The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-31 00:00:00

BOARD OF TRADE RETURNS.

The Board of Trade returns for the past month were
issued this morning, and again give serious indications of
the effect of the crisis in the cotton market. Compared
with the corresponding month of last year, the declared
value of our exportations shows a falling off of £1,082,325,
or 10 per cent., which sum exactly represents the diminu-
tion in the shipment of cotton yarns and manufactures.
The only other branches in which there has been any im-
portant reduction are machinery and iron, both of which
changes are also attributable to the American struggle, in
putting a stop to the demand for railway purposes in that
country, and to the increase of mill power on the continent.
In the linen, silk, and woollen trades during the month
there has been a tendency to revival, and in the various
miscellaneous branches of industry a fair average business
appears to have been carried on. Compared with April,
1860, the total exportation presents a falling off of about
131 per cent.

The total exports in the first four months of the y ear have
been £36,246,651, against £38,547,462 in the corresponding
months of 1861, showing a decrease of £2,300,811, or about
6 per cent. The changes have been as follows :
Increase. Decrease.
£ £
January .. 94,354
February
• • 53,659
March .. .. 1,286,181
April.. .. 1,082,325
Compared with the first four months of 1860 a decrease is
shown of £5,587,696, or nearly 11 per cent.
With regard to imported commodities, the arrivals of
grain have been moderate, but large of flour. Coffee, sugar,
and spirits have likewise been imported in considerable
quantities, while the consumption of the two former has
declined. Of tea the arrivals were moderate, and the con-
sumption active,

THE JAPANESE EMBASSY.—BIRMINGHAM, Fri-
day Evening.—The members of this embassy were enter-
tained last evening by the mayor and corporation at a
banquet at the Queen's Hotel. The mayor presided. In
proposing as a toast " The health of the Tycoon of Japan,"
the Mayor spoke of the good effects likely to result from
the visit of persons so distinguished in their own country
as the Japanese Ambassadors, to our manufacturing dis-
tricts ; he believed, he said, that both the Japanese and the
English people would be mutually benefited by this friends -,
intercourse with each other. As for himself and his f-,',,end
the first Ambassador, they had established a very '
C... 10813 re•
lationship, for he (the Mayor) had been asked 'tkrough the
interpreter " how eld ;re was." He replies t, fi2; tben re •
plied the AmbasSador, " I am 53, so we musli, be brothers."
.I'..t• any rate, on that occasion they met as lorothe:rs, and he
hoped. they would meet them as brothers, all the world over,
with the same friendly feeling as they met on that occasion.
The Mayor afterwards proposed " The Health of the Am-
' bassadors," and in doing so bade thorn a hearty welcome.
Shortly before 10 o'clock the Arnbassadors retired. This
morning the first visit was to the Proof House, where the
Ambassadors were received by the Master and Wardens,
and conducted through the establishment. The processes
connected with the proving and stamping of gun barrels
was explained to them ; and in every minutia they mani-
fested the deepest interest, asking manypertinent and prac-
tical questions. From this place the party proceeded to the
establishment of Messrs. John Clive and Son, gun-barrel
makers, also engaged in the manufacture of small arms.
Mr. Clive showed his guests much which could not fail to
excite their attention. The pin and wire works of Messrs.site.
Edelsten and Williams in George-street were next visited.
In the whole town the Japanese could not have been taken
to a place in which the appliances of machinery,anadll
theme-
chanism are more wonderfully brought to beaasr -carefull
machinery was in full work, its adaptation
Clement explainedwbri
Williams,
s ,hwe and:
accompaniedthe
works,Mry
appreciation of the intricacy
paaslthoef
the Japanese evincing a keen
and nicety of the working of the machinery, as Well as of
cwito tho
the usefulness and perfect adaptation to. the purposes for
ed
the Ambassadors.
ssla'dhaetsv.isiTt thoetynerseetwnrophrins
lwahstichmaitdwe absyconths
Queen's Hotel to luncheon, and left for London by the 1.55
p.m. train. Before taking their departure the
the party conveyed, through Capt. Macdonald, a few words
of acknowledgment of the courtesy and attention received ,
from the Mayor; also to Mr. Scott, of the Queen's Hotel,
for his ample provision for their comfort.
AT THE MANSION•HOUSE.—Last Mayor and the Lady Mayoress entertained
even-
ing
the
r QLIIOEr Id'
her Majesty's Judges, the principal members of the 613.1-,
many of the members of the House of Commons, the Court
of AlderWll, and most of the Common Council at dinner
at the Ale7t,''ion• house, which was served with befitting
•
,„piendour in the Egyptian hall, The company amounted
to nearly NO 1l mmtber.