1309.) [ 547 ] 
MONTIILY COMMERCIAL REPORT. 
~ 
British Manuractures. Inone of our late Reports, we took occasion to notice the 
lamentable situation in which the manufacturing poor of Norwich stood. It gives us 
some pleasure to be now able to state, that the condition of this useful branch of the com- 
munity is somewhat bettered, by the resolution fately entered into by the silk and worsted 
manufacturers of that city. It bas been agreed to increase the wages of the weavers 5 and it 
is supposed that the amount to be paid by this advance, will be about 5000]. per annum, 
Before, an industrious man, with a wife and three or four children, though willing to worle 
fourteen hours in a day, could not maintain his family. We wish it were in our power to 
add, that the ojeration of this generous act, on the paet of the manufacturers, is felt by the 
several families engaged in the fabric of Norwich goods, prior to the existence of the present 
stagnation of trade; but alas! it extends only to a comparatively small number of weavers, 
éc. the majority of the workmen being out of empioy.—The hatting manufactures of Man- 
chester, Stockport, &c. have been tolerably brisk within the last month, owing to the receipt 
of considerable orders from North America. Theplated hats, which are manufacturedin the above 
mentioned towns, and their vicinities, are reckoned a good article in the American markets. 
A further time for continuing the restriction upon distilling spirits from grain, and allowing 
it from sugar, has been agreed on by ministers, till six weeks after the meeting of Parliament. 
A proclamation te this effect has bren published. 
East Inpres. The last accuunts from Bencoolen, state, that the spice- plantations on 
the west coast of that island, were approaching to a high state of perfection. It has for some 
time past, been confidently reported that it is the intention of government, to grant the publica 
free trade with certain parts of the East India Company’s present possessions, and that some 
other alterations of minor importance, are to take place in the aftairs of the company itself. 
We trust, that should the first part of this design be put iato effect, it will be a primary step 
towards an entirely free and open trade with that grandest of commercial sources, the Asiatic 
continent. Privileged companies were the bane of France’s commercial prosperity, under 
Louis XIV. and it is well known that Colbe:t, towards the close of his life, sincerely re- 
gretted that he had ever afforded encouragement to the monopolizers of different branches of 
French tratlic. From the effects of the company-system, France has never perfectly recovered ; 
and, to the source of commercial monopoly, may be traced the origin of that inferior rank, 
which France, as a trading nation, has held among the other states of Europe, ever since the 
reign of Louis XIV. These considerations have given rise to our chief objections against the 
exclusive privilege enjoyed by our East India Company, which, however worthy it may be 
of admiration on account of its internal policy, most certainly engrosses the finest trade in the 
known world, and absolutely excludes commercial speculation from that field in which ig 
would be most likely to fourish. The prices of East India commedities are as follow :—Bo- 
hea-tea fetches from 1s. 6d. co 1s. 10d.3 Singlo, 3s. 5d’ to 3s. 10d. 3 Congou, 3s. to 3s. 9d. 5 
Souchong, 3s. 8d. to 4s. 8d.; Pekoe, 4s. to 4s. 6d.; Hyson, of sundry qualities, from 3s. 6d.fto 
6s. and upwards per 1b. 3 sugar, 31. 15s. to 41. 15s. per cwt. 3 rhubarb, 2s. 6d. to 7s. per oz. 3 
saltpetre, 41. to 41. 2s. per cwt.; China raw sille, 38s. to 42s. 3d.; Bengal ditto, 22s. to 
32s. per lb.; opium, 26s. to 28s ; Indigo copper, 4s. to Gs. Gd. 5 copper and purple, 6s. to 
8s. 6d.; blue and purple, 9s. 6d to 19s. per lb. ; cochineal, 7s. 4d. to 9s, 5 cinnamon, 10s. 
to 11s. 6d.; cloves 11s. 6d. to 12s. 6d. ; nutmegs, 11. to 11. 9s. per 1b. 
West Inpies. West India produce hangs heavily upon the hands of the holders, and 
though the prices of articles have experienced scarcely any fluctuation, the sales have been 
unusually dull within the last month. Some speculations in Jamaica logwood have taken 
place, especially at Liverpool ; the prices of this article in the London market, vary frem 
14]. 10s. to 151. 10s. per ton. Raw sugars within the last week have been rather looking 
up, than otherwise, but on the whole, no very considerable business has been done. Antigua 
and Tortola sugars fetch from 3l. 15s. to 41. 6s. ; Barbadoes and Dominica, from 31, 15s. to 
41. 5s.; Jamaica and St. Vincent’s, from 31. 17s. to 41. 6s. 5 Tobago, Torcola, St. Lucia, 
Demerara, and Trinidad, from Si. 14s. to 41. 6s. per cwt. Coffees are exceedingly dull of 
sale, and the stock on hand is very considerable. Fine coffee fetches from 5}.-15s. to 61. 5s. 5 
good, 5}. 5s. to Sl. 15s 3 middling, 41. 10s. to 5]. 5s. , ordinary, Sl. 8s. to 41. 10s. per ewt. 
The demand for Rum in the Liverpool market is nearly suspended; and at London, the sales 
lately mace have been very trifling. Jamaica ram fetches from 4s. 3d. to Gs. 4d; Leeward 
Islands, from 4s. to 5s. per gallon. In the list of West India commodities, cotton holds the 
first rank in point o! sele. Some considerable speculations took place in the article towards 
the commencement of the present month, but at the period in. which we write, the cotton 
market is comparatively flat. West India spices are pretty steady, both with regard to price 
and sabe. 
sh Nort 
