The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-01-15 00:00:00

GENERAL TRADE REPORT.

Monday Night

The accounts from the continent continue to be of a
satisfactory nature, commercially and politically, and there
now appears every probability of our having extensive
operations with this quarter, both in produce and our ma-
nufactures, as the spring trade developer itself. The de-
mand for Coffee, Sugar, and Indigo is on the increase, and
prices for these articles are on the advance. During the
past week there has been considerable animation observ-
able in our markets, and higher prices have been obtain-
able for nearly every article, particularly Coffee and Cot-
ton, the advance on these two articles being based on
legitimate grounds—an undoubted short supply. Tea has
also attracted considerable attention, to be attributed en-
tirely to the faint possibility of a reduction in the duty,
and prices have further improved ld. per lb. for the lower
descriptions of Congou. Since Friday, 2,000 bags of Ben-
gal, and 400 hogsheads Demerara Sugar have been sold at
rather stiffer prices, and 3,000 bags of Khaur at 295. to
31s. ; Rice is inquired for, and Saltpetre is held for an
advance of 2s. to 3s. per cwt., this market having been
cleared of the latter article, with the exception of 1,000
bags of inferior, which are held for a similar advance.
The remarks made by many parties respecting the late
discrepancy between the estimated and actual stock of
cotton in this port have been met by the appointment of
a committee to investigate the circumstances, chiefly
with a view to avoid the reccurrence of similar errors,
consisting of Messrs. Hardman Earle (President), J.
Stock (Vice-President), James Buchanan, Michael Bons-
field, Wm. Clare, James Ryley, Peter Serjeantson, and
James Hardy Wrigley. We have already given explana-
tory notices of this affair ; and as the report of the com-
mittee is rather lengthy, we will content ourselves with
a summary of its chief points, i. e.—That less fault is to be

found with the system than with the loose mode which has
prevailed in making the weekly returns of the business on
speculation and for export ; that re-sales of cotton, pre-
viously purchased for export or on spinners' account, are a
fruitful source of error; that the rule which prescribes that
all cotton when re-sold under such circumstances shall be
returned as " on speculation" have been pretty generally
observed, but, unfortunately, the exceptions have been
sufficiently numerous to create an aggregate error of some
importance ; that a stringent plan might be adopted if the
buying brokers would submit to supply weekly returns of
the cotton actually forwarded by each for consumption,
and to these were added the exportations here and at Hull;
but against this plan difficulties are urged, and it is consi-
dered too great an innovation until a modification, or rather
a stricter observance, of the existing plan has been tried and
failed. The committee then proceed to recommend that
an official return of the real export be obtained weekly
at the expense of the association, and signify, in anticipa-
tion, their approval of Mr. Clare's intended motion, that
the returns in future shall be made up to Thursday in-
clusive, to be sent in before eleven o'clock on Friday, and
the sales given out on the latter day at one o'clock ; and
further, they approve of Mr. Blackburn's suggestion that
every return shall be signed by a principal, the blanks in
the forms opposite " speculation" and " export" being
filled up with the word " nil" if there be no transactions,
thus rendering the omission an act of wilfulness instead of
one of mere carelessness. The committee conclude by
impressing upon the whole body the necessity for indivi-
dual accuracy and regularity.
The accounts by the Hibernia, which vessel arrived on
Wednesday last, further reduce the estimates of the pre-
sent Cotton crop, and the maximum estimate is now
pretty generally put down at 2,200,000 bales, whilst there
are several highly-respectable and well-informed houses
who write 2,000,000 as being more likely. Be this as it
may, notwithstanding highly discouraging accounts from
this side, with a decline of Id. per lb., prices advanced
there half a cent., which precluded the execution of
orders. The shipments were trifling for the season, being
only 25,500 bales for the week, and there was no disposi-
tion to ship on consignment, so that our supplies must
unavoidably be greatly retarded for two or three months ;
indeed, so strong was the feeling gaining ground that the
crop would be a moderate one, and that prices must rule
high, that there was a general disinclination to sell. This
circumstance, we should suppose, would have the effect of
showing to the spinner their confidence in high prices, as
well as his receiving back his orders for higher limits. We
have reason to know that spinners are driving generally
a very profitable trade, particularly those producing the
finer numbers of yarns ; and wo hope for all parties con-
cerned that it may continue. There can he no doubt that
they hold light stocks both of twist and cotton ; and this
being the case, with the small supply of Cotton coming
forward, they will have no easy task before them ; and we
hesitate not to say that, with the present uncertainty of
future supplies, they would do well to be forearmed by
securing a reserved stock upon which they could fall
back, if compelled. There are at present several local
circumstances in their favour—amongst others cheep car-
riage and cheap coal—and we wish them every prosperity.
Our market prices have gradually advanced since the
reception of the Hibernia's advices, and on Friday Ame-
rican descriptions were fully *d. dearer than at the close
of the previous cotton week. On Saturday, there was
only a slender attendance of the trade, but none of the
buoyancy of the market was lost, and a healthy business
resulted, at steady prices, amounting to 8,000 bales, 4,000
of which were a speculation, consisting of 2,500 Ame-
rican and 1,500 Surats, the latter selling at slightly im-
proved rates. To-day, we have had a quiet market, but
previous rates have been steadily maintained. The de-
mand has been of a healthy nature, as of the 6,000 bales
sold, 5,000 were to the trade. It may here be stated
that our present quotations are quite as high as those
current at any period of November last.
There is a very good demand for Peruvian, and in fact
all sorts of foreign Wool; but as stocks are light, there is
little choice for buyers, and fresh arrivals are bought up
with avidity at advancing prices. The imports for the
week ending 12th instant amount to 2,506 Foreign, 82
Irish, and 33 English.
The Iron market maintains its firmness, although a
dulness pervaded it last week, subsequently to our notice.
Scotch pig iron is 48s. 6d. mixed numbers, 495. No. 1,
Gartsherrie, No. 1,50 s. to 50s. 6d. • bars £5 15s. f.o.b.
here, Wales £5 2s. 6d. to £5 ss. ; nail rods £6 105.; hoops
£7 10s. ; sheets £8 ss. ; tin plates 31s. 6d. to 325. best;
coke 275. 6d. to 28s. _ _ _ .

