INDIGO.—The transactions in this article have not been on a more extensive scale in our market than last week, but a good demand continues for the home trade, and occasionally a small advance upon the last July rates is paid on such sorts suitable for that branch, but there is almost no demand for export, the consumption of the article in foreign countries being this year unusually slack. The shipments to Russia, since the opening of the season, amount to only 2,209 chests, against 3,439 chests during the same time last year. A public sale was held yesterday, in Liverpool, of about 400 chests of East India, and 120 serons of Caracas. Of the former about 100 chests were withdrawn by the poprietors, but the remainder, together with the serons, sold briskly for the home trade, at prices about 3d. to 4d. per lb. higher than the previous nominal value, and rather above that of the London market. There are now 6,070 chests declared for the quarterly sale on the 10th of October; a great portion of it consists of good shipping sorts. It is supposed that several thousand chests more will be declared upon arrival of the Indian Mail, now due.
COCHINEAL.—Only two small public sales were held this week, together of 97 serons. The first consisted of 30 serons Mexican, mostly silver, which sold at prices from 2d. to 3d. per lb. higher than those of last week. The lowest price for ordinary foxy silver was 4s. 4d. per lb. The second sale was held at higher prices still, in consequence of which the whole quantity was bought in.
COTTON.—The purchases at Liverpool, for this 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 43⁄4d. in bond. Of the Surat about 2,300 bales found buyers, from 27⁄8d. to 31⁄8d. for middling, to 33⁄8d. to 31⁄2d. for fair; a few lots superior went at 35⁄8d. 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.—About 4,000 bags of Bengal offered at public sale sold from 10s. to 11s. per cwt., establishing a decline of 3d. per cwt.
SALTPETRE.—The market is sparingly supplied, and importers do not sell except upon extreme rates, which have been paid for about 3,000 bags, viz. from 23s. 6d. for very ordinary, to 25s. 6d. for good middling.
CASSIA LIGNEA.—For small parcels offering in public sale full prices have been paid; fine by private contract as high as 70s.
PIMENTO.—Fair quality has been sold 21⁄2d. to 25⁄8d., which is rather dearer.