The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-31 00:00:00

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

(From the London New Prier Carrel, of Dee 31 '
Sues R.—The Gazette average price is now 37s 7.1(1,
in 1838 it was 35s 10d, and in 1837 41s 41d. The stock
of British Plantation Sugar is now 31,765 hhds and trs,
which 3,538 more than last year at the same period. The
stock of Mauritius is 52,309 bags, being 2,049 more than
last year. The stock of Bengal is 33,185 bags, which is
16,851 more than last year. The delivery of British Plan.
tation Sugar for the last week was 1,457 hhds and tea,
being 52 more than during the same time last year. The
delivery of Mauritius was 3,064 bags, which 771 more than
last year. The delivery of Bengal was 1,245 bags, being
358 more than during the corresponding week last year.
Ritsttsirs—The gaocers have purchased Refined Goods
to a fair extent during the last two days, and have paid
76s 6d for standard lumps. In Pieces and Bastards there
has not been much business doing, but prices have under-
gone no variation ; the better kinds are the most in request.
Treacle has been in good demand, and prices have advanced
to Os 9d to 32s for common; in the best old make sales
have been made at 35s per cwt. Bonded Crushed Sugar
is wanted, and 34s 6d is readily given for present delivery,
and 34s 3d to wait a month ; at these rates there is not
much to be had. Dutch may be had at 31s 6d on board
at Amsterdam.
EAST INDIA. —The demand privately for Bengal is only
for small parcels, but prices remain firm, particularly for
coloury kinds ; 2,000 bags white are declared for auction
on Friday next. Manilla is wanted by the Refiners, and
the rates quoted have been paid privately for several par-
cels. Siam and Java are held firmly at the rates quoted,
at which small purchases have been made.
To-day there was a good deal of inquiry for Manilla
for refining, and about 2 000 bags were disposed of at 20s
to 20s 6d for middling brown. Java was sought after,
and 20s to 20s 6d paid for small parcels of middling brown,
and 22s for fair grey.
MA I'RITIUS. —Prices have undergone no variation since
we last wrote; but the operations by private contract have
been limited, the deliveries from the warehouses hawever
have been good. For public sale to-morrow 6,000 bags are
declared ; other sales will be shortly announced. There
have been several arrivals.
FOREIGN.—For yellow Havannah former rates arc re-
quirrd, but there has not been much passing by private
contract ; an improvement in the demand is, however,
looked for, and some parties are not inclined to sell at
present rates : white is totally neglected.
Rum, BRANDY, AND HOLLANDS. --TIIC merchants still
refusing to accept lower rates for Rum, have caused the
operations in all descriptions to be very limited ; if they
would accept rather lower prices it would lead to a fair
business, buyers of proof Leewards at 3s 2d, but no sellers
under 3s 3d per gallon ; the quantity remaining in first
hands is by no means large. For the small par.
eels of East India Rum lately imported 3s is asked for
proof, and 3s 7d to as 8d for 10 per cent. overproof.
Brandy of good quality is in fair request for home use as
well as for exportation, and prices remain firm, but for
common sorts there are few buyers, and Bordeaux may be
purchased at 2a 7d per gallon. Geneva is fully as dear, and
the operations have been to a fair extent. British Corn
Spirits are less in request, arid some of the distillers are
willing to make contracts at 10s 2d per gallon.
COFFER.---The clean qualities of West India are much
wanted by the borne trade, but business is restricted by
private contract, in consequence of the small supply at mar.
ket, and prices have again improved. Jamaica and Domi-
nica have been disposed of to a fair extent ; middling at
124 s to 1265, good middling 130 s, fine fine ordinary 116 s
to 1208, good and fine ordinary 110 s to 1135; fine mid
Jamaica, of which there is scarcely any to be met with,
has brought 1403 per cwt ; 100 casks arc declared for sale
on Thursday and Friday : the ships arrived from the West
Indies have again brought only a small quantity of
Coffee The stack in first hands is reduced to a small
compass. East India and other clean descriptions
admissible for home use are held firmly, and the trade
still entertain a favourable opinion of the article.—ln
Java a fair business has been transacted by private con-
tract at previous rates; good bold pale quality has
been disposed of at 80s, at bulked at 76s 6d to 77s per
cat; 2,000 bags are declared for auction on Tuesday
next. Mocha has been sought after, but business of
moments has been prevented in consequence of the re.
duced stock ; for common green 1143 to 1153 has been
paid. Ceylon in small parcels has been disposed of at 105 s
for good crd, and superior quality at 1068 to 108 s; 2.600
bags are declared for auction on Thursday. Of' the clean
sorts of Brazil there is little to be met with.; unclean
kinds are more in favour, and several parcels have been dis-
posed of at 48s for good ordinary Rio. Sumatra, Suma-
rang and Mysore in small parcels have been disposed orat
our quotations; for public sale on Bth January, 3,450 bags
Laguayra are advertised. Several vessels have arrived
from the Cape with Coffee during the last few days,
amongst which is a cargo of fine pale Cuba, consist-
ing of 566 casks, 150 trcs, 535 bags, which will be shortly
brought to public sale, and will no doubt be taken by the
trade, as a substitute for middling Jamaica. If the Com-
missioners of Excise should persist in the course they
have commenced, that is of seizing Chicory found on
premises where Coffee is retailed, it will much increase the
consumption of the latter article. Importers of Foreign
are not inclined to reduce their pretension, but the.r are
still few buyers, and the operations in St. Domingo are not
worth enumerating ; but of Bratill, 600 bags have been
disposed of within the range of our quotations.
TEA. —For black and green descriptions of Free Trade
Tea a good demand prevailed from the trade up to the close
of last week, and the merchants obtained higher prices—
for common Congou for cash 2s Vid was paid, and 2s 41d
to 2s 5d with a prompt; Twankay was disposed of cur-
rently at 2s 5d to 2s sid for money, 2s 6d to 2s 61c1 with
a prompt, and common Hyson 3s 3d to 3i 4d ; at these
rates large parcels were disposed of. In Company's Con-
gou large purchases were made at the improved rates of
2s 40 to 2s 5d for cash, and 2s 6d to 2s 61d with three
mouths prompt; but yesterday there was less life in the
market, and but few purchases were made in free trade,
the merchants, however, refused to reduce their preten-
sions ; Company's Congou, however, was not held so
firmly, and small saes were made in some cases at 2s 4:3-d
fur cash, but holders generally were not disposed to sell at
this figure. The deliveries of Tea from the warehouses
since we last wrote have been 292 000Ibs. Accounts from
Canton may be looked for about the end of the end of this
week or the commencement of next ; but no news can be
received as to the instructions sent out by Government to
Captain Elliot before the latter part of next May.
To-day there was not much business doing in the Tea
market, but holders were not inclined to sell on the terms
of yesterday ; a large proportion of the Tea declared for
Monday next not being held by the merchants, but being
in second hands, it is supposed that it will not be offered
for sale ; the latest prices paid are, for Company's Congou,
money, 2s sd, credit, 2s *6:l to 2s sid. Free Trade
Congou, cash 2s 4d, with a prompt 2s 5d to 2s 51d.
Twankay common, money and with a prompt, 2s 5d to
2s 64d per lb.

