The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at five minutes to Four
o'el( ek.
FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
The reports upon the following Bills were brought up
and agreed to:—
Clerical, Medical, and General Life Assurance Society
(Stamp Duty on Memorials).
Licensed Victuallera' and G. neral Fire and L;f3 As-
surance Company (No.
_2—Stamp Duty on Me-
morials).
Guardian Fire and Life Assuracce Company (Stamp
Duty on Memorials).
PETITIONS.

Mr. MUNTZ pri sect-d a petition from persons em-
ployed on the Birmingham Advertiser newspaper, pra; -
ing for a remission of the, taxes on knowledge ; the
Hcia. Member also presented several Petitions from
,Nottingham, Bradford, and other places against the
relay system in lactilies.
Sir'J. HANDIER presented a r etition from the city
of St. Asaph, praying for an extension of the jurisdic-
tion of the county courts.
Lord BOTIIAII presented a petition, signe3 by 3,200
persons interested in agriculture in the East Riding of
the county cf York, complaining of agricultural di►tress.
Mr. FREW EN preheated a petition from the New-
haven Union in favour of th• establishment of county
financial board?.
Mr. LAW presented a petition from clergymen re-
siding in Preston, in the county of Lancashire, against.
the Bill for legalising 'marriage with a deceased wife's
sister.

•
Mr. FARMER presented a petition from a place in
the county of Durh2m praying for the cessation of
Sunday labour in the Poet-office.
Mr. HENLEY presented a similar petition from a
place in Oxfordshire. _ _

Mr. SCULLY presented a petition from Thurles, in
the county of Tipperary, stating the distressed condition
of Irelawd, and playing for immediate remedies. At the
request f the Hon. Member the petition was read at
length by the Clerk at the table of the House.
Lord MELG CND pi eiented a petition from Greenock
against the Merchant Seamens' Fund Bill ; also
a petition from the lame place praying fer a drawback
of the duty on ?pirits in bond.
Sir R. INGLIS presented a petition against the rc-
byite al in factoties.

Lord D. STUART p:ai•cnted a petition from' Mr.
Elwin Psiker (Es we understood) a solicitor reeicling
in Lambeth, complaining of the mischievous operation
of the gland jury system, End praying Thar, the ILuse
would institut.e an inquiry iato the existing law En this
subject.

Mr. BRIGHT presented a petition from the treasurer
and memt ers of the Congregatior al Board of Education,
titing that sit,ce 1843 that Board ha l expended
133,0001 in building schools, besides the sums they had
contributed to support them; that they had also estab-
'idled two normal schools and two in►ant school?, and
praying the Home not to grant any further sums for
the purposes ef ducation, but to leave it to ♦oluntary_
support. _

-Air. BRIGHT also prceenled a petition f.om Stock
port in favour of the ballot. At his request the peti
tion will read by the Clerk at the table.

The SPEAK.EIt iuf ,rmed the Hon. Member (Mr.
Bright) that the l eition in favour of the ballot could
not be received in that it referred to the debates of that
House.— (Laughter.)
Mr. MUNTZ presented a petition from Birmingham
praying for the withdrawal of our rquadron from th•
c( sit c f Africa.

TEN HOURS BILL.
Mr. BANKES presented several petitions from diffe-
rent mills in Lancashire and Yorkshile in favour of this
Bill.

COUNTY-RATES EXPENDITURE.
Mr. PORTAL presented a petiti(n from a place in
Hampshire, pre)ing fur the estatilishoaent of county
financial board*.

... ___ _ RAILWAY BILLS.
all railway moved, pursuant to notice, that in
. isms during: the present session, it be an in-
struction to h
following clatu-secn:—pro'yides
Committers on such Bills to insert the
that all mortgages or bondd, always,
and be it enacted,
oro guarantees of interest or
or agreements to guarantee
dividends on shares or stock,
passing
ggof
this
by the company
such interest ordtvidend.,made
passsiAo cto,fart.hd.which
t.avegpriorit"
(or ccmparies) km fore the
shall be in force at the time of the Act,
shall, during trio continuance thereof,
any mortgages er bonds, or guarantees of intoryesotvoerr
dividends on any new shares or stock respectively, to be
made or granted by virtue of this Act; and that nothing
in this Act contained shall in any e ay be held to diminish
or injutiously affect the security of such previous mort-
gages, or bonds, or guarantees, or agreements to guaran-
tee. All he asked the House was to re,crve their rights
as creditors over the pros erty of tt e company. B;lls bad
been introduct d which had for their object the destruc-
tion of the security.uhich was possessed at present, and
be was glad that one Bill of this nature Lad been rc:

