The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-16 00:00:00

MARKET INTELLIGENCE.

(From the London New Price Current of February 15.
Suosa.-Government not having yet made known what course
they intend to pursue relative to the Sugar duties, has kept the
market in a dull state for all descriptions admissible for home can
sinnptioa, both grocers and refiners have operated with caution is
British Plantation, taking barely ample for their immediate wants
and although importers have submitted to a reduction of is pm
cwt, still only 400 hhde and trcs have been disposed of since out
last report. . _

To.day the demand for British Plantation Sugar was extreme;
limited for both grocery and refining purposes, and the purchases
are not worth enumerating; the supply being scanty, enableif
merchants to obtain prices nearly equal to those of Friday. Thi
trade are enabled to supply their wants with other kinds of Sugar
on more advantageous terms.

REPINED.—To.day. refined goods met with a good demand fot
home consumption, sales of standard lumps were made at 80s pet
cwt. In pleces and bastards several purchases were made, at the
rates quoted above. Treacle dull of sale at 26s 6d to 325. Bonded
crushed sugar sells more freely, first sort at 284 9d to 29s per ,cwt.
31sua1riu3—This afternoon there was no improvement in the
demand; at auction 5,990 bags were disposed of quietly at Is to
Is 6d per cwt decline; tine yellow at 68s to 695, good 62s fid to
64v, mid 60s 6d to Gls Gd, fine brown 53s to 63s 6d, low 45s to
46s per cwt ; several lots were taken in.
EAST INnta.—This afternoon a dull demand existed for Bengal,
and 1,267 bags at public sale went Is 6d to 2s lower; good brown
sold at 47s to 48s lid, damp 42s to 465, good sound white 69s 6d,
mid 63s to 645, low Gls Gd per cwt.

FOREIGN.—The market for Foreign has been firm since this
day week, and a better demand has existed. To-day holders
of both Havannah and Brazil evinced firmness, entertaining
an opinion that Government will shortly propose to make
some reduction in the duty. But buyers did not operate with
freedom. At auction 5,455 boxes white Havannall were all
taken in at full rates, viz. good white at 271 tid to 28s Gd, mid-
dling 26s 6d to 275, low 25s 6d to 26s per cwt.
Since the sale, nearly the whole of the Havannah has been sold 6d
per cwt under the buying in prices; the Sugars were of old import.
MoLassEs.—Although there are sellers of West India at rather
lower rates, still there are few buyers, and the transactions have
been extremely limited since our last report. Foreign Molasses
dull of sale at 6s Gd to 7s per cwt.
CoeFez.—For British Plantation Coffee of clean quality prices
have been full.' sustained and a good demand has existed, Indeed
the supply of riddling and good middling sorts is net ample for the

wants of the trade; at auction 35 casks and 1.09 barrels were
readily disposed of, good to fine ordinary Jamaica 63s to 88s; Tri.
nidad Gee ordinary 75s to 80s.
This afternoon the Coffee market presented a firm appearance;
by private contract a fair demand ,existed for all clean sorts
for home consumption, and rather higher rates were paid
for West India. Ceylon was in good request, good ordinary
70s to 71s per cwt; at auction 226 bags East India, and 21 bales
Mocha were offered, the former sold as follows—good ordinary
greenish Singapore Java at 505 Gd, good ordinary yellow 46s 6d to
48s Gd, good ordinary grown Sumatra 34s per cwt, being full rates,
the latter at 82s Gd to 83s 6d for good ordinary.
COCOA.—For West India few inquilies have existed privately;
holders are reluctant to submit to lower rates; 273 bags 191 brls
at public sale were only partly sold at 37s to 43s for mid to good
red Trinidad, being full rates. Foreign at reduced rates.
FRIT/T.—For Fruit the demand increases prices bring still ma•
derate, Denia Raisins at 28s to 295. Valencia Raisins at 36s for
the best. Currants at 55s to 56s for Zante and Cephalonia, and
60s for Patras. Turkey Pulled Figs have been selling at 56s to
655. Prices have advanced for Jordan Almonds ; damaged Patras
Currants sold at 52s to 57, and Cephalonia 50s to 52s per cwt.
TEA.—Since this day week the market has presented a firm ap.
pcarance for free trade Tea ; there has been a good demand for
black descriptions to supply both town and country orders, and
the advance previously established has been fully supported.
To.day several purchases were made in Free Trade Tea, and
the prices paid were rather higher; salesof common Congou made
at is lld cash, and ordinary Twankay ls.lo %d cash. The mar.
ket closed with a firm appearance.
SPICES.—This afternoon the public sales consisted of 300 chests
Cassa Lignea, and 351 bags Pepper ; the former sold at full rates,
good mid at 85s to 86s, mid 81s, low mid 80s 6d to 81s, mouldy
and broken 63s 6d to 78s 6d per cwt ; and the latter sold at 24d
to 213 d for fair Sumatra. At public sale 145 bags Bourbon Cloves
went at is Id, 2 bars Cayenne is 3d per lb.

