The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-28 00:00:00

CALCUTTA, MAY 8.

During the very short period which has elapsed since
the date of our last issue, we have been placed in pos-
session of London dates up to the 24th of March. The
Bombay express came in late in the afternoon of the
3d instant, and the steamer reached town on the 6th.
The commercial intelligence received by the above
opportunity continues to be of a favourable character;
and although a less active business was doing in the
produce market, yet prices continued to rule at satisfac-
tory figures. The market was favourable for alinosl
every single staple of this country, and this cannot but
tend to keep up the healthy feeling which has for some
time been experienced here.

Our report embraces the operations of such a short
period that we can hardly be expected to be able to re•
port any altered features in the position of our markets.
In the Export branch a sound, healthy feeling con-
tinues to prevail, and operations might have been on a
more ex-ended scale only for the limited sale of stocks at
present in the market. In Indigo a very small business
has been doing, and only a few sales are reported by private
contract. Sugars remain in animated demand, but sup-
plies of the new crop of Benares coming in so scantily,
has been the cause of a limited business. An extensive
business has been done in the lower qualities. In rice
we have no change, and a very moderate business is
doing for Great Britain. Saltpetre continues to occupy
attention, and an extensive scale of operation has been
on foot for some time past both for Great Britain and
the American market. Raw silk has been leis active
and prices show a shade of decline. In corabs a fair
business has been done, and prices keep steady. In
choppas and bandanas there is nothing doing. The
inquiry for Hides remains good, but stocks are quite
exhausted, which has limited operations. The demand
for shell lac and lac dye is also good, and a fair business
is doing at a small rise in value. Safflower has been
dull and inactive. A good inquiry is making for ginger
at full prices. Jute has not been quite so active, and
stocks are low. In linseed only a moderate business is
reported for the American market, while for Great
Britain nothing is doing since the rise of homeward
freightage. In minor products a fair amount of sales
has been effected, while the scale of prices shows no
alteration generally from oar last quotations.
The import division of our business has experienced
no change since date of our last report. If anything, a
more moderate business has been doing than we had
anticipated for the week. Stocks of Manchester goods
have increased by fresh arrivals, which have caused
prices generally to exhibit a litt'e less steadiness. In
Mule Twist a moderate business is doing. Metals have
improved both in respect to demand and value. Upon
the whole, the market may be pronounced to be in a
satisfactory position, although the operations of the past
week hardly reach average, except in metals. We con-
tinue to have prospects of improvement.
THE MONEY MARKET.—We have not the least alte-
ration to report in the position and prospect of monetary
affairs, which continued to be characterised by the same
features they have worn for a considerable period now.
Capital is abundant, and rates of discount continue low.
The Bank rates of discount remain unchanged, while the
low figures shown by its last returns indicate but too
plainly the moderate scale of its operations.

CHINA.

BOMAY, MAY 21.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Pekin, Captain Baker, arrived here this morn-
ing at eight o'clock, having left Hong-Kong at
2h. 40m. P.M., April 25. We annex a list of pas-
sengers :
For Southampton, Mr. Moore; for Suez, Mr.
Mounsey ; for Gibraltar, Spanish Agent ; for Ceylon,
Dr. Smith; for Bombay, J. Rustomjee and servant;
for Singapore, Messrs. Crooke and Meyer.
(From the Straits Times.)
By this opportunity we live received late intelli-
gence. The gates of Canton had not been opened in
compliance with the treaty, nor was Governor Bon-
ham authorized to resort to measures to enforce the
stipulation. But notwithstanding the official inter-
diction from the Consul, several Englishmen have
entered the city since the (ith of April, and, moreover,
they were treated with courtesy. - Business had re-
commenced, ar.d,
apparently, confidence was once
more restored.

The Admiral had proceeded to Shanghai in the
Inflexible, liis Lzcellency may be expected at

Singapore at the end of the current month en route
to Europe, by the Mail steamer, leaving Captain
the Hon. H. Keppel in command of the naval forces.
The dispersion of the fl-et had commenced. H.A.S.
Hastings had sailed for Singapore, the Albatross for
Labuan, and the Scout for England.

THE ESCAPE of RANEE CHUNDA.

