The Sun.
London, England, 1838-02-05 00:00:00

INSURANCE COMPANIES.

..------
25(.0005h. 6i p. ct. Scottish Union 20/. sh. 11, pd 27s
,509 fii p. ct. Hercules ........................1001. sh. 104 pd 131 15s.
'of ,000 sp. ct. Insurance Co. of Scotland ....10/. sh. all rid 815 s
50,000 6p. et. North British .................2001. sh. 101. pd 15/.
1,151.1 sp. ct. Caledonian Fire 1001. sh. 101. pd 19! Os
5,000 op. et. Edinburgh Life 100!. sh. 10/. pel 14110 s
100,C00 3! p. ct. West of Scotland lO/. pd 5/ Cs
MISCELLANEOUS
4,810 Edin. and Was. Un. Cana1...50/. 6h. all rid Vt.
Ditto Allocated 901. sh. all pd 65!.
5,400 5 per cent. Edinb. Joint Stack Water 251. sh. all pd 341
Carron Iron Company 250/. sh. all pd 45/.
2,0005 h 15 per cent. Shotts Iron Fourutery 501. sh 381. pd 431.
10,000 3 per cent. Edinburgh & Leith Glass 2O/. sh. M. pd G,-l.
4,500 10 per cent. Edinburgh Coal Gas 25/. sh. all pd 58/.
4,450 10 per cent. Glasgow Gas 251. sh. all pd 611
750 7i per cent. Leith Coal t;as 20/. sh. all pd 451
1,200 Edinburgh and Dalkeith Itallway...so/. sh 50!.
3,000 5 per cent. Equitable Loan Company,.,2sl. gh. 91, pd led.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Net; London Price Current of Friday Evening.)
' of the week,
SUGAR. —British Plantation, in the en,,,
was in good demand for both the scale and pan, and the rates
previously established were fully supported for good and fine
yellow descriptions, but for low and brown sorts an advance of
6d. was obtained ; the private purchases on Tuesday amounted
to 950 hhds. and trs., besides 156 hhds. Barbadoes at
auction, which were taken readily at prices fully equal to the
previous sale, good to fine went at 655. to 675. 6d., but there
has been less activity in the Market during the last two
days, still there has been a steady demand, and former rates
have been fully maintained; good brown Berbice has been
sold at 605., Jamaica 615., good mid. ditto at 635. and 03s. 6d.,
and better, 645. ; in consequence of the prevailing adverse
winds, as well as the interruption by the ice in our river, there
are still no new arrivals; the stock is now hardly two-thirds of
what it was at the commencement of February last year; the
average price which will appear in this night's Gazette, is IL
18s. bid , and last year it was 1/. 14s. 11d. per cwt. For
auction on Tuesday next 130 hhds. Barbadoes are advertised.
This afternoon prices continued very firm fur all descrip-
tions, but there was very little business done in either refining
or grocery sorts; the purchases for the week are 2,200 hhds,
and tea.

