The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-16 00:00:00

GENERAL TRADE REPORT.

Monday Evening.
The contagion of war is fast spreading on the Conti-
nent, and the intricacies into which the various powers
are plunging themielves get more entangled; but Eng-
land is still free, and keeping so, may yet be greater
than ever. The Albion of yesterday says :
"The belief entertained that an European war in which
England took no part would promote her commercial interests
to a greater extent than universal peace is a fallacy, and the
present state of the continent proves ►t. We are as much
injured by the blockade of the German ports as the Germans
themselves."

Now we cannot acree with our contemporary in this
opinion. Doubtless inconveniences must arise from time
to time in a disorganised state of commercial relationships,
of which this blockade is a specimen; hut, however little
our philanthropy may allow us to wish for such a con-
summatian as a continental war for our especial benefit,
it is nevertheless a palpable fact that proportioned to the
withdrawal of competition from any department of com-
mercial enterprise, the tendency to monopoly must in-
crease ; and history affords us numerous instances where
the most prosperous trading communities have risen and
flourished in the midst of nations too busily engaged in
warlike occupations to devote their attention to the mild-.
vation of the arts of peace. A telegraphic despatch an-
nounces the declaration of war by France against Austria
and Russia. A rumour got afloat this afternoon that the
embargo had been partially removed from vessels enter-
ing the Sound : this originated in another telegraphic de-
spatch to the effect that the intended blockade of the
Elbe bad not commenced. The English funds attained
on Thursday a higher price than for months past, 842. hav-
ing been obtained for Consols; but they have since de-
clined, owing to the belligerent tenor of the intelligence
from abroad, and the closing prices on Saturday were 831
buyers.
The SHARE Market continued in the same animated state
in which we described it to be fast week, until Thursday
evening. Prices advanced daily,. London Stock touched
138, and Midland 108, and both were strong at 7. Money
was much more plentiful than shares, but on Friday
morning a slight reaction downwards commenced, which
has continued until this day. The principal stocks dealt
in have been Easterns, Midlands, London and North
Western, York and Berwick, and York and North Mid-
land—in all of these the advance was very considerable,
but they have all participated in the decline. The cause
to which this unfavourable change is attributed is the
order of the French Government to have their coast put
into war order, and also the more unsettled political state
of Italy. Some of our wiser men do not think much of
the decree of the French Government, and think that
the rumours from Italy have been exaggerated into undue
importance, and they look for a return of the good prices
and active purchases of last Thursday within a very few
days. We are not to-day without several good buyers at
low prices, notwithstanding the telegraphic dispatch re-
ceived, that France has declared war against Russia and
Austria.

There is no change to note in the price of Wheat since
Friday, and all kinds of spring corn are held with more
firmness. Indian Corn and Meal is still in active demand,
at rather advancing prices, altogether for IreTand. The
markets both in this country and Ireland are fluctuating,
those in the latter having rather an upward tendency.
Not one of the circulars which come under our notice
speak of any failure in the potato crop in Ireland ; in fact,
the winter crop is only now beir, put into the ground,
and it is somewhat absurd to condemn it by anticipation.
COLONIAL MARKETS.—Very little doing in Sugar, in
consequence of merchants asking higher prices. The
business since Thursday last is very limited. Rum is
more in demand, and an advance of Id. per gallon has
taken place. Molasses are in good request ; a parcel of
Demerara has fetched 18s. per cwt., from the quay.—
In the London markets the most important feature during
the week has been the quarterly sales of indigo, which,
owing to the severe check to the export demand, pro-
ceeded throughout under continual depression, holders
having given way 6d. to 91 per lb for Bengal. With re-
spect to sugar the firmness exhibited last week has been
fully maintained. Coffee and tea firm. Tgengal rice will
only now sell at 10s. for good white quality, and saltpetre
has changed hands at as low as 31s. per cwt. on the spot,
against 355. per cwt. at one period, for 12Th p ct. refraction.
The imports of COTTON this week have been larger than
usual, whilst the demand has been moderate; giving buy-
ers in some instances a slight advantage over previous
prices. We have‘had a much better feeling, however, TO-
DAY ; the chief lots offering last week being cleared off,
prices are rallying again. The sales are about s,6oothales,
including 500 American for export.
We have had rather more demand for Foreign WOOL
this week. Several parcels of Buenos Ayres have been
sold at previous rates. Scotch is still dull. In Alpaca
there is nothing doing. Imports for the week—Foreign :
From West Coast, 5,311 ; Bombay, 275 ; Monte Video,
647; Oporto, I 70; Total, 6,4o3—previously, 22,621.—
Scotch : 62—previously, 5,491.
Little business has been done this week in Scotch Pig
IRON, but prices are firm at 445. 6d. to 455. for mixed
numbers at Glasgow.
The demand for AMERICAN Lard keeps pace with the
import : a large quantity was sold by auction on Tuesday,
and a fair business has been done by private. Importers
show an inclination to be firmer. Beef remains unaltered
in value. The prices of Prime Mess Pork, parcels of
which continue to be taken ex ship, range according to
quality, which varies much. At the public sale of Bacon
on Tuesday the transactions were limited, but a better
business has been done since. Hams in dry salt are much
inquired for, and fine quality, if there was any in the
market, would realise the highest quotations.. In other
articles we have no remarks to offer. Prices are:—
Cheese—(dllN paid)—Fine, 48s to 52s per cwt. ; middling,
43s to 465; ordinary, 37s to 425. Beef—U.S., (free)—Prime
mess, per tree. 3041 b., 85s to 92s 6d ; ordinary, "76s to 83s, old
60s to 68s; extra, India, family, &c., 97s to 105 s; ditto, per
half-barrel, 30s to 35s ;—mess, per barrel, 2001 b., 50s to 565;
ordinary, 40s to 465, old 36s to 40s ; prime, 34s to 3Cs. Pork—
U.S., (free)—Prime mess, per barrel, 200 lb, 55s to 70s, old 48s.
to 5Cs ; prime, 40s to 455, old 35s to 40s ; mess, family mess, &c,
555. to 60s, old 485 to 525. Bacon (free)—Eastern, 50s to 54s ;
Western, 37s to 525; Shoulders, per cwt, 25s to 28s, old 22s to
265. Hams—dried, per cwt. (duty-paid), old 20s to 50s ; in salt
(free) 38s to 465; old 268 to 325. Lard (free)—Fine, in kegs
and barrels, per cwt, 42s to 45s ; good, in ditto ditto, 39s to 41s ;
ordinary to middling, Vs 6d to 38s; inferior,. and grease, 30s.
to 355. Butter—Grease (free) 40s to 455. Pilot Biscuit, per
cwt. (duty paid), 15s to 20s.
With a limited demand the prices of IRISH Butter
have again receded, some of the previous arrivals remain-
ing unsold ; and on Saturday only a trivial business was
transacted, although the best brands- of Waterford and
Carrick were offered at 965. landed;. and 925. free on
board, for next week's shipments. Bacon is in fair de-
mand, and Lard sells freely.
Bank returns for the week ending the 6th of May :
The amount of notes in circulation is £18,621,800, being
an increase of £18,725 ; and the stock of bullion in both
departments is £12,826,108, showing a decrease of £52,558
when compared with the preceding return. Although the
total amount of coin and bullion shows a further decrease,
yet the stock of gold presents an increase of about £56,000
and the coin an increase of £33:000; the total deficiency
in the aggregate arising from a diminution of upwards of
£140,000 in the stock of silver.
The Asphalte of Seyssel Company, established in 1838,
have just declared a dividend of 72 per cent., and added
zi per cent. to the working capital.
A statement has just been issued of the affairs of Messrs.
Cockerel], Larpent, and Co., made up to the present
month, which, as the public will have anticipated. shows
very different results from those held out at the date of
suspension in September last. At that period the direct
liabilities were stated at £619,393, while the nominal
assets were £809,254. Now the liabililities are found to
be £853,492, and the assets £184,856. The dividend thus
anticipated will amount to about 4s. 4d.
At the half-yearly meeting of the Imperial Brazilian
Mining Company, held on Friday, a loss of £5,300 was re-
ported on the six months' workings, A call of 10s. per
share was authorised, as it was not considered advisable to
trench further upon the reserve fund of £30,500. The Di-
rectors anticipate a good result from the Bananal adventure.
A meeting of the shareholders in the Continental Flax
Company took place on Thursday, at Capecure, near Bou-
logne, when it was determined to dissolve the company.
The discontinuance of the works has occasioned great dis-
tress, 1700 persons having been employed in them, of whom
600 were English and Scotch, and the remainder French.

