The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-01 00:00:00

1851.

OVERLAND MAIL

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INDIA.

We have received our files of journals and letters in
anticipation of the Overland Mail. The dates are:—
Bombay, March 3, and Calcutta, February 20.
The following is from the summary of the Bombay
Times, of March 3:---`• We rarely remember a fortnight
more barren of intelligence than that which has just
passed over us—and we are literally in the predicament
of the weary knife-grinder, of having no story to tell.
The Governor-General has, it is said, abandoned his
purpose of visiting Cashmere: we have heard no tidings
of his arrival at Peshawur—and he has probably been
dslayed longer near Kalabagh, in a region as remarkable
far its mineral we alth as its romantic le auty, than he had
anticipated. Coal, gypsum, soda, salt, sulphur, alum,
lead, copper, and gold, are all found in the neighbour-
hood. Oar railways are now beginning to proceed
apace; the sanction has been obtained to extend the
Calcutta lice to the Bardwan collieries, and still fur-
ther extensions are expected. A twelvemonth nearly
has elapsed since the engineer staff reached Calcutta,
and the establishment came on full pay—some 7,0001. a
year; and though as yet no work has been done, or can
be attempted till October, a vast deal it is said‘vill be,
performed next year to make up for the seven years'
talking that have already elapsed. The new contract-
ors, Messrs. Flavel and Fowler, are proceeding with
vigour with the Bombay line, having laid down nearly
a mile of embankment along the flats from near Mahim
Wood in the direction of Siun. No European tools have
yet been employed on this, the native pick, powrab, and
basket being found to suffice. Mr. Balstun is pro-
ceeding rapidly from the opposite side of Sion
marsh, and will have the embankment across before
the rains (June). This portion of the work admits
of the wheelbarrow, the Dobbin cart, and railway
waggon, and some extent of rails have accordingly
been laid down by them. Sir W. Gomm was at Bhurt-
pore on the 16th alt., where visits of ceremony were
exchanged betwixt him and the Raja or Chief. Sir
El. Pottanger and Sir G. H. Berkeley continue at their
posts at Madrcs. Sir John Grey leaves Bombay for
the Mahabuleshwar Halls this forenoon ; the Right
H on. the Governor and family follow in ten days. No
trace has been found of the 10,0001. of which the safe
of the Oriental Bank had been robbed shortly before
last dispatch. Earthquakes appear to have been felt
pretty extensively over the Punj sub or the North-West
Provinces on the 17th and 31st January, and on the
4th, 6th, and 14th of February; no injury of any note
has been occasioned by them. The Governor-General
has issued an order that all officers who have not passed
in Hindostanee, holding staff appointments, in the face
of the most particular orders from the Court of Direc-
tors, shall rejoin their regiments.
On the 9th, and again on the 14th, there was a furious
thunderstorm at Muttra.

Immense floods both in the Suticj and Jumna ac-
companied the gale.
The Nepaulese Ambassador, Jung Bahadoor, has been
received with great state in his own country; he has al-
ready arranged for the construction of a grand road from
the capital to the frontier—the first fruits of his visit to
Europe. It has been found impossible to obtain per-
mission for Dr. Hooker to travel in Nepaul; when once
English merchants or travellers are found in a country,
English troops very speedily follow. Great efforts are
being made to provide Bombay with a regular supply of
water—that on the spot, abundant Eta it is fa- a tropical
island, falling greatly short of the viants of our popula-
tion, now verging on half a million. The report of
Capt lin Crawford has been most favourably received
by the Court of Directors ; he proposes build-
ing a large dam across the mouth of a
valley amongst the hills at Sslsette, and ereatirg
an artificial lake. This will afford 100,000 gallons au
hour to Bombay, with a minimum hea 1 of water of 70
&et; it is proposed to be brought in in a two-foot iron
pipe by the line of the railway. The lake will be twelve
miles from the point of &Every, and the cost is estimated
at 150 0001. One gentleman has offered to subscribe
40,0001. of this!

