The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-11-07 00:00:00

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE

CHINA.—We have received advices from China to the
beginning of August, which are of much interest and im-
portance. The new tariff of duties on the foreign trade,
and the general regulations under which the trade is in
future to be carried on, have, at length, been finally ar-
ranged and completed. The heavy tonnage dues and port
charges have been removed, and more moderate rates
substituted in their stead, as well as the system of levying
and exacting the duties, which has also been remodelled.
The sum of five mace per register ton now covers every
charge 'except pilotage, so that a vessel of 200 tons regis-
ter burden, instead of paying about 2000 dollars as
formerly, may now proceed to Whampoa on paying 350
dollars. The CO-hong system has, as determined on,
ceased. Transactions, therefore, of a mercantile nature
with the Hongs will henceforth be as individual merchants.
Sir Henry Pottinger's authority to prevent the impor-
tation of opium into Hong .Kong (the city of which co-
lony, the seat of government, is now denominated Vic-
toria) will not be availed of in any respect, as his excel-
lency considers that were he to act upon this authority he
would rather aggravate than ameliorate the evils of the
system which at present obtains. In this opinion the
Chinese commissioner coincides. The export of teas
from China to England in the month of June was
1,431,7411b5., of which there were 1,039,9161b5. black,
and 390,8251b5. green. Prices of cotton have not im-
proved, and the stock in the end of July was estimated as
being rather above than under the 95,000 bales, and large
importations expected ! The Bogue forts have all been
rebuilt and made stronger than ever—which fact, taken
in connection with other warlike movements on the part
of the Chinese, have led many parties in China, as well
as here, to suspect that our peace with the Chinese is to
be of short duration. An extensive and beneficial com-
merce would, however, do much to render a second war
improbable, and maintain and strengthen the present
good understanding.
SINGAPORE.—Our accounts from Singapore are to the
lith August. The market was in the same dull state last
advised, with no hope of improvement, either in demand
or in prices, taking place for some time to come. In cot-
ton there was nothing doing, and the stock in the place
was very heavy. The Opium market was inactive as
well; no sales have been effected in the Bengal qualities
from the date of the receipt of supplies from the fifth
sale. Malwa had been sold to a small extent at 550 to
555 Sp dols per chest, for shipment to China, there being
no local inquiry whatever for the article. Exchange was
quoted at 4s 4d, six months' sight. Freight exceedingly
scarce, and tonnage abundant. Great difficulty was ex-
perienced in filling a ship for Europe.
CALCUTTA.—INDIGO SEASON, 1843.—According to
the advices received from the various Indigo factories, and
published in the columns of our Bengal contemporaries, the
forthcoming crop of indigo is likely to exceed all precedent.
The indigo season has been a remarkably fine one. The
Friend of India states that the crop is likely to exceed
rather than fall short of 150,000 maunds ; and our contem-
porary the Eastern Star says that this quantity, according
to his accounts, "is very likely to be exceeded by 10,000
maunds."