The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-19 00:00:00

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.
Letters from Liverpool state that the Cotton
Market yesterday closed with animation, and,
compared with the current rates of last week,
Prices of all descriptions were extreme. The sales
amounted to 12,000 bales, 2,000 of which were
taken by the speculators. The Railway Share
Iviarket exhibited a quiet appearance, but on the
announcement that the Bank of England had re-
duced their rate of discount it slightly improved.
There has been less animation in the Colonial
!"roduce Markets this week, the demand hav-
ing subsided, and some of the principal articles
have ruled rather cheaper. The Christmas holi-
-44278 commence next Wednesday, and the market
Aiii not re-open until the 6th proximo. Sugar has
been exceedingly dull, but, holders being firm, prices
,have generally been maintained. Where sales have
been effected rather lower terms are said to have
been accepted, but the particulars have not in all
!alas transpired. Plantation Ceylon coffee has been
111 fair request at full rates, but for Native the in-
quiry has been less active. At the public sales of
tea no alteration occurred in the prices of Congou,
but the Assam kinds went at irregular quotations.
Rice has been rather cheaper. Rum is at im-
proved rates. Saltpetre has declined ls. per cwt.
Cassia lignea has receded 53. per cwt., and other
BPices have been at about previous values. Tallow
has declined about 6d. per cwt.

The reduction in the Bank minimum rate of
discount has produced a very favourable impression
41 most quarters ; but the continued restrictive
,Policy
, pursued by the Bank of France has checked
‘4O buoyant feeling which the alteration at first
ezcited, because it is now feared that 6 per sent.
*lll be maintained as the quotation for several
Weeks. The discount firms have lowered their
84110a-ance for deposits "on call" to 51 per cent.,
and to s)s- per cent. for those at seven days' notice.
Where is now a moderate demand for discounts, but
,110 pressure is experienced. At the same time.
"Weyer, the payments on account of revenue, and
the liquidation of the annual accounts, will, no
doubt, oontinue to occasion a good inquiry for
accommodation at full rates.

It is expected that the Bank of England Return
to be published this evening will be very favour-
able. A large addition to the Bullion and Reserve
?t-Igotes is anticipated, with a further slight decline
14 the other securities. It is reasonable to pre-
4tittle a decided improvement has taken place, or
the
alteration in the minimum rate of discount
Would not have been made yesterday.
The French Funds declined 20 centimes yester-
aY• This slight reaction is attributed to specula-
vte gales, and the reduction of the rate by the
sank
1.., of England does not appear to have been
'"vria until after business hours.
The Committee of the Stock Exchange are
opting precautionary measures in order, if pos-
sible, to prevent the recurrence of such frauds as
Path.recently committed by Robson and Red-

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's vessel
.11(1118, to leave Southampton to-morrow for India
:;114 China, will take out about 402,6001., chiefly in
'wter, to Bombay.
The Funds have been supported with firmness
4t
the closing prices current last evening,
vo,
qiellt however, are per cent. below the
..,"10eat values attained after the Bank Court
rtes
yesterday. There were some heavy
ries by the Greeks and other speculators, which
41Parted a heavy tone to the market, and there is
1411 an absence of buoyancy, although the prices
4N steady. Consols have been within per cent.
all the morning. Exchequer Bills are
gosyy, at 2s. to ss. premium. The New 3 per
cents. are 932 to 94, and the Reduced 932 I.
44cik Stock is 2171.

Foreign Seeuntiea are very dull. Turkish G par
cents. have been 95i and 951 Spanish 3 per
4tito. are 42k. Sardinian 89 to 89; ; and Dutch
Air Cents. 97.