A new steamer of eighty tons, for the Surat trade, has
just been launched; this is the twelfth private steamer
which plies from Bombay with the ports adjoining,
mostly the property of natives—the ()idea of which, the
Sir James Rivett Carnac, was launched in 1842.

Colonel C. Crawle. of 20th Bombay N. 1., command-
ing at Sholapore, died on the 25th ult., a few miles from
the ilahabuleshwar hills. lie was a smart officer, and
much liked by all with whom he came in contact. Cap-
tain R. Dawson, of the sth Bengal N. 1., died at Bombay
on Wednesday last in a state of great destitution; he had
got thus far on his way home on sick leave.
The Bombay Board of Conservancy has resolved to
meet once a week out of doors in some specifiod locality
claiming their attention, in addition to their usual in-
door weekly meetings. Colonel Pew, of the Bengal
Artillery, died at Singapore on the 2ad of February, on
his way to Australia. He was one of the greatest spe-
culators in India ; in 1845 he is said to have been worth
250,0001.. In 1850 he was a bankrupt almost without
effects.

Casualties by Death in the Armies of India, reported
since the departure of the mail on the 17th Feb.:—

Queen's troop3—Lieut. W. C. R 390, ilth High-
landers, at Aden, on the Feb.

Bombay—Lieut. H. T. Walker, Ist Eur. (Fusiliers)
at Seroor, on the 19th Feb., Lieut.-Col. C. Crawley,
20th N. 1., at Bombay, on the 27th Feb.
Bengal—Lieut. R. H. Glennys, 44th N. 1., at Midna-
pore, on the 9th Feb. Col. Pew, Artillery, at Singa-
pore, on the 2nd Feb. Mr. Edward Waring, formerly
of the Bengal Cavalry, at Meerut, on the 16th Feb.
Captain B. Dowson, sth N. 1., at Bombay on the 26th
February.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
BOMBAY, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 1.
We are glad to report upon the improved state of the
money market, occasioned by large supplies of bullion, which
arrived from England towards the end of last month. The
high rates of interest are, however, still charged by the
banks, but we look for the Bank of Bombay leading the way
to more moderate charges shortly. Securities are in demand
at rather improved rates. The following quotations may be
called the rates of the day : —Bank Shares—Bank of Bombay,
14% per cent. premium; Oriental Bank, 16 per cent. dis-
count; Commercial Bank, 16 per cent. discount; Agra Bank,
4 per cent. discount. Government Securities—Transfer
Loan, 110 ; Company's Fi; es, 98 to 98%; Company's Fours,
81% to 82.

