The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-29 00:00:00

DIONEY MARKET

I.JD
COMIVIERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, Two o'CLocK.

Letters from Liverpool mention that the Cotton
Market yesterday closed with an improving ten-
dency, and values of most descriptions were fully
maintained. The sales amounted to 10,000 bales,
of which 2,000 were taken by the speculators, and
1,000 by the exporters. The Railway Share
Market closed quietly, without any material altera►-
tion in pricer.
In the Foreign and Colonial Produce Markets
there is very little business, owing to the holidays,
but the few transactions concluded privately ex-
hibit no change of importance as regards quo-

tations.
The ackvides from America, which report a re-
sumption of specie payments by the banks, state
that on the 12th inst., the stock of specie in those
establishments exceeded $26,000,000, while the
circulation was only $348,000. The loans and dis-
counts amounted to $96,600,000. During the
year, up to that date, the shipments of specie from
the port of New York were abo it 8,300,0001.
There is a good demand for money to-day in
discount channels, but no pressure, and the appli-
cations are not greater tha❑ can be fully accounted
for by the usual arrangements at the termination
of the year. The terms charged in Lombard-street
are at least per cent. below the minimum, and as
the supply is abundant, a further reduction •f the
official rate is soon expected. Owing to the daily
receipts of gold at the Bank, the total of bullion
will soon reach eleven millions and a quarter, and
if the greater part of the amount received by the
Suffolk and the America is sent in, the next two
balance-sheets will exhibit a material augmenta-
tion, besides a further marked improvement in the
notes and other securities.
During the week ending Dec. 11, the receipts on
the Great Western Railway of Canada were
10,9071. against 13,0751. iu the corresponding
week of 1856, the falling off being 2,1681.
It is stated on the Stock Exchange that the
Bank of France have made a further reduction in
the rate of discount, viz., to 5 per cent., but this
requires confirmation.
The English Funds have manifested renewed
buoyancy, the speculation for the rise being stimu-
lated by the general improvement of the Money
Market. It is thought that when the dividends
are paid, and the transfer books are re opened
numerous investments will be made, which
must have the effect of sustaining values.
Occasianally, however, the upward movement is
checked, and at the present moment the prices are
rather flat, in consequence of few sales. Consols
have been 93i 94, but they are now at the former
point. The New 3 per Cents. are marked 94k,
and the Reduced 941. Exchequer Bills are par
to 2s. premium, and India Bonds 253. discount.
In the Foreign Stock Market a fair amount of
business has been transacted, at rather higher
prices. Turkish 6 per Cents. are 971 I, and the
4 per Cents. 102 ; Mexican 3 per Cents. are
201 1 ;'Peruvian 41 per Cents. 77 ; Russian 4i per
Cents. 981 1 ; Spanish New Deferred, 261 k ; and
Chilian 6 per Cents. 1021.
The following are the nominal prices of Foreign
Stocks :—Grenada Deferred Bonds, 5 6 ; Mexi-
can, 201 201 ; Peruvian 4i per Cents., 76
78 ; ditto 3 per Cents., 52 53 ; Portuguese 3 per
Cents., 441 451 ; Russian 5 per Cents, 106 108 ;
do. 41 per Cents., 97 99 ; Spanish 3 per Cents.,
411141 ; ditto New Deferred, 26 261.
A rather active business has been done in the
Railway Share Market, and in most . instances an
advance of about 1 to 1i per cent. has been realised.
Lancashire and Yorkshire, North British, South-
Eastern, and Midlands, improved 10s. ; Caledonian,
Great Northerns, North Westerns, Ncrth Eastern
(Berwick), and North Eastern (York), 1/. ; and
Eastern Counties, and Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincoln, 1/. 10s. ; Great Westerns were rather
flat, and declined about 10s. ; and Brighton receded
1/. T,lll4,other lines dealt in fully supported former
quotations. In the Foreign lines the transactions
were limited, and prices ruled rather flatter. Paris
and Lyons and Northern of France receded about
ss. The Colonial undertakings have been exceed-
ingly active, particularly the Canadian. Grand
Trunk have advanced as much as 41., and Great
Western, 11. East Indian remained firm.
Mines, Ranks, and Miscellaneous Shares have
• been quiet, and little variation can be reported in
♦alues. Canada Land advanced about 4/.

