John's, New-
foundland, is being directed to ship-building, and a
public meeting has been held for the purpose of en-
forcing the attention of the Legislature. It appears
that 25,0001. are annually paid for freights, and 20,0001.
every year expended in the purchase of vessels to pro-
secute the trade of the island.

The seal fishery is to be prosecuted with renewed
vigour this season, and the present high prices paid for
Oil will doubtless give a vast impetus to this important
branch of industry.
The ensuing spring promises to be a busy season in
Nova Scotia. Already indications of the number of
outfits that may be expected are discernible in the or-
ders that have been received from the outports by the
merchants.

The following, from the Circular of Messrs. Schrceler
and Mummy, and published by Mr. James Irvine, of
Liverpool, gives the particulars of the state of the Cotton
market:—

" NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 29.—We crave reference to
our Circular of 15th instant, which left the Cotton
Market in an improving condition. The subsequent re-
ceipt of Liverpool advices of the Ist March produced a
decidedly better feeling, and in consequence of a brisk
demand, coupled with speculation, prices for middling
advanced from 10} to 11jc., other grades being freely
purchased at same time at rates comparatively en-
hanced. The business done during that week amounted
to 37,500 bales, the market closing with less animation,
but without appreciable change in prices. The steamer
of the Bth instant having arrived, her accounts have
had the effect of rendering purchasers more cautious,
under the general expectation that the extreme de-
pression in her own market at the close of the last month
must, when known on your side, cause a sudden check to
the gradual amelioration in the rates current with you,
and looking forward to a confirmation of this by the
steamer of the 15th, now due, our market has been en-
tered sparingly during this week, and the transactions
have been limited to 18,700 bales. In most instances,
the sales having been forced to meet the factor's wants,
prices have given way fully to ie., and thus the pro-
bable decline in Europe may be said to have been an-
ticipated. The increase in our receipts would seem to
point to a larger crop than we have hitherto estimated,
but aware of the inducements to planters to ship as
rapidly as possible, and in view of the reduced stocks in
the interior, we are still of opinion that our outside es-
timate of 2,200,000 bales, if exceeded at all, can be so
only insignificantly. The stock of Cotton in this port,
in presses and on shipboard amounts to 249,146 bales.
The market closes quiet at the following quotations:—
Ordinary, 8 to Bic.; good ordinary, 91 to 9,1 c.; middling,
101 to 10ic.; good middling, 114 to 1 lie.; middling
fair, 12 to 121 e.; fair, 12} to 121 e. Sales during the
last fortnight, 56,200 bales. Receipts at this port since
Ist September, 790,048 bales, against 685,804 bales last
year. Increase of receipts at all the ports up to latest
dates, 165,666 bales."
Accounts from Hamburgh advise us of the failure
there of the house of Riffenberg for 250,000 mares
bunco.

At Amsterdam on the 21st instant there was a holiday
in the Stock Exchange.

Very important measures are about to be adopted by
the Belgian Government for an extension of its railway
system, and by these the existing companies will mate-
rially benefit. It is stated that about 100 leagues will
have to be constructed. The immediate cause of the
great anxiety of the Government is the prospect of Rot-
terdam or Havre becoming the starting and resting poin t
for travellers to and from the Mediterranean. The Go-
vernment of Leopold must act liberally to the existing
companies if it desires to encourage others.
The circumstance of a power of attorney for the
transfer of stock having been forged by a medical man
at Windsor has occasioned considerable remark, and the
brokers who identified him are naturally much cha-
grined. The amount is said to be 10,0001., but in order
not to defeat the ends of justice, much secresy i
observed.

The Funds have been quiet again as regardslspocula-
tive transactions, but there have been a few money bar-
gains. Consols have ruled at 97i to for Transfer, and
have been 97i I for Account. There is still some
discussion among the dealers as to whether the rate
of discount at the Bank of England will be advanced to-
morrow, and as there was a gratifying rally in the
foreign exchanges yesterday afternoon, the impression
seems to be that no change will take plece. The New
Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. have realized 9711 to 98i,
and the Three per Cents. 961 to 1. Bank Stock has
been firm at 2111. India Stock has fluctuated from 260
to 262. Exchequer-bills aro 545. to 575., and India
Bonds 608. premium.
Foreign Securities have been very inactive. Mexican
Bonds have been quoted 351 to 1. Portuguese Four
per Cents. are 33 to Russian Five per Cents. are 112,
and Deitch Four per Cents. 001. Spanish Five per Cents.
are 191 to e.
Railway Shares are not brisk, but have risen in seve-
ral instances.

QUARTER... 7
..T O
9_THR.I3 E.
Consols ...
Ditto Account, May 13 971
BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
(From the Official List.)
Divak Oteck 2111 i