The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-03 00:00:00

THE CRISIS IN LIAMBURG.

HAMBURG, Nov. 30.—This is the settling day on
our Stock Exchange. The settling went off pretty
well, for the few defaulters that were announced
were not important, nor their liabilities very large,
but the excitement on 'Change was dangerously
high, as it transpired that a number of houses of
general business were in difficulties, and that many
others were on the point of suspending payment.
I am far from wishing to create any alarm amongst
your mercantile readers, but my duty as an im-
partial chronicler of events compels me to state the
report generally current here to-day, that the
number of houses at this moment iu difficulties
amounts to twenty-seven, with aggregate lia-
bilities for the imposing sum of thirty-seven mil-
lions of marks banco. It is to be hoped that this
statement is exaggerated, and indeed it is not
all unlikely, but still it is impossible to conceal the
fact that our merchants are in an awful state of
danger and uncertainty. At the present moment
it would be invidious to give names, particularly as
the dreadful list contains the names of three or four
of our first-rate houses, and many of them may yet
find means to get out of their difficulties without
the necessity of suspending payment, and conse-
quent public exposure. Under these circumstances
your readers will not be surprised to le3ru that bills
were not to be discounted to-day at any price, that
no sales could be effected in the produce market,
and that the quotations of all descriptions of
Government securities and shares in indui-
trial undertakings are perfectly nominal. The rush
to obtain advances on pledge of current articles of
merchandise (coffee, spelter, rice, cotton, Ste.),
which the new committee of management are per-
mitted to lend:on to the amount of fifreen millions
of marks banco, is so unprecedentedly large, that
this sum would be as a drop of water only in a
bucket, if the report is not greatly exaggerated ac-
cording to which advances to the amount of more
more than 400 millions of marks banco have been
asked for.

Immediately after the breaking up of the burgher-
schaft or council of citizens, convened for the
purpose of sanctioning ilia fivanci..l operations
proposed by the Senate, aud which I described in
my letter of Saturday last, the committee of ma-
nagement for the execution of the measure was
duly appointed and installed, consisting of Senator
Haller and Senator Hayn as the two members
nominated by the Senate from among their own
body ; Mr. Y. H. W. Grossmann, president of the
finance department, and Mr. Robert Flor, mem-
ber of the same, as the two representatives of the
Government treasury; Mr. E. Albers, as the no-
minee of the board of seniors (Oberalten) ; and
Messrs. C. C. Craseman and J. C. Sale
(the latter a partner in the eminent firm of
Messrs. Haller, Sohle, and Co.), as members of the
Board of Commerce. These gentlemen have ever
since been indefatigable in their exertions, and by
their united efforts have already drawn up and
published their regulations, and given notice that
they were prepared to commence business this day
at ten o'c'ock, and receive sealed offers from appli-
cants desirous of obtaining loans on the deposit of
merchandise, Government securities, and railroad
priority shares.

- It has been permitted to transpire that the
amount of silver now in possession of the bank is
more than forty millions of marks banco.

COMMERCIAL FAILURES.

The suspension has been announced of Messrs.
Mendes Da Costa and Co., an old established firm
in the West India trade. Their liabilities are esti-
mated at 350,0001., and the prospects of liquida-
tion wi I be partly contingent upon the realisation
of produce and the collections from acceptanc s of
other suspended houses. Annexed is the circular
issued :

" 6, Finsbury-chambers, London-wall, Dec. 2.
"It is with extreme regret we have to inform yon
that in consequence of the large amount for which we are
liable upon bills that we have discounted and hold on
various firms who have recently fallen, and also from
the announcement of the failure of some of our West
India and other correspondents, we are compelled to
suspend our payments.
" We have requested Messrs. J. E. Coleman and Co.
the accountants, to place a statement of our affairs before
you, and they have arranged so to do at a meeting to be
convened on Tuesday, the 15 h inst., at the Guildhall
Coffee-house, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon punctually,
at which we have respectfully to request your atten-
dance ; and in the meantime we shall do all in our
power to facilitate measures which we think desirable
for the protection of the interests of our creditors, and
are, " Your obedient servants,

"MENDES DA COSTA AND CO."

The failure has been announced also of Messrs.
Kieser and Co., a German mercantile house, with
liabilities for about 50,0001. Their circular is as
follows :

"22, Billiter•street, Dec. 2.

"It is with the deepest regret we have to inform you
that, in consequence of the failure of our correspondents
abroad we are under the necessity of suspending pay-
ment.

"No have placed our books in the hands of Mr.
G. H. Jay, of Old Jewry enambers, who will prepare a
statement of our affairs, which shall be submitted to our
creditors on the earliest possib:e day.
"Tro,tiog to receive in the interim your kind for-
bearance, "We are, your ohedient servants,

°• KIESER AND CO.

Messrs. Carr, Joding, and Co., who stopped on
the 24th ult. for about 300,0001„ have addressed
the following communication to their creditors, and
a petition has been filed for a private arrangement
in the Court of Bankruptcy. The house was largely
connected with the trade with the north of Europe
and the Mediteiranean :
"5, Laurence Pountney-placP, London, Dec. 1.
"It is .ith the utmost regret we have to inform yoi
that our efforts fur resuming payment have proved in-
effectual. Wo I aye, therefore, requested Messrs. J. E.
Coleman and Co., the accountants, to prepare a sate
ment of our affairs, and to have a meeting of our
creditors convened at an early day. Requesting your
forbearance, and assuring you of our utmost efforts to
realise aKets a 3 speedily as peyoible for division, and to
for. ard such other mea=3res as may be most advan-
tageous for the general interests of our creditors,
" We are, your obelient servants ,
" CARR, JOSLING, AND CO."

MARIET NEWS.—(This Day.)

CORN EXCII ING E.

GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the week ended Dee. 3, 1857, made up from the Re-
turns.of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in
England and Wales, per Imperial Quarter.

WHEAT BARLEY I OATS I R,Tz I BEANS I PEAS
493 Btl 37s 7(1 2,16101 33s lOd 42s Sd 10i 101

THE SEX WEEKS' AVERAGES.

WIIEAT BARLEY I OATS j 1 RTN I BEANS I PEAS
52s 5(.1 41s 3,1 243 11(1 35s 8,1 , 44s 81 43i 81

ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.
Whoat, 76,7:23; barley, 73,996 ; oats, 6,926 ; ryo, 174 ;
beans, 3,888 ; peas, 1,400 quarters.

MEAT MARKETS.

NEWGATE ANDLEADENHALL.—The suplies of meat were
moderately good, and the demand generally ruled steady,
at full prices : —Beef, from 3s 0,1 to 4s 4,1 ; Mutton, 3i 21
to 4s 6d; Veal, 33 8d to 4s 61; Pork, 3s 6d to 55 4d
per Blbs by the carcase.

SOUTHALL, Dec. 2,—The show of stock hen) to-day was
only moderate, and the trade generally ruled steady, at
very full prices. Beef, from 3s 4d to 4s 8(1; Mutton,
3.; Gd to 5s 2d ; Veal, 3s 8(1 to 4; 81; Pork, 4s Od to
5s Od per Sibs, to sink the offal.
ROMFORD, Dec. 2.—There was an improved demand for
each kind of stock, and pi ices had an improved tendency :
—Beef, from 3s 2d to 48 61 ; Mutton, 4s Od to 5s 4d ;
Veal, 4s 0,1 to 4s 101 ; Pcrk, 4s Od to 5s 01 per Blbs ;
Suckling Calves, 18s to 2tis each.