The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-20 00:00:00

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE

DURISO THE PAST WEEK.

(Reis the Mare.lene deem)
Though the weather has since our last been fine,
the temperature has continued very low fur the advanced
period of the season. The days have been bright and sunny,
but the nights so cold that the thermometer has on several
occasions fallen below freezing point. Vegetation has con-
sequently been checked, and the crops are not so forward
es they usually are at the corresponding time of year ; still
so reel eamiams appears at present to be felt respecting
the flame, mei, exespilm that the colour of the Wheat
phat has become searevrhat yellowish on cold clay soils, the
general aspect of the country is not unfavourable. The
arrivals of grain and pulse from abroad have again been
large at several of the leading ports on the coast; and,
though the deliveries from our own growers have been
small, considerable difficulty has been experienced in esta-
blishing any advance on previous prices. That the recent
imports of wheat from the Baltic, and flour from France,
I have not paid the importers is tolerably certain ; and it is,
I therefore, probable that the receipts may for a time be
more moderate, but some quantity of Wheat is known to
be now on passage from the Black Sea and other distant
ports, so that there seems little chance of any present scar-
city, and we axe inclined to think that, if the weather should
become really genial, and the prospects for the next harvest
more promising, prices of wheat would not advance mate-
risß7, even thonetleceorttaofbrr the netaerlyeontinentgiportsshould .
es one moreants sad millers ham manifested no •
add largely to their stocks ; and, though the ten ney of
prices has been rather upwards, more particularly. in the
agricultural districts, where the pressure of the foreign sup-
plies has beta least felt, still the trade has not been by my
means brisk.
At most of the large provincial markets the bid
qualities of Wheat have been quoted ls. per 7011 e.
than last week, and the ordinary kinds were not generally
offered lower than before. There was some pressure of
flour on the market, but superior parcels were held at full
terms. The deliveries of barley and oats from the growers
have not increased; the late rise in prices of these
articles Las, however, had the effect of ecouomising con-
sumption, and, with a somewhat diminished demand, and
liberal receipt, at several of the leading ports from foreign
countries, the upward movement has been shocked. Alto-
, gether, the grain trade has been more firm than active this
week, and the actual change in prices has not been im-
' portant.
Oar Scotch letters are of a somewhat subdued tone. At
Edinburgh, on Wednesday, there was an increased show of
farmer.' NVheat, and, though the condition was very good,
considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining previous
terms. Foreign Wheat was also dull of male, though not
cheaper than before. Quotations of Barley underwent no
change, but Oats were quite le. per qr. dearer than on that
day se'nnight. At Glasgow on the same day there was
little doing in any article, and prices remained nominally
unaltered.
From Ireland we learn that the supplies of corn had
hardly eutficed for the consumptive demand, and that pre-
cious rates had consequently been firmly maintained. Oats
had been in lively request for mealing, and the shipments
for England had not been important.
The arrivals of Wheat coastwise into the port of London
have not increased; indeed, compared with the receipts of
last week, a falling off is shown. The quantity brought
forward at Mark-lane by land-carriage samples from the
Home Counties has likewise been small; and, though the
demand has not at any period been active, sellers have
asked quite as much mousy as before. On Wednesday the
few email lots exhibited on the Env( and Kent stands were
placed at previous prices, and quotations were precisely the
same at the close as they were in the beginning of the week.
The town millers certainly require frost-thrashed wheat,
and, unless better supplies come forward than we have
lately been receiving, we should not be surprised to witness
a small rise in the value of English, even though there may
be a pressure of foreign on the market.
The arrivals from abroad have been to a fair extent
14,821 gra having been reported up to this (Saturdayi
evening. Added to what was previously afloat at
port, a liberal display of samples has been afforded from
on hoard ship, and the country demand having liven far
from active, the supplies have exceeded what has been re-
quired for immediate use. Importers have nevertheless
rentsined firm, and have apparently determined to land
rather than submit to lower terms. There have been few
offers of floating cargoes of wheat off the coast, and sellers
have demanded full terms for Polish Odessa, and similar
qualities. The arrivals from the south-east have lately hem
small, but a good many cargoes are known to be on pump
from the Mediterranean, Black Sea, de. W heat being re-
latively dearer at the principal Baltic ports than in this
country, the offers from thence have failed to excite atten-
tion, and hardly any free-on-board bargains have been
closed.
Quotation, of home-made flour have undergone no change
requiring notice ; the sale has been slow throughout the
week. the arrivals from France have again been rather
large, six., 6,681 mks.
English Barley has come forward sparingly; but the
malting season being over, the finer qualities are now little
inquired for, and we have no alteration to notice is prices.
From abroad 12,179 qrs. of barley have been received this
week, which is a large supply for the time of year. The
demand for grinding qualities has scarcely been so active at
it was last week; alai, good fresh parcels could not be
bought cheaper sit the close than in the beginning of the
week. The prevailing belief is that the Baltic supplies will
fall off, and remain small for some weeks to come.
Malt has met with a moderate share of attention, sad
superior ',ample, have commanded very full prices.
The arrivals of oats, coastwise and from Ireland, have
leen tree inl ; having, however, received 29,353 quarters
boon abroad within the period of three weeks, no scarcity
of this grain has been experienced. The large dealers have
lately purchased rather freely, and haying secured sufficient
for present purpases, have shown no inclination this
week to continue their operations. The transactions were
consequently on rather a retail scale on Wednesday, as
well as on Friday, but importers were not by any mesas
maxims milers, and former rates were steadily supported.
The wind having been favourable for vessels from
the north and cast, moat of the cargoes lately received have
Mme to hand in good condition ; there is, we believe, now
imperatively little on passage, and as the high prices asked
ling must interfere with the execution of the English
aim, we arc very likely to have comparatively short sup-
plies kr some time to come.
Maas have been in good request throughout the week.
The taw parcels of English brought forward have been
plead at lust Monday's currency. We have heard of no
asks of floating cargoes of Egyptian beans.
' Peas have excited little attention, and no variation re-
quiring notice has occurred in their value.
Indian corn afloat has been inquired for, and most of the
cargoes cleat at hand have been taken for Irish account at
full prices.