The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-08 00:00:00

TRADE DURING THE PAST WEEK.

•
Three weeks of unusually fine weather has enabled
farmers in the north to save a large quantity of grain, which
at the close of last month was given over as totally lost.
That the quality of much of the corn lately carried must
be indifferent cannot, when the repeated drenchings it has
undergone be called in mind, be for a moment questioned;
still it has been got in, and will, therefore, in some way or
other, help to furnish food for man or beast, which, consider-
ing the deficiency of the crop of wheat as a whole, and the
extensive failure of potatoes, is something gained. This slight
improvement in our prospects has not been without its in-
fluence on the trade, and farmers having (as is usual at this
period of the year) threshed out pretty freely, a check has
been given to the upward movement in prices. We foresaw that
this was likely to occur, and intimated the same last week ; but
we then stated, and still think, that there is nothing in the
position of affairs likely to cause any material or permanent
fall in the value of bread stuffs.
So far frcm it having lyzen discovered that the yield of
wheat is better than expected, c(.mplaints of the number of
quarters procured from a given quantity of straw are be-
coming more general in proportion as threshing is proceeded
with ; and the fact that there is a difference of at least 20s.
per quarter between the be,t and the worst samples of this
year's produce proves plainly how wretched mutt be the
quality of the latter. Meanwhile the investigations which
are being proceeded with to discover the extent f the po-
tato disease, have brought nothing to light which warrants
us in stating that the alarm or that subject is ill•founded,
indeed the reports from all quarters are of a nature to confirm
our worst fears; and however quiet the trade at present may
be, we cannot divest ourselves of the apprehensi&.n that the
prices of bread stuffs will ultimately rise to a point thi eaten
Mg serious inconvenience to the poorer classes of the com-
munity.

The very inferior quality of a large proportion of the
wheat of this year's growth has hitherto prevented the
duty receding more than a step or two, and from present
appearances it is questionable whether the article will for
some time be admissible below 12s. per quarter; this is, under
existing circumstances, unfortunate, inasmuch as the tardy
manner in which the duty diminishes will give the opponents
of the law grounds for raising an outcry which may have
some effect on our expediency Minister. There has lately
been a great deal of talk about an order in Council to admit
corn free; and though we do not believe that any such pro-
ject is contemplated, still it indicates the course of public
feeling. Had the quality of the new produce been only
tolerably good, the duty would undoubtedly ere now have
fallen to 10s. per qr., or perhaps lower, in the regular
course of things, the finer sorts of red having for some
weeks past been selling at 70s. and upwards, whilst choice
samples of white have realised as much as 80s. per qr.
at several of the principal consuming markets. It may
readily be conceived, therefore, how bad must be the quality
of the common runs, to have kept the general average below
GOs. per quarter; such, has, however, been the case, the last
weekly return for the kingdom being only 595. 2d. per quar-
ter. All the wheat lately received from abroad has, there-
fore, been landed under lock, and that which may still come
to hand is likely also to be stored in bond, importers feeling
perfectly satisfied that, sooner or later, a foreign supply will
. be needed, and that, ultimately they will be enabled to enter
their property at a very low duty, notwithstanding the op.
posing influence of the bad qualities of the new wheat. in
one respect, at least, the law of 1828, was more favourable
for the consumer than the present enactment, for after
prices had risen to a certain point, the duty came off rapidly;
and though this was, we must confess, a strong temptation
to tamper with the averages, yet it had the benefit, that
when there was real necessity—such as, we believe, there to
be at present—the impost was speedily reduced sufficiently
to induce importers to enter for consumption.
By our advices from Scotland, it appears that the favour-
able weather, and the subdued tone of the reports from the
South, had had more or less influence on prices; and, though
the accounts respecting the spread of the potato disease had,
if anything, become more alarming, the value of most kinds
of grain had shown a tendency to decline at the leading
towns: not only was wheat cheaper at Edinburgh on Wed-
nesday, but barley and oats were also obtainable at lower
terms, and on the whole, business finished very languidly.
From Glasgow we have similar reports, though stocks of
most articles are short at the last-named place.
The awful consequences which would inevitably result from