_
SPICES.—BIack Pepper of common quality is in request,
Sumatra at 3id, there arc buyers to some extent at 3id,
but no sellers thereat. Pimento dull of sale, but not offered
cheaper. Cassia Lignea is held firmly at late rates, but
business is prevented in consequence of the small supply.
In other articles no variation. To-day 34d was paid for
some parcels of common Sumatra Pepper.
INDIGO.—The near approach of the quarterly sales of
East India cause buyers to take only sufficient to supply
their immediate wants; and the purchases since we last
wrote have been very limited for home use as well as for ex-
portation ; but the merchants are not inclined to submit to any
further reduction, and prices remain the same as last quoted,
which are 8d to 4d per lb under those of October rates ;
fur auction on the 21st January, 6,400 chests are declared.
Spanish in small parcels has been disposed of ou former
terms : 200 serons are declared for public sale. The de-
liveries of Indigo are still small for home use as well as
for shipping.
Rica.—The announcement of 7,000 bags Java for
auction to-morrow, and 5,000 bags Bengal for auction on
the Bth January, have caused the operations by private
contract to be limited, but full prices are required, parti.
cularly for good bold white dessriptions, of which the sup-
ply is short. The arrivals have again been large. For
Carolina the Grocers pay 34s to 383 for small parcels,
which is 2s to 4s lower.