The only authentic account of her Highness's
doings is given by the Benares Recorder, from
which paper we take the following :
" Our readers will naturally look to us for authentic
information as to the escape of the Maha Ranee Chunda
Konwur of Lahore. We have consequently endeavoured
to obtain such, and here offer the result of our inquiries.
"In our last issue we echoed the opinion of others,
though upon no better grounds, it appears, than mere
surmise, that her slippery highness never was lodged in
Chunar at all. We beg then to say that it has been clearly
proved that she was there, and escaped in the disguise of a
person called the Seecawalle, the very afternoon after her
arrival, viz., of the 6th. It appears that this Seenawalle, as
she is called, is the wife of one of the male attendants, and
lived out of the prison and had ingress and egress, and
on the afternoon of the 6th inst., when the prison gates
were opened to admit the Bhistee and Sweeper, a slave
girl named Majee, pointing to the Rams in disguise,
told the Havildar on duty to let her out, as she was
the Seenawallee who lived in the bile tar, and was
always allowed to pass in and out of the Ranee's apart
meats, both at Benares and here. The Havildar at first
refused to do so, but was talked over by the girls, and he
let her out ; she had got as far as the gate of the prison
enclosure, where she was stopped by the sentry posted
there ; the Havildar ordered him to let her out as she
was only the Seenawallee, and out she went ; this being
accomplished, she had nothing more to do, but to walk
out of the fort without further interruption ; the woman
being at that time in Benares, though she must have
reached Chunar the next day in company with the Ra-
nee's baggage, and in order not to awaken any suspicion in
the Havibiar's mind, the venerable Senawallee made her
appearance at the prison gate, and was passed in and out
by him until the morning of the 19th inst., when doubt-
less the slave-girls, thinking that their mistress had a
good start, considered it time to declare her departure.
The Court of Inquiry is still sitting, but it is very doubt-
ful whether any more satisfactory information will be
gained. No suspicion seems to be entertained as to the
Havildar having erred except through sheer stupidity.
Various reports have been current as to how the Ranee
acted after once getting clear of the fort, but nothing
can be depended upon."

LITERATURE.
VALERIE. By Captain Marryat. 2 Vols.
This novel will take Captain Marryatt's admirers
by surprise. It is not a nautical romance ; it bears
no reference whatever to the blue waters or to those
who sail thereon ; it is simply the narrative of a
young lady's fortunes, supposed to be related by her-
self. In the graceful style and spirited descriptions
of " Valerie" we recognise the talent of its author.
De mortibus nil nisi bonunz is a motto which effectually
disarms criticism. The hand which penned these
pages, the hand which pourtrayed so many stirring
scenes and rendered us familiar with Peter Simple,
and Midshipman Easy, and the immortal Snarleyow,
is cold. The pen of Marryat will delight us no more.
How, then, can we deal in a criticising spirit with
his last legacy ? As such—as Captain Marryat's
last legacy to that literature which he has already so
much enriched—we cummend " Valerie" to the kind
consideration of the public. It-is written in a very
attractive manner, which pleasantly allures the
reader's atten.ion.

JULAMERK: a Tale of the
_,Vestorians. By

Mrs. Webb.- 3 Vols.

Mrs. Webb possesses many qualities for a novel-
writer. Her characters are individually interesting,
and some of them are most attractive. In pourtraying
those mental conflicts and cruel heart. struggles whioh
are more or less common to the whole human family,
hr r hand is not unskilful. The subject of her present
novel is not an attractive one. The sect to which
we are introduced in these pages is one with the
peculiarities of which the people of this country are
little acquainted. Mrs. Webb has, it is true, ren-
dered the history in which the Nestorians bear part
very interesting; but we should be glad, if, in her
next attempt, she select some more generally attrac-
tive theme.

THE ALBATROSS; or Voices from the Ocean.
By W. G. Kingston. 3 ro/s.
This is a work of a very different character to its
author's former very excellent novel, "The Prime
Minister." The second title of " The Albatross"
sufficiently describes it. These three volumes are
the utterance of voices from the ocean, which relate,
occasionally with much spirit, various adventures at
sea. Among other things, are the eventful history of
Pepe the Pirate, and some interesting details respect-
inz the difficulty which beset those engaged in the
suppression of the slave-trade.

THE LOTTERY OF MARRIAGE. By Mrs.
Trollope. 3 Dols.
Mrs. Trollope's sarcastic powers have been exer-
cised with considerable effect in some passages of this
novel. The story of the fortune-hunter and the for-
tune-huntress who mutually deceive 'each other and
elope together, the gentleman believing that he is
running off with an heiress, and the lady supposing
her partner to be one of the best matches of the day,
whereas their united property, like that of the man in
the play, " amounts to the good round figure—nought,"
is capital. A work which, like this "Lottery,"
relates to the fortunes of a large number of
persons, is almost invariably deficient in one
great desideratum for a novel—interest. Our
attention is directed in so many quarters that,
however much we may be amused, we are not so
vividly impressed or so powerfully attracted as when
our thoughts are concentrated upon a few indi-
viduals.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF
SCOTLAND. By the Duke of Argyle. Second
Edition.
The Duke of Argyle's thoughtful remarks upon
the ecclesiastical history of Scotland have been re-
printed in a more condensed form.