The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-23 00:00:00

MONI4iY MARKET

AND

;ohiMEROIAL

TWILVE O'CLOCK.

There is nothing of importance to report in con-
nection with monetary and commercial affairs. The
demand for accommodation, as usual at the close of
the year, when preparations are made to meet en-
gagements falling due, have been rather more ani-
Inate,i, and the rates current are in most instances
equal to the Bank minimum of 2 per cent., although
in a few exceptional instances transactions have
taken place at per cent.
Tho New Ilonduras Loan has improved to
prem.

Atl tntic and Great Western Railway Deben-
tures have declined 1, to 211 221, and the Consoli-
dated Mortgage Bonds, 1 to 181 191.
The Persia has arrived from New York with specie
amounting to £121,600.

There has been a very limited attendance at the
cOrn market to-day, and quotations remain nomi-
nally unaltered for home grown and foreign wheat.
Very little animation has been apparent in the
progress of business in the manufacturing districts
during the past week. At Manchester a farther
decline has been established in the values of
cloths and yarns consequent upon a similar
movement in cotton at Liverpool. The woollen
trades of Leeds, Bradford, and Hudders-
field have remained very inactive, usually the
ease at this period of the year, when stock-
taking operations are in progress. In the hosiery
and lace departments of Leicester and Nottingham
operations in seasonable goods have been entered
into to a fair extent, while in the hardware districts
of Birmingham, Sheffield, and Wolverhampton dul-
ness unprecedented has been the principal feature
in almost all departments of business.
The subscription list of the new Portuguese Loan
closed on Saturday; the applications in London
and Amsterdam have been exceedingly large, and
in Lisbon, where £1,000,000 stock was required,
nearly £8,000,000 had been written for; besides
Which many Portuguese resident in England have
sent in applications, fully showing the confidence
and faith of the Portuguese in the operation and in
the stability of the Government. At the Stock Ex-
change the scrip has advanced premium.

The contractor of the Honduras Railway, Mr.
Peandlish, left England by the steamer of the 17th
lust. He is accompanied by Mr. Mercer and
Mr. Emerson, selected by and on behalf of Mr.
Brunlees, the well-known engineer. Mr. Mercer
Fill take charge of the exploration of the forest and
domains, and superintend the shipping of the maho-
gany to England. Mr. Emerson will take the ma-
nagement of the silver and other mines with which
the country abounds, and forward the ores to the
agents in London. No time seems to have been lost
to make the resources of the country available for
the bondholders of the new loan.

Tha payment of the annual instalment of prin-
cipal due on the debenture bonds of the Russian
(Vyksoundky) Ironworks Company (Limited) is
announced for the 31st inst. The operations of
the company are stated to be progressing in a satis-
factory _mann er. _ _

Notice has been given that the Belgian Public
Works Coupons, Limited, A Preference Shares,
No. 2, interest warrants at the rate of 8 per cent
Per annum, falling due Ist of January, 1868, wil
be duly paid on presentation at Messrs. Smith
Payne, and Smiths', bankers.

To-day a call of 100. per share becomes due on
the shares of the Chontales Gold and Silver Min-
ing Company, amounting in the aggregate to
£15,000.