COMMERCIAL AND MONEY-MARKET REPORT.

THE approaching termination of the year brings with it its usual concomitant in the reluctance of purchasers of piece-goods to extend their orders beyond their immediate occasions; and this, coupled with the great increase that has of late taken place in the raw material, has occasioned great dulness in the sale of all descriptions of silk goods, and to a certain extent in cottons also. In woollens little alteration has been experienced, and the manufacturers still meet with ready purchasers at full prices. The iron trade also, less affected by changes of season, maintains its improved condition.

In the Colonial Market, the depression that has been gradually increasing for some time past seems at last to have reached its lowest point, and to promise a speedy reaction. In the Sugar Market, the grocers have been purchasing largely for home consumption; and some demand has been made on the part of refiners; the consequence is that in Muscovades an advance of 1s. per cwt. is to be noted. Brown Demerara, Berbice, Tobago, &c. have been selling at 50s. to 51s.; middling and strong quality Jamaica and Antigua, from 50s. to 54s.; colourings, 55s. to 57s. ; and a parcel of Antigua in barrels, of very fine quality, at 66s. per cwt. Mauritius sugar has also advanced full 6d. per cwt.; by public sales lately, 1400 bags sold as follows:-yellow, 52s. 6d. to 57s.; good brown, 50s. 6d. to 52s. 6d.; and low quality and damaged, 38s. 6d. to 498.

In East India Sugar, some purchases have been made in Bengal and Siam at former prices; and a parcel of Manilla brought, by private contract, 23s.

The sales in Foreign Sugars have been almost entirely limited to Bahias, which are inquired for both for exportation and for refining. West India Molasses bring from 258. to 27s. per cwt.; in British a decline of 6d. per cwt. has taken place.

The holders of British Plantation Coffee seem to expect a favourable turn in the market, and are firm for an advance in prices. Those lately obtained are as follows:-Demerara, middling quality. 88s. to 90s.; fine ordinary, 84s. to 86s.; ordinary, 728. to 82s. 20 casks of Berbice of fine quality and a favourite mark were

taken in at 99s. 6d. to 100s.

In Foreign and East India there is not the same animation, and prices seem still to tend downwards; the late sales have been-196 bags Sumatra, good, 50s. to 50s 6d.; inferior, 478. to 48s. 6d. ; damaged, 42s. to 45s. 6d.; 1100 bags St. Domingo, of good quality, at 60s.; darker, 578. to 588.; about 3300 bags Siams, good white, 24s. 6d. to 25s.; low damp, 21s. 6d. to 23s. 6d. ; washed, 20s. 6d. to 21s. 6d.

Rum partakes of the general improvement in Colonial produce; good strong Jamaica has brought 2s. 10d. to 3s. 2d. With respect to other spirits, Irish and Scotch Whisky have advanced 1d. per gallon, and the advance seems likely to be maintained. Old Brandy is scarce, and no reduction is therefore to be expected. The accounts of the late vintage circulated by the French houses in the Spirit trade are very favourable, both in respect of quality and quantity.

The Cotton Market is still heavy, and the sales made in London of late have been but to a small extent; in Manchester, however, the purchases at the reduced rates are said to have been on a much larger scale; the prices lately realized here have been, for ordinary to good fair Surats, 5d. to 6d. per ib.; 184 bales of Bombay of middling quality were bought in at 43d.

In Silk, the business is extremely dull, the price having reached a point at which the manufacturers are compelled to abstain from purchasing, and to wait the decline which appears to be inevitable from the late large arrivals of Italian Raw Silk. In Indigo, there is no variation either in the demand or the price, and the accounts from Calcutta state the appearance of the crop to promise so fair an average as is not likely to produce any material alteration in the market.

An important rise in Port Wine has resulted from the protracted contest in Portugal, as, in addition to the quantity of wine destroyed in Oporto, a large portion of the late vintage will be neglected and lost. From 481. to 52. per pipe, on board, has been paid, which is full 10. per pipe higher than the price of last year, and a still further advance is expected.

In Spices, the only alteration to note is an improvement in the quotations of Pimento, ordinary to good bringing 41d. to 43d. per lb. Pepper remains steady, heavy 4d, to 44d.; Cassia Lignea, middling quality, 76s. to 77s.

The Tallow Market is very firm, and holders are confident in their expectations of a rise; indeed, from 6d. to 9d. advance has been realized during the last fortnight; Petersburg yellow, for delivery in January, February, and March, is contracted for at 45s. to 45s. 3d. All descriptions of Fish Oils are also improving, and a rise of 20s. to 30s. per tun has taken place; 237. is asked for Whale Oil, and sales have been made at 227. 10s.

