The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-24 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, MONDAY.
The Moniteur says The Minister of Foreign
44,frairs, by a circular of the 3d inst., requested all
the diplomatic agents of the Emperor to deliver to
the Governments to which they were accredited an
°facial note, having for object to announce to them
Vat the Imperial Government had given to the
commandants of the land and naval forces the ne-
cessary instructions for them during the present
War to respect the territory, the navigation, and the
commerce of the neutral Powers, and to observe,
Particularly with regard to those States which
have adhered to them, the principles laid down by
the declaration of the Congress of Paris of the 16th
April, 1856."
13010RsE, May 23.—There has been only a limited
amount of business doing, but the market remains
Steady. Various rumours have been in circulation—
among others, that disturbances had broken out at
Modena ; that the King of Naples had died yester-
day ; and that an engagement had taken place at
Mortara, which had been taken by the French.
Threes varied from 61f. 15c. to 61f. 25c. ; Mobilier
to 585 f. to 592 f. 50c. ; Orleans, 1,175 f. to I,lBof. ;
Northern, 875 f. to 880 f. ; Lyons, 777 f. 50c. to
780 f. ; Eastern, 590 f. to 595 f.
The following were the closing quotations :
per Cents. .... 89 60 I Credit Foncier 645
Do. end month Belgian 4}
tPer Cents ....... 61 35 Piedmontese (5)
Bank Shares 2700 Austrian
Cr4dit Mobilier 595 Spanish Threes
1)0. Account 502 50 Home Debt 37

MONBY MA

PITY NEWS.

CITY, Two o'CLocx.
Very little activity has prevailed in the markets
for Foreign and Colonial produce during the last
few days, although prices have been tolerably well
supported. Tea has been firm, and a rather exten-
sive business has been done in good qualities of
congou at full rates. Sugars have been in very
limited request, only the finer qualities of British
Wrest India finding purchasers, at barely previous
quotations. In the refined market dried goods were
in moderate demand, but at rather lower prices.
Coffee has been dull, scarcely any business having
been transacted in the private market, and at
public sale the few small parcels sold went at a
slight reduction on former rates. For rice there
has been a better demand, and prices have been
steady. Saltpetre has been in request at about
former rates ; but tallow continues dull, and at
slightly reduced values.
The public sales of foreign and colonial wool
have continued to progress with much steadiness,
and prices have been rather firmer, particularly for
the finer descriptions of Cape, Sydney, and Port.
Philip qualities. The late large arrivals, however,
have induced -the committee of brokers to extend
the sales to the 3d Jime, being three days longer
than originally announced.
In the Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday an
average amount of business was transacted, and
prices remained without any alteration of import-
ance. The sales were estimated at 7,000 bales.
The Railway Share Market closed with more ani-
mation, and quotations were rather firmer.
There were no bullion operations at the Bank
of England yesterday, of public importance.
At Hamburg the rate of discount has been
further reduced to 21 per cent.
Further consignments of Russian gold have been
announced, but like the Australian and American
supplies they have been immediately appropriated
for exportdtion to the Continent. Within the last
month a considerable quantity of bullion has been
absorbed for this purpose, and the movement, it is
expected, will continue some time longer. At present
the continuous receipts from various parts, espe-
cially Victoria and New York, satisfy the demands
of the exporters, and the bullion at the Bank con-
sequently remains almost stationary, the with
drawals being unimportant. This circumstance,

combined with the extraordinary change that has
taken place in the money market, where the
demand has subsided, leads many persons to
anticipate a reduction in the minimum. The low
charges made in the general market exclude the
authorities from active competition for the bills
brought forward for negotiation, and the banks are
reducing their allowance of interest for deposits.
It transpired yesterday that the London and West-
minster Bank will only give 24 per cent. for
lodgments of £5OO and upwards, and 2 per cent.
for smaller amounts.

At the annual meeting of the National Bank,
held to-day—F. Newsam, Esq., in the chair—a
very satisfactory report was read, stating that the
net profits of the past year had amounted to
£73,203 16s. 6d., to which the profit in sale of
shares was added, making the balance, with the
former Rests, £183,967 19s. 2d., from which two
dividends (at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum
and 15s. bonus per share), amounting to £60,000,
were paid, which reduced the present Rest to
£123,967 19s. 2d., as against £104,792 2s. Bd., the
balance at the end of December, 1857. A new
branch had been opened at Kingstown in Ireland,
and the result had been satisfactory. The chairman
made a speech, congratulating the 'proprietors on
the success of the bank, and saw no reason why
they should not anticipate a continuation of the
same dividend and bonus, in August next, as that
already paid to the proprietors. The report was
adopted, and a vote of thanks was passed to the
directors and officers of the company.

In the Market for Public Securities to-day a
small amount of business has been transacted, and
in consequence of continued purchases for invest-

ment the Funds have improved fully 4 per cent.

The speculative operations are limited, but no dis-

position is shown to enter into transactions for a

fall. Consols are 911 92 for money, and 911 it, for
the account. The Government broker has bought
£5,000 New Threes for the Savings' Banks. The

New. Threes have advanced to 90i 91, and the
Reduced to 902 -Z. The New 31 per Cents. are

marked 100 ; Bank Stock has receded to 2191;
and Exchequer Bills to 19s. and 225. prem.
The New Indian Loan Scrip is rather firmer,
at 21 discount, being marked 92i.

A moderate amount of business is recorded in
Foreign Securities, and prices generally show an
improvement. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 62 to 64 ;

ditto New, 52 to 54; and the 4 per Cents. are firm,

at 101; Venezuelan 5 per Cents. at 35, and Mexi-
can at 161. Portuguese 3 per Cents. have advanced
to 39+ ; Peruvian 41 per Cents. to 811 82 ; ditto 3

per Cents. to 621 ; Spanish 3 per Cents. to 391 ;
and Dutch 4 per Cents. to 914 ; but the 24 per

Cents. are flat, at 591.

The Railway Share Market has exhibited rather
more buoyancy, most of the principal lines show-
ing an improvement in shares of to -} per cent.

Eastern Counties, Great Western, North Western,
Midland, North British, North Eastern (Berwick),

and North Eastern (York) advanced 55., and Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire, and South Eastern 10s. The
Foreign and Colonial lines have also shown a

slight advance.

Paris and Lyons are firm,

at 31; Lombardo-Venetian (old) shares brought
5 to 51, and the latest quotations were 51 to 5
for the Old, and 4 to 51 for the New Shares.
East Indian have advanced to 961 97 ; Grand
Trunk of Canada Preference Bonds to 901 ; and
Great Western of Canada to 131.
Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares have
been quiet, at about former values, London and
County, however, have receded 10s., and Union of
London ss. ; and Madras Irrigation were dealt in
at £l.