The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-13 00:00:00

THE CORN TRADE.

(From the Mark•laid Ezpress.)
BRITISH.
neigh tau weather has been very far from
tauserabbo, hub. had bat one really fine day during the
week, still fah goer has been made with the carrying of
grain in the aces ftwind parts of the kingdom. On Mon-
day, Tuesday, and Wednesday there was no rain ; since
then we have had frequent showers, and thecarting of corn
has consequently bees saapeadod. There is still so large a
proportion of the crop ahead, that the character of the
weather for some weeks tome will have great influence
ins the trade. That the auslity of the grain exposed in the
fields has already sabred km the late rains, cannot be
questioned ; and a coatinaanee of wet might be productive
of an immense amount of mistake The imps* for the
future have certainly not improved slue our lost, and the
ultimate result of the harvest threats= to be even less satis-
factory than appeared likely a week or two ago. The com-
plaints as to the yield of wheat have become almost uni-
versal, more especially from those quarters where the pro-
duce has been subjected to the test of thrashing.
That portion of the barley crop remaining on the fields
must inevitably be injured in colour; and, unless we have a
period of dry weather, that which has been lodged will, we
fear, sprout on the ear, and be rendered unfit for malting
PurPose.•
Oats matinee to be tolerably well spoken of, and will, we
are inclined to think, give a better yield than any of the
other corn crops.
The accounts which have reached us the last few days in
regard to potatoes are less favourable than those previously
received. This root Is particularly susceptible of injury
from wet ; and the disease appears to have spread since the
heavy rains which fell in most parts of the kingdom last
week. This seems to be the case on Ireland, as well as on
this side of the channel ; bat as supplies are everywhere
being hurried to market, in consequence of the appro.
bensioas entertained as to whether those apparently sound
will keep, the immediate effect is to dolmas prices of the
article, and this to a certain extent influences the value of
wheat, by lessening the consumption of bread.
With respect to the probable future range of prices of
wheat, oar views have undergone no change. Circum-
stances have occurred within the last fortnight, of a nature
to have a depressing effect ; we alludemore especially to the
sadden cessation of the French demand, and to the arrival
of very large supplies from the Baltic. It must, however,
be evident to all, that the withdrawal of the orders to pur-
chase wheat on French account has not been caused by
a discovery that the harvest there had given a better
result then anticipated, but that merchants have been de-
terred from proceeding with their operations in consequenee
of the interference of the government with the price of
bread. It follows, therefore, that if the wants of that coun-
try an really as urgent as they are believed to be, whatever
enactments Louis Napoleon may think proper to enforce,
France will not be able to feed her millions without large
imports of foreign ; and the probability is that buyers from
thence will before long again appear in our markets.
The next point for consideration is, whether the supply
just received from the north-eastern ports of Europe is
likely to be followed by arrivals of equal magnitude. This
we think highly Improbable, as the shipments made from
the Baltic during several weeks past have been, for the
meet :part, to !Frans. The quantity which has now come
to hand is the accumulation caused by the prevalence of
westerly winds daring the greater part of last month. Many
of the vessels have been a long time on passage, whilst
others have not long left the ports of loading. A few days
of north and east winds brought the latter forward nearly
as soon as those that had been out for several weeks, and
the chances are that the quantity of corn now on the way
from the Baltic is insignificant. It seems to us, therefore,
that a renewal of the French demand may be calculated
on with tolerable certainty, and that it may be fairly con-
cluded that we shall not receive so large a supply again
any week this year as that which has reached our shores
the last eight days. Meanwhile, a large portion of our
own harvest is in great jeopardy, and, without wishing to
encourage speculation in any shape or way, we must still
regard it as merely a prudential measure on the part of
these engaged in the trade not to allow their stocks to run
too low.
. _

The arrival' of wheat eoeateriao into the port of London
have been small, only 4,827 qrs. baying been reported up
to this (Saturday) evening. The shortness of the home
supply has, however been little felt, having had very
liberal reosipta from abroad, viz., 88,833 qrs. The market

has stood this enormously large supply better than might
have been expected ; and in case the arrivals fill off (which,
as already intimated, is mare than probable) the slight re-
ac.ion which has taken place in prices will probably be
epeedily recovered.
The few parcels of Wheat exhibited on the Essex and
I Kent stands on Wedffesday were held firmly at prices
similar to those previously current, which being unwil-
lingly paid, few sales took place. Matters remained in much
the same position on Friday; and in the absence of busi-
ness of the slightest i mport..ace, quotations underwent no
change.
There were a good many small lots of old inferior Lin-
colnshire and Cambridgeshire wheat offering towards the
close of the week ; but the prices asked 3eiog considered too
high by buyers, very few sales took place.
A large proportion of the wheat received from abroad this
week has come to hand in very bad condition, which has
rendered it necessary to land it at once. There has, (wise
quently, be, n no pressure to sell from on board, and for the
hoer qualities in g y previous prices have hem firmly
demanded. The fall from the highest point has not, thus
far, exceeded Is. to 2a. per qr. ; and from present appear-
ance we question whether buyers will succeed in purchasing
on easier terms next week.
Nothing of much interest has transpired in flatting car-
goes; indeed, the only sale which we have heard of for
some days put has been that of a cargo of Egyptian arrived
off the coast, at 40s. per qr. There aro about eight or ten
cargoes off the coast undisposed of; for Polish Odessa,
50s. 6d. ; for Odessa Ghirka, 545. t s 545. 6d.; and for other
sorts corresponding rates are asked. The very high prices
demanded for wheat free on board at Baltic ports has Ere-
vented much being dine in this branch of business.
The sole for town-made flour has been slow ever since
the millers raised the nominal top price to 604. per sack,
' but they do net appear to be by any means anxious to enter
into forward contracts. The transactions in American flour
have not been important this week ; it is probable that more
would have been done if there had been a better choice of
I quality, the quantity of really fresh remaining in ware-
house being very small.
Scarcely any barley of home growth has come to Irani,
land the few small lots of new which have appeared have
sold at the extreme rates of last week. Foreign, ,nr grind.
ing, has met with a moderate share of attention; the
market is bare of good qualities, and heavy fresh sample
would brie g 30e. to 325. per qr.
The operations in malt have not been particularly ex-
tensive, but needy buyers have had to pay very full prices.
The arrivals of oats from our own coast and Ireland have
been quite trifling; having, however, received a very
abundant supply from abroad, the smallness of the home
arrivals has not been felt. Of the 120,97-i qrs. foreign oats
reported, 100,000 qrs. aro from Archangel and St. Peters-
burg. The Russian oats are of light weight and inferior
quality this season, hence they are selling at relatively
lower terms than other sorts. A moderate business was
done on Wednesday, in Archangels, at 18s. 91. to 19s. per
qr. On Fridsy the demsnd improved, and the finer kinds
were held at 19s. 6d. to 20s. per qr. A very large propor-
tion of the supply has already passed into the hands of the
dealers, and the probability is that prices will not go
lower. Good heavy corn is by no means plentiful, sad
prepared Danish leave actually- been sold at 245. to 25e.
per qr.
Beans have moved off rather tardily, at late rates.
Peas have brought fully as much money as before.
Indian corn has been held with extreme firmness, at 325.
6d. to 33a. per qr.. and a few carve,' of Odessa and tights
hays changed hands at the rata named.