a failure of the potato crop in Ireland, cause the utmost
anxiety to be felt on this side of the Channel, to ascertain as
far as practicable the extent of the mischief likely to be occa-
sioned by the disorder which has attacked the crop in the
sister isle quite as generally as in this country. The accounts
from thence are, up to the present time, sufficiently serious
to give rise to much uneasiness ; but we still hope that when
the first alarm shall in some degree have subsided, the injury
may not prove so extensive as it is now represented to be.
At Mark-lane the trade in wheat has been extremely dull
this week, which must be partly attributed to the effect pro-
duced by the rumour to which we have already alluded, viz.,
the Ministerial intention of opening the ports.
The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have been
tolerably good, 5,100 quarters having been reported during
the week. Beyond what was left over from Monday there
has, however, been but little wheat exhibited at Mark-lane,
the bulk of the receipts from the east coast having gone to
the milleri direct.
On Wednesday businesss was quite paralyzed, in conse-
quence of the reported probability of a Ministerial inter-
ference with the laws. The trifling sales made were at prices
which would not previously have been accepted ; but though
factors were willing to make some concessions, they were un-
able to effect a clearance of the stands.

On Friday affairs remained in much the same position,
the only difference being, that more anxiety was manifested
by sellers to realise on the latter than on the former day.
On the other hand, millers were even less inclined to buy
than before, and to have induced them to purchase freely
rather an important reduction must have been submitted to.
Foreign free wheat has moved off very tardily throughout
the week ; holders have, however, refrained from pressing
sales, and quotations have remained nominally unaltered.
The same cause which has depressed the value of free has
raised the price of bonded wheat ; but the enhanced terms
asked have not been very readily paid, and the operations
have been comparatively unimportant. Some fine . high-
mixed Dantzic was, we believe, sold on Wednesday at 625.,
and moderately good Rostock at 565. per quarter. Towards
the close of the week there was less inclination to speculate.
By the official account just published, it appears that the
total stock of wheat in bond in the kingdom consisted, on the
10th Oct., of 543,666 quarters, whereof 207,874 quarters were
in the port of London.
Flour has been rather difficult of disposal during the week;
the nominal top price has, however, remained steady at 60s.
per i•ack, and no quotable change has occurred in the value of
other sorts.

The arrivals of barley have been only moderate; the
receipts have nevertheless proved quite adequate to the
demand, and the recently-established advance has been cup-.
ported with some difficulty.
Malt has also moved off tardily, at former rates, but
holders have displayed much firmness.
With oats the market has been sparingly supplied; the
total quantity which had come to hand up to Saturday
evening, including 5,181 quarters from abroad, amounting
to only 14,612 quarters. Hitherto, therefore, the very
high prices at Mark-lane have failed to draw supplies;
the principal dealers seem, however, to calculate on
better arrivals, and have lately conducted their - opera.
tions with extreme caution. The trade has, since our last,
been of a strictly retail character; but needy buyers have
had to pay quite former terms; and as the stocks are by no
means large, it is questionable whether, even if we should
receive a good supply, any material depression would be
caused thereby. The duty on this grain is now ss. per qr.,
and a further reduction must in a few weeks take place.
Beans have come to band sparingly, and the trifling busi-
ness transacted has been at very high rates.
Peas hays also commanded fully the currency of Monday
last. The duty on the latter article is now only ls. Gd. per
qr., having fallen a step on Thursday.—Mark-lane Express.

