The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-17 00:00:00

:THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVEN!

INDIA.

The following summary of Calcutta intelligence
is from the/If/a-kart& of Sept. 9 :
" Our latest English news is to the 3d August.
We have had very little news to write of since our
last. We are glad to say that we have not heard
so much of cholera and sickness from our up-
country correspondents, so that wo may hope the
worst has passed, not, however, without depriving
us of at least the strength of a whole regiment of
English soldiers. Government has appointed a
commission to visit the places where the disease
chiefly raged, but we do not anticipate much result
from their labours. We find the English press re-
joicing over the treaty which is to put an end to
French African slavery by substituting our coolies
for the slaves-,- but we feel that here we are suffer-
ing a severe loss from the abstraction of our labour.
In Calcutta there are coolie agents for the West
Indies, the Mauritius, and now for Bourbon, all
competing against the tea planters of Assam and
Cachar for the Boonooahs or Dangurs, the hill men
of Chota Nan pore and other wild countries, who
make the best labourers on plantations. The de-
mand is much greater than the supply, and we
certainly think that it is very bad policy to rob
our own labour market in order to supply the
French.

" A few evenings ago we had the first political
dinner we remember in Calcutta. It was given by
the Trades' Association, who had invited a number
of guests of all classes. In the speeches the prin-
cipal topics agitating our political atmosphere at
present were touched upon, and the loud applause
which followed the allusions to the judges of the
Supreme Court, and Sir Mordaunt Wells in parti-
cular, and to the determination to secure publicity
of the debates of the new Legislative Council,
showed how strongly the European portion of the
public feel upon those points. Indeed the associa-
tion, especially the Landholders' and Commercial,
are rising fast into powers in the state.
"The failure of the indigo crop and the indigo
rebellion seems to have set loose a good deal of
that capital which formerly sought investment in
factories. At any rate it is certain that a great
many concerns will be entirely closed and aban-
doned next season. We do not know if this can
account for the avidity with which the shares of
two large tea companies which have of late been
launched in our market have been taken up. It is
certain, however, that tea planting in Assam and
Cachar is no longer an experiment, but a cer-
tain and most profitable investment, whatever may
be the case in other parts of India, and we doubt
not that it will yearly attract more capital, until
those jungles shall become as populous as Kishna-
ghur has been made within the last thirty years by
indigo."

We read in the Friend of India:—" Cholera
continues among the English troops at Lahore. It
has made its appearance at Benares and Nussera-
bad. At a large public meeting of the natives of
Calcutta, a memorial to Sir Charles Wood. has been
adopted, condemning the conduct of Sir Mordaunt
Wells for his frequent and indiscriminate attacks
on the natives. This has called forth a counter
address to the judge from the Maharajah of Bard-
wan and the leading merchants and tradesmen of
Calcutta'. A bill to tax the cultivation of tobacco
in Bengal has been introduced into the Legislative
Council. An act has been passed enabling the three
presidency banks to undertake the management of
the new currency notes, as soon as they are received
in India, and to undertake several of the duties
hitherto conducted by the Government treasuries.
Rain has continued to fall heavily throughout the
country.

" The existence of
.the Legislative Council of
India is fast drawing to a close. Established by
Lord Dalhousie in its present form in 1854, it will
probably sit for the last time to-day. Sir Barnes
Peacock, to whom it has owed most of its unde-
niable efficiency, is really ill. The members for
Madras, Bombay, and the North-West Provinces,
are eager to be on the wing, Sir Bartle Frere's con-
tinued labours make him look forward anxiously to
a holiday, and there is a general disposition at once
to break up. The Council, however, has done its
work, and it is not likely that a massacre of the
innocents will signalise its extinction, on the same
extensive scale as that which marks the hurried
close of each session of parliament. The great Penal
Code has long been law, and the corresponding
Code of Criminal Procedure has now been com-
pleted, so that India will come under a new body
of criminal law and procedure and new high courts
at once on Ist January next. The Civil Pro-
cedure Code has been amended, and all that is now
wanted to make Indian jurisprudence in theory
superior to that of any other country is a body of
civil law, the compilation of which, for so many
different races and creeds, will tax the powers of
the most eminent jurists whom England and India
can furnish."

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CALCUTTA, SEM. 7.
PRODUCE MARKET.—We have not much change to report
in this market. Leading staples have been in tolerably fair
demand, and prices well supported. In some instances even
an advance has ruled.

