The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-29 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLocx.

The commercial advices from New York, per
steamer Arabia, mention that full employment is
given to capital in that city, and high rates were
paid for discount accommodation. At the latest
date there was a very active demand at 8 to 10
per cent., and the allowance n deposit or on call
was 7 per cent. This increased stringency in the
money market had caused a little depression in
speculative securities, and as there was no imme-
diate prospect of the rates of discount further de-
clining, a general disposition was evinced to operate
for a fall in values.

The last weekly City Banks Return showed an
increase in the loans and discounts of 1,438,0521.,
while the specie was reduced to the extent of
1,445,8041. Large sums continued to arrive from
California, but they were fully absorbed by the
extended exportation to Europe.
_ _

In the letters from Paris it is stated that the
Comptoir d'Escompte now discounts bills having
90 days to run, which is a great boon to the com-
mercial public, whose operations have recently
been so much reduced in consequence of their in-
ability to obtain the necessary accommodation. It
is expected that the Bank of France will adopt a
similar course next week.

There is a very active demand for money in
Lombard-street and at the Bank of England to-dap.
Six per cent. is the lowest rate, even for the most
approved descriptions of mercantile paper, so that
the general appearance of the market is rather
tight. An increased degree of pressure, however,
Was to have been anticipated at the close of the
year, as, in addition to other circumstances, the
settlements at the Stock Exchange, and the prepa.
rations for the " fourth" of the month, when a
large mass of commercial paper becomes due, assist
in augmenting the inquiry.

Last week the arrivals of specie ►mounted to
300;000/., and the exports to 245,0001.

The Red Jacket has arrived from Victoria with
a valuable specie freight. The exact amount is not
yet known in town, but she is supposed to bring
about half a million sterling. This remittance is
very opportune, especially as the large amount of
gold withdrawn from the Bank to Ireland is not
likely to return at present.
The Council of the Bank of France has fixed
the dividend for the present half•year at 135 f.,
Which, added to 137 f. (the former dividend), gives
total return for the year of 272 f. per share.
The Market for English Securities has been
rather heavy, owing to the advices from China
announcing the bombardment of Canton. At the
iopening Consols declined about f per cent.,
but the arrival of the Red Jacket has
since imparted more firmness to the quotations.
Speculation is very dull, and the arrangement of
the Foreign Stock and Railway Share accounts
occupies chief attention. Consols have been 941,1
to 94f, and they are now again 94.1 I. The New
3 per Cents. have been 94i the Reduced 94/ I,
and the Long Annuities 21. Exchequer Bills ar
le. discount to 2s. premium, the Bonds 981 to 99,
and India Bonds 2s. premium.
Foreign Securities are extremely quiet, partly
owing to the progress of the settlement. Turkish 6
Per Cents. have receded to 95,E /, and the 4 per
Cents. are 103. Sardinian are 89, and Guate-
hula 55.
The following are the nominal prices of Foreigt.
Mocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6 7 ; Meal
can, 211 i; Peruvian 4i per Cents., 76 8 ; ditto
6 per Cents., 54 6 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents.,
44 6 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 106 8 ; ditto 4i Dot
Cents., 96 8; Spanish 3 per Cents., 42 3; ditto
Deferred, 241 ; ditto Certificates, 61 ; ditto
Passive, a 1-
The arrangements for the settlement of the half-
!tenthly account in the Railway Share Market
have proceeded favourably, and but little business
has been transacted except in connection with that
event. The " contangos" are very heavy. A de-
cline of about f to 8 per cent. has taken place in
40Me of the principal lines. Great Northern
receded 10s., Great Western 55., Lancashire and
Yorkshire 55., and South Western 10s. Man-
Chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, North British, and
North-Eastern, York, improved about ss. Grand
Trunk of Canada were firmer, and advanced about
65., and Great Western of Canada 55. The
French lines are at nominal rates, and Lombardo..
Venetian declined ss.
In Joint-stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares
the dealings are quite unimportant. City Bank are
°,91. English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered
!..71, London General Omnibus Company 31, New
pan
Wales Government Debentures 1021, and
van Diemen's Land 16.