Ru►r, BRANDY, AND HOLLAND 9.-111 West India Rum the ope.
rations have been upon a small scale only in Jamaica as well as
Leewards, and thelpurchases have been only 150 puns, &c., proof
Leewards at 2s Old to 2s id, andsome parties are asking 2s 2d
per gallon ; the market is scantily supplied. For East India
prices have improved, and the demand has been good;
the sales have been 350 hhds at the 9s 4d duty at Is 9d to Is. 10d
for common, Is lid to 2s for good clean, proof, 26 per cent. over
improved quality 2s 2d and 170 hhds at high duty is 4d to is 41c1
proof.

The operations in Brandy have been upon a small scale only, and
prices have suffered a further decline of Id per gallon ; the follow.
ing are the quotations—Cognac first brands of the vintage of 1836,
at 5s 10d for hhds, puns 5s Bd, do. 1837, hhds, 5s sd, puns
5s fid, ditto 1838 hogsheads 5s 3d, puncheons 5s Id ; ditto
1839 hogsheads 4s 10d puncheons 4s Bd, ditto 1840 hhds 41,
puns 31 lid per gallon. , Geneva has sustained the former value,
but little business has been transacted. We have still to report
a dull market for British Corn Spirits, sellers at 9s 9d per gal, cash.
To-day West India Rum was in better request, and a fair busi.
ness was done at imported rates for common sorts : sales of proof
Leewards made at 2s Id to 2s 2d, good to fine Jamaica at 5s 3d to
5s 7d. Nearly en the Leewards have been cleared off' the market.
Calcutta Rum in good request at is 910 to 2s, subject to low duty.
RICE.—For Bengal Rice prices have been fully supported, and a
fair demand has existed. Carolina for home use, first quality at
365, and inferior 28s to 345.. Patna at 16s to 2ls per cwt duty paid.
This afternoon Bengal Rice met with a steatly sale, and 5,006
bags Bengal at auction were principally sold, but at rather lower
rates, low middling white went at 9s 6d to 10s, good middling
lOs 6d to I ls, good 1 Is to Its 6d per cwt.
Oits.—Southern and Brown Seal Oil since this day week at
firm rates; the former at 351. for fine, and 321. to 541. for common
to good ; the latter at 28/. 10s to 291. for dark• quality. Pale
Seal 401. lOs to 41/. Cod Oil 29/. For Sperm Oil prices arc firmer,
British at 88/ to 901 per tun. Rape Oil 51s for pale, and 40s for
brown. Linseed Oil at 34s 9d to 35s per cwt ; for delivery at 353
to 35s 6d per cwt. Olive Oil has been in brisk request ; Gallipoli.
at 601 to. 621, and for Spanish 501 to 521 have been paid; there are
not further sellers under 53/, and some parties ask 54/ per tun.
Palm has met with a fair sale; first sort at 32/ to 321 10s per tun.
Cocoa Nut Oil has been in limited request only, and 92 casks Cey.
lon at public sale were taken in 36s to 40s per cwt.
Prices have been sustained fir Cocoa Nut Oil this week ; Cey-
lon taken in at 36s to 40s per cwt.

TALLOW.—For Russian Tallow, former rates have been fully
sustained ; P. Y. Candle on the spot at 48s to 48s 3d per cwt;
for delivery, holders require 48s 6d to 40s for the last three
months of the year. South American at 43s to 45s 3d for good
to fine, and 40s to 42s 6d for low to mid quality.
An opinion still exists that Government will increase the duty on
Russian Tallow; under this idea, nearly all the merchants have
paid duty on their stocks in the Docks.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Feb. 15.
ROYAL ASSENT.