•
by the House last night. These attempted
measures of spoliation had created comiderable alarm
among the holders of this species of property, and
a greet depreciation in its value had followed.
Now he thought the remedy for all this would be
found in adopting this clause. There was a great
public prit.ciple involved in this matter in which the
good .ittrh of the House was concerned, and with which
the floes+) alone ought to (14 al. • Since be had
come down to the House he had had an in-
turvit w with his Right Hen. Friend the President
of the Board of Trade, on the subject, who agreed with
him that it required great consideration, and upon the
assurar.ce of his ltight Hon. Friend that he will direct
his attention to it, in order that the interest of all par-
ties rn ty be secured, he should Lave no obj. ctiou to
withdraw his motion, and leavo the matter in the hands
c.f. his Right Hon. Friend.—(Hear, hear.)

Mr. W. PATTEN said it was his intention to have
opposed the clause, but under all the circumstances be
agreed with the Hoe. Mover of it, that it was better to
leave the question in the hands of the Right Hon. the
President of the Bond of Trade, to see if he
could not devise some remedy which could not
inflict injury upon other parties.—(llear, hear.) He
would not infringe on the property of persons who had
shares in railroads; but he would remind the House that
there were several Bills before it now, wherein chair-
men of railways themselves were seeking the interfer-
ence of this House, in consequence of the circumstances
of their companies. He would move as an amendment,
that it be optional with the railway companies
to adopt the clause moved by his Hon. Friend (!Ir.
Edward Ellice), or not, as they pleased, which he thought
would protect the interest of the preference shareholder,.
Mr. LABOUCHERE supported the amendmere.
The Government had been closely watching the system
of preference shareholders, and had inserted clauses in a
gnat number of railway Bills with a view to correct
the evil complained of. Ile was quite willing, however,
to reconsider the subject hereafter.
The motion was then withdrawn.
Mr. WILSON PATTEN moved that on Thursday,
the 18th day of April, and on every alternate Thursday,
until the 16th day of May inclusive, orders of the day=
have precedence of notices of motions, without giving
priority to Bills introduced by the Government, which
was agreed t>, after a few words.
AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.

Lord J. RUSSELL presented a petition from certain
Australian colonists stating that the Australian Colonies
Bill was calculated to promote,the prosperity of those
colonies, and praying that it might be passed as at pre-
sent framed.—(Cheers.)
SUPERANNUAI lON FUND FOR POOR-LAW
OFFICERS.

Sir B. HALL wished to ask the Right Honourable
Gentleman the President of the Poor-law Board if it was
his intention to bring in any measui e this session for
establishing a iuperat nation fund fur poor-law officers,
and if so, whether this fund would be raised by a charge
on the poor rates, or a per centage on the salaries of
the officers themselves?
Mr. BAINES said the subject had been very much
pressed upon the attention of the Poor-law Board, and
it had been some time under their , consideration. A
Bill, too, had been prepared on the subject founded on
the principle of raising a fund by a per centage on the sa-
laries, but he was afraid he should not be able to intro•
duce it till after Easter,
HEALTH OF TOWNS (IRELAND) BILL.
Slr. GROGAN was anxious to ask the Secretary for
Ireland a question of some importance to that country.
Last session the Right Honourable Gentleman brought
forward a Health of Towns' Bill for Ireland, and he
wished to know whether it was the intention of the
Right Hon. Gentleman to re-introduce that Billy
Sir WM. SOMERVILLE said he did intend re.
introduce such a measure, but ho was afraid he should
not be able to do so till after Easter. It_would not be
precisely the same Bill of last year.
JUDGES' SALARIES.

Colonel SIBTIIORP wished to know when the second
reading cf the Bill for regulating the salaries of the
judges of the Queen's Bench and Commcn Pleas would
bo taken ?
Lord J. RUSSELL replied on Monday next.
THE CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA.

