The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-06 00:00:00

their will, and Liverpool will no longer be permitted
to manage her own affairs, The paving of streets, and
the opening up of thoroughfares along our crowded
docks, must be subject to their "yea" or " nay!,
The " tag-rag and bob-tail" of their followers will
be canvassed and dragooned at the time of the
annual election We wonder that they did not
foist in a clause for the establishment of
electoral colleges ,in the United Kingdom,
for one would suppose;from the extensive nature
of the constituency, seeing that every British sub-
ject who pays -£lO par annum in Dock rates is to be
an elector, that a seat on the board would be coveted
by thousands of our Merchant Princes. The idea
of placarding the Town Hall of Manchester with a
list of voters is ridiculous. Has London or Glas-
gow no claims for a similar favour? The scheme,
as a whole, is one of the boldest attempts at cen-
tralisation ever concocted, and, 'as such, will surely
meet a stern and determined opposition. At pre-
sent, we shall not say more upon the subject. On
another occasion we shall canvass the proposed
bill clause by clause, and expose the monstrous
iniquities contemplated. Meantime, we refer
our readers to the preamble of the bill and its
clauses.

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE

From the "Mark Lane Express" of last night.

Another year has just closed upon us, and placed its
important records on the scroll of Time. Its commence—
ment was characterised by the lodgment of the allied
armies on Russian soil, with gigantic preparations for
a renewal of the colossal struggle in the opening spring:
all pacific counsels being well nigh considered impossible.
But on the elapse of only seventeen days a rumour became
general that Austrian intervention had commenced, which,
however, was as generally distrusted. Still, these
reports coming when prices were at about their highest
point, viz., 765. 10d. per quarter, produced an immediate
' effect throughout the country, from which the markets
did not recover till the smallness of stocks towards har-
vest, and the heavy and devastating rains which then
occurred, sent the averages up to 77s 10d on the 7th
of August. From that point, with fluctuattons varying
from is to 5s weekly, they have at last receded to 59s
fid per quarter. The reduction traceable to the effect of
peace amounted to about 10s. per qr., and transpired
in the course of three weeks in February. We estimate
the remaining difference of 7s. per qr. to the generally
inferior condition and damage of the last year's crop.
The spring opened with some fears as to the ravages of
insects on the growing plants; but these reports happily
applied to certain localities only, and there was little
uneasiness on any score, except as to the holding out of
stocks till harvest, even with the most liberal imp3rta-
tions from America, and the opportune aid of Russian
supplies. On this head we admitted our doubts, and did
our best to secure a sufficient supply ; while the fact that
the weekly sales noted at the close of August amounted to
no more than 40,895 qrs. fully justified the views we
entertained, for they were then little more than half the
quantity of the previous season. As harvest time drew
nigh, an almost tropical heat produced a simultaneous
ripening of the grain throughout two thirds of the
kingdom. The first gatherings had an Australian dryness,
and a complete change to lower prices was in prospect,
when dowu poured the rain upon the ripening corn.
Yet, while we deplore the measure of injury done, especi-
ally in Scotland and the North, the nation pays but a
moderate price for the necessaries of life; and our agri-
cultural friends in the South, though somewhat disap-
pointed, are not without fair remuneration. The stores
of Russia availieg till the new and abundant crop of
America was gathered, millers have been at no loss as to
the management of cur own crop, which hitherto being
only worked off in moderate quantities will be more ser-
viceab:e after March. As to future prices we are
inclined to consider them more susceptible of improvement
than otherwise—the whole world having commenced its
consumption with Mile, if anything, beyond the year's
produce as its dependence. Thenr()Tespf,,.§mitjusi
Italy scarcely reaching to its necessities, France being
certainly short, as well as Belgium and the Baltic,
Russia itself not over abundant, and America alone in a
condition to meet serious claims, which have been so
freely met already, that New York has not been so bare
for years. Our own crop too, as a whole, being deficient,
notwithstanding the extended growth of Wheat ; there
promises now to be hut little surplus at the season's end :
while, therefore, we indulge in no apprehensions_, we feel
reminded of our dependence on that Being who feeds the
sparrow and sustains the world, and congratulate our
common humanity that the goodness of Gad endureth
continually."
The business in floating cargoes has been limited, at
full prices, Marianopoli Wheat having brought
645. 34. to 645. 6.1. per qr,; and mixed Egyptian 455.
3d.; Maize selling at 365. 9d. to 383. per qr., and Saide
Beaus at 345. 6d. per qr. Ghirka Wheat is sought at
625. per qr. Some inquiries for Wheat exist for France
as well as the Peninsula. The sales reported last week
amounted to 92,296 qrs., at 59s 81 per qr., against 96,964
qrs. last season. The London averages published last
Friday were for 3,9516 qrs., at 64s 31. The quantity im-
ported into Great Britain for the week ending 24th of
December, in Wheat and Flour, was 120,987 qrs.