week, will again reach
the large quantity of about 40,000 bales, of which a considerable
proportion is on speculation. Prices have been extremely firm, without
any decided advance, however, there not being much importance attached,
or faith given, to the statements that the American crop has suffered,
which have been received by the Halifax and New York steamers, up to 1st
inst. from the latter place.

In this market, business by private contract is again trifling. At
public sales there have been offered 714 bales American, and 3,796 bales
Surat; the former were held considerably above the value, and only 30
bales good fair were sold at 4-3/4d. in bond. Of the Surat about 2,300
bales found buyers, from 2-7/8d. to 3-1/8d. for middling, to 3-3/8d. to
3-1/2d. for fair; a few lots superior went at 3-5/8d. for good fair, and
4d. per lb. for good. The prices paid show an advance of 1/8d. to 1/4d.
a lb. upon the last public sales of 24th August, and sustain the
previous market rates, though the highest advance was conceded
reluctantly, and not in many instances; there are buyers for low-priced
cotton of every description, but there is little of it offering.

_SUGAR._--The purchases for home consumption have been upon a limited
scale, and prices barely maintained. The same remark applies to foreign
sugar. Only one cargo of Porto Rico sugar has been sold afloat, for a
near port, at 18s., with conditions favourable to the buyer. At public
sale 630 chests Bahia, and 120 chests, and 240 barrels Pernambuco, were
almost entirely bought in at extreme rates: since when only about 170
chests of the brown Bahia have been placed at an average of 17s. 6d.,
and with 50 chests of the lowest white at 21s. to 21s. 6d.; by private
contract 300 chests old yellow Havannah, of good quality, sold at 20s.

_COFFEE._--The home demand remains good; good and fine Jamaica fetched
previous rates; a parcel of Ceylon, of somewhat better quality than the
common run, sold at 51s. to 52s., which is rather dearer: very good
Singapore Java sold at 36s. to 40s. In foreign Coffee a cargo of St
Domingo has been sold afloat for Flanders at 26s. 6d. Two others being
held above that price without finding a buyer, they have been sent on
unsold. On the spot the transactions in coffee for export by private
contract are quite insignificant, and of 650 bags old St Domingo _via_
Cape, only a small proportion sold at 28s. to 30s. for pale bold good
ordinary.

_RICE._--