The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-21 00:00:00

111.116..
0.,178Y 01A1ICBT AND CITY IVEL7S.

CITY, Two O'CLOCK.
REDUCTION IN THE BANK RATE OF

DISCOUNT.
The directors of the Bank of England have, at
the meeting to-day, reduced the rate of interest and
discount from Sto 7 per cent. This alteration was
fully anticipated, owing to the improvement exhi-
bited in the last Gazette return, and the accu-
mulation which must have taken place since
the period to which it was completed. A
further addition has no doubt been made to
the reserve of notes and the stock of bullion
through the contraction of the circulation conse-
quent upon the revenue collections and the influx
of Australian and other gold. It may also be
Presumed that the securities under discount have
been materially reduced, because accommodation
has been obtainable for several days much below
the terms enforced by the authorities. Under
these circumstances, therefore, considerable sur-
Prise would have been created if the measure of
relief had been postponed even for another week.
A large amount of business was transacted in
the Liverpool Cotton Market yesterday, and full
Prices were current for all descriptions. The sales
"Were- 25,000 bales.

Small quantities of gold continue to be sent
into the Bank, about £B,OOO having been purchased
yesterday.
The directors of the Paris and Orleans Railway
have determined to propose a dividend of £4 per
.£2O share, being at the rate of 20 per cent. per
annum, which will absorb £1,200,000.

The interest coupons on the Dutch Rhenish
Railway will be paid on and after the Ist proximo.

At the annual general meeting of the proprietors
of the Canada Company, held to-day, it was stated
that the affairs of the Company had made very
satisfactory progress, and the transactions during
the past year showed an increase under every head
when compared with 1859. The receipts amounted
to £85,243, being £25,000 more than was collected
in 1859, while the disposal of land was larger by
i,742 acres. After some discussion the report was
adopted.
The market for Public Securities has been flatter
today, notwithstanding the reduction in the rate
of discount, Consols being 911 92 for transfer, and
n •
I for the 10th. Speculative sales have caused
this depression, but business is extremely inactive.
India Stock is flat at 220 ; ditto 5 per Cents. at
1,0%1; and ditto Scrip 1001-,. Exchequer Bills,
"id. per diem, are 10s. dis. ; ditto, 2d. per diem,
34. dis.

There have been very few dealings in Foreign
securities, and prices in some instances show lees
mess. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 74/ to 754 ;
ditto, 1858, 55 to 552 ; Mexican are steady at
441; and Equador at 121- ; Russian 3 per Cents.
ape heavy at 618; and Dutch 2i per Cents. remain
at 637: •

The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
to this day, are in round figures as under :-
1861. 1860.
Great Western £35,509 £34,197
11°1111-Western
''anth-Western
nrighton 13,294 11,573
Midland
South-Eastern
!heat Northern 25,056 23,894
Lancashire and Yorkshire
Bristol and Exeter 5,733 5,719
Manchester,
•
..__Alanchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln 11,030 10,58 i
West Midland
Xdinburgh and Glasgow
Grand Trunk of Canada
Great Western of Canada
These returns show a further considerable im-
provement compared with those of tke, same period
of last year. On the Great Western there is an
increase of £1,312; the North Western of £2,292;
the South Western of £1,996; the Brighton of
£1,721; the Midland of £493 ; the South Eastern
of £1,187; the Great Northern of £1,162; the
Lancashire and Yorkshire of £1,505 ; the North
Eastern of £2,041 ; the Grand Trunk of Canada of
41,407, and the Great Western of Canada of 1830.
A rather heavy tone has prevailed in the Railway
share Market, and with one or two exceptions,
11,tiees have slightly given way. Lancashire and
Yorkshire, Midlands, and North Staffords, have
teceded ss. ; Eastern ,Counties, Great Northern A
stock, and South Westerns have advanced ss.

The Foreign and Colonial lines remain very
inactive, without any change of importance in

values.

Joint Stock Bank and Miscellaneous Shares are
a shade firmer. Bank of Australasia have im-
proved ; Orisntal Bank, 55., and Peninsular and
Oriental Steam, Ns.

BRITISH FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK.
! per Cent. Consols Annuities
India Stock. ,.
Ditto b per Cent
Ditto Scrip
tAtto Debentures, 1858 —
.Ditto 1869 954
Ditto Bonds £l,OOO —
t,thtto under £1,000
,-elasols for Account 921
lid. I 2d.
lEchequer Bills, £1,000
Ditto, Small
-- ---

t, FOREIGN FUNDS-ONE O'CLOCK
'Lcillador New Consolidated 'l2l
',Lexican 3 per Cent 241
vDitto Account
Portuguese
Urenada Active, 31 per Cent.
Russian
3:per Cent.. 1853. 46k
''‘utsian 5 per Cent. 1822, £ St
1, Ditto 3 per Cent, 1859
'lll:_kish 6 per Cent • •
•
Ditto Account
Ditto New Loan
Ditto Account " ssi 5 1
-Ditto 100 Bonds
Ditto Guaranteed, 4 per Cent.
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 12 Guil. 21 per Cent 631-
TWO O'CLOCK.
Coniols, Money
Ditto Account

TEE WEATHER.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS.

and
Thi D .
teen 8 and B. . E.. M. D. F. C. I. S.
9 a.m.
N-7-------- — — --
airn 2B/8 35 32 • S.S.W. 2 2 b. 2
I‘Aberdeen
Leith..s .
,rivicii'''
'onrush
shields
Galway 2913 .38
. 36
W. 8 9 s. 6
gaarboraugn 29.10 37 36 W.N.W. 3 2 b. 2
Liverp00l ...
*Valenti('
Queenstown 29.44 38 37 IW.S. W. 4 3 8. 2
Yarmouth 2923 36 35 W.N.W. 5 3 0. 4
London 2915 40 136 j W.N.W. 42 W
Dover 2913 44 40 W. N. W. 6 2 c. 5
Portsmouth 29'42 40 37 N.W. 5 6 0. 4
Portland
Plymouth .... 29'50 40 38 W. 6 5 c. 4
Penzance .... 29'59 44 43 N.W. 1 4 b. 2
',crag. 29'61 42 f 40 W.N.W. 5 2 b. 4