The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-02-13 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MONEY

MARKET

(From the Sunday Times.)
CITY, SATURDAY.—The impediments which have for the
last three weeks been placed in the way of important mercantile
pursuits, by the suspension of the navigation of the Thatnes,
have at length been removed, and a more active scene than
that which had presented itself " below bridge" yesterday and
to-day has seldom been witnessed. Hundreds of vessels—we
might perhaps safely say thousands—were in motion, after being
either docked or blocked in by the ice in the sides of the river.
and activity was once more restored to the many great interests
which are embraced in the commerce and navigation of the em-
pire. It is satisfactory to hear, that notwithstanding an immense
fleet which has been waiting for weeks at and below Blackwell
for a clear river, and the number of vessels which seized the
first opportunity of proceeding on their outward voyages, there
were no accidents of any serious importance. The re-opening
of the navigation of the Thames has increased business iu most
departmeuts of commerce, and all the leading imports from the
East and West Indies, from China, Russia, and the British
North American Colouies were buoyant. The Tea trade still
continues to advance. The returns for the last year show that
the total quantity of Tea on which duty was paid for home con-
sumption, as well as for exportation, was nearly 34,000,01 A/ lbs
weight, of which nearly 22,000,000 lbs were cleared from the
bonded warehouses of the port of London. Notwithstanding
the competition which might have been expected at the outports,
on the abolition of the East India Company's commercial pri-
vileges, the port of London will be still the bead quarters for
ciinducting this important branch of commerce. In the ports
i
of Scotland, duty on about 1,800,000 lbs of Tea were paid n the
past year, and in Irish ports' on 3,000,000 lbs. The exports in
the past year from London and Liverpool amounted to 4,700,000
lbs. Although the total quantity cleared_ last year for use in
the United Kingdom was less than in the former year, the
trade is represented as being iu a very healthy condition.
The markets for West India produce are in a very firm state, '
and as the stocks were still decreasing, holderswere anticipating
a further rise in prices. The stock of British Plantation Sugar
is now only about 13,700 hhds and 1,6(X) trcs, against 21,400''
hhds and 2000 trcs in the corresponding week of last year, Of
Coffee, the stock of British Plantation in bond is cnly 2,500
hhds and 1,000 barrels, &c., against 3,900 hhds and 2,6(X) bar-
rels and bags ou the Bth of February, 1837. The quantity of
Ruin in stock exhibits also a considerable deficiency, which
will-be increased by the additional quantities which are required
to supply the outstanding -contracts which have been entered
into for the use of her Majesty's navy. The present stock of
Rum is only 9,000 puncheons and 1,100 hhds, while at the same
period in the last year there were in importers' hands 11,800
puncheons and 1,260 hhds. In the stock of Mauritius sugar
the decrease has been frotn about 35,000 bags in February last,
to 25,000 bags, 'the present stock.
There has been again a very limited amount of business done
in the Grain markets this week, the state of the river having
prevented many supplies from coming in. As the navigation
is ugam resumed, a most animated market is looked for next
week, and the trade have not been desirous of buying at the
present rate. ,
In the absence of any more recent advices from Canada than
that noticed in our last week's summary, the English Stock
Market, up to yesterday afternoon, has been kept in a state of
much uncertainty. The apprehension that the "untoward"
event of the seizure and destruction of the Caroline near Navy
Island, by the British, might lead to some serious misunder-
standing with the government of America, added to the general
currency of rumours of all extensive increase in the 'naval and
military forces of the kingdom, and, according to some accounts,
'the calling out of the militia, produced many sellers of Stock.
The price of Consols has been reduced again to 9141. but it has
since rallied to 92, closing yesterday, however, at 91i 92. Should
the next accounts from America prove favourable, a consider-
able rise may be anticipated in the Money Market. while, on
the other hand, a different state of things would occasion a
heavy depression. It is not, however, true that the public have
been sellers of stock to any considerable extent, the depressions
which have taken place this week, from 92 to 91i, having 'oeen
produced by the speculative sales, which were not ceutinued
with any spirit after Thursday : and hence the subsequent reac-
tion tool; 92. The prices of the other Stocks have been ,te jected
to a limited fluctuation, and have improved upon time lowest
average of the week as fallows :—The Three-and-a-Half per
Cents from 100 to 1004; New Three-and-a-Half per Cents
from 994 to 92i ; and Reduced Annuities from 92,1 to 921. The
demand for money may soon be expected to increase. anu heavy
amounts of Exchequer Bills have made their aPpearance, which
have reduced the preinium from. 61 to 56, and of India Bonds
from 59 to 56. Bank of England Stock is Ito ll- per cent lower
than last week, and East fndia Stuck about 1 per cent (keeper
—the latter was yesterday 263, and the forther 20-1. .
