The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-17 00:00:00

.
THE • CORN TRADE.
.
The weather having been very fine up to Friday,
so favourable an opportunity for getting in the grain
not previously secured has not been neglected by
farmers, and we are inclined to think that little now
remains abroad, even in the most back ward and
mountainous districts. Potato lifting has also pro-
gressed rapidly, and we are, happy to state
produceh e
idiseasen
ti
the
ea n Scotland as to the
northern
0 1
Irlti i
Is
that the accounts from
o,bnetteihnneu em
southern
n csha t islfeascst o ry
'le
rucertainly
i enparts ge-
neral
.
of the kingdom, and there is reason to expect that the
metropolitan market will continue to be well
sup-
plied with this useful root from quarters
where, the disorder has not prevailed so extensively as in
this neighbourhood. The trade in grain has remained
in much the same position as previously; all parties
have acted with a great deal of caution, and there has
not been the slightest disposition to enter into specu-
lative investments; the arrivals from abroad which have
on the whole been liberal, have therefore proved more
than importers have found it easy to place ; and at
most of the ports on the coast, as well as in Londeal,
stocks of foreign wheat have, within the last few
weeks, accumulated. The deliveries from the fanners,
without being large, have not fallen short of what is
usually brought forward at the corresponding period
of the year, and there have certainly, up to the pre-
sent time, been no signs of scarcity.
The preparation of the land for autumn sowing has
been pretty generally commenced, but this has not
prevented thrashing; indeed, our farmers apiaalf to
have come to the conclusion that they are not likely
to profit much by holding, the cessation of the
present corn-laws, and the substitution of only a,
nominal duty after the expiration of January next,
being viewed with considerable mistrust. Mean-
while, nothing has transpired to lead to the belief that
the deficiency in the yield of wheat, or the extent of
the loss of the potato crop in consequence of the disease,
have been over-rated; and the downward movement
in prices must, therefore, be attributed wholly to the
i liberal character of the supplies already received from
1 abroad, , and the expectation of still larger receipts
when all restrictions on importation shall have been
removed.
Ii Hitherto, the arrivals from America have not been
important; but by the latest advices from the other
side of the Atlantic, it appears that shipments on
I rather a liberal scale were being made for Great Bri-
tain, particularly of Indian corn ; and it is not im-
I probable that during the time the Baltic is closed by
ice, supplies may reach us from the United States,
the Mediterranean, &c.
At Liverpool some quantity of American produce
has lately come to hand, which has had the effect of
depressing prices. On Tuesday, wheat was quoted
2d. to 3d. per 701b5., flour Is. per sack and barrel, and
Indian corn Is. per 4801b5., lower at that port than on
that day week. Subsequently,
,rather more firmness
was assumed by sellers, and prices were not lower on
Friday than on the previous market day. The ac-
counts from most of the other large consuming
towns in the north represent the trade as exceedingly
dull. At Leeds and Hull, on Tuesday, sellers found
it necessary to give way Is. to 2s. per quarter before
millers could be induced to buy, and this was also the
case at Wakefield on Friday.
From Bristol and Birmingham the reports are of
a similar character ; and even in the agricultural
districts, where the effect of the foreign importations
is not so directly felt, prices have tended downwards.
The quality and condition of the new wheat con-
tinue to be much complained of; and there can be no
doubt that a very large quantity of old foreign will
be required for mixing.
The reports from Scotland are (as we have already
intimated) of a favourable nature, and the dull ac-
counts from the south appear to have produced a
corresponding depression at the leading markets there.
At Edinburgh, on Wednesday, most kinds of spring
corn, as well as wheat, were decidedly lower; and at
Glasgow the turn was also in favour of the buyer.
In Ireland the preduce of wheat and potgoes is
unquestionably short, but the oat crop is described as
good in quality and large in quantity. The trade
seems to have been as dull there as on this side of the
Channel, and quotations have receded for most
articles.

