The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-03 00:00:00

THE MEER SHADAD.

The Telegraph and Courier informs us that the case
of the Meer Shadad, late prisoner in Surat Castle, has
been inquired into by the Governor General, and the
Ameer fully and honourably acquitted of all connexion
with the murder of Captain Ennis. Lord Hardinge
must have had strong reasons to believe in his innocence
before he directed his liberation and transmission to
Calcutta, and he now stands freed of all imputation. Of
the other imputations cast upon them we doubt not but
that Shadad and his brethren are as guiltless as of this.
The acquittal of the Ameer is the conviction of his de-
famers : they are not unknown to the Government of
India, and they deser►e no mercy at their hands. They
who would traduce the character of the fallen, to justify
the wickedness of those who caused their fall, would
hesitate at little in the way of criminality, and are in
point of virtue on a par with the hireling defamer who
would for a paltry consideration swear the life or cha-
racter of his fellow-creature away. Meer Shaded is, it
seems, to be put on the same allowances and footing as
his brethren in captivity.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Calcutta Overland Price Current.)
MAY B.—The express with London dates to the 24th
of March arrived on the sth instant, bringing most un-
satisfactory political and commercial intelligence. The
state of affairs in France was truly deplorable, and
without any apparent prospect of early amendment.
Most of the leading banks had failed. The Bank
of France had stopped payments in specie. The
Provisional Government had limited payments
to depositors in savings'-bank to 100 f. in coin. It had
also issued an extraordinary decree, postponing payment
of all bills of exchange then due for fifteen days, and all
other debts for three months. The Three per Cents.
had fallen to 50, and the Five per Cents. to 70k, and, in
short, general ruin and disorganization were appre-
hended. Germany, including Austria and Prussia, was
also in a disturbed state. Those events have had a very
injurious influence on the markets in England, and
cause the suspension there of all continental business.
Indigo was dull, and sales could only be forced at a de-
cline of 2d. to 3d. on previous rates. East India sugar
had suffered a further fall of about 3s. per cwt., and it
was expected that in consequence of the disturbed state
of the continent unusually large supplies of foreign sugars
would be diverted to England. Rice had given way still
further 3d. to 6d., and the market was extremely dull.
With the exception of saltpetre, most other articles of
colonial produce were also dull, and had fallen in value.
Saltpetre had advanced 6d. per cwt.
Money was flowing abundantly into England, as a
place of security, from the disturbed countries, and the
prospect existed of a plethora of money without its
being available for commercial purposes. Consols were
at 83. 'The corn market was a little firmer in conse-
quence of the long continuance of wet weather, which it
was feared might be injurious to the wheat crop.
During the week which has elapsed since the date of
our last report business has been very quiet here, and
the reports just received from home are not of a nature
calculated to improve our markets. We apprehend that
purchases of produce will for the present be confined to
actual was being
wants. Indigo has been quiet, and little done in
it,
buyer
unwilling to pay late prices while
holders of the remaining parcels show no anxiety to
give way. The demand for sugar has fallen off. Salt-
petre has continued in active demand at fully previous
rates, but there is very little in stock. Rice is still
neglected. Raw silk is in active inquiry. Silk piece
goods are dull.
The animation reported in our last as pervading the
piece goods branch of our import market has been
damped by advices of an unfavourable nature recently
received from the upper provinces. Light Glasgow
fabrics remain without improvement. Printed goods are
regarded with a little more favour. Mule twist has re-
ceded in price. Metals are quiet.
There is no change to note in the money market, nor
in the value of Government securities, which remain at
our last quotations, viz., Transfer Five per Cents., 8 to 9
premium; Second and Third do., 4 to 4.8 discount; New
Fives, 1.12 to 2 do.; Company's Rupees Fours, 16 to 17
do.; Sicca Rupee do., 18 to 18; Bank of Bengal Shares,
2.025 to 2.050 premium. The average profits of the
bank during the past four months have been at the rate
of Br. to 9r. per cent. per annum, being 9a. less than the
average of the preceding three months. The coffers of
the bank are overflowing for want of approved invest-
ments.

