The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-07-02 00:00:00

. .
The: protectionist party are not as yet prepared to
assume office ;-the public'mind is not quite ripe for
a change of policy ; the effects of the experiment
of free trade have not yet reached the obtuse minds
of mankind ; and, in the meantime, the Whigs are
happily powerless for further serious harm. Their
organs are chuckling at present over the prospect
of a further improvement in the coming quarter's
revenue—how*derived it would puzzle a philosopher
to tell. Customs and excise are flourishing—.
taxes drawn from a perishing people are increasing
in productiveness—and this is prosperity ! That
People, however, will awake from their dream ; the
juggle will ultimately be seen through ; and
England's industry and England's high reputation
for honour amongst the nations will be restored to
that once pre-eminent position, from which they
have been prostrated by Whig imbecility, and
venal love of official power and pay.

Ws give in another part of our paper a docu-
ment, for which we are indebted to the kindness of
Mr. R.-Burn, of Manchester, compiler of the Com-
mercial Glance, which will he perused with interest
by many of our readers. It consists of a return,
made out from the Custom-house entries, of the
cotton imported into Liverpool in 1815 ; the coun-
tries whence imported, and the names of the con- ;
signees. Amongst the latter will be found those
of some firms scarcely remembered by the present
generation, and of many of the founders of our
existing mercantile establishments. Apart from its
attraction as a curiosity, it is impossible not to be
struck with the great change which it shows to
have,taken place in the extent of the imports, their
source, and the distribution of this important raw
material. The total number of bales imported
into Liverpool in 1815 was 267,926 ; last year it
amounted to 1.732,727 bales; such bales being ge-
nerally one third heaviei than those of the former
period. The United States, during the year 1815,
did not contribute above half of our supply, a
large quantity being derived from our own colonies,
and those of our intimate allies, Spain and Portu-
gal. Last year, the United States supplied us with
1,383,027 bales out of 1,732,727 bales, or above
three-fourths. Our West Indian colonies supplied
us with more in one month of 1815 (April) than
during the whole of 1849. From Berbice and
Demerara alone, we received in April, 1815, 8,232
bales, which were consigned in 63 different parcels
to various houses, thus showing the large extent to
which the trade of Liverpool was interested in these
colonies. Not above three or four of the houses in
question, or those descended from them, retain
their connexion with the West Indies. A striking
lesson, as showing the danger of being dependent
upon any single country for our supply of so im-
portant a raw material as cotton, is to be derived
from the fact that in the first three months of 1815
we did not receive a single package from the United
States, and in the fourth only three small shipments.
Our relations with that country had been previ•
ously disturbed • and poor though she was—as is
evident from the circumstance that her monetary
transactions were carried on by notes representing
as low an amount as one cent each (a halfpenny)—
she was able to hold back her crop, to our great
inconvenience, until the termination of hostilities,
and only resumed her shipments a few months after-
the signing of the treaty of peace in December,
1814.

It will be perceived that in only one month of
1815 we had an import of cotton from the East
Indies-1,484 in September. This was the first
cargo ever received in. Liverpool or any other out-
port, and was thus referred to in the Times at the
date of its arrival :
" We congratulate our readers on the arrival at Liver-
pool of the Kingsmill, Captain Cassels, belonging to
Messrs. Gladstone and Grant, being the first East India
ship that has arrived since the participation of the out-
ports in this branch of commerce. She has been absent
fifteen months, and has made a prosperous voyage. Her
Cargo consists of cotton, sugars, indigo, piece goods, and
pisces."

T 'L
STANDAR..

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY fikPORT:

Monday Nighi.

