The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-20 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL IN rELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLooE.

Accounts from Liverpool state that the Cotton
Market yesterday was rather firmer, with a brisk
demand for all qualities at full prices. The sales
amounted to 12,000 bales, 4,000 of which were
taken for speculation and fur export. The Rail-
Way Share. Market closed firmly at improved rates.

The Bankiof England Return published for the
Week ending the 13th instant is very favourable,
showing a. large -increase in the reserve of notes,
and a further addition of upwards of 2,000,0001. to
the bullion. The other Securities are reduced to
a satisfactory extent, and the general appearance
of the Return is encouraging. If the improvement
continues at the present rate, there can be no
doubt that the Directors will soon be in a position
to make a further reduction in the rate of discount.
The following exhibit the alterations, as compared
With the previous statement :
Active Circulation
Decrease
Bullion 10,692,526
Increase
Rest
Increase
Public Deposits
Increase
Other Deposits
Decrease
Seven• Day and other Bills 811,191
Decrease
Government Securities
No alteration.
Other Securities
Decrease
Notes unemployed
Increase

The following are the particulars of the specie on
board the Indus, one of the Peninsular and Ori-
ental Company's vessels, which leaves Southampton
to-day for the East Indies :
Alexandria, gold 4'3,150
Bombay, silver
Madras, silver
gold
Calcutta, silver

Total £492,585

The official return of the exports of the precious
metals from the port of London for the week end-
itg Thursday last is as follows :
_

Gold Coin
„ Bari
Silver Coin
„ Bars,l
II

An active demand prevails for discount accom-
modation, and full rates are current. The pres-
sure yesterday was partially caused by the payment
ofa 51. call on the C shares of the East India Rail-
Ray Company, which nominally represents a total
Of about half a million sterling. Besides this
money was in active request for transmission to
IPPorary, where there is a run on the
'branch of the National Bank. For this purpose
"I aura variously stated at from 100,0001. to
~.'°,ooo/. was withdrawn from the Bank of Eng-
land. The circumstance has not occasioned any
"PPrehension, because it merely results from a
species of panic which will no doubt speedily sub-
side. .

The suspension of Messrs. Robert Johnson and
Co., of Watling-street, and also of Messrs. George
4,ltBhviorth and Co., of Manchester, both engaged in
`llO Manchester trade, has been announced. The
41abilities of the two establishments are estimated
4t from 80,0001. to 100,0001.
At the meeting of the London Chartered Bank
Of Australia, held yesterday, a dividend
Of 24 per cent. for the six months was declared.

About 182,9851. in specie has been received by
the steamers Persia and Ericsson from the United
States.

A further advance of ± per cent. has taken place
1-11 the English Stock market to-day in consequence
Of the favourable character of the Bank Return
and the prospect which exists of a further altera-
toll ere long in the rate of discount. The arrivals
14 specie from the United States, and those soon
expected from Australia, likewise give support to
Ices. Consols have been 931 to 94, and 94 to
11A. Exchequer Bills are par to 3s. premium,
4 Bonds 984 and India Bonds 2s. discount to
43° premium. The New 3 per Cents. are 94 to
Si, and the Reduced 931
The transactions recorded in the Foreign Market
haver been at enhanced rates. Turkish 6 per Cents.
.7"1.3 ruled firm at 95i .3,, and the 4 per Cents. 1021
4i. Spanish New Deferred have risen to 244
and the Certificates are marked as high as 6 and 61
Per ▪
Cent. Dutch 2i per Cents. have been 66, and
41 per Cents. 961. Chilian 6 per Cents.
were 1031, and Portuguese 3 per Cents. 45g.
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 61 7 ; Mexi-
-44, 49 21i 2 ; Peruvian 4i per Cents., 76 8 ; ditto
• Per Cents., 54 6 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents.,
44 6 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 106 8 ; ditto 4,1 per
Deferred,
95 7; Spanish 3 per Cents., 42 3 ; ditto
tleferred, 24j ; ditto Certificates, 6 ; ditto
passive, 6 I.
Railway Shares this morning have been inactive,
any in some instances a slight decline upon yester-
P's quotations may be reported. Edinburgh,
•--,,erth, and Dundee, Lancashire and Yorkshire,
south. Western, North-Eastern Berwick, and
south-Eastern
were about ss. lower, East Anglian,
North-Eastern
Northern, North British, and Scottish
were about 55., and Brighton 1/.
.
‘.? 1/. Se., Grand Trunk of Canada advanced
about ss. Joint-Stock Bank and Miscellaneous
tares are very dull at previous rates.

11111'18H FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES.
(From the Offictal Lid.)
Push:is...done.
trper Cent. Reduced Annuities 93A i A
y ,!* 3 per Cent. Annuities 94
r.g Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860 1i 5-16
taho. Bonds, £lOOO .......... .......• —
~, Ditto, under £lOOO 2 a 2 p
"%Isola tor Account 94 3i 4k
Exchequer Bills, 24d.
£1000
£5OO 4 p
8ra9.11
•
Ditto Bonds, 1858, 34 per Cent.. 9By i
Ditto, 1559
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
(161lian Bonds, 6 por Cent lo3}
Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1841
• Ditto 1853, 3 per Cent 451
a
P"iEll• &nide, :i per Cent —
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent.
Ditto Account
.„BPanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 6} I i p• 0.
rackith Bonds, 6 per cent.. 951
Ditto Account
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent.
Ditto Account
otvioeod. 3n the &bor.. Avehle in London.
Belgian, 21 per Cent., ex. 25 francs'
Ditto 44 per Cent.. ex. 25 francs
Dutch Exchange, 21 per Cen:,., 12 Guilders 66
TWO O'CLOCK.

Consols (Money) ............. —
Ditto Account (January 8)