Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 002.djvu/740

limited, and the prices fluctuate greatly. The demand for Flax is a little revived. In American Flax-seed little business done. Hemp is in good request, and prices on the advance.―Tar and Turpentine. The business done in these articles has been limited. A few sales have been made in Liverpool, but nothing to form any just criterion of the state of the market.―Ashes. At Liverpool there has been some inquiry for this article; nothing of importance has taken place in any other market.―Oil. The market for this article is exceedingly heavy of late. Prices lower. The speculators in Whale Oil have got rid of considerable quantities lately, afraid of a farther decline in price. Southern Oil is dull, and on the decline. Sea Oil has given way. Spermaceti Oil is depressed, and dull in the sales. Gallipole has fallen very considerably; and in consequence of the general depression of all other kinds, both Rapeseed and Linseed are become very heavy. Olive Oil is also dull.―Rice. There has been a considerable demand for Rice, which has sold briskly, particularly Carolinas. At the India House 7641 bags were brought forward, and sold briskly at prices from 1s. to 2s. higher.―Tea. Prices merely nominal. A considerable sale is commenced at the India House.―In Fruit there is little variation in price.―Irish Provisions. Prime mess Beef and Pork are in limited supply, and are much inquired after. Bacon continues in good demand. Considerable inquiries after Butter.―Corn. Markets of all kinds of grain continue dull and on the decline. The sale of American Flour is dull, and at lower prices. Fine English Wheat is 1s. lower, and inferior kinds from 2s. to 3s. There has been no supply of Foreign Grain since the ports were opened, indeed there has not been time for any. The quantity of Oats imported from Ireland is very great. From the 1st November last to the 1st instant, a period of four months, no fewer than 350,000 barrels of Oats have been imported into the Clyde.―Rum, Brandy, and Hollands. Geneva is without variation. The very high prices of French Brandy have occasioned very considerable importations from Spain and Naples, which have had the effect of lowering the market a little. But it can only be temporary. No great reduction can take place till the next vintage in France has been ascertained to be abundant. The Rum market continues heavy. Some speculation in this article, for exportation, has been going on at Liverpool, but without any impression on the general market.―Wine. Port and Sherry have advanced in price very considerably; a still farther advance is expected. In other kinds the prices are maintained, but they too must feel the general revival of the market.

Nothing shews the increased activity of our Cotton Manufactures in a stronger and clearer point of view, than a comparison between the imports during the first of the present, and the imports of the first month of last year:

Thus it appears, that the imports of Cotton, during the last two months, amount to nearly one fourth of the whole importations of last year, and exceeding that of the two corresponding months of 1817 by 47,231 packages. The sales in Liverpool, during last month, exceeded 36,000 packages, yet the high prices are maintained, and the demand continues in the face of all these immense importations. Every thing shews the prodigious and increasing activity in this great branch of our national manufactures, and beats down to the ground all those evil prognostications made of the decay of our trade and commerce.

Among the importations into this country, we learn, with much satisfaction, that there is now on the way a considerable quantity of wool from New South Wales. The quality, we understand, is of a kind remarkably fine, and suited to that important branch of our manufactures. The rearing of the sheep which produce it is now an object of great care and attention in that distant and thriving colony; and there is not the smallest doubt but that it will quickly become a most important addition to our commerce. The advantages to be derived from this trade, both to the mother country and that colony, are too obvious to require pointing out.

Amongst the new outlets opening up for our trade, we notice with much satisfaction the following: By accounts from Tobolsk, dated 13th December 1817, we are informed, that letters received there from Ochotsk state the arrival at the latter place, on the 21st September last, of the British merchant vessel Brothers, Captain Gordon, direct from Bengal. A ship from India to a port at the extremity of the eastern coast of Siberia