The Sun.
London, England, 1837-12-16 00:00:00

PRICE OF SUGAR.

The average price of Muscovado Sugar, from the returns made
in the week ending the 12th of Dec., 1837, is 445. 7id. per Cwt.,
exclusive of the Duties of Customs paid or payable on the Importa-
tion thereof into Great Britain.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE,

(From the Loa on New Price Currmt of Last Melt.)

_ .
SUGAR.—There has at length been a revival in the demand
for British Plantation, and a steady business has been trans-
acted. Low brown Berbice very dark, but dry brown have
been sold at 48a. ; brown and good brown ditto Demerara and
Trinidad at 60s. Gd. to 625, ; middling gray and yellow De-
merara, Jamaica, &c., 625. 6d. to 64s 6d., good at 653. to
665., and tine Jamaica at 675. ; the latter differ from the
highest prices we had before the late fall about Is. 6d. to 25.,
while in the lower qualities there is still a difference of 3% to
43. Refined gocds have been in improved request by the
grocers. Lumps passing the standani selling at 785., and
rather under at 775. Set eral parcels of double Crushed have
been taken at 365. 6d. to 375. There are still no buyers of
Dutch Crushed Sugar, and there are sellers at 355. This
afternoon there was a good demand from both grocers and
shippers at the prices quoted above. Double Crushed is not
to be purchased under 375., and the quantity ready for deli-
very is small. Bastards have been in better request at Is. to
2s. advance. Treacle sells more freely at previous rates.

EAST INDlA—Bengal subject.to the 245. duty, has been
taken sparingly by private contract for hcmc consumption.
Very ord. soft brown went at 495. to 503. The last adviees
from Calcutta state that the shipments making for London were
very large. For Siam and Manilla there has been very little
demand.

FOREIGN.—The Mauket has been gait t. For yellow Ha-
vannah there has been some enquiry at 295. to 31s. but there

is little at Market.
MCLASSES.-West India has been in rather better demand ;
t e purchases are 100 puns Demerara, fine at 365. and good at
353. per cwt.
CorFEE.—This afternoon the British Plantation Market
wAs quiet ; there was no public sale, and very little demand
existed privately, but at any reduction in prices there are no
Sellers. East India for consumption is t .ken sparingly, very
ord. black triage lon at the 6ti. duty, and went at 203. to
40s. ; 45 lags Bengal at the 9d. duty sold at the Senegal va-
luations, good ord. 545. to 575. 10 bales Mocha sold at 50s.
fur very ord. black triage, fell value. St. D..rdngo went off
aL stiff prices, first class good ord. pale at 375. 7d. to 41s. 6d.
CocoA.—British plantation is not offc.ed cn easier terms,
but the business doing privately is very lia ited, and none his
been offered by auction. Foreign would sell readily at fair mar-
ket prices, if there was any here.
RUM, BRANDY. AND HOLLANDS.-For Jamaica Rum there
have been very few inqulries this week. Fer Leewards the
iaqu'ries have been consi.le-able, and the buyers have been com-
pelled to pay an advance on previous prices of 4d. to Id. per
gallon. Of the former no sales are reported ; the transactions
in the latter are 150 puns. at 2s.Bd. to 2s. 9d. for 7 to 9 per
cent. over proof. In Geneva few transactions, prices unal-
tered. British Corn Spirits in steady demand at 9s. 6d. per

gallon.
TALLOW.—The arrivals since our last having been large,
amounting to 12,000 casks, has checked and prices
have receded ad. a6l per cwt. ; P. Y. Candle at 455. 6d.
for first quality, The purchases for forward delivery have been
trivial, bnt for the first three months of next 'year there are no
tellers under 455. a 455. 6d.
COTTON.—The private purchases ince this day week have
been only 900 bales Surat mid. to good fair 4-fel to 5d., 30
fine Pernams. 100., 200 West India, 64d. to Sid. ord. and
good.
SPICKS.—For East India Ginger there has been 'tome in-
quiry. Cinnamon in fair demand at the late advance. Mace
is 3d. lower, 20 chests at auction partly found buyers at 6s. a
6s. 6J. for good seconds. Th's afternoon at auction 175
chests Cassia Lignea sold at rather higher prices, mid. et 575.
to 58s. 6d. 17 casks, 30 bags, 3 mats Cloves we e taketi in at
their full value, Bourbon ord. at Is. ani mid. Bnneoolen at
I is. lid. a Is. 21 27 bales 2 chests Ceylon Cinnamon token
in seconds at ss. 10d. to 65., thirds 4s. to 4s. 3d.
TEA.—Company's have been in good demo d at profits on
the last s :le of -?td. to a Id. and in some cases 21. per lb. ad-
vance has been the transactions in free trade have been
very limited, oniag to the public sales of 190,000 packages,
which commenced on Monday.

