mit, deeply pathetic. The loud moral controversy that follows is, however, an overplus of pathos that undoes the truth abominably. Fawcett played his little bit of agony in the last act with so much zeal, that we really thought Miss Tree, or some young lady, had trod upon the toes of his moral indignation. He shook his white hairs, and worried the pathos like a terrier. Mrs. Chatterley, who played the mother, perceived like Desdemona "a divided duty," all the evening, and went between father and daughter every moment. The scenery was beautiful, and would have saved a worse play. The music by Bishop had none of Bishop's power; but one song, "Home, Home," was most tenderly composed -and Miss Tree sang it delightfully. Our hearts beat to the truth of the words of this song all the Opera. "Home, home, there is no place like home." DRURY-LANE THEATRE. 81. 10. 1d. If quite convenient. One joke will no more make a farce, than one swallow will make a summer. This money piece brought no money. Elliston did not realize the name in his receipts. The farce was damned,-as all pieces with clever names generally are. Liston had one request to make throughout two acts-for he rode the joke to death, realizing the proverb that if you set a Beggar on horseback he will ride to the devil. The farce was damned. The one joke broke down in the second scene. The audience yelled at 8/. 10s. Id. and the manager, to use a phrase out of Mr. Hume's calculating mouth, "took his change out of that." of the piece, when all the better part of the audience had withdrawn, the piece took the hint, and was withdrawn also. Poor Liston! he dies a hard death. At the end SONNET. Is there another world for this frail dust, And every thing seems struggling to explain Time wandering onward keeps its usual pace, As seeming anxious of eternity, To meet that calm and find a resting-place. E'en the small violet feels a future power, And waits each year renewing blooms to bring; And surely man is no inferior flower, To die unworthy of a second spring! J. C. RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE COMMERCE OF GREAT BRITAIN FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. AT the commencement of the year the markets had not offered for some time any very remarkable fluctuations, and the chief interest excited, arose from the varying reports, importing the probability of war between France and Spain. As it was presumed that England would remain neutral, great advantages were anticipated to the English commerce, from the inactivity to which it was supposed war must reduce that of France; it being taken for granted that the sea would soon be covered with privateers under Spanish colours. In such a state of things, all articles of maritime commerce must be obtained through the medium of the neutral powers, especially Great Britain, and all warlike stores would of course be in great demand and increase in price. This naturally caused every report tending to favour such an opinion to be received with little examination, but the effect was transitory; till the speech of the King of France, removing all uncertainty on the hostile intentions entertained against Spain, all colonial articles continued to rise. Meantime a great sensation was excited here, by the information that Great Britain had demanded from Spain an indemnity for all losses sustained by English subjects from pirates under the Spanish flag, and that this demand had been enforced by a threat of sending a fleet, to detain Spanish vessels to the full amount of the indemnity claimed. As it was stated to have been acceded to, and it did not transpire in what manner, it was presumed that some very great commercial advantages were to be conceded to Great Britain, in the Spanish West India possessions, and it was hoped that Cuba would perhaps be given up to our government. Even now, however, the arrangements made between the two countries do not seem to be perfectly known and understood, but there can be little doubt that a perfectly good understanding subsists between the two powers. Thus it has been said, that Porto Rico was given up to a British squadron, and that the British flag had been hoisted, while other accounts only say, that the Governor of that island had given assurances, that Spanish cruizers from that island should not molest British vessels, even if bound to blockaded ports of the Spanish Main, unless they should have arms or ammunition on board. It is supposed that the same assurances have been required from the Columbian government, and that this has been the object of the mission of the