The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-04-13 00:00:00

DOCK COMMITTEES,

The Deputy TowN-cLatik first read over the proceedings of
the above committee. 'I be report embodied a resolution of toe
committee to make an application to Parliament for a bill to
enable them to erect

WAREHOUSES ON THE DOCK QUAYS.

The MAYORS said, before they entered upon the debate on
this subject, the Town-clerk would address to theca a few obser-
vations. _ . .

The TOWN-CLERK said it appeared to him, the last time he
addressed them on that subject, as it did at that moment, that
the erection of the warehouses in question, for which it was re-
quisite to obtain powers from Parliament, was not within the
legal powers of the Dock Committee. He was still of the same
opinion. By the act of 1811, 51st Geo. 3, the Mayor, Alder-
men, and Bailiffs of the Common Council were first erected
into a corporation udder the title of Trustees to the Liverpool
Docks, It was a corporation distinct from that of the town,
wbich consists of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, while
the other was the Mayor, Aldermen, and Bailiffs. By the act
of 1811, they were the first corporation under the title of Trus-
tees of the Docks. Then it was that the Dock Committee was
appointed a committee of the members of the council. By the
act of 1825, eight rate-payers were admitted, and all the powers
of the previous committee were determined. The act proceeded
to enact all the powers of the new committee. They would ob-
serve that all the power would be vested in the trustees of the
docks, and that any power that was given to the committee was
from the trustees. y By the act of 1825, it was determined, that
in order to carry into effect the provisions of that act, a com-
mittee of twenty-one persons should be elected, to be called the
Committee of the Trustees of the Liverpool Docks, to use and
exercise the several purposes vested in the said trustees. It was
plain that the powers vested in the committee were the powers
to carry into effect the several purposes of the act. The next
section said all their acts should be final and conclusive, if not
set aside at the Council (by two-thirds of the members present,)
to be held not more than one week from the tune of passing the
committee. It was easy to see that to proceed lawfully, they
must be authorised by the Council. The resolution with regard
to the erection of warehouses was a resolution for that which
was out of the Council, and it was a resolution to obtain further
power. In going into that matter (speaking legally) Dock
Committee bad gone beyond their authority. They had no right
to go beyond the acts. There was nothing in this view of the
subject that was at all peculiar to the Municipal act. The view
would have been the same if the Municipal act had never passed.
The authority would have been vested in the Common Council
for the time being. In looking into the act they could not help
observing the cautious manner in which it was constructed, and
he thought his view was the same as the framer of the act. A
modern act of Parliament was not to be expounded according
to the usuage under the act; it was to be expounded according
to the plain and legal meaning. There was no usage under this
act that could at all affect the legal construction. He was pre-
pared to state, that this did not rest altogether upon his opinion.
lie had taken the opinion of others, but it would probably de-
pend upon the decision of that day, what mode of procedure
would be ultimately adopted.
The MAYOR then put the question, as to whether the report
should be adopted.
Mr. Boons said as one of the committee, he rose to oppose the
passing of that part of the report which related to the building
of warehouses on the Dock Quays. As he had stated in his
place in that committee, he was willing to afford evey facility
to the speedy apd easy performance of the work on the Dock
Quays. without touching injuriously the property of the corpo-
tion, or that of private individuals. He would not rest his op-
position to the scheme on this: that if it were followed up, it
would injure, not only the property of private individuals, but
also the property constituting the Corporate Estate. On what
grounds did they rest their right to move in making this altera-
tion ? Had there been any large meeting of the commercial
community, expressing a wish for such alteration ?—had any
strong wish been expressed in any quarter?—or any opinion
that the present warehousing system was not sufficient? No !
there had been nothing of the sort, with the exception of one
memorial which had come into the Council on the preceding
week. The names to that memorial he could not deny were
exceedingly respectable, but it was singular enough, that there
was scarcely one signature of a person who possessed real pro-
perty in the town. There was on the other side a memorial
from persons who had large properties, individuals who were
identified with the real and lasting prosperity of this commu-
nity. It had been said, that those who opposed this scheme,
were instigated by interested and selfish motives. In such a
case where the prosperity of individuals was bound up in the
prosperity of the town. they had a right to be interested, they
could not avoid it. It was proper that they should under such
circumstances be interested. If this were the right and duty
of individuals, how much more was it so of the Council ! He
trusted they would pause before they gave their votes against
that which it was their duty to watch over anti to cherish. Mr.
Booth concluded, by moving that part of the report which re-
solved upon an application to parliament, for power to erect
warehouses on the Dock Quays, be not confirmed.
Mr. CRAWFORD LOGAN seconded the motion.

