The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-04 00:00:00

THE BOMBAY MARKET.

(From the Chamber of Commerce Overland Price Current.)
BOIMAY, FEB. I.—Our import market has been, in some
respects, even duller during the past fortnight than we have
had to report it for some time past. Notwithstanding the
advance which has lately taken place in the cost of manu-
factures at home, buyers here show little disposition to in-
crease their stocks, and demand has been chiefly confined to
heavy domestics and grey longcloths; other descriptions are
without inquiry. The heavy supplies known to be on the
way, and shortly expected to arrive, have rendered nut a few
of them desirous of selling at such low prices as arc now cur-
rent. In consequence of this, though a good many sales have
been effected during the past few days, a general decline in
the prices of most of the Manchester staples falls to be now
quoted; indeed scarcely a single article in general demand
is saleable at a cost sufficient to save the importer from loss.
Such inquiry as has existed during the past fortnight has
been chiefly for heavy domestics and grey longcloths, of
which the sales have been considerable, but at a decided
reduction from the prices obtainable even in December
last. Lappets, mulls, book muslins, and all kinds of Glas-
gow goods, are only saleable at a heavy sacrifice. No
Marwarrie purchases of au extent have been made in
Bombay during this season ; these in former times were
very extensive. The absence of anything approaching to
the usual demand this season was at first accounted for by
calling to mind the extensive speculations in opium, in which
the Marwarrie people were known to have had a large share,
and the consequent more than usual want of confidence in
the native mercantile community, while the majority of the
claims arising out of those speculations remained unsettled,
and threatened, as they still do, to become subjects of exten-
sive and varied litigation in the supreme courts of the presi-
dency. But it is now remembered that the Marwarrie pur-
chases in this market have been declining for years; and
that they have this year been almost nothing, is not ex-
plained, or at least is only partially explained, by the circum-
stances attending the opium speculations here alluded to.

There is a certaiiYamount of demand for articles of common
and general use, which speculations in opium could never
interfere with, and which, if not made in Bombay, will be
made somewhere else. It is believed that some of the
markets of North West or Central India, including particu-
larly the extensive one of Joudpore, which have hitherto
been supplied with English goods from Bombay, have been
of late supplied with these from Calcutta, where cotton goods
have been obtainable on even lower terms than at Bombay,
and whence the means of communication with the internal
country, by roads and rivers, are in many respects superior to
those yet available in Western India.—lt is net easy to fore-
see how long this state of matters may last.
Cotton rilanufactures—The foregoing general: observa-
tions are meant to apply particularly to these, and little ad-
ditional
falls to be added. Grey domestics, which lately
were in demand for the Arab market, have, since last issue,
been sold at Bto 10 annas below former prices. Turkey red
cloths, both twilled and plain, have also been disposed of at
a reduction. The helders of grey longcloths and grey do •
mestic seem fully more desirous of selling than parties are of
purchasing. Sales in consequence can only be effected at a
reduction of price. Fine white shirtings and 45-inch grey
ditto are also in some request, but there is no improvement
to notice in their value. Seven-fourths and eight• fourths
cambrics are scarce, and would command good prices if now
in the market in moderate amount.

Cotton Yarns—Sales of twist have not been made to the
usual extent, and a slight decline on several of the numbers,
both mule and water is quoted thus:—
Mule. No. 20 Annas 014 to 6% per lb.
No. 30 P 7144 _
- _

No. 40 ff
79/1- ttoo 9817¢ ',,
No. 50 ff,
Water. No. 20 „ 7% to 7% ~
No. 30 ft 81Att If
No. 40 „ 11.1,i ”
Nevertheless sales are reported to us as follows:
Water Twist. 1,2001b5. No. 20 to 7% ans. per lb.
1,2001b5. No. 30 to 817 i „ „
2,4001b5. No. 30 to 814 „ „

Turkey red, green, and orange, in no demand.
Metals have been in fair demand, but without much alte-
ration in value. The following sales are reported or known
to have taken place :-500 cwts. Tile copper, at Rs. 50f per
cwt.; 150 cwt. of brazier's sheets, 4 by 4, at Rs. 61 per cwt.;
90 cwt. of heavy sheet, 4 by 3, at Rs. 60 per cwt. ; 400 cwt.
of sheathing, at Rs. 58k. per cwt.; 40 cwt. of bolt, at
Rs. 59. In iron, we are informed of a sale of 70 candies,
3-16 to 6-16 inches, nail rod, at Rs. 46 per candy; of 165
kegs nails, at Rs. 12 per cwt. ; of 776 bundles sheet iron,
at Rs. 74 per cwt. ; of 2,510 bars false Swedish, at Rs. 38
per candy. In Spelter we have heard of a considerable trans-
action at Rs. 10 annas 10 per cwt., since last mail. There
has been a sale of quicksilver since our last, and the market
is bare of that article.

Beer—Allsopp is quoted at Rs. 65 per hhd., but there being
none at market, the quotation is merely nominal. Sales of
Bass are reported at Rs. 50 perilihd., but we are not informed
as to what extent.

Spirits—Sales of brandy at Ra. 3 2 annas to Rs. 3 4 annas
per gallon have had effeet sinco our last.
Marine Stores—We are informed of 103 cwt. of white paint
having been sold at Rs. 11 per cwt.
Saffron—Sales of first quality are reported at Rs.lB per lb.
Cochineal—Vary scarce, and in demand.
EASTERN PRODUCE.

Cotton—There is still considerable activity in Cotton
shipments for England, but prices have a tetateney down-
wards, partly attributable to the inferior article en hand, and
to the scarcity of available tonnage in the harbour, and
consequent advance in the rate of freights. Shippers of this
staple for China are doing nothing, preferring. apparently to
wait the arrivals of new cotton to operating on what re-
mains of the old. Of the new, some trifling parcel., of Own-
rawatty have been received, and for which Rs. 88 per candy
is asked.
The current rates are as follow :--
Broach and Jumbooseer ........ Rs.B2i
Surat .
Dhollera 76
Compta
Opium since our last has receded, and is now quoted at
Rs. 1,080 to Rs. 1,100 per chest. Further accounts of the
China market (being expected by the Ceylon steamer) are
looked for with some anxiety. Not a little of what is in
the market is supposed to be of inferior quality. Purchases
to some extent have been made at the rates here named.
Freights to Great Britain continue firm at 51. 55., with an
upward tendency, owing to the small amount of available
tonnage in the harbour. To China freight is nominally
Rs. 14.