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The actual state of our market will be best ascertained by reviewing the transactions of the past month.

Colonial Produce.-The supplies of Sugar have been pretty abundant, and several considerable parcels have been forced off at lower prices, especially the low Brown qualities; these are, however, coming again into more notice, as the demand is likely to increase as the fruit season approximates. The new crop of Sugars is believed to be plentiful, but as yet only one vessel has arrived from Jamaica.

SUGARS--Brit. Plantation.-Brown, 55s. to 64s. Middling, 65s. to 75s. Good middling, 76s. to 84s. Bright, 85s. to 87s. Very fine, 88s. to 92s. The duty on import is now only 28s. per cwt. Refined goods are proportionably lower than the raw article, from the absence of foreign demand, and may be quoted-Lumps, large, 100s. to 105s. Small, 113s. to 118s. Single loaf, 112s. to 120s. Molasses, 33s. to 34s. per cwt.

In the early part of the month, a very large investment was made in Coffee, to the extent of 420 tons, for London account; but within these few last days, a very important decline of 10s. to 15s per cwt. has taken place, and it is difficult to state at what price any considerable sales could be made. The last prices paid for Plantation Coffee of ordinary qualities, 93s. to 98s. Fine ordinary, 100s. to 105s. Middling, 112s. to 118s. Fine, 120s. to 125s. per cwt.

The supplies of Dyewoods of all kinds are very great, which tend to depress prices.-For Logwood, however, there appears a good demand.-Jamaica, at £6. to £6. 5s. per ton.—St. Domingo, at £6. 10s.-Campeachy, at £8. per ton.-Fustic is not so much inquired after, but small lots of Cuba go off at £9. 10s. to £10. per ton.-Nicaragua Wood, large solid, £27 per ton.-Barwood, £6. to £7. per ton.

More firmness is discernible in the holders of Pot Ashes. 1st. Pots, Boston,......42s. to 44s. per cwt.

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1st. Pearl, American,..48s. to 52s. per cwt.

Montreal,.. 49s.
Russian, 40s. to 42s.

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Pearl Ashes are, however, more difficult of sale. The Cotton Market was well attended last week, and, in the face of such immense arrivals, the business done was very considerable. It appears, therefore, that there must be an innate value in the article, which adverse circumstances can only partially affect. There is so much capital now embarked in the various branches of this manufacture, as will ensure a constant sale to large imports.-American Cottons are of so uscable a nature, that they can be accommodated and substituted for almost every other species. These descriptions, although abundant, have felt less of the influence of the times. Sea Islands, 2s. to 2s. 6d. fine, 3s. to 3s. 6d. Orleans, 11d. to 13d. Upland Boweds, 11 d. to 12 d. Pernams, 16d. to 18d. Maranhams 15d. to 16d. Surats, 7d. to 10d. Bengals, 54d, to 8d. per lb.

Miscellaneous.-Very little variation can be noticed in most articles of Baltic produce.Tallow is rather lower, and Yellow Candle has been sold at 71s. to 72s. per cwt.--Several parcels of Stockholm Tar have been sold at 17s. per barrel.-Oils of all descriptions are difficult of sale, with the exception of Greenland Whale Oil, which fetches £34. per ton, and is getting scarce.

Pine Timber seems to have felt the influence of the times less than many other articles, and is very steady at 2s. per foot for British American Pine. There is a fair demand for Mahogany; and the prices are, for Cuba, 1s. 6d. Honduras, 1s. 3d. to 1s. 6d. St. Domingo, 1s. 7d. to 1s. 10d. per foot.

The season is very fine for the peeling and curing of Oak Bark, which is in fair demand at £12. 12s. per ton.-Several imports of Dutch Bark have been sold at £8. 15s. to. £9. per ton. The importation of Hides from South America continues on a very extensive scale, and meet with a very ready sale-Buenos Ayres at 74d. to 8 d. per lb.-Rio, 6d. to 74d.-West India, dry, 4d. to 5 d. per lb.

