The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-05 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.

The markets for Foreign and Colonial Produce
opened this morning after being closed for the
Christmas holidays. During the recess the private
transactions have been numerous in almost all the
principal staples, and rather higher rates have been
realised for sugar, coffee, tea, rice, and tallow.
Spices have been firm, as also rice awl fruit. The
quantity of sugar announced for public sale during
the week is rather large, awl full rates are ex
pected to be realised. In the refined market the
quantity of dried goods on offer is scanty, and the
market is extremely firm ; prices b.,ing supported
with an active demand for both exportation and
home consumption. The sales of coffee announced
are not very large, but prices continue steady.
Rice has been inquired for, and for tallow there is
a good demand at improved quotations. P.Y.C.
on the spot, 545. ; January to March, 535. 9d. ;
and March delivery, 545. 6d. per cwt. The next
quarterly sales of indigo are fixed to commence on
the 9th February next.
Letters from Liverpool mention that the Cotton
Market yesterday manifested an active appearance,
and prices of almost all descriptions advanced fully
id. per lb. The sales amounted to 15,000 bales,
3,000 of which were taken by tie speculators. The
Railway Share Market closed firmly, and the quo-
tations of all the leading stocks were at a slight
improvement.

There is a quieter demand for money to-day,
and terms continue at 1 per cent. below the
Bank of England minimum. This circumstance,
together with the accumulating resources of
the administration, will no doubt ensure a
reduction of 2 per cent. on Thursday next.
The Bullion has considerably increased, and
the notes in reserve are also presumed to have
augmented. With respect to the other securities
also a marked improvement has no doubt been oc-
casioned through the limited inquiry for discbunt,
and the repayment of bills yesterday, the 4th of the
month. These engagements were met with prompti-
tude and with less difficulty than was generally
anticipated. One failure was reported, but the
liabilities are not large, viz., from 40,0001. to
45,0001. The firmlin question was Messrs. R. H.
Whitfield and Co., in the West India trade, wbo
attribute their misfortune to the fall in the value of
produce.

Another parcel of about 232,0001. in gold was
taken into the Bank of England yesterday,
The Day Spring has arrived from China with
388,2001b5. of tea.

Silver remains quiet, as uuial immediAtely alter
the departure of the bi-monthly steamer.
The Stock Marke's are all very buoyant, a id an
extensive business is being done. The Funds have
advanced to g per cent., owing to increased pur-
chases based upon the favourable monetary pro-
spects. A small failure has been declared, but this
has rather given support to the market than other-
wise. Consols have been 911 4j and 941 I. For
February they are 95 to 951 ; the New Three per
Cents. are 95 to 951, and the Reduced 95k. Ex-
chequer Bills have risen to ss. and 10s. premium,
and the Bonds at 99f. Bank Stuck is 219 to 220.
A general improvement has taken place in the
Foreign Stock Market, although the ransactions
have not been numerous. Turkish 6 per Cents.
are 99 to 100 ; Ditto, 4 per Cents. 1031 104 ;
Brazilian 5 per Cents., 1829-39, 100 ; Mexican 3
per Cents. ;24 21 ; Peruvian 4i per Cents., 79# 80i ;
Ditto, 3 per Cents. 55 k ; Russian 4i per Cents.
98i ; Sardinian 5 per Ce.its. 861 87, and Spanish
Deferred 26k.

An active business has been transacted in most
of the leading rail xay shares this morning, and the
advance in quotations may be quoted fully to 1 per
cent. Caledonian; E linburgh, Perth, and Dundee;
North-Western; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lin-
coln, improved 10s. Eastern Counties, Great Wes-
tern, Lancashire and Yorkshire, Brighton, Midland,
North British, and South Eastern, 11.; and North-
Eastern (Berwick), and Chester and Holyhead,
about 21. The foreign lines are in active request,
but prices are steady. Northern of France improved
155.; Paria and Lyons, ss. ; and Lombardo-Vene-
tian, ss.

In the Colonial undertakings prices are firm,
late rates being fully supported.
Mines, Banks, and Miscellaneous Shares were
dealt in to a limited extent. London Joint Stock
improved about ss. ; Australian Agricultural and
Canada Land Shares realised former values.

BRITISH FUNDS.--CLOSING PRICES—THIS DAY.
(From the Official List.)

