The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-17 00:00:00

THE BRAZILS.

The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Severn,
Lieutenant P. Hast, R.N., commander, with the
usual Brazilian and River Plate mails, in charge
of Lieutenant Charlton, R.N., arrived at South-
ampton yesterday morning at twelve o'clock.
The Severn during the voyage homewards east
perienced from Rio Janeiro to St. Vincent, Cape
de Verds, strong north-east winds. The news by
this arrival is of little importance ; the Stromboli,
which arrived at Portsmouth on Friday, having
left Rio Janeiro only five days previous to the de-
parture of the Severn.
The Severn brings mails from the following
places with their respective dates affixed :—Buenos
Ayres 4th March, Monte Video 6th, Rio de Janeiro
17th, Babia 22d, Pernambuco 25th, St. Vincent
4th April, Teneriffe Bth, Madeira 9th, Lisbon 12th.
The Severn landed 120 passengers at Lisbon and
87 at Southampton. _
The Severn brings specie to the amount of
4,3001. on freight, as also diamonds value 5,4001.,
37 bales of cochineal, 519 chests oranges, 50 bar-
rels tapioca, and 120 packages sundries.
The latest dates from Buenos Ayres are to the
4th March. Everything was quiet, and the in-
habitants seemed confident in the continuance of
peace. Exchange was 655. to 655. 6d. per ounce.
From Monte Video we have dates to the 7th. In
the town and province everything was tranquil. A
Brazilian force was expected either to have passed
or to pass the frontier soon, as a guarantee of peace
and a support to the present Government. Most
of the inhabitants, both native and foreign, felt
great security in this step, as tending to create
confidence to a greater extent in the present ad-
ministration of affairs. Exchange, 41 pence to the
current dollar.
At Pernambuco business of the past month has
been far from satisfactory. Of imports, sales have
been of a fair character so far as regards articles of
consumption, which are commanding high
pdlyraiices,
but for dry goods the inquiry is very limited
and but few manufactures will command saving
rates. But little has been done in exports for
European account. Sugars during the month have
again advanced about 10 per cent., almost pre-
cluding operations within the limits of the order
held here, and which again has tended to a great
reduction in freights, which are to-day nominal at
55 to 60, and 5 per cent. for sugars to the Channel
for orders, and not obtainable. About 70,0001.
have been passed in exchange principally at 284 d.,
but according to time of payment the rate has
ranged from 271 d. to 28.1 d. Great tightness ex-
ists in our money market, more so than has been
experienced for a long period. Such is the scarcity
of money that paper of the highest class can scarcely
be discounted under 15 to 18 per cent. per annum ;
indeed, such is the existing crisis that the question
is to obtain the money rather than consider the
rate of discount to be submitted to. This state of
our currency market is being seriously felt by
every branch of trade, and, unless relief is shortly
experienced, will materially suspend transactions
of every kind.
At Rio business in discounts was very limited,
and rates unaltered. Exchange flat, at 272 d.
Specie market dull and flat.
Her Majesty's ships at Lisbon—Feb. 13, Admi-
ral Corry's squadron, French steamer of war, and
usual Portuguese squadron.
In Funchal Roads—Feb. 17, her Majesty's ship
Saracen.
At Teneriffe—Feb. 18, French transport from
Isle of France.
At St. Vincent.—Feb. 22, United States ship
Constitution, 50, and United States sloop Dale, 14.
United States sloop Dale sailed at noon.
At Bahia.—March 5, her Nlajesty's ship Trident.
At Rio.—March 9, her Majesty's ships Portland,
Centaur, Madagascar, Star, and Rifleman, 10th,
sailed, her Majesty's ship Portland. 12th, arrived
and sailed, her Majesty's ship Stromboli ; arrived,
Royal Mail steamer Camilla, from River Plate.
14th, sailed, her Majesty's ship Centaur, for Eng-
land. 15th, sailed, Royal Mail steamer Camilla,
for River Plate. 17th, sailed, her Majesty's ship
Star, in tow of Royal Mail steamer Severn.
Ships observed or spoken with.—Feb. 12, passed
a large steamer, supposed to be the Royal Mail
steamer Thames, at 1.54 a.m. ; at 11.30 p.m.
passed and exchanged night signals with a large
steamer, steering northerly. Feb. 14, passed au
English
screw-steamer off the Tagus, steering for
Lisbon.