The Corn Market is very steady; superior qualities of Wheat and Barley are taken freely, but for inferior qualities the demand is very limited.

The Money Market has been in a state of the greatest apathy during the last month, and the fluctuations in Consols have not exceeded the limit of per cent. An advance of 5s. to 6s. has taken place in Exchequer Bills, and a slight improvement in Bank and East India Stock. The Foreign Funds have for the most part been extremely dull, and the prices heavy; the following shows the state of the market at the close on the 25th.

BRITISH FUNDS.

Three per Cent. Consols, Ditto for the Account, 87 88-Three per Cent. Reduced, 87-Three and a Half per Cent. Reduced, 953-New Three and a Half per Cent., 963-Four per Cent. 102 -Long Annuities, 163 12—India Stock, 240, 41-Bank do., 209, 104-Exchequer Bills, 40s., 41s.-India Bonds, 22s., 23s.

FOREIGN FUNDS.

Belgian Five per Cent., 954-Brazilian, 651 3—Chilian, 23, 24—Colombian, 214, 22-Danish Three per Cent., 72, 3-Dutch Five per Cent., 934 -Ditto Two and a Half per Cent., 493 -Mexican Six per Cent., 344, -Portuguese Five per Cent., 69, 70-New Regency Loan, 60-Russian Five per Cent., 1024 -Spanish Five per Cent., 231.

SHARES.

Anglo Mexican Mines, 8/. 10s., 9/-Bolanos, 1227. 10s., 127. 10s.-Canada Company, 487. 10s., 497. 10s.—Colombian Mines, 117., 127.—Del Monte, 52, 531.— Imperial Brazil, 627., 637.—United Mexican, 117. 10s., 12-Ditto, New Scrip, 14/. 58., 147. 15s.

MONTHLY DIGEST.

THE COLONIES.

CANADA.

A scheme is in agitation in the United States for opening a communication with the St. Lawrence, which it is expected will divert the trade of that river from its present course, and make it pass entirely through the state of New York. The following account of the plan is given in a paper of the 9th ult. :-"It may, indeed, be said of American enterprise, that it never slumbers or sleeps. A project of vast importance to our northern frontier begins to be agitated at Ogdensburgh, to which, as a matter of course, the attention of the people of this state will be directed. It is no other than that of making the St. Lawrence river navigable between the Lake St. Francis and Ogdensburgh, at a comparatively trifling expense, and bringing its whole trade within the state of New York, where a transit duty may be levied upon it, that of itself will defray a great part of the expenses of the State Government. It appears that the Grass River, which is navigable for steam-boats to within three miles of Messena village, is separated at this point from the St. Lawrence, by a deep ravine and very low land, which at a trifling expense might be made a navigable channel. The channel would communicate with the St. Lawrence half a mile above the Long Sault rapids. The Canadians have proposed to cut a canal round these rapids on their side of the river, but this project of our countrymen

would effectually divert the carrying trade through our own territory. The contemplated canal will be but five miles long, and require but two locks. The nature of the ground is such that the excavation will be practicable at a small expense. We hope that the people of Ogdensburgh will have surveys made immediately, in order that the decision of the legislature may be had upon the subject as early as possible."

It appears by the communications received from Canada, that, during the present season, 21,945 emigrants have arrived out by the way of the river, which amount is less by 3000 than the half of that of last year. It is calculated that about 15,000 went by way of the United States to Upper Canada. The Reverend Brook Bridges Stevens, the Chaplain of his Majesty's forces, has returned to the colony from his leave of absence to this country. On his arrival he received a congratulatory address from the inhabitants of Montreal and Lachine in testimony of the high respect they entertain for Mr. Stevens on account of his zeal in the service of the church, and the benefit the colony has experienced from him both as a private individual and as a minister of the gospel.

WEST INDies.

It appears by a file of Demerara papers to the 2d ult, that it was generally understood that all the various departments of the government were to undergo the ordeal of a commission of inquiry, with a view to the reform of existing abuses, and the perfecting a system of economy and efficiency in their establishments; for which, it appears, the colony is mainly and directly indebted to its present popular Governor, Sir J. Carmichael Smith. At the same time the colonists do not withhold their meed of praise from his Majesty's présent Ministers, to whose liberal and enlightened views of government they consider themselves beholden for these contemplated reforms.

VAN DIEMAN'S LAND.

