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

THE SUN. LONDON, FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 16, 1846

LITERA TURE.
POEMS. By Thomas Hood. 2 Vols.

IMPORTANT EXPERIMENTS AT
THE SUGGESTION OF LORD ELLENBOROUGH.

Versatility is the Most puzzling characteristic in
the human intellect, and nevertheless the wonder which
in the abstract it would necessarily excite is somewhat
deadened by its very frequent occurrence. Scarcely
any literary personage of any celebrity, especially in
modern times, but in some measure has given evi-
dence of its possession. Southey was equally vigorous
in biography, and mongrel-epic, and history, and
that strangest of all strange styles of composition,
y'cleped the " Doctor." Shelley could dream
away in his celestial dreamings, or weave ts
tissue of the most subtle and plausible me-
taphysics, or sneer the scorching sneer of
a Mephistophiles (as he bath done in his posthumoas
eccentricity, " Peter Bell the Third"), with equal
force of conception and equal amplitude of embodi-
ment. Professor Wilson, with his jovial and heroic
visage, and his " storm of golden hair," can look the
critic, and the bard, and the scholiast, and the teller of
wierd legends—each as though he were the divinity
exclusively of those several departments. But epithets
are insufficient to particularise the various individuals
who may be classed under this nomenclature, when
Coleridge, and Byron, and a thousand others,
equally marvellous in their different idiocyncracies,
recur to our memory in a torrent of wild,
and beautiful, and pleading shapes. Let us reduce
these "astonishments" to a nucleus, but how ?—bv
naming Thomas Hood. The jester and the mover of
the soul to tears—the drollest of the droll, the most
touching of the pathetic—the Heraclitus, and the
Petrarch—the merriest of companions, the most earnest
of philanthropists! That he was such, behold his
"Whimsicalities" and his "Bridge of Sighs ;" that
he was such, revel in laughter over his perigrinations
along the Rhine, weep copious floods of weepings
over his advocacy of the semptress. Many pos-
sibly are not aware of his vast claims upon
our admiration as a true and earnest poet; hun-
dreds who have lingered over that touching
ballad which tended to render Punch so popular,
are not acquainted with the fact that it was but a
scintilla from a sun• luminary—the gush of one limit-
' boy from an organ of many glorious and thrilling
" stops." As the preface of these two volumes as-
sures us, their publication has been undertaken " in
fulfilment of his own desire ;" and correctly did he es-
timate his real claim upon the love and sympathy of
posterity in uttering this darling wish of his heart.
With " Christabel," and " Genevieve," and the " Pot
of Basil," and " Alastor," and " Parisina," most of
these too brief but delicious poems will be classed
henceforth. Any one who will peruse his simple
narrative of an olden fiction about " Hero and Lean-
der," must indeed
" Weep here, unto a tale of ancient grief,
Traced from the course of an old bas-relief ;"
while the billows, "like pawing horses beat upon
the sand," and the " bosom throes" of the disparted
lovers afford a premonition of the luckless destiny of
each, and prelude like a symphony of sweet music
the anguish of the catastrophe, the tropes and figures
which the narrator summonses to his aid impress the
incidents upon the imagination with a singular and
startling truthfulness. When Leand•r has aban-
doned himself to the bosom of " that cold di vorcer," the
Hellespont—when
--" with deep sighs he blows away the wave
That hangs superfluous tears upon his cheek;"—
when the deathful but amorous syren breaks up
through the blue water until "he jars against her
glossy skin"— when his form is girdled by her arms,
and