The M Avoit proposed as the more convenient course, that they
should confirm all the rest of the proceedings, before they went
further with the discussion of the question which had been opened
by Mr. Alderman Booth.
A slight discussion arose as to whether the legal opinions al-
luded to by the Town-clerk should be read.
Mr. EA RLE was of opinion that as the Town-clerk was their
legal adviser, it was incumbent on them to take the law front
him.

It was ultimately decided that the opinions alluded to should
be read before the debate proceeded further.
The TOWN-CLERK said he thought that in a matter of such,
importance, he bad done right in taking the opinions of coun-
sel. He had done so since he communicated his own opinion
to them at the last meeting in the preceding week. The Town-
clerk said he would first read the instructions to advise, which
he did.

The following was
MR. WIGHTMAN'S OPINION.
_

" By the 6th Geo., ‘l, cap. 187, sec. 3, provision is made for
the appointment of a committee to carry into execution the
powers and authorities by the several Dock Acts, and that act,
vested in trustees, and the management and conducting of their
estate and interest in the said trust; and by section 4, the reso-
lutions of the committee are to be final. —"lied by a
:„. ~..tees or members of the Common
Council, present at a meeting held us directed by this act. But
the resolutions of this committee which require a majority of
two-thirds of the trustees or council to annul them, must be such
as are within the authority of the committee, which is to carry
into execution the powers and authorities of the Dock Acts. The
resolutions in questions in question, however, are not within
any of the powers and authorities given by the Dock Acts, and
it therefore appears to me that the acts of the Town Council,
who are ex-officio trustees, ought, with respect to the resolutions
in question, to be governed 13y the same rules that are in force
with respect to any other acts to be done by them. Before the
passing of the Municipal Corporation Act, the Town Council
would have acted by a majority, and by the 69th section of that
act, the council still acts by a. majority. 1 assume that the
erection of warehouses on the dock quays is not warranted by
any of the Dock Acts, and is beyond the authority of the trus-
tees."

The following was, on the same instruction, the
OPINION OF Aikt. CRESSWELL.
"1 am of opinion that the powers vested in the Dock Com-
mittee are such as are requisite for the execution and earr!,ing;
into effect of the several purposes of Deck Acts, and do not ex-
tend beyond them. The erection of warehouses isnot a matter
provided for by any of those acts, and therefore is, as it seems
to me, beyond the scope of the authority vested in the commit-
tee. The Town Council, therefore, acting as Duck Trustees,
are not bound to deal with any suggestion coming from the com-
mittee as a matter affected by the Dock Acts, but as a matter
submitted to their judgment and to be dealt with by them ac-
cording to the mode prescribed by the sth and 6th Wm. 4, cap.
76, for the exercise of their corporate authority."
The MA yuct said, after mature thought and consultation with
the Town-clerk, he had resolved that this question nmst be de-
either way, by a majority in the usual manner. This was the
opinion at which he arrived, and the Dock Committee would, in
regard to this question, be treated as any other committee of the
council.

