The Express.
London, England, 1854-01-05 00:00:00

SCOTCH IRON TRADE.

The following information en this subject is from the
circular of Mr. W. Colvin, of Glasgow :—" Throughout the
year just closing the price of pig-iron has experienced vio-
lent fluctuations, with an amount of business in the article
undoubtedly beyond precedent. It may be remembered
that towards the end of last year the price, under the in-
fluence of undue speculation, marked 76e. cash, and that
the desperate effort, of holders to sustain the market, in the
fees of so heavy a stock as 460,000 teas, proved utterly
futile. In January, under the proems of a tightening
money market, the prim began to dacha rapidly, and be-
fore the end of Febrismy a fall of 204 pram bad taken place.
The modmte rata naw enerent led te a good legitimate
demand, but heavy egmenieliss page& .dll hung over the
market; and it wee Mot ma the end •I April, when the
prim had reached the MN pint a 49a. to 605., that the
fallen of as emeoliden smegaler gave confidence to the
trade. Even at this low %we the unsatiefactory aspect
of Eastern polities deemed denims from buying largely,
but the rapid diminution of Meek, coupled with the much
enhanced cost of manatee, attracted the attention of a
strong class of local speentetees, who, purchases soon im-
parted a different teas M the market, the price steadily
improving to 69e. teneude the middle of August. The
advance in the rate eff dielefent by the Bank of England
now produced a rehired' movement, which continued
with little variation till the beginning of October.
1, Prices having needed to 625. 6d., and stocks still
diminishing, a geed demand for fall shipment,
and the reduction to the French duties, caused an
arrest tendesey, till the price touched 80e. to
8 a. as the 14th 4November. The nature of the French
deems did not met the expectations of some holders ; but
the Wade hie dam been characterised by remarkable steadi,
nese, the peke having searoely fluctuated more than 2s. 6d.
peg tem ; • 1111Melderablis portion of the stock being held off
the masimt on French amount, and by speculators against
spring demead. To-day mixed Nos. may be quoted 795. to
79e. 84. ends, 81e. three months open delivery. All No. 1
, ille. to 82a. 64.; No. 3,76 e. No. 1, American
brands, 8111. Bd. to 864 —cash against bill of lading. The
large decrease in stock, of 230,000 tons, is accounted for by
the heavy exports, and increased local consumption, chiefly
for malleable iron parposes. The shipments to the United
States are, this year, 161,300 tons, against 100,700 in 1E52,
80,000 in 1861, 67,600 in 1860, and 94,000 in 1849. There
are at present 114 furnaces in blast, and within the
next three months we may have three or four more in
operation ; but the scarcity of labour and mineral must,
for a time at least, prevent any important increase in pro-
duction. Manufactured iron has been in excellent demand
throughout the yew. The price of bars gave way from 101.
in January to 81. 10e. in October, but soon gradually reco-
vend to the closing price of last year. Common bars may
be quoted 101. to 101. 10s. ; plates, 121. 10s. ; rods, 111. ;
hoops, 121. 10s., lees 4 per cent. discount ; rails, 91. net,
with a firm and active market. Plates are in eloollent de-
mend. The vast growing importance of this branch of our
trade is obvious from the fact that 79 iron vessels have
been launched in the Clyde during the year, amounting in
the aggregate to 64,760 tone. There are at present 97 ves-
sels on the stocks in our various ship-building yards, the
groom measurement of which will be about 61,200 tons re-
gister."

