Os the 29th ultimo, the last issue of the commercial article' of the North-China Herald for 1869, went before the public. We now present the first for 1870. We trust our remarks during the past year have not been without value; and we express a hope that, for the coming year, our endeavours to place before the public a reliable report on Imports and Sundries" will be crowned with success, At this sea-sou, one has scarcely to write of business as it is, but rather of what it may be. We are just through the Christmas holidays and, as we begin to feel the necessity of putting on the harness of toil, the Chinese cease to enter upon new operations, and devote their energies to closing their past year's accounts and preparing for their usual New Year festivities. Under these conditions, we may fairly be excused for having nothing to record; had it not been for a good demand for the river ports, business would have been at a comparative stand-still. There has, however, been an unusual demand for Grey Shirtings for river ports. Stocks of Grey Shirtings are estimated at about double what they were at this period last year. A reference to ours of January Sth, 1869, will tind a comment upon a despatch from the British Legation at Pekin to the Consul at Amoy. Since when, the Legation has propounded anew treaty, or rather a revised treaty the permission to navigate the inland waters by voatels not propelled. by steam is somewhat altered, we cannot say amended. In the new treaty, or proposed new treaty, somebody is also to be allowed to havea tugboat on the Poyang Lake. By this Mail a letter on the subject of the revised treaty -<from the Chamber of Commerce to the Earl of Clarendon—will go home, and doubtless will be in the columns of Aaily papers soon after arrival. It will be found a clear and exhaustive document, saying pretty much that the proposed revision, while taking away much that we have, gives little that we have not, and explaining that we want not so much new treaties as we require existing ones to be enforced; the pepper of the whole is, that Asiatics believe no bond, no agreement, no convention, no treaty that is not supported by a conciliatory gun-boat.
In our issue of the Sth January, 1868, we gave the prices of a few leading imports for the four years then ended. We will append this table in our next.
mouth from London; the Ist January, Sir Arrivals have been few; 30th, the Dart. William Wallace London. ids Departures.—The Avonvale and Elizabeth Nicholson for New Nork, prices give no true idea of importers demands. We quote 6 Ibs. Tls. 1.45 7 Ibs. Tls. 1.60 u 1.80 and 8 in.95 a 2.15 XX 240 per piece. At this time last year importers were equally unwilling to sell as now—and the current values' then were Tls. 1.35 a 1.50 per piece for 6 Ibs. Tls. 1.65 1.80 for 7 Ibs. and Tls. 1.95 a 2.55 for 8 lbs, a 8} Ibs. 36-inch, the latter quotation being for XX.
Warre Smrernxcs,—A few small sales are quoted at about former values. Prices are 56 reed Tls. 2.05 a 2.12.5; 60 reed Tls. 2.15 42.25; 64 reed Tls. 2.30 2.35 and 66 reed Tls. 2.40 a 2.45 per piece.
Last year's quotations were 56 reed Tls. 1.90 a 1.95 per piece 60 reed Tls. 205 a 2.10; 64 reed Tls..2.15 a 2.20; and 66 reed Ts 2.25 a 2.34 per piece with a very dull market.
Darets,—There has been more enquiry for cheap goo% of English make and seve-changed hands at low rates for immediate delivery. In other classes of these goods there is little alteration to note. At this time last year this class Of goods was very difficult to place.
Faxcy Goons.—Thero has been a small enquiry which has been, but partially met by holders. Present values show a heavy Toss on cost and a lange proportion of the stock is held off' from the market until more activity is shown.
Woottens.—Long Ells exhibit a decline in price, and they are not much sought for. There has been some speculative demand for Camlets at preset low rates, and several sales are quoted of good assortments, Badly assorted parcels are still very difficult to place even at reduced figures.
Frovrep Orteans are very dull of sale, oven at our lower quotations.
In Faxcy Woottexs there is nothing fresh to report—the present season being always a dull time for them.
The usual quotations for colors are apponded.
Qcorarroxs ror Woortexs.
Srantsn Smuipes, C.P.H. cee STRAITS PRODUCE.—Sandal wood has declined in value, advices of dull and overstocked river markets having come to hand. Aslight fall in Sapan wood may also be no Tix.—The market is well supplied, and buyers are few; quotations nominal.
SUGAR.—A good demand still exists in Hankow, and prices are well maintained. Imports, 1,750 piculs white, 12,600 piculs brown. "Exports, 2,100 piculs white, 4,300 piculs brown.
METALS—Lzap is a shade weaker; shipments on a large scale have been made to the river and other ports. For Ixos there is very little demand, a few sales of best Nail Rods to speculators have been effected at low rates. The only transactions that we hear of are the sales of 3000 bundles of ordinary Nail Rods at Tis, 2 to a speculater, and of 150 piculs of the best assortment of Bar Iron at Tls. 2.10 per picul. Quotations are unaltered. The imports for the fortnight are—Lead 400 tons, and Tron 950 tons.
COALS.—The market continues very dull, with but few sales to advise. Cardifis are a little weaker. English and American without sales or enquiry, Australian, sales of Newcastle at Tls. 5.75. Japan, dull at Tls.4. Formosa, sales at Tls. 4.50. The arrivals of all Kinds for December 1869 were 6,459 tons, against same month 1868, 13,110 tons.
FREIGHTS.—This market continues without animation. Homeward rates don't improve, and the quantity of produce to go forward iso small, that no improvement can be looked for before next season. The Fontenaye and Amba are engaged full for London, and the Calliso will get away before next mail.
Loading for London.—Callisto, London Castle. For New York.—City of Perth, Good Hope, Harlow and Sarah Nicholson.
EXCHANGE.—For the season of the year, a very fair amount of business has been got through, prices mark perhaps the turn weaker. "Bank Bills on London, 6 months' sight, 63. Od. First-class credits to Banks, 63. 0}.; do. to private buyers, 6s. 04d. Banks on Paris 7.574, private do-7.65. Banks on India, Bombay 209, Cal-cutty 3003. London drawn accepted, Bombay 300, Calcutta 3014. Banks on Hongkong 25: private, 15 days, 26. Mexican dollars 74.55 per 100. Treasure, imported from Ist January 1869, Tis, 26,918,332 exported, Ts, 19,654,063,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.