The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-21 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.

The Liverpool Cotton Market 'on Saturday
olosed very firmly, with a good supply, at Friday's
fell rates. The sales amounted to 10,000 bales,
comprising 7,500 remain and Maranham, Sid. to
; 100 Bahia, sid. to 6d. ; 200 Egyptian, *.
to 6W. ; and 2,000 Surat (1,000 on speculation),
3W. to 41. per lb. There was not much excite-
ment in tho Railway Share Market, but prices
were steady.
The attention of the Belgian Government is be-
coming seriously directed to the agricultural pur-
suits of the country for the ensuing season, in con-
sequence of the statistical returns for the past year
showing a deficiency in the grain crops. From
the remarkable fertility of the soil, and the
admirable system of cultivation in the Flem-
ish Provinces, it has been supposed that
Belgium is a grain exporting country. This
is erroneous ; for during the last ten years it
has been importing grain for home consumption.
Last year the imports were far above the average
on account of the yield being less than it was in
previous years. Instead of the normal average
produce of 1850-52 which was 12,964,917 hecto-
litres of wheat, rye, buckwheat, Lc., there was not
more than 10,882,990 hects. showing a deficit of
2,081,927 hects. or 16 per cent. This was accounted
&rim the greater abundance of other cereals produced.
Potatoes, which form an important item in the
food of the people, has increased from an average
et 13 million hectolitres in 1850-52 to 23,552,170
hectolitres in 1855. Belgium being densely popu-
lated, a season of scarcity in the grain crops, such
as the last, is felt very severely, and should disease
attack the potato crops the effects would be most
serious. The Government, being apprehensive of
the latter, are endeavouring to turn the attention
of the farmers to cultivating a greater breadth of
land for grain next season.

From Madrid it is reported that the Parliamen-
tary Commission appointed by the Cortes to ex-
amine the project of certain Spanish capitalists to
form a National Bank of Credit, on the basis of
the French Credit Mobilier, has received their fa-
vourable consideration, and it will be recom-
mended for the approval of the Cortes.
At the meeting of the Union Bank of Australia,
held to-day, a favourable report was presented,
and a dividend of 131 per cent. for the half-year
Wag agreed to.
A decline of about per cent, has occurred in
the Funds, and the market presents a quieter ap-
pearance, as might have been expected after the
excitement of last week. Consols opened at 89
I, but they have since rallied to 90 and 90/- for
the aczount ; while the money prices have ranged
from 89i to 89T. A large business has been
done is the New 3 per Celts. at 90;
to poi, and the Reduced have been 892 to 90k.
-Exchequer Bills are ss. to Is. die. Bank Stock
is firm at 210. The New 24 per Cents. are 75.
The Foreign Market is firmly supported, but the
transactions are of a more limited character.
Turkish 6 per Cents. were at one time 8n- to 87i,
but they have since risen to 88g to 881. The New
Scrip is steady, at Ito discount. Russian Small
Bonds are 90 to 91. Sardinian 5 per Cents, are
861, and Brazilian 5 per Cents. 100. Portuguese
A per Cents. have risen 1 per cent., namely, to
48. Grenada Deferred are 61, Mexican 20,
and Peruvian Active 76. Dutch Beads are nomi-
Vial. Spanish Deferred are 222, the Passive 61, and
the Certificates

The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks:—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 61 7; Mexican,
19i 20i ; Peruvian, 76 78 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 53
65 ; Portuguese 4 per Cents., 46 48 ; Russian 5 per
Cents., 99 101; ditto 4 per Cents., 88 90 ; Spanish
3 per Cents., 39:1404; ditto Deferred, 22i 23; ditto
Certificates, 4i 5 ; ditto Passive, 611 7.
Railway Shares have generally an improved
tendency, and in several cases a rise of 10s. has
been established. The dealings are principally in
Great Western, North Western, Midland, and
North-Eastern, Berwick.

The Foreign and Colonial Lines are without
much ♦ariation in the absence of any large opera-
tion.

Mining Shares are quiet, but Joint Stock Ban ks
are firm. Panada Land are 2/. lower, and Royal
Mail Steam ruled rather flatter.

111EUTISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE 0 CLOCK.
(From the Official List.)
Elnitnes, done.

