The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-06 00:00:00

CHINA.

The intelligence by the Ardasseer comes down to the I Bth of
December. We subjoin an ext-act from a trade circular, dated
Canton, December 14, and another from a private letter, dated
Hong. Kong, November 28, which give all the news of commercial
interest _ _

" CANTON, DEC. 14, 1844.—Since ours of the 13th ult., our
market has remained very dull and inactive—a greater or more
general depression has rarely been felt here. The very low rates
of imports have prevented importers pressing sales, and the high
prices demanded for teas, have, in some degree, limited operations
therein. Imports—Of raw cotton sales have been few, although
the deliveries have been very large, and the stock of Bombay
greatly diminished. Shirtings—Greys are taken off freely, but
whites remain on hand, with large increasing stocks. Metal and tin
plates are disposable, holders are growing mere firm, but stocks are
too large to admit of early improvement. Opium—ln Patna there
has been considerable fluctuation, with a final improvement.
The present demand is steady for consumption, without specula-
tion. Woollens of every description partake largely of the ge-
❑eral depression, and transactions have been very limited; but
as stocks are not heavy (excepting camlets) some improvement at
this season may be looked for in exports. Silk continues to be
shipped freely at Shanghae ; here nothing is doing. Our season's
total export will reach or exceed 1,000 bales. Tea export has
been large, being to date in 41 vessels, Parnpero,' included, Black,
16,337,1461b5.; Green, 3,424,5251b5. ; Total, 19,761,6711b5."
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF EXPORTS.
1844-s.—Nov. 30, 88 ships ; Black, 14,916,7001b3. ; Green,
3,372,4691b5. ; Total, 111,289,1691b5.
11143-4.—Nov. 30, 29 ships; Black, 13,025,7691b5.; Green,
2,045.9061b5. ; Total, 1.5,071,6751b5.
Excess of 1844-s.—Black, 1,890.9311b5.; Green, 1,326,5631b5.;
Total, 3,217,4941b5.
The crop of new Green Teas promises to be ample for all de.
mands, nor does there appear any sufficient reason for the ex-
travagantly high prices hitherto demanded and paid for them.
Exchange on London remains at 4s. 6d. per Sp. doll., but opera-
tions have not been extensive. Tonnage—The supply is ample
and without indication of change on present rates-31. 10s. to
3/. 15s.

" The Canton Market has been for a long time in a ruinous
state, and sales during the past six months have been leaving from
23 to 30 per cent. loss, and I really see no prospect at present of
its improving, so long as shipments continue to be poured in from
India to so large an extent ; nor until the present heavy stocks in
first and second hands are much reduced. I would, therefore,
strongly advise you to have nothing to do with shipments of cotton
to this place, unless you can purchase at much lower rates than
have been current so long at Bombay. I should say, unless you
can purchase the best Bombay cotton—Surat or Broach—at 70 rs.
per candy, it would be an exceedingly dangerous speculation ; but
the most suitable qualities of cotton for this market are Dhollera
and Compta ; Surat and Broach do not fetch a proportionate high
price to what you pay for it in Bombay, and should you ship to
this, pay great attention to the colour ; see that it be white and
perfectly free from seeds. Seedy Cotton is saleable only at a great
reduction in price. This is the case, even though the staple and
colour is good. So avoid shipping seedy cotton of all things.
Compta, if of a good clear white colour, will sometimes fetch as high
a price as Dhollera; but it is seldom to be had in Bombay so
white, and of the two probably Dhollera is the safest to ship, if to
be had nearly as low as Compta. What the Chinese buyers like
in Cotton is freedom from seeds, purity of colour, and that flaky
appearance and firmness. The prices of to-day are as follow :
Bombay 5 Taels at 73 per picul.
Madras
Bengal .•
6 do. to 8 per ditto.
But the highest rate quoted for Bombay is only to be obtained
for some small lots of very fine Cotton. The deliveries of Bombay
qualities have been of late more extensive, but the stock still re-
mains about 122,000 bales,
" I am sorry to think that the Bombay opium trade will be a
long time recovering itself here—almost all the Malwa that
has come in during the past year having been spurious, and many
parties must have lost heavily. Only think of it being sold at
Whampoa at prices ranging from 500 to 200 dollars per chest.
Buyers have little confidence now in Malwa opium ; they invari.
ably demand a reduction on its being delivered. Patna has fallen
suddenly to 660 to 665, and Benares 615 to 620 per chest. This
is a very disagreeable place to live in compared to Bombay, and is
very sickly. The Hong-Kong fever appears to be incurable. The
weather at present is fine, but very cold."

RAILWAY BUSINESS IN PAR-
LIAMENT.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5.
The following Bills were read a tirst time :
Ulster Railway Extension.
York and North Midland Railway (Goole Branch).
West Cornwall Railway,
Cambridge and Lincoln Railway.

The following petitions for Bills were referred to the Select
Committee on Petitions for Private Bills :
Harwich ar,d Eastern Counties Junction Railway.
London and Croydon Railway (Kentish Lines).
London and Croydon Railway Enlargement and Orpington

Branch Railway.
Rye and Tenterden Railway.
Kingstown and Bray Railway.

NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL-OFFIC:

MARcu 5.

• North Union and Ribble Navigation Branch Railway,—
Committee on petition, Monday, March 17.
Newcastle and Berwick Railway,—Second reading, Mon-
day, March 10.
Brigtiton and Chichester (Portsmouth Extension) Rail-
way,—Committee on petition, postponed from Friday 7th
till Monday, March 10.
Eastern Counties (Cambridge and Huntingdon) Railway,—
Second reading, Monday, March 10.
Cornwall Railway,—:Committee on petition, adjourned till
Friday, March 7.

Trent Valley Railway,—Petition for Bill reported, and
Bill ordered to be brought in by Lord Francis Egerton,
Colonel Anson, Mr. Mark Philips, and Mr. Dugdale.
York and North Midland Railway (Bridlington Branch)
Bill,—Read a second time, and committed, and referred to
the Committee of Selection.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—Thia morning,
about
nine o'clock, an accident, by which one man unfortunately lolerti,
life, occurred in the river nearly opposite Deptford, under the follow-
ingh circumstances :—A sailing barge was coming up the river, with
rather a fresh breeze, whilst a coal barge, manned by the deceased
and another labourer, was drifting down with the tide, both men
guiding her course by means of oars ; when, through some
cause both the vessels came into violent collision, and the deceased,
who stood upon the gunwale, was pitched overboard by the con-
cussion, and although every exertion was made to save him when
under
he
rose to the surface, he was carried by the strength of the tide
the sailing-barge, and was never afterwards seen. Several boats im-
mediately put off from the shore to search for the body, but all their
exertions for its recovery were !mitten, as the tide was running
strong at the time, and mut have quickly carried him away from the
not where he auk.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRIDGE THIS DAY.
Morning .. 10 minutes after 0 I Evening •• 37 minutes after 8,