The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-16 00:00:00

CALCUTTA COMMERCIAL.

(From Campbell's Over/anti Price Current, June 2.)
Indigo—The hurricane which passed over Calcutta and the
eastern parts of Bengal on the 14th and 15th ult. has done
much less damage to the plant than was anticipated, and
its effects are not likely to affect the ultimate result, what-
ever that result eventually may be. In fact, it was only in
particular localities, such as low and " cbur" lands, that any
real damage occurred, and the injury done in those places
and elsewhere is becoming rapidly effaced under the influ-
ence, of a hot sun and genial weather. The October plant
particularly in the district of Dacca, suffered most, but the
sowings of that plant were, fortunately, less than usual,
owing to the excessive dearness and bad quality of the seed
then obtainable. The tempest was confined to a section of
Bengal, but the rain which accompanied it extended to
Bhangulpore, Tithsot, and other places, and has greatly im-
proved the plant in those districts. The hurricane caused
much destruction among trees, out offices, and villages. In
violence it was only inferior to that of 1842. In the upper
provinces prospects at present promise well.
The Bombay express, with London news to the Bth of
April, came in on the afternoon of the 14th of May, and the
Oriental steamer, with London dates to the 24th of April,
arrived on the evening of the 29th ult. The commercial in-
telligence by these opportunities is, upon the whole, satis-
factory; the consumption of produce was upon the increase;
the stocks in the hands of retail dealers reduced ; the accounts
from the continental markets favourable, while money cont.,
nued plentiful and extremely easy.
With some exceptions, our export market has been compa-
ratively quiet during the past month. A good demand has
existed for sugar, which has been stimulated to greater acti-
vity by the London advices of the 24th of April.
Saltpetre continues to go forward freely, although prices
have given way about 4a. on the finer refractions.
Rice has been shipped moderately to Great Britain.
The safflower market is in full activity at unchanged
value.

The partial failure of the March bund has limited the
supplies of raw silk, which is in good demand, particularly
native kinds. More silk piece goods have been going for-
ward, holders having at last acceded to the offers of shippers.
The value of linseed is fully maintained.
Opium is quiet. The next sale will take place on the
10th instant.
With the exception of gray shirtings and jaconets, which
have been placed at reduced prices to a large extent, our im-
port market has been dull and depressed, prices having had
markets are discouraging. a downward tendency. Advices from the up-country
fall in value of 2 annas top
ings amount to 151,a0gOlOng. pieces since the Bth ult., showing a
The reported sales of gray shirt-
quality. White shirtings are annas per piece, according to
, and of
demand. A decline of
Cambrics remain in very I?wer in value and neglected.
annail to 1% annas on
6 pies to 1 anna on the low,
a3s9been established
the better descriptions of madapollamis
since date of
and 40 inch)
A large quantity (99,000 pieces, chiefly
sin
inquiry,l nas per
of gray jaconets have changed
our last report, at a reduction of 1 anna to
piece. Low bleached jaconets are in good
but the
better qualities have partaken of the decline on te
Lappets remain dull, and the business done in thei hasys
been for immediate wants. Bookmuslins, owing to the Bur-
mese war, are nearly unsaleable, with increasing stocks. In
mule twist, 40's have fallen 1 pie to 2 pies per morah ; 50's
and 60's 1 pie ; and ;o's to 100's 2 pies to 3 pies ; 20's and
30's maintain their previous value. The bulk of the busi-
ness, amounting to about 1,215 bales in mule twist, was done
in the first halt of the month ; latterly very few transactions
have taken place in that staple. German dye yarn con-
tinues to be sold freely; but scarcely anything has been
done in the British dye. Copper has fallen about 4 annas
per md. in value. Iron remains firm. Spelter has given
way 4 annas to 5 annas per md. Lead is dull and without
report of sale. Tin plates are in good inquiry and look-
ing up.
There has been very little demand for bills of exchange,
and rates have consequently had an upward tendency. Our
quotations at going to press were 2-0,/2 for credits, with
hardly any takers at that rate, and 2-07 ti to 2-1 for
documents.

The money market remains abundantly supplied, and loans
are available on easy terms. In Company's paper New
Fives are wanted at 5-4 premium. Transfer paper has fallen
to 7-0 to 74 premium. The Four per Cents. are difficult
of sale, and not easily moved at our quotations of 88-12 to
89-0 for the Siccas, and 90-8 to 91-0 for the Company's. The
Bank of Bengal is not likely to make any further reduction
in its rates of interest and discount. Shares of that bank are
worth 6,600, but very few are for sale.

Freight gradually fell to about 5-0 per ton since the date
of our last report, but within the last few days they have
recovered what they had lost.

CANTON MARKET REPORT.

HONG-KONG, MAY 24.—We cannot report an active mar-
ket for imports during the month. Prices for yarns and shirt-
ings are lower.
Cotton—Again we have to report a decline, and pros-
pects not favourable for improvement. Bombay quoted at
6.1 to 7.5 taels; Bengal, 6. 8. to 8.4 taels; Madras, 7.4 to
8.8 taels. The sales, 23,000 bales; stock, 58,000 bales,
against 24,000 bales in 1851.

-Cotton Yarn—Large imports having taken places, prices
gave way. Nos. 16-24 at 26 dolls. to 27 dolls.; Nos. 88-32
at 32 dolls. to 34 dolls. ; Nos. 38-42 at 33 dolls. to 361 dolls.
Longcloths —The better descriptions of grays and the me-
dium qualities of whites are quoted lower. Grays, 1 doll. 90c.
to 2 dolls. 75c.; whites, 1 doll. 70c. to 2 dolls. 95c.

