The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-31 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.
The Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday closed
with an upward tendency, and prices of all de-
scriptions were fully maintained. The salts were
estimated at 12,000 bales, 2,500 of which were
taken by the speculators, and 500 by the exporters.
The Railway Share Market manifested more ani-
mation, and a slight advance in prices occurred.
Notwithstanding the proverbial dulness of the
present season in a commercial point of view, and
unusual depression resulting from the late crisis,
the improvement that has taken place in the posi-
tion and prospects of the money market, has al-
ready exerted a very beneficial influence. In let-
ters received from the manufacturing districts,
where short time is still observed, it is state'l
that preparations are in progress for the more
active prosecution of bu-iness, and in some places
increased employment is afforded. In Man-
chester, for instance, according to the official
return, nearly 1,000 hands more have been
fully engaged during the last few days,
although there is an increase of 156 in the number
of persons wholly out of work. It is thought that
in the course of a few weeks, mach relief will be
apparent, the accounts from the United States and
from India, relative to the state of the import
markets being more favourable, which, together
with decline in money, must be productive of
great benefit. Although the Foreign and Colonial
Produce Markets are still closed for the holidays,
there is an improved demand privately, and some
of the principal articles have advanced, so that
signs of amelioration are also discernible in that
direction. _ _

During the month, which terminates to-day, the
amount paid in the shape of railway calls has
been 455,3321.—making the total for the year
10,712,9461.
About 71,0001. in gold and 75,0001. in sovereigns
were taken into the Bank yesterday, making a
total addition, since the date of the balance sheet
published in last Friday's gazette, of upwards of half
a million sterling. The gold by the Suffolk, viz.,
450,0001., has not yet been appropriated.
At a meeting held to-day of the creditors of
Messrs. W. J. Powell and Son, who recently failed,
the liabilities were statll at 43,6971. ls. 5d., and
the assets at 42,0291. 4s. 2d. A composition of
17s. in the pound was offered and accepted, pay-
able in three, six, and nine months, from the 15th
'Tannery.
The Bank of England directors have made no
alteration in/the terms of discount, but it is thought
that a further reduction cannot be delayed beyond
next week.

The Funds have been tolerably sternly, although
some slight symptoms of flatness have teen exhi-
bited since the morning. There is not much ac-
tivity, probably owing to the proximity of settling
day. Consols have been 931, 94 and 931 and are
very heavy at about 93 The New Threes are
93i to 94i ; the Reduced 934- to 94k. Bank
Stock 217. Exchequer Bills are par to 4s. prem.,
ditto Bonds 1859 98k; and India Bonds (under
1,0001.) 15s. dis. _

In Foreign Stock; a quiet feeling has been ap-
parent,lbut'quotations are firm. Turkisbl6 per Cents.
are 974 to 98, and the 4 per Cents. 102,1; Mexicin
3 per Cents. are al4 ; Spanish 3 per Cents. 42 ;
Ditto Deferred, 263 ; Ditto Certificates 54 ; and
Dutch 24 per Cents. 651.

The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 6 ; Mexi-
can, 201 201 ; Peruvian 4i per Cents., 77
78 ; Portuguese 3 per Cents., 43 45 ; Russian 5
per Cents, 105 107 ; do. 4} per Cents., 96 97 ;
Spanish 3 per Cents., 411 42 ; ditto New Deferred,
261261 ; ditto Certificates, 5 6 ; do. Passive, 41 5.

The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as under :

Great Western
North-Western
South-Western
Brighton
Midland

18t7.
£31,275
56,288
14,239
13,187
32,514

1856.
JC29,377
60 225
14.154
12,752
31,472

South-Eaatern
Great Northern
Lancashire and Yorkshire ..

