The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-27
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
SUNDAY, Feb. %, 1860.

The week ending yesterday was, on the whole,
the best the dry goods houses have had this year.
As was Inferred from the unusually large cotton
crop, the Southern buyers are more liberal In their
orders than usual the absence of q few buyers
who have stayed at home from political reasons,
and who consequently will have to obtain their
supplies from the agents of the New York houses,
and not those houses Themselves, is hardly noticed.
The business in silks s very large, and notwith-
standing the excessive importations, prices are,
thus far, pretty steady. From the West fair num-
Der Of buyers have come to town; it ia too early
for that section to be fully represented as yet.
On the whole, we doubt if business with the inte-
ror was ever active at this season than it is
at present. The heavy importations are sure to
cause some losses toward the end Of the season;
but the oldest and best managed hcnses are doing
wen. a 4t -. aG !
There il no sign Of any diminution in the cotton
receipts at the South, and no one now estimates
the crop below 900 bales. The receipts last
week were $4,000 bales, against 1850
same week last year, and 10000 same week
of 1853. The total receipt to date is now
3,2e7 900 bales The price remains pretty
steady, without much business in our market. Most
persons were taken by surprise by the news of the
last advance in the foreign markets. II is supposed
however, that this advance was predicated on an
imperfect acquaintance with the extent of the crop,
and that when sounder estimates are adopted in
England, small reaction may take place. This
theory is at variance with the prodigious develope
ment of manufacturing industry throughout Europe.
Hreadstuffs are generally rather quiet There Is
a fair demand for wheat for export, and we are
sending ont considerably more than was shipped at
this time last year. Flour is held too high for
shipment to Europe. Notwithstanding the
many disappointments they have encountered,
the spectators still adhere to their theory
of an active breadstuffs market and high prices
this summer; business is limited by the frnness of
holders. The receipts Of wheat ard -four at Chi.
cago are moderate and the stock no. above an
average. Corn is coming in very freely, and the
stock is rapidly increasing. OF al. kinds Of grain
there were in store last week ,2ss, 9eJ bushels
against 675,95o at same period last year, and
l,lT7e54 at same period in ls5s-the excess, as we
said being 10 corn. Provisions continue ia fair re-
quest, and the export is in excess of last year.
In foreign produce fair business is doing. Teas
are very fIm, and holders look FOR further adj
vance; business is however rather limited The bet
ter grades of sugar r1n: lower rates have been
unfavora5y affected by heavy arrivals, and small
decline has been the consequence. Coffee is active
at full prices: the demand is partly for export
Spices are quiet. The speculation in brandy to
which we have alluded en- former occasions con-
tinues to affect prices importers of French spirits
have done we'll Hides are decidedly more in de-
mand, and the price is tirmer. Altogether, the
prospect is favorable for an active and profitable
spring business in foreign produce.
The import movement at this port is again ex-
cessiye, especially in dry goods. Our aggregate
imports at this port since JAM las the following
table will ahow-have been a. 500 600 in excess o.
those Of the corresponding portion Of 1859, and
$24 $500 GOO IL excess Of those of the same period
ofls5s At this rate, the resumption Of heavy ship
ments Of specie, and sharp contraction Of bank
discounts. may be regarded as certain to occur
within very few weeks. The fault of New York
has always been to overstock it, markets with
foreign goods; it is doing SO now. The following
are Che tables Of the trade of the port for the week
and since January L.