Further experiments by Captain Chads, C. 8., of the Ex-
cellent gunnery ship, at Portsmouth, for testing the practi-
cability of destroying floating booms, and made at the sug-
gestion and by the order of the Earl of Ellenborough, the
new First Lord of the Admiralty, have taken place this
week in Portsmouth Harbour. Tuesday's trial was on a
small spar, which was destroyed by the exploshin. Yester-
day the experiment was made on a more extensive scale—
on two large spars, the lower masts of the Thalia, 42, the
diameter of each being about 27 inches and length about 90
feet. A strong chain cable was placed along the spars, and
then both, with the chain, were strongly woolded together
with a ten-inch cable. This was moored at some distance
from the Excellent, and then a breaker, in which
a long copper fuze was fixed, and which contained 56 pounds
of powder, was lashed in a very short space of time under
the boom. At about twenty minutes past eleven the fuze
was fired by Lieutenant Jenner, of the Excellent, the boat in
which he was pulled was rowed out of danger, and in five
minutes and a half from the lighting of the fuze the explo-
sion took place. It was a grand spectacle ; the water along
the whole line of the boom being thrown up to a considerable
height, forming a dense mass, above which the fragments of
the spars were seen in great quantities ; one large piece of
at least fifteen or twenty feet in length, the entire substance
of one of the spai-s, was thrown to a height of at least 100
feet. The demolition was most complete ; not only were
they splintered, but they were broken short off in a variety
of places. The chain of course sank, therefore it was not
immediately ascertained whether or not it had been broken.
A number of naval and military officers of all ranks at-
tended this interesting experiment, amongst whom we ob-
served Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, the Commander-in-Chief ;
Vice-Admiral Warren, the Lieut.-Governor the Hon. Sir
Hercules Pakenham, Captain Ogle, Captain Sir Richard
This experiment has completely and satisfactorily proved.
iGtoradrnte,v,lict.he St. Vincent ; Captain Collier, C. 8., of the
that booms, bc., placed across the mouths of rivers and har-
bours may be easily destroyed by means of a very simple
The experiment of firing at a steam-boat funnel will take
oprrdoecersfsr.o
mALs
owred
ee
beforen bo r o ugohb.served, this has been tested by
place to-morrow. The funnel stands erect on the platform
of the old target stage, which has boarded sides, equal in
height to the paddle-boxes of a small steamer. It was
towed up the lake to its position to-day by the boats of the
Excellent.

DETERMINED SUICIDE BY A CHANCERY SUITOR.
—Last evening, Mr. Wakley, M P., held an inquest at the
Robin Hood, Holborn, upon the body .f Mr. James Ede,
aged sixty-three, late an extensive tanner at Byrinck, Sussex,
and for the last thirty years a suitor in the Court of Chancery
for property said to be to the amount of 100,000/. The jury
viewed the body, which presented a most appalling spectacle,
the throat being cut twelve inches across the spinal bone.
Mary Wheatley, chambermaid to the Robin Hood, stated
that about nine o'clock on Tuesday morning deceased rang
for his clean linen. She answerecLhis bell, and told him that
it was not ready. A sheriff's officer was then with him.
She had scarcely got down stairs when she was recalled by
the officer, who said, "Go in, I think the man has cut his
throat." She went in, and saw deceased with both hands
working at his throat. A large quantity of blood spirted
from the wound against the wall. Mr. William Arthur Ede,
eldest son of deceased, said that his father had been a Chan-
cery suitor for a large amount of property, which greltly af-
fected his mind and depressed his spirits. He was exceed-
ingly reserved, and never let his friends know the exact
state of his circumstances. Mr. Willis, sheriff's officer, ar-
rested deceased about ten o'clock on Tuesday morning, under
an execution obtained by Mr. Thorpe, proprietor of the Robin
Hood, for 180/. When he told deceased under what circum-
stances he arrested him, deceased replied, "Impossible ; I gave
him a judgment, but never thought he would take such
steps. It was foolish for him to do so, as be was certain of
his money, for an estate would be soon sold which would re-.
alise 20,0001., that would be divided amongst five creditors."
He then desired witness to call Mr. Thorpe, and witness was
so doing, when, hearing a noise, he turned round, and, seeing
that deceased had cut his throat, called for assistance. Mr.
Thorpe, landlord of the Robin Hood, stated that he issued the
execution at the desire of deceased, in the hope that it would
induce the solicitors in the case to pay his demand. Verdict,
" Insanity."
THE RECENT FIRE AT CAMDEN-TOWN.—Upon
instituting inquiries yesterday on the spot sufficient informa-
tion was obtained to satisfy every party that the fire, which
broke out on the preceding evening, in Hawley's-fields, was
the work of an incendiary. It appears that none of the
workpeople had been upon the premises since twelve o'clock
at noon on Tuesday, consequently the outbreak could not
have occurred from any accident or negligence on their part.
Whilst the firemen were examining the buildings after the
flames were extinguished they discovered quite sufficient to
convince them that the fire had been wilfully caused. Linder
the floorings of the stairs, belonging to the house that was
the least burnt they found the remains of a wooden candle-
stick, such as is used by carpenters, and at the side of it was
discovered about an inch and a half of a candle-wick, the
tallow having become melted, had run away. A similar dis-
covery they made in the next house, and from the fact
of layers of shavings having been found crammed under the
floorings, there is every reason to believe that some one had
entered the buildings at an early hour of the evening, and
had laid the trains of shavings and placed in each a
lighted candle in the expectation that the whole four houses
would become ignited at the same moment. Such, unfor-
tunately, was the case, and had it not been for the timely dis-
covery made by the police, and the early arrival of the en-
gines, the four buildings must have been consumed. Mr.
Mathew Marshall, builder, of Hustridge- place, Portland-
town, is the owner of the property, and it appears that he
had recently received a threatening letter from some
one, and from a variety of circumstances which had
previously transpired, it is expected that the guilty party
will ere long be apprehended by the police and brought to
justice.

" Under the ponderous sea his body dips,
While Hero's name dies bubbling on his lips "
when the billows have bleached the bloom upon his
countenance into cold marble,
" And o'er his steadfast cheek a furrow'd pain
Hath set, and stiffen'd like a storm in ice"—

when the lamentation of the sea-nymph has ceased,
and she carries him wain into the sunlight, herself
"shuddering off the beaded ware"—when at length, in
the intense abandonment and torment of her sorrow,
she vanishes

" Under the deep, inscrutable—and there
Weeps in a midnight made by her own hair"—
when these, among a swarm of similar beauties, have
slid like " rose-tipp'd avalanches" into the dream-
valley of our soul, we are then in some degree
capacitated to pronounce our affection for poor
Hood as a prince among the princes of the
higher walks in literature. His " Plea for the
Midsummer Fairies," filled with elfin delicacies of
fancy—his " Lycus the Centaur," that twin-brother
of " Lamia"—his " Haunted House," that extrava-
gant assemblage of desolate and forlorn ideas—his
" Dream of Eugene Aram," nerved and sinewed with
remorse in every syllable—his " Song of the Shirt,"
one among the immortal English ballads—all com-
bine together as appeals for our love, our sympathy,
and our reverence of the tender and joyous, though
powerful and pensive, spirit, who has so recently de-
parted from amongst us. But that those most ex-
quisite stanzas, written shortly before his demise, are
now familiar to the " mass," we would transfer them to
our columns, breathing, as they do, more of the pre-
science, and more of the gracefulness than that ex-
pressed in poor Tom Ingoldsby's last verses, " As I
lay a-thynking, a-thynking, a-thynking." Here,how-
ever, is a fragment, noble in the simplicity of a proud
and wounded heart. It is "To a False Friend :"
" Our hands have met, but not our hearts ;
Our hands will never meet again.
Friends if we have ever been,
Friends we cannot now remain ;
I only know I loved you once,
I only known I loved in vain ;
Our hands have met, but not our hearts;
Our hands will never meet again !
Then farewell to heart and hand
I would our hands had never met :
Even the outward form of love
Must be resigned with some regret.
Friends we still might seem to be,
If my wrong could e'er forget
Our hands have joined, but not our hearts :
I would our hands had never met."
For poetry at once of intellect and sentiment, of
the head and of the heart, we know nothing that
blends them together more intimately. The two
volumes are delicious bijoux; they are a companion
to Moxon's edition of Keats, and their contents vie
with that illustrious poet in many of his subtler and
more brilliant qualities.

APPOINTMENT OF A SALARIID SECRETARY TO
(HE MANCHESTER ATIIEN.EUM.—The Directors—after long
and patient examination, by a committee appointed for that
purpose, of an enormous pile of applications, testimonials,
&c., from about four hundred candidates, together with
a voluminous correspondence with referees and others—last
night came to a unanimous determination as to the indi
victual to be appointed. We may premise that the list was
first reduced to 30 •of the most eligible candidates; this
number was again carefully reduced to five, and of these five
the gentleman who appeared to every one of the committee
and also to the directors, to be in every respect the most
eligible, was Mr. John Baxter Langley, of Blackburn. Mr.
Langley is the son of the Rev. John Langley, rector of
Wallingford, Berks; was educated for the medical profession,
and was in practice at Blackburn ; but some distaste for his
profession, and a strong bent towards literary avocations, have
led him to resolve to' quit practice as a surgeon, His testi-
monials were of the highest character, and as honourable to
him as they were satisfactory to the directors of the Athe-
neum. Mr. Langley originated and established the Black-
burn Mechanics' Institution, and on that occasion delivered
an opening address, which has been published at the request
of the directors of that institution. In a testimonial which
they forwarded to the directors of the Athenaeum, they ex-
press in the warmest terms their sense of his unwearied zeal
and arduous labours, as indicating the deep interest he took
in their institution, and their conviction that these qualities,
with his love of literary pursuits, would render him eminently
eligible for the office, to which he was last evening appointed.
The salary is 1501. a-year, and we believe Mr. Langley is to
enter on his duties forthwith.—Manchester Guardian.
IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD.
—The fishermen on the Pembroke coast are reaping a good
harvest, the consequent effect of the late gales. Immense
portions of wreck are continually being washed on shore.—
Carmarthen Journal.

