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

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLom.

The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed
'very tamely, and with the exception of Boweds,
from Sid. to sd. per lb., which were 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 bales-300 for export, and a like
number on speculation—comprising 570 Perlman
and Maranham, 6d. to 70. ; 80 Bahia, sid. to
; 600 Egyptian, chiefly at 6d. to Bd. ; 700
Surat, 31d. to 4id. ; and 50 Sea Islands, 10d. to
ls. 3d. per lb. The Railway Share Market pre-
sented no feature calling for particular remark, and
prices were 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, ani ld. to 2d. per gallon lower, and very
little has been done in tea. Common congou is
91d. to 9W. per lb. Saltpetre has receded ls.
per ewt, cotton has continued dull, cochineal is
steady, and tallow has rather tended upwards.
P.Y.C. is about 689. 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 cora-
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 100,090 and
4%000 qrs. respectively. It is anticipated, how-
ever, that the sui ply during the current year will
reach,
if not exceed, that of 1854, and in time at-
aro the quantity of 1853. Every packet from the
East Indies brings advice% 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
"cling 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 Folko-
rie and Dover to France, which, according to
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
c:r some time past, supposed to be on account of
the Government, have not yet ceased, and the mar-
kst consequently remains in a feeble condition.
consols3 opened at 87g, but have since receded to
8 t© 87i. At the present time they are about
t. The New Three per Cents. are 87i to 87i,
and the Reduced 874 to 87i. Exchequer Bills
s again declined, being 10s. to ss. dis. The
3o rears' Annuity is 16 3-16ths to 16 5-16ths.
The quotations for some of the principal Foreign
thing
still tend downwards, and speculative
is contracted. Turkish 6 per Cents., after
having been 811 are uow 80i to 814, and the New
scripi continues weak at 31; discount. Mexican
Bonds are, however, firm at 194 to 20,and Russian
u Per Cents. at 87. Sardinian 5 per Cents. have
receded to 814, and Belgian 4i per Cents. at 92k.
Spanish Bonds are weaker, the 3 per Cents. being
11 the New Deferred 214, and the Passive 7.
Dutch 24 per Cents. are 63k, and the 4 per Cents.
941 to 94.

The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks:—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 6/ 7; Mexican,
in-20; Peruvian, 74 6 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 52 4 ;
Portuguese 4 per Cents., 46 48 ; Russian 5 per
Cents., 95 7 ; ditto 41 per Cents., 86 88 ;
Spanish
3 per Cents., 381 9 ; ditto Deferred, 201
21i ; ditto Certificates, 43 ; ditto Passive, 7
Messrs. D. Bell, Son, and Co. report the mar-
"t for American Securities as still inactive, with
11. alteration in prices, apart from the deduction of
1,4 half-yearly dividend upon a number of stocks.
resent quotations :