TALLOW. -- Previous rates have been supported for
P. Y. C. on the spot, and the demands has been
very good from Chandlers as well as Soap-makers, to
supply their immediate wants, and at the present quo-
tation of 493 for first quality; the merchants are not
anxious to sell, although the stock is 10,000 casks
larger than last year at this time. For delivery
in February and March a good many purchasers have been
made at 48i 9d per cwt. The clearance from the ware-
houses have again been large. Town Tallow has been
disposed of to a fair extent at previous quotations.
This afternoon there was only a limited business tran-
aacted in Russian Tallow, but at the rates quoted holders
are firm.

PRIZE FIGHTI NG.—On Thursday morning there
was an attempt to get up a pugilistic combat on the
Itace Hill at Brighton, which it cost our local autho-
rities considerable pains to defeat. It seems that on
Monday or 'Tuesday last a fight was planned at a low
public-house in Darby. place between a man named
Smith, an umbrella-maker of this town, and one Luke
Lock. It was to come off on Thursday, on which day,
notwstbstanding the torrents of rain which were falling,
some thousands of people collected at an early hour.
On receiving information of what was going on, the
High Constable and his Hcadboroughs set off for the
spot to preserve the peace. They broke into the ring.
and, despite the hissings of the mob, captured one of
the pugilists, Lock, who was seated on the knees of his
second. Smith made his escape, and took refuge in the
before-mentioned public-house, which was filled with
above a hundred persons of the lowest grade of society.
Here he attempted to bar himself in by placing a bed-
stead against the door of the chamber in which he was,
but Solomon, ascertaining where lie was, broke in and
captured him. Yesterday morning both men were
brought up before the Magistrates, and exhibited a
couple of black eyes each, the effects of the unfinished
combat of the previous day. They are both light
men, of very sinister countenances. Mr. Basevi said
they must each find a surety in 101. to appear to
answer the charge on Monday, or, in default, be com-
mitted till that. Erne. The men were then put hack,
and warrants issued against the seconds on the above
occasion.—Brijlaton Herald.

The number of patents taken out in Paris in
1832 amounted to 51,738 ; in 1839 the number reached
70,491.

We regret to state that this gentleman was se-
riously injured on the 17th current, when with the Fife
fox-Iriunds, immediately above Seggie, near to Milna-
thort. His horse becoming unmanageable, the gallant
Cclonel came in contact with the bough of a tree—the
breast and pit of the stomach receiving the contusion.
He was thrown to the ground with great violence,
stunned, though not quite insensible.

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1839.

THE ART-UNION.