SERIOUS CAB ACCIDENT. —On Wednesday after-
noon, between one and two o'clock, as John Williams, Esq.,
a gentleman residing in Queen Ann-street, Cavendish-squale,
was crossiig Harlerstreets into Great Marylebone-street, a
kackney cab came up at a moderate pace, but before he could
reach the footpath he wasknocked down with great violence.
He was immediately taken to the nearest surgeon's, where
he remained some time insensible, having sustained a severe
laceration of the scalp, besides a dreadful wound in the right
temple, and we regret to add that he continues in a very
precarious state:
APPREHENSION OF THE CARFIELD-HOUSE THIEVES.
—Wednesday morning, from information received by Bardell
and Rivers, the two police-officers who have been on the
look-out since Thursday, they were enabled to apprehend
two of the principal.parties concer'ed in the late impudent
robbery at Colonel \Vayde's, by pretended railway surveyors.
The police, in the first instance, came to town, and in a court
near Drury-lane they found the wife of the individual who
represented himself as the surveyor. The woman expressed
her willingness to give every information, and by her infor-
mation they proceeded to Chelmsford, and on Wednesday
morning they were. enabled to secure Mathers, the principal
of the gang, and one of his companions. A large portion of
the property was found on the premises.
THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT BRENTFORD.—The
deposition of John Lowe, the man who was stabbed by his
father, was taken yesterday by the magistrate, of which the
following is a copy;--" John Lowe, on his oath, saith, I am
the son of Thomas Lowe, and carry on the business of a
shoemaker at Brentford-end. My father lives in Old Brent-
ford. About half-past ten o'clock yesterday I was in the
back parlour talking to Mr. Mallard. I heard my father
come in and ask if A was at home, and my wife said I was
at home. I came fn6yard, and my father said to me that
he wanted his account, and I told him that I had it not
ready just then, but that he should have it in an hour, and
then came into the shop, and my father asked me if I had a
pair of lasts that were his. Some further conversation about
the lasts took place. I then went towards some last-racks,
and on stooping I found my father had followed me, and I
observed him to make a motion as if he would strike me, and
I found then something pressed against my side, and I was
wounded, and the blood flowed down. I saw a knife in his
right head; I then went into Mr. Mallard's parlour, who lives
in the same house, and my father appeared to be following
me, and his countenance looked dreadful. I have since seen
the knife I think my father stabbed the with."
FIRE IN DRUItt-LANE.—On Wednesday night, be-
tween the hours of eight and nine o'clock, a fire, which at
one time threatened •'cry serious consequences, broke out on
the premises of Mr. Masey, carpenter and builder, in Drury-
lane. When first discovered the flames had obtained a
strong hold of a quantity of veneers and other sorts of tim-
ber in the stores on the ground floor, and immediately, under
were the workshops of Mr. Gray, which on fire last Sunday
evening. When the alarm was raised two escapes belong-
ing to the Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire
arrived, and so did several engines. An immediate supply
of water being at hand, two of the engines were set to work,
and the water being judiciously distributed, the flames were
confined to that portion of the premises in which they com-
menced, but they were not entirely extinguished until con-
siderable damage was done to the valuable stock, and also to
the building. The o,rigin of the fire is wrapped in mystery.
Mr. Masey, unfortunately, was uninsured.
FATAL FALL IN THE STREET.--011 Wednesday
afternoon Mr. Bedforti held an inquest in the board-room of
the St. James's Workhouse, to inquire into the death of
Joseph Walters, aged thirty-seven years. The deceased re-
sided at 30, Great Pulteney-street, Golden• square, and had
formerly held a situation as clerk in a railway office. Ile
had been out of employ for the last eight months, and fre-
quently complained of vertigo, he also suffered much from
indigestion. On Saturday morning, about twelve o'clock,
he was proceeding along Compton-street when he was sud-
denly attacked with his disorder, and in a moment he fell
down in a fit, striking his head against the stones. He was
picked np insensible;and conveyed into a neighbouring sur-
geon's, and ultimately to the above institution, where be died
from the injuries consequent upon the fall on Monday last.
Verdict, " Accidentahleath."