Mr. BIRCH said, this was, perhaps, the most important ques-
tion that had come before them, that it would be well, therefore,
that they give it close and attentive consideration. It involved,
not only the interests of a larger body of their fellow-townsmen.
but also the prosperity of the corporate estate, and the character
and conduct of the Council as the chosen trustees thereof. It
appeared that the Dock Trustees. iu the laudable desire to ex-
tend the facilities of businogs, had not well considered what
would he the effect of the mode which they had fixed upon for
so doing. They had given exclusive attention to one interest,
wh;co was the Dock estate; and, he thought he wes justified in
saying this, because a body of men who poesessed a large stake
in the property of the town had not had one opportunity of
urging their interests. This being the case, it was doubly in-
cumbent ou the Council to give to the warehouse owners that
degree of protection to which they were entitled. At the last
meeting of the Council, it was shown, that upon a mere rumour
of the intention of extending the bonding system to inland
towns, the Finance Committee were authorised to take measures
even to send a deputation to look after the interests involved.
Upon what principle did they proceed in that matter ? Why,
that the extending of the bonding system must endanger the
value of the vast warehouse property in this town. Did not this
amount to a plain and distinct declaration on the part of the
Council that they considered themselves the guardians of the
warehouse property of the town ? And would they abandon a
principle which they had distinctly laid down ? It was stated,
that there was no foundation for• the alarm of the warehouse
owneis • that this was a mere experiment, and that the buildings
would be so inconsiderable that they could not affect the interests
of the warehouse owners. lie understood that the buildings
were to cover thirty-three thousand superficial yards. This was
an extent of 31- Cheshire acres. They would soon ascertain the
fact that these buildings would be equal to 20 of the largest
warehouses in Liverpool. Besides, the matter would not stop
here. It was the application of a new principle upon a limited
scale, and if found to answer, it would go on to other docks.
They were told that the erection of new warehouses would con-
tribute to bring them new trade. Ile could not see how this was,
nor had he heard any attempt to give proof of it. He could
easily see how new trade would bring warehouses, but the con-
verse of the proposition he confessed was be‘ond iris compre-
hension. It appeared that one-half the land that warehouses
were not built upon, was held in leases under the corporation.
If at once they depreciated that land, 30 per cent. in value,
they would destroy a large portion of the Corporate estate. It
was only last year that they obtained an act of parliament to add
1.:-100,000 to the Corporate debt, and to that they were about to
add this loss by the depreciation of the property. Ile hoped he
might be aliowed to remind the Council that, with the exception
of a freehold building here and there, the total of the property,
commencing at Water-street and going southwatd, was built
upon land leased from the Corporation. A very considerable
proportion of that land had been leased under the express stipu-
lation that warehouses should be erected upon it. It was only a
few days back that a gentlemen had requested permission at the
Town-hall to be permitted to build offices on some of this land,
and he was informed that such permission could not be granted,
as the land had been leased under the stipulation that ware-
houses alone should he built upon it. The very fact of such a
stipulation, implied a mutual obligation, to perform a certain
stipulation on the one hand, and to protect on the other.—
(Hear.) There was no chance for the public in competition
with the Dock Trust, and against such a competition the Coun-
cil were hound to protect them. What would be said then, if
after such contracts they themselves became the competitors ?
It would be monstrous. If they confirmed these resolutions,
they would become principals in the transaction. He was not
much accustomed to speak in praise of the old self-elected mem- .
hers of the corporation, but he must say that in all their deal-
ings with the public, they were guided by consistancy and a
regard for individual interest. As a member of that body, he
hoped they would do nothing incompatible with the character
and honour of an assembly that had been freely chosen by the
people. He should support the motion of Mr. Booth.
Mr. LEATHOM said, he would submit to them some of the rea-
sons which had induced the Dock Committee to come to those
resolutions. The question of Dock-room was one that had come
frequently before the committee. There had been much diffi-
culty on this subject, as they had been obliged to give up the
Trafalgar Dock and the Clarence Duck to the steamers. Com-

plaints had been made in the Prince's Dock of the crowded state
of the vessels. It became a question with them, how they were
to remedy the inconvenience, without insuring the enormous
expense of constructing new docks. The best mode seemed to '
he, to facilitate as much as possible the discharoing and loading
of vessels. The expense of constructing new docks had been
enormous, the whole cost or the Prince's dock having been not
less than £120,000. In the Clarence dock they had scarcely a
remuneration for the outlay, in the small cute of tonnage which
the vessels paid in proportion to the room which they occupied.
The steamer St. Patrick for instance, paid only £7, when, in
proportion to the room which she took up, it ought to be £3O.
Other vessels paid low in the same proportion, so that the returns
of the Clarence dock were not one per cent. on the outlay. The
erection of warehouses on the quays seemed to be the best mode
of obviating the inconvenience, and preventing the delays which
occurred. Mr. Leathom went on to draw some comparisons
between the despatch with which vessels were discharged in
London, in comparison to Liverpool. A Jamaica ship of 300
tons, he said was in St. Catharine's Dock discharged in a day
and a half, and in the East India Dock in one day. The con-
trast was very great, and these considerations had stimulated the
Dock Committee to bring forward their plan. Several state-
ments had been made out of doors, that the Dock Committee
had proceeded recklessly as regarded the interests of private
individuals. This he thought was unfair. Those who had brought
forward such statements, ought to rut-ileao,er that the Dock Com-
mittee were not shareholders in the dock estate. They were
not contractors, nor had they any interest whatever in the mat-
ter.

