The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-02 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

REPORT ON TIIE STATE OF THE BOMBAY MARKETS, FROM
THE IST TO THE 30TH AUGUST.

As usual at this season of the year, money is very
abundant in the bazaar, and we have little activity to
record in the market since the date of our last report.
There is very little demand in commercial quarters, and
no prospect of higher rates of interest being current for
some time to come. Government securities were more
inquired after about the middle of the month, and the
price advanced to 94 ; but latterly they have been ra-
ther neglected, and the rate has receded to 98. In joint-
stock shares there has been a good deal of speculation,
and quotations in some cases have advanced, as will be
seen by our price current.
Our commercial report was dated the 31st ult., and
in continuing our advices on the state of the market,
we regret that so little has transpired of a cheering na-
ture, or calculated to furnish encouragement for the
future, to shippers of cotton manufactures.
COTTON WOOL.—A steady, but by no means active
demand has existed for Great Britain during the month,
and prices have been firmly supported.
In seeds there has been nothing doing, but prices of
linseed and rape are somewhat higher, other sorts
lower.

OPIIIM.—The market at the early part of the month
was very firm, and Mundleisur stood at Rs. 933, and
925 for Indore, but with very unfavourable advices
from China, the price has given way to Rs. 930 for No.
1, and Rs. 920 per chest No. 2.
EXCHANGZ.--The transactions have been few for this
mail. In the early part of the month a few sales were
effected at 23. id. at 23. /d. for first-class credit and docu-
ment bills, but since the arrival of the China mail with
the news of the disturbed state of matters at Canton, and
with very few bills, a fall of more than 1 per cent. ha s
taken place, and we now quote current rates at ls. 110.
is. 11 15-d. On China there is nothing doing,
and the nominal quotation is rs. 240 for dollars 100 60
days' sight. For Calcutta the current rate at the be-
ginning of the month was par at sight, till Government
opened as drawers, and the rate fell gradually to 991,
at which a fair amount was parted. Within the last
three days Government have been less willing to sell,
and the rate may be quoted as 994, three days' sight.

BOMBAY MONEY MARKET.

Tuesday Evening, Aug. 29.
EXCILINGES. _

On London.—At six montlig' sight, per R., 2s. ;
six months' sight, per R., ls. 110. to ls. 11d. 15-16ths
for credit bills.

On Calcutta.—At 60 days' sight, 98/r. ; 30 days
sight, 984 ; at sight, 99/.
On Madras.—At 30 days' sight, 90r. ; at sight, 991 r.
On China.—At 60 days' sight, 238 r. to 240 r.

CALCUTTA, AUG. 16.
We have at length had a public event at Calcutta.
The Bengal Railway has at last commenced running,
and the ditchers of the Presidency can travel by rail to
a place called Hooghly, about the distance from Calcutta
that Manchester is from Liverpool. The natives crowded
in thousands to see the first performances of the iron
horse ; and the carriages which were provided for the
occasion proved quite insufficient to accommodate the
multitude of people who desired to avail themselves of
the first opportunity of travelling by steam.
There can be no doubt that this railway will within a
very short time materially affect Calcutta, not only com-
mercially, but also socially. It is now but three days
since the trains began to run, but already the papers are
filled with advertisements, which announce hotels, refresh-
ment-rooms and lodgings at Seratnpore, Chandernagore,
and Hooghly, the three places through which the line
runs. In a year or two hence, the probabilities are,
that the fashionable world of Calcutta will live out of
town at villas built on the river aide along the line of
railway. The effect which it is likely to produce upon
Bengal no one can calculate. The 15th of August may
be noted as a red letter in the idex of Indian progress ;
for far more loudly than that iron horse made its voice
heard as it hurried to its destination will the sound go
throughout the land, that India must at length be
opened freely and unrestrainedly to the enterprises of
commerce and the influences of British speculation.
Next to the railway the most interesting topic of dis-
cussion in Calcutta has been the new postal act, which is
at length published, and which comes into force on the
Ist of October ; when we shall have a uniform postage,
i. e. Queen's heads outside our letters, in very humble
imitation of the genuine article at home.
The commissioners upon Rajah Brooke's affairs have
started. They are the advocate general (Mr. Prinsep)
and the Government agent (the Hon. H. B. Devereux).
There is no news either from the northern or the
southern frontier. Burmah is quiet; and the King of
Ava is going to send articles to the Paris Exhibition.
Whether his Majesty will forward the golden foot or not
is not reported.
By degrees the new country seems to be falling into
order, and no doubt in a few years it will repay us for
its conquest.

Week
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