CURIOUS APPEAL AGAINST A
GAME CONVICTION.

At the Berkshire Quarter Sessions, on Wednesday,
Thomas Goodlake, Esq , the senior magistrate of the
county, appealed against a conviction under the game-
laws, in which case Mr. Palmer was respondent. Much
interest was excited from the peculiarity of the case, and
the reading of the conviction, especially that part direct-
ing a week's imprisonment in default of payment of the
fine. caused some merriment. Mr. Goodlake had been
convicted of trespagsing in pursuit of game on land at
Letcomb, belonginc, to Mr. Palmer. In the month of
September last Mr. Palmer, jun., invited Mr. R. Tyrrell,
of Steventon, to have a day's shooting over the farm be-
longing to and occupied by his father at Letcomb.
They also had the permission of Mr. Kimber
to go upon the farm occupied by him ; but it
so chanced that they went out of bounds, and
o t s
passed through a plantation which, though belonging
to Mr. Kimber's landlord, was not in his occupation.
and
Mrc. s
Mr. Goodlake laid an information against both of them,
and thy were convicted by C. Eyston, Esq., and fined
Is.
each
Francis Goodlake
M r.Palmer
m
.
(one
Goodlake,
of the county coroners), and James Fortescue (Mr.
Goodla 'ke s servant), had ridden across one of his fields
with three greyhounds, which were all loose. The
parties were riding abreast, and appeared tobea
ting
the
the beats, and they turned round and beat back a
gain
Mr. Palmer, after his son's conviction, laid informations
against Mr. Goodlake and his servant, but, at the hear-
ing, that against the servant was not pressed. The in-
formation was heard at %Vantage, before B. Wroughton,
Esq., and Mr. Goodlake was convicted and fined Is. and
costs. Mr. Goodlake had called Mr. Wasbrough when
before Mr. Wroughton, in support of his plea that he
was not in search or pursuit of game, but Mr. Was-
brough could not say that he was aware, when passing
through the field of Mr. Palmer, that they were not.
Mr. Bros, who was opposed to the appellant, said Mr.
Goodlake much regretted appealing against the decision
of a magistrate of the same bench as himself, and towards
whom he entertained the highest regard, but his wish
was to refute the assumption that the object of the tres-
pass was that of searching for game. Mr. Wasbrough's
confession might be good against himself, but he could
not be aware of Mr. Goodlake's intention, which hu-
manly sp"aking, was only known to himself, and he de-
nied that such was his purpose in passing through the
field. Mr. Goodlake, as an old sportsman, did not like
to be convicted under the Game Act, and, however able
the gentleman might be who had adjudicated upon the
case, he would wish to submit it to another tribunal, and
for them to hear the evidence, whatever might be their
decision. He should call Fortescue, who was not exa-
mined at the hearing.
James Fortescue said Mr. Goodlake always studiously
avoided coursing on Mr. Palmer's land. The witness
admitted, however, on cross-examination, that the
manner they crossed the field was that in which people
would do as were beating for hares ; but they did not
beat for them ; and that there was nothing in the way
to have prevented them from passing from Smith's wheat
stubble to the Ridgway-road, and thereby avoided Mr.
Palmer's field.
The CHAIRMAN said the Bench had heard enough of
the case to induce them to confirm the conviction.
The respondent applied for an order for the payment
of his costs by the appellant, which was allowed, and
they were taxed at 271. 2s. Bd.

