The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-23 00:00:00

Agricultural Prospects.

This week opened with a rather more unsettled
appearance, rain having fallen during the previous
night, but the day held up, and no more wet until '
the evening. On Monday the morning was 01"
and bracing, the day proved fine ; wind northerly.'
thermometer 48 degs. early, and 52 at mid-dal ;
barometer up 30.10 inches. Field work would pre;
gress somewhat extensively, and the remnants 0'
harvest in the late districts of England be gathered
in to some extent, with the spring-sown beans pill
up in as good condition as the winter_sown secure'
earlier. In Scotland progress was also made, i°
better condition than the grain was secured Pre-
viously,. •Tuesday morning was thick and foggy'
after a slight white frost, and the day was favour-
able for autumnal tillage. Our advices on that day
from the West Riding of Yorkshire were :—" The
weather since Sunday morning has been fine and
sharp during the days, with very cold foggy nights,
even down to freezing point, as was the case this
morning, when there was ice in the gardens where
the moisture remained from Saturday evening's
rain." From the East Riding of the same county
" Weather since our last has been remarkably fine
and dry, and farmers are now busily occupied in
preparing the laud for autumn sowing. The
agricultural markets are consequently only scantily_
supplied with home grown produce, and this is likely
to be the case until seed time is over." From Lan"
cashire it was stated : " The weather continues
favourable. The remnants of harvest are being
gathered up in all directions, and the land is at length
getting into order for planting another crop of
wheat. The prospects of the farmer may thus be
regarded as favourable in the outset, and the coming
year may compensate in some measure for the dis-
asters which have been suffered during the past two
months." From Northumberland it was written
"The weather was dry but dull up toSaturday eve°-
ing, when some rain fell; since then it has been very
fine and frosty. The wind has varied from N.B. to
S.W. and N.W." Wednesday was a fine sunny dal,
but everything that the farmers could wish. From
Scotland our advices stated, on that day, " The
weather has been fine from Friday to yesterday fore-
noon, when heavy rain again set in. On Thursday
we had a thorough change in the weather. Rain se
in at 8 n.m., and lasted all day, putting a complete
stop to field work, though this would prove service-
able to the heavy lands, which had been hardene
by the frost after having been ploughed, and
could not be harrowed. Our advices on that dal
from Stowmarket runs thus : " We have now pure,
autumn weather, and farmers are all busily engage'_
in field operations. The attendance at our markets
this week was consequently not large." From Wo-
rcestershire it was stated : "The weather has e 011:
tinned very fine during the week, and farmers have
been busy preparing the land for wheat sowing;
To-day we have had several hours of cold rain.
Friday was a damp morning, with rain in the after'
noon, and no field work could go on. From the
East Riding of Yorkshire it was observed, "The
weather is remarkably fine, and farmers are no
busily engaged with autumn sowing, which has thu°,,
far proceeded under the most favourable auspicesi
From the West Riding our advices were were,
thus, " Potatoes are much complained of ; turniP,,
good ; plenty of scope for judgment this year.
,
Saturday was a thick, dull, and damp day, but wit'i
out any rain. The worst now may be conjectures
of the disastrous harvest, a long and very expensl_iv
one ; but, as the corn trade has at last been rouse;
and prices of every description of grain gone c°llo
siderably higher than at the same period for L
last four years, it is to be hoped that the fag!eo or
will be in some degree recompensed for the auxic
cf the past two months. The present aspect owing
trade is more encouraging, so that the French ha t
come again to the rescue, taking some of the fleet:i
wheats for both seed and the millers, if this dewa
goes on prices will not stop even where they are'''.
Mark Lane Express.

MR. FORSTER, M.P.-(By Electric Telegra d
g'0"0/
—Bradford, Monday Night. Mr. Forster addresse,o
assembly of nearly 3,000 of his constituents in St. Ge°l.s 0
Hall this evening. His whole address was devoted to
of
discussion of the Reform question, and in illustration
the policy, the wisdom, and the justice of the gollSe,b,oo
Commons at once settling the question, which blocked ,0
way to other reforms, by the adoptiou of,a coinprcke°l‘
measure of Parliamentary reform.

ONEY MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE,

TWELVE O'CLOCK.

