The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-04 00:00:00

THE SPRING HANDICAPS.

.... ......
Only one alteration has to he made in the acceptances
published by us yesterday. Woolwich should have been
struek out of the Northamptonshire Stakes.

ritINCE ALltilli has transmitted through Col. Phipps,
a chertue for 25/. a a donation to the funtbi of the Jerusa-
lem Literary Society.•• It is stated to be in contemplation,
as soon a* a sufficient number of subscriber, be enrolled, to
publish a journal of scientific research, the pager of which
to be open to contribution* on all subjects relating to the
Holy Land.

THE FarITERERV COMPANY yesterday presented the
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor with twelve baskets of apples,
according to annual custom. The members are to dine with
, his lordship, who will also entertain his ward this day.
Tat LONDuN FARMER,' CCU H.—Yedertlay evening the
usual monthly meeting of the club took place at the club
rooms Blackfriars, when the question "how far taxation
enters into the cost of agricultural produce " was fully dis-
cussed. Among the speakers were Mr. Thomas (the chair-
man), Mr. Cheetham, the introducer of the subject, Mr.
Baker, of Writtle, Mr. Bell, Mr. W. Bennett, Mr. Wood,
Mr. W. F. Hobbs, Mr. Methi, and Mr. Williams. After
• lengthened discussion the following resolution was, on the
motion of Mr. Hobbs, carried by a large majority :—" That
although this club will not undertake to define the exact
amount of taxation which enters into the cost of agricultural
produce in the United Kingdom. yet they are of opinion
that those taxes which peculiarly effect those productions
are now become intolerable, with the great depreciation in
the price of con: and cattle, and therefore require immedi-
ate removal."

Towards the close of the past, and iu the early part of
the week now about to terminate, there were slight symp-
toms of uu improvement in the wheat trade ; but having
since had a return of wet weather, and the supplies of fo-
reign breadstuff's having meanwhile increased, holders have
lost confidence, and the anticipations of a small advance in
prices ha., not been realised ; nor is there anything in the pre-
iteut position of affairs to lead to the belief that any imme-
diate amendment will take place.
The arrival+ from abroad have hitherto been on so liberal
a scale as to atibrel an caeca over the quantity required for
consumption. and stocks in granary have gradually emu-
' mutated ; the winter months have thus passed away with-
out the break in the importations occurring which was ex-
petted would have taken place ; and with the approach of
I spring wo may calculate on renewed shipments from the
northern porta of Europe.
We allow that there is no apparent margin for-pmfit be-
tween the prices ail Mall and quotations in this country ; but
the same war the ease almost all through the last year, still
our markets were overwhelmed with foreign produce ; and,
Judging of the future by the past, we may conclude that as soon
as the season shall have advanced somewhat further, and the
, rates of freight and insurance become more moderate, the
surplus growth of the continent will be poured into our ports
as regularly and abundantly as before.
The natural effects of free trade must be to equalise prices
over the whole world; and it would be unreasonable to reckon
on a greater difference in the value of the corn abroad and
in this country than the charges of transit, as there will al-
ways be brisk competition between the foreign merchants to
Pimply the British saarket. That an impetus has been given
to agricultural pursuits all over the continent by the'repeal of •
our corn-laws cannot be questioned ; and that the production
of grain will be still further increased is, we believe, equally
certain. France affords a striking example of what has
already been done. having within the space of a few years
been changed from an importing into un exporting country.
Greatly increased imports may also bo calculated on from
the southern parts of Russia; indeed the shipments of
wheat from Odessa, &e., during the past year show that the
certainty of open port. in England was early taken advan-
tage of, and that an increased breadth was grown in 1849 in
those parts, in anticipation of an extended trade with Great
Britain. The inevitable result, therefore, of our present
legislative policy must be to lower the value of agricultural
produce permanently in this country. We have frequently
urged this before the experiment was tried, and therefore
feel no surprise that the statistics which have at various
times been put forward by those advocating free trade, to
prove that w heat could not be grown abroad except at
comparatively high prices, should have turned out wholly
fallacious.

....
Our Scotch letters speak verryy• despondingly of the state of
the grain trine ; and at Edinburgh and Glasgow, on Wed-
nesday, Wheat, Flour, and a❑ kinds of spring corn, sold
very slowly, at barely previous prices. At the first-named
place some cargoes of Flour had been received from France,
which had produced a more depressing effect than a much
larger quantity of Wheat would have done.
The Irish markets appear to he still labouring under the
penance of Black Sea \Vheat and Indian (urn, and the
latest whim front thence state that no rally had occurred
in the Wheat trade. The supplies of oats from the farmers
had proved fully equal to the demand, which, with the (lull
reports from this side of the channel, had caused prices to
tend downward•.

