The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-10 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Business generally is reported to be very active.
Money had been easier, and was abundant, and readily
obtainable for all business purposes.
Stocks were in good demand.
United States Sixes, 1856, 108 k to ; ditto 1867,
119} to 120 ; ditto 1862, 113} to 114 ; ditto Fives,
1865, 107} to 108.
EXCHANGIL—A fair business was done in Foreign Ex-
change for remittances by the Africa :—On England,
1091 to 110 ; France, 513 ; Hamburgh, 36i to 37 ;
Bremen, 80i; Amsterdam, 41i to 21; Antwerp, 5 13} ;
Frankfort, 41}.

COTTONI-A middling business had been done in the
Cotton markets of the Union between the sailing of the
Arctic, on the 25th, and the Africa, on the 29th. The
Canada's news from Liverpool of the 10th of December,
which reported a decline of Id. to id., had greatly de-
pressed the markets, and prices had declined nearly I
upon all descriptions. The market on the departure of
the Africa was very flat, and prices had still a downward
tendency. The Asia's news of the 18th would probably
improve its character, as she took out accounts of a rise
of *d. per lb. in cotton.

.thiRADSTUFFS.-A. very active business has been
done both in the United States and Canada in
flour, wheat, Indian corn, and Indian meal, in con-
sequence of the advanced prices and active markets
in England, reports of which arrived out by the Canada
from Liverpool, of Dec. 11. The transactions have been
large, except in flour, at advanced prices for export and'
speculation. It is stated that three firms at Rochester
hold over 100,000 barrels of flour, upon which ss. per
barrel will be netted in the recent rise of prices.
PROVISIONS.--A good business is going forward in
the chief articles of provisions. Prime mess beef com-
mands from 9 to 10 dole. ; pork is in good request, with
but small stocks. Holders are firm, and sales are par-
tially held for higher prices. Lard was in good demand;
butter heavy ; cheese dull, at Bc. to 9c. ; hams. 10c.
to 11e.

IRON.—The market continues very steady, and prices
firm. Scotch pig, 28 dols. to 28 dols. 50c. cash ; Eng-
lish bar, 65 dols.

FREI(IIITS.—In freights there is not much business
doing. To Liverpool—Cotton, id. per lb. ; flour, 3s.
3d. to 4s. ; grain, 11d. to llid. ; beef, 4s. 3d. to 4s.
9d. ; heavy goods per ton, 30s. to 355.

WEST INDIA MAIL.

THE YELLOW FEVER IN THE WEST
INDIES.

The Royal Mail steam-ship Magdalena, Captain
W. Vincent, arrived in Southampton on Saturday
morning, at 11 a.m., bring the usual British and
foreign West India, Mexican, and Pacific mails, in
charge of Commander Langton, Admiralty agent.
The Magdalena had a long voyage out, and
having been forced to put into Madeira by stress of
weather only reached St. Thomas' on the Bth
December, and Kingston, Jamaica, on the 13th,
nearly a week overdue. The homeward passage
from St. Thomas' has occupied upwards of 17 days.
We regret to state that the Magdalena has been
very unhealthy during the voyage, and has lost
seven of the crew, one " distressed British sub-
ject," and two passengers from yellow fever ; the
following being a return of the fatal cases :
"Edward Biggs, seized on the 14th of December, at
Kingston, Jamaica, with symptoms of a very severe
character, which terminated in black vomit. Died
Dec. 17.
" G. Spanton, distressed British subject, received on
board at St. Thomas; suffering from dysentery. Died
Dec. 24.
"C. W. Hahn, passenger, 'received on board the
Magdalena on the 19th December, at St. Thomas', from
the Trent, apparently in good health, but on the 20th
was seized with evident symptoms of yellow fever, and,
notwithstanding the assiduous care of Dr. Symonds,
continued to sink till the 25th of December, when he
died.
"M`Cars,ngedh, passenger, aged about 20.—This lady
was also received from the Trent at St. Thomas' appa-
rently in good health, but-on the 20th of December was
labouring under yellow fever. Her mind was so in-
fluenced by fear that nothing could dispossess it of the
apprehensions of death, and it was with the greatest dif-
ficulty she could be induced to adopt the measures pre-
scribed by Dr. Symonds for her relief. She died on the
26th of December.

