The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-01 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

The prospects of this trade for the approaching
quarterly meetings and the ensuing winter months
are far from satisfactory. A ge nerd impression is
felt that a large and universal reduction of make is
required to open a way for any improvement ; and
there appears a disposition on the pact ,of the Welsh
ironmasters to join those in Staffordshire and the
other districts of this country in coming to an under-
standing with the Scotch and North of England, and
arranging a general reduction to the extent of one-
third of the whole. It is evident that, even with a
continuance of the enormous exports lately induced
by the low range at which prices are ruling, the
demand falls short of the actual quantities produced,
leaving out of the question those already in stock, or
represented by the Scotch pig iron scrip. Nor is
there any probability that a fresh opening for the
consumption of iron will present itself; but, on the
contrary, should an advance in the price be estab-
lished, a contraction in the requirements for foreign
markets may rather be expected. The preliminary
meeting of our Staffordshire ironmasters was held at
Wolverhampton on Thursday last, but was scarcely
so well attended as is usually the case. The posi-
tion of the trade was carefully discussed, and a reso-
lution was declared that prices should remain as
last quarter—nominally, tars and rods 6/. per ton,
hoops 61. 10i., sheets 71. 10s., long-weight at the
works ; though it is well understood that these figures
are not precisely adhered to in the actual transaction
of business. It is must desirable that the efforts pro-
posed for improving the condition of this trade by a
general reduction in the make should be persevered in
with good faith, and unanimously ; as, should they
fail of success, the only alternative will be such a re-
duction of wages, and a partial abandonment of busi-
ness, as must inflict great evils upon the whole of the
districts where it is carried on. We are sorry to learn
that both here and in Scotland some parties are still
preparing to put in blast more furnaces, and that
works for some time standing have been re•opened,
while sales of pigs, bars, rails, and sheets are continu-
ally coming to light at deplorably ruinous prices.
Manufacturers are considered, under existing rates, to
be comparatively in a better position than producers of
the raw material ; but, from their own statements, it
would appear that the most favourably circumstanced
are working without profit, and unless some altera-
tion for the better can shortly be effected, great appre-
hensions are entertained that another season of widely-
extended difficulties is inevitably approaching.—Bir-
mingham Gazette.

PRESENTATION OF THE FREEDOM OF
DUNDEE TO MR. FOX MAULE.
(From the Edinburgh Courant.)

Yesterday the provost, magistrates, and town coun-
cil met in the Town Hall, Dundee, fur the purpose
of receiving the Right Hon. Fox Maule., M.P., Se-
cretary-at-War, and Lord-Lieutenant of the county
of Forfar, and presenting him with the freedom of
the burgh. Mr. Mettle having been introduced to the
members of the council by the provost, the council
proceeded in procession to the Thistle Hall, where it
had been arranged that the proceedings should take
place. The ball, to which admission was by tickets,
was filled by a most respectable assemblage of nearly
900 persons, a great number of whom were ladies.
In addition to those belonging to Dundee, several
parties were present from the neighbourhood. Among
those present we observed the Countess of Camper-
down, Viscountess Duncan, Lady E. Duncan, Lady
Jane and Sir John Ogilvy, Vice-Admiral and Mrs.
Sykes, Hon. Mrs. Maule, George Duncan, Esq.,
M.P., David Hunter, Etq., of Blackness, Sheriff Hen-
derson, &c.

Thetis, 38, Captain Kuper, C. 8., will be taken into
dock at Devonport about Thursday or Friday next,
and most likely taken out again the same evening.
Vulcan iron screw steam-frigate, Sheerness, is or-
dered to be immediately fitted as a troop-ship.
QUARTERLY OBITUARY.
The officers whose deaths have been officially re-
ported since June 20th, 1850, are the following : I
Flag-officers—Admiral Dudley Oliver, Vice-Ad- I THE BOROUGH-MARILET.—The ball-yearly report
miral Sir Josiah Coghill Coghill, Bart. ! of the trustees of the Borough-market was submitted yes-
Captains—Francis Bruce (1827), Richard Mere- terday to the rate-payers of St Saviour's, Southwark, in
dith (1837), Richard Copeland (1838), Owen Stan- general vestry ass mblei, and showed a very gratifying re-
sult. The accounts brought down to the preceding Saturday
ley (1844). exhibited a gross receipt during the six months of 2,6041.,
Commanders— Joseph Corbyn (1814), Richard including the balance at the banker's at the commencement
Moorman (1814), Silas Thomson Hoed (1815), Wm. of the eriod. The trustees had paid over Vh.eaoit;srsteheers
Moriarty (1822), H. Le Venonte (1828), George
Wins or (1843), George Morritt (1845), George in aid of theh poor-r
atte,tha,
isrurnhaoAle,ro.:7o/. I
f715;117/.• 11s., which
wwsosulndobweaapapraebele to the same purpose. The trustees also
Buttler (1846), Humphrey John Julian (1848). ' possessed 1,81 /, invested in the Reduced Three per Cent.
Retired—F. D. Scham (1 R 44) Robert Little IL k
(1846). v.,.. _ _~
lotion was passed aut orising the trustees to pay over to the
Lieutenants—Andrew M‘Millan (1810). 'W. C. whir. Eli Richards tl
Harris (1811), George Smithers (1811), C. C. Robin- othveeirrsecerresiiitnhatidthoefbtahnekp
the great account, who presided at the meetirg,wobseernveodf
market. The best thanks
son (1812), George Bishop (1812), Robert Wintle that it must be very gratifying to the parishioners to know
Innes (1813), William Baker Strugnell (1814), W. that such a valuabolfethasesittirce
tteodtheduv,oeotro-rtahtoesewgaesndtelerimveedn
H. Murray (1815), Robert Ramsay
WAS relieved to the amount of upwards
(1815), William
Swainson (1815), Duncan Mackellar (1816), W. N. of ienhabitants were unri°oNh-
fronhieth receipts
whot had been instrumental in bringing about this result,
Clay (1822), W. R.Wyndard (1826), Henry Probyn
(1841), Edward A. T. Lloyd whereby the poor-rate
(1842), Charles Bo- of 2,0001. a year.
A