The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-09-29
FROM EUROPE.
Correspondence Of The Western Citizen.
AMERICAN PROVISIONS IN ENGLAND.
London, Iiv 81, 1913.

London, July 81, ls43.
Mr.. EDIToR-In former letter com
municated somewhat respecting the anti
corn-law league, and the efforts Which the
friends of free trade are making TO effect
the repeal of existing restrictive laws IN
respect TO trade. am well aware that
the people of Illinois have deep interest
in the state Of the provision market in this
country, and as it is important that they
possess correct knowledge in respect to it,
have taken considerable pains TO obtain
such information as they may rely upon.
have been greatly aided in these inqui-
res by the polite attention and aid of
Messrs. Phillips & Co. and Geo. w. At
wood d Co. provision merchants of this
city: TO either Of which firms, would
here say, that the merchants in the west
may conseign their provisions with the
utmost confidence that the same will be
attended to and disposed Of at the best ad-
vantage tina. the state of the markets will
allow. Mr.. Phillips, who has been in
the provision trade 70 twenty years in this
country, was in America las. year, and
directed the packing of pork for this mar
ket. Mr.. Atwood is from New York,
where his partner now resides. He has
also been in the provision trade for TWEEN
~ years, and is intimately and extensive.
iy acquainted with the business and with
those who are engaged in it.
Through the assistance OF these gen
tlemen ! have visited the provision es,ab.
lishments, and personally examined the
pork and beef which is now in this mar
ket form the United States. 1t has often
been published in America, that pork
must not be put up for ,his marke, as i, is
usually put up for the home market,
There are the strongest preJudices here
against the American provisions, in part
owing TO the bad state in which they have
frequently been received. This was the
occasion of Mr., Phillips visits to Amer.
ca, and when | came to this country, |
determined 10 ascertain the condition of
the meat which had been put up under
his direction, and in accordance with his
instructions. He kindly afforded me
every facility, went with me to his ware
house, and caused several of the casks con-
tanning different kinds of meat, and which
had not been opened since they had left
America, to be opened and entirely I'M
packed in my presence, by which ! was
enabled particularly to examine its con.
di,ion. The pork was in very good or
uer, perfectly sweet and clean in ap-
pearance. could conceive of no reason
why it should not command as good a
price in this market as tie Irish pork, but
SO strong are the preiudices against it,
that i. cannot be sold SO high per Dbl. pro-
badly by from 3 to 4 dollars. The beef
was also sweet but was not in so good a
condition as the pork. 1t is of too high
color to sui! the market. AS to the
manner in which it was putup, Mr.. Phil
lips could not inforn me, as he was not
concerned in packing it.
The pork was put up by Mr.. Wright,
of Louisville, Ky, in the following man
ner. 1t was first cut in pieces Of six
pounds each for India pork, and in pieces
of lbs. each for prime pess Dbl. pork,
and placed in large watts in pickle, where
il remained about two weeks.
1t was then taken from the pickle and
packed in casks of pure salt, and suiii-
ciens water to cover the pork. 1t was
then ready for expectation.
Fifly-ihree pieces of six pounds each
make fierce Of India pork of 3ls lbs.
Fifty pieces of A los. each make Dbl.
OF prime mess of 900 lbs.
1t is not to be supposed that each piece
will weigh precisely 6 Or 4 lbs, but, in
taking them from the pickle, SO pieces
are found for India, which we'll weigh 3lS
lbs, and they should be cut as nearly
uniform in size as they can be. consistent
ly; and fifty pieces are taken in like man
her of the ID. pork, which together weigh
200 lbs. There must be no departure
from the number Of pieces.
vi oeel, AZ pieces u! IDS eacii, Hlake
a fierce of India beef OF 336 lbs.
Object. 80 pieces Of 8 lbs. each make
barrel Of prime mess, 304 lbs.
At the presen, price of provisions, ne
ther pork nor beef from America can
come into the market for domestic use on
account of tho duty, which is equal to
SO per cwt, or liz lbs.
Both, however, ean be received and
sold under bond without paying duly, for
consumption on the high seas and tas ez-
port 10 India. for these purposes Amer
can provisions, aside from prejudice, stand
on the same footing with domestic proyl-
slons but on account Of the prejud.ccs.
they are sold much lower than lIamburgh
ar Irish The b.rrsls nf nri,,p rness arp