The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-06 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

TEA.—The market has ruled very firm, and full prices
have been demanded by holders. The current price for
common congou is 114 d. per lb. There has also been a
good demand for the finer qualities, at full prices.
SEMAR.—The demand for both colonial and foreign de-
scriptions has been brisk, with every prospect of a continu-
ance. Stocks generally being light, full rates have been
realised for all qualities. In the refined market business
has been active, and the supplies being limited full rates
have been current for all qualities.
COFFEE.—A further improvement in the demand for
this article has taken place, and native as well as plantation
Ceylon is much wanted, at a slight advance upon previous
quotations. There are large quantities advertised for public
sale during the week.
!Wm.—The demand for the lower qualities continues
unabated, and fully former rates are readily obtained.
For the finer descriptions there is a moderate inquiry, at
fair prices,
RUM.—Very little business doing in this article, but
prices are sustained.
TALLOW.—There has been a very firm market, and a
large speculative business has been transacted. P.Y.C.
on the spot, and for spring delivery is quoted 58s 3d to
58s 6d; Australian mutton, 56s to 58s 6d ; beef, 55s to 565;
and South American, 55e to 594 par cwt.

SUICIDE AT WOOLWICH.—A frightful occurrence took
place yesterday morning at Woolwich Dockyard. One
of the labourers employed in the chain testing depart-
ment arrived at his place of labour at 7 o'clock a.m.,
and was the first man to whom a ticket was delivered.
He proceeded towards the chain wharf, where, standing
between the posts of the marine sentry and the police-
custable on duty, he was seen to draw a clasp-knife
deliberateiy from his pocket, with which be inflicted a
deep wound in the region of the heart. Immediately
withdrawing the .weepou and casting it on the ground,
he plunged head foremost into the Thames. It being
high water at ti e time the body was not discovered until
the tide had receded, when it was found embedded in the
soil of the river, six hours and a-half after its immer-
sion. Circumstances which have Been elicited relative
to deceased's state of mind leave no doubt that he was
purely irresponsible for the act. His wife had observed
for some days past that his manner was more than oral
narily remarkable, and had questioned him in the morn-
ing on the subject. The fact of a brother-in-law having
committed self-destruction last week is sujfrposed to have
preyed severe!y on his mind, and probably produced a
relapse of insanity, for which disease he hal some time
back suffered c mflneratent in a lunatic asylum. He has
left a widow and family who were solely dependent on him
for support, and who are consequently thus rend-red
destitute. The body has been removed to the Royal
Marine Infirmary to await the coroaer'd inqueet,

1 2. Li-LA.O.D.

DUBLIN, MONDAY.
STATE OF THE IRISH BANK.

The trade report of the Freeman, says that the
Irish Bank returns show but the slightest trace of
the wide convulsion of last mouth, and it is as-
sumed that the system of average prevents its being
immediately manifest. Tho circulation has de-
creased 119,0001., there being usually an increase
of from 50,0001. to 70,0001., and there is an increase
of bullion to the extent of 59,0001. only. Here
are the figures

Circulation. Gold.
Bank of Ireland
Private Banks

7,303,000 ... 2,622,000

Last month

January, 1856
Ditto, 1855
Ditto, 1852
Descending to particulars, the report shows that
the Bank of Ireland has only varied 30,0001. in
notes and 40,0001. in bullion, the Provincial Bank
a scarcely appreciable amount in either, while the
National Bank has only declined 49,000/. in circu-
lation, and but 3,2001. in bullion. The fluctuations
of the i3orthern banks are equally trifling.
The Northern Whig, the leading commercial
authority in the north, publishes a lengthened re-
trospect of the year 1856, in the course of which
there is the following flourishing account of the
state of the Belfast banks :

" Amid all the disquietude - created by the Sadleir
frauds, during the year, against joint-stock banks, our
own neighbourhood has stood forth unshaken in its
confidence, the prudent and-judicious management of
our local banks having secured the confidence of the
public. The extravagant rate of money has gathered
in a rich harvest for all their shareholders, the division
of profits, in one instance, being equal to 20 per cent.
per annum. Although this fact speaks eonvincingly of
prudent management, it also indicates too surely that
there is not sufficient ba,oking accommodation to meet
the requirements of this large town, which has increased
during the last five years fully 29 per cent, in the value
of her imports, and 44 per cent. in the value of her
exports, must necessarily require more banking facilities
than she did at the commencement of those five years ;
and yet we have just tbe same number of banking
establishments at preseiot that we enjoyed then.
To supply this increased demand we have only
three joint-stock banke, with a nominal capital
of 2,000,000/. sterling, Lout of which only 462,0001;
have been paid up ; and two other banks—viz.,
the Bank of Ireland and Provincial Bank branches—ail
of which added together d.o not, in their circulation, ave-
rage much, if anything, beyond 1,500,0001. sterling per
month, a sum totally inadequate for the purpose. The
very fact of the Belfast :Bank 1001. shares, upon which
251. have only been paid up, being saleable at 701., or
1801. per cent. prem. ; of Northern Bank, 1001., 301.
paid up, selling for 63/., or 110 per cent. ; and of Ulster
Bank 101. shares, 41. 10s. paid up, being at high pre-
mium, affords sufficient evidence of the profitable nature
of Belfast banking. It is beyond doubt—although our
bankers must naturally be better acquainted with the
status of the merchants of this locality than their metro-
politan brethren—that a large portion of our local paper
has been latterly allowed to find its way annually to
London ; and we have known of frequent instances of
Belfast six months' paper having been discounted in the
metropolis at 1 per cent. under our local rates."