—The—;;Tival of vessels (timber-laden) during the past
week consists of one vessel only-222 tons. This being
the season of the year in which little business is done in
timber, the sales are unimportant; added to which the
old rates of carriage in timber to Manchester and the
neighbourhood having been resumed, will tend still more
to keep the market in an inactive state for some time to
come. There is no material alteration in prices from our
last quotations.
We seldom have to remark so decided a difference

as that manifested between the English and Irish
markets during the past week, the former being all in a
declining condition, and the latter presenting an aspect
of firmness in all cases, whilst in some an advance in
the principal articles of the trade has been obtained.
According to the official tables furnished by the Board of
Trade, there has been imported during the, week ending
the sth of December, 313,254 qrs. of wheat, and 206,498
cwts. of flour, whilst for the eleven months ending the
same day the respective quantities amount to 4,288,739
qrs. of wheat, and 3,639,587 cwts. of flour ; and as we are
at the present moment not at all heavily stocked, this
proves that a very large consumption must have been
going on. The consumption of Indian corn in Ireland for
1849asbeing very large; andalthough the arrivals have been
unprecedented except during 1847, almost the whole im-
ported into that country has gone into consumption. We
hold at this moment in Liverpool about 200,000 quar-
ters of this grain. As regards future prospects, although
prices are Ft present going up for this article, and 2s. 6d.
per ton has been pretty generally obtained for the best
Galatz in Ireland, it is now an established fact that the
poor law unions, which were before such large consumers,
have curtailed their issues to the poor mote than half, a
policy in which opinions are entertained they will perse-
vere; and from this and other causes it is considered that
the amount consumed will be considerably less this year
than last ; but this depends mainly upon oatmeal, bar-
ley meal, coarse flour, and other cheap articles of food
being easy to purchase. In Liverpool, to-day, as there
are more spectators than speculators, there is no change to
note on the quotations of Friday.
The American provision trade has improved since our
last notice (a fortnight back). Beef is more inquired for,
and 400 tierces of new have been sold at 65/ to 82/6 per
tierce, according to quality. Pork has also been in better
demand : a small quantity of Eastern sold for 56/ per brl.
Cheese has been in better inquiry, without improvement
in price. Bacon is 1/ to 1/6, and Lard Gd. to 1/ per cwt.
dearer.
Despite the severity of the weather, the price of Irish
Butter have not varied ; the demand having continued
on a limited scale, and the supply of fresh butter not
having shewn any diminution in the country markets of
this district. There is a fair inquiry for new Irish Bacon
at 38s. to 40s, for long middles, free from bone.

The Share irarket has been buoyant all week, with a
g at increase of good business. The settlement to-day,