The Hon. Bingham Baring and other branches of
the family of Lord and Lady Ashburton, will pass the Christ-
mas at the Grange, in Hampshire.
Lady Lyndhurst and her step-daughter, the Hon.
Miss Cot ley, have arrived in George-street, Hanover-square,
from Versailles.
Lord Minto will not be able to see. Naval Officers
on S..tui day, the 16th inst., but such Officers as may be de-
sirous of seeing his Lordship on the 23d i:.st. will put tl air
names in the hall-book before that day. Lnrd Minto's levees
will be discontinued after the 23d inst., till the ad of February.
The Rev. Mr. Twentyman has been appointed one
of the Minor Caucus of Carlisle Cathed: al, in the room of the
Rev. Mr. Hudson, who has resigned.
We understand that ofr...rs hare been nixie by Itizisly
respectable and responsible parties to the London and Brigh-
ton TIAN ay Company, to tike the contract for the tvhole of
the works as estimated by the engineer, giving sufficient se-
curity for the due execution of the same.
THE VETERAN; OR, FORTY YEARS IN THE
BRITISII Senesce —We are requested to state that the abdve
work, comprising the adventures of the late Captain John
Harley (for many years Paymaster of the 47th Regiment) in
Egypt, Spair, Portugal, Belgium, Hollend, Prussia. &e., is
published this day, by Messrs. Stewart and Murray, 15, Old
Bailey, and may be had of all Booksellers in the United:
Kingdom.
Mits. GORE'S MARY RAYMOND AND OTHER'
TALE•..--SUCh is the captivating effect of these stories on the
reader, that we should not be surprised to find them have even
a greater run than her regular novels. The Atlas observes
of them, " The versatility discovered in these it-sties is, per-
haps, the first peculiarity that will strike the reader. We
have sketches in Paris drawn to the life—the Rue Rivoli, and
the Marche St. Honore, and the; Tuillerles, with the cut-of.
door gaits, so freshly and naturally brouglir out, that th'ir pro-
priety in all respects is instantly recognised ;—then what can
excel the fidelity of the view of the Forest of Fontainebleau,
and the historical accessories?—the wit that sparkles through
the rapid panoramas of men and manners that are unveiled in
the French, Gerraan, Italian, and English scenes of these
minature novels ?—and the philosophical analyses of individual
TwAasTlE.eroyFmoTde re
year,e d
character that are wonderfully developed in so limited a space?"
yarnS
indeeo, business is solder's very active ; and the continued ad.
RraAteDyEe.—sterTdahye. (1/telitlNlids season f goof t
vanee in cotton render" the spinners and manufacturers
.ex-
ceedingly unwilling to sell their goods and yarn, at
Fees
which the buyers arc disposed to offer. It cannot, however,
be said that there is any feeling of depre sign in the market,
and there seems to be- every- probability of a good business
early in the ensuing•year.—Nanellester Guardian.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-DEr,l5.

The LOIID CHANCELLOR To3l7Tis;eat at Five o'Clock on
the Woolsack.

REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.

Earl RADNOR presented a petition, signed by almost all
the booksellers of London, praying that a very considerable
alteration might be made in the conveyance of letters, both by
the General and Twopenny Post. It had appeared for a long time
to the Noble Lord that a much more cheap mode of conveying
letters might be adopted. The petitioners laboured under
great difficulty and hardships owing to the high rate of
Edinburgh,
Owing to the extravagance of postage to
Edinburgh, for instance, they were under the neces-
sity of sending in one package by steam-boat occa-
sionally a thousand letters. This packet was conveyed at
the expense of one shilling, and the letters were delivered
equally soon to the respective persons residing there as they
would have been if sent through the Post-office, although in
the latter case the amount of Postage would have been
more than 501. They were aware that this was a violation of
the law, but they were obliged to resort to it, from the ex-
travagance of the postage. There was another circumstance
stated in the petition, which satisfactorily shewed that a great
reduction might be made in the system of postage. It ap-
peared
that by a newspaper being sent by the Post-office,
which paid nothing except the penny stamp upon the paper,
four-fifths of that penny was sufficient to pay the expense
of transmitting that paper, and the remaining kth was left as
a profit. Whereas, for a letter that did not weigh so much,
and that did not occupy so much space, one shil-
ling and one penny halfpenny was demanded. The
petitioners expressed their perfect conviction that
that if the postage was reduced, some of them would receive at
least from 20,000 to 50,000 letters more in the course of the
year than they now receive. There was a very general feeling
roughout the country on this subject et present, in favour of
a reduction, and the Noble Lord hoped their Lordships would
be able to meet that prevailing wish.
Lord BROUGHAM said he hoped his Noble Friend would
persevere in the course which he had began—the country
must derive great advantage from his taking an interest in
this question. To-morrow he (Lord Brougham) would pre-
sent a petition from the Corporation of the City of London on
a subject intimately connected with this; and he hoped his
Noble Friend would then move a Committee to examine into
this question,which being involved with arithmetical calculations
could never otherwise be satisfactorily adjusted=( Hear.)