Mr. GLADSTONE bal notice on this subject on the
paper, but he would rather see it in the hands cf the Go-
vernment, and he therefor• wished to ask the First
Minister of the Crown, whether her Majesty's Govern-
ment were willing to make provision in the Australian
Colonies Government Bill for the application of the prin-
ciple of local self-government to the affairs of the
Church of England in those colonies, by declaring that
it shall be lawful for the bishops, clergy, and lay mem-
bersj of that church to establish regulations on the foot-
ing of consent among themselves, and subject to any
restraints which may be thought necessary for the ma-
nagement of those affairs?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL was understood to decline
taking the matter out of the hands tf the Right Lion.
Gentleman.

NAVY PORK.
Colonel CEIATTERTON asked the First Lord of the
Admiralty, if the Admira'ty, in September last, ac
cepted tenders for the supply of 1,500 tierces of navy
pork, from a Hamburgh house, at 51.6*. 6d. per tierce,
r, fusing tenders from Irish provision merchants
fur the supply cf that article; and whether it
is his intention to continue to throw open the
supply in future to foreign competition ; and
whether he has heard that the provisions supplied by
foreign eortract were recently rejected by an emigrant
ship at Portsmouth, as bad, and greatly inferior to pro-
visions mace up is Ireland.
Sir F. BARING said the contracts were open to home
as well as f'oreig❑ competition, and the Admiralty had
found no reason to alter that system.
IRISEE POOR-LAW.

Colonel DUNNE asked the Noble Lord at the head
of the Government; whether it be his intention to give
effect to the suggestions made to him by a deputation of
Peers and Members of the House of Commons, connected
with Ireland, or introduce amendments in the preset
poor law which they have recommended, in order to
alleviate the evils it inflicts on all classes in that country.
Lard J. RUSSELL said the administration of out.
door relief had been att-nded with great abuse, and
it had been determined not to give out-door relit f ex-
cept in cases •f necessity. He did not think the
present law required amendment in that respect, because
the Commissioners, with the consent of the local guar-
dians, lad already powers given them of restraining
any abuse in the granting of out-door relief.
SLAVE TRADE—AFRICAN SQUADRON.
Sir R. 11. INULIS presented a petition from a
foreign settlement, the name cf which we did not catch,
pray ing the House not to sanction any measure which
migt t have the effect of withdrawing the African
squadron from the coast. It stated that the peti-
tienera were fully convinced that the squadron was
a co-ordinate assistant cf great value, and that its with-
drawal would leave the property of settlsrs exposed.
Mr. HEALD presented a similar petition from the
society of Wesleyan Missionaries.
Sir E. N. BUXTON presented similar petitions from
various play es in the colonies.
Mr. MOFFATT presented a similar petition.
Mr. MUTT then rose is propose the fallowing resolu
tion:—" That an !nimble address be presented to her
Majesty, praying that her Majesty will be pleased to
direct that negotiations be forthwith entered into for
the purpose of releaiting this country from all treaty
engagements with foreign states, for maintaining armed
vessels on the coast of Africa to suppress the traffic in
slaves." Ile said, the time had arrived when in accord•
ance with the opinions of two 'Committees of
the House which had been appointed to consider the
suppression of the stare trade, it became his duty to
submit a motion to the House on that grave and impor-
tant subject. The motion was in effect a declaration
that it was inexpedient for this country to resist all
attempts fur the suppression of the alive trade
by force of arms, to carry out which it was neces-
sary in the first instance to put an end to all
which had been entered into by this country for the
rr ainterance of an African squadron. The necessity of
making such a change in our policy was impressed on
the muds of ter° Committee?, ot Rhieh be was chairman.
There was one favourable point in connexion with the
absence of these gentlemen, r amely, that they were
amongst the majority c f the Committee who had carried
the matter at issue; and constqlently, if in the Com-
mittee of 1849 the report was carried by the casting
rote of the chairman, that circumstance must be attri-
buted, not to a change in the opinions of the
Committee, but to one of those casualties arising from
the accidental absence cf. Members, a casualty which
would occur both in the House and in its Committees.--
(Cheers.) Having endeavoured to relieve the Com-
mittee from some of these prejudices which it had
been at'empted to cast on it, be would proceed
to state to the House some cf the facts, and
circumstances which in the opinion of the Committee
justified .their report.—(Hear, hear.) It was now one-
and-thirty years ago since Great Britain, having new-
tinted various treaties with foreign States, dispatched to
the coast of Africa an armed force to carry out
the object cf these treaties, and then began that
memorable blockade of the coast of Africa
the true character of which, as well as the circum-
stances of its final abandonment, had yet to be
written in our history.—(Cheers.) 'We had no sooner
taken these measures to forcibly suppress the
slave trade than the slave trait) began to increase. In
1815 the highest amount of human beings exported from
the coast of Africa was 90,000, in 1819 it had amounted
to 105,000, and the number continues to increase
under circumstances of aggravated atrocity.—(Cheers.)
The Duke of Wellington, our Minister at the Congress
of Verona, under the direction of Mr. Canning, Jail'
before the assembled representatives cf the states of Et:

