The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-08 00:00:00

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE
DURING THE WEEK.

Moen the Mark Law Rrpress.)
The change which the weather has undergone since
our last may have the effect of checking any further imme-
diate rimin prices of wheat ; not that it is lately to maks ley
rest alteration in supply and demand, bat the mere possibi-
lity oldie northern continental ports being freed from is
earlier than in ordinary seasons may, and very likely will,
act as a cheek on business, by preventing buyer, purchasing
so freely as they probably would have done If the frost had
continued. The large milieu have for some time put been
quietly getting into stock, and have at present sufficient on
hand to render them indifferent about buying ; and this feel-
ing is certain to increase if the weather should continuv mild
and open. It is consequently quite possible that the antici-
pated improvement in the trade may not occur so early in
the year as was expected ; but we are still of opinion that
the worst has been pared, and are inclined to think that the
tendency of prices will be upwards during the next three
months. If the consumption of foreign wheat should prove
as extensive the first quarter in 1850 as it was the last three
months of 1849, very great inroads would certainly be made
on our granaried stocks ; and though we may in the interval
receive moderate supplies from the near continental ports, it
is very improbable that any quantity of corn will reach us
from the Baltic until the spring shall have become well ad-
vanced.

The weather which we have lately experienced can
scarcely be regarded u favourable for the autumn•sown
wheat. In the southern parts of the kingdom very little
snow ha. fallen, and the plant has therefore been without
nearing to protect it against the variations which have
taken place in the temperature. Towards the close of last
week the frost was very severe, which would, however, be
likely 10 prim less trying than the subsequent changes—
thaw during the day, and frost at night.
New Year's day being observed at Liverpool as a holiday,
no business was done there on Tuesday ; the subsequent de-
parture of the frost had more or less influence on the trade
on Friday, and the transactions were then of less import-
ance than might have been expected, considering that no
market had been held in the early part of the week.
Whest was, however, quoted fully as high as before; in-
deed, for new Irish previous prices were in some instances
exceeded by ld. per 70 be.
At Ball, on Tuesday, there was small show of Brawn'
wheat, which, befog in good condition, brought prices Is. to
2e. per qr. above thou previously current. Foreihn was in
improved request, and le. per qr. higher.
The accounts from Leeds, of the same day, are of a leis
animated character. A similar advance was demanded there
to that establish' 1 at Hull, but was not so readily obtained,
the millers acting with mush caution.
The Birmingham market wee, on Thursday, tolerably well
sup,,liad with wheat, aid a fair amount of business was done
there, as well as at Bristol, at prices Is. per qr. above those
current on that day minnight.
The Wakefield litters of Friday inform us that the dispo-
sition to purchase wheat had lessened with the change in the
weather.

In the early part of the week the weather was very severe
in the north, and our advises from Scotland inform us that
an immense quantity of snow had fallen there. The frost
appears, however, to have broken up about the same time as
with as. The reported rise at Stark•lane on Monday
let caused enhanced rates to be demanded for wheat at
Edinburgh and Glasgow on Wedatsday, and most other
kinds of grain wet. held with increased firmness at both the
places named.
The amount* from Ireland are of much the sera. cha-
racter as before ; the supplies of corn seem scarcely to have
kept pace with the demand ; and wheat, oats, and Indian
corn, as well as 11 iur and meal, had tended upwards in value
at the principal consuming towns. Comparatively little
grain was being shipped to England, the result of previous
consignments to this country having disappointed the p►rties
concerned. _

The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have Mai
only 2,150 qrs. having been reported during the week
en nog this (Saturday) evening. The receipts from the
eas.ern counties per rail have fallen off, and the quantity
exhibited at Mark-lane since Id.inday, by land-carriage
samples from Essex, Kent, and Suffolk has been quite
fling. On Wednesday little business was dune, but factors
were very firm, and the few lots on sale were held at fully
pre•ious terms. The change at weather which has taken
place since then bad tome influence on Friday, and the tone
of the trade was not qude so firm as in the commencement of
he week. There was at the same time no disposition to
force business, and quotations remained precisely the MAO
as before. The total rise in prices from the lowest point is
2e. to 3s. on some qualities, and le. to 2a. per qr. on others.
Lincolnshire andeant bridgesh ire wheat,w Inch was at one time
sold relatively cheaper than Essex or Kent, has ref Mned
its proper position, and Is new held fully 2s. per qr. higher
than at the time of the greatest depression. The gas
already begin to show the effect of the rally in this article,
the weekly return for wheat for the kingdom, published en
Thursday, being 395. 4d., or 7d. per qr. higher than that for
the preceding week.
'fbe arrivals of wheat from abroad have been quite mode.
rate since our last; but, as some quantity is believed to be
near at hand, buyers hove acted with caution. Our own
millers have hitherto shown no signs of being in want, and
the country inquiry has certainly not improved. The trans-
actiens were on • retail Neale, both on Wednesday and
Friday; holders were nevertheless firm, and good qualities
were not cheaper at the close than they were at the beginning
of the week.

The top quotation of town.made Hour hu undergone no
change. Ins inquiry for the article has been slow, and se-
condary qualuirs ut foreign hardly sold so well on Friday as
earlier in the week.

Barley of home growth has come rather sparingly to hand.
The r,ceipta have, however, proved amply sufficient for the
inquiry, and even the best malting sorts nate moved off
somewhat slowly at the rates current on Monday ; the
commoner kinds of English and foreign of all descriptions
hats nung heavily on band, buyers being unwilling to take
mare than absolutely neussery tm present use ; fair grinding
qualities have been offered et 205., and good parcels at 225.
per qr., without exciting much attention.
In malt a steady retail business has been done, and its
value has remained much the same as before.

The antvals of oats from our own coat have been small,
and the receipts from Scotland and from abroad more mode-
rate thanet late, whilst from Ireland we have had no supplies.
The total quantity reported during the week, including 7,863
qrs. foreign, has amounted to 18,322 qrs. The principal
dealers have bought very sparingly, and appear more inclined
to diminish than to add to their stocks. On Wednesday very
little business took place, but needy buyers had to pay full
prices. Towards the close of the week sellers became more
anxious to realise, and on Friday sales were in some instances
made at rates which factors would have declined to accept
on Monday.
Home-grown beans have come forward sparingly, and the
receipta of this article from abroad have likewise been small ;
still a good deal of difficulty has been experieaced in effect-
lag sales at previous prices.
White peas were held firmly in the early part of the
week; but since the breaking up of the frost, holders have
become more anxious to sell, and on Friday the turn was in
favour of the buyer
There have been few offers of floating cargoes of Indian
corn, and prices being relatively higher abroad than in this
country, there is not muck chance of increased imports of
the article. Sellers ►ave lately raised their pretensions,
which has checked business.