MUNICIPAL OFFICERS' DECLARATION BILL

The Noble and Learned LORD then presented a petition
from the Corporation of London—in which the peti
tioners—whom his Lordship remarked, had the right of
presenting their petitions to the other House of Par-
liament by their own officers, were oblie'd to intrust
their petitions to the House of Lords (which had not admitted
that privilege) to one of their Lordships. The petitioners
referred to the Municipal Officers' Declaration Bill, which had
lately passed the other House, and which was designed to give
relief to Quakers, Moravians, and Separatists who were elected
to municipal offices, by substituting a declaration which they
could conscientiously make, for that which, under the 9th
Geo. IV., they had hitherto been required to make, but
which they could not make without violating their religious
opinions. The petitioners stated a proposition which his
Lordship observed could not be disputed, that it was highly
unjust to require from individuals a declaration contrary to
their religious scruples, in order to enable them to take
any civil office. They stated that thus a double injustice
was committed—nut only were these individuals pre-
vented from obeying the law, but they were unjustly
excluded from the enjoyment of their civil rights—they tle2re
fore prayed their Lordships to pass this Bill ; but at the same
time to alter the declaration which had been substituted for
that of the 9th Geo. IV., so as to enable all persons to avail
themselves of it, whose conscientious objections prevented
them from making the former declaration.—( Hear, hear.)

The Bishop of—LONDON wished to know from the Noble
and Learned Lo,-d, whether any alteration of the terms of the
declaration would satisfy the petitioners, or remove their ob-
jection to its substance?
Lord BROUGHAM said that the petitioners were per-
fectly willing to make a declaration in substance the same as
that prescribed in the Bill for Quakers, Nloravians, and
Separatists. They were willing to bind themselves to do
nothing in office which would have a tendency to damage the
Established Church ; what they objected to was the declara•
tion in its preE,ent terms, which gave it, in their conscientious
judgment, the character of as oath.
The Bishop of LONDON slid that it was not to the terms
of the declaration the Quakers, Moravians, and Soparatista,
and he supposed also the petitioners, objected, but to its sub-
stance. They objected to bind themselves by any declara-
tion not to use the power elision- from their municipal office
to the overthrow or detriraent of the Established Church,

Lord BROUGHAM said there could not be the least doubt
that some persons would scruple to take .an oath that would
vrevent them from wing any influence which they might de-
rive from any source to the detriment of the Established
Church, and such people could not conscientiously make
any declaration, having for its object the security of
that Church, but that was not the case with the
Petitioners. Although they dissented from the deetriers
and for-rs of the Gairch, and were unwilling to take any
form of oath, they were not probilited by any conscientious
sc. uple fs om declaring that they would not use their powers as
municipal officers to the overthrow cr detriment of that
Clurch. He ( Lord Brougham) had said, and the Petitioners
said clearly, end he thought no one could misunderstand them,
that they were N‘ Filing to make any declaration tantamount in
sub-itaoce to that which the law now require' l, provided only
that it was not so framed as to have the cliarai-I,r of an oath,
such as that required by the 9-.. h of Geo. IV. The declaration
proposed in the Bill now before Parliament specially stated
that the person subictibing being " ono of the people
culled Quakers, or one of the brothers assiciated under the
name of NlOravians, wo:1:1 not use any authority, power, or
influence derived from office, to the injury or detriment of
the Establi,hed Church.' Now, whit the Corporation of the
City complained of w: s, that the relief afforded by the Bill was
confined to three sects—Quakers, Moravians, and Separatists—
whereas the relief would be gennal if these words were
struck out.

The petition was 1a:1 on the table.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

Lord BROUGHAM had now to present a petition from a
body of persons -who were, unfortunately, very nu-
merous, being ►.risoners for debt in the gaol, known by the
name or the Fleet Prison. They humbly and earnestly
prayed their Lordships not to retard the Bill now before them
for the abolition of Imprisonment for Debt. It was needless
for him to as=ure their Lordships that he co: dial), ~..upliorted
the prayer of the petition. Tile Bill had eimnated from the
rec mmenJation of the Common Law Commissioners, and he
thought that its origin entitled it to their Lordships most fa-
vourable consideration.

Lord ABI NG ER said that he believed the majority of the
Common Law Commissioners disappro,h..l, aad expressly
stated their dislpproyal, of the principle of the Bill, and
(as we understood) of the details of a Bill formerly pro-
posed far a sirniiar object. His Noble and Learned Friend
did not seem to know the exact number of that unfortunate
body who were represented by the petition.—(A laugh.)
But be (Lord Abinger) could tell him the number of priso-
ners for debt at present in the Fleet Prison was 105, and of
these there was not one who might not long ago have obtained
ins discharge under the Insolvent Debtors' Act, if there were
not some circumstances connected with his property or his
conduet which prevented him from availing himself of the pro-
visions of that law. We understood the Noble and Learned
Lord to say, that tho aggregate property of those prisoners
greatly exceeded the aggregate amount of their debts.
The petition was laid on the table, and the House adjourned.