The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-19 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 19, 1852.

GATHERING OF THE VINE.

The ancient types and figures descriptive of the
vintage are still literally true. The march of agri-
cultural improvement seems never to have sot foot
amid the vines. As it was with the patriarchs
in the East, so it is with the modern children of
men. The goaded ox still bears home the high-
pressed grape too, and the feet of the treader are
still red in the purple juice which maketh glad the
heart of man. The scene is at once full of beauty,
and of tender and even sacred associations. The
songs of the vintagers, frequently chorussed from one
part of the field to the other, ring blithely into the
bright summer air, pealing out above the rough
jokes and hearty peals of laughter shouted hither and
thither. All the green jungle is alive with the moving
figures of men and women, stooping among the vines, or
,wring pairs end basketfuls of grapes out to the grass-
grown cross roads, along which the labouring oxen
drag the rough vintage carts, groaning and cracking as
they stagger along beneath their weight of purple
tubs heaped high with the tumbling masses of luscious
fruit. The congregation of every age and both sexes, and
the careless variety of costume, add additional features
of picturesqueness to the scene. The white haired old
man labours with shaking hands to fill the basket
which his black eyed imp of a grandchild carries rejoic-
ingly away. Quaint broad-brimmed straw and felt hats
—handkerchiefs twisted like turbans over straggling elf
locks—swarthy skins tanned to an olive brown—black
fishing eycs—and hands and feet stained in the abound-
ing juices of the precious fruit—all these southern pecu-
liarities of costume and appearance supply the vintage
with its peasant characteristics. The clatter of
tongues is incessent. A fire of jokes and jeers, of
saucy questions and more saucy retorts—of what
in fact, in the humble and unpoetic but expressive ver-
nacular, is called " chaff"—is kept up with a vigour
which seldom flag, except now and then, when the
butt end of a song, or the twanging close of a chorus
strikes the general fancy, and procures for the morceau
a lusty encore.—.Reache's Claret and Olives.

over proof are from 3s 41 to 4s, fine 2s 101 to 3s 31,
good mid to good 30 to 34 over 2; 41 to 23 83, mid 2;
to 2s 3d, and low 24 to 28 over 1s 101 to Is 11d. A
brisk demand exists for Brandy, and large parcel;
have been taken for shipping, the previous cur-
rency being well sustained. Cognac best brands
of the vintege of 1851 realised 45 21 to 43 44,
1850 ditto 4s 51 to 4s 74, 1849 ditto 4s 91 to 4; lid,
1848 ditto 53 3.1 to 53 51, older 53 7d to 63 6d, low to
mid 3s 44 to 43, and Bordeaux ls lld to 2s 21. There
is a doll sale for British•made Spirit, with sellers at
9a 81 oesh, Gin 83 3d for 22 under, and 17 ditto 8s 93.
There are now few buyers of Geneva, and the value is
is 81 to 1s 94, and floe 23 to 2; 44 per gallon.
INDIGO.--To-day the demand was brisk for East India
at the quarterly sales, and the previous advance well
sustained for all sorts. Of 666 chests passed, 23 were
withdrawn, and 200 taken in, leaving 433 sold. Of the
total passed (amounting to 5,973 chests), the quantity
disposed of is actually 3,769 cheats. Of Guatemala 100
serous sold to-day; very low lean to mid Cortes from
23 lid to 33 61, mid to good Sabres 2s 103 to 4s 61.
COCHINEAL.-To-day there was a reluctance to opts-
rate, and prices declined 11 per lb; at auction 300 bags
were only in part sold, Honduras went at 3; lid to 54
for low to flue black, Java 33 10d to 4,, low Silvers
2; Bd, Mexican black 33 91 to 4s 44, Silvers 3; 61 to
3s 71 per lb.
PROVISIONS -New Irish Butter is offered at a further
redaction. The rates taken for fine Carlow, Clonmel,
and Kilkenny are 783 to 803. Waterford 77s to 80;, Li-
merick 70a to 723, and fourth Cork 57s to 58s
landed. On beard, fine Limerick are to be obtained
at 61s for delivery from May to December, and
Cork at 70s for next month's shipment. Old Butter
met with a slow sale at 453 to 603. Friezland, fine at
703 to 735, surplus and inferior 603 to 633, Holland,
fine 60; to 683, inferior 54s to 565, Leer and Emden, fine
68s to 665, inferior 50a to 543, Holstein and Kiel, fine
733 to 75s per cwt. • English has been dealt in with
caution 56; to 10s, Fresh 65 64 to 108 6d per dozen lbs.
There is no general reduction 'for Bacon. The rates
taken for Irish are 49; to 435, for sizeable 473 to
50s, for heavy Hamburgh 47s to 41s, and sizeable
49a to 50s ; middles are only in moderate request, and
a desire is evinced to sell at from 443 to 46,. In
Navy Provisions little 11 now doing; the rates asked are,
however, for Irish India Pork 132; 6d to 1353 per trc.
Prime Mess 753 to 77; 63 per barrel. Beef, Irish India
120 a to 1253 per tre, Mess 1003 to 1103, and Ame-
rican 95s to 1003. A good sale exists for Hams, Irish
at 46; to 603, and English 603 to 633. For Le there
is a dull sale, and a desire is evinced to sell; Irish blad-
dered at 54s to 593, keg and firkin 46; to 525; Ham-
burgh bladdered 553 to 583, and American 53s to 545.
In Cheese sales are upon a small scale; Edam 335 to
425, Gouda 333 to 425, Kanter 18; to 183 6d, and Ame-
rica 36; to 423.

OILS.-.There is an increasing demaad for Seal, and
better prices have bsen obtained; Pale realizing 321 103
to 334 and other sorts 291 103 to 311 103 •per ton.
Co( is held firmly at 341 103, and a fair
business is doing. Southern is in small supply, and
there are several buyers at from 321 to 351 for common
to fine. The upward movement has ceased for Sperm,
yet there is no decrease in operations; at auction 40
tuns were sold at 871 to 871 15s, and inferior 851 103 to
861 103. Headmatter is worth 911 to 93/. A
free sale still prevails for Palm, and prices con-
tinue to improve, fine and good quality selling at 27s
to 27s 6d per (3,4. Cocoa Nut Oil is more in request,
and a less quantity is on offer, the rates obtained for
Cochin are 33a to 355, Ceylon 32s 6d to 345, and Sydney
30s to 323. Trade is dull for Linseed Oil, and prices
are still improving, and range at 27s 6d to 27s 9d on the
spot. Purchases in Rape Oil are of importance, there
is an a VatlC3 ; Foreign Palo realising 32s 6d to 333,
English 323.
TALLow.—Hulders of Russian are firm, and require
363 Gd to 37s on the spot for fine yellow candle; still
only limited purchases have been made. A good deal
has been done for delivery in last six months of the year
at 37s 6.i to 383, with not free sellers. A fair sale
prevails for home melted, and 363 6d is the last quoted
cash. Of Australian 300 casks at auction were mostly
disposed of ; beef from 83s to 353 very ord 31s to 32e;
mutton 343 61 to 375. 650 packages South American
343 to 37s 3.1. Fur auction 800 packages Tallow are
declared.