There is scarcely a feature of any importance to notice m the
business transacted in the Foreign Bond Market this week. In
the hope that a speedy remittance may be made, as promised in
the lest accounts from Bogota, to pay a fractional part of the
dividends in arrear, the speculators have raised the price of the
Bonds from 251 to 264. Mexican Bonds have also risen' froin
274 to 271. and. Peruvian to 191 20. The European Bonds, with
the excepaion of Spanish and Portuguese, were all in fair request.
Russian. liave reached I 191; Danish 744 ; Austrian 1064 ;
French Five per Cents 110, Exchange 25 f. 50c. ; and Dutch
Five per Cents 1043. The only variations in the Portuguese
Five per Cents have been between 26% and 274; in the Three
per Cents between 17% and 18; and in Spanish between IN and
19. The lowest prices just quoted are those which were attain-
able yesterday.
In Shares the amount of busiues done this week, though con-
siderable, is not so great as we have previously noticed, and
with a very few exceptions, the prices have declined. The
London and Birmingham Railway Shares have fluctuated this
week between 163 and 165, or 73 and 75 prem., the Brighton
between 9 and 44. or -I and 3;,f prem. ; Birmingham. and Derb y
between 17 and 17)o, or 3 and 3hs, disc.; the Greenwich be-
tween 16Y3 and 17, or 31 and 3 disc.,. the Blackwell between
31 or 41, or I, to 136 prena.; the Southampton (old shares) be-
tween 39 and -10, or 11 and 10 disc.; the Manchester and
ds, between 31 and 33%, or 6 and 8.-t- prem.; the North
land between 25 and 20 X, or par and % prem.; and the
nth Eastern and Devon between 5% and 61 or li and % disc.
These have bedn the principal changes this week in Railway
i illilffira i JR,Paaliim tilivssuPpil üboracril"ltilleT.l sliVist.it
disc., and 4 preen. British North American at 18 and 18%,
or 2to 14 disc. London and Westminster at 211 or 1% prem.,
and the London Joint Stock Bank at 7 or par.
HALF-PAST TWELVE.—The periodical statement of the lia-
bilities and assets of the Bank of England have been made pub-
lic, and by it we find that a further increase in the stock of
bullion to the amount of £648,000 has taken place, while the
circulation has beets increased £306,000. In the deposit
account there has been an increase also of £274,000, but the
securities in the hands of the Corporation have been diminished
to the extent of £27,000. In the amount of the undivided.
profits of the Bank, a slight increase has taken place, • viz.,
from £2,509,000 to £2,640,000, The present return gives the
circulation at £18.206,000. The deposits at £11,266,000, the
securities at 22,569,000, and the stock of bullion at £9,543,000.
By accounts from Barbedoes of the 6th ult., we learn that
a proclamation had been issued by his Excellency, the Go-
vernor, the object of which is to put the apnreutices throughout
the island in the way of having their classifications rectified in
instances where they appear to have been improperly regis-
tered dials.
Accounts froin Nova Scotia to the 24 ult., are destitute of
news of any interest.
From the Cape of Good Hope we have advices a few days
later, viz., to the 26th of November, all was quiet on the fron-
tier. The Lieutenant-Governor had had a most satisfactory
conference with the Caffi es of T. Slambrie's tribe in their own
country.
In the funds Phut little alteration has taken place; Consols
both fur Money and account are quoted from 92 to 9/g. Ex-
chequer bills are at SO pm. ;
Bank Stock at 201 to 24%, and Re-
duced Three-aud Half per cents. at 1001
In the Foreign Market Spanish Consols are at 18 s, Por-
tuguese Five per Cents. at 27 li Columbian at 264, sod Dutch
Two and-a-Half per Cents. at 534.
In Shares Some steadiness prevails. The quotations up to
this hour are nearly those given at the close of business yester-
day afternoon.