Mr. BENN said they proposed to build warehouses in which
goods could be discharged. The trade in indigo seas fast-falling
off, in consequence of their not having room for its display. It
was necessary also that parties should be assured that their
goods were in a place of safety, for pilfering took place to an
enormous extent. It had been said that the Custom-house would
take care that bonded packages were not pilfered, but in the
articles of indigo the duty was paid on the import weight, so
that the Customs did not care how such packages-were pilfered.
The traoe in shell-lac, indigo, and cochineal, had gone almost
entirely from this port. Parties would not purchase it here on
account of the insecurity. Light was also especially necessary
for the examination of the article, and there was not a warehouse
in Liverpool where it could be properly exhibited.—(oh !) If
warehouses were on the dock quays, when they wanted to put
goods on board they had nothing to do but place the ship along-
side the warehouse. In London the loading or discharge of a
vessel was accomplished in a very short time. Here the system
of warehousing contracted much trouble. They had to look from
place to place, and probably at last found goods that ought to
be kept perfectly dry, stowed away in a damp cellar. The buyers
of indigo would not, at this port, pay the deposit of ten per cent.
and the warranty of the goods were handed about from one to
another like bank notes. The goods were, in fact, as safe as
possible from pilferage and damage ; here it was not so. A
large proportion of the Brazil trade was drawn from Liverpool,
and of those ships that proceded from hence to Rio, there was
not one that did not return to London. In London, last year,
37,000 boxes of goods were imported from Havana: here only
800 were imported. If we could bring our expenses below those
of London, we should get a large proportion of those goods, as
we- had many superior advantages which were not possessed by
London. The Dock Committee had a very important duty to
perform, which was, to give a facility to the performance of
business at the docks. It appeared that within four years there
had been built 141 warehouses. They proposed now to build 15.
In the course of the same time that it would take them to build
15, more than these would otherwise have been built by private
individuals, and why not by the Dock Committee ? The
measure would prove beneficial to Yorkshire and Lancashire,
as well as to Liverpool, and would be productive of general
good; and he hoped the council would look to the general
good.
Mr. EARLE said, he should he sorry to say that the Dock
Trustees wished to injure the interests of the owners of ware-
house property. He thought, however, if any of them had been
owners of warehouse property, they would have endeavoured to
have seen whether there was any other mode of facilitating the
business of despatching vessels. They said at first that they
were just going to erect a shed, and now Mr. Benn talked of
the warehouses of St. Catherine's Dock. This was just what
they called putting in a wedge, he knew what it was very well.
(Laughter.)
Mr. BOLTON said the question was, what would be for the
general good of the town of Liverpool. Mr. Birch had alluded
to the character and honour to the council if that were per-
mitted to be done. The proposed warehouses would cost
£60,000, call it £lOO,OOO. That would give them 1-40th of the
property already existing, and it would be for the increased
facility in sampling and sorting. They possessed all these
great advantages in London, while London was taking from us
the trade which we ought to have. There was no doubt but the
trade of Liverpool would rally, and become vigorous after the
depression occasioned by the great restraint on the American
trade had passed away, and then the demand for an increase of
warehiyuse accommodation would be as great as ever.
Mr. J. SMITH said, the present question involved matters of
great interest to the people of this town. He regretted that
they had not paused before they had entered upon anything so
ruinous to the public. Such a measure must influence to a
ruinous extent the warehouse property of the town. The cor-
poration of Liverpool should not come forward to compete with
builders in the market, nor did he think this was a legitimate
mode of applying the funds of the Dock Committee. If there
was any surplus, they should apply it to the reduction of the
tonnage duties, which would do more to induce ships to come to
our port than any measure like this. (Hear.)
Mr. CURRIE thought it would be well to inquire if the evil
complained of, respecting the warehousing system in Liverpool
could not be corrected by better management. If it could not,
he thought they would experience but little effect from the
erection of fifteen warehouses as proposed. It was his wish to
protect the interests of the corporation, and he certainlydid not
think that the reasons offered in favour of the measure were of'
sufficient weight to justify an application to Parliament.
Mr. WOOD said, vessels were very frequently detained from
want of quay berths. He thought if the Dock Committee were
to alter rates of tonnage, it would prove more beneficial than
the measure in question.
Mr. EVANS said Mr. Nelson Wood was, no doubt, an au-