19,157
28,171
18,357

, ..
18,609
27,855
22,609

Bristol and Exeter 5,873 6,111
Chester and Holyhead
East Lancashire 4,879 6,219
Lancaster and Carlisle
Manchest-r, Sheffield, & Lincoln 9,812 10.104
Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverb 4,143 3,954
North London
North Stafford
West Hartlepool 2,437 2,813
Edinburgh and Glasgow
Soottish North-Eastern 3,240 3,100
Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee ... 2,842 2,814
Grand Trunk of Canada
Great Western of Canada 10,907 13,075
Great Luxembourg . 951 697
Increased activity has been apparent in the
Railway Share Market, and dealings have been
reported in most of the principal lines at an advance
of about 4 to 1 per cent. on former quotations.
041edonian, Great Western, and Manchester, Shef-
field, and Lincoln have improved ss. ; Edinburgh,
Perth, and Dundee, Lancashire and Yorkshire,
North Eastern, Berwitk, Oxford, Worcester, and
Wolverhampton, South Eastern, and South Wales.
l°s• ; Midland, lbs. ; Edinburgh and Glasgow,
South Western, North British, North Eastern
York and Scottish North Eastern, 1/. ; Great
Nottb.srn decilned 1/.

The Foreign lines have been exceedingly firm.
Southern of France advanced 1/. ; Sambre and
Meuse, 10s. ; and Lambardo - Venetian, 10s.
In the Colonial undertakings, Grand Trunk of
Canada improved 1/. ; Great Western of Canada,
10s ; and East Indian, 10s. The New East Indian
lines were well supported at fully former rates.

Mines, Banks, and Miscellaneous Shares are
almost neglected and no change of importance can
'be noticed in values.

BRITISH FUNDS.—CLOSING PRICES—THIS DAY.
(Iron; the Oficial List;)

ank Stook
Busbies/done.
st 217
3 Per Cont. Reduced Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities 94 i 3i i
in tia Bonds, .ClOOO
MU°, tinder tioco
a 1. sols ter Account
3i i
Ez.viequer Hills, 20.
£lOOO .... 4 p Pm'
t 500 ....... —..
fai 4 p
3 P P
B:nsil v • ---..... ..... .. ............ . ............ P
exchequer
Bonds, 1858, 34 per Cent —
Ditto, 1259
A PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS—THIS DAY.
B anuan 5 per Cent.
0 Alan Bonds, 6 per Cent 1023
lif izican 3 per Cent 2oi
Ditto Account .... ..... 204 •f
Peruvian Bonds, Ii per Cent —
Ditto 3 per Cent —
Ditto Account
Po.lnguese Bonds, 5 per Cent., Con. 1841
Ditto 1853, 3 per Cent ... .. 453
Russian Bonds, 1822, & St., 5 per Cent.... 103
84-dinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. ... ..
Ditto Account
Spanish Boutin, 3 per Cent.
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent.
la Ditto Account
Sp .nigh comra!ttec Cart. of Coup. not fun. 5A
Turkish Bonds, 6 per cent
II Ditto Account
Ditto Guaranteed, I per Cent.
Ditto Account lO2l $
Dividends on the above payable In London.
Dutch Exchange, 2,1 per Cent., 12 Guilders 654
!I BABB O'CLOCK.
933 i z d
C011'3016 account, (Tau. 8

DRATH OP A BOT THROUGH PLACING A PIA IN HIS
Ean.—Yesterday morning an inquest was held at the
Jolly Caulkers Tavern, New-road, Rotherliithe, on the
body of Robert Sinclair, aged eight years, the Eon of a
lighterman residing at 46, Commercial-street. The de-
ceased attended a free school in Medway-place, Deptford.
road. On the 21 inst. he was playing with a nu! ber of
his schoolfello we, when he
would produced a pea and said he
have a
game at conjuring, and put the pea in his
ear and bring it out of his mouth. The poor little fellow
at once put the pea in his ear, and, much to his alarm,
he was unable to withdraw it. His cries soon brought
assistance, and he was at once conveyed to St. Thomas's
Hospital, where every means were resorted to to re-
lieve him but without success. He was accordingly
again taken home, and placed under the care of Mr.
Cregeen, surgeon ; bet he died on the 20th inst. There
was not the slightest doubt that the pea gradually pene-
trated into the head until it caused come injury to the
brain. The jury returned a verdict of ace:dental death,
aooompanied by a recommendation, both from the coro-
ner and jury, to the effect that the ,choolmaster be
requested to caution the whole of the children in a body
against amusing themselves in a similar manner to that
which led to deoeaeed'i death.

20
20
20
20

50
100
100
20
50
20

St.
St.
St.
50

20
20
10
St.

206
20
100
103 1
100
100