The Refined Market has assumed a more lively and firm
appearance t from the grocers a good demand has prevailed for
both common and the better descriptions of goods, and an ad-
vance on previous rates of Gd. for the former, and Is. on the
letter has been obtained; sales of Lumps rather under the
standard msde at 795, and pzssing at 80s. to 81s. ; for exportation
goods liaise been sought afier, but dat=ing to the scanty supply;
busines's hat been restricted, and the operations been
emAited t 0 a few parcels of double Crushed at 393., et
which it is difficult to make further purchases.
~lntiltlT s.- good demand hat ;atvaiisid by private con-
tract, AO itt tbiU Instances rather higher prices hate been
obtained ; 4,210 bags imported in February lasi ha+e been
offered at auction, which sold readily, good and fine descrip-
tions at fully previous rates, other sorts went Gd. above the
prices of the last sale, good to fine yellow sold at 645. dd. to
655, Bd. low to mid. 625. to 03s. Gd. ; the stock is now 3,400
bags less than at this period last year; an arrival of the new
crop is daily expected.
EAST INDIA: -Of Manilla there are still few buyers, but
holders remain firm, and require fully previous rates, expecting
that a brisk demand will take place early in the spring, Of
Siam the supply is very short, but at present the orders here
are limited, and prices remain as last quoted. The con-
sumption of white Bengal continues greatly on the increase ; the
grocers have purchased freely, giving much preference to it,
not only on account of the superior colour it contains, but alto
owing to the low prices which rule in comparison with other
descriptions at the 245. duty : the importers have again libe.
rally supplied the market, and have offered 2,921 bags 141
casks at public sale, which were taken readily at an advance
on previous rates of Gd. on white, and 2s. to 2s. 6d. upon
brown descriptions ; middling of the former went at 655. 6d. ;
good to fine, 665. to 67a. ; very fine, 68s. od. ; damps and
washed 635. to 665., good sound bright yellow 655. to 655.
Gd., low very brown 475. to 51s. 6d., very inferior quite black
41s. 6d. On Friday 900 bags white will be offered for public
competition.
This afternoon 14180 bags white Bengal at public sale were
taken readily by the grocers at full prices, and in some instances
they went rather dearer, good to fine sold at ads. to (17s. Gd.,
damps 655. to 669.
loLAsSEs.-in West Wirt the purchases have been 200
puns., at a reduction of Is. on former rates, gtiod mid; Deme-
rara selling at 31s. to 325., fair Berbice 295.
COY* EL-4Afitish Plantation continues to be much wanted
for consumption, but being still withoitt airrivals, and the
supply at market very short, business to any extent Ifs" been
preijelited ; all brthiglit forward has been taken readily at inl-
proved rates; the scarcity of this article, particularly of the
liner descriptions, which we have noticed for sound tiles" past
has become more sitorigly merl.ed than ever since our last; at
public sale 43 casks 17 brls. Jamaica Wefe taken with eager-
ness, establishing an advance on former rates of 41, fine fine
ord. went at 108 s. a 108 s mixed good ord. to fine ord. 84s.
a 101 s., mid. 113 s. a 115 s. 6d., pet; berry 1335. ; the stock in
the Docks is less than has been the case for Sevefal years past ;
nothing is advertised for auction next week. We have till to
report a brisk and advancing Market for the East India de-
scriptions with certificate ; the cleinatal for Ceylon from the
grocers has been very extensive at an advance Ott ftirrner rates
of 15, to 25,, sales privately of good ord. made at 85s. to BCs.,
flrie ord. 87s. a 88s., Atte fine Ord, ie held for 90s. ; of the present
stock in the Docks only a very small pail is PrAV held by the
original importers ; there being no prospect of any ar:ivals at
present, and the consumption being greatly on the increase,
cause the most of the present holders to expect that prices will
fui ther improve, and consequently there dfe few sellers even
at the present ! the high prices for which Mocha is held
prevent any export demand, but for home consumption busi-
ness to a fair extent has been transacted at fully late rates :
for shipping transactions privately are still prevented by the
scanty quantity at Market, at auction 117 bags green Sama-
rang sold at stiff prices, good and fine ord, mixed at 525. to 58s.
COCO A. -British Plantation remains fiat; none has been
offered at auction, and the purchases privately hare been li-
mited, but importers still refuse to submit to any reduction.
TEA. -The Market presents a healthy and improving ap-
pearance. Company's have been in extensive demand at higher
prices, establishing an advance on the rates of the last sale of
3d. on Bohea, and 2d. to 2?„-d. on Congou; sales of the
former, duty paid, made at 3s. and the latter in bond at
Is. Hid. to 2s. Free Trade continues to be taken freely,
particularly Fokien ; Canton, Bohea and ord. Congous, for
which profits on the December sales of 2J. to 2-1. on the two
former, and 2d. on the latter have been obtained. One of the
principal
holders of Canton Bohea have refused to sell under
Is. 6d. Advices from Canton state that the supplies were
arriving very slowly from the interior, and that the shipments
would be late this season, and although accounts had been re-
ceived there of the prices when the Market was at its lowest
point, yet the Hong Merchants refused to sell their Tea any
cheaper.
COTTON. -The demand continues very moderate. 15,500
hales East India were brought forward by public sale this
day, at which there was a good attendance ; owing to the
frost and the orders fur export being at low limits very little
was sold, but the holders being firm, and withdrawing and
buying in the greater part at high rates, the few that were
sold realized the previous nominal currency.
lenioo.-East India is rather more in request since the
public sales, and several small parcels of the bought-in lots
have been taken at sales' prices ; in all about 400 chests,
chiefly of the finer descriptions, but the principal holders re•
main firm, and will not sell at present rates: advices from
Calcutta to the 16th November have been received, confirm-
ing the previous estimate of the crop at 100,000 to 105,000
maunds ; the Market had not opened there, but as money was
exceedingly scarce, prices were expected to run lower.
Spanish in this Market is held for previous rates, at which
some business has been done privately.
SALTPETRE.-For Rough there continues to be a good de-
mand: Calcutta refraction 6 to 5 at 245. 6d. to 255., refrac-
tion 91 to 8, 245. to 24e. 63. Accounts from Calcutta state
that large shipments were making for England, and that
freights had fallen considerably. In British Refined business
to a fair extent has been transacted.

