The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-21 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.

The Liverpool Cotton Market 'on Saturday
closed very firmly, with a good supply, at Friday's
full rates. The sales amounted to 10,000 bales,
Comprising 7,500 Pernam and Maranham, 5/d. to
61d. ; 100 Bahia, sid. to 6d. ; 200 Egyptian, 511
to 61d. ; and 2,000 Surat (1,000 on speculation),
34d. to 4141.. per lb. There was not much excite-
ment in the Railway Share Market, but prices
Were steady.
The attention of the Belgian Government is be-
coming seriously directed to the agricultural pur-
suits of the country for the ensuing season, in con-
sequence of the statistical returns for the past year
showing a deficiency in the grain crops. From
the remarkable fertility of the soil, and the
admirable system of cultivation in the Flem-
ish Provinces, it has been supposed that
Belgium is a grain exporting country. This
is erroneous ; for during the last ten years it
has been importing grain for home consumption.
Last year the imports were far above the average
on account of the yield being less than it was in
previous years. Instead of the normal average
Produce of 1850-52 which was 12,964,917 hecto-
litres of wheat, rye, buckwheat, there was not
More than 10,882,990 hects. showing a deficit of
2,081,927 hects. or 16 per cent. This was accounted
for in the greater abun dance of other cereals produ eed
Potatoes, which form an important item in the
food of the people, has increased from an average
of 13 million hectolitres in 1850-52 to 23,552,170
hectolitres in 1855. Belgium being densely popu-
lated, a season of scarcity in the grain crops, such
as the last, is felt very severely, and should disease
attack the potato crops the effects would be most
serious. The Government, being apprehensive of
the latter, are endeavouring to turn the attention
of the farmers to cultivating a greater breadth of I
land for grain next season.
_

Prom Madrid it is reported that the Parliamen-
tary Commission appointed by the Cortes to ex-
amine the project of certain Spanish capitalists to
_ _ _

form a National Bank of Credit, on the basis of
the French Credit Mobilier, has received their fa-
vourable consideration, and it will be recom-
nlended for the approval of the Cortes.
At the meeting of the Union Bank of Australia,
held to-day, a favourable report was presented,
and a dividend of 13l per cent. for the half-year
Was agreed to.
A decline of about ± per cent. has occurred in
the Funds, and the market presents a quieter ap-
pearance, as might have been expected after the
excitement of last week. Consols opened at 894

I, but they have since rallied to 90 and 90k for
the acaount ; while the money prices have ranged
from 89i to 89k. A large business has been
done in the New 3 per Cents. at 901
to 90 , and the Reduced have been 89/ to 90k.
Exchequer Bills are ss. to I.s. dis. Bank Stock
18 firm at 210. The New 2i per Cents. are 75.

The Foreign Market is firmly supported, butthe
transactions are of a more limited character.
Turkish 6 per Cents. were at one time 87a to 87k,
but they have since risen to 888 to 88g. The New
Scrip is steady, at Ito discount. Russian Small
Bonds are 90 to 91. Sardinian 5 per Cents. are
861, and Brazilian 5 per Cents. 100. Portuguese
4 per Cents. have risen II per cent., namely, to
48. Grenada Deferred are 6i, Mexican 20,
and Peruvian Active 76. Dutch Bonds are nomi-
W. Spanish Deferred are 22k, the Passive 61, and
the Certificates
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
W•ocks:•:—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 61 7; Mexican,
1n ; Peruvian, 76 78 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 53
65 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 46 48 ; Russian 5 per
Cents., 99 101 ; ditto 4i per Cents., 88 90 ; Spanish
3 Per Cents., 391 404; ditto Deferred, 22i 23; ditto
Certificates, 41 5 ; ditto Passive, 6i 7.
Railway Shares have generally an improved
tendency, and in several cases a rise of 10s. has
been established. The dealings are principally in
Great Western, North Western, Midland, and
North-Eastern, Berwick.

The Foreign and Colonial Lines are without
ranch variation in the absence of any large opera-
tion.

Xining Shares are quiet, but Joint Stock Banks
are firm. Canada Land are 2/. lower, and Royal
kail Steam ruled rather flatter.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.-CLOSING PRICES.

Prom the Ofecial List.

Bustnes• done.
Dank Stock
! per Cent. Redziced Annuities,,,..... 901 B9i 901. 894 901.
tpor Cent, Consols Annuities B9l 4iiii
,„'lew 3 per Cent. Annuities
"elv 24 per Cent. Annuities 75
t'
"'°..._ng Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860...
Ditto 30 Years, expire sth Jan.. 1860 3 3-16
Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, 1885 l6s
India Bonds £lOOO ,
Ditto under 21000 par
t onicaror Account
Xxchequer Bills, 2+d.
21000 .... 5 1
2500
%all
Ditto Bonds, 1858, 3+ per Cent 97+ f
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. lOO
Itcluador Bonds
Ditto New Consolidated 144
Qrenada New Active, 14 per Cent.
Ditto Deferred
`lreek Bonds 6
ktexican 3 per Cent.
Ditto Account
Peruvian Bonds, 44 per Cent.
Ditto 3 per Cent 544
Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1841
Ditto 4 per Cent
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent., 1822, 2 St —
Ditto 44 per Cent
Ditto Small
asrdinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
14P"1811 Bonds, 3 per Cent 4O
Ditto Aecount 4O
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent.
Ditto Account . . 22i i
Ditto Passive 6}
,SPanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 4i p c
xlirkinh Bonds, 6 par cent —
Ditto for the Account
Ditto Small BBf
Ditto New .Scrip, 4 per Cent.
Ditto Account i 1 04 1 i 11
Venezuela Bonds, 44 per Cent 27
Dividends on the above payable in London.
THREE O'CLOCK.
Console (money) 894 /
Ditto for Aceount Feb. 7 . B9f 4

THE MEETING OP PARLIAMENT.—Lord Palmerston
has issued the usual circular to members of the House
of Commons understood to be favourable to his govern-
inental policy.
The Right Hon. Spencer Horatio Walpole has ac.
eepted the office of Archbishop's Church Estates Corn.
Tuissioner, vacated by the lamented decease of the Right
lien. Henry Goulburn. The income' attached to the
office is 1,0001. a year.
The Green Riband of the Order of the Thistle, vacant
by the death of the Marquis of Ailesbury, has been
offered to the Duke of Argyll.
Letters from the Havanna, received in Paris, report
that the health of Mdlle. Rachel wa3 considerably im-
loved.

THE SEA OF AZOFF--Russian official accounts re-
tresent the Sea of Azoff as being frozen for a considera-
distance from the shore on the 26th ult.

8120