We copy the following address from a publication,
entitled the " Art-Union," which contains much useful
information on the fine arts. We halve occasionally
made extracts from this Journal, and observed the gene-
ral impartiality which it displays. We trust, for its
own character, as well as for the benefit of itsreaders, that
the Editor will adhere to the rule he has laid down to
express candidly his opinion, without regard to the
wishes or the interests of any person or party, and to
be particularly careful against a practice, which is but
too common, of allowing one artist to calumniate and
run down the works of anothei :
A Second Volume of " The Art-Union" will com-
mence with the New Year. In addressing our readers,
we occupy a very different position from that in which
we were placed, when, in February last, we undertook
the charge of a publication exclusively devoted to the
interests of Artists and the Arts. Our expectations
would have been fully answered, if our success had
reached a moiety of that we have actually experienced.
The work may now be regarded as established ; it has
earned a good reputation ; it is fixed on a safe and firm
basis ; it has, undoubtedly, accomplished some of the
objects held steadily in view ; the Public, as well as the
Artists, have liberally responded to the call made upon
them ; its monthly circulation has averaged nearly 3,000
copies (the first, second, and third numbers having been
reprinted), and its future prospects arc, to the highest
degree, encouraging.
Our readers wilt do us the justice to remember that,
in our prospectus, we put forth no lofty pretensions ;
our hope was to disappoint by exceedinas not falling
short of, our promises. We believed that a Publication
—resembling rather a Newspaper than a Magazine—
that should communicate to Artists, from every available
source, intelligence in which they are interested, and, at
the same time, contain such professicnil information as
might be supplied by persons of matured experience,
could not fail to prosper, if conducted with right mo-
tives, and upon independent principles.
Our pledge was "to exert energy and industry, and
to spare neither labour nor expense," in order " to sup-
ply to artists accurate and useful information upon all
subjects in which they are interested, and to the public
the means of justly ascertaining and estimating the
progress of Art, both at home and abroad." This
pledge we believe—and the success we have achieved
justifies us in believing—we have fully redeemed.
Such success is to be attributed, mainly, to the ho-
nesty of purpose to which we fearlessly lay claim. We
have acted up to our imperative duty—of expressing,
in every instance, the opinions we entertained, without
regard to the wishes, or the interests of any person, or
any party. We have endeavoured to do so, in all
cases, without arrogance or presumption ; to be swayed
by no prejudice ; to be misled by no partiality ; to be
biased only by generosity. We have thus succeeded in
obtaining the confidence of the Artists and the Public ;
and we are not likely to risk it by a departure from the
course by which it has been gained—an earnest and
sincere desire to think and to act rightly.
It cannot be doubted that. for some time past, a more
general taste for works of Art has been gaining ground
in this country ; and, consequently, a more general wish
to become acquainted with all topics connected with
the important and interesting subject. A few years
ago " Exhibitions" were limited to the metropolis ; they
are now held, annually, in all the prominent provincial
cities and towns of the kingdom. " Institutions for the
promotion of the Fine Arts"—chiefly on the admirable
plan of the " Art-Union of London"—are, in nearly
every instance, associated with them ; and we shall
be within the mark, when we assert that by these
various societies—in England, Scotland, and -Ireland
—between 70,0001. and 80,0001. have been expended
in the purchase of pictures by British Artists
during the years 1837, 1838, and 1839. Thus, the
possession of the best auxiliaries in the cultivation of
taste, and with it the intellectual and moral improve-
ment of the country, is no longer confined to a few
wealthy individuals. The chance of obtaining a picture
in the allotment of prizes, is as favourable for the hum-
blest as for the most elevated subscriber. It is an axiom
that the acquirement of one luxury creates a desire for
more ; and it is, therefore, safe to fore tell that the
demand for Works of Art will, at all events, keep pace
with the supply. Our correspondents—who direct
such institutions as those to which we refer, and to
whom we take this oppori unity of tendering our best
thanks for the essential aid they have so continually
rendered us—assure us of the amazing spread which a
true taste for, and a due appreciation of, excellence in
art, is making throughout the Provinces : without a
single exception the " Returns" of the present year have
largely exceeded those of the preceding, each showing
an increase proportionate to that of the two societies in
Edinburgh, which in 1839 procured and expended a
sum four or five times greater than that they were
enabled to collect during the first years of their exis
tence.

It follows, then, as matter of course, that some such
publication as " The Art-Union" was required by the
thousands who though, formerly indifferent to Art, now
estimate its importance and desire acquaintance with all
that appertains to the subject. And it is also certain
that such a publication was calculated to forward the
objects of the Directors of " Institutions for the Pro-

-
motion of the Fine Arts," by acting as a medium of
communication between them ; by strengthening the
good spirit they had raised in behalf of Art ; by making
the Fine Arts a theme for frequent thought and con-
versation ; and by concentrating, as it were, all that
transpired in regard to them.
The Artists, too, required some work that should
bring together the several matters of information to
which it was almost impossible they could have access,
while scattered through a variety of publications ; and
while Continental intelligence concerning Art was nearly
excluded from them. They have now, also, a medium
for communicating to their professional brethren, the
results of study and experience ; and of aiding the im-
provement of the many by communicating the know-
ledge acquired by the few.
We have now, therefore, to express our grateful sense
of the support we have received from the Artists, from
the Public, and from the Newspaper Press, which has
so generally and so essentially aided our labours. That
we shall continue to improve is as certain as that we shall
continue to exist. Enlarged means cannot fail to ob-

tain extended power : and our later numbers will, we
trust, afford ample proof that confidence in our integrity,
and conviction of our beneficial influence have been fol-

lowed by assistance on the part of many who very pro-
perly postponed it, until time enabled them to ascertain
if our motives were just, our plans advantageous, our in-
dependence certain, and our circulation sufficiently ex-
tensive to render the Publication really serviceable to the
cause of Art.