The Sun.
London, England, 1851-05-28 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

Nothing has yet transpired to enliven the position or
prospects of this trede. Although the aggregate demand
seems to be but slightlycliminished, orders are chiefly for
light goods, and they are altogether inadequate to afford
general employment; while, as usually happens under the
influence of a downward tendency, business is being done
with but little satisfaction to either buyer or seller.
Common qualities of iron, rods and bars, are notori-
ously being sold at rates varying from ss. to 15s. per ton
below the nominal prices, and other descriptions show a
still wider range; sheets as far as 20s. to 255. In pig
iron thene is an unusual variation of 20s. per ton between
the extreree qualitieS; and generally a decided giving
way in price :has taken place during the last month, The
figures at which pigs are bought aro now mainly
dependent upon the circumstances of the makers.
The interests of South Staffordshire appear likely
to be injuriously affected by the production of vast
quantities of interior metal, while quality is altogether
disregarded. In some instances every other considera-
tion has, been so far abandoned but that of cheapness,
that pigs are now made and sold in this district scarcely
realising the price of common brands in Glasgow, and
certainly below them in value. The almost unanimous
rejection of the free-trade proposition of M. de
Sainte Beim; by the Commission of the French Na-
tional Assembly, a leading feature of which was
the admission of iron at a trifling fixed duty, is not
calculated to brighten the expectations of a vastly
increasing market for our iron upon the continent.
It not only abnfirms the retention of the present tariff
in France, but the reasons adduced for rejecting the
principle of unrestricted competition are of a nature
to excite reflection in other States where the aboli-
tion of protective duties was obtaining more favour
through the efforts of our agents. The accounts from
the United States also show that the present extent
of, our exports can- only •be secured by adhering to a
very low range of prices, and that no great increase of
consumption can be looked for in that country. One
of the worst symptoms of the present •depression is
a reckless disposition to do business on any terms.
In accepting contracts, profits seem to. form no part
of the calculation, and of those .now in band very
few will return a shadow of remuneration to the
maker. A short time since it was announced, as a
Matter of congratulation, that a large order for cast-iron
pipes had been taken by a well known firm that would
find employ ni6nt threnghout the summer fora vast num-
ber of hands; but, unfortunately, later information from
states that the said hands are all" on
throught an attempt to exc.ct from them more
wages,—a step doubtless found re-
qubeei3s execution --
ution of this boasted order.Aris's
the same
forstrike,"
.e same'
h
7/Z inghant Gazette.

RALPH RUTHERFORD ; A NAUTICAL ROMANCE.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE PETREL."—It is well for the
numerous clams of admirers of that charming species of fiction
the sea novel, that a worthy successor has been found to the
place left vacant by Captain Marryat. Admiral Fisher, who
is understood to be the author of the present romance, pos-
sesses all that graphic power in the delineation of sea life in
its varied' aspects
.which constitutes one of the principal
charms of Captain 111arryat's novels. The present story is
well conceived. for its evident purpose, which is to guide a
frank and honourable young man, full of kind and generous
feeling, through all the perils of the deep, and through the
many scrapes -which wait upon men of that cast of mind
amidst the complicated duties and adventures of a seaman's
life. Altogether the tale is exceedingly entertaining, and full
of interest, which is well sustained to the last,—John, Bull.