commanders of his Majesty's ships that have been sent along the Spanish Main. Notwithstanding the actual commencement of the war, yet the effect has not been such as was anticipated, which is doubtless to be attributed to the manner in which it is carried on, and the great uncertainty respecting its duration. Hitherto nothing has taken place that can lead to an expectation of any material advantage to the commerce of this country. Should the war be protracted, it is probable that considerable quantities of corn, rice, &c. may be required for the French army. This, and the permission to import a certain quantity of corn into Portugal, may clear our magazines of a large proportion of the bonded grain with which they have been so long filled. We now proceed to take a general view of the state of the markets, as far as concerns the principal articles of commerce, since December 1, 1822. Sugar.-In December, the prices remained nearly unchanged throughout the month, rather tending to decline, though the printed price currents did not state any alteration. Towards the close of the month, refined goods improved in consequence of favourable accounts from Hamburgh, &c. In the month of January and February, the prices continued to advance every market day, and immense sales were effected, amounting to 1000 or 2000 hogsheads in one market day; on the 18th of February, indeed, the sales were from 2500 to 3000 hogsheads, of which 1000 were sold by a single house. The demand for refined goods was likewise brisk and extensive, and several parcels purchased in December having been offered for sale, readily found buyers at an advance of 68. to 7s. per cwt., the market being inadequately supplied. No lumps were to be had under 85s. ; loaves, ordinary, about 90s.; Hambro', 928.; Molasses, 30s. There was a general and extensive demand for yellow sugars; 38s. were obtain ed, and 40s. subsequently asked for yellow Havannah; for fine white, 50s. were obtained, and an advance of 25. or 3s. was afterwards asked. At a public sale of 59 casks of Brazil sugar at the end of February very high prices were obtained, viz. good and strong white, 46s. to 478.; yellow, 33s. to 33s. 6d. In consequence of the very extensive sales in the month of February, and the small quantity remaining in the hands of the importers, the trade became very quiet, and the sale limited for a time: in the middle of the month the demand revived; but there being few parcels on sale, the purchases were not extensive, the prices, however, were rather higher. For some time after this, the market remained on the whole nearly stationary, the fluctuations being very inconsiderable. In April, the prices continued rather to decline till the last week, when there was an advance of 28. to 3s. per cwt. on Muscovades. Lumps were scarce and in request, the lowest brown being at 88s. and very few to be had at that price; the general prices were 89s. to 90s. In this month, May, low Muscovades have maintained good prices, but good and fine descriptions have declined. On Friday the 16th, there was a public sale of 327 casks of Grenada sugars raw, and of very excellent quality; the bright yellow and strong grey, 62s. to 63s., which was 6d. to 1s. below the prices by private contract; the good, 60s. to C1s. also a shade lower; the inferior quality, 58s. 6d. to 59s. 6d. sold rather high. The refined market is in an uncommon state: there are very few goods on show except fine descriptions; no parcels of lumps to any extent can be bought except for forward delivery, yet the market is heavy, and the finer sorts offered at very low terms. Molasses are 28s. to 28s. 6d.; 122 puncheons of good Grenada Molasses sold last week in public sale at 24s. 6d. to 26s. The value of refined sugars exported in the first three months of this year, was 337,5801. of which about 122,000l. went to Hamburgh, 120,000l. to the Mediterranean, 42,000l. to Rotterdam, 27,000 to Antwerp, 13,000l. to the Baltic, &c. Coffee. After the market had been for some time in a languid state, and but very inconsiderable public sales had taken place in the latter half of December, there began to be a general demand for such descriptions as are used for home consumption, and any parcels offering for sale fetched very high prices. There were many inquiries for coffee as an article of speculation, but the holders did not appear anxious to sell or press their stocks in the market, which evidently showed that the general opinion was favourable to a revival of the trade in the spring. The prices, in fact, continued to improve, so that the or dinary