The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-22 00:00:00

HI I D Ii -D TI ON

SUN OFFICE, Six o' Clock.

ITALY.

NAPLES, DEC. 18.

Mr. Fenton, a paid attaché of the British Lega-
tion at Florence, has been in Naples to make some
inquiries into a case of complaint made by the
Neapolitan Government. It appears that the
British Vice-Consul at Brindisi, Signor Demetric
Nieazza, an lonian subject, had been charged with
screening
Neapolitan subjects pursued by the
Police. The complaint was made directly to the
116 me Government, but as the Vice-Consul of
131indisi is under the jurisdiction of the British
Consul at Naples, Mr. Fenton was sent here to
make some inquiries. Certain papers, or extracts
of Papers, were given to Mr. Fenton, but before
leaving I understand that he saw Signor Carafa
more than ohce, and explained to him that the
British Government were not of opinion that the
charge was justified.

NONEY MARKET AND CITY NEWS.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.
Notwithstanding the contraction of business
usual at this season- of the year, the increased de-
Mand for money is fairly sustained in Lombard-
street as well as at the Bank of England. Active
Preparations are being made for liquidating annual
accounts and other engagements, which will fully
'Plain the augmented supply of mercantile
bills now brought into the market for negotia-
tion. There is still an abundance of capital,
and moderate rates are consequently charged for
oit,eount facilities. Occasional fluctuations of kor
4 Per cent., must, of course, be anticipated, but no
indications of a permanent change in the condition
°f monetary- affairs are yet exhibited. An altera-
tion may be accelerated, however, by the intro-
duction of new loans and other adventures,
al the encouragement of such projects would
necessarily .lead to an extensive efflux of
specie. A hope is expressed that the public will
Withhold their support to foreign speculations,
especially as there are so many eligible invest-
ments, home and colonial, which, at their present
Prices, should first attract their attention.

About £25,000 in gold was received at the Bank
of England yesterday.
A meeting of the creditors of Messrs. Hicks and
Q,(18011, who lately failed, is called for Friday the
24th, when a statement of the liabilities and assets
ufthe firm will be submitted.
The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday pre-
'Jetted a steady appearance, and prices of all de-
kliptions 'were unaltered. The sales were esti-
mated at 6,000 bales. The Railway Share Market
Closed heavily, and quotations tended downwards.
nThe Alhambra from Gibraltar has brought
4,000 in specie.
A meeting of a portion of the shareholders of the
European and American Steam Navigation Com-
pany is now taking place at the London Tavern, to
tIiSCUSS what course they ought to adopt at the
general meeting to-morrow, when the propriety of
coining to " a resolution to wind up the company
voluntarily, will be taken into consideration.
Continued inactivity is experienced at the Stock
The daily transactions, both on specu-
lative account and for investment, are of the most
lUtited description, showing a disinclination on the
Part of the public to employ their means in the
Purchase of stocks and shares. It is rather surpri-
IS, under these circumstances, that the quotations
should be so well maintained. The Funds are
about k per cent. higher than at the close of bu.si-
lieBB yesterday afternoon, but there is no
animation, and a few sales would doubtless be
'uteient to cause renewed depression. Con-
sols have been 96-1- 7,-, and they are now 961.
firm*he New Threes and the Reduced Annuities are
at 971 I. Bank Stock is fiat at 224.1 ; and
India Loan Debentures at 99:1 1. The March Ex-
epequer 13i11s are marked -395. prem.; and June
uitto, 365. to 395. prem.
The Government broker continues to make daily
investments of £lO,OOO or £15,000 in Reduced An-
nuities. These operations however, have ceased to
excite any interest, but in the event of their be-
ing brought suddenly to a termination some de-
pression would probably ensue.
At the meeting of the New Grenada Bond-
holders on Friday, terms will be. proposed for the
settlement of their claims, viz., 1 per cent, per
annum on the Active Bonds from 1859 to 1862, 11
tt: cent. from 1862 to 1866, 2 per cent, from 1866
to 1869, 21 per cent, from 1869 to 1871, 21 per
cent. from 1871 to 1873, and 3 per. eent..from 1873
to 1875,

