The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-14 00:00:00

RAILWAY FOR THE CHINA WAR.

TO TEI IDITOR OP TEI lIIIPIMOS.

Sia,—Having seen in the Crimea the advantages
at the 19alaklava railway, in transporting war material to
the hoot, it 0613011 to me that u the allied forces may
remain in Pekin longer than anticipated, some speedy ma
direct commtuaitation with the coast is desirable.
Three months after shipment per overland route rails
from Taku to Pekin could be laid down for horse power—
looomotives can follow.

Shoald go rernSeniSpprove, I am prepared to act on the
suggestion.—l am, &c.,
GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN.
18, Great George street, Westminster, Dee. 13.

MARKET&

001TON.—Livatrom, Dim I&—We have had an active
demand for cotton today. with large sales, at previous
prima, amoonting to 12,000 bales, including 11,400 Arne-
ricait, at 4td. to 9d. 5OO Swat, at *l. to 4[d. ; 50 Ear
tiara, at lt[d. to 9[d.'• 30 Bahia, at ;20 Maranham, at
81d.—of which 4,000 are for speculation and export. The
week's import is 534150 balm.

WOOL AND WOBSTED.—Bssuroan, Dae. 13.—There
is little or so change in any branch of our trade. Thue
words suffice to describe to-dafe wool market—quiet, but
firm. The transactions of the week are very limited, sod
spinners do not appear to have. any spirit to buy beyond
their boot fide requirements, which are vary small. Prue*
of Lincolnshire wools are very firm ; and for Coburg wools
there is no alteration, but so little changes bands that prior
must be considered as merely nominal. In mils and aborts
there is no change in value, but lees producing. The yarn
market remains In the same quiescent state aa we have ro-
tor some weeks past. The export houses are
ad ngd next to nothing, and the home consumption
is curtailed. Spinners are compelled to let a large quantity
of machinery remain unemployed. The price of yarns re-
mains at the steady rates current at the beginning of the
month. There is no improved inquiry forpieces, sod every-
thing is unusually dull for the season of the year. The con-
tinued unsatisfactory accounts from America are the chief
cause of the dulneme. Orders for that market are wholly
withheld, and even, where possible, cancelled. Other
markets besides the American are also seriously affected
thereby. Business in the warehouses has been small during
the week, and our borne merchants, louder a feeling that
pieces not be worse to buy, stand aloof.froal ordering
until they actually require the goods.

CORN.—Baumgolux, Dec. 13.—At Gloucester market
on the Bth instant, wheat was la. to 2a. per quarter, and at
Worcester, same day, ls..per quarter dearer. Barley dull,
bat not lower. Oats mandaiued their value. Beans firm.
Peas held for former rates. During the present week few
transactions in wheat are reported, as buyers will not
comply with the advance demanded. Barley rather more
inquired for. Oats unaltered. Beans quite as dear. Pees
tending downwards. At Wolverhampton, yesterday, there
was • less supply of wheat from the farmers, and the better
qualities were ls. per quarter dearer, but this did not ex-
tend to either inferior descriptions or foreign of any kind.
At this day's market there was • full supply of wheat, for
which higher prices were demanded, but not generally com-
plied with sad we make no alteration in our quotations.
Barley realised previous rates. Oats rather cheaper. Beans
firm. Pass neglected.

Draw, Dir. I3.—We had a small supply of wheat,
which met •good sale at an advance, on the best qualities,
of Is. qr. Owing to the difficulty the farmers experience
in getting out their barley, there was a short supply, and
trade was brisk for best qualities at an advance of from Is.
to 2s. per qr.—the top pnce was 46e per qr., and one very
rough lot wee bought at se low a figure as 265. Wheat,
best, 59e. to 685.; middling, 475. to 595. ; inferior, 40s. to
47., Becky, 30s. to 465. Oats, 23e. to 335. Beans, 465. to
30s. ress, 425. to 46a. Flour, fine, 495. to 525. per sack;
secomda, 445. to 47m.

Nzwahn, Doc. 12.—There was a limited attendance at
to-ciay's market. The supply of wheat was small, and prices
may be quoted at le. to 2a. per quarter over last week. Bar.
ley in request at Is. advance. Oats and beans no
In this market's return the best sorts of barley troth=
advance of 2s. per quarter. The following were the prices
realised :—Whent, white, (old and new).s6s. to 745. • red,
525. to Ma.. per 36 stone. Barley, making, 3&. to 44e. per
qr. ; grinding, 325. to 355. per 30 done. Oats, old. 325. to
355. ; new, 255. to 30s. per 24 atone. Beaus, old, 525. to
54a. ; new, 48e. to 50s. per 33 stone. Peas, 375. to 43e. per
_ .