The number of Gorman vessels laid under embargo up
to the latest dates was about 100.

BREAKING INTO A VESSEL.—At the Police-court,
yesterday, two young men, William Alwood and Thomas
Roberts, were charged by one of the crew of a Belgian
vessel, the Amphitrite, with breaking into the forecastle,
and there forcing open the seamen's chests, and plun-
dering them of clothing, &c. They had both been often
committed for trial before, and the case being proved,
they were sent to gaol for three months.
THE WEATHER, 84e .—The week just past has been
remarkably fine, and pleasant throughout in this quarter,
and the country presents a rich and delightful appearance.
The crops generally look well, with the exception of some
of the wheets, oats, and grasses, all of which, however,
would be greatly improved in healthy growth by a day or
a night's soft feeding rain. Yesterday morning presented
the appearance of a downfal, but a brisk breeze from the
S.S.W. west dashed off the thickness of the atmosphere,
and the day became clear almost throughout. The dews
during the night have done much good ; but stiff lands
have cracked by the long drought, and the ardent rays of
the sun. The potatoes so far look forward and healthy,
and the fruit trees present a luxuriant show of blossom.
On Friday night, an infant named James W. Denton,
deceased, living with his parents in Gt. George-street,
was taken to bed by his mother, and placed next to her-
self. About seven o'clock next morning she found he
was dead,—caused by being overlain.
DURHAM CATHEDRAL. —Last week, whilst levelling
the eastern end of the choir, the workmen uncovered the
tombstone of Bishop Beaumont—two massive stones
weighing about ten tons. This monument was prepared
in the Bishop's lifetime, and is recorded to have been
inlaid with brass. The design is yet visible, though the
brasswork has altogether disappeared.
EMIGRANTS' TRAVELLING GUIDE.—A most useful
little pamphlet, intended for gratuitous circulation, has
been published under this title by Messrs. Tapscott and
Co., with a view of showing more accurately the distances
and time occupied in transit from New York to all the prin-
cipal towns in the United States and Canada. The danger
of overcharging and liability of emigrants to fraud are fully
expounded by extracts from the evidence of government
and other officers. The instructions are arranged under
the several heads—" The time to Emigrate," " The pre-
paratory Steps." " How to procure a Passage," "On
board the Ship," " Termination of the Voyage,' &c., &c. ;
and on each subject the most ample and explicit informa-
tion is divulged. The conclusion of the pamphlet is occu-
pied by tables showing the expense of passage to almost
every part of the United States—not only in the currency
of this emire, but of that growingly-important state.
We have already stated that the pamphlet can be procured
on application ; and we would strenuously advise those
about to emigrate to at once possess a copy—which may
be had even in the country for the cost of postage.