The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-03 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CHINA.—We have received letters from China to the
21st of June, brought on by her Majesty's steamer
Driver. The stocks of cotton in Canton were very
heavy. The following is a copy of the report of stocks
and deliveries from Ist to 31st May
Deliveries.
American 465 bales
Bombay 10,983 do.
Bengal
Madras

Stocks.

79
77,997
8,592
17,230

15,526 103,898
In June the deliveries would exceed 25,000 bales,
Malwa opium had advanced at Hong-Kong. The quo•
tations were—Malwa, old, 715 dolls, to 720 dolls. ; new,
700 dolls. ; Patna, 71.5 dolls. ; Benares, 695 dolls. Prices
were also improving on the coast. There appears to
have been a good deal or excitement in the opium
market, owing chiefly to gambling speculations among
some foreign residents, who had been selling more drug
than they had in their possession at the time, in the
hope of a fall in price : to meet their engagements they
were thus compelled to buy on the best toms possible.
Complaints of the quality of Malwa Ire still very
great. We have been informed that of ten chests sent
on by a friend in March last, that on being surveyed
they were found to be short each chest fourteen catties
in weight. The adulteration of opium in Bombay ap-
pears to be carried on to such an extent, that if steps are
not taken to put an end to it, the existence of the trade
will be endangered. The Hong-Kong port regulations
are so defective that the infoimation with regard to im-
ports and exports cannot be depended on. Robberies
are still of frequent occurrence. Sickness continue to
prevail to a great extent, and the climate is very unfa-
vourably reported on. Trade at Chusan was dull—opium
selling in small quantities at 725 dollars per chest. The
inhabitants there were quite peaceable. The Friend of
China says :—" Considering its commanding position on
the coast of China, facilities for trade, salubrity of the
climate, and respectability of its inhabitants, it is a
matter of regret that it was not ceded to the Crown of
Great Britain in perpetuity. As compared with this
barren and unhealthy island it is a hundred times
to be preferred, and might have been obtained with
equal ease." A serious riot had occurred at Canton
on the 17th of June. Business was in consequence
greatly obstructed. The advices from Shanghae are
good—trade, though not very brisk, was progressing
favourably. There had been several attempts to
smuggle opium, which, in most instances, had
proved successful. The demand for goods at Ningpo
was somewhat less active than at Shanghae ; the
prices obtained were similar. Amoy.—The Friend of
China says—" That though the nearest of all the new
ports, Amoy is the one of which we hear the least.
There is a constant communication kept up between this
colony and that port by Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and
Co.'s opium vessels, but there is a mystery thrown over
all the movements of their ships engaged in the illicit
trade, which is not to be penetrated ; they come and
go, without mail, passenger, or even the ceremony of
intimating their arrival or intended departure to the
harbour-master. Like the phantom-ship of the Cape,
they pass to and fro, and nothing more is known. The
great proportion of the legitimate trade with Amoy has
consisted of cotton wool and Straits produce. In cotton
piece goods, for the first five months after opening the
port, the gross amount of sales did not exceed 35,000
dolls. ; of cotton twist 52,000 dolls. ; woollens 14,000
dolls. In all articles of import—with the exception of
opium—for the first year the amount will not exceed
1,000,000 dolls. The exports, so far, are trifling, being
rather under 30,000 &Hs."
MANILLA.—From hence we have received advices to
the Ist of June. The market is very favourably
reported on. There were no new importations
of cotton goods, and the market was bare of
grey and white shirtings, American domestics and
drills, all of which are much wanted. Coloured goods
were also in great demand. Woollens were
plentiful, and not in great demand. A lot of English
bar iron had sold at 3 dollars per picul ; this description
was in great demand. The market was well supplied
with Sweedish bar, nail rod, and hoop iron. The market
was pretty well supplied with copper. Pig and sheet
lead was in no demand, and the stocks large. No de-
mand for spelter, and the market was well supplied with
steel ; the current rates were 3,4, and 6 dolls. per picul.
Some lots of coffee had been sold for 7f dolls. per picul.
Segars were very scarce ; and we are advised that there
will be no more exportations of cheroots from Manilla
until the new crop comes in, and that cannot be sooner
than eight months. There was little doing in Exchange,
in consequence of the great scarcity of bills. Tonnage
scarce at 31. 10s. to 41. per 20 cwt.
CALCUTTA.--A committee has been appointed by the
supreme Government, to examine and report on the pro-
priety of constructing wet docks at Calcutta sufficiently
capacious to bold all the shipping of that port. We
learn from the Friend of India, that the gentlemen placed
on the committee are Colonels Forbes and Irvine, Cap-
tain Goodwyn, of the Engineers, the Master Attend-
ant, and three mercantile gentlemen—Messrs. Beckwith,
Mackilligin, and Stopford. As usual at this season, the
advices of the probable out-turn of the Indigo crop are
very conflictory. The districts have either had too
much or too little rain. The want of rain in the dis •
tricts of Bhaugulpore, Purneah, Tirhoot, Patna, Be-
nares, Ghazeepore, Moorshedabad and Shahabad, had
been greatly felt ; mnch mischief had also been done by
locusts, which have been very. numerous this season.
Manufacturing was, however, in progress throughout
Lower Bengal. The crop is estimated at between
130,000 and 140,000 factory maunds. The exports from
Calcutta to Great Britain and elsewhere, from Ist No-
vember 1843 to 10th July 1844, are given at—Chests
44,885 =-• 164,321 factory maunds.
(From the Overland Price Current, Aug. 27.)
THE MARK ET.—OBSERVATIONS.

