The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-02 00:00:00

MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS.

(FRIDAY EVENING.)
TIMES.—To-day, being the Ist of May, was a close
holiday at the Bank and Stock Exchange. However,
among private transactions a feature was a further ad-
vance in the price of Great Western, which were ac-
tually done at 22, to :21- premium.
There was a good demand for bills upon Amsterdam
to. day, and the rate of Exchange was rather lower than
last post. Paper on Paris was rather offering, and the
price advanced a little. Hamburgh remained the same
as on Tuesday.

It appears by the revenue accounts of 1839, just
published, the amount of duty received for corn im-
ported into England and Scotland was 1,101,0001.,
while in 1838, as appears by a reference to the same
accounts for that year, the amount received was only
187,0001., and hence it appears that all the advantage
apparent in the return of the revenue for the year
18:39 is owing entirely to the importations of grain, and
owes nothing to an improvement in the general trade
of the country.

It is a common practice among city politicians, when
there is a prospect of a war, to speculate and start theo-
ries as to the best mode of carrying it on. At the pre-
sent time, while a war with China is the continual
theme, they have not departed from the usual practice,
but indulge in various conjectures and even suggestions
as to the way in which the Chinese may be most effi-
ciently coerced. Two modes arc spoken of—a blockade
of the coast, and the seizure of adjacent islands, and, from
a combination of these, favourable results are anticipated.
It is said, that for a blockade, a strong fleet must be in
operation, as half blockade would be a mere useless and
extravagant waste of money. Tne ports besides Can-
ton which it is said should be blockaded are Hyamen,
Foutecheion, Ningpho, Tchangtcheon, Tchaoking, and
uhanghei. The blockade of Tchangtcheon is con-
sidered as particularly imperative, as the Spaniards
from Manilla arc said to have an exclusive right to
export and import there. Amoy is considered to be
the island which could be the easiest fortified and best
held. One main principle of attack, which seems ge-
nerally admitted, is to make the capital itself feel the
weight of the blow. A convulsion there is thought
probable if that should be the case, as the Emperor is
subject to the reprehension of his subjects, and even
holds himself responsible for all famines, earthquakes,
and other national calamities, upon the happening
of which he publicly accuses himself of having
irritated Heaven by some misconduct, and goes
through a penance accordingly. According to well.
credited descriptions of China, it appears that the
Emperor, on days of eclipses, is bound to fast and
confess the faults of his Ministers, and some, arguing
from these authorities, think it not impossible that, on
the occasion of the next eclipse, some of " Commissioner
Lin's" measures may be repudiated. Another chance
looked forward to is that of splitting the empire, and
thus exciting a warfare between the two great parties in
it. Whatever be adopted, all agree that a sudden,
strong, and lasting impression must be made.
Of course these considerations leave entirely out of
view the abstract policy and justice of the war in which
England is about to engage, which seldom fall within
the scope of our civic political lucubrations. They tend
most commonly to the practical part of the warlike
operations, and the readiest means of accomplishing the
end desired, and in that sense only do such disquisitions
as these deserve any attention.