IMPORT MARKET.—The demand that is usual before the
Doorga Poojah holidays has set in, and prices of most
staples show a slight advance on former quotations. Pre-
sent rates, however, are still generally unremunerative to
importers, and it is difficult for the dealers to realise the
grave position in which Manchester stands with regard to
the future supply of cotton, when they see our large im-
ports, and many houses not unwilling to move off present
stocks in the prospect of full supplies arriving later en.
Doubtless, if American hostilities continue, a higher range
of prices must ultimately be established to correspond with
the high rates that must be paid for cotton, but there are
no indications of any rapid advance in the meantime, as
there is very little buying for up-country, and purchases for
lower Bengal for consumption during the holidays will soon
be over.

would appear that a movement is on foot to have
gas introduced into the settlement. The action's of
the Shanghae Chamber of Commerce in the Customs
question has been closely followed up by, that of,
Hong Kong, but sufficient time has not elapsed. to
ascertain the sentiments of her Majesty's Plenii )o-
tentiary on the subject. It is impossible, boweVer,
to exaggerate the importance of a speedy dctisr-
ruination of all, the matters at issue between the
foreign trader and the Chinese Custom-house. The
former complains of undue exactions on the part of
the Custom-house officials, and of vexatious and
unnecessary delay, in the transaction of business,,
which, as time is money to the trader more than to
most other men, is:fully equivalent to actual pecu-
niary loss. It is a great pity that this should be
the 'case, and that an institution meant to do good
should be in the hands of managers who are fast:
rendering it mischievous. It would appear that
English victories in China are rapidly being
avenged, now that the weapons are changed from
the sword to the abacus, and the theatre' Of war
shifted from the field to the counting-house. Chinese
skill is now fully equal to English,. and 'the issue
of this contest is scarcely doubtful ;" so quickly has
the day of retribution arrived.
Local matters go owssmoothly.. .C_Ortain cases
against several of the police constiblerWlTersbere
charged with extortion have fallen to the ground.
The Chamber of Commerce has published a " state-
ment" on the present working of the Chinese Cus-
tom-house system ; its tenor is condemnatory of the
working of the system, so far as the inquiries have
extended. The statement is offered as " a first in-
stalment of the reform which seems most practicable
and best adapted to existing circumstances." The
temperature has continued to be mild for this season
of the year ; a few smart showers of rain have fallen
during the fortnight.

CHINA MARKET.

(Front the china Mail.) •
The Pekin arrived here 21st instant, bringing the mails
of 10th July from England. The Shanghae portion was
duly forwarded on the 23d per Men, and the Amoy and
Fuhchau letters the same day per Azoff. There has been
no variation from the dull monotony which has characterised.
trade at all the ports of trade for some time past, if we ex-
cept Tien-tsin, where, latterly, a little more life has been
shown. The quantity of complaints of Mandarin rapacity,
rebel excesses, and customs extortion, would, if committed
to paper, form an imposing retrospect of what native and
foreign traders in China do, or are supposed to suffer. FrOM
the Gulf of Petchelee there are no new features of interest.
At Tien-tsin considerable sales of heavy grey goods had
been made, but at a reduction on prices previou ly currant.
The prospects for business were, however, very fair.
Shanghae dates are to the 18th inst. The mail of 26th
June, from London, had been delivered in Shanghao in 41
days' time. Business in general was dull, the demand being
prinCipally for Tien-twin, and confined to heavy grey goods
and white shirtings of fine quality.
IMPORTS.—The deliveries of grey shirtings for the foft-;;
night amount to about 53,000 pieces. Quotations for light
goods were unaltered, and were all but nominal for medium
and heavy cloth; they exhibited a decline. White shirtings
were much as at date of last advices. T cloths were a shade

lower.

