The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

4101VEY MARICET AND C_ TTY NEWS.

CITY, Two o'CtocK.
In the Markets for Foreign and. Colonial Produce
Luring the last few days business laas been exceed-
ingly inactive, and prices have in several instances
sunvin a tendency to recede. T‘ m, however, has
been firmer, but the transactions have been
limited,, most parties waiting the arrival of
"ims by the overland mail previous to en-
tering into fresh operations. Sugar has been
exceedingly dull, only the finer qualities,
suitable to home consumption, fin ding a ready sale
at barely late rates. In the reigned market no
alteration of any importance can be reported.
the
has been in fair demand, more particularly
Qte better qualities of Plantation Ceylon, which
have sold freely at full values ; other descriptions
havehas
been neglected. In rice stately any business
4,as been reported, and prices are 'nerdy nominal.
alteration,
and spices have also exhibited no material
:Iteration, and saltpetre continues inactive, except for
the common qualities which sold at a slight ad-
vance. Tallow has been exceedingly quiet, and
ees have been depressed. P.Y.C. on the spot
being at 525., and A pril to June delivery, 525.
sellers. The public sales of colonial wool have pro-
essed rather steadily, and the rates realised at
the commencement have in most instances been
Maintained. The series will terminate this after-
an°ll, the 15th inst.
Letters from Liverpool state that the Cotton
Market, yesterday, closed with a very firm appear-
'nee, and 10,000 bales were sold at former
quotations. In railway shares business was very
restricted, and prices exhibited a downward ten-
dency

A small quantity of Rusi ian gold was seat into
re Bank of England yesterday, and a few gold
bars were withdrawn. About £40,000 in Russian
bid arrived, which will be sold for transmission
to the continent.

The silver market is very firm, and a considerable
arnount has been dispose?! of at 61Id. per oz., and
111 some cases at 62d. It is now difficult to effect
Purchases at 61id.

To-day a payinent of 2,0 per cent., or £310,000,
la due on the Chilian Loan, leaving 22 per cent. to
he discharged.
Several small arrivals 'have been announced this
morning, including the Anglesea, from Australia,
With £98,796 ; the War Her, from North Coast of
gfrieft, with £4,000 ; a- ad the Dolphin, from Ant-
Nl'erp, with £64,000 ; uraking a total of £166,796.
A large amount of business is reported in the
general discount mar ket, but as the supplies con-
tinue abundant bankers and brokers are disposed to
meet the requirements of the commercial community
011 Previous terms. It, is understood, however,
that the tendency is rather in an upward direction,
°‘/ing to the increased demand for mercantile
ilarposes; and as the public have lately shown
more disposition to effect investments in stock and
snares, as well as the ,different new projects,
private balances have been somewhat diminished.
The continuance of this movement must, of course,
lead to some advance in the charges for accommoda-
tion ; but while the stock of bullion remains as
large as at present, and ithe absorption does not at
the same time materially (Ixtend, a rise in the official
minimum can scarcely be considered imminent.
We understand that the directors of the Madras
°ligation and Canal Company have made a pro-
posal Lord Stanley and the Council of India to
the effect that three assistant engineers may be
engaged in this country and despatched to Madras
la time to enable Major H. Cotton to complete
preliminary investigations without delay. No doubt
entertained that this request will receive the
ready assent of the authorities, it being essential that
the actual works should be entered upon during the
eold season at the end of the year.
There was a meeting of the Londonderry and
Enniskillen Railway Company, to•day. The re-
port stated that the receipts for the half-year
Illliounted to £20,482 4s. 6d., being an increase of
£350 4s. 7d. The total expenditure was £9,987
118. 9d. There was a disposable balance of £6,309
148. 2d., which was sufficient, after payment of the
dividend on tire- 6-per cent. £lO shares, to give a
dividend of ss. 3d. on the £l2 10s. preference
shares. There is a discussion now proceeding on
the terms proposed by an individual for leasing
the line.
The market 6r Public Securities is rather inac-
tive, and very little alteration is reported in values.
Continued dulness and depression will no doubt
Prevail until Continental affairs assume a more
settled appeavance, and some time may yet elapse
before a definite arrangement is concluded. Consols
have been 951 96 for money and account all day.
Special transfers have been done in Reduced
Annuities at 961; the 21 per Cents. are marked
791 ; India Stock is steady, at 220 and 222 ; and
the Debentures are firm, at 991 1. Exchequer Bills
are 345. to 375. prem.

