The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-23 00:00:00

THE CORN TRADE.

(From the Mar! ,Nrie Express )
The weather has, during the gri ater part of the week,
been as favourable as could be desired, and there is now
some prospect of the loneretarded harvest in the north
being at length completed. Had the wet continued
longer, much of the corn remaining out in the backward
districts would probably have been wholly destroyed, and
that great mischief has been done to the grain by so lung
an exposure in the fields is unquestionable. As it will
still take some time to finish the harvest, no very accu-
rate estimate can yet be formed of the result; but that
the yield and quality of the wheat et this year's growth
will be much inferior to the produce of any previous sea-
son fur many years past, appears to be the almost
universal opinion. From all quarters where thrashing
has made progress, the reports agree in describingehe
quantity as much short of expectation, prepared as farm-
ers were for an indifferent yield. Regarding the quality
the accounts are not so universally bad ; the early-saved
and that carted after the weather became broken, was
mostly carried in damp condition, and a great deal
thereof, is indeed wretched stuff ; a fair proportion was,
however, got in under inure favourable auspices, and
though far from fine, is of tolerable quality. The weight
of even the best secured is light, very few samples
weighing over 601 b. per bushel.
We are at all times unwilling to create unnecessary
ahem, but we cannot shut our eyes to the somewhat
critical position of affairs. That the wheat harvest of
1845 is decidedly below that of usual average years is
undif-puted ; the stocks of old are closely worked up ;
whilst of foreign wheat, whether free or in bond, the
quantity in the kingdom is so insignificant as to be wholly
inadequate to make good the de=ficiency in the home pro
dare. In addition to these facts it must be recollected
that the potato, so useful an auxiliary in supplying food
it a large proportion of the community, has failed to a
greater or less extent in all parts of the United King-
dom ; no district appears to have entirely escaped the
disease ; and it is even doubtful whether the potatoes,
apparently sound when dug up, will keep through the
winter. On the whole, therefore, there are ample rea-
sons to fear that the value of bread stuffs may rise to an
extent to occasion some inconvenience to the poorer
classes. Already wheat has risen from 15s. to 20s.
per quarter from the lowest point ; and the upward
moviment seems at present likely to continue. Very
little cf the wheat lately secured can be in a fit state
to thrash until next March ; and from the com-
paratively small quantity of fine, farmers are not likely
to be in a hurry to part with the latter. Only moderate
deliveries from the growers can therefore be expected ;
and as merchants and millers are by no means largely
stocked, there is some chance of the supplies falling short
of the quantity required for consumption. Under ordi-
nary circumstances, a similar auspicious change to that
which has this week taken place in the weather would
have immediately checked the rise in prices; but so con-
fident are holders at present that all they have will be
wanted, that little effect has been produced on the trade
by the alteration from very wet weather to that of au
opposite character.
At several of the leading provincial markets held since
our last, considerable eagerness has been displayed to
make investments in wheat, which has enabled sellers to
realise a further enhancement.
The Liverpool market was on Tuesday visited by
numerous buyers from different parts of Ireland, which,
with the increasingly unfavourable reports from that
country regarding the failure in the potato crop, caused
much excitement. Not only was wheat in lively request,
at a rise of 3d. per 70lb. on free, and 3d. to 4d. on bonded,
but all other descriptions' of corn and pulse, as well as
flour and oatmeal, were bought up at greatly enhanced
prices, and on the whole, a large amount of business was
done. Later in the week the excitement increased
rather than diminished. and an Friday red Lower Baltic
wheat was sold in bond at Bs. per 701 b., United States
flour at 30e. per barrel, while 355. per barrel was paid for
Canadian.
The accounts from Yorkshire are of a somewhat more
subdued tone, purchasers having apparently deemed it
prudent to pause ere entering into fresh engagements at
the advanced rates demanded by sellers. Neither at
Hull nor at Leeds were the transactions of much im-
portance OR Tuesday. At the first-named town a rise of
ls. per quarter was, in partial instances, established on
wheat, but at Leeds buyers declined paying enhanced
terms. The advices from Wakefield, of Friday, are by
no means animated ; and though the best qualities of
wheat commanded full terms, ordinary sorts were scarcely
so saleable as on that day week.
In the western and north-western markets, the value
of win at has this week risen materially. At Bristol, on
Thursday, the best qualities of old were quoted 45., and
new 2s. per quarter higher than on that day se'nnight ;
whilst at Birmingham, the advance amounted to quite 2s.
per quarter on all kinds.
In the agricultural districts prices have also moved
up steadily, and it is now evident, that in spite of the
inferiority of the new wheat, the averages must shortly