There has been a good inquiry for-Sugar since the
publication of the Broker's Circular; but as, the reduc-
in the duty of is. will take place on the sth, several of the
large holders are waiting in the hope of reaping the advan-
tage ; otherwise the sales would have been larger. On
Saturday, 150 hhds. Demerara and 500 bags Bengal were
sold ; also, a sago' of Mauritius, at 369. 6d., to the refiners.
To-day, 150 hhds. Porto Rico, 500 bags Bengal, and 50
hhds. Antigua. at extreme rates. There is rather a better
feeling for Coffee, and the maaket is firm. The commoner
sorts of 'lea are much sought for, and there is little to
be had of common Congous wider 4d. per lb. 300 tons of
Jamaica Logwood were sold to-day at £3 7s. 6d. to £4
per ton. _ .

Scotch Pig Iron receded from 455. 6d. to 445. 6d. during
the last week, and the reduction having caused some large
transactioss, the price is now firm at 455. for mixed
numbers. Bars are firm at £4 12s. 6d. to £4 155., f.o.b.
in Wales, and at £5 to £5 2s. 6d. f.o.b. here.
Manchester letters state that a decided improvement
has taken place in the demand and value of most descrip-
tions of Cotton goods and yarns during the last few days,
it being the general opinion that the raw material will at
least maintain its present advance for some time to come ;
and as stocks are unusually light, and no advantage can
be reasonably expected by deferring purchases, many
parties who have litterly withheld their orders are again
appearing in the market.
A large business was transacted on. Saturday in
Cotton : speculators operated very freely, and prices were
rather higher. The sales reached 10,000 bales, of which
4.500 were taken on speculation, and 500 for export.
The intelligence received from America to-day has further
strengthened the confidence of holders, inducing a large
demand both from the- trade and speculators. Prices,
however, were not marked by any decided change, although
the highest rates were readily obtained ; and the sales
amounted to 10,000 hales, 4,000 of which were on specu-
lation for export.—A comparison of the sta'istics of the
present year with those of 1849 shows a decrease in the
imports of 384.093 bales, and in the quan ity taken for
consumption of 80,253 bales, the weekly deliveries for the
latter having been 29,652 bales in 1850, against 32,738
bales in 1849, with an increase in the quantity taken for
export of 5,300 bales. The stock in the ports is estimated
at 608,500 bales, against 855,300 bales, the estimate in
1849; but the stock at the end of last year, it will be re-
membered, proved to be 90,000 bales more than the
estimate.

The half-yearly general meeting of the Canada Company
was held in London on Thursday, when it was stated that
that the receipts for the half-year ending June 6, 1850,
had nearly doubled those of the corresponding period of
1849, being relatively £12,390 and £22.240; and the
chairman stated that the social affairs of the country were
considered so promising that he had no hesitation in re-
commending that a dividend of 6 per cent, upon the paid.
up capital should be declared for the half-year.
The vacillations in the grain markets throughout the
United Kingdom have been very trivial for many weeks
past, and the aggregate average value of wheat for the six
weeks ending the 22d ult.—i. e. 40s.—may be taken as
about the probable average for some time to come. Our
prospects of an abundant crop at home will effectually arrest
any effort to procure a further advance of moment ; whilst
the limited supplies from the States,and the continued firm.
ness of the continental markets, as certainly prevent any
material depreciation. If the potatoes come forward in
Ireland better than last year, a proportionate depression
must be felt in the demand for Indian corn, which is at pre-
sent bought very cautiously for consumption, and is quoted
in the latest circulars from 2s. 6d. to ss. per ton cheaper.
The Limerick market on Saturday was well supplied with
new potatoes, of fine quality, with no appearance what-
ever of disease, at the very moderate price of 7d. to Bd.
per 151bs. Potatoes have been especially benefitted by
the late forcing heat, and the alarm felt for some weeks
respecting their slow growth is daily becoming less, and
the rumours about the blight have ceased altogether in
some districts. Since Friday last, the trade generally has
ruled exceedingly quiet ; only a very moderate amount of
business done in the articles of Wheat and Flour at that
day's quotations ; holders, at the same time, evince great
firmness ; and were it not for the very propitious weather,
an advance would, no doubt, take place. Owing to the
favourable accounts from Ireland with respect to the
crops, and more particularly of Potatoes, the article of
Indian Corn to-day has undergone a further material
decline of is. per qr. upon yellow, and 6.1. ger qr. upon
white, prime yellow lying now obtainable at 265. 6d., and
white 275. to 275. 6d. We may as well mention that this
article has fallen from 335. 6d. to 265. and 265. 6d. per qr.
in the course of four weeks, being a fall of 7s. per qr.
The imports, in comparisoe with those of last year at this
time, are exceedingly small. From Friday last to the cicse
of the week the arrivals coastwise and from Ireland are
again very trivial; those from the American States, how.
ever, comprise nearly 12,000 qrs. of Indian Corn, with
4.414 barrels of Flour ; we have also received 5,716 qrs.
of Wheat from Europe and Egypt, and nearly 4,000 sacks
of Flour from France.