coffee was calculated to have advanced from 8s. to 10s. per cwt. from the 1st of December (which was the lowest point of the market) to the 14th of January; good ordinary Jamaica, for home consumption, which would have sold at the former period at 95s. a 96s. having been sold at 105s. This, however, related only to ordinary Jamaica; but, in general, the advances might be stated at 58. per cwt. No great alteration took place for some weeks, and at the beginning of February, the want of public sales made it difficult to ascertain the actual market prices; 1088. or 110s. were paid for good ordinary Jamaica, and 1138. refused for good ordinary. Ata public sale on the 6th of 223 casks, 85 bags British plantation, 5 casks, 85 bags Foreign, the former sold about 2s. below what were considered as the market prices by private contract; fine ordinary Jamaica Ills. to 115s., good ordinary clean, 108s., rank, 105s. and 106s., ordinary Cuba, 1028. to 1048. by private contract, good ordinary St. Domingo, 110s., fine ordinary, 112s. The holders asked very high prices. Their expectations, however, were not realised; large sales at the latter end of February went off without briskness, and all descriptions, except Demerara and Berbice, sold 2s. per cwt. lower than the prices by private contract. Little was done for some time after these sales, till 252 hogsheads of Jamaica were sold on the 4th of March, which fully established the mar ket prices; the fine was rather lower than by private contract; good middling, in considerable parcels, sold 134s. to 137s. 6d.; ordinary middling, or fine ordinary, sold high; small bean, rather brown colour, at 1178. and 118s.; good ordinary sugary, 105s. to 107s. The whole went off steadily, and the prices were maintained for about a week; they subsequently flue tuated, but, on the whole, declined, till in the last week in March ordinary Jamaica fell at once from 4s. to 5s. per cwt., other ordinary coffee, 18. to 2s., the middling and fine qualities remaining steady. The weekly reports since the 1st of April have stated a continued decline of about 2s. per cwt. every week; good middling Jamaica, which two or three weeks ago would have fetched 138s. to 140s., has been sold at 126s. to 126s. 6d. ; fine middling sold at 132s. It is the middling and finer qualities that have declined the most; St. Do mingo maintains its price better than any other, good ordinary, 92s. to 101s.; very good, nearly fine ordinary, 102s. to 102s. 6d. Cotton. The market was at the end of November in a very languid state, and the sales inconsiderable, but the sellers were not disposed to accede to any reduction. The prices were about as follows, in bond. Surat, ordinary, 5d., good fair, 6d., and very good, 64d.; Madras, good fair, 5d. Bengals, fair, 5d., good fair, 5d., good, 53d., very good, 64d. and duty paid; Demerara and Berbice, good fair, 94d. and 9d; West India, fair, 8d. The market remained without interest, till about the middle of December, when it transpired that a most extensive speculation in East India cottons had been entered into; the buyers had purchased regularly and quietly for a considerable time, so that the extent of the speculation (stated at 11,000 bags) was not known till all their purchases were made. They gave about the average prices of the preceding India sale, and it was remarkable that notwithstanding these extensive purchases, the prices did not improve. The trade remained dull, and the Huctuations of price very trifling, with a tendency to decline on the nearer approach of a great sale at the India House on the 7th of February. Though this sale consisted of 14,300 bales of Bengal, and 6450 Surat, and 6200 Madras, it went off with great spirit, the whole (except a few bales of Madras, which were of too inferior a quality to bring the taxed prices) found buyers, the Surat and Madras at the previous current prices, and the Bengals at d. to ad. per ĺb. advance. After this sale, the market continued to improve for some weeks, and was, on the whole, in a satis factory state, till the end of March. In April it was rather heavy, but there was only a small and partial reduction in the prices, which were in very few instances below the average of the India sales, though the speculators showed at the beginning of May a great inclination to purchase at a reduction of d.; and though it was believed that the heavy prompt day at the India House, on Friday, May 16, would bring large parcels into the market, at prices rather below what had been paid at the sale, the holders were prepared to meet it, and would not submit