The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-04 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.

The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed
♦ery tamely, and with the exception of Boweds,
from 5Ad. to sid. per lb., which wore offered most
freely and were a shade in favour of the buyer, all
descriptions were unchanged. The sales amounted
to 6,000 or 7,000 hales-500 for export, and a like
number on speculation—comprising 570 Pernam
and Maranham, 6d. to Id. ; 80 Bahia, sd. to
; 600 Egyptian, chiefly at bid. to 81d. ; 700
Surat, 31d. to 4/d. ; and 50 Sea Islands, 10d. to
3d. per lb. The Railway Share Market pre-
sented no feature calling for particular remark, and
prices wore about the same as on Wednesday.

The colonial produce markets re-opened on Wed-
nesday, and have since ruled exceedingly dull.
Sugar, of which a very small quantity has been
sold, is rather cheaper, and in some cases the rates
accepted have not been allowed to transpire. A
moderate inquiry has existed for coffee at former
quotations. No public sales of rice have taken place,
and Cocoa is 3s. to 4s. cheaper, Rum had been
dull, aid ld. to 2d. per gallon lower, and very
little has been done in tea. Common congou is
0.41. to Sid. per lb. Saltpetre has receded ls.
per cwt, cotton has continued dull, cochineal is
steady, and tallow has rather tended upwards.
P.Y.C. is about 68s. per cwt. on the spot.
Some useful information regarding the seed
trade during the past year is furnished by Messrs.
Edwards and Eastley in their annual circular. A
complete revolution has taken place in this impor-
tant branch of commerce since the commencement
of the war. The blockade of the Russian ports in
the Baltic and Black Seas has almost annihilated
the trade in linseed with Russia, which used to
form one of its largest exports to this country. It
is an example of the peculiar nature of our com-
mercial relations, that now in the third year of the
war the deficiency created is expected to be fully
made up ; and what is of importance to us in the
present instance is the consideration that the
article will be principally supplied by our own
East Indian possessions. Hitherto Black Sea lin-
seed fixed the market price in London, now the
standard value of the best sorts is ruled by the
importations from Calcutta. The total imports of
linseed during the past year amounted to 700,000
quarters, against 827,714 qrs. in 1854, and 1,035,336
qrS• in 1853, showing a decline of 100,0J0 and
300)000 qrs. respectively. It is anticipated, how-
ever, that the sill ply during the current year will
reach, if
not exceed, that of 1851, and in time at-
tain the quantity of 1853. Every packet from the
East Indies brings advices that this branch of the
export trade is commanding the attention of the
Planters, who are preparing to increase the culti-
vation of the plant during the ensuing year.
The shipments of bullion during the six months
ending December 31, according to a statement pre-
Pared by Messrs. Haggard and Pixley, made up a
total
of 9,462,2101. against 4,671,8301. in the
similar period of last year. During the last twelve
months the exports were 14,224,6101., and in
1854, 10,902,8771., showing an increase in the past
Year of 3,321,7331. These totals are, of course,
irrespective of the large sums sent by way of Folke-
stone and Dover to France, which, according to
the Customs' returns, amounted in the last six
months of 1854 to 6,366,0101., and in the like
period of 1855 to 10,821,4501.
The extensive sales of public securities noticed
for some time past, supposed to be on. account of
the Government, have not yet ceased, and the mar-
ket consequently remains in a feeble condition.
Consols opened at 87g, but have since receded to
87 to 87k. At the present time they are about
87i I. The New Three per Cents. are 8712 to 87'i,
and the Reduced 871 to 87g. Exchequer Bills
have again declined, being 10s. to ss. dis. The
30 Years' Annuity is 16 3-16ths to 16 5-16ths.
The quotations for some of the principal Foreign
Securities still tend downwards, and speculative
dealing is contracted. Turkish 6 per Cents., after
having been 81i are ROSY 80Z- to 811, and the New
Scrip continues weak at 3i discount. Mexican
Ponds are, however, firm at 19; to 20,and Russian
5 per Cents. at 87. Sardinian 5 per Cents. have
receded to 811, and Belgian 4A- per Cents. at 92k.
Spanish Bonds are weaker, the 3 per Cents. being
38J, the New Deferred 21k, and the Passive 7.
Dutch 21 per Cents. are 63i-, and the 4 per Cents.
941 to 94.

The following arc the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks:—Grenada Deferred Bonds, G ; Mexican,
i-
-1920 ; Peruvian, 74 6 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 52 4 ;
Portuguese 4 per Cents., 46 48 ; Russian 5 per
Cents., 95 7 ; ditto 4 per Cents., 86 88 ;
Spanish 3 per Cents., 381 9; ditto Deferred, 20
21i ; ditto Certificates, 4i ; ditto Passive, 7
Messrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co. report the mar-
ket for American Securities as still inactive, with
no alteration in prices, apart from the deduction of
the half-yearly dividend upon a number of stocks.
Present quotations :