The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-02 00:00:00

7HE PRODUCE MARKETS.

(From Joseph Tracers and Son's Circular of this day).
The tone of the produce markets continues strong.
TEA. - The operations of the week have been very large,
and prices have advanced • black leaf descriptions are fully
ld., and the reddish leaf kinds id. to lid. (tearer, the latter
having been bought largely by speculators and for export.
Public sales took place on the 31st ult. and the Ist instant.
The first day was occupied principally with Assams, 514 of
which were printed as Kumaon prepared in the Govern-
ment factories in the north west provinces of India. The
wh le of the latter were taken in, the quality not being
suitable for this market; the foriher sold with much spirit,
Pekoes realising full prices, whilst Souchongs sold 3d., and
Congous and broken-leaf kinds about 4d. to sd. dearer. 'I he
remainder of the sale, consisting of 20,719 packages of
China tea, sold with much spirit at very full prices.
CONSOLS, WHEAT, AND COTTON.—The funds have been
firm during the week and Consols have advanced from 93
to 931. In wheat there has been a reaction of between is
and 2s per qr. ; while in cotton, for the first time for many
weeks, there has also been a fall of per lb., caused partly
by statements, which are believed to be well founded, that
the rege,nt speculation has been carried on mainly by very
weak persons, the regular operators having realised their
profits some time ago.
The Stocks in Bonded Warehouses indicate that the
country is well supplied with goods. In a majority of cases
the stocks show a considerable increase compared with the
corresponding period of last year, and the instances of de-
creaf.e are, for the me st part, unimportant. The articles
of which the quantities have augmented are,—coffee, 15 per
cent. ; currants, 30 per cent.; raisins, 12i per cent. ; rum,
11 per cent. ; sugar, 40 per cent. ; molasses, 120 per cent.;
and tobacco, 50 per cent.

COMMERSIAL CONDITION OF THE COHNTRY.—Experi-
eneed merchants express great confidenee in the commercial
soundness of the country at the present moment. The
belief that the existing stock of cotton—coupled with
the quantity that may yet be expected from India, and
the numerous small parcels that seem likely to arrive
from, hitherto unlooked-for quarters, will suffice to
keep the Lancashire population in moderate employ-
ment—steadily increases, while there is every sign that the
demand for fabrics composed of other staples, such as wool,
flax, b.air, jute, &c., will cause great activity in those
branches of manufacture at most remunerative terms. The
latest statistical returns seem also to establish that the
country is rich in nearly all kinds of imported produce. This
is partly shown by the above account of the stocks held in the
Customs bonded warehouses of the United Kingdom; and
such further figures as can be obtained prove that we hold
liken ise a highly satisfactory amount of those various articles
which are not liable to duty, and of which, therefore, the Cus-
toms take n o account. Though the consumption hasbeen com-
pare tively large, the importations throughout the whole of the
current year have, in a majority of instances, been of still
greater comparative magnitude. This has been the Case
especially in timber,. guano, hemp, jute, hair, tar, copper,
and other metals, quicksilver, salted provisions, rice, silk
manufactures, some kinds of leather manufactures, and a
variety of other articles; end, as•the past month has wit-
nessed a rather general rise of prices, the position of holders
must be favourable.
BOARD OP TRADE RETURNS FOR SEPTEMBER.—These
returns, which were published at the beginning of the week,
have attracted considerable attention from the fact that they,
show agreater falling off in our export trade than has oc-
curred in any previous
decrease in tlie
mouth of the present year. The
per cent. compareddeclaredof
with the total of September, 1860, and
cotton goods. this diminution has been in connexion with
thet the figures are not intrinsically so un-
favourable as
corresponding ing.tlai.Pgear, since, in comparison wiles the
was sound and active, 1111859, when trade in ry rpect
Meanwhile, our in,„ore falling off is only 31 per cent.
we
are
tt tin de has been on a satisfactory
scale. Of course,
than in September, 1860, king much less wheat and flour
the arrivals have still been
beyond the average of forni'le! years,
maintain the stocks in our and quite sufficient to
imports and exports
of raw ma ra'na; ries The comparative
te
portation under every head. rial show an increased im

------
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT--iji-y;
of the metro-
ep
Ane rt n to the
BANIERuFTCY. Act —Yesterday the k THE. NEW
politan debtors' prisons made their first retrB
The largest
in pursuance of the new
ablishment
sars7st.Bher Constable
of Bankruptcy, Court
number is Pa. Whitecross- street Prison, which e
is now uneier the able management of 11Iesi
and Lay, t' he principal officers. There are
they are called, prisoners committed by the superior sheriffs,
courts,
and 15 by the county courts, which latter prisoners do
come -under the new law. There are upwards of lob Iri,l--
Boners in the Queen's Prison committed by the Court of
Chancery and the superior courts. According to the new
law, the Registrar of the Court of Bankruptcy is to attend
at the prisons and hold a court, and if he thinks fit he can
release the parties, and mention the district in which the
estate is to be administered. In the efent---44 any prisoner
refusing to submit to examination by the registr-
',_or de-
clining to make a full discovery of his estate and effects, the
registvar is to report the same to the court, and the com-
raissioner has power to commit him to the county gaol for
ono month with or without hard labour, which imprison-
ment may be terminated before the time by complyingwith
the direction of the court. Some of the prisoners in the
metropolitan prisons have been a long time in confinement
--two for nine years and two for seven years in Whitecross-
street Prison. A general gaol delivery may now shortly
be expected. The registrar will have to attend not sooner
than a week, and not longer than three weeks, after the
return. In future a monthly return is to be made of all
he prisoners maned for debt.