The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-22 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.
The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed
firmly, and prices were well supported. The sales
amounted to 20,000 bale, 4,500 of which were
taken by the speculators, and 2,500 by the expor-
ters. Railway Shares were steady, and quotations
Were without alteration.

Discussions are again taking place with regard to
the probability of a reduction in the rate of dis-
count. Money seems more plentiful than before,
the demand for it does not permanently increase,
and the influx of specie continues on a large
scale. A. further accumulation of the Bank
resources will, it is imagined, lead to a modi-
fication of the existing regulations at the
Bank. Whatever course may be pursued, it seems
Pretty certain that no great outlet will yet be made
for the employment of such an amount of the
accumulated means now lying idle, as will occasion
an advance in the terms. The public are averse to
new speculations, and only invest to a small extent
in the old established concerns ; if this reserve
continues, no sensible alteration in the state of the
market can be expected until a revival in trade
takes place.

It is generally expected that the gold announced
Yesterday from Australia will be taken into the
Bank of England.
At the meeting of the creditors of Messrs. Mait-
land, Ewing, and Co., a balance-sheet was presented
Which showed the liabilities to be 164,3991. 55.,
and the assets 193,0491. 17% 2d. It is consequently
expected that 20s. in the pound will be paid.
The following telegraphic message from M. A.
Poppe, the resident director of the Namur and
Liege Railway, has been posted in the Stock Ex-
change :—" Brussels, Wednesday, 21st April.—
The Bill approving the purchase of the Mons and
Swanage Railway has passed the House of Repre-
sentatives."

This day the half-yearly meeting of the West
Flanders Railway Company took place, Mr.
Richards in the chair. The report was satisfactory,
as showing an increase of traffic, and beyond that
ax augmentation of dividend. In the last half-year
the receipts on all the lines amounted to 21,062/. N.,
and the total expenditure to 13,941/. 17s. Gd.,
leaving a balance of 7,1201. lls. Gd. The sum
available for dividend was 5,0621. 12s. 3d., being
equal to the payment of a dividend of 3s. 9d. per
share. After a short discussion the report was
adopted.

Increased buoyancy has been apparent in the
Euglish Stock Market to-day, owing to further
purchases on speculative account. Several bona
Me investments have also been made—including one
to the extent of 10,0001. Reduced by the Govern-
ruent brokers—which have caused additional firm-
ness. The favourable progress of monetary and po-
litical affairs is producing a satisfactory influence,
but business is still very limited. Consols are
Marked 961 I for money, as well as account. They
are now 961 and 961 97 respectively. The New
3 per Cents. are 95i /, and also the Reduced
India Loan scrip continues steady at 991 100. The
March Exchequer Bills are 345. to .375. premium,
the June ditto 335. to 365. premium, and India
Bonds 21s. premium.
A moderate amount of business has been trans-
acted in the Foreign Stock Market, and quotations
are rather higher. Turkish 6 per Cents. are
971 98 ex. div. ; and ditto 4 per Cents., 1041.
Buenos Ayres 6 per cents. are 80 ; Chilian 6 per
Cents., 103 ; Danish 5 per Cents., 102/ ; Equador,
14i 1 ; Mexican 3 per Cents., 201 ; Russian 41 per
Cents , 1011 101 ; Peruvian Dollar Bonds, 57-i; ;
and Dutch 21 per Cents., 66.
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 51 6 ; Mexi-
can 3 per Cents., 191 20 ; Peruvian 4i per
AC:rits., 81 83 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents., 45
'*n ; Russian 5 per Cents., 109 111 ; Ditto 41 per
Cents., 99 101; Spanish 3 per Cents., 431 441
said Ditto Deferred, 26 k.
The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as under

