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

THE AMERICAN HARVEST.

A correspondent of the New York Daily Time, after
noting that the different estimates of the wheat crop of
1855, range from 120,000,000 to 185,000,000 bushels,
continues :—" The next question of interest is, what will
be our surplus ? Not a question for ready solution, be-
cause that surplus is as elastic as indiarubber. It de-
pends entirely on circumstances, If Europe wants
wheat or flour from us, and is obliged to pay, as lately,
high prices, it is difficult to limit our surplus. Unless
her harvests fail to an extraordinary degree, we have
enough to supply all her wants. Paradoxical as it ap-
pears, the more she wants the more we have to spare,
and the less she wants the less we shall have for export.
The surplus will in that case be used freely at home, and
beyond that use, what is not required for seed will be
stored away for the next season's sale for home or foreign
consumption. If, on the other band, high prices rule,
less wheat will be used at home. Indian corn, potatoes,
&c., will take its place extensively, and the shipments
of wheat and flour to Europe of this year's crop surpass
for quantity all precedent. The following table shows
our annual produce of wheat since 1839, together with
the exports :
UNITED STATES DROP AND EXPORTS OF WHEAT FOB A
SERIES OF YEARS,
Crop. Exports.
Year. Bushels. tsusltelt.
1840
1841
1812 ......... ~... 102,317,240
' 1813
1811
1815 , 106,548,000
1816
1817
1848' 114,245,000
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
"It is obvious by this table that the quantity of wheat
exported from the United States is entirely independent
of the amount of the existing crop. Thus the exports of
1848 and 1854 are in quantity double those of 1847 and
1849, although the product of the first•named years did
not exceed those of the last two. The exports of 1840
and 1846 also doubled those of 1843 and 1845, although
their crop was not as abundant by 15 per cent. The
exports of 1852 and 1853, on a cropof lessthan 239,000,000
bushels for both years, were more than 37,500,000
bushels, while the exports of 1842 and 1844, on a crop
of nearly 200,000,000 bushels, hardly reached 15 nail.
lions. In all those years it was the foreign demand sti-
mulating high prices here which enhanced the export, as
it was the absence of that cause which diminished the
exports of others. If the foreign demand did not enlarge
the export of 1855, it was not because the wheat crop
had failed to any great extent, but because the drought
of 1854 bad so cut short the supply of corn, potatoes,
&c., as to compel a larger use of wheat than would other-
wise have taken place.
" Our plenty, this year, consists not mainly nor chiefly
in the fact of the large crop of wheat itself, but in the
variety and abundance of substitutes for wheat to which
we can and do resort, when the motive of wheat at high
prices induces us to do so. Abundant as is our crop of
wheat, it is but one item, and not the largest.
than Among
others, our oat crop of 1855 cannot be less
400,000,000 bushels ; other grain of less importance, not
short of 100,000,000. But all this is nothing to the
yield of corn, which is almost as safe as if it were already
in the granary, and cannot be put down at less than
1,000,000,000 bushels. It
may
ay
exceed those figures 20
per cent,
I repeat it, there is hardly any limit to our
surplus
of wheat beyond the crop itself. And if the de-
mand abroad should carry off 100,000,000 bushels, or
even more, which is almost four times as much as we
have ever exported in one year, there would be enough
left to feed Cincinnati consumers of flour, of those who
would prefer to pay 7 dole, per barrel to using corn meal
or other substitutes, and other points at corresponding
rates."

DEATH BY DROWNING OF THE HON. MRS. MATHESON.
—We regret to announce the death of the Hon. Mrs.
Matheson, wife of our burgh member, Mr. Matheson,
of Ardross, under very painful and distressing circum-
stances. It appears that Mrs. Matheson left the house
at Inverinate, on Mr. Matheson's property of Lochalsh
(where the family was residing), early on Sunday morn-
ing last, in order that she might walk leisurely to church,
and saunter along the picturesque coast by the way.
She did not appear at church, and not returning to Inve-
rinate, the alarm was given, and search made in the
neighbourhood, but without effect. Early next morning,
however, as Dr. Maclean wasapproaching Inverinate, he
observed a bonnet and veil on the water, and further
search having been made, the body of the unfortunate
lady was found in the sea at the base of a rock, which
it is supposed she had climbed to enjoy the fine view of
Loch Duich which it affords. Mr. Matheson was at
Ardross, but intimation having been conveyed to him,
he posted through Inverness on Monday, on his way to
Inverinate. The melancholy event has occasioned the
deepest sympathy and regret over the whole north. The
deceased lady was sister to the late Lord Beaumont,
was married in 1853 to Mr. Matheson, and has two
children, the youngest only a few months old.—/nver-
ness Courier.
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION OF GAS IN THE OLD KENT-ROAD.
evening, at a few minutes before eight
immediate vicinity of Barron's-place, Old
07eOlonek8,attuhreday
Kent-road, was greatly alarmed, in consequence of a
fearful exploFion of gas taking place in the premises be-
longing to Mr. W. Baker, pork butcher, carrying on
business at No. 5, in the above thoroughfare. It com-
menced in the back parlour, from the gas escaping, and
coming in contact with a light it became ignited, and
exploded with a noise resembling the discharge of severa
fire-arms, demolishing the windows and breaking the
doors, as well as setting fire to the room. Several of
the inmates were terribly shaken, but fortunately no one
was seriously injured. The engines of the London
Brigade quickly attended, but the fire was not extin
guished until considerable damage was done. The pre
miEns and their contents were insured in the Count
Fire Office.