to any reduction. The purchases in the week ending the 20th instant were 1750 bales, viz. in bond, 300 Surats; ordinary to good, from 54d. to 5d.; 1200 Bengals, ordinary to good fair, 5d. to 53d.; 130 Madras, fair and good fair, 51d. to 5 d.; 20 Boweds, good fair, 7 d., 70 Smyrnas, 74d. to 8d.; and 50 Demeraras, 103d. duty paid. At Liverpool, the sales have been 254,000 bags, the arrivals about 250,000. Saltpetre, which was very much depressed, was of course affected by the reports of war. At the end of November, it was 248. per cwt.; and, at the commencement of December, rose to 29s., but within a fortnight, it fell again to 26s. Thus it continued till the end of January, when it advanced to 30s., and with some small fluctuations, continued to rise till the latter end of February, when it was at 40s. per cwt. At the commencement of March it began to decline, and has been for some weeks at 25s. to 26s. 6d. Hemp, Flax, and Tallow, were all at low prices at the beginning of December. Talloze, however, which was at 37s. rose by the middle of the month to 40s. but gradually declined again. This seems to have been the highest price. It continued to fluctuate, and at the end of March was as low as 32s. 6d. to 33s. In the middle of April it realized 35s. and has been very steady during the present month. On the 20th it was 358. 6d. for parcels here, and 378. for arrival. Hemp continued heavy till the last week in January, when it rose 21. per ton. It continued in good demand, ør rather improving, till the government contract at the beginning of March, which being for no more than the usual quantity in time of peace (3000 tons), rather disappointed the holders, who, in expectation that more would be wanted, had been asking high prices. The contract was, how ever, taken at 431. for Riga, and 391. 9s. for St. Petersburg, which being good prices, did not greatly affect the market. It afterwards became heavy and lower in price, but has been for two or three weeks rather more firm. Flax, after continuing for some time without variation, has been scarce and rising in price since the middle of March. It is still exceedingly scarce, much wanted, and consequently dear. Tea. At the Company's sale in December, the prices were nearly as at the preceeding sale. Bohea, 1d. lower; Congou, nearly the same as the last sale; fine descriptions 1d. lower; Company's Hyson Gd. higher, 5s. 4d. to 5s. 10s.; Twankay, 3s. 4. to 3s. 6d.; Hyson Skin, 3s. 3d. to 33. 7d. about lower than the last sale. At the March sale the prices were nearly the same; the news of a dreadful fire at Canton, in which 30,000 chests of tea were said to be destroyed, did not affect the prices here. Indigo. Without tracing the fluctua tions in the prices for the last six months, we think it best to give the statement of the India-house sales, that have taken place during that period. January Sale-Fine blue and violet, 11s. Gd. to 11s. 8d. per lb.; fine purple and violet, 11s. 3d. to 11s. 5d.; fine violet, 11s. Id. to 11s. 3d.; good and middling violet, 10s. 10d. to 11s.; fine and good violet and copper, 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d.; middling ditto, 9s. 6d. to 10s.; fine and good copper, 9s. to 9s. 6d.; ordinary and low, 4s. 6d. to 8s. ; consuming qualities 8s. 6d. to 9s. 9d.; Madras, 8s. to 10s. 4d. The following is a statement of the number of chests at each price, viz.-182 chests, from 11s. to 11s. 8d.; 1017, 10s. to 11s.; 1009, 9s. to 10s.; 603, 8s. to 98.; 402, 78. to 8s.; 521, 6s. to 7s.; 286, 5s. to 6s.; 328, 4s. to 5s.; 40, 3s. 2d. to 4s.—14 bags warehouse sweepings, from 28. to 2s. 5d. per lb. At the April sale of 3410 chests, the good and fine qualities sold at nearly the prices of last January sale; the middling shipping indigo, and the sorts for homeconsumption, 6d. to 9d. per lb lower; the ordinary and very bad at the reduction of 6d. to Is.; the Madras, 4d. per lb. lower. The quantity taken in for the proprietors, about 800 chests, is chiefly of the lower qualities; the holders ask an advance. Spices. There has been nothing remarkable in the market for some time. Pepper has best maintained its price. Rum, Brandy, and Hollands.