The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-29 00:00:00

OUR WHEAT IMPORTATIONS'.

The sources of our supply of wheat during the
`oiesut year present remarkable changes from those
1i(859 and 1858, owing to the splendid harvests in
"84ja and America. In 1858 Prussia took the lead,
but Russia is now largely at the head of the list,
and Prussia and the United States follow. Last
?ear there was scarcely any importation from the
atter country, but we have now drawn from her
Prussia
than one-fifth of our total receipts, while
r,russia has contributed exactly the same quantity.
.411 e Russian arrivals have constituted
lourth of our entire imports. Although rrussia is no
nearly one-
fourth
at the top, her capacity steadily increases, and
rapidchange of place is swing merely to the much more
4,.Pid advance of Russia. The United States' sup-
ties are at present likewise increasing month by
December,
with great quickness, and the return for
which will complete the year, will pro-
,u
w".1?,1:9- put that country above Prussia, whose place
ill then be third. France this year exhibits a
great falling off, but we have still taken from that
e'lntry much more than might have been expected
4°41 the general account of• the French harvest.
llic' eing the minor sources Egypt presents the prin-
4al falling off. Annexed is a statement of the
valtet proportion per cent. contributed from the
yetlous countries of the world during the last three
tioars• In estimating the effect of the several varia-
h n 8) the great difference in present prices torn-
Ztl'ed with those of 1858 and 1859 must be parti-
-"rly borne in mind 858

WHEAT—TOTAL IMPORTATION.
1858. 1859. 1890.
Qrs. Qrs. Qrs.
3,988,528 3,729,316 5,016,236
lIIIs • Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
pma l3 .. 2111 24
1-1
b aria
kelltnarli
iieeklenburg • • c't 3 .. 3/
l'1•4118e Towns
1' "ce
iv, 19 .. 29i .. 9
i, Y and -Wallachia and
E Old •
-e, aria
117•14 lOl _ 10 _ 31
Otitea States
tr cc4ntries Bl .. 61 .. 61

A 100 100 100
re As regards flour the changes have been yet more
hatll4rkable, nearly the whole of our supply last year
1, °trig been obtained from France, while on the
rresent occasion that country figures for a smaller
4,, th
an the United States, whence in 1859 the
-'vals were insignificant :

FLOUR—TOTAL IMPORTATION.
1858. 1839. 1860.
Cwt. Cwt. Cwt.
3,652,725 3,130,937 4,327,639
lia, Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Pr 'se Tcmns ... .
IT ttee
orod States
er Countries

- - -
100 100 100

\~'`mes,

AUSTRIA.

FIENNA, DEC. 26.

The posts of Minister of Commerce and Minister
of Public Instruction are still vacant, because fitting
men cannot be found. There is no dearth of talent,
but it is extremely difficult to find high intelligence
and perfect rectitude united in one and the same
person. M. Maager has come here from Cronstadt,
and it is rumoured that he is about to take office, but
persons who know the " constitutional burgher" in-
timately, tell me that he has not the requisite know-
ledge for a Minister of Commerce.
The Trieste Zettung is not inclined to believe that
the position of affairs will be materially improved
by the recent change in the Cabinet, " because the
elements therein are too heterogeneous." Every
dispassionate politician sees that M. von Schmerling
and Count Rechberg cannot possibly pull well
together, but the Minister-President is so fond of
office that he tries to persuade himself and his
Sovereign that there is no material difference be-
tween his own opinions and those of the Minister of
State.