The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-06 00:00:00

GREAT FIRES LN NEW YORK,

Two terrible conflagrations, attended by immense losses
of property, occurred in the city of New York, at an early
hour on the 17th ult. No fire that has occurred in the
city, since the great disaster of 1845, has resulted in so
great a destruction of property, or has thrown so many of
the labouring population of the city ont of home and em-
ployment. The occurrence of two conflagrations at the
same time, in the dead of night, and at points far removed
from each other, suggests the probability of incendiarism ;
a supposition which gains strength by the narration of
concurring circumstances.

The first fire which was discovered broke out at half-
past two o'clock, in the piano-leg and action manufactory
of Mr. A. R Brooks, No. 206 East Twenty-third-street,
and quickly communicated to the extensive and valuable
block of buildings, known as the Empire Iron Works,
owned by Messrs. Sloane and Leggett, extending through
the entire block bounded by Twenty-third and Twenty-
fourth streets, and thence spreading to other buildings on
Twenty-fourth-street. The destruction was complete,
nothing being left standing except the tall chimneys of
the foundry. The loss by this fire will reach the heavy
amount of three hundred thousand dollars; upon which
there is an insurance of about one hundred and eighty
thousand dollars. Upwards of one thousand mechanics
are thrown out of employment by this calamity.
The alarm had scarcely been struck for this fire, on the
east river side of the city, when another was sounded for
the fifth district, situated in the extreme westerly portion
of the island. The alarm was found to proceed from the
block of buildings bounded by Washington, Troy, and
Jane streets. The flames here, too, spread with alarming
rapidity, and soon defied the utmost exertions of the fire-
men, whose efforts were greatly retarded by a strong wind
from the north-east, and a cold, drizzling rain, which
continued during the night. The wind increased to a
gale towards morning, and assisted the spread of the
flames at both fires. The reflection upon the sky from
the two fires thus proceeding simultaneously at two
opposite points, and nearly in a direct line, produced a
vivid illumination in all the upper portion of the city.
There was apparently a belt of flame reaching quite
across the island, which, reflected against the background
of rain-clouds, caused great apprehension that the fire was
even more extensive and disastrous than it proved to be.
The light was so intensely bright, that small print might
easily have been read at the distance of two miles from
the scene of the fire.

The loss by the fire in the Ninth Ward was nearly equal
in amount to that of the Empire Works and its adjacent
buildings. Neither could have been mach less than
$300,000.

. ,
The aggregate loss by the two fires may be stated in
round numbers at six, or possibly seven hundred thou-
sand. The insurances effected upon the property de-
stroyed, as nearly as can be ascertained, reach the amount
of about three hundred thousand dollars.

The number of mechanics deprived of employment by
the Ninth Ward disaster will probably be from eight
hundred to one thousand; thus making an aggregate of
about two thousand mechanics thrown out of employ.

L INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, Nov. 22.
MONEY AND STOCKS.—The transactions at the Stock

COMMERCIA:

41 were large in the leading fancies. The market at
1 board was buoyant, and closed with firmness.
,vernment 6s, 1867, was made at 1231, and of
is firmer for sterling. Some
Francs, 5.15 to 5.132. _ The

d at 118.

skin ,T 109

day's business at the sub-treasury was as follows
ceived, $119,133 ; paid, $122,012 ; balance, 9-
The Herald stated that defalcations to a very large amount
had occurred in several of the Wall-street banks. The
statement, however, is a fabrication, without a particle of
truth for its baths. Exchange on London is firm, with an
advancing tendency. Bankers have sold at 91 to 9g.
per cent. On Paris, the rate continues at 5.121.
COTTON.—(From W. P. Wright's Circular of Nov.
22).—My last circular was dated 16th instant, since which
we are in receipt of Liverpool advices to bth November,
per Arabia. During the past week, we have had a steady
demand, and the sales have been large in view of our very
limited stock of unsold and desirable qualities, Home

-Re-
-5,690,731.

consumers have operated to a liberal extent, and pay full
• " trades as they require. Holders have met
ely, and nearly all the recant import has
to arrive, or immediately on being landed.
cotton ranging from middling to fair is
extremely -scarce, and is likely to continue so for some

the demand

The supply of

scarcel;

,nly a very small sur

of Mobile, and

cl fre—e from leaf

;e ; 1,675: on speculation ; and 640 in transit;

show a slight improvement and an upward tendency. The
export during the week has been—to Liverpool, 4,495
bales ; Havre, 37 ; Rotterdam, 64. Total, 4,596 bales.
Receipts at the ports do not keep pace with those of
last year, and are now behind . those of any year since
1847. Nor is it at all likely the deficiency, as compared
with last year, already amounting to 283,000 bales, can be
made up (if at all) for many months. During the past
week 70,000 bales have been received against 109,000 bales
in the corresponding week last year, which was the first
of eighteen consecutive weeks when the receipts were over
100,000 bales per week, the average being 117,500 bales
per week. The export to Great Britain is already 120,000
bales behind the corresponding period last year, and
it is now almost certain that not more than 100,000 bales
of our export, commencing Ist September, can reach Great
Britain prior to Ist January next, against about 250,000
bales last year. In view, therefore, of the dull state of
the market in Liverpool, consequent on political affairs,
high prices for food, dear money, and strikes in the manu-
facturing districts, it is a fortunate circumstance for the
holders of cotton in Liverpool, and the owners of what is on
the way, that this deficiency in receipts and exports exists.
CROP.—We have no account of frost having visited the
great cotton growing region of the South-west, or any of
those localities which, in my last circular. I noticed as
having been so far exempt from its effects. From New
Orleans we learn that the weather continued fine for
picking. In the region tributary to Apalachicola the
crops will be large. From the Atlantic States complaints
are general of the damage by the frosts of 24th of October,
and varions estimates are indulged in as to the probable
quantity short in that section. The probable amount of
the next crop is variously estimated at from 2,700,000 to
3,000,000 bales, the preponderance being in favour of the
latter, while some few adhere to a higher estimate.
The following is a statement of the movement in cotton
since the Ist September last, as compared with the pre-
vious three years :