BOMBAY, Auc. 27.—Since the departure of the last
mail the average quantity of rain for the advanced state
of the monsoon has fallen, and the accounts received
from the interior hold out every prospect of good crops
of almost all kinds of produce. The business of the
season cannot be said to have fairly commenced till after
" Cocoa-nut day" (this day), but the native dealers
have shown a disposition to purchase before the usual
period, and holders, generally, look for, and demand,
advanced prices for most descriptions of goods. The
low rate of exchange now current will render this the
more necessary. Owing to this firmness on the part of
importers, the transactions have been more limited than
they would otherwise have been.
METALS.--There have been but very few transactions
in Metals during the month. Copper of all descriptions
has declined. Braziers about rs 2, sheathing rs fd, and
tile about rs 2, rs 11, per cent., per cwt, from our quota-
tions of last month, but the holders decline submitting
to the reduced prices offered. Thera has been but little
demand for Speller. A sale was made about fourteen
days‘ r=atatrsr.9.l4l4l2las:ns.s.perAcnwadt.,vaanntanooftlh4eralianbasout
pera

sales to quote, but British Bar has advanced rs. 1 at
since our last, and is steady at rs. 25 per candy, and a
corresponding advance has been submitted to on other
sorts. An advance of 6 annas per cwt. has been given
on Pig and Sheet Lead,: and the price is firm at r 3. 10}.
The following are the only sales we have to report
under this head :

IRON-31 tons Square Nail Rod at rs. 31 per candy
20 tons Round ditto at „ 46 „
100 kegs Iron Nails at „ 12i per cwt.
SPELTER-500 civt at „ 144 „
200 ditto at „ 14.15 ans.
CorroN MANUFACTURES.—Grey and Bleached Long-
cloths have been in good demand at an advance—on the
former of 3 to 4 annas per piece 40 inches, on the latter
of 2 to 3 annas per piece 36 inches ; and a fair business
has been done in Grey and Bleached Madapollams, at a
slight advance. In Grey Jaconets there has been but
little doing till within the last few days, and the prices
obtained show no improvement on those ruling some
months ago, but purchases have been made to a consider-
able extent. Bleached Jaconets are very dull of sale,
and scarcely inquired for, and the prices offered unremu
nerating. Grey Domestics have been sold to a limited
extent, at unimproved prices. Striped Zebras continue
uncalled for, but some orange ground dresses and pines
have met with purchasers at fair prices. Turkey red
goods, particularly cambrics, mulls, and twills, are in good
demand, but at prices slightly below those obtained three
months ago. The sales of Turkey red handkerchiefs
have been very limited.
YARNS.— The transactions in these have not been large
during the past month. A slight advance has taken
place in Nos. 70 to 100 mule, and on No. 30 water, while
the prices of other numbers have declined a little.
Coloured Twist has been inquired for ; Turkey Red not
at all, and Orange only a limited scale.
WooLLENs.—There are no-sales of these reported this
month, nor any alteration in prices to notice.
MARINE STORES.—With these the market is ',over-
stocked, and prices continued extremely low. The only
sales made are for the immediate supply of the shipping.
A sale of 5 tons Cordage, at rs. 18i per cwt. is the only
one reported under this head.
COCHINEAL.—We have heard of a sale of 4,8001b5. at
rs. 21, and another of 1,6941 iii: at rs. 2,4, the latter
being 4 arms per lb. above the quotations of last month.
SAFFRON.—GIood quality is rather scarce, and in
fair demand. A sale of 57 lbs. at rs. 22 per lb., and an-
other of 215 lbs., at rs. 29, have been reported.
CfRKS.—No sales have been reported, and the quota-
tions are nominal.

BOTTLES.—The following sales of bottles have been
reported :-50 gross quarts at rs. 1 per dozen ; 104
gross ditto at rs. 1 and 3 annas ; and 491 gross piats at
14f annas per dozen.
BEER.—Allsopp's and Bass's beer may be quoted at
rs. 60 per hhd. Sales of 100 hhds. Saunders's at rs. 50
per hhd., and 175 hhds. Tennent's at rs. 45, have been
reported.
SPIRITS.—Brandy of good quality is still in demand at
rs. 2i per gallon, and stocks are moderate.