thority. He (Mr. Evans) had been supplied with letters and a
certificate, one from Mr. Dyson, and another from a- nautical
gentleman, and he was able to bring Mr. Aiken and many other
gentlemen, to prove that what was done in London in from two
to four days, could not in Liverpool be tinder a month. They
•-ss., %Loy ~iscitnnen Of the
highest respectability. He had had a letter ft om Mr. Thornelv,
who said the difference was enormous. In the London docks
they could do the same tonnage in four, in the St. Catherine's
in three, and in the West India in two days. The advantages
of the scheme, and the benefit to the public, was clear. Mr.
Birch had said that the character of the council was involved.
It was, and he hoped they would not be content with being
merely the owners of local property. He agreed with Mr. Birch
that they were the guardians of the rights of the public, and he
hoped they would not misunderstand him when he came to talk
of the warehouse owners, for he had been employed for some
time past in endeavouring to discover what were their rights in
law and equity. The were a part of the community under the
care of the council. He had not overlooked that. He would
have them to have their real rights, but he would not give his
sanction to their possessing fictitious rights at the cost of the
community at large. For novelty in argument he had looked
in vain as regarded Oils question. It was to him like a needle
in a bottle of straw. He had not beard anything said that had
not been repeated over and over again for nine years past. The
first thing that was forced upon them was the injury the corpo-
rate estate would receive from the plan. The corporation estate
was an estate perpetual, and not the lucky hit of a few weeks.
It was property fur all time. It was derived not from the ex-
citement of a moment, not from the absence or plenty of money,
but from the prosperity of the public at large. There was a
time, not long since, when -property within six miles of Liver-
pool would have been sold by the acre; now, if they only went
over the water, they would find it sold by the yard or foot, and
it would fetch more thousands of pounds per acre than a few
years ago it would have done hundreds. When they saw such
indications of prosperity externally, whatmust be the effect more
at home? An external pressure upon the centre that must
maintain the value of the corporate estate to all time. He
might allude to Bath-street, much of it was offered at El per
yard to Mr. Hughes, and it was now selling at twelve guineas
per yard. If the rents of lands were so high that the warehouse
rent would be high also, it was in vain to take off tonnage when
the whole saving would go into the pockets of the warehouse
owners. Now, with regard to the warehouse owners, he would
ask where were their legal or equitable claims fur withholding
such advantages as they had it in their power to give to the
public. He found that the corporation had always retained the
right of building warehouses on any of the dock quays, with the
exception of the Prince's Dock. He would ask them where was
the express contract which had been spoken of with the owners
of warehouses. There was no such thing. They. complained
that the corporation bad laid them under restrictions, but was
not the land only proper for warehouses, and were not the ele-
vations given the proper elevations for warehouses ? It would
have been just as good an argument to have said when the land
was let on which the Goree-piazza's warehouses were built, that
the owners of those warehouses were injured when the land at
the Salthonse Dock was leased out for similar purposes. The
most unreasonable claims were always made upon the public.
He remembered 38 years ago, the cotton sales amounted 40800
bags per week. They were now selling 20,000. The prosperity
of Liverpool would, he doubted not, by the time these ware-
houses were finished, be so great that it would absorb all the
existing warehouse room, and there would be a want of more.
The great point was to increase their wealth, increase the trade,
increase the prosperity, and leave the standing property to take
care of itself. Mr. Evans went on very forcibly to depict the
great prosperity which he foresaw fur Liverpool, if facility were
given to commerce. There was the West India trade, which
lie said, he should have to contest-with London for the posses-
sion of, while the advantages wore insmeriliely on the side-
verpoot. Take away the weight, said he, and London will kick
the beam. All depended on the port charges. The prospect
was good. From year to year the prosperity of the port was in-
creasing. Liverpool seemed but a nucleus, which would grow
in interminable wealth. It had withered all around it. They
could offer an equivalent for wealth to any extent to the whole
world, and here they were pattering about a few warehouses
and a few yards of land, more or less, with such a prospect be-
fOre them. He agreed with Mr. Birch that the character of the
council was involved. The Dock Committee had done its duty.
he hoped the council would do theirs. (Applause.)
Mr SHAND was of opinion that their better plan would be to
parcel out the land on the quays to private individuals, and thus
the evil to be feared from competition with a public body would
be avoided.

