The Sun.
London, England, 1839-10-18 00:00:00

OCTOBER FALKIRK TRYST.

This, the third and last of the three great annual
markets, which take the name of Falkirk Trysts, was
held on the usual show-grounds on Monday and Tues-
day, the 7th and Bth October, 1839. Taken in connec-
tion, these markets form the grand outlet for the stock
of nearly the whole of the Northern, and a considerable
portion of the Western Highlands. Even the far He-
brides find commercial representation on Falkirk Moor
—nor must we except the small cattle and still smaller
ponies of Orkney and Shetland, through whatever chan-
nel, direct or circuitous, they may chance to travel.
Merchants strike balances, and ruralists do the same
after a different fashion. Martinmas is winding up
time in the agricultural year, and the last Falkirk
Tryst, as regards the Highlands, closes transactions
in cattle and sheep for a number of months
—that is, until grass and heath have again
done their duty in sleekening the hides of kine,
and stimulating to the point of roughness the growth of
wool. Nearly the whole flocks bought at Inverness
are delivered and paid for at Falkirk, and though
the Lowlanders often object to this arrangement, and
would fain induce their customers to meet them half-
way, Donald fondly clings to ancient custom, and is
chary of conceding the slightest tittle that might de-
tract from the trading importance and ordinary gather-
ings in the capital of the Highlands.
When the mail arrived from Edinburgh to-day, we
were on the watch to obtain early and correct informa-
tion as to how matters had gone at the above market ;
and were fortunate in meeting an extensive dealer, well
known in Galloway for his skill in cattle as well as
sheep, upon whose report the reader may rely implicitly.
The amount of stock shown was very great, and our
informant, although busily engaged as a buyer,
imagines he does not err greatly in estimating the
sheep exposed at 80,000, and the cattle at nearly
40,000 head. The concluding was the largest of all
the Trysts, and the increase as to numbers—that is
relatively—was conspicuous in both descriptions of
stock. At the September market matters were
different, and the price of sheep in particular advanced
from lack of numbers above all the preceding markets
at Falkirk and elsewhere. The attendance of dealers
and other buyers was numerous and respectable ; busi-
ness commenced briskly, and before long all the better
lots had changed owners. In fact, it was only in the
inferior kinds that there appeared to be the slightest
haggling and hanging ; and even of these the proportion
left over was unusually small. In price, however,
there was some re-action, from the high rates of the
second Tryst ; Cheviots, down Is., and black-faced
from ls. to 2s. per head. Cheviot wedders sold at
from 255. to 30s. 6d, each, per clad score ; and black-
faced from 20s. to 265. ditto.

For cattle there were numerous buyers—demand
brisk, and prices remunerating. At present we cannot
go into details, but we are enabled to state with confi-
dence generally, that, upon beasts of the value of from
81. to 101., the advance from the corresponding Tryst
of last year, ranges from 11. to 11. ss. per head. High-
landers, more especially, were in great demand, for
wintering in Dumfriesshire and Galloway.
Reckoning the sheep at a guinea per head (a low es-
timate), and the cattle at 617 10s., business must have
been done at this fair to the extent of about 350,0001.
sterling, apart altogether from the horses and ponies,
that. form the staple trade of the third day (Wednesday)
which our informant did not remain to witness.
Of the best Cheviot wedders, 1,400 were bought by
Mr. Pagan, salesman, Liverpool--one lot below, and
another above the highest figure named, 30s. 6d.
Breeding ewes were in great demand ; scarcity, in fact,
or something like it, was felt in that article, and prices,
in consequence, reached the following points :—Cheviot
ewes from 15s. to 20s. ; black-faced from 10s. to 15s.—
Dumfries Courier of Wednesday.

Mdlle. Maria, one of the hest dancers of the
Paris Grand Opera, has entered into an engagement
for three months with the Imperial Theatre of Vienna.

CURIOUS OLD COIN.—A few days since one
of the workmen employed in removing the under-ground
ruins of the old Castle of Sigston, near Northallerton,
discovered a silver penny of Henry 111., in a fine state
of preservation. On the obverse the head is full faced
and crowned. with sceptre and cross. The crown con-
sists of a thick line, raised at each end, with a cross in
the middle above the line, and three pearls below. On
the reverse are four pellets in form of a cross, with a
double line cross continued to the inner rim. It is in
round numbers 600 years old. This King was the first
that coined silver halfpence and farthings round ; before
which time they used to break the penny into halves
and quarters. The clippers also made such havoc of
the money in this reign, that there was hardly a penny
to be seen, which had not lost the letters on both sides ;
so that the King was obliged to command all traders to
receive and pay money by weight. The above coin is
now in the possession of Mr. J. Mathieson, Brompton,
Northallerton.—York Courant.
WORKING MEN SHOULD STUDY POLITICS.
—I respectfully counsel those whom 1 address (the
working men of America) to take part in the politics
of their country. These are the true discipline of a
people, and do much for their education. I counsel
you to labour for a clear understanding of the subjects
which agitate the community ; to make them your study,
instead of wasting your leisure in vague passionate talk
about them. The time thrown away by the mass of
the people on the rumours of the day might, if better
spent, give them a good acquaintance with the consti-
tution, laws, history, and interests of their country, and
thus establish them in those great principles by which
particular measures are to be determined. In propor-
tion as the people thus improve themselves, they will
cease to be the tools of designing politicians. Their
intelligence, not their passions and jealousies, will be
addressed by those who seek their votes. They will
exert, not a nominal, but a real influence on the govern-
ment and destinies of the country, and, at the same
me, will forward their own growth in truth and virtue,
New York Evangelist.

DUTCH AN!) HAMBURGH MAIL.

THE HAGUE, OCT. 12.—We hear that his Majesty
will leave his summer residence (the house in the
woods) to-morrow, and come to reside in the Royal
Palace at the Hague.
The Council of State met to-day. His Royal High-
ness the Prince of Orange presided, and the Hereditary
Prince was present. All the Ministers of the Council
who were trusted by his Majesty with special com-
missions out of the town, were present at the meet-
ing, except, as we hear, M. Guicke Van Hersoyner, who
was hindered by official engagements in Limburg from
attending.

The prices of Dutch Stock were yesterday kept up in
some measure by various purchases for the half-monthly
account. To-day the same causes are operating, and
many sales being made, there is a greater or less decline
of all descriptions. Except in the Two-and-a-Half per
Cent. little was done. As always happens when a con-
siderable fall occurs, there was no want of reports. We
mention only that which was most generally received and
related to the financial measures which are shortly to be
brought by the Government before the States General.
In Spanish Stock the market was dull, and all other
Foreign Stock to be had at lower prices.—Dutch Papers,
Oct. 16.