The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-31 00:00:00

great an inconvenience at the office on the 4th of every
month. The letters would be weighed and stamped
in the houses of the parties who sent them, and not a
moment's delay would arise at the Post-office. These
suggestions seem altogether unobjectionable, though
there appears no reason that a shilling should be fixed
upon as the maximum of the postage stamps, and why
these may not be issued of every amount for which
use might be found.

POST.—The transactions of the foreign market
have been generally limited, and with a view to the
settlement and effects of the account, which closes to-
morrow. There was a good deal of stir in the Spanish
funds, which continue to advance, though with an evi-
dent, and probably a well-founded, suspicion on the part
of the dealers that there may be something unsound in
the views of those who are operating for the rise. Co-
lombian 231 to 24 ; Mex;can 281 to 29 ; Five per
Cent. Portuguese 321 to 32i ; Active Spanish 24 to
25 ; and the Treasury Bonds, 26.
Great Western Railway Shares closed at 26 to 261
prem. ; ditto (new), 111 to 12 prem. ; London and
South Western, l 7 to 171 prem. ; Brighton, 6 to 6
dis. ; Birmingham 81 to 83 prem.; and London Joint-
Stock Bank, 2i to 2i prem. per share. This market
exhibits but little activity (it was settling day). Prices
as will be seen, are nevertheless, still rather upon the
rise—a circumstance which may be ascribed to the easy
state of the money market. Discounts on first-rate
foreign hills were effected at 41 per cent,
Every day seems
.to bring to light some fresh defect
in Mr. Rowland Hill's Post Office arrangements. A
money order received by a respectable merchant from
Jersey, was yesterday presented at the proper window
for payment by the gentlemen in person. The answer
was, that no advice to pay had come hand.
In the midst of the uncertainty that exists, with
regard to the position and prospects of our money
market, it is gratifying to the commercial interest in the
City to find, as they do, from the advices just received
by the Great Western steamer from New York, that
there is no reason to apprehend a drain, or even a
demand, for specie from that quarter. On the departure
of the steamer the exchange on England ranged be-
tween 8,1- and 91 per cent. prem., the supply Qt to
being at the same time very moderate. In the absence
of any fresh State loans, and with the exchange as-
suming so satisfactory a tone, under an adverse state of
trade, the confidence displayed by our commercial men,
as respects the relations of this country with the United
States, seems to be perfectly warranted. The matter
may be placed more strikingly before our readers by
the aid of figures. In the table here annexed it may be
readily perceived how disastrous the late crisis must
have have proved to the manufacturing and other pro-
ducers in Europe. It is shown that in the year 1839
the imports of various commodities were double those
of the present year. It is enough, for the purpose of
comparison, to refer to the return for New York for the
period named :
IMPORTS INTO NEW YORK.

• Wine. Brandy. EnWare. Iron.
From Jan. Ist to Noy.
30, 1840 ..... 61,760 9,781 16,961 56,089
Same time in 1839 ... 147,924 16,402 34,596 92,995

Pipes, Pipes, Crates.
casks,&c. easks,&e.