The Sun.
London, England, 1839-06-04 00:00:00

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR

MAY.

The meteorology of the month is marked by transitions
of very extraordinary character. In as far as respects
beauty and splendour, May has stood pre-eminent; its
opening was fine and the temperature summer-like, but
haziness prevailed and threw a light veil over the sun-
beams which otherwise would have been scorching. From
the 27th of April to the Bth of May inclusive, the ther-
mometer indicated 63 deg. as the lowest and 74 as the
highest points of the mercury, dt one o'clock, P. M., the
nights being warm beyond the customary average. Vege-
tation started into active life, and the ground being sufficiently
moist every promise was afforded that the previous tardiness
would be converted in:o rapidity of growth, and, indeed,
had a few south-westerly warm showers occurred, the
spring and summer wouLl have been rendered early.
Nothing, however, can be /inure uncertain than an English
spring, and of this we have had ample and lamentable
proof. On the sth, at dusk, the southern horizon was suffused
with a low dingy cloud, or vaporous arch, from which
darted rays of pale light, approaching to the zenith. This
aurora borealis is a meteor of rare occurrence in May, and
its effects were not less remarkable. A cold and . steady
current set in before dawn of day, and established a bitter
and piercing degree of cold, which was still more confirmed
by a second visitation of aurora, attended with faint
crimson rays, on the 7th. On the Bth, after various muta-
tions, thunder storms occurred, the mercury receded 20 deg.
and on the 14th, at mid-day, the maximum was 46 degrees
only. Two nights of intense cold for the time of year
followed. That of the 15th produced much rime. The
thermometer at midnight was below the freezing point,
and we hear fell 29 degrees. The results,
as respects
the agricultural crops, have been, as far as we can
collect, no otherwise serious than as far as a decided check
to vegetation may be considered. A little yellowness has
been occasioned, particularly in the upper leaves of the
wheat ; but this will soon pass away, particularly if a few
warm showers were to occur. Warmth, with a change 9f
wind to W. and S.W., returned on the 18th; but no rain
of moment fell. Cold succeeded to this genial weather;
the 22d and the 24th was gloomy and winter-like. From
that time every succeeding day has witnessed improvement.
A correspondent in Hertfordshire communicates the most
cheering intelligence, and the provincial reports generally
are of the like character. The barleys are rich in verdure
and grow apace ; so do the oats ; peas improve much.
The clover is tardy, and appears a little droughted in
some high and dry spots, owing to the cold and parching
winds, and the great power of the sun. Hay-grass will,
perhaps, be rather short, unless showers speedily are given.
The land is iri prime condition for the reception of turnip
seeed, and has worked beautifully. Upon the whole, the
prospects are very promising, and we trust will be more
than realised.

BRISTOL SUGAR-MARKET, MAY 31.—The
lamentable condition of this port, as a sugar-market, has
never been more strikingly exemplified, nor more poignantly
felt, than during the past week. Without a corresponding
advance in any other market to justify it—in the face of a
very large arrival into London, which was calculated to
flatten the market, and which effect it has actually produced,
with the knowledge that the retail trade were universally
scaling out sugars at much below what they cost, aid that
the price of refined goods was far from remuneratory to the
manufacturers—our prices have advanced 3s. to 4s. per
cwt. on the average of purchases a fortnight ago ! Several
causes conspire to this extraordinary state of things; but
being so well understood, we have felt no small surprise to
witness the same absurd eagerness and competition among
the buyers, which they have so often paid dearly for. With
themselves partly lies the remedy, although the one grand
evil operating to the prejudice of all, is the fact of a dimi-
nished and inadequate import. This gives the merchants the
power of doing what they please, and their monopoly is now
so complete that they have only to impose their own terms
and conditions—the trade must unresistingly submit. 10
no place in the world is an equally respectable body so
much at the mercy of those they deal with as the Bristol
sugar buyers ; and, certes, it may be averred that had the
importers been disposed to remain with both eyes shut to
their peculiar and extensive advantages, it cannot be
charged upon our energetic tradesmen that they have ne-
glected any means of opening them full wide. The
stock of sugars in London is 5,000 hhds. West India,
45,000 mats Mauritius, and 9,000 bags Bengals, more
than at this time last year.—Bristol Mercury.

SECOND-HAND PLATE PURCHASED.--
A. B. SAVORY and SONS, Goldsmiths, No. 14, Corahill,
London (opposite the Bank of England), inform Executors and
others, wishing to dispose of Second-hand Plate, that, from
having a ready sale, they can offer more advantageous prices
than can usually be given by the Trade; payment may either
be received in cash, or the amount allo ed in exchange for
other silver.

POWERFUL MUSICAL BOXES, in wood
cases, 12 inches long by five inches wide, each playing four airs,
with the mechanism finished in a very superior manner, arc
offered for Five Guineas each. Also a few of the same
description, larger sizes, at the following prices:—
Six Airs £7 70 I Eight Airs extra,
Eight Airs ...... 818 6 large £l4 14 0
Three Overtures.. 14.14 0
At T. COX SAVORY'S, Working Silversmith, Gold-
smith, and Watchmaker, 47, Cornhill, London (Seven Doors
from Gracechurch-street).
N.B. The small Musical Boxes, 3.-1 inches long, continue
selling in tin cases, price 19s. each, or in composition shell
cases, 255. each.

A Catalogue containing a List of the Music may be had
gratis, or can be forwarded by post as a single letter in answer
to a post-paid application.

BIRTHS.
On the 29th ult.. at Brighton, the lady of E. W. Robertson,
Esq., of a daughter.
On the 30th ult., at Upper Clap(on, Mrs. Henry Toulrnin, of
a son.

On the 31st ult., the lady of J. Cuthill, Esq., of Connaught-
terrace, Edgeware-road, of a daughter.
On the 28th ult., at the Grove, Highgate, Mrs. G• rt.
Smith, of a son.

On the 29th ult., at Pendleton, the lady of Reginald Gra-
ham, jun., Esq., of a daughter.
On the Ist inst., the lady of James Green, Esq., 0f TIPPer
Berkeley-street, ortman-square, of a son and heir.
On the 2d inst., at Denmark-hill, Camberwell, Mrs. Thomas
Laurence, jun., of a son.
On the 2d inst., the lady of Edmund L. L. Swifte, Esq.,
Master of the Jewel-house, of a son.

MARRIED.
On the 30th ult., at St. Mary's, Reading, Edward Brown
Washbourne, Esq., of Newbury, Berks, to Julia, youngest
daughter of William Bedford, Esq., of Sydney-terrace, Reading.
On the Ist inst., at Hackney, Mr. Thomas Reynolds, of
Brunswick-terrace, to Isabella, eldest daughter of the late Mr.
E. Durham, of the Cape of Good Hope.
On the Ist inst., at. St. Mary's, Islington, George Hilditch,
Polfm the' Esq.,
of King's-road,
late William Kinsey,
Esq., of Ludgate-hill, to Mary, eldest daughter of James Brace-
bridge, Esq., of Cloudesley-Nuare, Islington.
B e((i)t!ol r thed_i o
wl s,t
tinst.,
en,
n, George
daughteram
Esq., of Baker-street.
On the Ist inst., at Brighton, William Aldwin Soames, Esq.,
of Milton-on-Thames, Kent, to Laura Sophia, fourth daughter
of the late Henry Martin, Esq., of Sidmouth, Devon.