Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-04-27


and the fact that the Southern commercial conven-
tons were largely composed of men who saw things
through political rather than business medium
in fact, were politicians.
In the present depressed condition of commercial,
agricultural and business interests generally in Viz
gnia there is but little prospect of being able
10 embark at once in direct trade TO any considera
BILE extent but that depression is the very reason
why every effort should be made in that direction,
for it is one of those means by which we can get
articles for domestic use at reduced prices thing
most desirable now that money is so scarce.
One of the reasons alleged by Northern men for
opposition to direct trade in the South, was that
they believed there was always associated with it
the idea of political independence as well as COM
merca If they were sincere in giving that as their
reason, their opposition must now cease. Indeed,
nothing but most shortsighted policy, utterly out
of keeping with that commercial sagacity for which
Northern capitalists are famed could now induce
them to throw obstacles in the way Of Southern
commercial enterprise, for the sooner the South is
built up into condition of prosperity, the sooner
will she be able TO quidate all her obligations, and
the more will the Northern people be benefited No
doubt, our business men are thoroughly acquainted
with all the advantages of direct trade, but for the
information of parties who may not have given the
subject the attention it deserves we do not deem it
improper to publish the following extract from
letter which we have received from the firm of Cary
& Mcfarland, Leadenhall street, London, as it eX-
pounds clearly and concisely some of the views we
wish to express
We are trying to be of some service to our South
in hot antin fra1a
are vessels constantly clearing from the James river
for English ports. Now, any one wanting fabrics,
wearing apparel, cutlery, hardware, guns, &c. &C.,
almost anything of foreign make, can get them at
great saving to himself, by simply buying tobacco
or Cotton to the amount he wishes to purchase, de-
hosting such tobacco cotton with shipper pro-
curing bill of lading and sending it TO for sale,
accompanied by order for the articles he wishes
purchased. As soon as we receive the bill OF lading
and order the latter would be filled at once and the
goods shipped as the person who ordered them might
direct either to Norfolk by steamer Off the line
should be kept up) or by sailing vessel, or by
mail steamer via New York. We have arrange
ments in New York for clearing them at the custom
house and shipping without delay to Richmond. We
receive cOnsignments to Liverpool or London either,
at consignor's option. BY this means there would
be no delay We would advance the money for the
purchasers and pay ourselves out of the proceeds OF
the tobacco cotton when it came forward. In
many cases the goods ordered would be in Richmond
before the tobacco or cotton reached here. Your
people can form estimate Of the amount saved by
such a course of dealing"
We must not be understood as saying that, before
the war; there were no direct mportations, fer
raj of our merchants made purchases in Europe,
either by written order direct to the manufacturer
or though agents there What we mean is, that it
was not carried on to any great extent, or by any
united action, such, for instance, as by shipping
companies vessels, direct into Virginia 1t is true,
a company was got up here, and the Virginia Dare
was built and sent TO sea, but the war came before
the experiment was fairly under way. Nor must we
be understood as saying that there no direct i'm
portatiors now There are SUCH for there are firms
now, in this city, as will be seen by our advertising
columns which import dry goods direct from Europe
and sell them on commission.
Direct trade, them presents this great advantage,
that our mere hants, importing direct from Europe,
can sell their goods to their customers at price less
the profit which the wholesale and jobbing mer-
chants of the North would of course put on if our
merchants bought from them.
BALTIMORE MARKETS. APRIL 25.
The only transactions in State loans was $4,000
Maryland 7Os at par, at which rate more were Of
fered.
CoFFEE-Rio IS to Ole. Laguayra 2OA to 22c.
Java 274 to 2S-all gold.
FLoUR.-Howard Street Super and Cut Extra
s9OOa1O Shipping Extra $40 OOal06O; Retailing En-
ira S04 all4; Family, Sl3al3 90 Ohio Super, s. BOA
% Shipping Elk. 50 bOalO; Retailing Extra, SlOa
II co. Family SO 50al3; City Mills Standard Super,
s. 75a9 90; Shipping brands Extra SO 50al3; Bal
timore Family, $1,000; Baltimore High grade Extra,
S14 co.
Rye F7our-s4 25a4 so. Old Mixed 50 6Oaa 10.
GRArX.-W heat.-white 81 So to SO 80; Red, 50 So
to , 10.
Corn. Mixed, s2as3 cts; White, 90 to 80 cts;
Yellow Sc TO 81 cts.
OdtS.-5l to 90 cts, weight.
MoLAssEs.-New crop cayed Cuba 40 to 43c.;
Cuba Muscovado, 40 to 65c.; New English Island,
40 to 7Oc Porto Rico, 40 to Toe, for old and new.
PRovIsIONs.-BacOn.- l2l TO 10 cts.
Sides, l54 to l5i cts. Plain Hams 10 cts.
Sugar cured, 2laOO cents, for uncovered; can
YaSsed, 22c.
Bulk heat.-Shoulder llia1l4 cts. Sides IA to
l4lc
Lard.--westem 10 to 81 cts; Butchers and
UIty lS3 to 2l9 cts.
SALT.-GrOund Alum 81 70 to 10; Worthington's
Fine 50 10 to SO % Ordinary Fine 60 rs to SO 90;
Turks Island OOa6O cts. per bushel.
SEEDs.-ClOver So 30 to 6OOi Flaxseed 81 5Oi
Timothy So 90.
SUGARs-Cuba and f. !. common to good refining
$40 25al0 so; Cuba and +. |. grocery $40 76al 90;
Cuba and E. l. prime to choice grocery SO 25al3 90;
Porto Rico common to good grocery sllal2i Porto
Rico prime to choice grocery SO 60a13 30.
Observation-Disclosures 81 % to so 90, and City
- % to 50 90; country 81 234a224; Pennsylvania 81
"a; Ohio 81 %
REMARKs.-Cofiee quiet market unsettled. Flour
demand limited, but prices steady. Wheat nomi-
nal Molasses-no sales Salt-no enquiry for large
lots. Sugars-market well supplied and very flat
Whiskey-enquiry extremely limited.
NORTHERN AND WESTERN MARKETS.
New YORK, April 25-P. M.-Flour has advanced
5alO cents Sales of 1880 bbls State at S7aS 70
~ NIL n. Con 1hnIE III Whnaf