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

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.

Amounts 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 for export. The Rail-
way Share Market closed firmly at improved rates.
The Banki of 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

206,328
3,226,673

Increase
Public Deposits
Increase
Other Deposits
Decrease
seven-Day and other Bills 811,191
Decrease
Government Securities

No alterp,tion.

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
Bombay, silver
Madras, silver
„ gold
Calcutta, silver

£3,150
460,120

350
1,350
27,615

T0ta1......... £492,585

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

Gold Coin
, Bars
Silver Coin
„ Bars i
2 9 If

An active demand prevails for discount accom-
modation, and full rates are current. The pres-
sure yesterday was partially caused by the payment
of a 51. call on the C shares of the East India Rail-
way Company, which nominally represents a total
of about half a million sterling. Besides this
money was in active request for transmission to
Tipperary, where there is a run on the
branch of the National Bank. For this purpose
a sum variously stated at from 100,0001. to
180,0001. was withdrawn from the Bank of Eng-
land. The circumstance has not occasioned any
apprehension, 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
Ashworth and Co., of Manchester, both engaged in
the Manchester trade, has been announced. The
liabilities of the two establishments are estimated
at from 80,000/. 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 182,985/. in specie has been received by
the steamers Persia and Ericsson from the United
States.

A further advance of per cent. kas taken place
in 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-
tion ere long in the rate of discount. The arrivals
of specie from the United States, and those soon
expected from Australia, likewise give support to
prices. Consols have been 93i to 94, and 94 to
944. Exchequer Bills are par to 3s. premium,
the Bonds 981 4, and India Bonds 2s. discount to
2s. premium. The New 3 per Cents. are 94 to
94f, and the Reduced 931 1.
The transactions recorded in the Foreign Market
hays been at enhanced rates. Turkish 6 per Cents.
have ruled firm at 951 and the 4 per Cents. 1021
1031. Spanish New Deferred have risen to 241
and the Certificates are marked as high as 6 and 65
per Cent. Dutch 21 per Cents. have been 66, and
Belgian' 45 per Centi. 965. Chilian 6 per Cents.
were 1031, and Portuguese 3 per Cents. 451.
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 64 7 ; Mexi-
can, 2112 ; Peruvian 44 per Cents., 76 8 ; ditto
3 'per Cents., 54 6 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents.,
44 6 ; Russian 5 per Cents., 106 8 ; ditto 45 per
Cents., 95 7; Spanish 3 per Cents., 421 3 ; ditto
Deferred, 241 1 ; ditto Certificates, 6 ; ditto
Passive, 6 I.

Railway Shares this morning have been inactive,
and in some instances a slight decline upon yester-
day's quotations may be reported. Edinburgh,
Perth, and Dundee, Lancaghire and Yorkshire,
South-Western, North-Eastern Berwick, and
South-Eastern were about ss. lower, East Anglian,
Great Northern, North British, and Scottish
North-Eastern were about 55., and Brighton 11.
to 11. 55., Grand Trunk of Canada advanced
about ss. Joint-Stock Bank and Miscellaneous
Shares are very dull at previous rates.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES.
(From the Official List.)
finsinexe done.
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities
New 3 per Cent. AIIIItIitICR
Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1880 2 15-16
India Ronda, £lOOO ......... •
Ditto, under £lOOO
Consols for Account .. .
Bzchequer Bills, 24d.
£lOOO . par 3 p
2500 4 p
Small
Ditto Bonds, 1858, 3 • Cent, 981.

inds, 1000, 34 per —
Ditto, 1859 -
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY•
Chiliaa Bonds, 6 per Cent. lo3}
Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1841
Ditto 1853, 3 per Cent 4si
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent —
Dittos New Deferred, 3 per Cent.
Ditto Account
Spanish Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 6i i i p. 0.
Turkish Bonds, 6 par cent 9ss
Ditto Account
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent.
Ditto Account
Dividends on the above ,evahle In London.
Belgian, 21 per Cent., ex. 25 francs —
Ditto 4i per Cent.. ex. 25 francs
Dutch Exchange, 2t1., per Cenh., 12 Guilders 66
'TWO O'CLOC E.
Consols (Money)
Ditto Account (January S)
93 91