Woollens—Spanish stripes—holders are firm; quotations
the same as last month. For an assortment, 70c. to 1 doll.
10c. • long ells, 6 dolls. 80c. to 7 dolls. 10c. for assorted,
camlets (English), 18 dolls. to 21 dolls. ; Dutch, 21 dolls. to
26 dolls.
Iron—The market is steady. Sales about 5,500 piculs ;
nail rods, 2 dolls. sc. to 2 dolls. 15c.; bar, square, 1 doll.
90c. to 2 dolls. sc. • fiat, 1 dol. 90c. to 2 dolls. 5c.; round,
2 dolls. 30c. to 3 dolls. 80c.
Cochineal-90 dolls. to 115 dolls.
Turkey Opium—Holders are asking 470 dolls.
Tea—The market during the past month has been quiet.
The price of black tea is without alteration, in green a de-
taels, leaving a stock of
cline, has taken place on the finer descriptions ; about 16
chops of Congou settled for 12 to 15i
45 chops. Little business has been done in green tea.
lb.

Export from Canton from Ist of July, 1851, to
10th May, 1852 ... ••• 34,500,000
~ Shanghai from Ist of July, 1851,
to 10th of May, 1852 ...

... 28,300,000

62,800,000

Export from Canton from Ist of July, 1850, to
19th of May, 1851 ••• :•• 39,800,000
Shanghai from lst of July, 1850,
I,
to 19th of May, 1851 "'

... 21,200,000

61,000,000
Exchange on Eng t-/land-4s. 4d. to 4‘,1 India—Company's
bills 414 d. for first-class
paper. American credits, 45. sd.
bills have ruled at 220 r. to 221 r.
Freight to London may be quoted 21. IN.—at present no
vessel loading.
From Shanghai our advices are to the 10th inst. For im-
ports the market continued favourable ; in exports little had
been done.
Tea—The market has been inactive, and transactions very
limited.
Silk—The business in this article was small, as there was
little remaining. A few bales bad been purchased at previous
rates. Export from China since the Ist of Juldye,lla.b9oouct.
19,000 against 20,000 last year.
Longcloths—A good demand existed for gray and whites
to the beginning of the month, since when the
I sales were
small. Grays, 2 dolls. 12c. to 3 dolls. ; whites,
to 3 dolls.
Woollens—Spanish stripes were firm ; for
bgiololsd:nlodmoils.nl.
to 1 doll. 15c. Long ells, assorted, 7 dolls 20c: tot:
2d2o6llr:3ll2olnyeco:
Exchange on England—Oriental bank
4s. 6d.; on India, Company's paper, 225 r
buyers.
Freights—The Celestial (American), the only vessel on
the berth, engaged for Liverpool at 41.

Arrivals from Great Britain—At Hong-kong, April 24,
the Surprise, from London; may 15, the Oriental, from
London ; the Chrysolite, from Liverpool. At Shanghai, no
arrivals.
Departures for Great Britain—From Hong-kong, May 23,
the Mary Graham, for London. From Shanghai, April 25,
the Geelong, for London; April 17, the Katharine Sharer,
for London; May 8, the Celestial, for Liverpool.

AWFUL FIRE AND DoSS OF LIFE.
One of the most fearful conflagrations that has occurred
in the city
of London for some time past broke out laic
evening, between the hours of six and seven o'clock, and' iiri,
dependently of destroying a vast amount of property, vil„:
attended with fatal consequences to two of the firemen s
longing to the London Fire Establishment,
in-
juries to several others. e, gaydon-
The scene of this melancholy catastrophe w
v are con-
square, where the Blackwell Railway Conni." Haydon-
structing a branch line from their warehoittissesu.
.la order to
and merlon
square to their main line at the Minories station' one por-
do won
so they were obliged to cut an opening t",-; gra and Pot-
tion of the warehouses belonging to B.Li 0
ea_
n af-nn the south-east
ter, sail-makers and ship-chandlers, sal'
that art of the property left
side of the square, and it was in t p
_.
standing that the fire commence:taw one-half of the build-
At the time of the outbreak P
filbleeidn;fith sails and other articles
and of an equally inflammable
usarly,ti_
bit the fact of one of the side walls
uinsegdwiansthhteantrdriindge,
we
aeds-f-or effectual assistance, the flames
ieseflsooor:i.ginTalhlyeselivere of great
character; this, couels_ded 0, draught to enter, and before
being taken down, ar
were driven into ste, vre
sufficient time
Pfretmh
height and leno.gun" 'manufactory. home
had e
bill
of thebeing as
sail-makers
Messrs. Putt'n ',,,t in the various floors made a precipitate
and warehous.ett hoped that all hands •
retreat, aud
fo rt iate, but some doubt in the place were
exists at present on that
"Plan)? -ihounse who had left we
point, mho - re unable to account for some
have not yet
others w. been seen.
with es little delay as possible several of the neighbouring
engines of the London Brigade, the Custom House, and
parish, reached the spot, bringing with them large bodies of
firemen, and Mr. Fogo, the chief officer of the district.
plenty of water having been procured, this powerful force
was brought to bear upon the fire, but it still continued to
rage with such fury that it was deemed necessary to send for
further aid, and very quickly numerous other engines of the
London establishment and West of England Company drove
down, all powerfully manned, and the latter under the com-
mand of Mr. Connorton.
The sight which then presented itself was one that can
with difficulty be described, for every floor, from the front to
the extreme back, was wrapped in flames, which shot forth
in vast sheets, curling round the window-sills, end on meet-
ing with such obstructions fell backwards half over the
square, so as to penetrate one of the large houses used as
offices ou the northern aide of the square, and some others at
the south side.
The firemen saw the only chance remaining of saving any
of the many contiguous buildings was to convey the hose
from their respective engines completely round the structure
on fire. This they accomplished in a very brief period, and
had just got into admirable working order, when the roof
fell in, which caused three of the upper floors to drop. The