Itatth:iieeittetezlBsB. 1857.
£28,352 £28,943
53,344 59,281
Routh-
11,,,frighton ril
14,180 15,008
''''' idland ************* ' ******************** 27,520 29,853
South-Eastern *************************** 17,143 18,287
„Great Northern - 21,035 22,681
21,180 22,796
ta eashire and Yorkshire
5,771 5,784
Bristolichesterand Exeter
5,613 5,525
and Holyhead
maancaster, and Carlisle
Nnchester Sheffield, & Lincoln 8,877 9,456
orth-Eastern
London
sitfothdrs, Wevoorcester, and Wolver
04,054 3,928
523 2 666
tlinburgh, Perth, and Dundee
r-urnburgb and Glasgow
Olaßgow and Sou' h-Western
Grand Trunk of Canada
A very limited business has been transacted in
Railway shares to-day, but in several instances
there is an improvement of about 1 to 1 per cent'
in prices. South-Western and North-Eastern
(Berwick) advanced ss. ; Great Western and Mid-
lands, 10s. ; Caledonian, 15s. ; and Eastern Coun-
ties and Lancashire and Yorkshire, 1/. In the
Foreign and Colonial lines there is little variation
to report. East Indian have declined about 55.,
and Sambre and Meuse, 10s.
Mining Shares have been dull. Devon Great
Consols were dealt in at 460 to 4624 ; North Wheal
Bassett, 104 11 ; and Wheal Mary Ann, 43.
Joint-Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares are
at slightly improved rates. London Joint Stock
ITl.ve advanced ss. ; Oriental Bank, 10s. ; and
'llion of Australia, ss. Electric Telegraph re-
taained steady at 104.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CI OCIC.
(From the Officua Lise:l
Ila 11l Stock 221 22
95i i A i
I, 7 ,
. cenQat. Keduced Al:Malt:Mb
T:).W t CcusolE Aunnites 96i 1.8 i i
I _ 3 Per Cent. Annuities 956 i 6 i
—"ng
India Annuities (Exp sth Jan., 1860) IB 11-16
Loan Debenture's 99i
• e -Ditto Scrip
!!„.1 is Bond X 1000•.•..
uo_ sole ter Account . - i 7 6i
Bt.:ha:pier Bills, 20; •March. June.
/41000
Ditto Advertised 37 4 8 136 3 p
1 37 P
Exchequer Bonds, 11458, 34 per Cent....
Ditto, 1359

PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS—THIS DAY.
• tranuan 5 per Cent.
Ditto 1852, 44 per Cent.
Buenos A yres Bonds, 6 per Cent. --
Ditto Account BO
OUilian Bonds, 6 per Cent lO3
Danish Bonds, 3 pet Cent., 1825 Bl
Ditto 5 per Cent 1024
Elliador New Consolidated l4i i
Mexican 3 per Cent
Portuguese Bonds, 3 per Cent., 1853 —
Ditto Account 4si
Russian Bonds, 1622, L St., 5 per Cent —
Ditto, 41 por Cent. lOO4 1 2
Sardinian Bond's, 5 per Cent.
apinish lloßds, 3 per Cent.
Ditto Account 44k
Turkish Bonds, 6 per cent 97.;
Ditto Account, •
Ditto Guaranteed.. per Cont.
Venezuela. Bonds, 41 per Cent .. 35
Dividends on the above payable in London.
. Belgian 24 per Cent., ex. 25 franca
Ditto 4. per Cent.
. Dutch Exchange, 24 per Cent., 12 Guilders 66
Do. 4 per rent. Certificates .... ........ 99
Peruvian Dollar Bonds, 44 per Cent.
A 12ABB 00E00E.
Console, money
Consols account (May 6) ' ........ 7.... ...... W 4 7

FIRE IN CANNON-STREIT, ClTY.—Last evening,
about seven o'clock, a fire broke out in the premises
cc-
copied conjointly by the Anglo-Australian and Univer-
sal Family Assurance Company and the United
"1-.Mg,dom Benevolent Life Annuity Fund Society,
Situate at No. 6 Cannon-street-west. The discovery
Was made by one' ef the inmates Ferceving a strong
smell of wood burning. Upon entering the board room
of the latter society, it was found to be on fire, which was
not got under until everything in the room was seriously
damaged and a quantity
of books and papers destroyed,
Which had been packed in the place under an iron safe.
"One of the principal books were destroyed. They were
deposited in an iron reliance safe, made by Mr. J. Tann,
of Walbrook ; and although the stip on which it rested
Was burnt so as to allow it to topple over and the iron
become red with heat, every book was found to be per-.
uninjured. The origin of the fire is unknown.
'o:_premises and contents were insured.
~eINORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM DISTRICT BANK.--
4.`l..wwcastle-on-Tyne, April 21.—The order made CO LIS '
°nil' by the Lord Justices to wind up this bank has
?_vFoi the greatest satisfaction to the large body of credi-
b4r throughout the district.