The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-24 00:00:00

prospects of commerce at home. In the export depart-
ment, the present month shows a considerable improve-
ment upon the past, which, in its tern, shows more
favourably than the, preceding. Thus a progressive
improvement is taking place, and wa may with reason
It ok forward to a great accession of spirit and activity
in the market ae soon as supplies come more plenti-
fully to hand. During the period under review stocks
of almost all our staples have been exceedingly low, and
owing to this scarcity, operations have not been gone
ento on so extended a scale as the active inquiry existing
iouid have led us to expect. In indigo only a moderate
b,usinese has been done, owing to the rapidly drawing
close of the season. The same may be said in regard to
Be flares sugars, of which the market appears almost
cox/4104)1y bare. Dates move off freely at full rates.
During the first part of last month, supplies of saltpetre
were ample enough to meet the demand, and an active
►business was done; latterly stocks have declined, and
loss has been doing, although at improved rates. Raw
sielk has declined in value, and is only moderately inquired
after. Corks are in good requisition, and sales can readily
be kffected. The speculative feeling for rice for shipment
to England has in a great measure died away, under the
influence of increasing rates of freight. Transactions
have been on a limited scale. For shell lac and lac dye the
inquiry remains good, and sales have been reported to a fair
extent. Hides remain in active demand, and all qualities
readily move off at full rates. Jute has not declined in public
esteem, but parcels of first quality are very scarce.
Oilseeds are generaliy neglected. In other minor arti-
cies of produce a fair scale of business is reported, and
wt' only wait the arrival of supplies to be able to report
a more active and spirited business.

In the import branch we have not an active fortnight
to report upon; at least operations have not been on the
scale we had expected from the promising features expe-
sienced some time since. In some measure this may be
accounted for by the reluctance evinced by the dealers
to enter into fresh operations until the close of the Native
commercial year. The demand has not been active for
.Manchester piece goods, and prices have latterly ruled a
s.bade lower. Mule twist has returned to its former po-
si Lion. The market for metals remain dull and inactive.
Wa may reasonably calculate upon some improvement in
the position and prospects of this branch of our business,
now that affairs in the North-West are fast ~pproaching
to settlement. Full particulars will be found under the
respective heads below.
Within the last few days a decided improvement is ob-
servable.
'THE MONEY MARKET.—We can hardly be expected
to report any change in the position of this market. It
is however satisfactory to know that the chances of any
change taking place are in favour of its beinc, in the way
to improvement. Money continues abundant, and is
readily available for commercial objects at easy rates
when good and tangible securities offer. The feeling i❑
the, bazaar continues much the same, although, if we
may judge from the reluctance to clear off imports lately
observable, the feeling is towards increased tightness.
The following exhibits the market value of bullion and
foreign coin, and shows the current rates of banking
transactions: