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

The North. China Herald says that " an imperial
duty upon opium has at length been imposed at
this port. Small boats, with official flags flying, hav-
ing been stationed near the opium ships at Woo-
sung, that the deliveries of drug may bs duly re-
ported, and the imposition collected from the seve-
ral dealers at Shanghae after its arrival. The amount
of the duty is 12 taels per chest, which, at 33,500
chests (the deliveries of last year), gives about
402,000,000 taels. Of this sum, 335,000 taels, or 10
taels per chest, goes to the imperial service ; the
balance of 67,000 taels being allowed for the ex-
penses of collection." No payment, however, has
yet been levied, as the mandarins are desirous of
first ascertaining the opinion of foreigners on the
subject.
Our usual correspondent writes as follows :
The report current here a month back that the
rebels were making overtures for surrender was a
piece of official gammon, bandied about with the
hope of exciting liberality in the special efforts then
and now on foot to get money for their unpaid
troops in this province, to whom, according to
I-liang's cou ftssions in the document above referred
to, payments are due both to officers and men, to
some for two months, to some for three months, and
to others for four ; in fact, the whole army is little
better than a band of filchers, and the whole coun-
try round their encampments is a frightful scene of
desolation. Nor is this all. The generals have already
sent adrift large bodies of the militia, and these are
roaming about, gambling by day and plundering by
night. The past winter has been very mild, and the
spring thus far cold and backward. Drought is again
feared. Last year the fall of rain in this region was
about 30 inches ; ordinarily it is nearly twice that
amount. Here the season has been healthy, but in
Soochau great mortality has been prevalent, espe-
cially
among the children.
We received lately from Shanghae copies of the
import and export returns of the port for the half-
year ending 31st Dec., 1856, issued by the " Office
of Maritime Customs." It shows the imports to
have been :—Goods manufactured and tmmanufac-
tured, 5,189,821 dols 62c; opium, 5,571,000 dols ;
treasure, 10,079,567 dols—total, 20,840,380 dols
62c, or at the exchange of 7s 3d, 7,554,650/. 17s 6d;
and the exports—Silk, of all kinds, 15,565,422 doll
52c; tea, 4,388,576 dols 78c : sundries, 576,337 dols
94c—total, 20,530,537 dols 30c, or at 7s 3d ex-
change, 7,442,2471. 5s sd. The export of raw silk
was—To Hong Kong and London, 58,469 bales
raw, 5,469 throwns, 1,297 course, 290 refuse, 287
cocoons • to the United States, 831 131.1 raw, 4 re-
fuse ; and of tea—

Black.
lbs.
To Great Britain 6,563,182
Hong Kong and
Whampoa
Australia
The Continent
Montreal .....
United States

105,982
116,772
614,800

361,755

Green.
lbs.
7,014,319

111,282
33, 818
_____

265,76"

275,027
11,275,368

Total.
lbs.
13,577,501

217,264
1'59,509

830,532

275:027
11,619,113

26,17
A generally well-informed correspondent,72 wroitoes
us from Shanghae, that—" The rebel force which
burned Ho-kow (Ho-how) about a month ago after-
wards made an unsuccessful attempt upon the city
of Kvrang-sin-foo. They then moved north, and
are now in great strength in and about Moyune.
The whole of the green tea country is at the mercy
of the marauders—Hwuy-chow will be again plun-
dered, and litle doubt can be entertained that the
whole stretch of the green tea producing country will
suffer far more this season than during the pasttwo
years. The population of those districts is now suf-
fering severely from the scarcity of rice. So much
for the state of the green tea country. To the
southward of Ho-kow, the rebel bands which
hold the cities of Kien-chan and Fu-chau are
in such strength as to threaten the whole
border country between Fokien and Keangse ; and
the risk attendant upon sending money into those
districts for the purchase of new teas has become
very serious. There seems little prospect of any
safe passage being secured for the transit of Moning
and. Ningchow teas across Keangse, so that the
production of those districts will probably remain
unbought unless it can find a vent at Canton. The
disordered state of Keangse has also a moat inju-
rious influence on our import trade here. No move-
ment is observable in the neighbourhood of Nan-
king yet ' • but the Imperialist troops declare that
unless all arrears are paid up directly—say half a
million of tael—tbey will leave the way open to
Soochau, and then the effect on the Shanghae mar-
ket would be deplorable indeed.»

DESTRUCTION OF MANDARIN JUNKS.
( From the China Mail.)
The Hon. Company's steamer Auckland, v.;nile
on a cruise on the l.st April, observed a Mandarin
junk in the Bay of Tung Chung. Tie steamer
came to an anchor off the bay, and the boata
immediately, got outand despatche were.
Alimdqc the coin.,

I
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Bombay Times.)
REPORT ON TUB STATE OP BOMBAY MARKET FROM TEE
16TH TO THE 30TH OF APRIL, 1857.
The Overland Mail from London of the 26th of March
per the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamship
Ganges, reached Bombay on the night of the 20th of
April.