CORN.—HML, JAN. 3.—The Gazette returns of wbut
sold in the various towns of the kingdom for the week ending
Deo. 16 wen 71,764 qrs. ; for the corresponding week of last
year, 114,032 qrs. • the thirteen weeks from Harvest (Oct. 2)
amount to 1,029,238 qrs., against 1,445,900 qrs. the previous
year, showing a weekly decrease of 34,721 qn , or nearly 29
per cent. We do not intrude any impressions these statistics
make on our own mind, but simply draw attention to the
fact, as not without interest and perhaps significance, in a
year when the harvest is so universally reported as at. last
25 per cent. below an average. The list of arrivals
shows an important falling off, and bet little is now on the
way for this market, and we elan the year with only mode-
rate stooks. The return of active consumptive demand has
come upon us much quicker then we ventured to anticipate
in our last report; it oniamenced on the Tuesday evening,
and has gathered strength every day since, an advance being
established on all descriptions of wheat of 3s. to 4s. per qr.
The weather has been exceedingly severe, with a moderate
fall of snow, and every prospect of continued winter. We
bad a very small supply of English wheat for this day's
market, and the holders seemed fully acquainted with the
high rates paid at other and distant markets since they last
assembled hare, and indulged no affected modesty in their
askings • a brisk business was done at fully 4s. advance on
lest Tuiday's currency, Hs. to 86s. being the rates current
to the bunter for runs of red wheat. The show of foreign,
especially fine red, was more limited than of late, and all
kinds are fatly 4s. dearer upon the week. Barley has ad-
vanced smarty the last few weeks, and is now exceedingly
scares. Oats attract speculative attention from their rela-
tive auspices. Beans of all kinds are Is. to 2s. dearer,
with an improved demand, and a much diminished stock.
Peas move upward, and the inclement weather makes fine
boilers in great request. Indian corn participates some-
what in the general improvement. The enhanced
value and scarcity of grinding barley causes attention
to be directed to Dari as a substitute, and this article is
fully 2s. in advance of the lowest point of the past month.
The linseed market mast be written la. per sr. dearer, with
very healthy feeling. Linseed cakes, which for three to
four weeks bare been depressed, and sold at very irregular
prises, are all at ones, owing mainly to the severe weather,
in strong demand, and must be quoted at fully 10e. per ton
dearer. Ponies, of which oar maks are exceedingly
small, participate in the improvement. For want of supply
no transactions occur in rapeseed but cakes are in more
request. Beau fetch 11 and ' to be dearer.
Inverts from Dec. 24 to Dec. 5e.,
31 : Whut, 762 qn.; beans,
169; pass, 17; linseed. 2,315.
- -

Lnix, JAN. 3.—Ws hare had a better supply of wheat
to-day than of late, for which the demand was brisk at 4..
per qr. advance. A lair supply of barley which was free
sale at 2.. per qr. advance. Wheat, old, red, 55Ibe. to
601 be., 70e. to 784. ; best new, 60Ibe. to 631 be., 30e. to 86e. ;
ditto, 571 be. to //albs., 74e. to 78e. Barley, best runs,
681 b.. to 5416 e., 445. to 47e. ; seconds, 621 b.. to 531b5.,
41e. to 43.. Beane, old, 651 be. to 661 b.., 60s. to 625. ;
new, 6316 e. to 66165., 50a. to Ha. Pau, 50s. to 56e. per
quarter to the grower. Oats, new, 16d. per stone.
CA!

, Jaw. 4.—Trade was litastfal
to-day for beef, bat berry for mutton. But made from
3s. to 61. Mottos, 4s. to 6s. Veal, fo. ed. to Be. Port,
3s. 4d. to 41. Bd. per stow of Blbs. slaking the offal.

COALS. LONDON. lA,. 4.--Iklpe at market, 115 ;
MW, 113.—D seism's W Bartley, Ma • Idadbee Wart-
ley, Loagrides West, Hattley, 26L ; Tedield Woe
Bates, 26e. 6d. ; West Pilaw, 2%. Walker Priam"
213 e. ; Wylaa, Me. 6d. ,• Walls End SIA ;Wei Bad
Hadley, SU ; Walls ad iglisweisilli 111.• Walls
Rod Warthazaliarlaad Mat. Siba ;Wdb Eril aft. ;
Eden Mat, Ns.; Was ii &look INs. i Walla lid

13raddyll, 345.; Walls Ehd Hatton, 355.; Wails E.d
Haswell, 355.; Walls n, 355.; Wails End
End ase 33..
oHle;ttor, die.; ; Wallsiss
Walls End Cassop, 34.. ; Wallis End Ileugh 1611, 34,,
Will. En! ; Wu.ls End Siiuth
3.55.; Walls End Tees, ; W. is End Adelaide Tees
315.; Walls End South Durl•ani, 33g. Gd.; Cannel, t
°wain Can (Inman Slone, SS..; Morgan's Stone, asc.
Perkins'. Anthracite Steam, 365.; Watney's Anthracite, 3,24,
Tone Coal, Calm
Ships. and Cinders.'
Imparted from Jan. 1 to
Dee. 31, 1813
Ditto, 18.52 12,035 .... 3,330,428
Increase in 1853

42,828

Total imported in DK., 18x8 — 3:5,978
1862