The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-31 00:00:00

THE IRON DISTRICTS.

BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY.—The sequel to the
recent quarterly meetings of the South Staffordshire
masters, as anticipated, has proved anything but satis-
factory. The prices fixed at Wolverhampton have
proved altogether illusory, and at the present mo-
ment, although the heads of the trade expressed a firm
determination to maintain existing rates, certain de-
scriptions of iron may be bought for cash at prices
dependent upon the needy circumstances of the seller
and the prompt payment of the purchaser. Within a
few days of the termination of the meetings referred
to the eminent firm of Thorneycroft and Co. offered
by circular a reduction of 10s. per ton, and the con-
sequence has been great confusion in the trade. It is
stated that purchasers who contracted for their re-
quirements at last quarter's figures are loud in their
complaints, and consider themselves unfairly treated.
It may be taken for granted that if a house like that
of Thorneycroft's can set aside the decisions of quar-
terly meetings of which its partners are members,
little confidence can be attached to the deliberate re-
solutions of these trade assemblages. An authority in
these matters, after alluding to the fact that such
firms as the Messrs. Barrows and Hall, Messrs. Foster,
Messrs. Williams, and other first-rate iron estab-
lishments, adhere to the prices at which they were
supplying their customers during the last quarter,
says—" It is contended that the Messrs. Thorneycroft
intend to restrict the advantage they offer to a mere
reduction of 10s. per ton from the nominal prices, ex-
cept in the article of sheet-iron alone ; and if this be
so the practice has been so general that it affords no
real occasion for complaint. In fact, the procedure
resolves itself into nothing more than putting the
public in possession of what has been for some time
practised among the initiated. Still it is throwing
the apple of discord, and some assert that the custo-
mers of this firm will be allowed an abatement of 10s.
per ton on present contracts throughout the whole scale
of last quarter's payments ; in which case, however
unwilling other masters may be to adopt a similar
course of short-sighted self-interest, a further reduc-
tion in the price of iron may be expected to ensue."
As a natural result of this state of things, little busi-
ness is done, and the manufacture of iron in South
Staffordshire is gradually on the decrease.
The exposition of 1851 has, however, given an op-
portune stimulus to the iron manufacture in one or
two favoured districtP. The works at Woodside,
near Dudley, under the active management of Mr.
Cochrane, one of the partners, are fully occupied in
castings for Mr. Paxton's building, and those of
Messrs. Fox and Henderson, the engineers and ma-
chinists, at Smethwick, are equally industrious in the
work of preparation. In both these extensive estab-
lishments the men are fully employed six days and
nights of the week. To the workpeople of South
Staffordshire and East Worcestershire the employ-
ment thus afforded in a time of need is a real "god-
send," and promises to mitigate in some degree the
effect of the general stagnation of the iron trade an-
ticipated during the ensuing winter.
The tin-plate trade in Wolverhampton and its neigh-
bourhood continues good, although unfortunately dif-
ferences still exist between some of the masters and
the men.

the
The coal trade, dependent as it is greatly grain for
iron rna9uf4etiire, is depressed, but the demo' .5,1 is
do
!testi° purposes during the winter months Wnt
all probability, have the effect of maintaining Pres'
prices.
It is remarkable that the manufacture ()
ofifre-irons, hollow-ware, edged tools, end other arttlb'ese
general use, remains brisk. Work 10 rices
.branches is represented as abundant, but tbe Ps
paid by the Birminghani factors and theo:r!is,
earned by the artisans are exceedingly low. 1".„ in
indeed, comparatively little ground to ooril
alotber
South Staffordshire of the present state of gletnid the
than the iron trade. Unfortunately, we arae
demand for exports of this staple article
;red
the resources of capital have been too far tsg.
with to allow of much working for stock."

BANK OF FRANCE. DO
The following is a return of the situation of
the
of Fiance on Oct. 24:
31 46
ASSETS.
f. 339,211.241 0
Cash and ingots
Ditto in branch banks." • • 105,269'6. 13
•••
•-•
207•480 34
Bills past due
Bills discounted, but not yet due ...
14394:850510:459°1 0°
Bills in the branch banks —• ••• 07900 I)
Advances on coins and ingots... s'-17' 65 v.
Ditto by the branch banks •••
j„`c,"4s Inu
Ditto on French public securities .• 139tT,4-284
Ditto by branch banks... 2,10 000 v 0
Ditto to the State on Bons du *Tres i•• s°'(o) 0°
Ditto on the loan of 150 n 3.11. ° s°'-(l°°'° °
Rentes of the reserve fund tons
10,0-°,„°,l° 1-
Rentes, disposable funds *** 42,227'.4's
•••
Investments of the new branch•b
k /25 74
the public funds an sill 12,95%. 0
Hotel and furniture of•ihe Bank 4'°?°' 4 °
Real property of the branch banks 3,50-04'5700 00
Interest. in National Discount Bank .223(4° 0
Ditto branch banks .•• ••• ••• 649,10 17