The Van Dieman's Land newspapers state that an Insolvent Court is much required, there being a great number of insolvent debtors confined in the jails both at Hobart Town and Launceston, under the most painful circumstances. The Insolvent Act was brought into operation in New South Wales by Mr. Canning's administration, and having been cautiously administered by the commissioner, R. Thierry, Esq., it has proved a great blessing to unfortunate colonists. As the population of Van Dieman's Land now exceeds that of New South Wales at the time an Insolvent Court was instituted there, it is probable that the present administration will appoint a Court in the former place.

By a Parliamentary return just printed of the importations of grain from our North American colonies, it appears that those of wheat amounted, in 1825, to 90,686 qrs.; in 1826, to 26,821; in 1827, to 50,925; in 1828, to 14,415; in 1829, to 4,055; in 1830, to 58,963; in 1831, to 190,796; and in 1832, to 89,748.

SPAIN.

The news from Spain continues to be of the most indecisive and contradictory character. Some reports are favourable to the Queen's cause, others are as much the reverse. Gen. Sarsfield makes little progress. On the frontier, the Carlists appear to be getting the upper hand. Amidst the extraordinary scantiness of information respecting the state of Spanish affairs, the activity of the insurgents and the slowness, to say the least of it, of the Christinos (as the Queen Regent's partisans are called) may plainly be perceived. But though the insurrection is evidently marching Dec.-VOL. XXXIX. NO. CLVI.

2 M

on from province to province of the North of Spain, the Southern portion of the kingdom is said to be decidedly in favour of the Queen. Don Carlos remains in Portugal.

PORTUGAL.

The last weeks have been almost entirely barren of events. The division which landed at Pederneira, under the command of General Bento da França, being too weak to march against Figueira by land, proceeded across the country, and united itself to the army of General Saldanha, of which it now forms the left wing. On the 11th ult. the Miguelites were driven from the heights of Pernes, to the left of Santarem, by a force composed of the 9th Infantry and 12th Caçadores, and several wind-mills which ground wheat for the supply of the town were destroyed. The resistance made by the enemy to this operation caused a loss of about fifty men in killed and wounded. The investment of Santarem is gradually proceeding, and it is said that the garrison suffer many privations; it is not intended to carry the position by assault, but to reduce it by famine; and the floods which cover the plains surrounding the town, during part of the rainy season, will assist the operations of the army.

TURKEY.

In consequence of the dearth which prevails in the Crimea, two villages, in the neighbourhood of Odessa, have been entirely deserted by their inhabitants. In one of them a woman was found dying of starvation. In some small towns they have been driven to make a species of pottage with the stalks of maize, and, in others, they have been reduced to make food of the bark of trees. Some peasantry of the district of Elizabethgrad, in the Government of Cherson, have stopped the waggons laden with corn on their way to Odessa, and forced their drivers to deliver up their loads, giving them a receipt signed as representatives of their respective villages.

BIOGRAPHICAL PARTICULARS OF CELEBRATED
PERSONS, LATELY DECEASED.

ADMIRAL SIR HERBERT SAWYER, K.C.B.

This gallant officer died at Bath. He was the son of Admiral Herbert Sawyer, and served under his father during the war with our Transatlantic Colonies, at the conclusion of which he was in command of the Porcupine sloop, at Jamaica. He was made Post-Captain in the early part of the year 1789, and in the following year appointed to the Pegasus, 28, on the Newfoundland station. In 1793, when the war with France commenced, he commanded the Amphion frigate, from which he was subsequently removed (1795) to the Nassau, of 64 guns, and cruised with the North Sea Fleet till 1797, when he was appointed to the Saturn, 74, attached to the Western squadron. In 1799 he succeeded Sir Henry Trollope in the Russell, which he continued to command until the spring of 1801, when he joined the Juste, of 80 guns, and accompanied Sir Robert Calder to the West Indies. On his return to this country he was appointed to superintend the payment of ships at Plymouth, which appointment he held until promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, October 2, 1807. In the early part of 1810 Sir Herbert Sawyer was appointed second in command at Portsmouth, and in the latter part of the same year was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral, and appointed Commander-in-Chief on the Halifax station, which he held until 1813; and when about to leave that station was presented with an address from the Consul, merchants, and inhabitants, thanking him for his gallant and unceasing exertions in the protection of the colonies from the attacks of the Americans. In the same year he hoisted his flag as Commander-in-Chief at Cork; and on the 2d of January, 1815, he was nominated a K.C.B. At the time of his death Sir H. S. was an Admiral of the White, to which he was promoted in 1825.

MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.

Married.]-At Mamhead, Devonshire, the Hon. John Sinclair, youngest son of the late Earl of Caithness, to Maria Petronella, third daughter of the late John Church, Esq.