Mr. BROWN took a similar view, and expressed his fears of
the danger to shipping, if the warehouses should take fire
during a strong westerly wind.
Nit-. BLACKBURN, after stating his reasons, moved the post-
ponement of the debate for two months, and that in the mean
tore a committee would be appointed to gather information on
the subject, and report to the council. It was of great import-
ance he said, that the most ample consideration should be given
to the subject.
Mr. CoGLAN seconded the amendment.
Mr. JosErn Iloemtv, in allusion to what had fallen from
Mr. Earle, said that he was an owner of warehouse property,
and had been so ever since he possessed any property whatever.
He believed the measure would rather increase the value of his
warehouses than otherwise. (Hear.)
Mr. BIBBY spoke at some length in favour of the resolutions
of the Dock Committee.

Mr. WALNISLEY read a statement showing the increase of
ships tonnage to this port in 25 years. The increase from 1812
to 1837, was 10,439 ships, or 226 per cent. and 1,512.196 tons,
or 338 per cent. In 1812 there were entered 4,599 vessels,
averaging 97 tons each; in 1837, 15,032, averaging 130 tons
each.

The TOWN-CLERK, at the request of Mr Evans, read a letter
addressed to Messrs. W. and J. Tvrer, from a gentleman, who
stated that he had an intimate knowledge of the ports of Lon-
don and Liverpool, and was ready to make oath of what he
stated, that vessels in London of 300 tons register, discharged
450 tons of sugar, cassia, saltpetre, rice, &c. from the East In-
dies, Brazil, west coast of South America, Ilavanna, &c. in
two to four days. In Liverpool vessels of the same size, from
the same places, would Le 21 (lays on the average. This was
exclusive of the time taken up liefore the entries were passed,
which on the average was stated to be about six days. A letter
from Mr. Tvrer to Mr. James Aikin to the like effect was read,
and it was expressed in this, that great delay arose from the

importo.

EAST INDIES, CAPE OF 000 D ROPE, 4,c.

Phoenix, (36.55, J Hartley, from Calcutta, 500 bales jute, 2050 bags
riee, C W and F Shand-2200 bags ginger, Rathhone Brothers and co
—2005 do, W and J Tyrer-16 bales raw silk, 160 chests shell lac, 569
bags saltpetre, 1753 bags sugar, Acraman. Briggs and en—P D
Herculean, (317) W Huxtable, from Calcutta. 1421 bags sugar, 1501
bags saltpetre. 30 hhds tincal, 1300 bags linseed, 83 bales cow and 1
bale buffalo hides, 61 bales goat skins, 474 bags horn tips, 140 pces
teak wood, 97 bales hemp, 200 boxes cassia lignea, 42 boxes shell lac,
12 boxes lac dye, 8 boxes silk piece goods, 14 boxes indigo, 4 packages
sundries, 2 cases 1 pipe wine, 2 bags rice, order—P D
Memnon, (309) H D Every, froni Calcutta, 929 bags sugar. 2574 bags
rice, 214 bags broken rice, 53 boxes shell lac, 42 bales dry buffalo and
cow hides, 617 bales jute. 9 tons horn tips, 10 tons sapan wood, (ex-
portation) C Fletcher and co--1 case coralis, 10 tons sapan wood, 5
packages sundries, 2 coir hawsers, order—B D