Our money-market during the past fortnight has con-
tinued in the same easy state as reported in our last. The
rates of discount ruling at the banks continue the same,
and are likely to remain so till the season is over. We
hear that the liabilities of the branch here of the London
and Eastern Bank are not of a serious nature, and it is
supposed there will be sufficient funds to meet its en-
gagements.

Government securities and local joint-stock shares
continue at about former quotations.
IMPORTS.
Cotton Piece Goods—The amount of business trans-
acted during the fortnight has been to a limited extent.
Shirting's of all descriptions are ingood demand, as well
as madapollams, which are in good demand and scarce.
T-cloth is in very good demand, and there is no stock of
it available in the market.
Bleached and Fancy Goods—Bleached satin spots conc.
tinue very scarce and in good demand.
Yarns—These have been firm as last reported.
Metals—English bar iron and hoops are in fair demand,
nails square and round, are scarce, and have advanced in
price.. Pig lead is dull, tin plates are in demand, spelter
is dull and has declined, Swedish bar iron is also dull ;
Swedish steel, in tubs and fagots, continues to be in fair
demand.

Cochineal—This article is dull, and there is no change
to be noted in the prices.
Saffron is dull, and has declined in value.
EXPORTS.
Cotton Wool.—The market continues dull, and prices
have declined, owing to the arrivals being freer.
Oil Seeds. These continue in the same declined state
as last reported.
Opium.._An advance in the price of this drug is to be
noticed,;and we now quote I,oBor. to 1,090 r. for Indore
and M...indlesir. The Peninsular and Oriental Corn-
pa'4'm steamer Aden takes for the Chinese ports about
1,200 chests this evening.
Tonnage.—Freights are very dull, and the arrivals are
numerous; and no advance in the rates is expected soon.
Our present quotation is from 21. 15s. to 21. 17s. 6d. for
Liverpool.
Exchange.—A large business was done in local bills,
credits, and documents, at 2s. ltd. previous to the ar-
rival of the China steamer, and afterwards, at same rate,
for China drawn back, and 24. lid. for local credits ; but
this last day or two holders have been firmer, and the
rate is now 2s. 1 9.16 d. for best bills, and 2s. 1 11-16 d.
for documents. On Calcutta, sight 991 r. ; On Madras,
30 days' sight, 99Ar. ; on China, 60 days' sight, 223 r.
(From the Calcutta Englishman of tbe 22d of April.)
Wednesday, April 22.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Hun-
dostan, with the London mail of the 10th ult., arrived
here only -on the 20th inet., the advices by her having
already been anticipated both by electric tel?graph and
the Bombay Dak. Yesterday morning we received via
Bombay intelligence from Landon to the 26th ult.
We have had no change in our produce market, al-
though operations may be said to have been on a smaller
scale, in consequence of tbe continuance of high prices
for our staple articles and high freights. Very little
doing in indigo. We have had a smaller business in
sugar for Great Britain, owing to the rise in freights,
nor have the Bombay shippers been very eager to make
purchases. Of rice we do not notice any change in table
qualities, but Ballam has been in active request. Salt-
petre has been in less demand, and value lower. An
active demand prevailed for raw silk at extreme figures,
bat the market closes flatly. There have been large sales
of Rurrypapl, but the middling and low qualities of all
denominations are neglected, and comparatively lower
offers made for them. We have had some inquiry for
"rails of good makes, Linseed continues to move off
for the United States at unaltered prices. Rape, Wel,
and poppy have been in less demand. No change in the
position of other articles.
The receipt of favourable advices from the Upper Pro- '
vincea as regards piece goods and twist has caused a
better feeling in our import market, and native dealer
have shown more willingness to operate. The sales dur-
ing the past fortnight, notwithstanding the intervention
of holidays, have been to a fair extent, and in some in-
stances at enhanced figures. Mule twist especially, and
coloured yarn have advanced in value but we have no
change in metals.
Money We have again to re t porfavourably
on
the.. market having.become easier since our
this p,, Market
last, ;cough not to any great extent. A further reduc-
Glen of 1 per cent. in the rates of the Bank of Bengal
took place on Thursday last. The last statement of the
bank's liabilities and assets for the week ending the 15th
inst. will be found below. The amount of cash as com-
pared with the statement inserted in our preceding num-
ber baa increased from Rs. 87,62,005.8-3 to Co.'s Rs.
1,11,34,597.120, while that of loans on deposit of