" R. F. Duke, purser of the ship, taken ill on the 23d
of December. Was much alarmed, and the nervous sys-
tem appeared to have sustained a severe shock. His
disease baffled every kind of treatment resorted to for its
subjugation. Died Dec- 27.
"John Pillow, barman, taken ill December 25th.—
Seemed completely under the influence of fear, and
medicines appeared to be of no avail. Died Dec. 28.
" Jane Machme, stesc-ardess, taken ill on the 25th of
December.—Fear seem ed to be the chief element to
contend with. Of all the organs the stomach seemed to
be most affected and most difficult to deal with. Died
Dec. 30.

"William Rider, AD., aged 30, taken ill December
28.—0 n the previous night, during the middle watch,
the deceased, after get ting wet through, imprudently
laid down in his wet do thes and went to sleep with his
head on the steam chef it. The next day he was in a
burning fever, but the fu :at of the disease seemed chiefly
centred in the brain. 11:e became quite idiotic, and died
Jan. 3.

"James Clarke, head waiter.—Constitution appeared
shaken by the too frequent indulgence in ardent spirits,
was taken ill December 26, and his disease assumed a
form combining yellow fever with delirium tremens.
Died Jan. 7, at 1 a.m."

The symptoms of seizure of nearly the whole of
the above cases were identical, the patients when'
first taken complaining of violent headache, pains
in the back, limbs, and lower extremities. Captain
Vincent, the commander of the ship (among others)
has had an attack cif yellow fever on the voyagq,
from which he providentially recovered, and this,
with the fearful mortality above given, caused a
perfect gloom througlout the vessel for many days,
which was only to a oertain extent dispelled on his
recovery. The prom pt and skilful exertions of Mr.
C. J. Symonds, the surgeon of the ship, are highly
spoken of throughout the whole of this trying voy-
age. The sailors an d firemen of the Magdalena,
with few exceptions, have continued very healthy,
which is in a great measure attributable to their
not being allowed to go on shore at St. Thomas's
or Jamaica, and to in Bulge in excesses into which
too frequently seamen in the West Indies plunge
themselves, to the destruction of their constitutions
and the hazard of their lives in times of epidemic
fever.

Upon the arrival of the Magdalena this morning,
she was at once visaed by Mr. Wiblin and Dr.
Harvey, the quarantine and deputy quarantine
officers. The surgeon being questioned on oath,
and having declared that the last case of yellow
fever occurred on the 26th ult., and the last death
on the 28th, and these dates being more than ten
days since, pratique was instantly granted, and the
mails and passengers landed.
Another death took place on Saturday evening
after the vessel had. been granted pratique, Mr.
Brewer, the chief ste ward, having breathed his last.
His malady was bilious or yellow fever, previous to
which, however, he sustained a severe accident.
Among the deaths on board the company's ships in
the West Indies, reported by this packet, are those
of Mr. Jones, hief officer of the Dee ; Mr. Os-
borne, chief officer of the Esk (a nephew of Captain
Chappell, R.N., secretary of the company) ; Mr.
Kergeaven, fourth officer of the Conway ; the chief
engineer of the Dee, and two engineers of the
Thames, names unlinown.
The hmerara Royal Gazette, on the subject of
the mortality among the shipping from fever,
says :--

" The daily mortality among seamen must press some
remedial measure upon the Government. Our merchant
ships lie in the stream of a tidal river, exposed to the
hourly contamination of the filth of a filthy city. The
deposit under our wharves gives it at all times an im-
pure effluvium ; coupled with hot berths on board, heavy