Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-26 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL TIMBER MARKET.-MARCH 25,

The ganeral remarks contained in our circular of the
25th ultimo are almost as applicable to the present state of
trade as they were then admittedly descriptive of it. Since
that period, the prospects of manufacturers as to foreign
orders have fluctuated considerably. Warlike preparations
on an immense scale in different states of Continental Europe,
gave rise to apprehensions of hostilities between some of these
states; and these apprehensions were excited to a startling
extent by enigmatical expressions on the part of the French
Emperor, and the spread of gloomy and portentous rumours
among the commercial and monied classes of Great Britain
and the other leading states of Europe. The effect of these
combined laws of mercantile disturbance was a hesitation
and uncertainty on the part of both merchants and manufac-
turers ; this uncertainty being rendered more perplexing
and detrimental by the oscillatiag character of each succeed-
ing day's intelligence. To-day war seemed to be inevitable,
to-morrow, however, appeared indications more in favour of
a pacific solution of the difficulty which all admitted to exist,
but which nobody could explain or define. The natural con-
sequence of this was to paralyse commercial enterprise, the
merchant or manufacturer deferring to enter into arrange-
meats to-day which to-morrow's news might render nugatory
or even ruinous. Fortunately Niithin the last day or two this
state of uncertainty has been improved as well as altered.
The menacing tone of Napoleon 111. has been so far laid
aside, and he now condescends to speak of peace in accents
more in accordance with his profession. A general impres-
sion has arisen that, for the-present at least, the tranquility
of Europe will not be broken by the harsh arbitrament
ve language of the Times
The restoration
ity has alredy begun to display

of Avat

and in the expr

urope once more orea

thes freely

a sense

reater commercial activity: The markets have
generally become firmer, and a more hopeful state of feeling
is manifested on all hands ; and fortunately the season has
not yet so far advanced as to prevent this improved state
of feeling and prospects for exercising a beneficial in-
fluence on all classes during the remainder of the year.
The uncertainty which could exercise so important and
sc unfavourable an influence on general trade could not
exist without communicating, in some degree at least, its
practical discouragement to the trade in wood. Accordingly
we find in it, as in other branches of business, " Caution "
has been the word, and parties have purchased only to meet
immediate demands, except probably in a few instances
where a large concession in price may have led to somewhat
extended transactions. The import has continued moderate,
if not indeed small. From British America, a considerable
portion of the stocks left on hand at the close of the
year,has now passed into consumption, and the character of the
business in course of being transacted must be looked on as
healthy, and in some degree promising, although as yet not
extended. Pine Timber : Several cargoes of Quebec, in store,
have changed hands within the month. Choice wood of 75 to
80 feet average having realized from 17d to 18d per foot ; a
reduction of id to lid per foot must be made from those
prices in regard to wood of about the same averages, but of
only ordinary quality. Smaller averages have not been so
saleable, even at proportionate reductions in -value ; the
larger and finer qualities being evidently most in favour
among consumers, as experience has shown it invariably to
be when the demand is not active. From 50 to 55
feet average may be quoted as worth 14d to 14td. St..
John : A cargo of fine wood from this port has been
sold by private treaty at prices which have not transpired. An
average of 18 inches, of fine quality, may be quoted as worth
from 21d to 22d. Smaller averages are interfered with by
the superior claims of Quebec, against which they do not
retain their apparently relative value. Red Pine : The
prices realised for this by auction, for 40 feet average in
lots, has been 17/-,d per foot from the quay. Small wood
has been sold in in retail lots, 22 feet average realizing
•15d. Oak and Elm : The sales of oak from Quebec
have been moderate, partly by auction and partly in
retail quantities from the yard, at prices varying
from 2s to 2s 6d per foot, except for the most choice
coffin logs which in some instances have brought consider-
ably more ; but these latter being exceptional cases, cannot
be looked on as a criterion of ordinary market value. Two
cargoes of Virginian White, recently arrived, have been
sold to the trade, on terms which will not publicly trans-
pire. This article, now favourably known as the " Thorn-
ton Oak," is comparatively new in this market; but its
qualities of toughness, hardness, and durability are so fully
recognised by those who have used, as to show that its popu-
larity will increase as its character becomes known. Elm of
60 ft. average has been sold in lots by auction, at about 2s 2-id
per foot; while some of 40 feet realised 2s 1d ; but in these
cases it was choice wood. Smaller and inferior wood is
much less valuable. Hardwood continues moderate in

itself in

saleable at from 17d to 18d; lower port at from 15d to 16d
per foot. N.B. and N.S. Pine and Spruce Deals . The
continuing demand for these proves the growing favour in

which t

deservedly held ; bat as the consumption

of them depends on causes which are easily acted On by
influences which affect the general trade of the
country, the sales of them during the past month have
fluctuated in a degree corresponding with the feverish state
of trade in the manufacturing districts. At the present
time, instead of having improved, any change in their
marketable condition must be regarded as rather worse,
but this is so trifling as scarcely to be appreciable. Cargoes
arriving may be expected to yield, when sold entire, from
£8 10s to £8 15s, dependent on dimensions and quality.
Quebec -Deals : The sales of these have been confined
to retail lots from the old stock. The rates, ob-