LIVERPOOL CORN EXCHANGE, Amt. 10.
The stocks of bonded Grain in the United Kingdom on the sth of
March last, by the official returns, were 550,870 qrs Wheat, 245,033
qrs Oats, 35,711 qrs Barley, 9597 qrs Rye, 5299 qrs Beans, 20,934 qrs
Paase, '74,728 brls Flour ; of which, about 58,000 qrs Wheat, 3000 qrs
Oats. 1500 qrs Barley, 1200 qrs Beans, 600 qrs Pease, and 48.000 brls of
Flour are in bond here at this date ; about 36,0,0 qrs of Wheat have
been exported within the last three months to British America and
Canada, to which further considerable shipments are expected to be
made during the spring, and there is now very little of fine quality,
and no sweet Foreign Flour now left in bond here. The only altera-
tion in the duties in Grain from Foreign Ports this week, is a decrett+e
of is per qr. on Wheat, 74d per barrel on Flour, and Is 6d per qr. on
Rye. We can note no transactions in bonding Grain or Flour, (except-
ing a very small quantity of very good Odessa Wheat at 4s 6d, and of
old Pomeranean at 5s 2d, bought for export to Halifax,) and no altera-
tion in the general quotations thereof. During the past week, the
imports of Grain from Ireland and Coastways have been to a fair ex-
tent ;—sales have been more languid for every article, particularly for
Wheat, the prices thereef have been barely supported. At this day's
market the millers and dealers were purchasers very sparingly, and
only for immediate wants, of every article in the trade ;—sales were
very dull, though a small decline was pretty generally submitted to,
but not sufficient to warrant any decided alteration in our last quota-
tions,
WHEAT, 4Y 70lb
d. a. d.
English
8 6 .R 9 6
Scotch
Irish
Bonded 0 0 0 0
BARLEY, 41, qr.
English 33 0 —35 0
Chevalier 35 0 —37 0
Scotch, 4if 601 b 4 6 4 8
Irish
Foreign, in bond. 2 0 2 2
OATS, 4' 451 b.
English 3 5 3 6
Scotch
Irish
Foreign, in bond 2 3 3 3
Ditto, duty free 3 2 3 6
RYE, qr. 32 0 —36 0
MALT, 46. qr. fine 56 0 —59 0
Middling 46 0 —52 0

INDIAN CORN, V 48011 b.
Red 43 0 0 44 0
White 43 0-44 0
BEANS, V qr.
English
Irish
PEAS, Grey
White 3B 0— 42 0
RAPESEED, rlast,£
FLOUR, English, 4r 2801 b.
Pine 36 r. —49 0
Irish 35 0 49 0
American, V brl. free.
Sweet, U.S. 0 0 0 0
Sour,bond 24 6 —26 0
OATMEAL, 41, 2401 h
English 23 0 23 6
Do. new 1837. 24 6 26 0
Scotch.. ..... 23 0 23 6

THURSDAY. APRIL 12.
During the brief interval since Tuesday we have had very few ves-
sels into this port with any kind of Grain, either coastwise or from
Ireland ; but of Flour and Oatmeal from the latter source, a further
moderately fairquantity has arrived for to-day, and upon the whole,
the supplies thence of late have come forward rather more freely. than,
from the present high prices there, and the contracted deliveries by
the growers, during seed-time, might have been expected.
In consequence of to-morrow being Good Friday, our second mar-
ket this week was held to-day, and corresponding so intimately with
the general character of the trade on Tuesday, affords very little in-
ducement to remark upon the limited proceedings this morning.
Having no country buyers in attendance, and our local millers being
generally inactive, the transactions in Wheat were few and unim-
portant;. the sellers, however, adhering to our last quotations, and re-
fusing to submit to any abatement, prices remained unvaried.—Barlev
anti Malt. co,otlitued to zoo,. very .gratittaliv vatxt- tiran***ti-Pens--
slowly iiithouf any perceptible change in value.—Oats and Oatmeal,
in the absence of country buyers, were so much neglected to-day,
that, in appearance merely, late prices were scarcely end but nominally
maintained.—ln Bonded Grain or Flour, since Tuesday, no sales have
been repotted.

[DIONTIILY REPORT.]
OPHTHALMIC INFIRMARY, SLATER-STREET,
Established A.D. 1820.
New Patients admitted in the month of March 207
Patients I'rescribed for, and who have received surgical assist- 1 77a
ti ne(' during the Month of March

Total since the commencement 25,179
Mr. Edwards and Mr. Neill, Surgeons.
Mr. Hanmer, Treasurer.