ExronTs—Tea : Black—Arrivals continued from Han-
kow, the quantity variously estimated from 9,000 to 11,500
chests, the latter figure probably nearest the mark. Of
these about 2,500 chests have bten shipped direct for Eng-
land, and 7,000 chests been placed on the market, leaving a
very fair profit on prices paid at Hankow. Green :In con-
i,sththme ssptoecokpleatsttilhl
ainterfering
dwi
ac-
cumulatedth
to 12,000 chests.
the
n exporten c e o f
fromthen aNt vn eg
pCIIO
SlLK—Holders remained firm, buyers exhibiting equal
determination not to operate. The stock in dealers' hands
was heavy, and in the face of gloomy accounts from Europe
business was limited.
TONNAGE—The arrivals from England comprised-10th,
Wagoola ; 15th, Solent and Spirit of the Deep, the only de-
parture for England being the Egean, on Bth inst. , There
were loading for England, Assyrian, Ballarat, Charlotte
Ann, Margaret, Dundas, Pegaps, Polmaise, Queen Bee,
Queen of the Ocean, Raleigh, and Wynaud. For local and
coast employ there was a fair demand for vessels of small
and moderate dimensions for foreign use, but for ships of
large capacity there was little if any demand. The treaty
of Tientsin is, as far as the coasting trade is concerned, fast
becoming a dead letter. It is by that compact provided that
this trade shall be open to Europeans,-but no provision was
made to protect native charterers from being squeezed on
the discharge of their cargoes, which then pass from under
the protecting flag to the paternal care of the mandarins.
Wo do not see how this can be remedied, as it is clearly
without our province to interfere with the internal affairs of
the empire, unless British interests are directly assailed.
The Chinese officials set up a plea, and with great truth,
that foreign vessels are driving all the native craft out of
the trade, and that they must protect the jankrnen.
CANTON—There has been more activity in the Canton
market in imports as well as exports since the departure of
last mail. The angry feeling against the Custom-house con-
tinues to occupy the mind of foreigners as well as natives.
IMPORTS—The clearances of yarn amount to 850 bales, at
previa:as quotations. There is a better feeling in grey shirt-
lugs, and increased settlements have resulted therefrom.
10,000 pieces have gone into consumption at rather better
prices. The demand for white shirtings noticed in our last
has ceased, and it is impossible to effect sales, except at a
very considerable reduction.
EXPORTS—At the date of our last the stock of Congou
amounted to 36 chops. Since then very little, if indeed any,
fresh arrivals have taken place. The settlements during
the interval have been 10 chops Oonam, at Tls. 241 to 28;
and 6 chops Oypack, at Tls. 29i to 34, leaving 14 chops in
stock. There are not any transactions to report in Souchong,
Oolong, flowery Pekoe, or Pekoe capers, of which sorts the
stock continues very light. In country greens the sales do
not amount to more than 400 half-chests of all kinds, at
following rates :—Gunpowder, &c., Tls. 35 to 41 ; Dyson,
Tls. 38 to 40 ; and Young 'Tyson, Tls. 26 to 26.
Canton packed teas continue in fair demand. 500 half-
chests Congou have passed at Tls 25 ; 8,500 boxes scented
orange pekoe, Tls 22 to 31; 6,500 boxes scented Capers,
Tls 161 to 21; 500 packages gunpowder, Tls 15 ; 250 half
chests Oolong, Tls 16; and 250 chef3ts 'Tyson, skin, at
Tls 15.

AUSTRALIA.
VICTORIA.

We have aLvices from Melbourne to August 24.
The great event of the month had been the elec.
tions, which had resulted in the return of a large
majority of supporters of Mr. Heales.
The Minister is said to have doubled the number
of his supporters. The Argus, dissatisfied with
the result, says :—The new assembly will contain
scarcely more than a half of the old members, and
in personnel will be something worse than the last.
Among:its losses are to be reckoned some of the
ablest and most distinguished of our Victorian
statesmen, such as Mr. Wood, the ex-Attorney-
General; Mr. Michie, Dr. Evans, and Mr. Higin-
botham, while in their places we have some of the
least reputable characters in our community. A
careful scrutiny of the returns gives a majority of
two or three to the Ministry, but it is believed that
several who have won their elections by accepting
the Ministerial programme, are only waiting a con-
venient opportunity for desertion. This success of
Ministers is due, not to any change of opinion as to
their personal merits, but to their having manufac-
tured in the interval between their first condemna-
tion by the house and their appeal to the country a
policy of the most ultra-radical and democratic
character—a policy which was never heard of be-
fore from Mr. Heales, and to all the principal
points of which he and his colleagues had hitherto
offerednative
vt
ehe
industry—payment
ua
siopposition.ntreyd— fivea leading
e ma
deTinnhtge newof
ef aturMinisterialo
members—repeals p ote etfeatures
pro-
gramme
na
otof the gold export duty—reform of the Upper
House—and the occupation licences. On none of
these points had there been any contest in the
assembly between the Ministry and the Opposition;
and it is contended, therefore, that the appeal to
the country has been taken on false issues, and that
the result in no way affects the vote arrived at by
the majority of the late house, nor does it justify
the action of the Governor in giving Mr. Heales the
privilege of dissolution.
'Me Melbourne Herald remarks on the same sub-
measure natural that
f popular Ministers
shouldjeet: Is
strive r wasivet:fwcionurtshe b
the
largest
support by making their programme exceedingly
ut
liberal. Nor have they been unsuccessful. The
1
results of the elections do undoubtedly show a very
material increase in the number of Ministerial sup-
porters. They show, moreoyer, A sweeping change;