•
8R1T1313 FUNDS THIS DAY cr
(From the Officta List.)
riuw n don.
IPer 4.ent. Reduced Annuities
net 'ent Annuities ......... 944
Ditto 30 Years, expire stk Jan., 1860 2i
Ltdia
Ditto, under £lOOO 2 p
emicels ,'or Account
iixobequer Rills, lid.
£1000
2 p
Ditto Bonds, 1858, 3} per Cent. 9Bi 9
?ktIOFS OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLo• k
Guatemala Bonds, 5 per cent 55
Itirdinian Bonds, 5 per Cent
Ronds, fi par cent,,~
'Ditto Account (January 15)
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent,
invtpenda on the above payable lc London
TWO O'CLOCK..

C,,n Rol s
Ditt• licaotmt

94} i

It was always a puzzle to those about the Court why
Lord Drumlanrig should have resigned the post of Comp-
troller to the Queen's Household. Those who recollecte
at the period of tne noble Viscount's marriage the posi.
lion which her Majesty was kind enough to adopt by
inviting the young Viscountess to dinner before her
Presentation, and the influence which this indication of
the opinion of the Sovereign had with the Viscount's
father, the late Marquis of Queensberry, on this occasion,
were still more at a loss to conceive the reason of Lord
brutnlacrig's quitting the Queen's service, after having
held office for so many years under a Whig Minister.
We believe the next session will, however, solve the
mystery, and the quondam Whig Comptroller of the
apusehold, having succeeded to the peerage and become
Marquis of Queensberry, will he found voting with the
Earl of Derby.—Court Journal.
"It appears," says the Debats, "from a recent return,
that in 1841 the numbers of travellers in France was
e 38,000,000, of whom 143.000,000 were conveyed on
railways ; but that in 1855 it rose to 1,800,000,000, of
'Whom 1,372,000,000 went by rail."
SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY.—The final Christmas
Performance of the " Messiah" takes place at Exeter
gall on Friday next, Jan. 2. Madame Clara Novello,
Miss Dolby, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Thome,, will
be the principal vocalists.
11l THUNDIERSTORM ON CHRISTMAS-DAY.—Chrigtmas•
day was ushered in on the southern coast of Northumber-
land with a considerable fall of snow, and in the after-
„,,noon a thunderstorm broke over the neighbourhood of
-uynemouth, accompanied by two or three very vivid
Sashes of lightning.
CASHIOBITRY PARK.—On Christmas-day the Earl of
Essen caused to be distributed to 250 of his work-people,
With their wives and children, a large bullock and a
Plentiful supply of beer and bread ; and the countess,
With her usual liberality, distributed a quantity of warm
clothing to the cottagers on the estate.
The works on the Lyons to Geneva railway, which,
by continuing the Grand Central, is to connect the town
of Perigueux with Switzerland, are being actively put.-
4ued. In the valley of St. Rambert the rails are being
laid down simultaneously on several points, and have
already arrived at Argis.
_ _

THE CRYSTAL PALACE FEauDsc —The convict Robson
Las for several days past been suffering in the infirmary
of Newgate severe illness, and for two or three days was
entirely deprived of his mental faculties. He is under
the care of Mr. Gibson, the surgeon of Newgate, and is
tow improving. He has made but slow progress with
kis accounts, which be must file before passing his exa-
Mination at the Bankruptcy Court, and he will not be
removed from Newgate till this is disposed of.
SUICIDE FROM LONDON-BRIDSE.—On Saturday the
body of a lady, who committed suicide from Landon•
bridge on Christmas day, was found in the Thames at
Battle-bridge-stairs, near St. Olave's Church. The body
kid been recognised by some persons who bad witnessed,
but were unable prevent, the rash act. It was that of
't female between 20 and 30 years of age, apparently be-
longing to the superior class of society, clad in a black
shawl and fawn-coloured dress. Nothing was found to
lead to identity, and the body was removed to St. John's
deadhouse, in Horsleydown.
THE LATE TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AND DEATH OF FOUR
MEN AT THE BLAENAVON COAL MINES.—On Saturday
an inquest was held at the King's Arms Inn, Blaenavon,
on the bodies of the victims of this accident. Mr. Llewel-
len, of Newport, appeared to watch the proeeedings on
the part of the Crown, and Mr. H. Mack worth, her Ma-
jesty's inspector of colleries was present, by direction of
the Secretary of State for the Home Department. C. M.
Ashwin, Esq., the deputy coroner, explained the nature
of the inquiry, and the jury having viewed the bodies
and taken evidence of the occurrence returned a verdict
of " Accidental death."
LirOBTATION OF POTATOES.— By a returnn just issued
it is shown that in the last eleven months 90,043 cwts.
of potatoes were imported duty free,