Businers done.
auk Stock . 219 174 20
3 p. r 1., cn t . Reduced Nnuilities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities 95 4f 51 685
Loug Annuities, expire sth Jan. 1860 2
Ditto 30 Years, expire sth April, 1885 l7i
ladies Bonds, kanoo -
qitto, under ,ClOOO par 5 p
CoLsols for Recount
Exanequer Bills, 24d
10'..10 ........
e• 800
8 6 10 p
Snail ,
...
.... .
610 p
Exchequer Bond; 1858, :44 per Cent.... 9'J/
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS—THIS DAY.
Brat:nun 5 per Cent,
Ditto, 1829 and 1839, 5 per Cent .....
Chilian Bonds, 6 per Cent., lo2i
Mexican 3 per. Cent —
Ditto Account
Peruvian Bonds, 42 per Cent —
Ditto Account
Ditto 3 per Cent —
Ditto Account
Russian Bonds, in; E St., 5 per Cent —
Ditto, 44 per Cent. 984
Ditto Small
Sardinian Bowls, 5 per Cent.
Sp -mil doi.ds, .3 per 'lent.
Ditto Account
..•
Turkish .ponds, 6 per cent .
Ditto Account
99i
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent. . lO 9
4
Ditto Account
104 i
Dividends on.the above payable:in London.
`nit O'CLeCli
Console account, Jan. 8 Mi i .d

The failure was announced yesterday afternoon of
Messrs. Richard H. Whitfield and Ce., %Vest India and
general commission merchants. Their liabilities are
stated at about 45,0001., and the assets are principally
in Antigua and Demerara.
RAILWAY WORKS ON THE CONTINENT —The works on
the railway from the Maine to the Rhine (Mentz-
Darmstadt-Asobaftenbourg) are going on very rapidly.
The section from the point of the Maine to Grossgerau
has been gone over by trains with materials, and if the
weather continues fine the Darmstadt aectton will be
open to circulation in April, and the whole line as
far as Asohaffenbourg in November next.
PORTUGAL.—The Douro steamer has arrived at Liver.
pool with Lisbon dates of the 26th Dec. She brings a
clean bill of health, the port having been declared free
from fever on the 24th. Our Liston correspondent states
that no cases of fever had been reported after the 22,1,
and that the total of the official reports during 105
days, commencing on the 9th Sept., had amounted
to 13,482 cases of fever and 4,759 deaths. The weather
at Lisbon had been clear, cold, and bracing, with only
one day's raiu during the whole month of December.
The inhabitants were returning to their town residences,
and business showed signs of renewed vitality, which
led the merchants to anticipate a brisker trade than
usual in the month of January.
RAILWAT REVENUE EMI 1857.---By Mr. Hackett's
tables it appears that the revenue of the railways of the
United Kingdom, in 1857, was no less than 24 000,000/
The capital of these lines is about 300,000,0001. The
railway profits for last year must have been about
13,000,0001., or about 4 per cent, of the total capral ;
but from a considerable portion of the 300,000,0001
capital being in loans and preference shares, at a rate of
interest averaging more than the per tentage of profits,
the average dividend is about 31 per cent. per annum.—
Herapatit.
THE LUNDHILL COLLIERY.—The damage caused by
the terrible explosion at the Lundhill Celliery on the
19th of July last, by which 189 lives were lost, has now
been thoroughly repaired. A great improvement has
been made in the workings by the introduction of a
dumb-drift, which has been executed under the
superintendence of Mr. Beaumont. The effects of this
will be to carry the foul air away without it having to
pass over the cupola furnace, as previou'ly. The pro-
prietors having repaired all the damage, have now aeaie
fairly commenced operations.—Leeds Mercury.
The following gold ships are on their way from Aus-
tralia, having lett since the departure of the Octob,r mail
—viz., the Marco Polo, on the 24th of October, with
73,704 ounces out (72 days) ; the Northumberland, on
the 28th, with 46,881 (out 68 days), and the O.iver
Laing and Austral, on the 15th of November, with
47,442 and 8,300 ounces respectively (out 50 days),
making a total of 176,336 ounces, valued at 705,344/
Toss is exclusive of the 195,0001. by the mail which
may be expected in London next week.
Wire rigging is to be generally brought into use for
all her Majesty's ships, to be used for lower rigging, bob-
ataYs, and bowsprit shrouds for all ships.