Business at Mark-lane has been exceedingly dull through-
out the week, and the transactions in must articles have
been on quite a retail scale.
The arrivals of wheat coaatwiae into the port of London
have been wry small, and the quantity brought forward at
Mark-lane by land-carriage samples from the neighbouring
counties has -been trifling since Monday. On Wednesday
there was scarely any homc-grown wheat on sale, except a
few parcels of red Kentish, in had condition, left over from
Monday ; the millers were consequently unwilling to act,
and the operation:4 were too unimportant to warrant altera-
tion in quotations. Matter' remained in much the same
position on Friday, and the trade finished very languidly.
Foreign wheat has come freely to hand, 31,000 gra. hay-
ing he rt reported up to this (Saturday) evening. A consi-
derable proportion of the supply consists of Polish Odessa,
in had order, having )become heated on the voyage. Such
qualities have been ahnost unsaleable, and there can he no
doubt that importers will have to 'anti the major part. The
demand even for the best qualities of foreign wheat has
been far from active, the country inquiry having been of a
retail character, and the constant influx of French flour
letting prevented the town-millers buying to any extent.
Really good lea ful qualities of Baltic wheat in granary have
lea erthe less been held with much firmness, and could not
be purchased cheaper on Friday than in the commencement
of the week. The transactions us free-on-board cargoes hate
been comparatively unimportant during the last eight or
ten days, moat of those lately arrived from Odessa, &c., toff
the cost, lusting lutes previously placed. Sellers have
meanwhile noised their pretensions, 3.5:. to 30s. per qr.. cost,
freight, and insurance, having been demanded for Polish
°ilea-a on passnge.
The sale for Hour has been difficult throughout the week,
but the nominal to quotation fur town-made has under-
gone no change. The arrivals of foreign have been large,
70 sacks and 4,6.1 barrels,. Good qualities of
French' have met a fair share of attention, and were not
lower at the chase than at the beginning of the week, and
tine brands of American have brought 22n. to 235. per bar-
rel. Ilasing still a considerable quantity of coarse French
flour on the whams, which the parties' concerned are
anxious to place, the commoner kinds have of late rather
given way in raloe.
The arrivals of Barley of home-growth have been gond
for that, time of year, and having iu addition to the 6,370
qrs. English and 300 qrs. Scotch, received 8,995 qrs. front
abrew.d, there has been no scarcity of this grain on the mar-
ket. The prineiparipart of the supply has however con-
sisted of 'secondary and ordinary qualities, and superior
malting samples have commanded fully as much money as',
before. Other descriptions have moved off very tardily, and
in some Mites rather less money has been taken for distilling
and grinding pare.d., but the concession has not been to an
extent rc:quirinT alteration to be made in quotations.
Superior malt has sold in small quantities at very full
term.., and for the ordinary sorts previous prices hew been
well supported.
In addition to a good supply of oats coastwise, and a fair
quantity from Ireland, we have to lard 14,618 qrs. from
abroad, and the total quantity receive during the week has
exceeded 23,000 qrs. The large dealers acted with extreme
caution both on Wednesday and Friday, and the busineas
was principally confined to small purchases made by cote-
sumer', who had to pay former terms for fine corn ; but to
have made progrras on the disposal of the ill-conditioned
Irish, it would base been necessary to butte accepted less
money.
Beans have not varied in value, but the sale has been ex-
ceedingly difficult.
We have heard of no salea of Indian corn afloat.

THE FOREIGN CORN TRADE.
By the most recent whims from the Baltic it appears that
the weather had been very changeable. About the middle
of January some days of severe frost were experienced, but
afterwards there was a return of mild, wet weather; the
roads in the neighbourhood of Danzig, Konigsberg, &e.,
had consequently been rendered nearly impassable, and
fanners bud therefore been unable to bring forward sup-
plies of grain as freely as they otherwise might have done.
The smallness of the deliveries from the growers had as-
sisted to maintain the confidence of holders of wheat in
gesnery ; and though the demand for spring shipment had
been very slow, previous prices had been pretty generally
insisted on.

Our Danzig letters are of the 24th ult. Scarcely anything
had been done in that market during the preceding week in
wheat ; but there had been come inquiry for rye, which
had commanded rather enhanced terms. For wheat in
granary very full prices bad been asked, hut quotations
were more nominal than real, hardly n bargain having been
closed. Of the land supplies, the common kinds had sold at
equal to 34, to 36.., and high mixed of GO to 61141. weight
at 375. to 38s. per qr. free on board in spring.
At Konigsberg, on the 24th Jan., the weather was mild
and wet, and the wheat on sale was mostly in bad condition;
sellers were nevertheless firm, and quotations were precisely
the same as on that day so'nnight.
From Stettin we have advice. of the 27th ult. After se-
veral days of wet weather the air had again become frosty.
The transactions in the corn market bad been altogether
unimportant, and prices had not varied, 368. 6d. to 375.
per quarter having been asked for the best heavy qualities
of red wheat, 35a, Gil. to 34k. for the commoner, and 182. to
Oil. per quarter fur Oderbruck barley, free on board
in spring.
Restock letters of the 27th Jan. inform us that good sup-
plies of wheat hail been brought forward at that market,
' notwithstanding which full terms bad been obtained, and
good qualities of 611bs. to Giilbs. weight per bushel could
not have been bought, so as to be put on board in spring,
below 375. to 375. bd. per quarter. In other articles very
little business had been done, and quotations of barley and
peas had remained nominally unaltered.
At Hamburg. on Tuesday last, business in wheat was
very dull, and red Upland on the spot might have been
ACCUTed on somewhat ca-ier terms than on the previous
post day. There had also been offers to ship in spring,
free on board at outisirts, at rates at which it would
previously have been impo,sible to have bought. Barley
had excited little attention either for home consumption
or export, and prices had remained nominally unaltered.
By the latest advice, from America we learn that the
prices of wheat and flour had been well supported at the
leading markets, and that the value of Indian corn bad
rather advanced. At New York good shipping brands of
Western Canal four were on the 15th January quoted
21s. 2d., and pure Genet,:eo and fancy brands 21s. 9el. to
225. 3d. per bit. Wheat, white Gene/see, 408.9 d. to 435. 2d. ;
Canadian, 365. M. to 38s. 5d., and red and mixed western,
314. 2d. to 38s. per 480 lbs. Indian turn was worth from
• 3s. 111, to 2fig. 10d. per 480 lbs.. according to quality.
ErciAts were .try low, flour baying been taken for Liver-
pool at Gd. per brl.