Exchange has fallen from our last quotation of
Is. 102?-d. to Is. 10d. for bank bills, and Is. 100. to
Is. 10fd. for document paper; the latter is scarce and
much wanted. The Court of Directors have reduced
their rate of exchange in England to Is. 9id. The
amount advanced by the Export Warehouse since the
date of our last report, exclusive of the sums passed, but
not then paid, has only been 18,546 r. Exchange with
China is 200 r. to 204 r. per 100 dolls.
Freights have still a downward tendency; our last
quotations of 51. to 5/. ss. are with difficulty maintained,
and a further decline is anticipated.
Indigo—Since our last issue the transactions in the
absence of any public sales are confined to—F. and Co.
135 chests, Jingurgatchee, Jessore, at 130 r. per maund
at easy previous rates. The holders seem as little dis-
posed to force any sales as the buyers show no kind of
eagerness for purchases at the required extreme value,
which tendencies impart to the market a quiet flat ap-
pearance without a positive introduction of lower prices.
Reports from lower Bengal came in with the last few
days, teeming with complaints about the continued want
of rain, and the consequent impossibility to complete
the sowings of more than one-third of the land yet un-
filled.

Sugar—The demand for this article has within the
last few days considerably abated, and though owners
showed every disposition to meet buyers by further con-
cession in prices, purchases were kept within very
limited bounds, not exceeding 2,800 bags, which com-
prised 150 bags Dobarah, at 7r. 1 la.; 500 bags Bhagga,
7r. 7a. to 7r. Ba.; 300 bags Garputta, sr. 4s. to 6r.;
1,900 bags Khar, 2r. 12a. to 3r. 3a.
Saltpetre—With a continued active inquiry prices are
kept to extreme previous rates, buyers in many instances
conceding the usual strict requirements as to colour; and
the reported transactions amount to about 6,000 bags at
our last quotations.
Rice—This pulse continues without any inquiry for
home shipments, and the only reported transactions, with
prices rather in favour of buyers, are for the Mauritius
and Bourbon, 5,600 bags Moonghy at 1 1-6; 7,000 bags
Ballam at 1 to 1-1. _ _ _

Safflower—The expected arrival of the new crop has
not yet come to hand, and there are consequently no
transactions to report.
Raw Silk—The demand for raw silk has been very
lively at rather better prices, and parcels as they arrived
have been readily taken. Quotations are—Cossimbazar,
7-12 to 8-8; Gonatea, 7; Hurripaul, 7-12 to 8-12.
Silk Piece Goods—The inquiry for these goods has
been languid at a decline of 7 to 10 per corge on previous
rates, and during the last few days they have been ne-
glected.
Shell Lac and Lac Dye—A considerable parcel,
amounting to about 2,500 maunds of D. C. shell lac has
changed hands at 9 per maund, and the market has been
nearly cleared of all that remained of the D. T. lac dye
at 55 to 56 per maund. Late disasters in the commercial
world have interrupted the manufacture of those cele-
brated marks, but the cheapness of the raw material will
doubtless induce the manufacturers ere long to resume
active operations. A. S. C. lao dye is quoted at 65 per

maund.
Oil Seeds—The reported sales of linseed amount to a
few thousand flatlands, at prices varying from 1 15-3 to
2.1 per maund.
Jute—We have no sales to report in this article and
prices are without alteration.
Hides—We have little to report in this article since
the departure of the last mail. Prices have slightly
given way, and their tendency downwards.
Cotton—The reported sales of this wool are 350 mds.
Nagpore at 11-5 and 250 bales Jalone at 10 per maund,
showing a decline upon our last quotations.
Rum—This spirit has been wholly neglected for the
English market. The shipments going forward are
solely on distillers' account.
Cutch—This article continues to attract attention
The reported sales are 12,000 mds. at 2s. 9id. to 2s. 10Id.
per md.
Opium—This drug has taken a considerable start
from its former depressed state. News has been received
from China to the 2d of April, reporting a rise of 500
dolls. for Patna at that place, which caused an immediate
advance here from 775, our last quotations, to 875, or
100 r. per chest. A good deal of excitement has conse-
quently been created in the bazaar, and prices aro fluc-
tuating hourly. Our present quotations for real businesB
are 850 Patna and 820 BenareF.

IDLOORTS FROM EUROPE.
British Cotton Piece Goods—The short period which
has elapsed since our last issue on the 2d instant leaves
us with comparatively little to record in reference to our
import market. Within the past few days, however,
accounts have been received from Blirzapore and other
up-country marts, which have had the effect of diminish-
ing considerably the activity which was previously dis-
played. Glasgow goods remain without change either
in value or demand. Prints and fancy goods continue
in somewhat better favour; but it is yet too early in the
season for anything of importance to be done in them.
Mule twist has slightly receded, and most numbers are
uow a shade below our last quotations. Metals remain