The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have
been fair, having consisted of 6,205 qrs. The quan-
tity exhibited at Mark-lane by land-carriage samples
from the neighbouring counties has meanwhile been
very small; but unimportant as have been the supplies
of home-grown wheat, they have proved more than
sufficient to satisfy the demand. The extreme reluc-
tance with which millers have purchased may, however,
be in some measure attributed to the wretchedly bad
quality of and ill condition in which the samples have
come to hand. The transactions have throughout the
week been on a very restricted, scale ; indeed, so little
business has been done, as scarcely to warrant alteration
in quotations ; but that factors would have accepted
somewhat lower rates on Friday than in the begin-
! ning of the week, if sales could thereby have been
facilitated, cannot be questioned.
The arrivals of wheat from abroad have been
larger than expected. Up to Wednesday the re-
ceipts were ' comparatively small, and holders
were consequently on that ' occasion 6rm ;
the supplies having, however, subsequently
increased, upwards of 45,000 quarters having
been reported up to this (Saturday) evening,
importers became rather more anxious to effect sales,
and on Friday the tendency of prices was decidedly
downwards. The local demand was of the same retail
character as for some time past, and there was less
country inquiry than before. Fair qualities of Baltic
red were obtainable at 50s. to 525., and good at 535.
to 555., but for superior Rostock upwards of 60s. per
quarter continued to be asked.
The general weekly average price for the kingdom,
published on Thursday (625. 5d.), is fully as high as
could have been expected ; but the London average
of Friday shows a considerable fall ; it is therefore
rather doubtful whether the duty will rise on the 18th,
or remain at 4s. till the 25th instant, but on the latter
day an advance is sure to take place.
The sale of flour has been particularly slow, and
most of the metropolitan bakers complain of the
smallness of the consumption of bread, which is
rather surprising, considering the present price of
potatoes. Quotations of town-made flour have re-
mained nominally unaltered, and no material change
has occurred in prices of other sorts. The imports
from France have been liberal, and our millers feel
the ill effects of this competition with the foreign
manufacturer. Paris whites have brought 435. to
455. per sack, duty paid; but the common runs of
French flour-may be quoted 38s. to 40s. per sack.
Barley of home growth has not come for and
freely, nor have the receipts from abroad been Ord-
cularly large; this grain has nevertheless been very
difficult of disposal, and only choice malting samples
have been taken off freely, at former terms, the sale
of the ordinary sorts having been exceedingly difficult
and in some cases rather less money was accepted fur
the latter descriptions on Friday.
The dull state of the barley trade has had more or
less influence on business in malt; but sellers have
not submitted to any decline. _

The arrivals of Oats coastwise and from Ireland
have been very small; but towards the closte of the
week a good many vessels laden with this grain, prin-
cipally from the near continental ports, came to hand.
On IVednesday the dealers appeared rather more dis-
posed to buy, and the trade, on the whole, exhibited
symptoms of improvement ; but the, subsequent ar-
rival of foreign Oats (27,000 quarters having been
received) acted as a check, and on Friday business
was as dull as at any former period. The actual
change in prices has been very slight, and not of suffi-
cient consequence to render alterations in quotations
necessary.
Beans have met with hardly any attention, and
previous rates have barely been maintained. Egyp-
tians and French have become very unsaleable, and in the absence of sales prices have remained nomi-
nally as before.
. Peas have been more pressingly offered, and fair
qualities of white foreign might easily have been
bought at 38s. to 40s. per qr., duty paid, on Friday.
Indian corn has been neglected, but there have
been very few offers of floating cargoee, and cer-
tainly no pressure on the market. We doubt,
therefore, whether the article could have been bought
cheaper.

The only alteration in the duties on Thursday was
a rise of 6d. per quarter on oats, previous to which
all at this port was cleared in for home consumption.
—Mark-lane Express.

DARING ROBBERY.—STAFPORDSHIRE. --- A very
singular and daring robbery was effected on the night
of Saturday, at the house of Mr. Joseph Harvey, inn-
keeper, of Oakanioor, near Cheadle. A number of
" navvies" employed on the Churnct Valley branch of
the North Staffordshire Railway assembled at Mr.
Harvey's house on the night mentioned, and
having drunk rather freely, they commenced a distur-
bance, and were obliged to be displaced by the police.
During these proceedings it is supposed that one of
the party gained admission unperceived into a bedroom,
where, inside a chest, was deposited 100/. in crownpieces
in a bag. The box was broken open, and the thief; in
jumping through the window, let the bag drop, when a
number of the silver coins rolled out. The inmates
hearing the noise, ran out to discover the cause, and
found upon the ground 211. 10s. in crown pieces. Infor-
mation was immediately given to the police, end bills
offering a reward circulated; and on Monday night two
men were apprehended by Mr. Field and Mr Brinsley,
cnnstable3, of Ashbourne, at the Tiger Inn, in that town
and about 701. in crown pieces and other coin was founT
in a bag and upon their persons. The two men, who
gave their names as James Clayton and William Letts,
,were committed on Tuesday to take their trial at the
ensuing sessions at Stafford. _

Fiamm—The failure of an extensive end very
respectable hause in the power loom manufacturing
trade vas announced w Glasi;o on ThurrdaY. This
Juts added to the gloom already ext,tin7, both in the
yarn and goods markets.-IVorth ii itisli Daily Mad.