The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-12 00:00:00

TRADE OF CALCUTTA.

The Indian papers, among the commercial infor-
mation available for the English reader, publish a
comparative statement of the imports into and ex-
ports from Calcutta, with some statistics connected
with the shipping frequenting Bengal, all illustra-
tive of the progress of the trade of that part of the
world. The calculations profess to be made upon
official data, and include 1837-38 to 1841-42.

To show the traffic of the port, it will be as well,
in the first place, to give the amount of tonnage for
these respective periods, which, it will be perceived,
on imports, gives, in favour of the latter period,
taking into account the coasting trade of the country,
the great excess of 86 per cent. ; the amount being in
1837-38, 163,690 tons, by 596 vessels, and in 1841-
42, 304,977 tons, by 1,001 vessels. The export
tonnage shows an increase of 61 per cent. ; the
amount in 1837-38, by 530 vessels, being 172,111
tons ; and in 1841-42, by 885 vessels, being 277,816
tons. From the details of these respective returns it
is ascertained that the traffic to and from Great

Britain had increased nearly twofold.
The total value of imports general, including
treasure, in 1837-38 amounted to 4,06,99,504 Com-
pany's rupees, and in 1841-42 to 5,42,86,722 Com-
pany's rupees, proving an increase of nearly thirty
per cent. As a commentary upon this progress of
imports, the leading articles are selected to show the
proportion. Cotton twist and yarn is the first eluci-
dation offered ; in 1837-38 the value of this import
was 51,22,564 Company's rupees ; in 1840-41 it
rose to 79,90,932 Company's rupees ; but in
1841-42 it was only 55,27,997 Company's rupees,
the check being. beyond all doubt, produced
by the generally disorganised and unsettled
condition of trade there and at home. The value of
the import of salt, another article selected as illus-
trating the rise and fall of this branch of Indian
commerce, was in 1837-38 13,49,043 Company's
rupees ; in 1839-40 it rose to 18,64,340 Company:a
rupees, but in 1841-42 fell to 614,591 Company s
rupees. The value of coffee imported in 1837-38
amounted to 96,288 Company's rupees ; in 1840-41
it rose to 413,782 Company's rupees, but in 1841-42
it had decreased to 317,890 Company's rupees.
The article of tea, in contrary movement, shows an
increase, even in lace of the war with China—a fact
not a little remarkable, seeing how sensibly the
market in this country was affected by the antici-
pated decrease in the supply, especially at and about
the period in question. It is stated that the value
of the import of this leaf in 1837-38 was 339,276
Company's rupees ; fell in 1838.39 to 153,507 Com-
pany's rupees ; rose in 1840-41 to 619,443 Com-
pany's rupees, and was in 1841-42 398,915 Com-
pany's rupees. The import of coals in 1837-38 was
valued at 74,278 Company's rupees, and in 1841-42
358,372 Company's rupees, but how much was Eng-
lish was not stated ; and indeed there would appear,
from the manner in which this item is dealt with,
reasonable grounds fOr supposing that a very small
proportion, if any, was the produce of our collieries.
The value of the imports of tobacco is stated at 6,762
Company's rupees in 1837-38, , and at 95,724 Com-
pany s rupees in 1841-42 ; and the question is very
well put—why is not the tobacco of India, the plant
being indigenous to the country, improved by the
use of foreign seed?
The total value of exports general, including trea-
sure, are stated at 6,50,45,959 Company's rupees
for 1837;38, and at 8,39,40,592 Company's rupees
for 1841-42, or an increase of 34 per cent. In the
same way, to exhibit the progress and fluctuations in
the export trade of Bengal, the leading articles of
produce are adduced as in the case of imports. In-
digo is stationed to take the lead ; the exports of this
article in 1837-38 valued 1,12,47,681 Company's
rupees, and in 1841-42 2,39,51,284 Company's rupees
—a good increase of 112 per cent. Opium in value
in 1837-38 was 2,12,92,386 Company's rupees, but
in 1841-42 it was only 140,01,281 Company's rupees
—a decrease of full 52 per cent. Of sugar, the ex-
port in 1837-38 was in value 67,18,911 Company's
rupees,. in 1840-41 it was 1,64,68,898 Company s
rupees, or the enormous. increase of 144 per
which to a trifling extent was afterwards
en t
counter-
acted by_ the depression of the markets, in
quence of the over-abundance of supply,
e
in
1841-42 the amount had decreased to 1
3,
Icits6o.n4s2e.
Company's rupees, or about 107 pe
with 1837-38. Here it may berernelearnkeld thatpared
the
astonishing progress of sugar
cultivationnd inrecaeadiveitdiona
timely check by this over-supply,. and
cul who,tiv
aittorsis
wstearteeda,cciflutitrsihnedg,
out their indigo estates
rotonhperthiserutogao‘lg
had
rt
with
determined success
P
to bring them under this then considered profit-
able employment. The export of raw silk in
1837-38 was 46,54,517 Company's rupees, and in
1841-42 it increased to 85,15,404 Company's rupees.
The value of raw cotton exported in 1837-38 was
18,61,165 Company's rupees, in 1838-39 it was
22,21,889 Company's rupees, but from that point
gradually decreases, till, in 1841-42, it is noted at
12,05,347 Company's rupees, the obvious objec-
tion in all markets being its inferior quality to
that of other countries growth. Both of su r
and cotton, it is remarked that the Presidencws'
are capable of yielding any quantity, and when time
and management shall have afforded sufficient im-
provement, they will become formidable rivals in
these two products to the other cotton and sugar
producing countries. The value of the exports of
saltpetre, in 1837-38, was 26,32,867 Company's
rupees, and in 1841-42, 32,10,734 Company's rupees,
showing a gradual improvement. Rice is adduced
1837-38 it was 24,72,283 Company's
as showing a small but roressive increase ;in
.1841-42, 36,21,510 Com an
1837-38 being py s rupees.
rupees, and in
concludes the category, tie value of farina exported in
262,914 Company') rupees ; 1840-41