MANCH/STXR, Dec. 13.—There was about an average at-
tendance at our market this morning. American and French
wheat of the beet quality commanded an advance of 3d. to
4d. per 731 be. ; and English, if at all dry, must also be
quoted Is. per qr. higher, but secondary and inferior sorts
were as difficult of sale as ever. French and American
flour was generally held for an amendment of 6d. per sack
and barrel respectively, but the demand wee not active.
English we. unchanged. Oats and oatmeal ruled steady,
and the same may be said of beans and Indian corn.
MIMICRY, D. 13.—We had • large supply of wheat,
principally rough samples, left from preceding market
days. The beet new and old wheat was lc per quarter
dearer. More inquiry for inferior' at late duties. A small
quantity of barley on offer, and all descriptions fully ea
dear. New cats dull. Old oats, beans, and piss, a slew
sale, at late rates. _ .

tiesersoz, Dec. 13.-The supply of wheat today Is
short, and sells freely, at rather higher rates. Spring corn
in a larger supply, and lower in value. Wheat, 46a. to
68s. ; barley,-30e.,t0 44a. ; oats, 21s. to 30a. ; beans, 40e. to
52a. ; peas, 425. to 54a. per qr.
EDINBURGH, Dsc. 11-We had in the market today
581 gm wheat, 2,408 barley, 1,567 oats, and 35 beans.
There were sold-Wheat, 412 qm., barley, 2,219, rata,
1,480, and beans, 35 qrs. As compared with last week-
Wheat was 3d. tip on top, and Is. 4d. down on average.
Barley was 6d. down on top, and Is. 7d. up on average.
Ciats were 3d. down on top, and Bd. upon average. Beaus
were same on top, and se. 6d. down on average. Prices
per imperial quarter : -Wheat, 32a. 6d. to 70s. 3d.; barley,
Ma. Od. to 465. 6d.; mite, 16s. &L to 325. Od.; beans, 31a. oa.
to 58e. Od. Weight of top-Wheat, 6511ba.; barley, foGlbs.;
oats, 42ilbs.; beans, 58i1be.

CATTLE.—Enneauxon, Dec. 12.—The supply of sheep
this morning was 4,029, being 2 more than last week.
Bales were slowly effected, but little alteration in prices.
Beet mutton, from 74d. to 70. ; secondary quality, from
60, to 7d. ; ewes, from CidL to bid. per lb. The supply
of cattle was large, there being 926, or 77 more. On ac-
count of the large supply, riles were also slowly effected,
and at the close u considerable quantity were unsold. Ex-
treme top, Ss. 4d.;_current, from 7s. 9d. Mae.; middling sad

inferior, from sa. 4d. to 7i. per imperial atone. Fed 1,111,
from 64. to 6s. CcL per imperial atone; 1111 to eight week,'
old ditto, from 96. to 12a. 6d. a head. Numbe; ie
market—Sheep, 4,029 ; fat cattle, 626 ; lean do., 87 ; nuJ
cows, 56 ; pip, 294.

CHINA )(Alarm.:
HONGKONG, OCT. 28.
TEL—The state of the markets at the open ports is most
. In face of • heavy export, of full supplies,
sal:11r unfavourable advice. from London, rates continuo
nearly at the standard at which they were pitched when
the prospects of • short supply were imminent The tea.
men combine as usual, making ingeniOus representations
about coming supplies, sufficiently plausible to induce
foreigners to believe them and to go on purchasing. It is
tree they are arm, but that probably arises more from their
conviction of their ability to bring foreigner to terms,
than from any belief they have in short supplies. The
worst of the tea trade as now conducted is this—that
when the communications are interrupted and the coup.
try tees really stopped, as was the case lately at Shanghai
and Canton, spurious, inferior,. or fancy teas are =mdse.
tared to such an extent and meet with so ready • sale, u
to cause the export to swell up so that when the country
teas are releesd they find • sale from their scarcity, and
make shipments amount to a figure which is absolutely
startling.
Ilis lama. —ln the absence.' any alarms as to the Nankin
rebels, confidence has begun to return and trade to improve,
Ningpo, however, still forms the principal outlet, the corn.
mum:idioms between the interior and that port being
dearly less interrupted than three of Shanghai.
HONOKONO.—The report, of sales give but a small
business for the fortnight. The import trade generally,
however, is fu a very healthy state,' holden requiring en
advanoe upon many kin of and stocks being
sensibly
CUITOIC—The state of the market for the different de.
scriptions of goods is naturally similar to that of Hongkong.
Foocnowroo. —The heavy sales reported last mail appear
to ban moiled the demand. Stocks are rather heavy.
Alior.=Stocks low, and rake firm, but small sales.