rope a memorandum which me:l deserved the con-
sideration of the House. It went on to fay—" I
h►ve the means of proving that tbe slave
trade has been since the year 1815, and now is carried on
to a greater extent than it had been at any former
period. This contraband trade is attended with circum-
stances mere horrible than anything known to former
times.. ..... It cannot bo denied tt at all the attempts at
prevention have tended to increase the aggregate of
human suffering and sacrifice of human life in a ratio

positively ex( ei7ding the number carried off by the slave
trade.—(hear, hear.) The mortality was dreadful to a
degree unknown since the attention of mankind was
first directed to the horrors of this traffic."

Such was the description solemnly addressed
to the states of Europe by two of the first mon of our
age and country, at a time when the slave trade had
not assumed many of those horrible characteristics
which now belcnged to it. Some efforts were then made

to continue the— work of suppression, and fur fitly
or sixty years afterwards Great Britain made every
possible effort to suppress the slave trade, by extend-
ing the means of possible repression. He had read
a letter from the Duke of Wellington describing the
horrors of the trade, and now he would read one from
Lord John Russell, in 1829, when Secretary fur the
Colonies, addressed to the Lords of the Treasury, in
which that Noble Lord stated that the state of this trade
had of late engaged the attention a her Majesty's confi-
dential adviser:, and that much deliberationh ad taken place
as to the means employed to abolish it. It went on to
state that it was impossible to avoid coming to the con-
clusion that the average number of slaves actually
carried off annually exceeded 100,000 on the western
c.,ast of Africa alone. It also !toted that the slave

-„—. -
trade would never be adi quately controlled by any
system like that now adopted, and that it was indi-
spensable to enter upon some new preventi►e principle.
But this was not all. In the following year, 1840, an

ass(mblage was held in Exeter Hall, over which Prince
Albert pre►ided, who was supported by the Noble
Lord at the head of the Government, and a_perfvet

constellation of Lords spiritual and temporal. lie bad

been accused of using strong language, and of giving a
vexatious and protracted opposition to measures on the
subject of the slave trade, but let him call the attention
of the House to the resolutions which ere passed at
that meeting. The first was moved by Sir F. Buxton,
and seconded by the present Archbishop of Cabtorbury,
then the Bishop of Chester, and was to the
,following