A very moderate business is recorded in the
Market for foreign securites, and prices remain
Without any variation. Turkish 6 per Cents. are
921 to 921; ; ditto New Loan, 781 to 79; Russian
5 per Cents. are steady at 111 ; ditto 41 per Cents.
at 1001 ; Spanish, at 444 ; Sardinian, at 821 to
83; Dutch 4 per Cents., at 1001 and 1011; Mexi-
can is flat at 191. The New Austrian Loan 2to
discount.

A very moderate business has been transacted in
the Railway Share Market, but in some instances
a slight improvement has taken place. Eastern
Counties, Great Northern, and North Western
have advanced 55., and Chester and Holyhead, 10s. ;
Lancashire and Yorkshire, Midland and North
Eastern, Berwick, have declined 55., and South
Western, 10s. ; Caledonian, Blackwall, Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincoln, and South Eastern were at
about previous values.
In the Foreign Market Lombardo Venetian old
shares are steady at 81, 81, and the New at 8 and
81. The Colonial lines are dull. Grand Trunk of
Canada have receded about ss. to 10s., and Great
Indian Peninsula and East Indian are a shade
lower. Great Western of Canada remain firm, at
previous quotations.
Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares
aro very inactive. No material variation has taken
place in quotations. Oriental Bank realise ot ;
Union of Australia, 531 531 ; and Red Sea Tele-
graph, Be. The Whittington Freehold Estate and
Colliery Company have been quoted at ato
premium.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities Shut 96k
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 21 per Cent. Annuities
India Stock
Ditto Debentures 991 i
Ditto Bonds, £l,OOO
Ditto under £l,OOO
Consols for Account
March. June.
Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO, 2d. & lid.. 3344 I
Ditto Small, lid.
I
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCIL
Mexican 2 per Cent l9i
Russian, 1622, £ St., 5 per Cent lll xd
Ditto 4} per Cent.
Sardinian, 5 per Cent. B2l 3
Spanish 3 per Cent
Turkish 6 per Cent. 92t .
Ditto Account , 921
Ditto New Loan
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 12 Guil. 2k per Cent —
Ditto Certificates, 4 per Cent.
TWO O'CLOCK.
,
Consols, Money 95 6
Consols for Account (April) 9si 6

PURCHASE OF COMMISSIONS IN THE ARMY.—
A copy of Treasury minutes or letters on July 20, 1857,
March 13 and June 21, 1858, and January 21, 1859, and
correspondence connected with them, relative to increasing
the remuneration of regimental officers of the army, and
the impossibility of doing so, with eventual benefit to the
officers, unless they be relieved from the necessity of buying
their commissions, has been published. The result of a
tedious inquiry seems to have been the issue of a Treasury
minute on January 21 last, refusing, unless under special
circumstances, modifying the operation of the general law
in its application to the purchase of commissions to
relieve officers of the horse artillery and cavalry from
the deductions made from their pay for rations of forage,
or to transfer to the public a portion of the ex-
pense occasioned by regimental bands. The Lords of
the Treasury had before submitted, in a letter to which
they refer in the minute before us, that, according to the
usual laws of supply and demand, any increase in the value
transferred would be productive of a corresponding increase
in the price paid for it ; so that, although the officers who
now hold commissions in the several ranks would be bene-
fited by any augmented allowance or exemption from
liability that might be conceded by the liberality of govern-
ment, their successors would have to pay the full value of
the additional advantage in the increased price of their
commissions.

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