The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-07 00:00:00

IMPORTANT MEF-TTNG OF THE IRONMAS-
TERS OF SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE.
BIRISIINGHAM:' TUESDAY EVENING.—SeIdom has there
been so mudi speculation relative to the probable issue
of any of our quarterly meetings of the iron trade as has
been indulged in, during the last few weeks, with respect
to the forthcoming 'meetings. Some persons well
acquainted with the trade, and fully aware of the daily
increasing demand fur foreign and home consumption,
have held a rise of prices to b-3 the inevitable consequence
of this improved state of things ; while others, equally
well informed of the position of our manufacturing in-
terest with respect to foreign competition in made
goods, viewed a rise as injurious and not likely to be
forced by the ironmasters, whose interests are in varif us
respects i%timately bound up with a general healthy
state of commerce, rather than an unsound prosperity of
one partiCular branch of trade in which they may 1w
engaged. The meeting of ironmasters held today, st
the Swati Hotel, Wolverhampton, was what is called th'
private preliminary meeting of the trade, at which the
prices for the ensuing quarter are d, cited, and On this
occasion was most numerously attended. Amongst
those present wero the principals or representatives of
the following firms :--Messrs, P. Williams and Co"
Bagnall and Sous; the Chillington Iron Company, John
Bradley and Co., the New British Iron Company, by
Mr. Routh, of London ; Mr. William Mathews, for the
Patent Galvanised Company ; Cochrane and Co.. Bent
and Barrs, Evers and Co., M. and W. Grazebrook, J.
Hunt and Co., Addanbrook and Co., the Tividale Com-
pany, by Mr. B. Best, Thornecroft and Co., B. Williams
and .linight and Co., Page and Co., B. Gibbons, D,
Jones, W. Haden, Walter Williams, Mr. Ward, &c.
Mr. Crazebritrok, Esq., presided as chairman, and the
question of thsipriees for the ensuing quarter having
been dikussett it 'veils unanimously resolved that the
present.trineft AV* maintained, but no advance to
be -requiredit'iia ated.on all hands that the demand
is good, but not sufficient to justify any attempt at an
advance. Indeed, I may go so far as to sae that it was
the opinion of the meeting that if they declared an ad-
vance there would be a difficulty in maintaining it, ex-
clusive of the confusion which it would cause in the
trade. The prices, therefore, stand thus for the ensuing
quarter:-101. for bar iron and rods, 10/. 10s. for hoops,
and 11/. 10s. for single sheets ; for pig iron from 5/. to
51. 10s. So far, therefore, as this important district is
concerned, the expectations of an advance will not be
realised. Not only by some in this locality has an ad-
vance been anticipated, but I find the circulars issued
within the last few days by the leading Scotch and
London houses speak in expectation of a rise. One
dated Dec. 31, from the house of Mr. Robert Moate, of
Broad-street, London, gives the following notice of the
trade during the past year, and its future prospects:—
" The price of rails in January last was 12/. 103.
to 13/., at which rate about 30,000 tons were sold.
From the slight decrease in the demand, and the forced
sales of speculations, the price fell from 1/. 10s. to 21.,
until it reached 9/. ss. to 9/, 10s., at which rate about
10,000 tons changed hands. It recovered about 10s., at
which a sale of 20,000 tons for America was reported,
since which the price has ruled 9/ 10s. to 9/. 15s. free on
board. Sales, some of which, to a great extent, are
continually occurring at those rates, and makers gene-
rally are full of orders. The price is expected to
go high, from this as well as other causes, especially
the difficulty of procuring coal, and the present scarcity
of ore." _

From a Glasgow house, dated Jan. 2, they write:—

" The prices to-day may be quoted 765. to 765. 6d. for
mixed numbers. Makers and holders are now very
confident of high prices, as the demand from the Con
tinent and America is expected to be fully equal to that
of last year, while the consumption in Scotland will be
increased. as there are two new malleable iron-works,
which have already commenced, and will soon be in full
operation." It is therefore evident that a rise has been
anticipated, and I am glad to be able thus early to an.
nounce the final decision of the trade in this district upon
the subject.

RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS.
MANCHESTER, JANUARY 5.
STOCK EXCHANGE. -The sales are-Amber gate, Notting.
ham, and Boston, 5-16 p.-Birkenhead, Lancashire, and
Cheshire, 1 9-16 p.- Birmingham and Oxford Junction, 10
pp Blackburn, Clitheroe, &c., 11-16 dis.-Buckinghamshire,
p.-Fleetwood, Preston, and West Riding, p.-Great
Northern (late London and York), 1,4 p.-Ditto, Extension,
IX, p.-Ditto ( Direct Northern), 1,4 p.-Huddersfield and
Manchester Railway and Canal, Thirds, 114 p.-Leeds and
Thirsk, Ic. dis. cum int.-Ditto, Preferentials, 1% p.-
Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle Junction, IA p.-
London, Manchester, and Birmingham (C), 7 7-16 p.-
Manchester and Leeds Extension, 1% p.-Manchester,
Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, % dis.-Manchester and South-
ampton, 1 .16 p.-North British Extension, /871 c. p.-North
Staffordshire, 4 3-16 p.-Northern Counties Union, 9-16 dis.
-Oldham Alliance, 15-16 c. p.-Shropshire Union, par-
South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, 11-16 c. p.-West Riding
Union, p.
HULL, JANUARY 5.
'tleere tawn, d,nc Southampton,l, P resto n, an d
2s. West
ExcHANGE.-The sales are-North British, Thirds,
2/. 18s.-Blackburn, Clitheroe, &c., 9s. 6J. dis.-Direct
rip)(l.-, I:fanpc.-hels
Riding, ss. p. -Northern Counties Union, 395.-\Vest Riding
Northern Union,
41. sci
s.
6
London and Manchester (Rein.), 10s. p.
SHEFFIELD, JAN. 5.
STOCK EXCHANGE.-The sales are-Ambergate, Notting-
ham, and Boston, p.-Manchester and Lincoln Union, %
dis.- Manchester Grimsby, and Sheffield, 3/. dis.-Ditto.
Quarters, % dis.-Manchchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 14s.
dis.-North. Western, 16s, p.
EDINBURGH, JANUARY 4.
sTocx Excrwrox.-The sales are--Aberdeen, 25/. 155.-
Airdrie and Bathgate, 4/. ft.-Arbroath and Forfar, 284-
Ditto, Halves, 151. 55.-Ayr and Galloway, 21.-Caledortian,
30/.-Ditto, New, 2/. 165.-Caledonian and Dumbartonshire,
2!. 55.-Clydesdale Junction, 391. 55.-Deeside, 21. 165.-
Direct Northern, 21. 175.-Dunblane, Doune, and Callender,
1/. 155.-Dundee and Arbroath, 45L ex new-Ditto. New.
34L-Ditto, New, No. 2, 291.-Dundee and Perth, 27/. 17s.
6d.-Ditto, New, 14/. 58.-Eastern Counties, 231. 55.-Ditto,
York Extension, 3/. 12s. 6d.-East of Fife, 2L 17s. 6d.-
Edinburgh and Bathgate, 3/.-Edinburgh and Glasgow, 771.
-Ditto, Halves, 211.-Ditto, Quarters 191. 10s.-Edinburgh,
Leith, and Granton, 211.-Ditto, Preference, 21/. 12s. 6d.-
Edinburgh and Northern, 15/. ss. ex new-Ditto, New, Si.
Is.-Ditto, Newport, 61. is. ex. new-Ditto, ditto, New, 3/.
13s. 6d.-Edinburgh and Perth, 21•-Glasgow and Ayrshire,
69L-Ditto, New Stock, 381. 155.-Ditto, Quarters, 17/. 7s
6d.-Ditto, Halves, 6L-Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle,
6/. 108.-Glasgow and Dundee Junction, 11. 165.-Glasgow
and Garnkirk, 411.-Glasgow General Terminus, 12L-Glas-
gow and Greenock, 17L-Ditto, New, 8L 10s.-Ditto, Pre-
ference, 8/. U.-Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan, 4/.
17s. 6d.-Great North of England, 081-Great North of
Scotland, 21.175.-Great Western, na-London and York,
2/. 155.-Manchester and Leed. 105/...-Dlidland and Eastern
Counties, 155.-Newcastle and Berwick, 351.-North British,
36/. 2s. 6d.-Ditto, Halves, 151. 10s.-Ditto, Thirds, 31. 18s.
-Ditto, Quarters, 31. Vs.-Ditto, ditto, New, scrip, 1/. 128.
-Ditto, Fifths, 71-Scottish Central, 211. 17s. 6d.-Scottish
Grand Junction, 1/. 75.-
Scottish Midland, 141. 17s. 6d.-
Stirling and Dunfermline, 3/. 18s.-Stirling and Midland, 2/.
10s.-Strathern Junction, 4/.-Wishaw and Coltness, 491.
-York and Newcastle, 381. ex. new-Ditto, New, 15/. 55.-
Ditto, Preference, 71. 12s. 6d.-Direct Bombay and Madras,
t North of India, ss.
ss. 3d.-East Indian, 1 ls. 9d.-Grea
-Great Southern of Madras, 55.-Madras, Nellore, and
Arcot, 3s. 3d.

