The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-04 00:00:00

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE.

(Prom the .Verk Laws Egress.)
The position of our farmers is daily becoming more
deplorable. Tee depreciation in the value of their property
continues, and though prices have been reduced to a point
inadequate to cover the oast of production, still fereign-
growu grain continues to pour into the country, and the na-
tive producer is completely beaten out of his own markets.
Circumstances may arise to impart a temporary impetus to
business—such, for instance, as a severe and protracted wine
ter; bat so long as grain is admitted into Great Britain free
of ditty, no permanent improvement can be expected to take
platy in the affairs of those engaged in the cultivation of the
soil. Tire surplus growth of the whole world limn to fl. d
its way to this country, whether wanted or not. This has
already been made pretty evident by the enormous imports
which have taken peace in the lace of declining prices, and
amounts sufficiently discouraging (it might have nee
thought) to have checked consignments. C -tapering the
range of prices for moaths past at the leading coed-
nenta: ports with those which have been current here, there
has certainly appeared to be no margin for profit on ship-
ments to the English markets ; still, importations up to the
end of October, teem the time that the duty was taken off,
have averaged a million of quarters of grain and pulse per
month ; and daring the last fortnight upwards of 200,000
qrs. of wheat, barley, and oats Lave arrived at the port of
London alone. We are, however, inclined to think that the
receipts will, from this period sail the spring of neat year,
be on a much more moderste scale ; and after what is now
pressing on the different markets shall have been cleared off
or landed by the importer', a slight rally in prices may pc&
aibly take Owe.
The nut which we experienced in the beginning of the
week seems to have set in earlier on the co•itinent than
with um ; and our letters from the Baltic state that the
navigation of many of the principal rivers and harbours
had become impeded by ice ; the shipping season was
therefore conk:end as over, and most of the vessels hod
received their cargoes aid departed ; it is consequently
not improbable that, even if the frost should have broken
up, there may be difficulties in procuring ships, and the
chances are that no lumber supplies of importance will reach
us from that quarter till April or Kay. We shall an d01e.%
continue to have arrivals trim France, but not to such an
eaten% as greatly to influence quotations, and melees tae
winter should prune unusually mild and open, we antici-
pate some improvement is prices after the turn of the year.
'lle yams ul wheat is now Lwer than it has been for years,
good 6210 e. to 031bs. qualities having this week been sold in
cagey of the markets in the agricultural districts at 365. to
3ds. per qr. These rates certainly hold out no temptation
to thrash freely ; and those farmers whore pecuniary pool
tion will admit of a little delay are likely to send supplies
forward epsriagly, as they can scarcely. for at least two or
three months, tie placed in a worse position than they are at
present.
Complaints as to the state of the potatoes in the pits
have again increased of late, and some uieposition has
in consequence been manifested to purchase Indian corn,
ender the impression that Ireland may hereafter be is
want of the article. We question, however, whether a
partial less of that portion of the potato crop now remain-
ing unconsuund would hove much effect on prices of food in
toe English markets, and therefore du rest give any gnat
weight to that es an event of importance in regard to the
probable future value of wheat.
The decline in prices has, sines Monday lot, been about
Is. per quarter at the leading consuming towns, and rather
more at the principal lumen' markets. There was tome
anpearence of firemen during the COMIIIIIII2CII of the frost,
and buyers showed more inclination to purchase than they
have since exhibited, the trade being much more depressed
towards the close than in the commencement of the
week.
Barley has also repelled Is. or 2e. per quarter in most of
the counties where this gran is largely grown ; and quota-
tions of other articles have likewise telt the innueuce of the
liberal arrivals from abroad.
Our letters from Scotland inform us that similar weather
had been experienced there to that which we have had in the
south. Up to Thursday they had sharp frost ; still business
was dull both at Bdinburgn and Glasgow on Wedne slay,
and at the former place the previous value of wheat was nut
supported.
as
and oats were
shier to buy at each of the
markets named, as well as at the pping ports on the east
coast.
With the exception of More general complaints 'respecting
potatoes, the accounts from Ireland are of much the same
character as from other parts of the kingdom. .Prices of
wheat, barley, and oats bad tended downwards at all the
lead ng markets, though the supplies had not been large, and
the distress among the farmers there is fully as great as on
this side the Channel.
We have again to report a short arrival of wheat coastwise,
the total quantity received during the week ending this (Sa-
turday) evening having amounted Mostly 2,757 qrs. The thew
at Mark-lane by land.carrisge samples from the near counties
has likewise been small ; but several parcels have come to
hand from the northern and eastern ports of the kingdom
per rail, besides which there has been increased offers num
the oust.
The millers have throughout the week conducted their
operations with extreme caution • notwithstanding which a
certain degree of firmness was displayed by tenon on Wed-
nesday, which rendered it difficult to make purchases below
the rates current on Monday last. The transactions were,
on that occasion, so unimportant, as to afford no data to
determine at what rates it would have been possible to effect
calm of compequenee ; but in the absence of business of im-
portance, quotations remained nominally as before. The
change of weather affected the condition of the little English
exhibited ea Friday; still the Essex and Kent runs were
not parted with at less money than beforeLiccolosuire
and Cambridgshire wheat was in some cases sold Is. per qr.

