The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-31 00:00:00

?YON El' MA

CITY NE WS.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.
The year which is now terminating has been
characterised by numerous monetary and commer-
cial events of importance. Several circumstances
have combined to depress trade and to check spe-
culation. A very quiet tone has, therefore, per-
vaded most departments of business, and the results
have not been of a very remunerative character
either to the mercantile or manufacturing interests.
Under the circumstances, however, even greater
prostration might have been apprehended when the
civil war in America and the international
question that has arisen between this country
and the Federalists are taken into consi-
deration. In the course of the past twelve
months numerous failures have occurred, especially
among the Greek interests, when the crisis took I
place in the Levant trade. In other branches of
business suspensions have also been reported, and
no less than five provincial banks have succumbed,
and in some instances with heavy liabilities. Seve-
ral cases of commercial fraud have also been revealed,
but they will be too fresh in the recollection of
the public to require recapitulation. It is a source
of regret that the prospects of the new year are
so clouded by the uncertain issue of the American
question, which naturally tends to increase the com-
mercial depression -which has so long prevailed.
The public markets for Foreign and Colonial Pro-
duce have been closed during the past week for the
Christmas Holidays, but they reopened to day.
Privately a limited business has been done in most
of the principal staples, but prices have shown
little or no change of importance.
A fair amount of business was reported in the
Liverpool Cotton market yesterday, and prices
were firm. The sales were 10,000 bales.
Some important changes have occurred during
the year in the situation of the Bank of England.
The stock of bullion was larger on 'Wednesday last
than at any other period of the year, the total being
£15,755,933; the lowest point attained was on
the 23d of January, viz., £11,521,580. The reserve
of notes has also reached its maximum during the
last few days, the aggregate being £10,022,130,
whereas on the 17th of July it was only £4,913,935.
The largest stock of other securities was
£22,836,483, on the 2d of January, and the
smallest, £10,194,997, on the 27th of Novem-
ber. The rates of discount were highest
in January and February, viz., 7 and 8 per cent.,
and the lowest point, 3 per cent., was reached on
the 7th of November last, and no subsequent
alteration has taken place. NV ith regard to the
progress of affairs in France it may be mentioned
that the bullion there in January was £13,986,827,
and in December £12,996,609; the highest aggre•
gate being in June, when it was £16,498,347, and
the lowest in November, when it stood at
£11,410,290. The rates of discount, which were 61
per cent. during the financial crisis in October,
have since receded to 5 per cent,, and an improving
tendency is still reported.
About £32,000 in gold was sent into the Bank
of England yesterday.
The half-yearly meeting of the East and West
India Dock Company will take place on the 10th
inst., for the declaration of a dividend, &c.
There is an increase of £905 in the traffic receipts
of the South-Eastern Railway for the past week,
and £BOl on the Brighton.
The traffic receipts of the Northern of France
Railway from the Ist of January to the 16th inst.,
amounted to £2,451,630, against £2,339,799 in the
corresponding period of 1860.
The improvement established yesterday in the
value of the English Funds has not been fully main-
tamed, sales having been effected this morning
which produced symptoms of reaction. It may be
mentioned that the greater proportion of the busi-
ness now transacted is in options, owing to the un-
certainty felt with regard to the effect that may be
produced at any moment by the receipt of later
adviees from America. Consols at one time receded
to 901 1, but since then a decided recovery has
taken place, viz,, to 901 I both for money and the
account. The New Threes and the Reduced remain
at 00i ; Bank Stock has advanced to 236; India
5 per -est. is firm at 1031 104, but the June Ex-
chequer Bills are fiat at Bs. to lls. prem.
Extreme quietude has prevailed in the Foreign
Market, and prices have shown no material altera-
tion. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 76-1- to 77i- ; ditto,
1868, 671 to 68 ; ditto £lOO Bonds are firm at 70.
The Italian Loan at 65, and the Spanish Certifi-
cates have advanced to 5'4 61-.
A very limited amount of business was irs nsacted
in the Railway Share Market to-day but prices
generally exhibited a slight upward tendency.
Eastern Counties, Midlands, North Eastern (Ber-
wick), have advanced 55.; and Great Westerns and
South Easterns, 10s. ; London and South Western,
however, have declined 15s.

The Foreign and Colonial undertakings have
been very inactive. Great Luxembourg brought 9 ;
Great Western of Canada, 9; Great Indian Penin-
sula, 98 ex. div.; Enst Indian, 98 99 ex. div.; and
Bombay and Baroda, 971 ex. div.
Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares have
been neglected, and prices are nominally unaltered,

BRITISH FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities..
3 per Cent. Consols Annuities
New 3 par Cent. Annuities 9Ol * i
India Stock
Ditto 5 per Cent.
Ditto Enfaced Paper, 4 per Cent —
Ditto 5 per Cent
Ditto 51 per Cent
Ditto Debentures, 4 per Cent., Oct., 1863
Ditto 1859
Consols for Account, Jan. 9 - 1 /
India Stock for Account, 5 per Cent .
March. I June.
Exchequer Bills, £l,OOO 2d.... 8 11
D''

£5OO

,Jitto
Ditto Small

FOREIGN FUNDS—CLOSING PRICES.
Mexican, 3 per Cent
Ditto Acco int ..
Russian 5 per Cent. 1822, £ St
Ditto 41 per Cent.
Sardinian .5 per Cent.
Spanish Cert. of Coup. not funded
Turkish 6 per Cent.
Ditto New Loan
Ditto Account
Ditto £lOO Bonds
1 enezuelan 3 per Cent
Ditto Account
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch 2? per Cent., Exchange 12 Gull 6ll
French Rentes, 41 per Cent., Ex. 25f 9lf. 93f. 75c.
Italian, 5 per Cent., 1861
THREE O'CLOCK.
Consols, Money
Ditto Account

271
91
761
5 6k 6

THE WEATHER.

PROBABLE BEFORE THURSDAY.

North Britain Variable, chiefly Nvesterly,moderate, fresh.
Ireland N.E. to S. and S.S.W., variable, light,
moderate.
Central Similar, foggy.
East Coast
chiefly.
South England. N.E. to S. and S.S.W., moderate, fresh;
fine.