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

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 inst.
The news from London of the 33 of Much 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. —We have had a quiet market in exports
during the fortnight under review. The unsettled state pf
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 having been put on the market, the rates were
slightly advanced. This advance has since been confirmed
by sales of local credit bills at 2s. ld., and the bills of the
Chartered Australian Bank at 2s. O'd. The closing rates
for the mail may be quoted at from 2s. 0?-,c1. to i for bank
bills, 2s. id. to 2s. ld. for American and other good credits,
and 2s. I. 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
b per cent. discount or 1-104 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 are 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. Gd. all round ; Liverpool, 275. Gd. 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 Gale and
Colombo, at 12 to 14 arenas 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 far copper and spelter, but we
have not heard of any large transactions. Iron is in limited
demand, and dull at our quotations.

-- 4
CHINA.

HONG KONG, MARCH 31.
The past fortnight has been a dull one in every
way. Trade at Canton has suffered from the exac-
tions of the Mandarins and the inroads of the rebels,
a large body of whom have moved from Kwangsi to
the northeast and occupied the direct route from
Canton to the Oonam and Ooptick provinces. The
teamen and others who were on their way to these
districts have turned back, and some have gone to
Foochow in hopes of finding a clear route thence.
Another body of rebels are reported as approaching
Canton from the west, and great fears are enter-
tained lest they should occupy the Tayshan dis-
tricts, which at this season would entail the destruc-
tion of the new crop. The braves have been
embodied to proceed against the rebels, but little
faith is placed in their ability to check these
marauding bands.
His Excellency
.Sir Michael Seymour left this
on the 19th inst. in her Majesty's ship :Calcutta,
bound for Singapore, whence he gbes home over.
land, and the Calcutta proceeds via the Cape of
Good Hope.

Previous to his departure his Excellency received
a deputation of British merchants, who presented
him with a farewell address, and requested his
acceptance of a service of plate, value 2,000 guineas,
commemorative of the benefits he had conferred on
foreign interests and the lustre he had shed on
British arms in China. The sentiments of this
community are expressed in the address, and as a
further proof of cordial respect and esteem his
Excellency was entertained at a public ball on the
evec
of
el
ldeparture.en ey
His
Baron Gros is still here, but we
hisEx
understand leaves very soon in his Imperial Ma-
jesty's steamer Audacieuse, and proceeds to France
via the Cape of Good Hope,
We understand that M. e
de Bourboulon remains
as Minister Plenipotentiaryl under the new treaty,
and will reside atShang Shanghai.
China From Cochin we learn that the French
have taken Saigon, the citadel of which appears to
have been a place of considerable strength. A
garrison was left there, and Admiral de Genouilly
was about to leave for Turan. The health of the
force was said to be satisfactory.
A large pirate force has been destroyed near
Kulan by her Majesty's steamer Niger, Captain
Colville, and the gunboats Janus and Clown.
From Manilla we have advices to the 23d inst.,
but they are unimportant. Exchange on London,
six months' sight, 4s. 31d. Freights unchanged.
Our latest dates from the coast are—Shanghai,
25th inst ; Foochow, 24th inst. ; Amoy, 26th inst.
The export of tea from China to Great Britain is
49,252,5001 b., against last year 50,137,2001 h., or a
decrease of 814,7001 b. in the present season. To
the United States the export is 25,673,3001 b.,
against 24,046,1001 b., or an increase 1858-59 of
1,627,2001 b.
The fact of short supply is now fully established,
and there is little more of this season's tea to go
forward from any of the ports, while the movements
of the rebels and the prevention of capital being
taken into the tea districts throw serious obstacles
in the way of next season's supply.
In Hong Kong and Canton busines has been very
dull, and transactions generally have been very
small, and at lower rates. I quote Canton rates,
ta Goodto to fine ,e 3
tel 9 7;
a
duty paid, cash two months, and the following are
the transactions at both places :
Cotton—Bombay, 2,600 bales sold.
common,taels
tolo4
taelstacheopls;s have toBtaels.
Tea_Five
medium to good, 8.3
arrived, and settlements
to only two chops new congou and one chopo
tparielcsesfopratihde latter.
being 23 taels to 27 taels for the former, Some small sales of Canton teas. Tea -
men lci se u amounte
and iln
21g1
men demand unreasonable prices for the teas left on the
market, and the shipments fir this season from Canton may
be considered almost closed.
Exchange
months'
tfhuar,th.erht4
areh a nfgo
er
BenankEnbigl
ratessxeadvanced. Closing
first-
class credits, 4s. 9id. to 4s. 90. _sig ,
.s. 9d. ; forOn India we quote 217 r.