The Royal Assent was given to-day, shortly before
Five o'Clock, by Commission, to the Appropriation Act
Amendment Bill.
The Commissioners were the Lord Chancellor, the
Earl of Shaftesbury, and Lord Wharncliffe.
CORN-LAWS.
The Marquis of NORMANBY presented a petition
from the borough of Hull, signed by above 7,600 per-
sons, praying their Lordships to repeal the present
Corn-laws.
Lord BROUGHAM said he agreed with the petition,
if it prayed for a removal of all taxes imposed for-Mere
protection, but he did not go so far as the petitioners if
they expressed themselves in favour of a duty imposed
for the purpose of raising a'revenue.
The Marquis of NORMANBY said, 'that some time
ago be did present a petition from the Town Council of-',
Hull, praying for an alteration of Corn-laws, and the
adoption of a fixed duty • but the present petition was 1
from the inhabitants of Hull,; praying for a total repeal
of the Corn-laws.
Lord BROUGHAM said, of all modes of raising a
revenue a duty on necessaries of life was the
very worst. They had no mode of calculating
the revenue, and in case of exigency they
could not tell whether it would be possible to raise the
1 revenue or not. Another obvious objection struck every
one as soon as a duty was mentioned for the purpose of
raising a revenue. For instance, in order to raise a
million and a quarter revenue, by imposing a
fixed duty, it would raise the price of all other
kinds of grain, as well as of that imported, and thus
they would draw eight or ten millions from the consumer,
while only one million and a quarter would go into the
Exchequer. A duty on consumable commodities was in
fact a poll-tax, and was exceedingly to be repudiated, as
all paid alike according to their means ; in fact the poor
paid more to it than the rich, as the amount of their
means spent in food formed a larger proportion
of their expenditure. He perceived by the Votes of the
other House of Parliament that a great number of
places had been added to those where the
averages had been usually taken. He begged
to ask the Noble Lord opposite whether the places so
proposed to be added were places in which the price
of wheat had generally been lower than in the
places where the averages had been hitherto taken ?
:The Earl of RIPON had no objection to answer the
question of the Noble and Learned Lord. The principle
that had induced them to add a number of towns to
those that now made returns, was in order to prevent
the possibility of any essential fraud, and not with
the view of lowering the averages. If they
had had any such object in view, they would have been
committing a fraud. They had taken such large market-
towns as would be most likely to give a fairer view cf the
average price of the country, and diminish the chance
of fraud.—(Hear, hear, hear.) If his Noble and
Learned Friend would only look at the towns
they had selected, he would find that although they had
given towns in agricultural districts, they had also given
towns in the manufacturing and maritime districts. The
principle they had acted upon was not for the purpose
of diminishing the averages, but to give a fairer view of
the quantity sold, and therefore diminish the chance of
fraud.

Lord BROUGHAM did not for a moment impute to
the Noble Lord, or his colleagues, the intention of doing
any thing improper; but he was afraid that the averages,
might be affected, by the proposition they had made. . .
The Earl of RIPON said that such could not be the
case, and the averages were struck by putting the quan-
tity together, then adding up the money, and substract-
ing one from the other ; no effect would be produced
upon the averages, except from the larger markets.
The Earl of RADNOR had no doubt that these
towns had not,been selected with any improper motive,
but he had as little doubt. that the result would be to
lower the averages, which would be a disadvantage to the
people. There was no doubt it, might have a tendency to
prevent fraud, but he (Earl Radnor) very much doubted
whether that tendency would do any good to the public.
He believed that that tendency to fraud, however much
they might repudiate fraudulent transactions in them-
selves, had been a benefit to the people, because it had
been the means of introducing a greater quantity
• of corn into this country. He believed that the present
plan would be more stringent, for he believed that the
proposed sliding scale would possess all the objections of
the sliding scale under the present system, and that in
a very great degree. He also believed that it would

equally Open a -door to fraud.
.He could not under-
stand why the Government had.introduced this Bill.
They expected no good from it ; they did not expect
that it would be any relief to the country. He
(the Earl of Radnor) believed that the farmers would
be better off without any protection.—(Hear, hear.)
The whole principle he contended for was admitted by
the Government in last September, or about that time,
in the course of the correspondence between Mr. Henry
Gunter, the Board of Customs, and the Board of Trade,
on the subject of the reduction of the duty on preserved
turtle, which was admitted duty free, the same as live
turtle.

The Earl of RlPON—There is a duty on live turtle.
--(Hear, and laughter.)
The Earl of RADNOR—He had lately seen in the
newspapers, and he believed there was no doubt of the
fact, that the Government had distributed certain
pa uisn gt
raakxtietisidn.t . 0
ti t
tsel
dedei
Ord-
nance stores among the distressed weavers of Spitalfields
d
for their relief. Now be (the Earl of Radnor) could
itn.cb,ori tnwkahpti
which
approve
the
e storespoef people
blheoa
urio:dty
be of
ti that
ss:tiid
ifnot
h
relief were to be afforded to the wearers of Spitalfields,
why, it might be asked, should it not also be extended to
the distressed operatives of Manchester, Birmingham,
Paisley, and other places ? For his part he believed that
the practice was unjustifiable in principle. He had heard
of a memorial lately addressed to the Government from
Paisley,. praying that the provisions lying in store in
Liverpool and other places might be admitte duty free,
for the use of the poor of that town ; and he was sorry
to say that it appeared the request could not be
acceded to. It was his intention to move, be-
, fore the House separated, 0 tbr certain returns
connected with the use made
,of the Ordnance stores,
and with the Paisley memorial, when he would again re-
fer to those subjects. He wished to take that opportunity
of stating, that he considered the new measure would
in effect be more stringent than the present
Corn-law Bill, inasmuch as it would tend to raise the ave-
rages, and thereby to•exclude a good deal of foreign corn
which now came into the country.
The Earl of RIPON said that the Noble Earl had
been very jocose about a matter which, he must have
thought of great iniportance—namely, the free impor-
tation of turtle. Now he (the Earl of Ripen) hap-
pened not to be very intimately acquainted
with that very important matter. The inquiry
about which the Noble Earl joked so much was
a necessary one, inasmuch as it had not been before
determined what duty preserved turtle should pay.
Such questions were not uncommon. About five
years ago the same Mr. Gunter imported a large cargo