1853 1852 1831 1850.
Receipts at the ports 352,000 635,000 410,000 384,000
Exports to Great Britain 99,000 219,000 133,000 159,000
„ France lO,OOO 26,000 53,000 54,000
other for. p'ts 25,000 33,000 16,000 33,000
Total exports 134,000 278,000 202,000 246,000
Stock on hand
Of which, during the past week, included in the above.
1853. 1852. 1851. 1850.
Receipts at the ports 70,000 109,000 48.100 56,000
Exports to Great Britain 14,000 59,000 25,000 19,000
If France - 6,000 4,000 13,000
other for ports, 3,000 7,000 3,000 3,600
Total exports
From which it will be seen that the decrease in receipts
now amounts to 283,000 bales : the decrease in exports to
Great Britain, 120,000; France, 16,000 ; other foreign
ports, 8,000. Total decrease in exports,l44,ooo bales.
BREADSTUFFS.-Flour was in brisk request ; the trans-
actions included 18,000 barrels :-sour at $6 121 cents to
$6 371 cents ; superfine, No. 2, at $6 371 cents to $6 621
cents ; ordinary to choice State, at $6 811 cents to $7 ;
mixed to fancy Western, at $6 871 cents to $7 061 cents ;
common to good Ohio, at $6 93t cents to $7 122 cents;
and other brands at proportionate prices. Wheat was
moderately inquired for ; the sales embraced 11,000 bshls.
prime Michigan white, at $1 73 cents to $1 74 cents; 4000
Ohio ditto, on private terms • 6000 very good Southern
ditto, at $1 67 cents ; 17,400
inferior to prime Canadian
white, in bond, at $1 60 cents to $1 74 cents; 6000
Southern red and mixed, at $1 54 cents to $1 572 cents ;
and 3000 Western red, at $1 50 cents. Corn was rather
less valuable; the operations comprised 30,000 bushels, at
78 cents to 79 cents for unsound ; 79 cents to 801 cents
for mixed Western ; and 81 cents to 81i cents for flat and
round yellow.

PROirISIONS.—Pork 'strongly favoured buyers. The
sales embraced 400 barrels Western, at $l4 60 cents for
mess, and $ll 75 cents for prime per barrel. Only 180
barrels Lard changed hands, at 10 cents to 101 cents per
barrel. The movements in Beef comprised 500 barrels,
at, former quotations. Other articles were as last
noticed.

NAVAL STORES.—Crude Turpentine was rather quiet,
at $1 75 cents per 280 lbs. There were 450 barrels Spi-
rits Turpentine taken at 66 cents per gallon. Rosin
varied little.

FREIGHTS.—Rates to Liverpool were unchanged. 15,000
to 20,000 bushels corn were engaged at 12-td. to 12id ;
and 2,000 to 3,000 bbls. flour, at 3s 6d. Cotton was at
7-32 d. to id. asked. To London, 3,000 bbls. flour were
engaged at 4s. 9d. To Havre, 5,000 to 6,000 bbls. flour
were engaged at 95c. Wheat was at 25c. A vessel was
engaged to load for Antwerp with flour and grain, on pri-
vate terms. To California, rates were steady, at 50c. to
60e. per.foot, both by full and loading clippers.
LEAD.—Holders claimed $6 37i. to $6 60 for foreign,
and $6 75 for Galena, per 100 lbs. Stock light, and in-
quiry limited.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 18rn.—Receipts of cotton for the
week, 38,000 bales. Total at this p1ace,227,000 bales, against
477,000 same time as last year, being a deficit at this port
alone of 250,000 ; and at all the ports, as made up by our
table to-night, 295,000. Sales for the week, 36,000 bales.
Middling, 9c to 9ic. Stock on hand, 150,000 bales.
Freight to Liverpool id. per lb.
MOBILE, Nov. 19Tn.—Reeeipts for the week, 4,000 bales.
Same week last year, 16,000. Middling, 84c to
Freight to Liverpool, id. ; to Havre, 1 9-16 c. per lb.
SAVANNAH.—No report having come to hand, we are
unable to give the particulars of transactions in this mar-
ket for the week.

CHARLESTON.—Receipts for the week ending November
16th, 7,684 bales Up. and 101 S. I. Exports to Liverpool,
2,470 bales Up.
_

" During the first three days the purchasing was pretty
fair, at a full range of prices. On Tuesday, after the Bal-
tic's news, quite an excitement existed, and holders
realized an advance on former rates : the large transactions
of this day absorbed most of the stock offering, and the
business on Wednesday was consequently very light, the
market closing firmly, and well up to quotations, which
are 4c. to ic.higher than last week. Total sales 7;100

Freight to Liverpool, 9-16 d."