The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-23 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE IN PARIS.

Trade in Paris has profited by the immense afflu-
ence of strangers which the military spectacle on
Sunday and the festivities on Monday attracted
from all parts of France as well as from foreign
countries. Many provincial and foreign merchants
took advantage of the festivities to give and receive
orders. Some important transactions were con-
cluded in jewellery, articles de Paris, ribands, mer-
cery, gloves, and shoes. The largest foreign orders
were received from the United States, Russia, and
Spain. The sums of money expended among the
shopkeepers, restaurants, coffee-hcuses, and theatrss
amount to an enormous sum. Accounts from the
departments represent the last week as completely
sterile as regards commercial transactions. The
holders of produce maintain their prices, and pur-
chasers persist in refusing to buy except at a reduc-
tion to which sellers refuse to submit. The result of
this contest is, that no business is transacted. No
purchases are made except for immediate consump-
tion. Such a state of affairs is not extraordinary
at this season of the year. The holders of produce
are in expectation of a rise of prices, which is slow
in arriving, and in which they may finally he dis-
appointed. Great anxiety is still entertained as to
the result of the harvest, which is now nearly ga-
thered in. The most trustworthy accounts coincide in
stating that although the calculations of the farmers
will not be completely realised, and that, as regards
abundance, the present year will not rank among the
most productive, it will not be much inferior to the
year 1858. The stacks of wheat are more numerous
than last year, which fact will in a great measure
compensate for the deficiency of weight in the grain
There is, moreover, so largo a quantity of old wheat
in reserve that the population is insured against the
possibility of an exaggerated rise in the price of corn
or against the necessity of importing foreign pro-
duce, except for the purpose of exportation. ' Let-
ters from Spain announce that the harvest will
not be as abundant as was expected in the month
of June. The deficiency is attributed to the in-
tense hot weather, The crop, however, is estimated
as sufficient for the consumption of the country.
The new wheat which has been offered for sale in
the markets of the. north of Germany is of ex=
cellent quality. The colour is goo and the
weight is equal to seventy-nine kilogrammes the
hectolitre. The Paris flour-market was heavy last
week, and sales very difficult. Bali ers purchase
merely what is sufficient to maintain the stock re•
quired by law as a reserve. Millers, nevertheless,
who are prevented from grinding by a deficiency of
water in the rivers, maintain their prices. Pur-
chasers of large parcels for ready money may find
sellers at prices considerably lower than the quota-
tions, which are from 45f. to 50f. the sack of 159
kilogrammes. Flour of the four marks is offered at
49f. 50c. the sack for delivery in the present month,
50f. 50c. in September, and 53f. for the last three
months of the year. The Paris corn market was
likewise dull last week. The sale of wheat was
slow and difficult, though the offers were fewer than
the week preceding. Good old wheat was sold at
26f. the 120 kilogrammes. Some choice samples of
new wheat brought the same price, but new wheat
of average quality was offered at from 23f. to 24f.
the 120 kilogrammes. The factors declared on Fri-
day 1,812 sacks flour, first quality, sold for delivery
within 30 days at prices varying from 45f. to 50f.,
and 3,730 sacks for bakers, Letters from Mar-
seilles, dated Friday last, state that wheat is diffi-
cult of sale. Notwithstanding the few arrivals,the
bonded stores are still full of wheat, for which there
is no demand. The bakers of Marseilles are fully
supplied, and they expect a fall in prices. Wheat
is not the only article which is difficult of sale.
The quays and stores are crowded with merchan-
dise, for which there are no buyers. Better
times are impatiently expected. There was a con-
siderable amount of business transacted at the wine
market of Bercy last week. The demand for ordi-
nary wine continues, and the reduced supplies
which arrive from the provinces are immediately
bought up. A small consignment of wine arrived
from the neighbourhood of Ricey last week, which
was immediately bought up at the Strasburg
rail-
way terminus at 60f. the cask of 210 litres. It is
now ascertained that several wine growing districts
will not produce an average crop, the proprietors
consequently refuse to dispose of their stock on
hand, being convinced that any further fall in the
price of wine is impossible. Accounts from Nantes
state that the weather is most favourable for the
vintage. The grapes are fast advancing to matu-
rity, and an abundant crop is expected. The pros-
pect of a good vintage in the Roussillon, the Aude,
the Gard, and the banks of the Rhone is not bright.
Good spirit, 90 degrees strength, is more firm in
the Paris market. It is quoted from 85f. 50c. to
110 f. the hectolitre.