114CTISH FUNDS.—CLOSING PRICES—THIS DAY.
(From the Of coal List:l
Business done.
a per Cent. Reduced Annuities
3 per Cent. Console Annuities Shut
New 3 per Cent. Annuities 931 4/ 4 ./
fidiA, Rands. £lOOO -
,4)ittor under i;100() 25 d 15
w al-sole fer Account — * - . 934 4 31
Es • ...mar 14111 e., 24d.
4000« .......
S500
Small
• • 2 3 p par I p
PRICES OF FOREIGN FUNDS—THIS DAY.
Milian Bonds, 6 per Cent lO2
Mexican 3 per Cent 204 i i
Ditto Account
Peruvian Bonds; 4i per Cent 77
Ditto ?, per Cent. 522 '
Po:tuguese Bonds,rs per Cent., Con. 1841 •
Ditto 1853, 3 per Cent...., 441
Russian Bonds, 1822, £ St., 5 per Cent lO7
Ditto, 44 per Cent.
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cant.
.39,nish Roods,-3 per Cent
Ditto Account
'Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent.
' Ditto Account . .
Sp mist' Committee Cert. of Coup. not fun. 5 . .
Tarkith-Bends, 6 per cent. • 97k i $
" Ditto Account ..
Mitt(' Anaranteed, 4 per Cent.
Dividends on the above payable in London.
'AIMEE O'CLOCK.
Consols account, Jan. 8 934 4 x d

Among the quickest passages of the sailing transports
to the East has been that of the Agamemnon, which left
Dartmouth on the 14th Aug. and arrived at Calcutta on
" the 16th Nov. The Champion of the Seas and the James
Baines sailed from Portsmouth on the 9th Aug., but did
not reach Calcutta until the 17th and 19th November
respectively.
REDUCTION OF THE SHIP LITTER RATE OF POSTAGE,
--On the Ist January next and thence °neat d, the
Bri-
.Aish rate of postage upon letters despatched from any
port of the United Kingdom by a private ship, whether
steamer or sailing vessel, will be reduced to 61. the half-
ounce, in all cases where it now exceeds that sum. The
charge upon letters above half an ounce in
„weight'
will increase according to the scale for charging Triland
letters. Letters conveyed by private eihirfrom this
innintry to France or Belgium wilt continue liable
toe combined British and, foreign rate of foarpence
the half-ounce; the lettersoonveyed by private ship to
Holland, Hamburgh, or Bremen, will still be charged
with a combined British and foreign rate of ,eightpedet;
the half-ounce, as heretofore.—By command of the Post-
ntaster:General, ROWLAND „Hare Secretary.
DETERMINED SUICiDE IN THE LONDON FIELDS,
RACENET.—Yesterday morning information was issued
from the metropolitan police stations of a most deter-
mined suicide in the London Fields, Hackney, by a
well-dressed man about 28 years of age, who committed
self-destruction by shooting himself, ender the
fallowing -circumetancea :—lt appears the policeman
on duty in the London Fields heard the report of
fire arms, He immediately repaired to the sliet whence
the sound proceeded, and discovered the deceased lying
on the ground, blood issuing from the mouth, and ap-
parently lifeless. The finger of the decea-ed's right
hand was partially bent, and within a few inches of a
pistol recently discharged. A shell was procured, and
the body taken to the dead house to be owned and the
inquest held.
THE IRONMASTERS OF YORKSHIRE.—The dispute be-
tween the masters and men at the Park-gate Iron-works
and Midland Iron Company is at an end. The me re
turn to their work this day (Monday) at former prices.
The attempted reduction of 10 per cent. will, however,
take effect without further notice, should wages suffer
a corresponding reduction In the Staffordshire districts.
Reductions of from 20 to 30 per cent. have b,en made
in the wages of those engaged in the iron trade otWales
and the north of England.
CALEDONIAN RAILWAY COMPANY.—An extraordinary
meeting of the Caledonian Railway Company wash in
Glasgow, on Tuesday afternoon, " for the purpose of gua-
ranteeing in perpetuity a fixed dividend at crate not exceed-
ing 5 per cent. per annum, upon those of the Caledoniai
Railway Granton shares in regaed to which notice had i.ear,
given by the holders thereof of their desire to recove
a fixed guaranteed dividend in perpetuity, in lieu of
the proportion appertaining to the shares held by them
respectively, of the net profits arising from the
railways and works authorised by the Caledonian
Railway (Granton Branches) Act, 1857." Mr. William
Johnston, chairman of the company, occupied the chair,
and explained that the guarantee extended only to the
stock raised by the Caledonian Company, and that the
Duke of Bucclench's 30,0001. of stock was unguaranteed,
A resolution approving of the proposed guarantee was
unanimously carried.