Bills protested at Paris '•' *" 276,173„4
Expenses of administration of the Bank .2918.- 4tlt
Ditto of the branches 'A-64 79 °-
Miscellaneous ... • ***
2- '7
6 09
L773,372'71
00,000 P
LIABILITIES
Capital ~„ • oo -
Ditto of the Branch Banks ***
233005°# 1°
Reserve fund . ***
**,
10,0 i '0 '4
Ditto of the branch banks ***
2'0009-%7°°°° °
Reserve-immobiliere '4'loo At)
422,4114.'4400 "
Notes to bearer, in circulation * ***
Ditto of the branch banks ...
**:
1'391-005
Ditto to order (post-bills) ***
-19'
6 55
, 16 74 5
Account-current with Treasur;* creditor 5°,4,/6'357
Various accounts current -... ••• 7(1'4'41,12° 0'
Ditto in branches , 25•, 500 a
Bills payable at sight ::* .* 4•7''''
• ••• ••• 1,400 5 0
Ditto at branches• • ••• 386,75 0
Dividends payable ***
8,73° 49
Liquidation of the Algiers Bank 15 02
Discounts, interest, and expenses 2,1-6'80" '
..• 258,6 0
Expenses anticipated
Ditto of branch banks ***
***.
I'l-318541 8S
Re-discounts of the last *srx months• i4/44: 1:9 :I
9
Ditto in branch banks
Miscellaneous ***
99°
••• 16 0
f.773,310139.7ce
Ban Certified by the Governor of the kef "'"" Aso 04
,41,011.4.
The preceding account shows that the C-00,:d
has increased since last week by 4,000,000( 002:
mercial bills discounted have increased by 00,tre
The protested bills have diminished ui.itied ff
The Bank notes in circulation have decriyee;
h
500,000 f. The balance to the credit a the dui 116'
as, increased by 900,000 f. The sundry are
increased by 3,000,000 f.

A
THE COUNTRY NIA Itl",; prr?
LIVERPOOL, OCT. 29.—The attendance A..lifirgftno
good. In wheat the demand was only 10°"„Td, 0
prices of this day week were barely suP„lvr: 001 Floit
was held firmly, and in fair request. u5.-rp hl
lower. Barley and malt quiet. Indian Co" II
hti
demand. or° 11l
LEEDS, Ocr. 29.—We had a tolerable arrivald Orneo
and samples from many vessels had rellt:1 bOr„00
millers, in consequence, acted cautiously, "7.porig: 0
transactions were limited. Prices for 811 "-itsoll
ruled much the same as on Friday. Barlel " co
last week's rates. Beans and oats unchanged;,ool3o
NEWCASTLE, OCT. 29.—With a large suPP:'„ the Ik!,
from the farmers, trees ruled dull, although,;:: 0.2
made, Saturday's prices were maintained. •": ordini •
of malting barley supported their value, he" iieler
sorts were rather lower. Flour and ether a The
29.
changed. iv
OA
NEWCASTLE CATTLE MARKET, OCT. tor'opt)
supply of fat cattle was 100 less than the.riva°;olo
show last Tuesday. The supply of sheer, get/roil
smaller by about 600. The quality of both
bad
of stock indifferent. Trade on- the whole WI 1.1;d0 Vtoo4
a considerable improvement from last weel4,l 01'1'0
elf arance was effected. Beet realized 3d t 0 uris7ef 4°
more money. Beasts, 600; sheep, 5,400. ru- ' .JO
to Sc 6d per stop.?; mutton, 3id to 5-id per lure' tent*
EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET, 00T. 29.—Tiliort ill
the meal market to-day 13 sacks oatmeal, each weigh gs , 1
imperial, which sold thus :-2 at 1198 6d, 1 at 11 t",s' IL 'ileft
6d, and 1 at 1/ 8s Od ; average price of the wh0,1,A.10-0.
10-12ths. 2 sacks flour, which sold at 295. 11 sacks rig s,t '
whereof 4 sold thus:-1 at 2'-'s Od, lat 25s 6d, Ile" Pro.p!''
EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET, Ors,
60
Oat straw, from 8s Od to lOs Od per kemple of 16,7; 6° ,
wheat ditto, 6s od to 7s Od ; barley
ditto, 6, u..- 91
00
Hay, from 10d to Is per stone.
vier-
DALKEITH MEAL MARKET, OCT. 28.-.."311,,,erf1ey $l,, b$
bags oatmeal, 19 of barleymeal, and 2 of pot":,:bad %IS°
day's market ; sales dull. Oatmeal down 9d P,:,- lei°
top, and 6d per bag on the second price; in "-r 14
A 06J
alteration on the prices of last week. au ~ i . I
Oatmeal, per sack, of 280 lbs. First Second
,-" 6'
imperial .. ... ... 275 Od 26i Oa
25/ 0,1
1
Barleymeal, per ditto ... Od 173 u A
ltte
.....s o,± ~./ 1d

Peasemeal

_s Od

Flour ...
Pot barley

—s Od I --8 cja
203 Od ---5

COAL MARK E'
Bate's West Hartley 14s 91
Huddle's W. Hartley 15s Od
Begbies Hartley
Carr's West Hartley l4s 9d
Chester Main Ms 6d
Clavering's N.Tanfield 13s 3d
Davison's West Hartley 15s Od
East Adairs Main , 12s 6d
Coxon's West Hartley l4s 6d
North Percy Hartley l4s 9d
Ravensworth'sW.Hart I4s 9d
'Canfield Moor
Walker's Primrose d1
west Hartley
Wylam

Wall's End, &c.
Bewicke and Co.
Northumberland
8611
Belmont lss 6d
Braddyll
Hetton
Ships at