TALLOW.—The market has ;;Ot been brisk during the pre-
sent week, business being restricted owing to the present high
prices ; still there has been a steady demand for consump-
tion, and the buyers have been compelled to pay 9d. to
advance on previous rates ; 495. 6d. was obtained for small
parcels of St. Petersburgh Yellow Candle, even at which
some of the holders arc not sellers, and require 505., the stock
is very light, 10,100 casks less than it was last year, or only
equal to six weeks' consumption. For future delivery the
transactions have been again trifling; but 355. must be paid
for the last three months. The Soap-makers have advanced
the prices of Yellow, Mottled, end Curd Soap 2s. per cwt.
OlLS.—There has been no improvement in the Market, for
Fish Oils ; the demand for all descriptions has been very li-
mited, and the reduced prices of last week have been barely
supported. Sperm has sold steadily at previous rates. Rape
has been in extensive demand at 6d. to ls. advance.
Linseed has been taken sparingly, but full prices arc still
required. Of Palm there is none remaining in importers
hands, the second-hand dealers, by whom it is held, are still
asking 371. per tun. In Olive the purchases have been un-
important.

STATE OF TIIE RIVER.—At one hour the Thames
above bridge is blocked up, and the next it is comparatively
clear of ice, which being carried down by the ebb blocks up
the Pool in turn, carrying everything before it, and occasionally
breaking away mooring chains, anchors, and cables. There
appeared to be a little, and a very little, decrease in the quan-
tity of ice on Wednesday ; but the frost of the last two nights
has augmented it considerably, and with the exception of a
few small vessels shifting from one place to another in the Pool
at the most favourable opportunity, low water, when the ice
is below, and the dropping up and down of a few coal barges,
which are often carried to Blackwall by the ice, not to return
again till the weather breaks up, the navigation still remains
suspended. The banks of the River are covered with huge
blocks of ice, and everything, both above and below bridge,
presents a most cheerless appearance. The general interrup-
tion to commerce has affected trade most considerably, not
only along shore, but in the metropolis generally.
A fleet of twenty armed oyster-boats have been
fishing in the Chesapeake, with rakes for oysters, in open
violation of a law of Maryland. A part of these, it is said,
landed, and burned down a house belonging to Mr. Harwood,
in the neighbourhood of West River. About one hundred
citizens of Baltimore, upon hearing of this outrage, proceeded
in a steam-boat, armed with cannon, to the spot where the
oyster-boats were stationed, for the purpose of driving them
off. We have not yet heard the result.

PROOF OF MADNESS.—At daylight we shared
some excellent coffee, which the Bedouins had prepared for
us. Instead of grinding them as we do, they pound their
berries between two stones, and that only when they are re-
quired for use. The addition of mill; and sugar is unknown,
and water being used in less proportion than is customary in
Europe, their coffee is consequently very strong. A group of
Bedouins were disputing respecting the sanity of Lady Esther
Stanhope, one party strenuously maintaining that it was im-
possible a lady so charitable, so munificent, could be other-
wise than in full possession of her faculties. Their opponent
alleged that her assimilating herself to the Virgin Mary, her
anticipated entry with our Saviour into Vrusalem, and other
vagaries attributed to her, were proofs to the contrary. An
old man with a white beard called for silence—a call from the
aged amidst the Arabs seldom made in vain. " She is
mad," said he; and, lowering his voice to a whisper, as if
fearful such an outrage against established custom should
spread beyond his circle, he added, " for she puts sugar to
her coffee." This was conclusive,—Wallstead's Travels in
Arabia,