rise to an extent to cause a considerable reduction is
the duty.
Our Scotch letters give a very sad account this week
of the spread of potato disease in that country, and
notwithstanding the rather quiet tone of the Mark-lane re-
ports of Monday last, much excitement prevailed at
Edinburgh on Wednesday. Wheat was readily
sold at 2s. to 4s. per quarter above the rates of that day
se'unight ; whilst barley rose 35., and oats fully Is. per
quarter. This rise in prices was attributed entirely to
the fear of the failure in the crop of potatoes.
In Ireland the same causes have been productive of
the same results. The conviction that potatoes will be
exceedingly deficient has become so general on the
other side of the Channel, that measures have already
been adopted to guard against the anticipated scarcity cl
feed, with a view to this end purchases of grain, flour,
and meal have leely been making on Irish account in
several of the English markets; it is prebable, therefore,
that the supplies from t hat country will fall off materially,
which must have an influence on the value of corn—oats
in particular—on this side.
The arrivals of wheat coastwise into London have
been good; the greater proportion of the 10,536 qrs.
reported has gone direct to millers. The show at
Mark -lane by land-carriage samples from the home
counties has, since Monday, been very small; and though
a good deal of caution has been displayed by millers in
conducting their operations, prices were fully as high
at the close as in 'the commencement of the week.
Foreign free wheat having been required for mixing
with the damp parcels of new English, the former has met
with a fair share of attenti,m, and the recently establish-
ed advance has not only been supported, but in many
cases holders have been enabl, d to realize terms for the
finer sorts not previously obtainable.
Besides a good deal of local speculation in bonded
wheat, we have experienced rather a liveh demand for
the article on Irish account, and the operations have on
the whole been important. The sales made both on
Wednesday and Friday were at an advance of Is. per
quarter on Monday's currency, and many holders were
altogether unwilling to part with their property. Mode-
rately good qualities of red brought 525., whilst superior
Rostock was held at 555. to 565. A cargo of Dantz'c,
by no means fine, sold at 57e. per quarter on Friday,
and superior high mixed could not have 'been secured
without paying 58s. to 60s. per quarter.
From the present position of the averages it is scarcely
possible for the duty to fall materially this month, but
before the end of November wheat will be admissible at
14s. per quarter—a rate, however, few importers are
likely to pay, as a further decline is certain to occur in
the following month.
The'top price of town-made flour must be regarded as
unsettled, some millers calling it 5Gs., whilst others
quote 603. per sack. Ship flour has commanded full
terms, and that of colonial and foreign manufacture has
also sold at high rates.
The supplies of barley have slightly increased ; still
the quantity received has been small. Malting sorts have
commanded the advance of Monday, and feeding quali-
ties have brought is. per quarter more than was obtaia-
able on that day.
Malt has been much sought after, and prices of the
article have continued to tend upwards.
English and Scotch oats have come to hand very
sparingly ; of Irish 16,113 quarters have been received.
whilst from abroad the supply has consisted of 15,680
quarters. The belief that the failure of the potato crop
will occasion a greatly increased consumption of meal in
Scotland and Ireland, and that the arrivals of oats from
those countries will therefore be very small, has led, to
much eagerness to get into stock. On Wednesday fac-
tors experienced no difficulty in selling at 6d. per quarter
above former rates, and at the close of the week the rise
amounted to ls. per quarter. Bonded oats have also been
sought after, and as much as 20s. to 21s. per quarter had
been paid for Archangel under lock.
Beaus have participated in the general advance, and
were certainly ls, per quarter dearer at the close than in
the beginning of the week.
For peas the demand has again revived, and both
white and blue have commanded enhanced prices. Gray
and map!e have not excited so much attention ; the lat-
ter kinds were nevertheless held with greater firmness on
Friday.

THE ARMY.

CAVALRY.

2d Royal North British Dragoons (Scots Greys), Porto-
bello Barracks, Dublin—Officers present at head-quarters :
Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, commanding ; Major Ricketts,
Captains Macleod, Sulivan, Clarke, and Grant ; Lieutenant
and Adjutant Reid, Phillips, Riding-master Robertson, Pigott,
Carruthers, Sir George Francis Barnpson, Bart., and Sco-
bell ; Comets Hibbert, Hozie-r, Amphlett, G.H., Earl of
Mountcharles, Lyon, and Buchanan ; Paymaster Crawf,rd,
Quartermaster Nelson, Surgeon VsTinterscale, Assistant-Sur-
geon Bross, M.D., Veterinary- Surgeon Jex. Effective
strength : 1 regimental sergeant-major, 6 troop sergeant-
majoi s, 18 sergeants, 7 trumpeters, 6 farriers, 283 rank and
file, 52 officers' chargers, and 266 troop horses. Recruiting :
4 privates. At Chatham : 4 privates sick. At Maidstone :
2 rank and file, and 2 troop horses. Officers on leave :
Captains Griffiths and Campbell, to Nov. 30.