The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-16 00:00:00

TRADE AND FINANCE,

A remarkable increase is noticeable in the overland
trade between the Continent and India, more especially
in the shipments of cotton, and it is probable, on the
opening of the Suez Canal, which will afford very great
facilities for it, that this traffic will be greatly developed.
During the first six months of the present year, the
cotton shipped overland direct to the principal European
ports was as follows :--Bales of 3921b5. net—Naples, 100 ;
Genoa, 4,952 ; Trieste, 14,363 ; Venice, 600 ; Barcelona,
3GB ; Havre, 8,192 ; Marseilles, 6,673 ; total, 3,248
bales.

In addition to the above, there was a considerable increase
in the overland trade with the British ports, the shipments
to which, during the period under review, may be thus
summarised :—London, 210 bales ; Southampton, 203 ;
Liverpool, 101,903 ; total, 102,316 ; making an aggregate
of 137,564 bales sent overland during the first half-year
of 1869. This is, of course, entirely independent of all
shipments made by sailing vessels via the Cape. The most
important feature to notice is the rapidity of the growth
of the overland traffic in cotton between the Continent
and Bombay, by which it would appear that the move-
ment is assuming formidable proportions. The question
at once arises as to what influence the opening of the Suez
Canal would have upon such a trade, and it is very
evident that the importing countries around the
Mediterranean basin will be greatly benefited
by the new route. They will have cotton
brought nearer to them and with much greater
expedition than under the old route, and .probably the
first cost to them will be very much less than formerly.
The above statement shews that the Austrians are making
great efforts, not only to obtain a fair share of the manu-
facture of cotton goods, but also to obtain no incon-
siderable portion of the carrying trade between Bombay
and the Continent. In this respect Trieste is much more
advantageously situated than Marseilles—we mean from
a geographical point of view—for monopolising the traffic,
and this view is further confirmed by the statement, which
we have reason to believe to be true, that a line of
Austrian steamers will be established by the Austrian Lloyd
Company between Bombay and Trieste, in December
next, for the purpose of engaging in this traffic. There is also a
rumour that a branch of the Austrian Bank will be
opened there, in addition to the French Comptoir
d'Escompte, which already does a large business in
Trieste.

Whatever may be the ultimate results of this move-
ment, there is very little present fear of the competition
being very formidable to English manufacturers. We
have no doubt that the same rule will hold good which
has hitherto prevailed, namely, that the consumer
will purchase in the best and cheapest market, and we
see no reason to doubt that English manufacturers will be
able to hold their own. With regard to the opposition
in the carrying trade, there is even less occasion for fear.
There is every appearance of the trade of the East being
carried on in English bottoms, and British ship-
owners will probably be the first to make use
of and benefit by the opening of the canal. Indeed
we are aware that lage shipments of coal are being made
to the East, in anticipation of an increase of traffic, and
that steamship-owners are looking out for an active
demand for freights from the East. It would not do,
however, to ignore the fact that hopes are enter-
tained on the Continent of being more independent
of England for their supplies of cotton goods, but so long as
our trade continues to increase, and so long as we can
find customers for the goods we produce, there is little
cause for regret on this account, even should these anti-
cipations be fully verified. It may be mentioned, in con-
nection with this subject, that the large increase in the
number of foreign agency houses at Bombay has long been
the matter of remark.

The Rev. Charles Kingsley has consented to pre-
side over the Education department of the Social Science
Association at the forthcoming Congress to bo held at
Bristol between the 29th of September and the 6th of
October next.

The death is announced of the Viscountess
Combermere. Her ladyship, who was born in 1819,
was married in 1838 to the first Lord Combermero, who died
in 1865 at the age of ninety-two. She was the third wife of
Lord Combermere, and was a daughter of the late Mr. Robt.
Gibbings.

The trial of William Pullin, a youth of 19, for the
murder of Richard Hill, a policeman, at St. Philip's,
Bristol, took place on Friday at Bristol assizes. Pullin was
found guilty, and sentence of death was passed. The
jury appended to their verdict a strong recommendation
to mercy.

Mr. Tomkyns Dew, of Whitney Court, a magis-
trade for the county of Hereford, and late High Sheriff for
the same, has been fined £5 by his brother magistrates for
using a fixed engine called a stopping-net in fishing for
salmon in the River Wye, along the banks of which river
Mr. Dew is a considerable landholder.

Another charge against the metropolitan police was
made on Saturday. A man, charged with disorderly conduct
by two policemen, stated that tho constables assaulted him
without provocation, and declared that ho bad several wit-
nesses ready to give evidence in his favour. The magis-
trate, remarking on the gravity of the charge, adjourned
the case.

The Wesleyan Conference at Hull was brought to
a close on Friday. In the course of the day's proceedings it
was stated that the new lleadingley College was now com-
plete, and that no debt would be left upon tho building.
The President having intimated that this satisfactory result
was in a groat measure owing to the untiring efforts of the
Rev. John Farrar, the thanks of the Conference was pro-
mated to that gentleman.

The London correspondent of the Elgin Co:lrma
says that the project of another trans-American line will
soon be before the public, to cross the coLtinent entirely on
British-American soil, running from Ottawa through the
Bed River settlement, across tho Rocky Mountains, and
down the Fraser River to British Columbia. The Hon.
John Rose, Finance Minister of Canada, has resigned that
office, and comes to London to reside permanently, in order
to develop° the new scheme.

About 1,200 excursionists from the neighbourhoA
of Market Ilarborough have just visited Alton Towors, by
special invitation of the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot A
sumptuous dinner was provided, to which about 300 were
invited, the remainder of the visitors being entertained at
luncheon. The dinner was served in the Talbot Gallery.
After dinner, Mr. Disraeli, who is visiting the Earl, pro-
posed the health of the noble host and hostess in a short
speech, in which politics were strictly eschewed. There
was no such a thing in August, ho said, as politics,

Her Majesty has presented to Lady 11, ardo a
valuable diamond bracelet, in which, concealed by a spring,
is a beautifully executed miniature of his Royal Righnefs
Prince Arthur, tho reverse bearing the words—" To La,-3,
Warde, from Victoria, 1869." General Sir E. C. Ward() has
also been presented by her Majesty with a coloured cabinet
portrait of the Prince, inscribed—" To Major-General Sir
E. C. Wards, from her Majesty Queen Victoria." Litho-
graphic portraits of her Majesty and the late Pr lee Consort
um:mailed those