The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-29 00:00:00

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN
CORN TRADE DURING THE PAST WEEK.

(Pees the Merit4ll/14 Srpreee.)

- -
Though the impOrtations of foreign grain into the
United Kingdom have been comparatively small during the
last few weeks, the downward movement In prices has not
hitherto been checked, and from the present want of weft.
demo it may be questioned whether we have yet reached the
lowest point. We were certainly not prepared for I= decided
a fall so early in the year, but it appease that we did net
maks sufficient allowance for the depressing influence which
the prospect of large arrivals from abroad in the spring might
have on the minds of both buyen and sellers. The decline
has not bees caused so much by any immediate or undue
pressure on the markets as by the apprehension of what
may take plain hereafter. Greatly as tee value ;of all
agricultural produce has been reduced in this country by
free trade, the conviction is daily gaining strength that
prime ci on must recede still further under the Whence
of =restricted imports. It is no doubt true that stocks of
old wheat we= greatly reduced abroad, if not entirely
exhausted, by the shipments made to Ragland during last
year, and that in America Ye quantity of grain, the growth
of former awes, is not particularly large; but, on the other
hand, it is equal, attain that the harvest of 1849, without
being extraordinarily abundant, yielded a satisfactory result
in most of the priocipal corn growing countries. Where
wheat is the staple amide of food there may perhaps be no
great surplus for expert, but this is not the ease in the north
of Europe ; in Russia, Poland, great part of Germany, Rol-
land, .fic , the poorer classes of the community subsist princf
pally on rye, wheat being meentially an article for export.
In former years, when our own mope have proved salloiestly
abundant to made r it unneesmuy to import, and a high
duty interposed to prevent foreign corn being poured into
our market., whether wanted or not, prices .breed have
usually ranged Bs. to 10s. per qr. below what they now are ;
and se ?seemly se 1845, previous to the alarm mused by the
first discovery of the potato disease, fine red wheat was sold
at Rostock and other Bade pone at Ms. per qr. free on
board. By. referring to this fact we do not mean to imply
that there is a prebability of quotations receding abroad to
the same point; but considering the generally auspicious
yield or the harvest of last year in most foreign countries, as
well as la Great Britain, it is certainly not surprising that
apprehensions should be tat respecting the effect likely to
be produced on prices hare, now that our markets are open
to receive the sand= growth of the satin world.
The weather has, during the greater part of the week,
been mild and open, and ahead there he no return of frost,
tamers will shortly have to direst their attention to the
preparation of the land for the reception of the spring
crops. Whilst thus occupied they will have little leisure
for threshing or sanding supplies to market, and, as we
can scarcely calculate on large arrivals from abroad for
another month or two, a temporary rally is prices is not =-
lately to coma. The decline in the Yalta of wheat since out
last has amounted to fully Is. par qr. at the leading consults
ing towns, as well as at the plincipal markets in the agri.ultn-
rat districts, and the pries to the grower tor
good to flee red wheat does not now sue= 36a.
to 38e. per quarter in many parts of the country.
The only feature of iatsrest in the trade is the lucre=
ins demand for the coarser descripeloss of food for shipment
to Ireland. Purchase have lately been made at several
markets in the west of low-priced wheat, Indian corn, coarse
flour and middlings, on orders received from the sister isle,
and it may be regarded as certain that Ireland will require
assistance from this side instead of sending supplies to Rag-
land. Ttis fact is well deservieg of COlLlddiMit, and may
have an influence on the trade hereafter, sufficient to counter-
act, in ems measure, the depressing effects of the state of
thins above referred to.
We have again to report a very small supply of wheat
coastwise, only 3,611 quarters having arrived at this port
during tee week eadiag this (Saturday evening. The prin.
Mpg proportion of the shipments from ineoinshire and that
quarter has for son= time past been directed to the seethe=
markets in miasma to the metropolis, and the Base: and
Kent taxmen have brought supplies forward sou ,what
sparingly. Basil, however, as have been the receipts, they
have proved amply sufficient for the demand, and the trade
has not in any degree rallied from the extreme depression
under which it has so long laboured.
On Wednesday the operations of Mark lane were perfectly
=significant, and, in the absence of business of any impor-
tance, quotations remained nominally unaltered. On Friday
the= was mareely a sample fresh up, either by water or
lend cantor; but the millers =infested no signs of be-
ing is any immediate want, and considerable difficulty
was experienced in placing the little lett over from pre-
via= recap= at lam": rates.

Though ;kir arrivals of wheat front abroad have for
mvaral weeks past been small, the stocks in granary have
not diminished astion.

MONEY MARKET.

lonia
There was nothing of particular interest in the
transactions on the Stock Exchange to-day. The
English fends, with the exception of a temporary rise
or fall of 4, have been almost stationary during. tiAt
last few days, and the market to-day was precisely
of the same character. Consols opened at Saturday's
quotations,964 to for money and 964 to j for account,
from which theydeclini d in the morning 4, having been
marked 96 for cash, and 96. for the 14th February;
but they soon regained th.ir original value, and con-
tinued steady fur the remainder of the day, being offi-
cially quoted at the close at their lint price. The
Tone per Cent. Reduced marked 964, 4, and 4. The
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents. were done at
984, 4, and last at 984.

Exchequer Bills marked M. and 80s. ; ditto 6001.,
81s. and 685.; ditto, Small, 80s. and 615.; and India
Bonds 904., 934. rem. ; leing Annuities wars done
at 81 and 11-18; ditto 30 years, 1880, 8 6-18. Bank
Stock, 2031 and 208.
_ _ _ _ _

The dealings in the various descriptions of South
American stocks to-day were again very active, espe-
cially in Peruvian, Mexican, sad Grenada Bonds, all
of which were done at an advents, over Saturday's
primps Venezuela touched 321. Europa* stools
IMO little dealt in. The following are the transac-
tions officially reported :—Buenos Ayres Bonds at 641
and 631 for money, and 64 and 631 foe account.
Chain Six per Cents. at 101. Danish Three per
Cents., 182 d, at 731. Equador at 41, 1,1,
and 1. Grenada at 181, 1, and ; ditto
Deferred at 4; and 1- Mexican at 291 for