ties waiting the action of Congress on a revision of the tariff. On the 10th, the report of the Secretary of the Treasury was made public, and the recommendation of an increased duty of one-half of a cent lb., being less than was generally expected, was followed by a comparatively dull feeling, prices declining@of a cent. The market remained in this position until the receipt of warlike news from England, relative to the Trent affair, when a better demand set in, and the greater portion of this decline was regained. From this until the close of the year, there continued a steady, moderate business; stocks became much reduced, and a firm, confident feeling generally prevailed, being assisted by the rendition of the rebel commissioners to Great Britain by the government, which was generally accepted here as a peaceful solution of this threatening question. Sales, 387 hhds. New-Orleans, 8,400 do. and 3,300 bxs. Cuba, 2,900 hhds. Porto Rico, 501 do. and 1,390 bbls. English Island, 22 hhds. and 56 bbls. Martinique, 221 cases, 200 bbls. and 19,468 bags Brazil, 28,192 do. Manilla, 955 do. Siam, 500 do. China, 452 bskts. Java, and 341 hhds. Melado-closing the year with a stock of 19,744 tons, against a stock of 34,178 tons same time previous year. IMPORTS AND STOCKS OF SUGAR IN THE PRINCIPAL DEPOTS OF EUROPE, DEC. 31ST. The following table shows the range of prices each month, at NewYork, and the average value of the various descriptions each year, for the past four years: MOLASSES TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES. Annual Statement, showing the Import, Export, Stock and Consumption, for the year ending December 31st, 1861, (exclusive of California and Oregon.) From the Shipping and Commercial List, and New-York Price Current. Consumption, as above,......galls. 8,406,269-Of which foreign imported, Total consumption of 1860,.........10,836,519-Of which foreign imported, direct,... Decrease in 1861,.........galls. 2,480,250 Decrease in consumption of foreign, 1861,.......galls. 1,643,925 Consumption, as above,......galls. 10,836,519-Of which foreign imported, direct,. ....galls. 7,893,722 Total consumption of 1859,.... 12,010,290—Of which foreign imported, direct,.... .....galls. 8,653,187 Decrease in 1860,.........galls. 1,173,771 Decrease in consumption of foreign, 1860,.......galls. 759,465 The consumption of foreign molasses has been hitherto governed entirely by the extent of the domestic crop, but, for the present, no part of that is available beyond the immediate region of its growth, and the wants of the bulk of the consumers of the country must be entirely supplied from foreign markets. The West has taken annually direct from New-Orleans from nine to twelve millions gallons; that source of supply is not now accessible, and their wants can only be met in the markets on the seaboard. The high cost of the article laid down in most of the Western cities, owing to expensive transportation, will militate greatly against the usual consumption; besides which, the present high price of molasses and syrups has given a great impulse to the culture of the sorgho and imphee in several of the Western States. The crop made the past year was considerable, sufficiently large in Iowa and Illinois to interfere greatly with the sale of other syrups; and there is no doubt but that the present year will witness a very extended culture of these saccharine canes, which was found a more profitable crop than corn, even when the prices of molasses were much lower than they will probably be the current year. GENERAL STATEMENT-1861. RECEIPTS OF FOREIGN IN THE UNITED STATES, FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 31ST DECEMBER. ...galls. 20,383,556 Total consumption of foreign, as above,..... Would make the total consumption in 1861,. Decrease in 1861,. 19,808,000 ..galls. 40,191,556 47,318,877 ..galls. 7,127,321 |