The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-16 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

By the arrival of the Calcutta mail we have re-
ceived papers from Calcutta to the Bth of April,
and from Hongkong to the 31st of March.
The political intelligence by this arrival is en-
tirely devoid of interest, and the few items of mili-
tary news which the papers contain have already
been laid before our readers by way of Bombay.

THE CALCUTTA MARKETS.
CALCUTTA, APRIL 8.
On the 25th of March intelligence from London to the
26th of February reached Calcutta by telegram, and the
letters by the Nubia were delivered 'here on the 2d iftst.
The newalrom London of the 3d of March was telegraphed
via Bombay on March the 30th, and the express letters of
that mail were delivered in town on the 6th inst. The very
unsatisfactory condition of Continental affairs has had a
generally depressing influence on our markets.

- Produce Market:l.lWe have had a quiet market in exports
during the fortnight under review. The unsettled state of
European politics and the War or No War questions have
made buyers still more cautious than before. Until some-
thing definite is known here about the Austro-French affair,
business must continue in an unsatisfactory position. In
indigo we have no new feature to notice. In raw silk more
business has been done. Corahs have been largely dealt in.
Sugar in moderate demand. Saltpetre in moderate de-
mand, but higher. Jute in neglect. Oilseeds in fair
demand.

Exchange—Since the departure of the last mail exchange
on London has shown rather a downward tendency, but this
was checked on the arrival of the China mail. Credit and
bank bills havinz been put on the market, the rates were
slightly advanced. This advance has since been confirmed
by sales of local credit bills at 2s. Id 4, and the bills of the
Chartered Australian Bank at 2s. OAd. The closing rates
for the mail may be quoted at from 2s. Otd. to I- for bank
bills, 2s. id. to 2s. ld. for American and other good credits,
and 2s. l. to 2s. lid. for documentary. On China the rate
is almost nominal; the last sales were at 215.
Government Securities are (with the exception of a few
transactions among the jobbers) dull and without inquiry.
The 5 per cents. were offered yesterday at 11 per cent. dis-
count and the 4 per cents. at 22 per cent. discount. At the
close of this month the open loan will be closed so far as
receiving a moiety of subscription to it in 4 per cent. paper
is concerned, and the impression in the bazaar is strong that
these latter securities will then be still further depressed.
Without a complete reorganisation of our public loans con-
fidence in these securities will not be restored. We hear of
large sales made in London of enforced 5 per cent. paper at
6 per cent. discount or 1-101 per rupee.
Joint-stock shares command full prices and are held
firmly. In bond shares there is little doing. India General
have been sold at 1,800, and more are inquired for at this
figure. Ganges shares aro dull at quotation. Coal shares
are in request, both of the Bengal and East India; the de-
mand for coal continues extensive. Dock and Union shares
maintain full value. Steamtugs are neglected and below par.
Freights—There has been a moderate business done.
Freight to London and Liverpool, and also to America, at
rates about the same as those reported by last mail, say—
London, 325. 6d. all round ; Liverpool, 275. 6d. ditto ; and
America at 5 dols. 50c. all round ; but we have no transac-
tions to record for France, Australia, San Francisco, or the
West Indies. Very little doing just now for Mauritius, but
seven or eight ships just taken up to load for Galle and
Colombo, at 12 to 14 annas per bag.
Money-market.—Money is abundant in the bazaars and
with the banks. The Government only are in want of
assistance.

Metals.—There is no alteration in our market for metals.
As stated in our last issue, importers hold out for the extra
duty, but purchasers do not as yet seem inclined to concede
this. A fair demand exists for copper and spelter, but we
have not heard of any large transactions. Iron is in limited
demand, and dull at our quotations.