Tim import market exh'bited just after the departure of
last mail a rather more animated aspect than it had done for
some time previous, but the near approach of the Hoolie
holidays has again caused a relaxation in demand, and till
their termination on the 2e th inst. the native dealers will
not care for entering into transactions to any extent. During
the past fortnight the sales of imports have been pretty large,
but at no material improvement in prices. In our staple ex-
port, cotton, there has scarcely been anything doing for the
home markets, shipments being mostly confined to China.
Cotton Piece Goods—The inquiry has during the past fort-
night again been mainly for grey goods, sales of which have
had effect to a rather considerable extent, in consequence of
holders having submitted to rather lower prices in order to
clear off old accumulated stocks. Grey Goods—Jacconets
have sold to the extent of 16,40 a pieces, at from Rs. 14 to
Rs. 2 14.6 per piece. These have been of the higher quali-
ties, which are in some request, while the lower descriptions
arc dull and uninquired after. Skirtings—The demand for
56-reed has been dull ; for COs. the inquiry has been mode-
rate ; and the " bulk of the sales has been in 52-reed 40 at
45 inch., e 7,100 pieces of which have been disposed of at
from Re. 3-11-0 to Rs. 63 p.p. Madapollams - Sales 17,840
pieces, at Rs. 2to Its. sp. p. The demand has coutinued
chiefly for those descriptions under 3lbs. in weight, the value
of which has not antlered any decline, while for qualities
above that weight the demand has been rather dull, and
prices have somewhat declined. Domestics - Transactions in
these have only amounted to 1,657 pieces, a' Rs. 5e to Rs. 12
per piece, and they are rather neglected.—Long cloth—The
only sales reported are 740 pieces, at Rs. 5-3-0 to Rs. 61, p.er:!
but a fair demand exists for them. Stocks are very light.
anti.
Cloth—Sales 5,500 ps.. at Re. 3-1-6 to Rs. 3-7-0 p.p.
Demand
6mand
good. Bleached Goods—Sales of 2,2e0 pa. shirtin
g
72 read, at Rs. 5L to Rs. 671 p.p.., are the onlytrasntsactions
reported in white goods during the fortnight. Medium qua-
lities jacconets, twills, and low descriptions of madapoll sins,
are in moderate inquiry, but we have not beard_ of any sales.
Fancy Goods—Some small demand exists for lappet scarfs,
low lappets, grey an.l bleached dimities, at foreverttes, a
ratterse;dduyeeeda
and bleached mulls have been in some request,
prices; while for satin checks and spots there has been
no inquiry whatever. Dyed Goods—Turkey red mulls are in
very little demand; twills and prints almost totally ne-
glected ; and plain cloths remain as formerly reported on, the
demand being confined to Ye welt
Cotton Yarn—The sales during the fortnight have been, of
mule twist 223 bales, water twist 353 bales, and orange yarn
81 bales. In the two former, transactions have been mainly
confined to good quality 20s. and 305.; 40s. are dull; and
prices of 50s. have given way. Orange and Turkey red have
declined in value, and the inquiry for all descriptions of
coloured yarns has been dull.
Metals—There has been a decline in the value of nearly
all descriptions of metals during the fortnight, and demand
continues as dull as at date of last report. For iron, both
British and Swedish, there is scarcely any demand, and
prices of all varieties have gone down. The same may be
said of
,pig and sheet lead, spelter, tin plates, sheathing and
braziers copper. Swedish steel and copper tiles remain as
before. The market for copper generally has become duller
than ever.
Cochineal and Saffron—No transactions in either. A good
demand continues to exist for the latter.

Woollens—The market for these fabrics continues dull.l
Beer—The market is still completely bare of both Allsopp's
and Bass's. In Hodgson's we do not hear of any transac-
tions. A sale of 20 hhds. W. Younger and Co's., at Rs. 62
per hhd., is reported.
Spirits—No inquiry for any description of spirits exists
except for brandy in wood, and we have no transactio:s to
report.
Marine Stores—Very great dulness has continued to pre-
vail for all kinds of marine stores.

Exports—Opium—The alvices receivel by the last Chine
mail on the 22nd ult. caused prices of the drug to fall to
1,C03 to 1,020 per chest, but they have again risen
to Ri. 1,(00 to 1,010, owing to the small quantity in the
market. This is the nominal rate of the day. no transactions
having had effect during the past ten days. The importation
of Malwa drug has as yet been to a very limited extent, and
there is a great scarcity of best quality, consequently our last
quotations have been firmly maintained, and pr ce are
likely to advance before the departure of the next China
mail on the 19th inst. - Patna and Benares had, at Calcutta,
on the 21st ult., both declined to Its. 856 and Its. £44 re-
spectively. We copy from the Bengal Hurkortt the following
account of the result of the third opium sale of
season,
held at Calcutta on the 10th ult.:—
Chests. Highest. Lowest. Average. Proceeds.
Behar 1,945 875 870 873-3-9 Rs. 1F,98,450
Benares 8:30 865 860 861-4-2 „
averages to the 7 ,66,V)5
This shows a further reduction of the
ex-
tent of Rs. 50-8-2 for Behar, and Rs. 4S-9-1 for Benares.
Cotton Wool-The purchases during the fortnight amount
to 4,275 bales and 1,025 candies, chiefly for the China mar-
ket. Since the arrival of the last English mail, on the 23d
ult., a decline of some Rs. 4 to 5 per candy for Broach and
Surat, and of Rs. 2 to 3 for Dhollera, has taken place, some
3,000 bales of the former having previously been purchased
for the home market at Rs. 122 per candy. During the past
week the purchases on Lome account have been contined to