The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-04 00:00:00

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE

DURING THE PAST WEEK.

(Rose 'be Mark.hne Ernest.)
We have had favourable weather during the week
for freeing the land of superfluous moisture, a drying eag-
erly wind having prevailed, and little rain having fallen in
any part of the kingdom. Farmers have consequently been
busily engaged ploughing, and preparing the hind for
eprinpsowing. This, and other out-door labours, will keep
them pretty closely occupied during the greater part of the
month, and we are therefore inclined to think that the de-
liveries of grain from the growers will fur some weeks be
on a moderate scale. There is at the same time a prospect
of an improvement taking place in the condition of the
corn in stack; and as the arrivals from abroad are likely to
be comparatively entail in March, a temporary rally
.in
prices may perhaps occur. For some weeks past few gruin-
laden vessels bound to Great Britain have passed Elsinore,
and the shipments from the near continental ports have
been moderate. Beyond what may yet be on passage from
the Black Sea and Mediterranean, no supplies of moment
are therefore en route to the English markets at present.
We have, however, pad stocks of foreign wheat at the
principal ports, and mime quantity of flour will no doubt
contiaue to drop in trout France and America; hence we
du not expect anything like scarcity. If any slight tok-
pros email should take place in prices, there will be plenty
of holders anxious to realise, very few parties having any
confidence in the future. 'lite trade has since our last re-
mained in the same dull state as before, and the value of
heat has undergone a further depression at some of the
leading provincial markets.
Our Scotch letters are not of much interest; a good deal
of anxiety had naturally been felt to know the result of the
pending negotiation% in regard to the formation of a new
cabinet. and the uncertainty on this point had to a certain
extent iuterfored with business at sonic of the chief torn
markets. The operations at Edinburgh, on Wednesday,
were on a retail scalv, and quotations of Wheat remained
nominally as hefore. Spring corn was held with rather
more firmness there as well as at Glasgow.
The accounts from Ireland report little change in the
general tone of business: a coma& raid,, number of vessels
laden with wheat and Indian Born had arrived front the
Black Sea, and though the home supplies hail been light,
the tendency of prices had continued downwards. In the
value of oats no change had occurred, and the shipments for
England had been comparatively small.
The transactions at Mark-lane have been unimportant
since our last ; and .• little change has taken place in the
trade that it is difficult to vary our remarks.
The arrivals of wheat coastwise into the port of London
during the week ending this (Saturday) evening, have
amounted to 3101 qrs., and the quantity brought forward
by land-carriage samples from the neighbouring counties
has been small. Trifling, however, as have been the sup-
plies, they have proved amply sufficient to satisfy the
demands, the millers having conducted their operations
with extreme caution.
The receipts of wheat from abroad have been moderate,
only 1,170 qrs. having come to hand. Holders of parcels in
granary have, however, brought forward their samples
freely, and purchasers have experienced no difficulty in
buying at previous prices.
Thu couutry inquiry was by no means extensive either on
Wednesday or Friday, and the town-millers appeared as
little inclined as at any previous period to add to their
stacks. Notwithstanding, therefore, a disposition on the
part of sellers to facilitate business, the transactions were
of entail character, and the tendency of prices was rather
downwards.
Though the wind has for several days been northerly, the
arrivals Bum the south have been rather numerous, and
there are at present a good many cargoes of Polish
Odessa wheat off the coast. The Irish demand has mean-
while slackened. and purchases might easily have been made
at former rates, say ads. to 345. per qr., cost and freight.
Flour has hung very heavily on hand. The nominal top-
es-ice of own-made has not varied, but households have
hardly sold so well as previously, and the common sorts of
French have in partial inetanees been forced off at lower
terms. The arrivals from abroad have been rather liberal,
viz. 5,004 slacks and 140 barrels ; the former principally
from France, and the hatter from America.
The market h..s been tolerably welt-supplied with Eng-
lish Barley, as.l. ;Le proportion of the arrival has
consisted of coarse qualities. Fine malting samples have,
in consequence of their scarcity, commanded quite as much
money as at any previous period; and though the demand
for the ordinary descriptions suitable for brown malt, or
for the use of the kW been slow, prices were not
lower at the close than in the commencement of the week.
A material falliNg off having taken place of late in the re-
ceipts of this grain from abroad, whilst a steady consump-
tive demand has been experienced for grinding qualities,
the pressure onthe market has rather subsided, and quite
as good terms have been obtained for fresh heavy samples
this week as before.
Choice malt has commanded fell prices, whilst the value
of secondary sorts has rather tended downward..
The arrivals of Oats have not been large, 23,748 qrs.
having been reported altogether during the week ; of which
1467 qrs. are from our unit coast, 2,028 qrs. (runt Scotland,
3,540 qrs. from Inl:uad, amid 16,713 qrs. from abroad. The
principal dealers anpear to have sufficient stocks on hand to
render them indifferent about purchasing at present ; and
the operations have, consequently, been comparatively un-
important. Factors have, however, manifested no particular
mutely to realise, end have shown more inclination to raise
their pretensions than to accede to any further abatement.
The few small lots which changed hands on Wednesday
brought full terms ; and good sweet corn could hardly be
bought at Monday's currency at the end of the week.
Beans have come fcrward sparingly; and, though the
inquiry has nut been by any means extensive, the belief
that during the (month some qua[ tity will he wanted for
seed has caused sellers to ark full terms for the best
qualities.
Peas have likewise been held firmly, in anticipation of an
increased demand for sowing.
The holders of Indian Corn afloat have insisted on previous
prices, say 30s. per qr., coat and freight, At Galatx, and
corresponding rates fur other descriptions.