The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-18 00:00:00

MO Rl' ItIARIa lT —LND CITY NEWS.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.

The improving tendenc3 r of trade is confirmed by
the weekly returns of rail way traffic. During the
last few months a steady i increase has been appa-
rent, but the movement appears to be attaining
greater development, owirt g to the expansion of
business in the manufacture mg districts. The par-
tial recovery which is take dig place in distant mar-
kets has also increased the import and export opera-
tions of the United Kinge"om. The prospects of rail-
way shareholders are 'consequently improved, and
there is now every reason to believe that the ne-
gotiations which have been. entered into between
the rival companies for the cessation of hostilities
will terminate favoural Indeed, some satisfac-
tory arrangement is al ready concluded, which will
have the effect of benef•dng railway property to a
Considerable extent. DI .e Share Market, therefore,
Presents a firmer appearance, and it has been
noticed recently that the public have been making
steady investments in so: me of the principal under-
takings.

The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday exhibited
increased firmness, and. prices tended upwards.
The sales amounted to 10, 000 bales. On the Stock
Ecchange a very moderate business was transacted
in Railway Shares, and quotations were unaltered.
There is not tie least change to report in the po-
sition of the Money Marl Let. It is still abundantly
supplied, with a comparatively limited demand.
The commercial requirements of the country are
easily satisfied, without pr educing much effect upon
the accumulated resources of the bankers and
others. Some of the hef Lvier payments connected
with loan and other projects lately negotiated have
now been paid, which hris relieved the market, and
lessened the general inquiry. First-class bills are
negotiated at 21 21- peg• cent., and at the Bank of
England few applica dons for accommodation are
consequently received:, as the minimum is still
maintained at 3 per cont.

Increased firmness is apparent in the market for
Public Securities, owin3• to a few purchases based
upon the more favourable appearance of monetary
affairs. The demand for discount and the exporta-
tion of gold movements, which caused the recent
depression, have diminislhed, and it is only natural
that an improving tenth ncy should now become
apparent. Consols have been 98k 1 for money,
and 9S for account ; the New Threes have been
dealt in at 961 97, and the Reduced Annuities at
96 y ; the New 31 per Cents. are marked 1061 ;
the March Exchequer Bills, are 335. to 355. prem. ;
June ditto, 28s. to 31s. prem.; and ditto Bonds,
1001. ; India Loa' Debentures 99: for the Ist issue,
and 991 for the 2d. ditto.

A fair amount .of business is recorded in the
Foreign Stock Market, and prices are firm.
Turkish 6 per Cents. are 921 93 ; ditto 4 per Cents.,
1051-; ditto Scrip, Ist issue, 1 r par; ditto, 2d
-"sue, 1 4 prem., being rather higher. Peruvian
41 per Cents. are 92 1, ; Russian 41 per Cents.,
103 k 104 ; Sardinian 5 per Cents., 944 95 ; Brazi-
lian 5 per Cents., 103 ; Buenos Ayres, 85 86 ;
tquador, 154 4 ; Mexican, 201 ; Dutch 21 per
Cents., 061 ; and ditto 4 per Cents., 1011.
The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as under

. 1858.
Great Western
North-Western
South-Western
13r.ighton
Midland
33,853
South-Eastern
17,840
Great Western

1857.
26,910
56,582
12,540
13,862
31,819
16,510
21,453

Lancashire and Yorkshire
Bristol and Exeter
East Lancashire 6,057 5,422
Lancaster and Carlisle
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln
North-Eastern
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton 4,328 4,335
Shrewsbury and Chester 2.708 2,765
West Hartlepool 3,037 3,007
Edinburgh and Glasgow
Glasgow and South-Western
Scottish North-Eastern
Northern of France
Lombardo-Venetian
The transactions in the railway share market
have been of a rather limited character, but the
few dealings recorded show an improvement in
prices, the favourable character of the traffic returns
having exercised a beneficial influence. Eastern
Counties, Great Western, and Midland improved
ss. ; Caledonian, North-Western, North British,
and South-Eastern, 10s. ; and Great Northern, £l.
In the foreign and colonial markets the dealings
have been extremely limited. Paris and London,
Sambre and Meuse, and Pernambuco have realised
about previous rates ; East Indian have improved ss.

Joint-stock bank and miscellaneous shares show
little activity, and prices are steady. London and
Westminster have receded about 55., and Oriental
"lank improved 55.; Peninsular and Oriental Steam
declined 10s., and Royal Mail Steam, 15s.

BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Bank Stock
3 Per Cent. Reduced Annuities 961 / i
a
Nov
Cent. Consols Annuities
:3 per Cent. Annuities
Iv 31 per Cent. Annuities lo6k
Long Annuities, expire sth Jan., 1860 1 3-16
India Stock
Ditto Debentures 991
_ iDitto 2d Issue
1),:tto Bonds, £l,OOO
Ditto under £l,000
uonsols for Account 9Bl
:Itctlio March June.
°quer Bills, £l,OOO, 2d. &1 d... 35 i 31
Ditto £5OO
1). Small lid.
33 f 28 31
Exchequer Bonds, 1859, 31 per Cent .... 1001

FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
B • •
, •
rfYaban 5 per Cent.
, Ditto 1858, 41 per Cent 976i5 i
16 limos Ayres, 6 per Cent
nt ..•. 8
Ditto Account
Ditto Deferred
Ciilian,
6 per Cent lO5
ri
'411,41, 1825, 3 per Cent.
Ditto 5 - - Cent. ....

per
t qUador New Consolidated
Mexican 3 per Cent
Peruvian, 41 per Cent.
Ditto Account
Ditto (Uribarren), 41 per Cent.
Ditto 3 per Cent. —
Ditto Account
Russian, 1822, £ St., 5 per Cent —
Ditto 41 per Cent.
Sardinian, 5 per Cent. 941 5
Ditto Account
Spanish 3 per Cent —
Ditto Account
Swedish, 4 per Cent.
Turkish, 6 per Cent.
Ditto New Loan Scrip
Ditto Account
Ditto 2d Issue
Ditto Account
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent.
EDividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 12 Guil. 21 per Cent 664
Ditto Certificates, 4 per Cent.
Peruvian Dollar Bonds, 41 per Ct. Ex. 4s B2l 3} 4 3/

THREE O'CLOCK
Consols, Money
Ditto Account 9Bk

" THE SHREWSBURY CASE."—The Commissioners
Bent out to take evidence in this case have returned to Eng-
land. The whole of the evidence has been taken, and the
trial is expected to Como on at the next March assizes.
ST. MARTIN'S HALL.—The musical season Was
inaugurated hero last night, with Mendelssohn's " St.
Paul," and two new vocalists, Mille. Behrens and Mr.
Arthurson. The lady is a decided acquisition to our sacred
concerts. She possesses a contralto voice of great richness,
where a contralto voice ought to be rich, in the lower
Parts, and of great power. She knows perfectly how to
manage it, and has evidently been 4v_ell and . carefully
trained. She had not much opport>autt„. of distinguishing
herself, as but little music is given tote contralto in the
oratorio, She has a very graceful and pleasing figure, and
with so many advantages, has a most promising career be-
fore her. The tenor, Mr. Arthurson, has a good and
agreeable voice, which he knows how to manage, and sings
with force and expression. The other parts were taken by
Mdlle. de Villar and Mr. Santley. The latter sang the
`-'1" "As saith the Prophet," with so much..spirit and
.
as to call for special commendation. Mdlle. de Villar
likewise acquitted herself well, obtaining much applause in
her
air, " 0 rest in the Lord." The choruses were good,
(ten too loud, but gave the chorales very correctly; and as
+
"'ego are the most- interesting features of the oratorio,
Much of the pleasure of the evening depended upon them.
the band was "as usual, admirable. Mr. Hullah was re-
ceived with loud and general applause on entering the
Orchestra, and performed his duty as conductor with his
accustomed zeal. The hall was crowded, and the audience
Were evidently delighted with the oratorio.
REPEAL OF TIIE PAPER DITTY.—A meeting of
master printers was held this day, at Peel's Coffee-house,
Fleet-street, for the purpose of taking steps to further the
4,Tvereent now making for the remission of the paper duty.
in favour
chair was occupied by Mr. Cassel, who spoke strongly
`aveur of its repeal. Mr. Besley moved a resolution,
Which stated that as the paper duty was a tax upon
raw material it ought to be abolished. Mr. Nieolls
the tax
the motion, and contended that the repeal of
That would benefit the few at the expense of the million.
. '1 the obj:q of the meeting was a question not of na-
tional benefit, but purely one of self-interest ; and that it
INvv*as an effort of a few to aggrandise those who were already
ealthy. He looked upon the attempt to procure the re-
'.4 of tie paper duty as the greatest delusion that had ex-
Led since the South Sea bubble. The resolution was
str riel, and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated
Prcceedings.