CORN EXCHANGE.-The ports are now closed for the importation of all kinds of Grain, (Barley, Pease, and Oats excepted) until the 15th of August; yet this circumstance has occasioned no sensation; and though, at the commencement of the month, some animation was displayed in the purchase of Wheat and Oats, yet the market has again relapsed into a state of languor. The importations within the last fourteen days from the Baltic have been most abundant, and the supplies from Ireland are very heavy. The seasonable weather for the ensuing crops continues to influence the minds of purchasers, and the transactions are very limited. Some sales of wheat under lock have been made at prices deemed ruinous-say for Dantzig wheat, at 7s. per 70lb.: the purchasers, however, run the risk of holding until the ensuing year. American sour flour in demand, at 28s. to 31s. per barrel; sweet is rather neglected, at 32s. to 36s. per barrel. Wheat, English, 10s. to 11s.-Irish, 9s. to 10s. 6d. per 70lb.-Oats, English, 3s. 2d. to 3s. 6d.—Irish, 2s. 9d. to 3s. 3d. per 45lb.-Barley, English, 4s. 3d. to 6s. per 60lb.-Irish and Foreign, 3s. 9d. to 4s. per 60lb.-Beans, 40s. to 48s. per quarter.

Irish dry Butter is limited in demand. Lard, dull. No inquiry for Beef, and prices nominal. Pork, flat. Bacon, very saleable. Hamıs, dull.

Butchers' Meat remains still at the prices ruling during the winter. This circumstance is unusual, considering the relative value of other necessaries of life.-Liverpool, May 24, 1819.

PRINTED BY HENRY FISHER, CAXTON, LIVERPOOL.

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Engraved by T. Dixon, from a Drawing by J. Bird, Esq. for the Imperial Magazine.

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Emperial Magazine;

OR, COMPENDIUM OF

RELIGIOUS, MORAL, & PHILOSOPHICAL KNOWLEDGE.

66 THE VALUE OF A BOOK IS TO BE ESTIMATED BY ITS USE."

JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO THE

HEBRIDES.

[Continued from col. 198.] Friday, 24th.-Left Fairley Roads at two in the afternoon, with a fine gale. As we get round the northern point of Cambray, the Clyde assumes the appearance of a grand lake, being apparently land-locked on every side; some high hills in Argyleshire, and those already noticed in Arran, overtop all around with a degree of grandeur and wildness.

The Frith of Clyde is well adapted to the purposes of commerce; the channel in general being free from sand-banks and sunken rocks. The harbours are numerous; but those on the south side are dangerous in western gales, as the Argyleshire coast is guarded by a long sand-bank, which forms a gradual shoal, to a considerable distance from shore. Lamlash Bay, and Fairley Roads, are the best for large vessels. In entering, the Craig of Ailsa is an excellent directingmark to seamen, when homewardbound, from its great height and singular situation, and from its generally remaining visible when the surrounding lands are buried in mists.

After crossing the Frith, we pass on the left the opening of Rothsay Bay, at the top of which the town is situated, and enter the Kyle, (a narrow channel, as the name signifies) between the island of Bute and the land of Cowal. Two adjacent lochs branch off into the latter. The first, Loch Strevin, from the dark solemnity of its appearance, cannot fail to attract the attention of those, who, in similar weather, pass this channel. The mountains are wild and rocky, interspersed with patches of vegetation, which serve only to break the uniformity of their gray tints; and fall abruptly into the loch. The gloom of clouds, and of those mists which generally, in their absence, supply their place, gives it that air of dreary solitude, which is scarcely lessened by the appearance of a lonely vessel, stealing silently No. 4.-VOL. I.

through the gloom, and, by the contrast of its white sails, giving it a still greater effect.

The farther opening is called Loch Ridan. Its appearance is more varied than the former: low broken rocks and wooded slopes are pleasingly blended; these are overtopped by higher hills; and the first stretch of the lake is terminated by a parallel range of craggy rocks.

At the entrance of the loch is a small island, on which is the foundation of a square building, whose stones are cemented together by a substance, which appears to have been vitrified by some process subsequent to its erection. This, it seems, is not the only building of the kind: a fort by the side of Loch Ness, and some others, having been formed by the same means. They go by the general name of vitrified forts.

After passing the north-east extremity of Bute, the gale increased considerably, and we were compelled to beat up a very narrow channel for about two miles, when we cast anchor in the evening at a part called Black Farland, on the side of Bute.

