The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

TILE CORN TRADE AT ROME AND

ABROAD.

(rreen the Ner Empress.)
The state of the weather is becoming a matter of
series' uneasiness; we had a few fine days in the early part
•(the week, but since Wednesday an immense quantity of,
wet has fallen, and it will need a considerable interval of
dry weather to restore the land to a fit conditicn to admit
of its being worked. This, at the close of October, is a
somewhat untoward state of affairs, and warrants a feeling
M disquietude in respect to the future. The ill effects of
• late and wet seed-time were painfully exemplified last
SOW ; and it is, consequently, not to ;be wondered at that
these engaged in the cultivation of the soil, as well se all
sennected with the corn trade, should at the present mo-
ment be influenced by the prospect of a similar viaits-
this. Neither merchants nor farmers are particularly
anxious to realise; and only moderate supplies of grain aro,
therefore, being brought forward. Purchasers, oa the
other hand, are somewhat nervous in following up their
operations after so important a rise as that which has been
established within the last two or three months. In this
position of affairs transactions are naturally circum-
scribed, and there is not so much activity in the trade as
previous to the advance. At the same time there ap-
pears to be little prospect of a check to the upward move-
ment; indeed the probability is strongly in favour of a
further rise. The deficiency in the produce of wheat has
certainly not been exaggerated ; of this we have daily
proof, as in gluiest every instance where the produce of a
given number of acres has been thrashed out, the yield in
quarters has fallen short of expectation. This appears also
to be the case in France; and we are inclined to think that
the quantity of wheat harvested io these two great bread-
consuming countries will turn out to be at least one-third
short of an 'usual average, and that the necessity of im-
porting to provide for this enormous deficiency will, under
almost any combination of circumstances, however favour-
able, cause quotations cf wheat to rule high in all parts of
the world, up to next harvest. Meanwhile the actual posi-
tion of 'Zan is anything but favourable. The weather on
the continent has been similar to that experienced, here,
land outdoor work has been much impeded—in many cases
rendered impossible—by the excess of rain. The sowing
of wheat must, therefore, inevitably be late abroad as well
as with us. Next in importance to the weather is the poli-
tical aspect of affairs in the East, fur it is to the Black Su
tt at we must look for supplies. In the Baltic old stocks
are nearly exhausted, and the new produce will not be fit to
ship until it shall have been hardened and improved in
condition by frost. At Odessa, Galati, and Ibraila large
quantities of wheat and Indian corn are lying in store ; hut
the fear of war and the scarcity of vessels have thus far
prevented shipments of any importance being made to
Great Britain. It is now almost too late in the year to ad-
mit of the difficulties alluded to being removed in time to
insure supplies on an extensive scale, and the latest advices
from Constantinople ate certainly not of a character to
allow us to indulge in sanguine hopes of a peaceable ar-
raugement of the quarrel between Russia and Turkey.
The wheat trade has maintained an exceedingly firm tone
throughout the week ; but, as already intimated, the trans-
actions have been on a comparatively limited scale, in con-
sequence of an indifference on the part of sellers to realise
except at high prices, and an extra degree of caution exer-
cised by buyers. The consumption of bread does not appear
to have been sensibly diminished u yet by the enhancement
is its value ; the fact is, that other articles have risen
is fully the same proportion, and bread is 'till rela-
tively the cheapest kind of food. Stocks of o!d wheat
are rapidly decreasing ; and, as we cannot expect supplies
from abroad to the same extent as those that have reached
us hitherto, our warehouses will probably be pretty well
cleared before Christmas. The Baltic arrivals are almost
certain to fall off materially, and the causes above referred
to will—there is reason to believe—prevent large supplies I
from the East; our great dependence must therefore be
America, and that she will not be able to furnish so large ■
quantity as to compensate for the short-comings from
other quarters we have already on previous occasions en-