All the Stock Exchange Markets present a degree
of firmness which is principally due to the cheapness
of money, and the favourable manner with which
late political troubles on the. Continent are being,
settled. A satisfactory feeling is everywhere appa-
rent. The Funds have improved per cent., and
Consols are 89 } for money, and 89i for the
account. Italian, and most other descriptions of
Foreign Stocks, are at enhanced prices.
The inquiry for discount accommodation to-day
is exceedingly limited, and the opinion is entertained
in some quarters that, owing to the increase of the
precious metals in this country, and especially at
the Bank of England, the authorities will be enabled
to lower their minimum next Thursday. The rates
of the brokers continue to tend downward, and 31
per cent. is, in exceptional cases, the quotation for
the negotiation of the best short-dated commercial
Paper. •

A sum of £78,000, including 43,000 sovereigns
from Australia, was sent into the Bank of England
yesterday afternoon.

The following are the current prices of bullion :
Bar gold, 77s 9d per oz. ; do., parting, 77s 10i d ;
doubloons, Spanish, 74s 6d ; do., Mexican and
South American, 73s 6d to 74s (scarce) ; United
States eagles, 76s 24d ; bar silver, 5s ld ; do., con-
taining gold (5 grs. and upwards), 5s lid ; dollars,
Mexican, 4s 118 d ; English cake silver, 5s sd.
In the Foreign and Colonial Produce Markets
during the last few days there has been very little
animation. Sugar has barely supported previous
prices, but a moderate demand has prevailed for
coffee, and superior qualities maintain previous
rates. Rice has been dull, and only moderate deal-
ings have been reported in tallow at slightly reduced
rates for both present and forward delivery.
The shareholders of the South Kensington Hotel
Company,
at an extraordinary meeting held yester-
day, unanimously agreed to oppose the winding up
petition recently presented to the Court of Chancery.
The traffic receipts on the Atlantic and. Great
Western Railway for the last week in September,
amounted to $120,160 against $131,006 in the
corresponding period last year, showing a decrease
of 10,846. The receipts for the month of Sep-
tember were $526,959 against $540,537 in the same
month of 1865. The receipts from Ist January to
30th September amount to $4,141,037 against
$3,799,798, showing an increase of $341,239.
The traffic returns of the Cape Town Railway
and Dock Company for the month of August
amounted to £2,737.

Two O'CLOCK.
Affairs at the Stock Exchange have not been so
dull as they were yesterday, but there is plenty of
room for improvement, and business is exceedingly
inactive. Values, however, are remarkably well
sustained, and Consols remain firm at 89* 1 for
nieney, and at 89/ I for the account. Several
bargains have been recorded in the New Threes and
. Reduced Annuities, which are firm at 89* ; the
Annuities„ 1885, have been dealt in at 12 13-16
15-16,
Stock Exchequer Bills are par to 4s. prem. Bank
has improved to 244 246 ; India 5 per Cents.
are oyant, at 106+ ; the 4 per Cents., 941 ; En-
&e d 5 per Cents., 101; Debentures, 102 ; and
zbmads 22 prem.
Most of the Foreign Stocks have been dealt in
at improved prices. Mexican have risen +, to 15/
16 ; the New Loan remains at 111 12 ; Italian,
after being 551 56, are now 551 /, showing an
advance of / per cent. Spanish Passive are * per
cent• better, at 21* 22* ; the Certificates remain at
14* ; Greek at 131 I ; and Turkish 5 per Cents.
at 291
Avery moderate. amount of business has been
done in the Railway Share market, and in some
Instances prices are a shade flatter., Great Eastern,
Midland , and North Eastern (Berwick), have each
rieceded 1, North Western *, and South Western
; while Great Western, Metropolitan, and South
Eastern have each improved 4.
The Foreign and Colonial lines show little change
of importance. South-Austrian and Lombardo-
Venetia are dealt in at 16i ; Paris and Orleans at
34;
East Indian have improved to 103+ 8; and
Great Indian Peninsula declined to 106+.
American Securities show few alterations of im-
j6)ortance. United States 5-20 Bonds are 68/
ill Erie shares have receded Ito 501 ; and
-utspois continue at 78 1.
Bank Shares remain very quiet. Alliance are
-"l,a4"ed 18i. ; Hindustan, China, and Japan,
• , Metropolitan and Provincial, 10* ; Imperial
a-rilk) 2/ ; and Union of London, 45.
the Miscellaneous Market a very limited
amount of business has been transacted. Atlantic
Ael egraPh 8 per Cents. have declined to 91+ 93/ ;
710 American Telegraph are at 15* 1 ; Electric
egraph have improved to 135 137 ; and Penin-
ar and Oriental Steam to 621 63/.