We have again bad a quiet week in the Share Market—
prices being steady at about the average of the week pre-
ceding. To-day's business, however, has been done at a
slight decline ; but this has been caused only by specula-
tive sales 9n the part of bears, in an attempt, by alarming
the public, to bring in stock, that they themselves may be
supplied,—a kind of business almost invariably succeeded
by a strong reaction. The quotations are :—Leeds stock,
344 ; Do. .£32-shares 10 2/8 dis. ; London stock, 1094-;
Do., quarters, p.; Do., fifths, k p. ; Midland stock,
35i ; Do., 1-shareS, 26 3 9 4- 6/3 dis. ; Newcastle pref.,
4 18/9 dis. ; Royal Assurance, I p.
Messrs, Holme, Slater, and Crook, in their monthly
timber circular, published on Friday last, make the fol-
lowing remarks on the recent meeting to consider the best
site for the trade, which we quote, without further com-
ment

" That such a resolution-should have been carried, waCcer-
tainly in direct contradiction of the proposed object of the Com-
mittee of Enquiry, which was formed to select the cheapest
and most convenient site for the accomtnodation of this bulky
trade.

" The complaint was, that other Ports,—although not so con-
veniently situated as regards the American ports as the Mer-
sey,—to which higher rates of freight have to be paid, are
enabled, owing to the facilities for discharging the cargoes of
the vessels, the cheap method of storing, the low rate of rent
and local taxes, to compete with and beat us out of the markets
which should be supplied by this port. The high charges at
Liverpool were the cause of complaint. And the duty of the
Committee was to find a site in the Mersey where this reduc-
tion of charges might be accomplished. Flow they have done
it is seen by the resolution. Now, is this consistent ? They
complain of the present high rent and taxes—they complain of
competition from cheaper ports ; but when a cheaper locality
is offered they will not have it, but wish to remain in their old
poSition, with their old fashioned and antiquated machinery,
in preference. to low rents, modern improvements, and such
facilities as would enable them to compete with any port in
England or Scotland.
" The accommodation required was to be had at Bir enhead
—with a dock of one hundred and fifty acres, where the vessels
may discharge their cargoes into the water with yards inter-
sected by canals, and rails connected with every railway in
England, Scotland and Wales ; and furnished with cranes for
loading, piling, and landing the timber. Contrasting the ex-
pense of carrying on the business by the method established in
Liverpool, shews a saving in favour of this place, in dock dues
£7OOO per annum ; in team hire discharging vessels, .e 5500 ;
team hire yielding, .e9OOO ; team hire shipping off, .eI6OO ;
£5OOO in porterage ; and .e6OOO in yard rents and taxes ; alto-
gether, the very nice sum of .e 48,500 per annum might lave
been saved 1 Surely. this amount is inducement sufficient to
call the attention of the importers and Livel pool merchants.
If they do not take advantage of these favorrble circumstances,
they may be quite certain that other and more enterprising
persons will avail themselves of this opportunity of entering
this formerly close trade, and successfully compete with the
Liverpool merchant in any market. Thus, to the importer
will he saved the sum or £5OOO in drawing out the cargoes,
and 41000 for dock dues on timber ; and owners of vessels
could never have to complain of detention for want of room for
discharging. And the consumers would certainly save £16,000
per annum in shipping expenses, besides a considerable reduc-
tion in the rates of carriage inland, as the carriers would not
have to rent expensive wharves as they do at present in Liver-
pool."
Thearrivals of timber from British North America into