deavoured to prove. It seems, therefore, that, with a
greater deficiency in lour own crop than has occurred for
years, we shall have to encounter unusual difficulties in
obtaining substantial aid frem abroad. Foreign govern-
ments are fully alive to the dangers of the threatened
scarcity, and one after the other has prohibited exports or
removed restrictions against imports. The latest intelli-
gence of proceedings of that nature has reached us this
week ; Turkey having, it appears, followed the example of
Egypt, and has forbidden further shipments of grain.
'Very little change has taken place in the tone of the
trade at Mark-lane since Monday. The arrivals of wheat
coastwise into the port of London have been small, and the
quantity brought forward by land-carriage has been quite
trifling. The Essex and Kent stands were nearly bare on
Wednesday, and there was scarcely anything fresh up fur
Friday's market. In the absence of supplies the transac-
tions have necessarily been on a retail scale, and no quo:-
able alteration has taken place in prices ; we are inclined
to thiak, however, that it would not have been difficult to
have exceeded previous rates by le. per qr. at the close of
the week if there had been any really good new wheat to
dispose of. The last weekly average for the kingdom is
68s. lid. per qr., and the return for Leedom published ea
Friday 71s. 7d. per qr. The arrivals of wheat from abroad
have =ousted to 16,000 qn. during the week ending
this (Saturday) evening. Importers have manifested very
little anxiety to sell from on board ship, and quite as
high prices have been asked for the fresh arrivals as for
parcels in granary. The town millers appear to have
tolerably good stocks, a fair proportion of the recently
received supply having been imported by them. The
local demand has consequently not been extensive ; but
we have been visited by buyers from different parts of
the kingdom, and a fair Iminesr has been done in the
finer qualities. The prices paid on Wednesday wets about
the same as thou current in the commencement of the week,
and on Friday an advance of Is. per qr. could only be ob•
tained in partial instances. The operations in floating
cargoes of Black Sea wheat have been on a comparatively
retail scale, owing in a great measure to the paucity of
offers and the very high pretensions of sellers. There are
few cargoes arrived off the coast undisposed of ; for those
on passage relatively higher rates have been asked than
similar qualities would be worth on the spot. For wheat
free on board at Baltic ports the ideas of sellers have like-
wise been too high to allow of much being done ; for fine
qualities of red, 755. to 765. per qr., cost, freight, and in-
seam*, has been asked.
The millers agreed late on Monday to put up the price of
flour Se., making the top quotation 755. per sack. This
advance has checked the sale, and the operations have
bees on rather a retail scale since then. Town household
Sou was previously put up to 65e. per sack. The reesipta
• 11211 T from America have been quite moderate, viz., 6,000
beersh, and the quantity of really good in warehouse is
OMMI. Sellers have, consequently, inested on a farther
whence of about ls. per inf., which has not been very
hasty paid. On Friday, there was some inquiry fur the
•sfkls en French account
The arrivals of barley coastwise have been light, and the
'hew °foam*, was small, both on Wednesday and Friday.
This principal country markets have also been sparingly
supplied with this grain, and its value his continued to
tend upwards. The few small parcels which have muse to
hand sines our last have commanded fully as much messy
as before. Foreign barley for griading has been in good
request, at the extreme rates of last Monday I
The supplies of malt have barely kept pace with the dos
mend, and the turn has been in favour of the miler.
The receipts of English and Scotch oats have been quite
insignificant ; but we have had slightly increased supplies
from Ireland and abroad ; the total arrival amounts there-
fore to 22,000 qrs., but the market being previously very
ban, full terms have been realised. Archangel oats have
rises to 25e., and many holders have refused to sell under
265. per qr. Corresponding terms have been dements&
and obtained from needy buyers for other description.
The receipt' of beans have been small, and late rates bays
been well supported.
Peas have also found buyers at the full pricer of last
Monday.
No variation has taken place in the value of Indian
cern. Gaits has been held firmly, at 40s. per qr. cost and
freight.