-At the beginning of December brandies were very firm; the warlike reports made the holders of rum more backward in selling, and an alteration in the Dutch distillery laws was announced, which was likely to cause hollands to advance 2d. or 3d. per gallen, which caused a rise here. At the end of the year rum had declined; but brandies had advanced in consequence of the high prices in France. Geneva was scarce and improving in price. At the end of January the rumours of war, and the unexpected declaration of a government contract for 100,000 gallons of rum, caused much speculation; and the prices having been so very low, the trade seemed anxious to get into stock, and above 2000 puncheons were purchased in two weeks; the prices rose 2d. per gallon. The market continued favourable till a public sale on the 25th of February, of 226 puncheons of Jamaica, had a very unfavourable effect; but the very unexpected declaration of another government contract for 100,000 gallons (even before the late contract was delivered into the King's warehouses), created a great sensation, and an immediate rise; the contract, however, being taken on the 4th of March at low prices, viz. 45,000 gal lons at 1s. 98d. and the remainder at 1s. 94d. the market became depressed, and has remained ever since in a languid state. The prices are reduced, but there are few buyers. Brandy kept up longer, but has now likewise declined. The best market offer free on board to arrive at 2s. 10d. to 2s. 11d. Other articles have not undergone any extraordinary fluctuation. Seed oils were for a time high, on account of the scarcity of seed. JANUARY, 1823. Bank Stock 1st, 245; the highest price 246 on the 19th; then declining to 2414 on the 28th; on the 31st, 236. 3 per Cent. Consols, on the 7th, 79 ex. d. remaining nearly the same till the 18th, when they were 78%; they continued generally to decline, of course with occasional fluctuations, being 77 on the 22d; 764 on the 27th; and 744 on the 31st. 4 per Cents. of 1822, on the 7th, 998; on the 20th, 983; declining to 96 and 961 on the 28th; on the 31st, 93}. FEBRUARY. Bank Stock, on the 4th, 2394; on the 7th declining to 237, and subsequently to 234; but recovering to 236 on the 22d; and reaching 239 again at the end of the month. 3 per Cent. Consols, on the 1st, 754; up to 774 on the 4th; but declining to 76 and being down to 733 on the 11th; fluctuating between that and 74 for the rest of the month; but on the 28th, at 724, 73. 4 per Cents. 1822, on the 1st, at 938; up to 95 on the 4th; as low as 92 on the 11th; recovering and keeping generally about 933, and 927 at the end of the month. 3 per Cent. Consols, on the 1st, 72; rather improving, reaching 74 on the 11th, fluctuating per cent. above and below 74, and closing before the Easter holidays at 748. 4 per Cents. 1822, on the 1st, 928; then, till the 18th, between 93 and 94; and for the remainder of the month above 94, but never reaching 95. APRIL. Bank Stock, on the 7th, 2044 ex. d.; the 11th, 206; the 14th, 211; the 26th, 214 to the end of the month. 3 per Cent. Consols, on the 7th, 74; rather below 76 till the 22d, and then 77 improving to 75, 76, and on the 12th, 77; and a fraction to the end of the month. 4 per Cents. 1822, on the 7th, 921 ex. div.; this stock improved simultaneously 94, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and closing at 974with the preceding, reaching successively MAY. Bank Stock, on the 2d, 215, rising to 217 and 218, between which it has since fluctuated; on the 28th, 220. 3 per Cent. Consols, on the 2d, 78, has since risen to above 80. rose to and above 79, fell below 79, and 4 per Cents. 1822, on the 2d, 96, and has since risen to above 100. The most striking circumstance in the above account of the Stocks is certainly the Bank Stock opening, in April, 30 per cent. below the rate at which it closed in March; which was owing to the very unexpected and unwelcome declaration of the directors, that they found it advisable to reduce the half yearly dividend from 5 per cent. to 4 per cent., which, notwithstanding the opposition of some proprietors, was acceded to, without any precise statement of the reasons which induced the directors to propose so great a reduction. The prices of bullion have not much varied; foreign gold has been constantly at 31. 17s. 6d. ; new doubloons from 31. 14s. to 31. 16s., now 37. 15s. ; new dollars from 4s. 94d. to 4s. 9d. and silver in bars standard 4s. 11 d. to 4s. 103d. the present price. Foreign exchanges have risen in this half year; Amsterdam from 12-3 to 12-10; Hamburg from 37-7 to 38-4; Paris from 25-50 to 25-90; Petersburg fallen from 91 to 84; Madrid from 37 to 36: Palermo from 118 to 115; Lisbon from 52 to 51. In foreign funds, the most remarkable fluctuations have been in Spanish and Columbian Bonds, which, from doubts respecting the securities, have been depreciated 23 per cent. The Columbian, Bank Stock, on the 1st, 236; shut the which, from 73, fell to 48, are now again, rest of the month. MARCH. at 66. |