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

BOARD OF TRADE _RETURNS.

The Board of Trado 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 a ith April,
1860, the total exportation presents a tailing off of about
131 per cent,

The total exports in the first four months of the year 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.
94,354

Decrease.
fr

January , ,
February ..
March
April..

53,659
1,286,181
1,082,325

• • ...•
• •

Compared with the first four months of h 60 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 Lave 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 friendly
intercourse with each other. As for himself and his friend
the first Ambassador, they had established a very close re-
lationship, for he (the Mayor) had been asked through the
interpreter " how old he was." He replied, 52; then re•
plied the Ambassador, " I am 53, so we must be brothels."
At any rate, en that occasion they met as brothers, 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 them a hearty welcome.
Shortly before 10 o'clock the Ambassadors 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. Mr. Clive showed his guests much which could notmfai
excite their attention. The pin and wire works ofxt
visited.
Edelsten and Williams in George-street
to a place in which the appliances of
In the whole town the Japanese could notw hhertitnevenereybeaenndtaken
me-
chanism are more wonderfully brought
pt adaptation was carefully
inacto bear ; all the
machinery was in full work,
explained by the heads
machinery,awn.oe apauurp-eolsleassfoorf
em over the work-
Clement Williams, who accompanied
. . keen appreciation of the intricacy
of thi?eastdaabltibashment and by Mi.
the Japanese evincing a
and nicety of the working of t
t th
Ambassadors. They rat:trued to the
the usefulness and
and
their I,eifetptTtuLroentdhoenpbriynethipeali.sosl,
The visit to these works was the
last made by
which it was constructed. Tae perfect tadhaep
t..m. train.
nvc,o, through Capt. Macdonald, a few words
Queen's
Betio.orleuntackhienogn,
the party co
of acknowledgwout of the courtesy and atterition received
from the Mayor ; al-0 to Mr. Scott, of the Queen's Hotel,
for his ample provision for their comfort.
13ANQUET AT THE MANSION•ROUSR. Last even-
ing the Lord Mayor and the IMY Mayoress entertained
her Majesty's JU.dges, the principal members of the bar,
many of the members of the House of Commons, the court
of Aldermen, and most of the Corannl Council at dinner
at the Mansion. houses wh.ci was served with befitting
splendour in the Egyptian-hall, The company amounted
to nearly 300 iu number.