The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-25 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.
The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closet
very quietly, and prices were without any ma
terial change. The sales were estimated at
4,000 bales, 1,000 of which were taken on specula-
tion. The Railway Share Market manifested a
very active aspect, and prices have advanced.
Acccounts from the manufacturiug districts state
that business in Manchester is very quiet, and
prices, in some instances, are alleged to be unre-
munerative to the producers. The late failures
among the Greeks have occasioned some uneasiness,
but more transactions have taken place than, under
the circumstances, might have been expected. In
Leeds the purchases have also been limited, but
this chiefly arises from the desire to await the result
of the London wool sales, which commence to-
morrow. The hosiery trade of Leicester is dull,
but in cotton goods a fair business is reported. A
further improvement is recorded in the lace trade
of Nottingham, the home and foreign demand hav-
ing increased.
The dividend declared by the General Steam
Navigation Company is 14s. per share, which is
equal to 10 per cent, per annum. In addition to
this a bonus of 2s. 6d. per share, free of income
tax, is announced.
In the rates of Continental Exchange, yesterday
afternoon, there was a general improvement.
As the 4th of the month approaches the inquiry
for discount accommodation increases, and no fur-
ther symptoms of relief are likely to be felt until
after that period. The amount of bills arriving at
maturity in March is usually very heavy, as
in many cases
,they complete the engagements of
the old year, and it is only natural, therefore, that
full rates should now be current. This morning sl
the inquiry was very brisk, and only in special in-
stances is discount accommodation obtainable under
the Bank minimum. Besides the pressure occasioned
by the preparations for these liabilities, the pur-
chases of gold for transm;ssion to the Continent
produce some effect, as the whole of the remittance
per the Ocean Chief bas thus been absorbed. The
arrangement of the Foreign Stock and Railway E
Share accounts now in progress also contributes to
the general demand, and on the Stock Exchange !,
very high rates are paid for loans, as much as 10 to 1(
20 per Cent. being charged for " carrying over."
The following important meetings have taken
place this morning :—The Southampton Doak Com-
pany, at which a dividend at the rate of 4 per
cent, per annum was declared ; the gross earnings
of the year had exceeded 1855 by 1,737/. 18s. 11d.
The dividend at the Submarine Telegraph Com-
pany to-day was at the rate of 7 per cent. per an-
num, taken from a surplus profit of the half-
year of 2,976/. 7s. 2d. • The North Devon
Railway Company, at which a dividend of
lf per cent. per annum on the ordinary
stock, 24 per cent. on B stock, and 61. per cont. on 1
preference stock shares, were declared. The traffio
was increasing satisfactorily.
The annual meeting of the English, Scottish, and
Australian Bank was also held to-day ;C. John-
ston, Esq., in tha chair. The meeting was on the
whole favourable, and showed a net divisible balance
of 17,9351. Bs. Bd., from which a dividend at the
rate of sper cent. per annum was made; 1,4401. taken
to preliminary expenses, and 4,0151. carried to the
oreffsetrvheeafmunod. unt.ThAe dvshioirdtend discussionavod take ul
ensued,l,soo
2/.
when
the dividend and report were agreed to unanimously.
A heavytone pervades the English Stock Market,
although the prices generally show continued firm-
ness. The tendency to improve is checked by the
near approach of the settlement, which deters par-
ties from entering into large operations. Besides
this the dealers are interested in preventing a rise,
and supply the market with stock to a large extent.
Consols have: been 93i I for money, 931 94 for.
the sth proximo, and 941 for April. The New
3 per Cents. have been 941. t, the Reduced 93i
94k, and the New 2i. per Cents. 78. Exchequer ,
Bills are 38. premium, and the Bonds 98i
Bank Stock is 220.
In the Foreign Market very few dealings have
taken place, but the prices are generally steady. I
Turkish 6 per Cents. are 95k, and the " contango"
is per Cent. ; the 4 per Cents. are 1012 a. Spanish ii
Deferred were 24k. Venezuela 37. Russian 6i
per Cents. 974 to 98i, and Portuguese 3 per Cents.
44i. Dutch 4 per Cents. are firm at 98i.
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign

Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 61 7 ;
can, 22 ; Peruvian, 80 81 ; Ditto Tbroe per 11
Cents., 55 56 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents., 44 46 ;
Russian 5 per Cents., 109 111 ; ditto 4i per Cents.,
97 99 ; Spanish 3 per Cents., 401 ; ditto Deferred,
24i 5 ; ditto Certificates, 61 7 ; ditto Passive,
öi 6.