"Notwithstanding the measures hitherto adopted for
the suppresssion of foreign trading in slaves the traffic
has increased, and continues to increase, under circum-
stances of aggravated hardship."
The second resolution was proposed by Dr. Lushing-
ton, and seconded by Archdeacon Wilterforce, now the
Bishop of Oxf ad, and who was chairman of the Com-
mittee in the House of Lords. It was as follows :
" That the utter failure of every attempt by treaty,
remonstrance, or naval armament, to resist the progress
of the slave trade, proves the necessity of resorting to a
preventive policy, and founded on different and higher
considerations."—(Cheers.)
'ow neither of the Committees had used stronger language
than this. He was surprised that those, who now defended
the system, stood forward on that occasion as its enemies.
He arrived now at the' year 1840. That year was dis-
tinguished by a temporary but remarkable diminution
in the slave trade, and there were certain navel officers
who were anxious to persuade the world that that dimi-
nntion was caused by their presence and perfcemsnces
on the coast of Africa —(" Hear," and a laugh.)—Now
he believed that Captain Denman and Captain
Gladstone were most z alous and meritorious
(Aces, but when tl ey claim fur their plans and perfor-
mances the merit of this reinction in the slave trade at
thet period, he thought they were labouring under the
d 'talon f the wet )n; who he bel!evad that the large at
tendence at a certain parish church was entiaelyexpleined
by the manner in which he tolled the church bells.
It am true that at this, period,Captain Denman ace
Captain Gladstone were at their pests, but there were
other and far more powerful agencies at work.—(Hear. )
He saw rear him his Right Hon. Friend the Firrt Lord
of the Admiralty, who about that period happened to be
eh aecellor of the Exchequer, and he was sure he would
remember, as others remembetel, that the period to
which he was now adverting was a period of great
mercantile depression. Now any mercantile depression
affects the slave trade just as mach as any of the legiti-
mate branches of commerce, and that depression was
one of the causes of the great diminution in the slave
trade.—(Hear, hear.) But there was another cause of a
remarkable character in operation at that time. At
that period both Cuba and Brazil were honestly
engaged in attempting to, prevent the importation of
slaves into these countries.--Olear hear.) Mr.
Ormsby, whose dispatches had • been laid on the table
of the House as our Minis-ter et Brazil, attributed
the diminution to the exertions which were made
by the Brazilian Minister of Marine to suppress
the trade.—(Cries of "Jlear, hear.") At that
same period General 'Baldez was Governor of
Cuba. In 1843 he gas recalled, and about
the same time the: Anti-Slavery Ministry
of Brazil was voted out of office. Commerce then re-
vived, and with the revival of commerce, notwithstand-
ing the increased efficiency of.our fleet, came again all
the horrors of the slave-trade.—(Hear, hear.) In
1842 the number of slaves exported from Africa was as
low at 30,000; in 1843 the, number rose to 55,000;
in 1846 to 76,000; and ;in 1847 to 84,000.
He bad no means of ascertaining the number imported
during the past year. He learned, however, that the
slave-trade was last year, and is now, in a state of
unusual activity: He held in his hand a paper called " A
Mission to the Kieg of Ashantee," in which was contained
a statement made by the Rev: Mr. Cruickshank, dated
from the coast of Africa at the conclusion of 1848. He
said, " It is distressing to think that our present block-
ade is no check whatever to the slave-trade. It
is flourishing at this moment to such a degree
that last accounts from Brazil report more than 8,000
slaves in the market there without purchasers, and
net long ago a cargo of slaves found such a bad
market that they were given up to pay the expenses of
the freight.—(Hear.) During the whole time we have
maintained our ulockade the slave trade has gone on
uninterruptedly. It seems to me to serve no other pur-
pose but to increase the horrors of the traffic." Such
was the result after a period of thirty years, in which
we had been engaged in this•ev ork of suppression. There
was one fact in the history of that [suppression which de-
served mention. Up to 1840 the slave•trade to Brazil was
perfectly free. Up to the beginning if tae year 1840
we could not molest the slave ti ads south of the Equator.
Lord Palmerston told the Committee that up to
the beginning of 1840 the importation of slaves
into Bread was praetically unrestrictel. What
Was the result ? He 'asked not what was the
temporary, but what was the permanent result
f the charge? The slave trade on the line was now
going on with at least as groat activity as ever,
in spite of the exertions of the blockade to suppress it.
He put these facts before the common sense of the
House, and he asked it whrther this squadron
was worth whet it cost, and whether it was
of the slightest use. In, 1840 the sieve trade
was fres 1,000 miles below the line, and it would
have been supposed that the slave.traders would con-
fine themselves to that part where they had no
risks to fear; but no, they found by the blue-books
that the greatest amount of slave traffic was carried
on in the very cruisers ground of our squadron.
Did any one over hear tell of a maratine
contraband trade being put down by force of arms.
What had become of the Berlin and Milan decrees? Had
every one forgotten the silk duties and the tobacco du-
ties? It was a great consolation to him (Mr. Elute) in
examining the evidence before Parliament to find that his
v e vs on this subject were supported by the opinions of
all whose experience qualified them to judge. He was
not about to trouble the House with an analysis
of the evidence, but the majority if witnesses in
number and in charaeter' were u terly hopeless
of suppressing the trade by means of a Equa-
dron.—(Elear.) It was remarkable the: every' one
of those aho did, in the course of examination
give a different opinion to this, had not been on the
African station fir some years. The most experienced
stated distinctly that no system of force could put
down this traffic in any number of years. The
Commanders-in-Chief of the African squadron
unanimously gave their evidence to the same effect.
Sir Charles Hotham, who hal been appoietAl to
the station as the officsr in the British navy
best suited to the service, with a force highly disciplined,
and with officers under Mtn who carried out
his orders, gave it as his opinion that
the squadron had not been of t..e slightest
use. The same evidence of the inefficiency
of the squadron bad been given by the late Mr. Vande
Crur, who had been at the head of that department of
the Forsigre office for thirty-five years. Among
those who thought that this traffic could be put down
by a system of force there were many who thought that
i
the present application of it was one which needed great(rb)_
s
alteration.hireovbo hadAm opnrgopthosecsde
awescrehetemheii(ofnhs own for the pur-
pose; and many others had been proposed, all of which
involved an additional force and additional expense.
Pas
o stabe.
fh of h
Housee,urt aware
te British avl,
that hnefo,r ee already employed
wwhichcost upwards
of 700,0004, and yet they mere told that this fere° and
this expense were not sufficieet.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