the docks of the Mersey since the 31st ultimo containing
timber are, 6 vessels, 3,173 tons ; from the Baltic 10 ves-
sels, 3,222 tons. The consumption of wood goods during
the month is about an average one for this period, and
prices continue steady at our last quotations. During the
month there have been several auction sales, at which the
attendance had been very respectable, and, considering
the season, a fair amount of business has been transacted.
The most important event connected with the timber
trade which has occurred latterly, was undoubtedly the
meeting reported in our last, at which it was determined,
that the trade should be continued in the present locality.
We are indebted to the circular of Messrs. W. Greame
and Co., published this day, for the following summary of
the months' business :
" The improved feeling in the Wool Market noted in our last
circular has been more fully confirmed during the past month,
and prices on some descriptions—particularly on long stapled
Wools—have advanced considerably ; at the late fairs in the
country an advance of Id. per lb. has been paid currently for
the new clip of English and Irish Wool. On the 13th ult. 3093
bales Buenos Ayres, East India, and other low Foreign Wools
were offered by auction here ; there was a good deal of compe-
tition for the Buenos Ayres, which realised full pi ices ; East
India sold at about previous rates •, Turkey, Smyrna, &c., &c.,
were chiefly withdrawn. The public sales of colonial Wools
commenced in London on the same day, this series comprises
about 50,c00 ; there is a good attendance, and the sales are
progressing favourably, particularly for the best marks, for
which there is a good deal of competition ; inferior descriptions
of short and had conditioned Wools are selling rather lower,
aboutil (I. per lb. under May prices.
" Australian, Cape, Spanish, and Spanish frontier Wool, of
these descriptions, with exception of 641 bales Adelaide, ex
" Ellerslie," the market continues very bare ; good Lisbon and
frontier Wools are enquired for, and would sell readily at our
quotations. Buenos Ayres and Entre Rios still continue in
good demand, and prices fully supported. East India, there is
more enquiry, and improved prices are looked for ; stocks very
light. Egyptian, Turkey, Smyrna, &c., we have more enquiry
for these Wools, particularly long stapled parcels, which are
now held at an advance of id. per lb. on previous rates. Rus-
sian, considerable sales have been made within the last few
days of Donskoi Fleece at full prices, Gild. to 7d. ; Peruvian
Sheep's no alteration ; stocks light and prices fully supported.
Alpaca, some large sales have been made during the month,
and the market is now quite cleared ; the late arrivals were all
sold ex ship, and contracts have been made to arrive.
Irish Butter has varied little .since our last: the top
price (for Waterfords) is 68s. to 695.
The fluctuations in the English funds during the past
month shew a range of 11 per cent for Consols. The ge-
neral,tendencv hes been towards advance, if we except
that portion of last week, during the debate, when, con-
sidering the abundance and value of money, it was consi-
dered that the price of public securities was depressed
below their value. Ministers, however, having escaped
once more, an improvement of - per cent was effected on
Saturday, and after a large speculative business, Consols
left off at 961 to
American Provisions.—A large quantity of Beef hay-
lng unexpectedly
v e'ele the market has ruled dull,
andthe the k have been very small, but
' sales fo r
w
lower pricia have not been acceded to. In Pork the ten-
dency rather inclines to reduced rates. The sales of
Neon this week have been moderate, but holders are
firm; and our stock is considerably lighter than at the
same period last year. A further advance of 6d. per cwt,