The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-16 00:00:00

FOREIGN CORN TRADE.

By the most recent advices from the Baltic we learn
that winter had set in, and that the navigation of many
of the principal rivers had been rendered impracticable,
in consequence of the ice.
Letters from Dantzic, of the 30th of December, in-
form us that very little business had been done there in
itt:hoinulyabout 150 lasts
that time. Frost
grainof wheat during
having h e preceding
changed
handsfor tni g.‘
Nh,
had set in there early in the month, and since the 15th
December the navigation had been closed; up to the
period named, few contracts for sprincr shipment had been
entered into. The prices asked Cir moderately good
qualities of (new)
mixed wheat, weighing from fifty-nine
to sixty-one pounds, had varied from 475. to 495. per
quarter free on board.
At most of the Lower Baltic ports business seems to
have been quite at a stand, and nearly as much interest
appears to have been felt on the Continent as in this
country respecting the alterations likely to be made in
our corn-laws. From Rostock we learn that, though
the deliveries of wheat from the farmers had rather in-
creased, no disposition to accept lower terms had
been displayed, and few merchants had been willing to
enter into engagements to ship good qualities of wheat
in spring below 455. to 475. per quarter, free on board.
At Stettin, on the 3d instant, the grain trade was very
quiet ; fine qualities of red Pomeranian and Ukermark
were then held at 48s. per quarter, free on board in
spring, and secondary sorts at corresponding terms.
Our llamburgh advices reach up to Tuesday last,
Since the previous lost-day there hid been a sharp frost
and a good deal of ice had formed in the Elbe, so as, in
some measure, to interfere with the havigatton. In
wheat little or nothing had been done for export, but
holders of the artice had been very firm, and high rates
had been paid by local buyers ; say 635. for the best 62
to 631bs. IVaren, and from 50s. to 525. for fair to good
parcels. From outpnrts there were not molly offers, and
the prices asked for the few cargoes offered having been
too high, the contracts closed for spring shipment had
been altogether unimportant.
In the Dutch and Belgian markets the value of
wheat appears to keep up ; but prices, though r ther
above those current hen, are too near a level with our
own to admit of shipment from hence with a fair
chance of profit. At Antwerp on Tuesday last soft
Polish Odessa wheat was selling at prices equal to 48s.
to 50i. per qr. ; and at Rotterdam quotations were
equally high.

From the Mediterranean ports there is no news of i
terest, business having scarcely resumed its regular
course after the Christmas holidays.
From Odessa we learn that the demand for wheat had
slackened materially, without, however, producing any
very marked effect on price, and on Dec. 19, fine quali-
ties were still held at 355. 6d. to 365. per qr.. free on
board.—Mark-lane Express.

THE COUNTY MAGISTRACY.
The complaint in the country respecting magistrate?
non-attendance to their public duty seems to be spread-
ing rather widely. Latterly we have had occasion to
notice this neglect in some parts—Leiceslershire the last;
and now, according to the following, which we take from
a Nottingham paper, complaint seems to have arisen in
that county. This evil—for a serious one it is—must be
corrected:—

" We desire, with all respect to the Mansfield bench of
magistrates, to remind them of the desirableness, and
we may add, the imperative duty of attending with more
regularity ,to their official functions. Complaints are
constantly reaching us on this very subject. Persona
have to come miles over and over again, when one
journey would amply suffice, merely because they can
not obtain a hearing. To go no further back than last
week, there was only one magistrate present ; and one
person complains with respect to that day, that he shall
have to attend a third time, merely because there have
not for the last two meetings been enough magistrates
present to dispose of his case. We are also informed
that, a few weeks since, a large number of poor persons
from Sutton-in-Ashfield, who were summoned for
poor-rates, were sent back again without a hearing,
the magistrates present refusing to stay and go into
the business. Now, we are quite sure that these
gentlemen would not willingly expose the public,
more especially the poorer portion of the public, to any
loss or inconvenience, and hence we are sure they will
pardon our hinting that men occupying their position
are bound to regard themselves as servants of the public,
acid that no business, no pleasure, no personal wish or
inclination, should be allowed to interfere with the
full discharge of those duties, which, by the accept-
ance of the office of magistrates, they have undertaken
to perform."