....,... ---.
tank Stock 2lo—.
3 per Cent. Rodsced Annuities,,,.. ... 90k 89i 90k 89i 90k
8 per Cent Consols Annuities . ..
11" 3 per Cent. Annuities
I'leu, 2A per Cent. Annuities 75
Long Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860 —
~. Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, 1885 l6s
con•tols for Account
Erchequor Bills, 2id.
21000
Ditto Bonds, 1858, 3. per Cenb
~ 97 i
!RICIE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLO K.
l'azilian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
rlrenada New tive, 1 per Cent.
Ditto Deferred
Illexicat, 3 per Cent.
Ditto Account
Peruvian Bonds, 4i per Cent.
Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1841
Ditto 4 per Cent 4B
Russian Bonds, 5 per Cent., 1822, £ St —
Ditto Small
gardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.
BPanisb Bowls, 3 per Cent —
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent.
Ditto Account ....
_ Ditto Passive
kipaniah Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun 4i
Turkir.h Bonds, 6 per cent —
Ditto for the Account BB 7! 8; 1 i
Ditto Small
Ditto Now Scrip, 4 per Cent.
Ditto Aceount
Dividends on the abovo payable in Loam.
TWO O'CLOCK.

C Insola ...
Ditto (February) B9

20
5
20
18

THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.—Lord Palmerston
has issued the usual circular to members of the House
of Commons understood to be favourable to his govern-
mental policy.
The Right Hon. Spencer Horatio Walpole has ac-
cepted the office of Archbishop's Church Estates Com-
missioner, vacated by the lamented decease of the Right
Ron. Henry Goulburn. The income attached to the
°Moe is 1,0001. a year.
The Green Riband of the Order of the Thistle, vacant
by the death of the Marquis of Ailesbury, has been
offered to the Duke of Argyll.
Letters front the Havanna, received in Paris, report
that the health of Mdlle. Rachel was considerably im-
proved.
THE SEA OF AzoFF.—Russian official accounts re-
present the Sea of Azoff as being frozen for a considera-
ble distance from the shore on the 26th ult.
Ismail Pacha (General Kmety) arrived at Constan•
tinople on the 3d and was there on the 7th instant.
The specie arrivals of the week have amounted to
about 410,0001., the whole of which has been sent away.
SOUTHAMPTON, Jan. 19.—The American ship City of
Mobile, Captain Robert Marshall, arrived at Cowes yes-
day, in 20 days from New York. The City of Mobile
is a ship of immense size, registering 1,760 tons, and
has the following cargo, via. :-74,155 bushels of wheat,
2,350 !barrels of flour, and 6,000 staves. This cargo is
destined either for avre or London, and is very nearly
the largest quantity of grain and breadstuffs ever
Chipped in one vessel from New York.
The decision of the court-martial which assembled at
the Royal Marine-quarters, Woolwich, on the 31st ult.,
for the trial of William Bates, a private of that corps,
who was then sentenced to be transported for the term
of 14 years, on the charge of desertion, has been con-
firmed by the Admiralty.
The 24th company of Royal Sappers and Miners at
Chatham are under orders for the Baltic. Serjeant John
Clark was promoted on Saturday as Colour-Serjeant of
the company.
Oa Saturday an order arrived from the Horse Guards
to the Commandant of the Battalion, Colonel Henry
Jervis, for those men who volunteered from the provi-
sional battalions into regiment now in the Crimea to hold
themselves in readiness to proceed to join the depots of
those corps now in different parts of England and Ire-
land. The men, 139 in number, assembled on parade
at Chatham barracks in the evening, and received half
their bounty-money, 10s., the other half to be paid them
on joining their depots. They expect to leave Chatham
tomorrow.

The Queen, who has manifested such sympathy for the
sick and wounded by presents of various kinds, has again
sought to lighten the monotony of hospital routine, by
Sending several copies of appropriate songs for the amuse-
ment of the inmates of the General Hospital, Fort Pitt.
We understand that in addition to the augmentation
to each battalion of the Royal Artillery, announced some
Weeks since, two additional battalions are to be added
o that corps on the let of April next.
The corps of the Royal Sappers and Miners now sta-
tioned at Brompton barracks is 1,400 strong,
and every
?reparation is being made for their instruction in field
works and pontooning.