SALE OF THE CHURCH OF ST. IIENET FINK.—
Wednesday being the day appointed for the public view of this
property previous to the sale, a considerable number of people
visited it, attracted by the novelty of the sale of a church by
auction. Among the lots which will be submitted to the
hammer are two fine oil paintings on panel, representing
Moses bearing the Tables and Aaron, the High Priest, both
figures are the Sin of life. The carved and pannell'd fittings
of the altar-piece, including some very chaste Corinthian
columns, with gilt capitals; a carved oak poor-box on pedes-
tal stand. This is an ancient piece of work, the date wrought
in the lock being 1683, and a bell measuring twenty inches
in dianiltin

AYR NEW-YEAR HORSE FAIR. The annual
New Year horse fair'iYas held here, at the Fauldbacks, on
Thursday last. This' fair is always the best of our annual
fairs, and the present" Was altogether unequalled of late years.
—Ayr Observer.
ORDNANCE SURVEY.—The Ordnance surveyors
have " levelled" Newrstreet, Huddersfield, during the week,
for the eleventh time. :,Finding- a slight mistake on their see-•
tions, they returned a distance of 40 miles to correct the
armr.—Leeds Mercury,

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE.
In proportion as the time approaches for the meeting
of Parliament, anxiety as to what alteration may be pro-
posed in the corn-laws has increased rather than di-
minished ; and, in the absence of definite infJrmation on

the subject, all sorts of rumours have been in circulation.
As all doubt must now shortly beat an end, it is scarcely
worth while to mention the different reports that have
been current ; but all confidence in the present amount
of protection being maintained has long ago died away.
Every circumstance having the remotest connexion
with the all-important subject—the corn-laws—has been
carefully examined, and the wording of her Majesty's
answers to the deputations from the cities of London
and Dublin has been closely criticised. The general
opinion appears to be that those replies afford grounds
for assuming that the measures likely to be proposed by
Ministers will be of a sweeping character • and it is
certain that since the day they were delivered the tone
of the trade has undergone a decided change. About
the close of last week there were evident symptoms of a
rise in the value of agricultural produce, many being
then still disposed to think that the change likely to be
made would not be of a character materially to seduce
prices ; latterly, however, a contrary opinion has pre-
vailed, and holders, whether farmers or merchants, have
certainly become more anxious to realise. On the other
hand, buyers have shown the utmost unwillingness to
enter into fresh operations ; and though no actual de-
cline of money has occurred, the upward movement has
been effectually checked.
Being, as we have already intimated, perfectly in the
Clark as to the nature of the laws by which the trade in
grain with foreign countries may hereafter be regulated,
it is almost impossible to determine with any degree of
accuracy, how prices are likely to be affected ; on the
whole, however, we are still inclined to think that the
value of wheat cannot, at least, for some time, even under
the most adverse circumstances, be greatly depressed.
Our reasons for this belief are, in the first place, the fact
that all parties have become convinced that an important
alteration is sure to take place ; the effect has therefore
in a great measure been anticipated ; and further, it
must be remarked, that the Premier, before he can
attempt to recommend the repeal of the present laws,
must make it clear to the House that there really exists
such scarcity as to warrant so dangerous an experiment.
This being proved, the quantity of wheat now in bond,
even though immediately liberated, would not, we think,
be likely to produce much effect on the markets ; and as
no material supplies from the Continent can be expected
to reach this country until the spring or summer, farmers
might still have the opportunity of disposing of what
they have on hand, without overloading the markets
before the new order of things could come into full
operation. The only circumstance, in our opinion, which
could depress the value of wheat materially, would be a
panic among the producers, but should the deliveries
from the growers be as moderate as they have been of
lice, the liberation of the wheat under lock in the
kingdom would, we think, have no very great effect on
quotations.