purchases p
MARKET IN TELLIGENCE.
(From the London New Price Current, March 19.)
t-Today—To-day there was rather more activity in
the market fit West India Muscovado Sugar, and
holders were firm; still Mee demand existed fromc re-
finers and grocers, and the rotes aid are fully equal to
amounted those
eo
to 200 hh of
forl'ridayds, &. A
all
lesortst pu.ribllisale
Qc
total ha
37 Ws Ja-
maica went at 35s 61 for fine. brown, and at 36s for low
yellow.
REFINED.—To-day there was no variation in the value
of Lump Sugar, but only a, moderate business was eon-
eluded, and riliaers appeared to bo disposed to sell.
Bonded Crushed Sugar met with little attention, and the
finest will not fetch above 305 per cwt.
MAURITIUS.—This , afternoon the public sales
of
Mauritius Sugar proceeded with more spirit, arid at full
rbt.;v. In all 6,970 bags and 12 casks were offered, and
:Le chief part sold, yellow at from 355 to 39v, brown 31,
to 34s 6d and grey 343 t.) 385 per cwt.
EAST INDIA.—This artt moon there was
,a good de-
mand for Bengal Sugar, and full rates were paid. At
auction 1,248 bags Bengal were. at 37s 61 to 39s 61 for
low to good white Benares, and the whole soli. For
Madras the market ia still dull : of 1,920 bags a small
part only sold at 29s to 305 for oat brown, and at 31s to
34s for yellow.
FOREIGN.—Tc-day there was no public sale of Foreign
Sugar; the private purchases are small for all purposes,
and at former rates there aro free sellers•

MoLassEs.—ln West India operations are upon
rather a larger scale, but at easier rates. The aisles are
300 puns from Barbadoes at 16s 6d, and 50 puns St.
Kitts at 15s 6d. East India met with little attention,
and of 200 hhds Bengal at public sale only part sold at
13i 6d to 14s, whereas 116 casks Surinam were taken in
at 16s to 17s per cwr.
TEL—Operations hare been upon a limited scale by
private treaty in Black, and for common Congou prices
have declined to 91 and gid per lb. Green is also of-
fired at rather lower terms, and few buyers are to
be met with. The public sales to-day went off• with
dulness, and of 7,048 packages offered only 2,240
sold. Scented Caper went at is lid to is lid, being
a decline of fully id. Gunpon der sold at id 'to 2d de-
cline, Canton went at Is 24d to Is 2i i, good and fine
Hyson kind 2s Id to 2s I Id. Imperial must be quoted
rather cheaper, Canton went at Is 2d, good and fine
Hyson kind is 8d to Is 10d. A parcel of Hyson sold
at 2s to 2s 10d for similar quality, and was considere
rather cheaper. _ _

COFFEE.-This afternoon there was no public sale of
CL ffee, but by private treaty several parcels are on offer.
On the part Lf shippers or home dealers little desire wai
evinced to operate, and prices
underwent a further de-
pression. The latest quetAtions for Native Ceylon were
48s to 483 6d per cwt.
.. .

Cocos.—There ale sellers cf Foreign at a further re-
•duction, still only small orders have been completed by
private treaty, and 30s is the value of Guayaquil. West
India 1,a3 been purchased with caution, and none has,
been offered at auction. For Trinidad the value is from
39s to 475, other sort' 38s to 44s per cwt, and loner
rates are expected to prevail.
RICE.—To-day few sales were made in East India by
private treaty. At auction 800 bags of Bengal sold at
9s 6d to 103 for good mid whi.e, these are steady rates.
SPICES.—To-day the market for Spices presented a
dull aspec►, and the limited business done by private
treaty is at rather lower rates. At auction 30 cases
Cassia Buds were taken in at 1195 for good fresh, being
above the value.