cheaper.
The supplies of wheat from abroad have not been so large
es last week ; 23,400 qrs. have, however, been reported. A
considerable proportion of the arrival has again gorse direct
to millers, which has tended to lessen the pressure on the
market; their present requirements being, however, amply
Crvillfor, they have had so occasion to buy. Meanwhile
try to
have visited as, and Ms transactions
have 000sequently been as quits • retail se ile. In 'his state
of affairs it would have been useless to attempt to force busi-
ness, and importers have in many CUP determined to land,
calculating on • better demand after the receipts from
abroad shall have become km plentiful. A few small pur-
chases of good Danzig have been made, at 47a. too 495. ; but
most of the holders have demanded 60s.
aped !r.
for fine
Is Lower Baltic, Hamburg, and Khios red
there hisgaalotia boos very little doing, but • sale or two of soft
Russian have bees made at 364. to 375. per qr. according to
weight. notation of
as millers have not altered the nominal top q
town-nranulactosed flour. Norfolk and other country house-
hold has been more freely offered, and buyers succeeded
towards the does of the week in purchasing somewhat
below the terms 'eked on Monday la.t. Superior qualities
of foreign flour, being scarce, have not receded in value,
but the ordinary sorts have been parted with at rather re-
duced berms.
The receipts of home-grown barley have been moderate:
the greater part brought forward bevies, however, consisted
el seam salting giantism, the sale has bees by no mem
sr I, preview prices having been paid with evident robot-
ewes for any but choice punk. Sernadary kinds were es
Friday easier to buy than earlier in the week. Notwith-
standing the immense arrivals of this grain from alma
within the last fortnight, the value of grinding bee
been tolerably well supported. The distillers have hem the
principal imperten, and a large portion having gee ogees
into their Moist the display at Mark-lase has set bees se
great as (ben the list of arrivals might have been
At the slimed sales of Monday last there was • fair=
en
Walieseing kr the beet sweet qualities, but on Friday
oats WON sureeedes had to be male. The transactions
have bona sere eateries in this article than any other
&dee *I elk.
lislopeventeat has taken place is the inquiry for malt ;
holden have, however, asked fully as much money foe flue
new, and other sorts have net been offered lower than before.
the
The sweripts f oats coastwise have been moderate, and
rivals q
uite unimportant, but foreign have come
lrlsk
freel ar
y forwar qd. The large dealers are evidently of intention
to peigene making purchases of soy moment until they
shall -lave ascertained the extent of the foreign arrival. We
are inclined to think that the quantity now en passage from
the Continent weet great; and this seems to be- the impres-
sion of facton, have manifested very little anxiety about
The business done so
Wednesday was of a limited
chararealiscter, being principally confined toy small purchases
madecbyr,
by needy consumen, who found it impossible to buy
really good corn below Monday's rates. Since then the
iresew of holders has slightly given way, and it would
scarcely have been practicable on Priddy to have placed im-
portant parcels even at lower terms.
Beans have moved off in small lets at previous prices.
Peas ldre at one period he rather higher than they were
aa Mowenday, but dna the departure of the frost they have
again become very dull of sale.
The holders of Indian earn have in contequeace of less
favourable reports relative to potatires, slightly raised their
pretesdoes. We have, however, heard of no sales of float-
ing canines. At Liverpool some bargains appear to have
been dosed.