The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-03 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.

The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed
steadily, and prices of all kinds were without
change. The sales were 6,000 bales, all to the
trade—comprising 60 Pernam and Maranham
50. to 60., 80 Bahia s;d. to 6d., 260 Egyptian
52d. to 71d., and 350 Surat 31d. to 4id. per lb.
The Railway Share Market was quiet, but firm,
at a slight decline on Tuesday's rates.
The reports of the state of the iron trade for the
past year have come to hand. These, compared
with returns of 1854, show a most satisfactory re-
sult, and at the close of the year it may be said
that this important branch of our national com-
merce has not been in a healthier condition for
Some time past. Not only has the quiet state of
business which distinguished previous years passed
away, but there is a steady increase in the home
trade, with rising prices, and an augmentation of
the export trade. In the month of December the
quantity of iron exported exceeded by 150,0001.
that of the corresponding period of 1854. No
doubt there have been many failures amongst
the iron masters recently, but these have
not been of importance, and many spe-
culators have been obliged to succumb.
Confidence has been restored among the legitimate
traders, and there is every prospect of this favour-
able state of trade continuing. From Dudley a
report of the meeting of the trade there states that
it was agreed upon to retain the prices of iron as
follows :—sheets 11/, per ton, hoops 101., and bars
9/. It was stated at the meeting that the coal
trade was very brisk, and good ironstone in re-
quest. Should the war continue during this year
it is expected that the demand for iron will exceed
that of any previous year ; especially in plates for
th• numerous iron mortar and gun-boats which the
Government have ordered for the Baltic expe-
dition.

The following particulars, furnished by Mr. Mil-
ler, of the Jerusalem Coffee-house, show the num-
ber of vessels and their tonnage, now on the berth
for Victoria, New South Wales, Now Zealand,
&c., &c.

Vessels.

Tons.
765
1,479
10,572
15,943
2,275

Launceston!
Hobart Town
New South Wales
Melbourne and Geelong
Adelaide
Swan River
New Zealand

433
3,139

Total
The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
to this date, are in round figures as under :

1855. 1854.
Great Western
North-Westera
South-Western
Brighton
Midland
South-Eastern 18,036 16,197
Caledonian
Great Northern
..kancashire and Yorkshire 20,601 19,252
anchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln 9,501 8,646
Oxford, Worces., and Wolverham 3,635 3,153
Shrewsbury and Hereford 1,283 1,208
Shropshire Union
e,Edinburgh and Glasgow
Glasgow and South-Western
Great Western of Canada ll,OlB 6,196
English Securities have further receded in con-
tTleuenee of the rumour that the minimum rate at
Bank of England would again be advanced at
the parlour-meeting to-day. Although no measure
of the kind has been resolved upon, it is clear that
the increased stringency in the money market has
excited some apprehension, and the opinion has
become general that the pressure will not ma-
terially abate for some time to come. The new
financial operations which, should the war con-
tinue, will be necessary by all the Allied Powers are
exciting some attention, and it is conjectured that
loan for 25,000,0001. to 30,000,0001. will at an
early period have to be provided for our own Go-
vernment. The Stock market, under these cir-
cumstances, is depressed, and Consols, which opened
at 87i have since been 871 b. The New 3 per
Cents. have been 87/ to 88, and the Reduced 87.1
to 87i. Bank Stock is steady at 2064. Exchequer
Bills are 2s. higher, viz., Bs. to Gs. dis.
The Foreign Stock Market is also flatter and the
transactions are not extensive. Turkish 6 per
Cents., after being 811 to 81a, has receded to 811
and 814. The New Scrip is heavy at 31 discount.
Spanish 3 per Cents. have been 381 to 38i. Ilus-
Sian 5 per Cents. have realised 97, and the Small
Bonds 4i per Cents. 89. Mexican 3 per Cents.
are steady at 19k, and the Dutch have risen to 631.
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks:—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 61 7; Mexican,
19a 19 ; Peruvian, 74 6 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 52 4 ;
Portuguese 4' per Cents., 46 48 ; Russian 5 per
Cents., 95 7 ; ditto 41 per Cents., 86 88 ex div. ;
Spanish 3 per Cents., 391 ; ditto Deferred, 21 21 ;
ditto Certificates, 4 ; ditto Passive, 7
The variations in the Railway Share market are
not generally of importance. Caledonian, Great
Western, Lancashire and Yorkshire, North West-
ern, South Western and Midland, are tolerably
Steady. North Eastern (Berwick) are ss. lower, but
Shropshire Union have risen 15s. Great Western
of Canada have ruled weaker, and the Foreign
lines are nominal.

For Mining, Banking, and Miscellaneous Shares
there has been a very dull market, and the quota-
tions have not undergone any particular altera-
tion.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
/Prom the Official List.)

nuoram done.
Bank Stock
3 Per Vent. Reduced Annuities B7l I 1
New 3 per Cent. Annuities 471 8 71
Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860 3l
Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, ISBS l6 5.16
India Bonds, £lOOO ......
Ditto, under £lOOO _ 10 d
00viols or Account B7l 1
Exchequer Bills, 21d.
£l000
%mall .
Ditto Bonds, 1858, 31 per Cent 971 61
„ 1859 PP ...... ••• 971 61
PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLO( K.
Greek Bonds 4l
14"xicall 3 per Cent.
Ditto Account .................... .....•
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St 97
Ditto Small B9
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent
Ditto Drew Deferred, 3 per Cent.
Ditto Account 2l x d
Tnrkith Bonds, 6 per cent
Ditto for the Account Bll 1 1 1
Ditto Now Scrip, 4 per Cent.
Ditto Account 3l d
Dividends on the above payable In London.
Duteh Exchange, 21 per Cent., 12 Gull 631
TWO O'CLOCK.
Consols B7l 1