The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-05-13 00:00:00

LONDON MONEY

MARKET AND CITY

NEWS

WEDNESDAY EVENING.—The conflagration of Hamburgh
is, naturally, the principal topic of conversation in the city
to-day, and the conjectures which are made as to its effect on
commerce, are much at variance. 'While some arc disposed
to believe the loss of property is most frightful, others are
inclined, on the authority of their letters, to believe that the
alarm, in a commercial point of view, has been rather too
great, and that the warehouses of first-rate importance that
have been destroyed are comparatively few in number, the
ornamental part of the city having chiefly suffered. The ad-
verse winds have kept out many vessels sailing from western
parts, and are on this occasion considered to have proved most
fortunate, as the warehouses are much less abundantly stocked
than they would have been had all those vessels arrived
which are due. Some were of opinion, when the news of the
lire first arrived, that the quantities of sugar, coffee, and
other important articles of consumption, which it would de-
stroy, would have a material effect on the price of those arti-
cles in the European market ; but it is said, on the other
band, that even allowing the conflagration to be as great as
the most despondent are inclined to believe, the abundance
of the articles in Europe is so great, that the destruction of
the quantity ill any given town could make no essential alter-
ation in their value. The Bank of Hamburgh, according to
some of the mercantile letters, has given notice of a speedy
return to payment.
Some additional facts found their way into the city to-day
from the packet which had arrived at Hull from Hambargh.
These are to the effect that the fire is got under, its commu-
nication having been stopped by various explosions. Some
have even reported that it is extinguished, but this seems too
early a period for the knowledge of the complete extinction
of so extensive a fire. Among the various rumours in con-
nexion with this subject which have spread about, is one that
a large amount of Spanish and Mexican bonds has been de-
stroyed, the former to the extent of nearly £1,000,000. This
report is most likely an invention to operate on the foreign
market, as no sufficient details have arrived on which to
ground it, with even a semblance of probability. The ru-
mour that some of the bullion houses at Hamburgh have suf-
fered a considerable loss by the melting of the gold in bars,
as it is communicated without any reference as to amount,
bears a greater appearance of authenticity ; but all, for the
present, is mere conjecture.
The stock market, under the general depression occasioned
by the calamity already adverted to, and the opinion that the
insurance companies here will shortly appear as sellers, to
liquidate the claims which the Hamburgh houses may have
upon them, were heavy in appearance, and prices declined a
trifle. Consols closed, for money, 92+. to x ; and for the
account, 92 to -; Exchequer-bills, 395. to 41s. preunuta ;
India Stock, 249 to 250; Bank Stock, 167 to 168; 3 per
Cents. Reduced, 911 ; New 31 per Cents., 1001 to ; 31 per
Cents. Reduced, 99a ; Long Annuities, 12 9-16 ; and India
Bonds, 19s. premium.
Dutch stock was slightly depressed from the same cause.
The 21 per Cents. left off 521 to I ; the 5 per Cents., 1001
to 11; Spanish Actives closed 22k to ; ditto. New, 22k to
; Portuguese 5 per Cents., 371 to 38 ; ditto, 3 per Cents.,
221 to 23 ; Brazilian, 67 to GS ; and Belgian, 1011 to 1021.