The
following are the nominal prices of Foreign
:Uekß Grenada Deferred Bonds, 67 ; Mexi-
-3115 2112 ; Peruvian 41 per Cents., 76 8 ; ditto
Per Cents., 54 6 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents.,
B.' Russian 5 per Cents., 106 8 ; ditto 41 per
elit8•1 95 7; Spanish 3 per Cents., 42. E ; ditto
Deferred,
24 ; ditto Certificates, 5i 6 ; ditto
-B,Ve, 54 6.
iii4assrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co. state that during
ill: Put week there has not been much activity in
t market for American State Securities, whilst
kr
kt railroad bonds there has been a good demand
iroProved prices.
1J44 Redeemable. Par Cent.
thlnd States 6 per Cents. 1867-1868...106 107
"114(1 States 6 per Cent. Bonds 1868...106 107
4.14 th ?STATE SECURITIES.
ge Aram 5 Inueper Cent BO 82
lry 6 per Cent. Bonds lB6B-1872- 90 —l/4,,ktlland 5 per Cent. (Sterling Bonds)... 90 92
ltr4achneetts 5 per Cent. (Sterl. Bonds). 98 100
ippi 6 per Cent. Pl. Bk.
80n,1
1841-1871_ 43 45
Ai Nitegippi 5 per Cent. Union Bk. Bonds ... 16 18
PhktisYlvania 5 per Cent. Stock
... 75 76
-Illylvania 5 per Cent. Bonds 1877... 81 83
tine,
... 83 85
.see 6 per Cent. Bon. ds
.413?nia 6 per Cent. Bonds. 1886... 83 85
ulnnia s.per Cent. (Sterling Bonds) 1888... 84 86
LOANS OF CITIES.
5 per Cent. Bonds 1883... 85 87
4ontreal 6 per Cent. Bonds 1856-1865... 83 85
41? Orleans 6 per Cent. Stock
RAILZOAD BONDS.
111,,4°,6 Central 7 er Cent. Ist Mortgage,
lili‘,o% . 1875... 85. 864
~onvertible
C t 1 6 Cent 1875-• 80 82
41. 13 en ra per . ......
gouda
Central 7 per Cent. Freeland
-"11411 . lB6o— 100
Central .......... $.25 paid
ell„,igan Central 8 p. Cent., Convert
Do. do. dc. ......... 1869... 94
93x196
le York Central 7 p. Cent., Convert 1864...
91
York Central 6 per Cent., not
NCyonvertible lBB3- 81 83
"1 York and Erie 7 per Cent. 3d Mort-
-1883.86Ng -i 87
4. ark and Erie 7p. Cent. Convertible-1862... 82 84
York and Erie 7 per Cent. Sinking
Nd 1875... 85 87
bl74llarl
a 7 per Cent., Ist Mortgage (Star-
ug Bonds), not convertible 1859- 90 --
P„'irna 7 per Cent., Ist Mortgage 1864... 92
-"NYlTania Central 6p. Cent., lat Mort 1880... 90 02
very limited business has been done in Railway
,bares this morning, and the variations in the
value of the principal lines has not been to any
treat extent. With one or two exceptions, prices
1,1.753 shown a downward tendency. Great
I,,.orthern, Lancashire and Yorkshire, Brighton,
'`)l idland, and North British, were about ss. lower;
andtl East Lancashire, Edinburgh, Perth, and
unde ,e Great Western, North-Western, and
south-Eastern were higher by about ss. to 10s.
.ho French lines were dull, but Lombardo-Vene-
tian and Grand Trunk of Canada slightly im-
proved. The East Indian declined about 10s.
In Joint-Stock Bank Shares prices have given
*ay to a slight extent. Bank of Australasia,
P,ttomau Bank, and London Chartered of Austra-
'A have been done at rather lower prices.
In Miscellaneous Shares Canada Land have ad-
l'itizioed to 125, and the Government 6 per Cents. to
h_4l3i, Crystal Palace brought 211, National Discount
7b3pany, 6. The shares of the Mons Colliery
rapany are quoted at prem.

Itityrnie FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES.
(Rom the Official Lid.)
Kusinest, dons.
kiltik ei._ .
217
'3 '''ucx
41,er Vent. Reduced Annuities
ew 3 Der Cent. Annuities
t
°4g Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860—
14!itto 30 Tesii•s, expire sth April, 1885 lB 1-16
ti:"‘ Bonds, £lOOO
tic's for Account
*chequer Bills, 23d.
£l000
Ditto
3 7
.ultto Bonds, 1858, 3i per Cent 9B?
Ditto, 1859
I.
e PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
a 1,.;
130,-"can 3 per Cent 214 4
Cent., Con. 1841
hii;tgollege Bonds, 5 per
1853, 3 per Cent
--'b.n Ronde, 1'22, i.: St., 5 per Cent 106;
ditto
4i per Cent.
14";,,itt0 Small . 93
fa ‘.inian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
kr,
NI:. Bowls, 3 per Cent
11,1"1"t0 Account
r`ith Bonds, 6 er cent
9,i.ttn Account P
limo Guaranteed, 4 per Cent. Ditto Aceount
tr.„
E'l' end. , - r shove ayahie 1 7. -1,-,
b—"el, Rentes, 43 per Cont. 62f. 50c. ex 25f. 20c.
titt)e, sc' tinge, '2 per Cen;., 12 Guilders
140 4 per Cent. Certificates

it.
5
gt
St.

10
et.
St.

20
20
20
20

et.
St.
St.
et.

9t.
20
10
124
St.,