GLASGOW, JANUARY 4.
STOCK EXCHANGR.—The sales are—Ayr and Galloway,
395.—Caledonian, New, 57s.—Caledonian and Dumbarton-
shire, 455. 6d.—Direct Northern (scrip), 555. 6d.—Dundes
and Perth, 27% —Dunblane, Donne, and Callender, 34.1.—.
East of Fife, 58s.—East Indian, 12s. 6d.—Ea.st Lothian Cen-
tral, 60s.—Edinburgh and Perth, 65s.—Glasgow General
Terminus, 1214 —Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr,.7o/.—Ditto,
Halves, 91. 9s.—Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle, 61. 14s.
Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ardrossan,sl.—Taegnw,Airdrie.
71,—Great Indian Peninsular,
and Dlonkland Junction,
Gs. 6d.—Kilmarnock and Ayr Direct, 515.—Manchester and
Southampton, 408.—Midland, Halves, 714—Paisley, Barr-
head, and Hurlet, 725. 6d.—South-Eastern and Dover, New,
No. 4,63 s.—Stirling and Dunfermline, 775. 6d.—Stirling'
shire and Midland Junction, 53s.—Strathern Junction, 82s.
—York and Newcastle. Preference, 73/4—York and North
Midland Preference, 1414.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.
LoNnox, JAN. 6.—Wind this day at noon, N.N.E., ligh
then
S `viva
S . .W.—Arrd. Cambria, Shadduk
airs and thick hazy wind
DEAL, JAN. o. . Demerara ; Georgiana, Syrners,
Mauritius ; Clio, Mule.'ra, Tinker N
Fou,teen, Williamson, Montreal. Sid.
Honduras; Mar.ga!e.t L% __.
~ ew York; Augusta,
Wilson, Aliramichi ,
John s, Newfoundland. Arrd. from the
Fairy, Garron, St.
River, the West India, Rich, Sierra Leone; Audacia, Valley,
Bahia.
r St. Lucia.
SANDWICIL--IWITOII, Wind _
~..• c --W S. S.E ,moderate.—Arrd. John
LIVERPOOL, JA,. .••
Pakenham, Bourne,. Jamaica ; Sunbeam,
Campbell, Africa;
Winsor, New Orleans. Sid. Mary Worrell, Gardner, Valpa-
raiso; Copia, s, Jarvi raiso; Fame, Malley, St. Thomas;
New Orleans ; Tarquin, Moody, Mobile;
Liverpool, Dl'Lellan,
Ryrie., lialifax, &c. Off
Chenango, Snow, Baltimore ; Niagara, Russell, grew York ;
Hibernia. ( port, Emma
steamer)
Watts, New York ; Columbus. St. John's, New Brunswick;
Abbotsford, Restigouche Aleyon, Que,
ec ;
n Midac, Montreal.
WATERFORD, JAN. 2.—Wind S.E. to S. S.E.—Sld. Star,
Mountain, Newfoundland.
Wind E.S.E,,
CORK, J. 3. very strong.—Arrd. Swal-
low, Steele, St. Domingo ; Delhi, Hecker, Honduras ; Chief-
tain, Walker, Mirarnichi ;. Alpine, Corry, Halifax ; Matthew
Pearce, White, Laguna. Sid. Giaour, Belcher, Jamaica. The
Ellen, of and from Yarmouth, N. S., to Barbadoes, was aban-
doned waterlogged, 18th ult., lat. 32 N. long. 54 W.; crew
saved by the Swallow, arrived here. Tlie Isabel, front. Liver-
pool for Antigua, has put in with loss of foremast. The .
wreck of a small dismantled brig was passed 13th ult., lat.
28, long. 57, by the Matthew Pearce arrived here. The Car-
ron, Thompson, from Demerara to Dublin, arrived here to-day
leaky, aid lower tier of cargo washed out.
LLANELLI', JAN. s.—The Catherine, Patten, of and for Ayr,
from Newport, is on the sands near the entrance of Kidwelly
river, and is likely to go to pieces; crew saved.
PORTSMOUTH, 'JAN. s.—Wind S E sld Majesty's
' •—, . her
ships Daphne and Saruaran 14,
Eastward.
i•
POOLE, JAN. 4.—Arrd. 1 loraPidding, Newfoundland. -7
PLYMOUTH, JAN. 4.—Wind E. Arrd. Chapman, Shap-
cott, Quebec. Md. her Majesty's ship Recruit, a cruise to
relieve the homeward bound.
FALMOUTH, JAN. s.—Wind S., fresh breezes.—Arrd.
Salisbury Harrison, Brittain, Richebuctu.
BRISTOL, JAN. s.—Wind S.E.—Arrd. Louisa, Carpenter,
Lima. Sid. Growler, Allen, Newfoundland.
KINSALE, JAN. 2.—Wind E.S.E.—Arrd. Serafin, Doldez,
Havannah.

OFF CAPE CLEAR, DEc. 30.—Devonshire, New York.
CROOKITAVEN.—Arrd. Exile, Card, Pictou, for New York,
with part of cargo thrown overboard.
GALWAY, JAL I.—Wind E.—Arrd. Prescott, New York.
DEAL, JAN. s.—The laabel, Medhurst, arrd in the Downs,
got on the Newcomb Sand, off Dungeness last night, was