These anchoring-places are numerous, and form a great conveniency to the vessels that navigate these narrow channels, when overtaken by those sudden storms which are common in these mountainous regions.

Saturday, 25th.-As the wind continued boisterous and adverse, we remained here during the day. In the morning we landed on the isle of Bute, which, on this side, exhibits little else than broken sterile rocks, and heathy hills. The opposite coast of Cowal appeared, however, more fertile; and was prettily interspersed with young plantations of wood, which, however, it seems, are periodically visited by the axe, for the purpose of making charcoal. And thus the country becomes deprived of its chief ornament, and is left naked and bare; while, by a little attention, and a small drawback on the profits of this application of their woods, the hills of Scotland X

might, in a short time, rival the luxuriance of the more southern parts of this island.

A small group of rocks formed a prominent feature, which, overhanging the margin of the water, was pleasingly decorated with trees and shrubs. Sunday, 26th.-At three in the morning we set sail, and, after beating round the point of Ayr, in Cowal, entered the mouth of Loch Fine, with a strong but favourable gale. The day was wet and gloomy, and the lake of of course appeared under great disadvantage. About noon we reached Inverary. This castle, the seat of the Duke of Argyle, is finely situated at the head of the loch, adjacent to the small river Ary, which runs through the grounds, and gives its name to the place; Inver signifying a mouth or discharge of a river.

The barrenness of the distant surrounding mountains, is finely contrasted by the luxuriance of the spot, which successful perseverance has adorned with all the beauties of a southern climate. In the midst of these, the hill of Doniquaich forms a prominent and grand feature; its rocky sides clothed with wood nearly to the summit, excepting where, here and there, a projecting crag breaks through the foliage, and pleasingly diversifies its appearance. The grounds are well laid out, and the meandring Ary, after losing itself among the thickly-covering woods, is discharged into the lake, beneath a handsome bridge of two arches.

To the hill of Doniquaich, the Duke has formed a carriage road, which, winding round its steep acclivities, at length leads to the summit, where a small building, in the form of a beacon, crowns the whole.

tent of his domains, the reflecting mind naturally recurs to ancient times, when feudal power ruled the neighbouring districts with an iron hand, and when its consequence rendered it an object of terror, of envy, or of enterprise, to surrounding clans; and often has Inverary, in common with other residences of Highland chiefs, experienced the devastating effects of predatory war. Its present state, however, yields a strong and pleasing contrast with the preceding; when, in place of this mischievous power, entrusted to the caprice of an individual, haughty in his manners, and absolute in his sway, we meet with a nobleman residing placidly in the midst of his tenantry, listening to and relieving their wants, and giving them all the advantage which can arise from the distribution of an income among those from whom it is drawn; a reflux, which becomes the cause as well as the effect of industry.

In a picturesque view, Inverary has certainly great claims to our notice: the form of the castle is grand, and well adapted to the situation, and, from the natural distribution of surrounding eminences, which always form a fine back ground, it is hard to say in which point of view we should most admire it.

but

The effects of contrast are well known, and this situation possesses all the advantages which can arise from it: bounded by a country in general mountainous and barren, through which the traveller is compelled to make his approach, the beauties of the place cannot fail to strike him in the most powerful manner. This takes place when we are prepared for it; how greatly superior must the effect be on one, who, wholly unacquainted From hence there is an extensive with it, should suddenly break upon a view down Loch Fine, which, in the full view of this scene: he would almost fishing season, when its surface is be inclined to believe the fictions of sprinkled over with herring busses romance, and fancy himself transportand other small craft, that then resorted to some distant region of a milder hither in great numbers, exhibits a and more genial climate. pleasing and an interesting spectacle.

On the land side, the view is circumscribed by ranges of wild and barren mountains, from whose sterile aspects the eye sinks with pleasure on the luxuriant woods of Inverary, which appear doubly interesting from the opposition.

Monday, 27th. In the morning we paid a visit to the castle, the interior of which is adorned with all the splendour of the present age. The drawingroom is particularly superb, and hung with the Gobelines tapestry; the brilliancy of the tints, and the degree of perfection with which they are blended, In considering Inverary as the abode are well known, and deservedly adof a chieftain, powerful from the ex-mired. The other apartments are

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