At some of the principal markets sellers appear, how-
ever, already to have become alarmed; and at Liverpool
a sale of bonded wheat by public auction produced a
marked effect of Tuesday. Lat r in the week the anxiety
to make sales had not subsided, and at Friday's market
the millers found no difficulty in securing what they re-
quired for immediate use at prices tis. 3d. per 701bs.
below the rates current on that day se'nnigbt. At most
of the other principal consuming towns, as wall as the
chief markets in the agricultural districts, holders have
generally declined acceding to lower terms, and pur-
chasers having refused to pay the prices asked, business
has been nearly at a stand.
From Scotland the accounts are likewise very dull
this week. At Edinburgh, on Wednesday, the attend-
ance of buyers was unusually small; but notwithstand-
ing the limited nature of the inquiry, sellers remained
firm, and neither wheat of good quality nor the best
sorts of barley or oats receded in value. The Glasgow
advices are of a similar character, and the determination
to wait until something definite as to the future shall
have transpired, appears to be quite as general in the
northern as in the southern markets.
From Ireland we learn that the supplies brought for-
ward by the farmers had fallen off so greatly as, to a
considerable extent, to counteract the effects of the dimi-
nished, demand and that prices of grain had rather
tended upwards than otherwise.
We have again to report a moderate arrival of wheat
coastwise into London, 6,649 qrs. having come to hand
up to Saturday evening. The belief which prevailed
last week, viz., that the ortness of the supply had been
occasioned by the then boisterous weather, does not
therefore appear to have been correct. It is conse-
quently fair to infer that farmers are not particularly
anxious to sell at present rates, which is further con-
firmed by the scanty nature of the arrivals by land car-
riage samples from the home counties.
On Wednesday there was scarcely anything fresh up
from Essex, Kent, or Suffolk; and though the demand
was the reverse of active, purchasers were unable to buy
below previous prices. On Friday affairs remained in
nearly the same position, the extreme insignificance of
the supply rendering sellers unwilling to submit to any
decline; but from the cautious manner in which the mil-
lers conducted their operations, we are inclined to think
prices could not have been maintained if there had been
any increase in the arrivals.
Foreign free wheat has been quite as difficult of dis-
posal as that of home growth, and towards the close of
the week there were indications of a slight giving way
on the part of sellers; this failed, however, to lead to
business, and in the absence of transactions of import-
ance, quotations remained nominally unaltered.
The belief that a considerable modification will be pro-
posed in the duties on the meeting of Parliament, has
not produced much effect in the value of bonded wheat,
and no disposition has been manifested to speculate in
the article. Importers have, nevertheless, remained very
firm; indeed, some holders have withdrawn their samples,
preferring to wait until the intention of Ministers, as re- i
gards the corn-laws, shall have become known, to parting
with their property, at the rate now current. From the
present state of the averages, it is pretty certain that the
duty will rise to 16s. per quarter on Thursday next, but
this is, under existing circumstances, regarded with in•
difference, as few parties now anticipate that the present
scale will long remain in operation. The scale of flour
has been very limited, but as the metropolitan bakers
have for some weeks past bought with the utmost cautioni
it may be presumed that their stocks will not hold out
much longer. As yet, however, there are no indications
of an improved demand, and considerable difficulty has
been experienced since our last iu effecting sales at pre-
vious prices. _ _

Tne arrivals of barley have consisted of 1,156 qrs.
from our own coast, 937 qrs. from Scotland, and
3,025 qrs. from abroad. The inquiry for this grain has
not by any means improved ; and though choice malting
samples have, in consequence of their scarcity realised
full terms, all other descriptions have hung very heavily
on hand. This was more particularly the case towards
the close of the week, and on Friday the general runs
were certainly obtainable a shade below the currency of
Monday. The duty on barley is now 6s. per quarter,
having risen Is. last Thursday. Of the trifling quantity
previously under lock at this port, the greater part was
released before the advance took place in the duty.
The inquiry- for malt has been of a retail character ;
but factors have generally insisted on previous rates,
and the little business done has been at similar prices to
those current last week.
Though the wind has been favourable for making the
passage from Ireland, the supply of oats from thence has
not exceeded 2,970 qrs., which with 3,902 qrs. from our
own coast, 1,699 qrs. from Scotland, and 2,663 qrs. from
abroad, affords only a small weekly arrival. Notwith-
standing this circumstance, the trade has not maintained
the firm tone it assumed about the close of last week ;
which we think must in a great measure be attributed to
the general doubt and uncertainty as to what may be
done with the corn-laws.

Many of the principal dealers appear to have deter-
mined to refrain altogether from purchasing until some-
thing positive shall have become known on the subject ;
and buyers who have been compelled by their immediate
wants to come into the market, have taken just sufficient
for present purposes ; it has, therefore, been difficult to
sustain the recent slight advance. In our last number
the quantity of foreign oats on which duty had been
paid during the past year was, in mistake, stated to be
50,000 qrs., instead of 500,000 qrs.
There has not been much doing in beans and peas
since Monday. The former article has been held firmly
at the rates of that day; but the value of the latter has
continued to tend downwards.
Besides the rise in the duty on barley, the rate
chargeable on oats and rye advanced Is. per quarter on
Thursday.