An active business has been done iu Railway
Shares this morning, and prices generally still tend 1
upwards. The settlement of the accounts., however,
has oceupied a good deal of the attention of the
dealers and speculators, , this being " makinup 1
day" in the market, and the charge for continua-
tion to the next accounts rules rather heavy. Cale- !
donian have advanced 2/. ; Eastern Counties, ss. ;
E(Unburgh, Perth, and Dundee, 10s. to 15s.
Great Northern, 2/. ; Lancashire and York- 11
shire, 15s. ; Brighton, 15s. ; Manches- t(
ter, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 10s. ; Midland,
10s. ; Norfolk, 1/. ; North British, 1/. ; North
Eastern, Berwick, ss. ; and South Eastern, ss. to 1.4
10s. The French lines have ruled rather lower.
Paris and Lyons declined ss. to 10s. ; and North- 2
-ern of France, ss. Great Western of Canada im- 2
proved ss. ; and East Indian ruled steady.
No business of any importance has been done in
Mining Shares. Par Consols realised 23k, South 2
Caradoc 349 and St. John del Rey 20.
Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares have 2
been dull, with little alteration in prices to notice.
Union of Australia declined 55., and Peninsular 3,'
and Oriental Steam 1/.
20
Business has been done in the shares of the Cali- 20
fornia Water Works Company at 4 and I prem. 20
N
per share.
10

ISKITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK,
(From tlie Official List;)

Business dons
Bank Stock 2.: 220
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 94 3} 4
3 par Cont. Consols Annnities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities 944 i
New 2i per Cent. Annuities
Lo.ig Aunuities, expire sth Jan. 1860 '2B
in lie Bonds, .ClOOO
Ditto, under £lOOO • . 2 d
Consols for Account ...... .. 93i
Etehequer Bills, 24d
£l000
iimall • .
Ditto Bonds, 1858, 3i.per Cent 9B. ; .
Ditto, 1959
L'RICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK
Portuguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1841
Ditto 1853, 3 per Cent 44i
11-assian Bonds, 1N22, £ St., 5 per Cent
Ditto, 4i per Cont.
Spanish Beads, 3 per Cent.
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cen'.
Turkinh Bonds, 6 par cent a94
Ditto Account (March 17) ..
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent.
Venezuela Bonds, 41 per Cent
',wpm 3,, the above inyahle in London.
Dutch Exchange, 2i per Cent., 12 Gull —
Ditto I per Cent. Certificates
TWO O'CLOCK.
931 i

Consols, money

Ditto Account
Ditto April Account

Euro-
THE MAIM-SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday.—The
pean and Australian Royal Mail Company's steamship
Etna, Captain Millar, sailed hence to-day for Malta and
Alexandria, being the first steamer under the new con-
tract for conveying the mails via Alexandria and Suez
to Australia. She has about 30 passengers, but carries
no specie and only a small cargo, the route being as yet
but little known.

--iliNsioN-11-ousE.—Yesterday the Lord Mayor and
the Lady Mayoress entertained at dinner the Master,
Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the Fruiterers'
CJlllpany • the Wardens and Court of Assistants of the
Bowyers, Company (of which the Lord Mayor is master);
the Master and Wardens of the Loriners' Company ;
the members of the Court of Common Council, of the
wards of Tower, Aldersgate, Aldgate Bassishaw, Bit •
ling Agate, Vin try, and Walbrook, and' their ladies, as
weal as a number of private friends. Covers were laid
in the Egyptian•hall for 180. The musical arrangements
were under the direction of Mr. Bates, assisted by Mrs.
Alfred Gilbert and Miss Cole, Messrs. Cummings, Tay.
lor, and Lawler