JOHNSONand SHAW'S FARMERS' ALMANAC
and CALENDAR for 1846.
This Almanac, the first of its race for the new year,
extends to 20 pages, and contains 124 engravings, re- •
presenting chaff-cutting machines, furze-crushers, sub-
soil ploughs, oil-cake mills, Beverly iron-works, portable
weighing machines, portable hand-mills, portable steam-
engines, thrashing machines, iron harrows, sheep
hurdles, and ploughs and boilers and rollers of every
variety, some of them invented by Mrs. Mary Wedlake
and not a few by the celebrated Mr. Dean. The agri-
cultural department is excellent, containing ample in-
structions for every species of agricultural operation for
each month, the results of experiments with different
manures, corn tables, the general rules of land measure,
all the phenomena of the sliding-scale, and pre-
cepts to farmers for guarding against the
numerous enemies which surround them. One for the
month of June runs thus :—" Watch your sheep; the
fly is now on the wing. Have your shears sharpened,
and the hellebore powder and black brimstone ,ready •
the proportions lb. of hellebore root powder to lin:.
of black brimstone ; sprinkle from the head to the tail
with a dredging box, wash and shear your sheep ; see
that the clot is removed, and that the shearers do not cut
too close • have some ointment ready for the wounded
puts." We give this as a specimen of needless advice,
because any man who pretends to be a farmer ought to
know when to shear his sheep and sharpen his shears.
A great deal, however, of the Farmer's Calendar is of a
different description, and some parts of it will convey
instruction even to the most experienced. But we would
advise the editors of this Almanac to cut off some of
the superfluities,
usefulsubstitute
t o mfoosrt themeouu
country informationpeup le
which would be .
For instance, why not give a list of the bishops, the
judges of the Courts of Law, and the lords-lieutenants
of counties. These could all be put in a very small com-
pass, and would be acceptable intelligence to the lowest
clod-hopper. Were Messrs. Johnson and Shaw to pay
more attention to general information of this description,
they would soon find that the Almanac would not be
purchased by farmers only. Some errors too appear
which are inexcusable ; for instance, lathe list of Cabinet
Ministers, we find that the names of Lord Granville
Somerset, the Earl of Lincoln, and Mr. Sidney Herbert,
aAr el
little
tmlei ttme d,
or
ea nd pla placed
attention
iamongnthi those s
respect
wouldot o f the Cabinet.
this
a
valuable book for killing time, on a long winter's even-
ing, around the farmer's hearth.
Li J

,ORD JOHN RUSSELL.—At a meeting of the
Senatus of the University of Edinburgh on Monday, which
was very full attended, the degree of LL.D. was, on the
motion of Professor Piliens, seconded by Doctor Christison,
unanimously conferred on Lord John Russell.— Scotsman.
MURRAIN IN THE ISLE OF MAN.—The murrain still
continues prevalent among the cattle in the Isle of Man,
but, where prompt measures have been adopted, the cure has
generally been successful. It is rumoured also that the foot-
rot has made its appearance in a large number of sheep
recently imported into that island from Scotland.—Scotsman.
THE FORTHCOMING SKIFF RACE ON THE TYNE.
—NEWCASTLE, THURSDAY NIGHT.—The arrangements for the match
between Pocock, of the Thames, and Harry Clasper, the champion of
the north, were completed here this evening. The contest is said 5*
bo for 1001. a-side, and will come off on the Tyne, about the 25th
instant.
SOUTH WARWICKSHIRE ELECTION.—Viscount
Brooke has been returned without opposition.
THE RIVER PLATE.—LIVERPOOL, Nov. 7.—Ad..
vices from Buenos Ayres to the 25th of August .have been received
Nei Cork. Several French and English men-of-war were going up
Many failures were taking place
the rivers. Uruguay and Parana.
in Buenos Ayres. Exchange, 24 .
THE NEW LORD AIA-Tou's
.LIVERIES.—The live-
ries required for Alderman Johnson, as Lord Mayor, have
this year beem entrusted to the skill of Mr. Robert Crooks, of
Throgmorton• street, who has been favoured with similar
orders from eleven gentlemen who have filled the office of
Chief Magistrate. Mr. Crooks, who has been celebrated for
exactly pourtraying the emblems of the United Kingdom,
and culling from the gardens of England some of her choicest
flosterS, has this year applied his attention to the dab's of
yore, when the halls of our nobility were adorned by the ap-
pearance of their vassals richly clad in full-cut coats Rya
vests, ornamented with the richest lace, The colours are a
beautiful puce and white,