SPIRITS,.—There are few buyers of Leeward Island
Rum, still holders are firm, and require Is 51 to Is 5d
per gallon proof; there is also not a larger supply at
market, East 'Oa haa been purehw.ed with caution,

and the terms accepted have been Is 4d to is 4id;
there is also more desire to :ell. A tair
amour t of business has teen concluded in Deme—
rara and at firm rates, 30 to 40 per cent. over
proof selling at 2s 3d to 2s 6', and supplies are small of
strong sorts. Jamaica is not to be obtained upon later
terms. The value cf 20 to 29 per cent. over proof is
from 2s 4d to 2s 8d: 30 to 36 over 2s 9.1 to 3s 3d, and
super or marks 3s 4d to 4s 2d. In the Brandy
market there is firmness, still the demand
from shiprers and home dealers has been
limited. We quote Cognac best brands of the
vintage of 1849 at 4s 6d to 4s Bd, 1848 ditto 4s 81 to
4s 10d, 1847 ditto 5s 4d to 5s 61, it ferior sorts 3s to
43 sd, and Bordeaux 2- 8d to 2s 10d. Geneva is held
for is 9d to is 10d and fine 2s 3d to 3s, still there a-e few
buyers. For British-made Spirit the value is 9s 6d, net
cash, and fnr Gin 7s 101 to 8s 4d for 17 to 22 per cent
under proof, but trade is far from active.
SALTPETRE.—TO-day a fair amount of business was
concluded in Rough, by private treaty, and at full terms;
at auction 104 bags of Calcutta sold at 28s per cwt for
3} per cent refractior.

INDIGO .—East India has been purchased with caution
fur all purposes, on the Tart of holders there ii also less
firmness, and in some c aces the rates acceded to are
rather unecr those of the last quarterly sales. There
are flw buyers of Spanish, and former terms are not to
be obtained.

TALLow.—Operations hare been upon a limited scale
in Russian on the soot for all purposes since last Tues-
day, and holders display less firmness. Prices have
declined to 36, 9d to 37s per cwt fur fine P. Y.
Candle, still litle variation f•-om present rates is ex-
pected to take place, alth nigh the stock ['zee* ds
that of last year. Few buyers are to be met with for
delivery in last three months of the year, and
sellers appear disposed to accept 37s 91 to 383 per
cat. Home melted is offered at the raodera'e rates Lf
363 to 36s 6d nett cash, and only limited purchases
have been made. Other kinds of Tallow have not
realized former terms'and supplies much exceed dealers
wants. At auction 800 pkgs South American, a part
only sold at from 31s 6d to 36s 6d far low to fine' 900
casks Sydney 33s to 375, whilst 30 casks Portugal rea-
lized 35s to 35s 6d per cwt.
Oms.—Although Olive is to be obtained at a further
reductions, still operations have been upon a limited
scale at 451 to 48/ per tun, and there are free sellers.
Cocoa Nut dull of sale, and prices continue to recede,
fine Ceylon is offered at 33s to 33s 6d, Cochin
at 34s to 333 per cwt, and there continues
to be a large stock with only a moderate con-
sumption. Palm mat with little attention, and 31s to
323 is the value of good and fine ; there is also a better
supply at market. Rapeseed Oil is offered at a further
reduction, yet few buyers are to be met with. English has
been selling at 40s to 40s 6d, brown 39s to 29s 6d, foreign
refined 425, and brown 40s per cwt. Linseed oil met with
little attention from shippers or home dealers, there is
also a more plentiful supply, and more desire is evinced
to sell at 32s 3d to 32s 6d on the spot, and at 32s t)
33s for delivery. For Southern Oil prices vary from 311 to
331 103 for ord to fine, and only small orders have been
executed. This rates asked for Cod are 331 lOs to 341.
For Seal trade is dull; sellers are also disposed to accept
for pale 37/ 13s, straw and tinged 33/ to 36/, yellow and
brown 311 to 32/ 10s. Only trifling purchases have
been made in sperm, and 11l lOs is 28s is the value of
fine colonial.

BANK OF FRANCE.
The following is a return of the situation of the Bank
of France on March 14:—