J. P. Musson, Esq., of the Middle Temple, late Chief Justice of Saint Lucie, to Janet, daughter of J. M'Lachlan, Esq., of Baddon Hall, Essex.

Francis Ringler Thomson, Esq., Captain Royal Engineers, to Selina Harriett Cotton, widow of the late G. H. Macartney, Esq., and niece of W. A. Brooke, Esq., Chief Judge of Benares.

At Bridlington, Yorkshire, H. Boynton, Esq. eldest son of Sir Henry Boynton, Bart., of Burton Agnes in that county, to Louisa, youngest daughter of Walter Strickland, Esq., of Cokethorpe Park, Oxfordshire.

At Croydon, Lieut.-Colonel Von Graevell, 7th Prussian Lancers, to Frances, daughter of the Rev. J. L. Chirol, King's Chaplain.

At Ippolitts, Colonel Shawe, of the Coldstream Guards, to Jane Grace, second daughter of Peter Harvey Lovell, Esq., of Cole Park, Wilts, and Ippolitts, Herts.

At Carnock, Scotland, Captain John Osborn, Enniskillen Dragoons, to Catherine, daughter of the late Sir M. S. Stewart, Bart.

At St. George's, Hanover-square, Richard, eldest son of E. W. Edgell, Esq., of Miltonplace, in the county of Surrey, to Jane, eldest daughter of the late G. S. Marten, Esq., of Marshals Wick, Herts.

At Abbeyleix Church, the Rev. W. K. Tatam, of Church Kirk, Lancashire, to Elizabeth, daughter of the late Sir R. King, Bart., county Roscommon.

At St. George's, Hanover-square, the Rev.

Henry Yorke, rector of Wimpole, Cambridgeshire, to Flora Elizabeth, youngest daughter of the late Sir Alexander Campbell, Bart.

At Croydon, the Rev. J. Smith, of St. Bartholomew's, Birmingham, to Cecilia, daughter of the late Muzio Clementi, Esq.

Died.]-At Patshull, Staffordshire, Mary Ann, wife of Sir G. Pigot, Bart.

Of apoplexy, Major-Gen. Lemuel Warren. At Bath, W. R. Shapter, M.D., InspectorGeneral of Military Hospitals.

At Greenwich, James Jennings, Esq., author of "Jennings's Family Cyclopædia," "Ornithologia," &c.

The Rev. T. Thomas, Vicar of Pentych, Glamorgan, nearly 90 years old, and Father of the diocese of Llandaff.

Commander Charles Bentham, R.N., son of the late Lieut.-General Bentham, R.A.

At Edinburgh, aged 70, J. Ferguson, Esq., son of the celebrated astronomer.

At Edinburgh, aged 22, the Hon. C. H. Murray, R.N., brother of the late Lord Elibank. On the 12th ult., Mr. Joseph Strutt, son of the late Mr. Joseph Strutt, the antiquary, author of the "Commonplace Book to the Holy Scriptures," and Record-keeper to the Duke of Northumberland.

At Woburn Farm, near Chertsey, Vice-Admiral Charles Stirling, in the 74th year of his age.

At Edinburgh, Jane, wife of William Horsman, Esq., and daughter of the late Sir John Hamilton Dalrymple, Bart., of Cousland.

On the 15th ult.. at the Repository, Woolwich, Miss Maclean, late of Geise, Caithnessshire.

PROVINCIAL OCCURRENCES

IN THE COUNTIES OF ENGLAND, AND IN WALES, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND.

LONDON.

A plan is under consideration for the improvement of Holborn-hill, which removes one great objection to those heretofore submitted, viz. the interference with the trade to the inhabitants. It is proposed to take down the houses from the corner of Bartlett's-buildings, Holborn, to Seacoal-lane, Skinner-street, or on the opposite side from Hatton-garden to the top of Snow-hill, and erect a level terrace on brick arches between those points; the present houses to be taken down and set back about fifty feet, or in a line with St. Andrew's Church, and the arches under the terrace to be fitted up as shops on Holborn-hill, with a handsome balustrade at top. An ornamental arch to be turned over Farringdon-street, on the principle of Highgate Tunnel, thus forming a grand and commodious level thoroughfare without at all interfering with Holborn-hill.

British Museum.-A new room has just been built and finished at the British Museum, on the ground floor, opposite the passage leading from the old galleries of antiquities to the late additional gallery. This room is intended to be appropriated to Egyptian antiquities, a few of which, bought at Sotheby's sale some time ago, are placed in an adjoining apartment. The new room is lofty, and of a moderate length and breadth, lighted from above to show the figures to be deposited there