Voreign Securities exhibit rather more animation,
tut quotations, in some instances, appear heavy.
.1111iish 6 per Cents. are 921 93 ; ditto Scrip, Ist
I,BBlle, to 1 dis. ; ditto, second issue, ,1 to dis.
‘'hilian Loan has been dealt in at 1 t• g prem.;
Aand Mexican at 201 ; Portuguese have receded to
'8; Brazilian 41 per Cents. (1858) are flat, viz.,
41- 95 ; Buenos Ayres Deferred are steady at 181;
Danish 5 per Cents. at 1041 ; Equador at 161; and
Grenada Deferred at 6. Venezuelan 5 per Cents.
are firm at 441 ; and Dutch 4 per Cents. at 1011.
In the Railway Share Market this morning the
dealings have been of a limited character. Several
°f the principal lines, however, show a slight im-
tovement. Chester and Holyhead, Great Western,
4itighton, Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, and
South Eastern, have advanced ss. ; and North-
"astern
(Berwick), 10s. Eastern Counties, and
great Northern have declined 10s. The transac-
tions in the Foreign and Colonial Mar-
-1,:t8 have exhibited little variation in prices.
Northern of France have declined 55., and, East
Indian improved ss. ; Grand Trunk and Great
" estern of Canada remained at about former rates.
wj°int-Stock Bank Shares are flat. London and
estminster declined ss. ; Oriental Bank, ss.
In the Miscellaneous Share Market, Australian
Agricultural
improved 55., and Peninsular and
dental Steam, 10s.

3BRIkTISH FUNDS—CLOSING
2241
PRICES.
oklik Stoc
N 1 Cent. Reduced Annuities 97
w 3 per Cent. Annuities
11lia Stock
Vi,tt,qo Debentures 991 I
c o Bonds, £l,OOO
Iksols for Account 961 1 7
Marc h June.

2 1,
-:4,equer Bills, £l,OOO, 2d. 8:11,1
£5OO,
4440
FOREIGN
FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
razilian 5 per Cent.
ii Ditto 1858, 41 per Cent. 9l; 5
oellos Ayres, 6 per Cent. 51,
tykitto Deferred
utit, an,
b-uitto 4% per Cent. Scrip h 1 p
'p
4I1181), 1825, 3 per Cent.
Ditto 6 per Cent. lOll 31
tigilador New Consolidated
4111, ada New Active, 21 per Cent.
A'-'itto Deferred 6
°4ican 3 per Cent
Russian,
1853, 3 per Cent.
tutrsaistitaonA, 1822,cc0" £t St., 5 per Cent
1131
'Tian 5 per Cent. 9l 901
,Rhenish. 39per Cent 4B 71
921 1 /
. ‘blll2l47iitttillo°° NAA6ccecePewoorunun:ottluntScrip i d
-1 d
Ditto 241 Issue
vbitto Account
1111Pzilela, 5 per Cent.
—itto Account
.1:1 Dividends on the above payable in London.
111111 Exchange, 12 Guil. 2i per Cent... 67
140 Certificates, 4 per Cent.
THREE O'CLOCK.

. i d

Consols, Money
Ditto Account, Jan. 11 96/ 7 xd

P4;IIICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at
25.-C is about f dis., and-the short exchange on London is
per.£l sterling. On comparing these rates with the
clallglish Mint price of £3 17s. 101 d. per ounce for standard
in pates ppears that gold is nearly 1-10th per cent. dearer
than in London.—By advices from Hamburg the
Lf),,,-ea" gold is 424} per mark, and the short exchange on
is 13.51 per fosterling. Standard gold at the
tleat,llBll
Mint price is therefore nearly 2-10ths per cent.
eL:.r. in London than in Hamburg.—Tho course of ex-
-31:20 at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight
Itihrs to 109 i per cent. which, when. compared with the
Par between the two countries, shows that the ex-
at:lAl) is slightly against England. After making allow-
pr,„,e 'or charges of transport and difference of interest, the
Of —vrit rate leaves little or no profit on the importation
tol4 from the Vatted Staters.