The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-11-01
From the London Times
Observation-Disclosures and Com.
--.E merce. e.l .-.a --.

The following information is condensed
from a commercial letter dated Belfast,
"Wednesday, and published in the Derry
Standard ofyesterday:
"Though the progress of harvest opera.
tions has been nearly all that would be
wished, both as to the quantity of grain say.
ed and the favorable condition in which 1t
has been gathered in, no visible effect is yet
perceptble in the trade of the country
Somehow we do not find any advance in
mercantile confidence. Consumers seem
afraid to purchase large stocks, and thus q
sort of impolitic caution keeps business down
to the lowest point. True it is, the Asiat-
.ic plague sweeps on its way, bringing down
hundreds of of useful lives, and creating dis
tress in the homes of numberless families.
That one cause. no doubt, produces much Of
the inaction which presses SO heavily on
trade, not only in the north of Ireland, but
throughout all the commercial relations of
the United Kingdom. That destroyer tells;
in language not to be mistaken, that the
moral as well as the mercantile, the physical
as well as the political, requires the hand Of
reform. ... .f.ar
"The agricultural produce of this season
in Ireland will fully realize 10000, 900 ster-
ling above that of last year. Leta portion
OF that vast sum be expended in making
more comfortable the homestead of laborers.
Formers and manufacturers, landowners and
capitalists, are, one and all, far more inter-
eSted in the health of the people around
them than many appear.to understand.
"Ireand's flax crop, though occupying
much smaller space of ground than that of
last season, is turning out so large in point
yield that the total produce will likely exceed
that of the former year, and the quality of
the fiber is very superior. The yarn trade
has been 80 dull for some weeks that it may
be feared, in short time, it will become
general During the last six months nilI-
owners must have suffered very severely
from the high prices of fax, of coal, and Of
wages, as compared with the high prices cur
rent of linen yarns. Amid all the dullness
prevalent in nearly every description ofbusi-
ness, we find the public securities Of the ma
tion--consols, bank stock, and railway
shares--in very healthy condition; and
yet, trade in general is not at all equal to
whattit was six weeks ago. At that time
the linen manufacturers looked brighter
there was more spirit in the cotton trade,
and, altogether, the commerce of the coun.,
try exhibited every prospect of Improvement
SIT is possible, however, thatfhs lateness 3
of the harvest may have much to do with the
present depression, and, asthe great mass Of
the cereals is now almost gathered in. hopes
are entertained that the October 1ade will, I
in some degree. make up for present dull
ness. Coalhas risen in price, ,and, TO ell ape
pearances, will be high during the winter. -
Grain is about Is. per lI2lbs. above the
rates oflast week; still, markets are cheap
er in Belfast than in Philadelphia Tkhs
day fortnight prime brands Of aour sold ssSt
25 (say s9s. 4d: Britishl ner har.slr and
wheat was SO (ss. Sd. British9 per bvshel
Demand is, more than equal to supply both
in that city and in New York.
POTATOES are very high IN the Belfast
markets. and, by retail prices, range ffom.sa
to led. per stone. Last week vessslfFu
the north Of England brought cargoo Of pA.
tatoes to'our quay, and. attic same time.
another shipwas being laden with the varis.
tycalled dsM'Mullens,p for cur friends onsbs
other.side ofthe channel 4 asi
ageV atssaFafaia III glas .iss a Il asssf e
.ba.Illl YIAa1 1910 is fasl.sL-s