The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-08 00:00:00

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ICROPEAN WHEAT AVERAGES. i' k• —A'-`-' :::;:s1.1;11.
• —\--•-\/)-?" -'--2-- = *
T) THE EDITOR OF THE SUL .
".
tl.l •J - - ::-.
-...."
-.,—ln the present critical state of the oErn mantas" -ItlN'( I 5.% AN
of Eurepe, which seriously affects the current of gold
floing both from Australia and California, it may, per.
.
ha lss, be considered interesting to show t e relative an.
nuall average prices of wheat during th t titnty-six
is
•
years in the principal countries of Eue .
'llhe free trade in wheat which now exists in this
country (for the trifling duty of is. per quarter willileii.
scarcely interfere) must tend to make England the uni-
.yerglal mart for all corn exporting countries.
_lt halt
.however, been observed .that as long as any other cenn.
try as a deficient supply, the market price
ix t
be influenced by the demand thereby createdren4 II
riseo the level of the price in such country, less S' ex-
penses of transport and profit. This d;fficulty is counter-
balanced to a great extent by the constant supply under
free trade, which prevents the recurrence of famine
prices, except, when bad harvests are very general.
It is not very long ago since capitalists were trembling
under the apprehension that the new and great supply
of gold would rapidly increase prices and lower the rate
of interest, and even our financiers endeavoured to meet
the popular opinion by creating a Two-and-a-Half per
Cent. Stock. It will he found that such great changes
can only take place slowly. A very trifling annual ad-
dition made to the money value of any commodity will
in a century assume a gigantic amount. We have seen
this take place in the century following the discovery
and the introduction of the precious metals from Arne-
ricaj Vast as the amount of gold may be which is now
i
-.llly poured into the world's treasury, still the effect
need is only a percentage on the gross existing
ant ; but of what that amount may be we have only
a very vague idea. I believe that I might very safely
predict that gold will continue for many years to main-
tain its value, and that the power of absorbing it from
the commercial market will go on till a gold circulation
will exist far more universally than at present, without
anticipating the possible event of a diminished supply.
In, a few days I intend to make up the weekly aver-
age prices of grain in England and Wales for the year
ending Michaelmas-day last, as the result may be useful
to thc landowner and the farmer in fixing corn rents,
whic I hope soon to see more generally adopted.--
lam &c.,
: -

• CHARLES M. WILLICH,
cuttrary University-Tire Assurance Society.
25, Suffolk-street, Pall-mall, Oct. 5.

ANNUAL AVERAGE PRICE OF WHEAT PER IMPERIAL QUAR.
TER IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, BELGIUM, AND PRUSSIA,
1828-1853.

Average price per Imperial Quarter in
For the Year. ,----
-y
England. *France. *Belgium. ,
+Prussia.
----- --
s.d. d.
1823
4 s 5
9 s.
30 11
1829
1830 64 3 51 11 47 2 34 0
1831
1831
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
I 181.1
1845
1846
1847 , 69 9 67 4 72 2 59 0
1848
1849
100
151
1852
1853 4...
26
---
Avcraeof 1
54 10 45 61 46 3 34 10i
26 years...
1854
* Taking the hectolitre at 2.9 to the imnerial (mart.. ~..1

* Taking the hectolitre at 2.9 to the imperial quarter, and
25 francs to the pound sterling.
+ Taking the scheffel at 54. to the imperial quarter, and
200 silver groschen to the pound sterling.