The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-21 00:00:00

RUSSIAN PRODUCE.

The delay sought and obtained by the Goverment, re-
garding the announcement of their intentions as to the
overland traffic in Russian produce, has apparently ex-
cited a feeling of dissatisfaction both among those who
desire the trade to be stopped, and those who wish it to
continue. It is an axiom in the conduct of the mercantile
affairs of nations that anything is better than uncertainty,
and the fact that, from the commencement of the war
down to the present moment, almost all the commercial
intimations given by Ministers hive proved vague, con-
tradictory, or delusive, is therefore strongly commented
upon, notwithstanding the universal wish to avoid com-
plaining of such evils as the progress of the struggle may
render inevitable. On the question of the blockade of
the Black Sea, the confusion that has existed might have
been lessened if the Government had stated their own
uncertainties, instead of allowing notifications directly
at variance with each other to proceed from different de-
partments, and to be followed by rather abrupt and
positive answers, which were never subsequently verified
to any member of the house of Commons' who might
desire an explanation. Again, with regard to the stores
of wheat lying within reach of the Danube, and which
are alleged to be prevented reaching this country by the
allied squadrons at the Sulina mouth, unnecessary loss
has been inflicted, from the absence of any statement to
satisfy the public of the necessity for the restriction,
which, while it inflicts serious injury upon the people of
this country, is equally damaging to Turkey, and is
looked upon, according to some statements, as impolitic
both by Turkey and Austria. Great, however, as have
been the perplexities from these eircumstances,the doubts
suffered to prevail on the question of the continuance of
the transit of Russian produce overland to Memel and
elsewhere are calculated to lead to results nearly as un-
desirable. In the Black Sea, throughout the past season,
the prohibition by the Czar of the export of grain,
combined with the absence of actual knowledge as to
whether at any specific moment a blockade would be
found to exist, tended considerably to diminish the effects
of the want of action on the part of our ships, but the
overland trade is subject to no such hindrances, and has
gone on, and will continue to go on, steadily, unless dis-
tinct measures be taken. Every day, therefore, dur-
ing which this point is left in doubt our merchants, who,
under impressions produced by former Ministerial state-
ments, have embarked in procuring substitutes, are car-
rying on a hazardous trade, while those who, on the
contrary, are endeavouring to extend their business at
the frontier Baltic ports are equally kept in anxiety. Of
the extent of the interests involved an idea may be
formed when it is stated that even under the small ex-
isting impediments to the arrival of Russian produce the
supplies of linseed sent from Calcutta have increased
from 440,733 maunds in the 12 months ending Sept.
30, 1853, to 1,025,595 maunds up to the like date in
1854, while, as regards hemp, from the same quarter,
and palm oil, &c., from Africa and elsewhere, the move-
ment
commercial
bultimatelyn feeling communityt hattthhee
has been equally striking ; and not onlyisa
gam-
blingy
character imparted to the whole of this trade,
the risk is also incurred of dispiriting foreign
producbetirs
these circumstances, it
are to be disappointed. Under
by allowing them to be stimulated by expectations which
are
will be admitted that the
not unreasonable in expressinga
postponing their
Go-
vernment can justify themselvesnl
decision for several weeksn
sweer3r:ble and Peremptory
adduc-
ing reasons of an
etewsPeeecnialtlyheinAllie pre-
sent s and
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tTa That t suchnf
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e reasonsreantai exist,o.ns
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whatever soreness •
may prevail as to
added that,
Prussia, there is every
edxisppeorsieitnicoendtboybterlaiedveers;
during
dinigt
may be
the various arm
the past year, there isthsetimllsaelfveeesl,inegntthhaet twhheeplree,sdeenstirGnuon-
to attend and recognise any representations connected
sihtowisn not expedient, however, that the
the mercantile interests of
with thevermont have
the country.
aarvaemount claims of
desire to avoid cavilling at a time when forbearance is
demanded on all sides should lead to a suppression of
criticisms such as on points of this nature have lately '
been prevalent.

ROBBERY OF A COUNTING-HOUSE.—Some thieves en-
tered the counting house of Messrs. Robert Hyde, Greg,
and Co., cotton-spinners, Quarrv.hank, Cheshire, a few
nights since, picked the lock of the iron 'safe, and carried
away 300/. To avoid detection while engaged in the
rubbery, the thieves had taken with them three blinds,
and placed them before the three windows of the count-
ing-house,