1827.] Monthly Agricultural Report. 439 



markets. There is no prospect of much variation in price, until the grand point at issue 

 shall be determined by the legislature, whether monopoly, or a free commerce in the staff 

 of life, shall prevail. 



The early wheat seedsmen of the western coun'ies, were somewhat impeded by 

 drought ; but the showers since have caused the stubbles and all the lands to break up 

 admirably, and to make as fine a tilth, whether for wheat sowing, or Winter fallow, as 

 was ever witnessed. The lattermath too, and the root crops, have wonderfully improved, 

 with the never failing set-off against these last, the appearance of the worm and slug to 

 claim their share. Great preparations are making, westward, for that most profitable 

 husbandry, sowing Winter Barley, tares, and rye, as an early Spring resource for live 

 stock. The holders have come to a somewhat late determination to sell their Wool 

 at the market price, whatever that may be ; whence some movement in that branch. A 

 plan likely to turn to better account than keeping it for a pure British manufacture of 

 superfine cloth. Schemes of this kind may very well rank with the periodical, infallible, 

 and evanescent ones, of preventing the mischiefs to vegetation, of inclement seasons.. 



The country markets are well filled with stores of all kinds, the price generally looking 

 upwards since the great improvement in cattle food, from the change of weather. Pigs 

 bear a very high price, notwithstanding our considerable Irish imports ; and the acorn 

 harvest promises abundance. Pithing cattle is said to be gaining ground in the country, 

 instead of the savage and appalling practice of knocking them down, to the shame of the 

 metropolis. The importation of carthorses still continues another example of our inability 

 to supply ourselves. Good saddle horses, and lew there are of that description, have risen 

 in demand and price, and will be dear in the Spring. Heavy losses of beasts and sheep 

 during the severity of the Winter season, in the northern parts of the island, are annually 

 reported. 



Smithfield.Bezf, 4s. 4d. to 5s. 2d Mutton, 4s. 4d. to 5s. Veal, 5s, to 5s. lOd. 



Pork, 5s. to 6s. lOd. -Lamb, 4s. 4d. to 5s. 2d. Raw fat- 

 Corn Exchange. Wheat, 50s. to 63s. Barley, 30s. to 37s. Oats, 20s. to 36s. 



Bread, 9|d. the 4 Ib. loaf. Hay, 70s. to 110s. Clover ditto, 85s. to 126s. Straw, 



30s. to 40s. 



Coals in the Pool, 32s. to 39?. per chaldron ; about 12s. addition for cartage, &c. 

 Middlesex, Sept. 24, 1827. 



MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT. 



The stock of sugar is now 8,700 casks less than last year, but it is probable 

 this difference will decrease for the following two weeks ; and the stock from that period 

 up to the end of October, will shew a great falling off in the crop. The only bad appear- 

 ance in the sugar market, is the decrease in the weekly deliveries. The quantity last week, 

 compared with the same week in 1826, is 619 casks less. The number of vessels reported 

 at the Custom-house is very great : the average of the cargoes about 310 casks of sugar. 

 This morning the market opened heavily, and the whole purchase of the day did not exceed 

 300 hogsheads. The three public sales of Mauritius, 1,424 bags, sold with briskness. Dry 

 brown 64s. to 70s. ; for yellow, Barbadoes, 133 casks, at 66s. to 71s., a shade under the 

 late prices. The refined market gave way about Is. to Is. 6d per cwt. last week. Low 

 lumps, which were 86s., to 83s. per cwt., and some forced sales, were reported below that 

 price. On fine goods there were few sales. 



Coffee. The quantity of coffee brought forward at public sale last week, was 985 casks, 

 1,196 bags; nearly the whole sold at previous prices; but we think the market was 

 more firm. 



Hemp, Flax, and Tallow. The letters from Petersburg are to the 1st instant. Exchange 

 10 T 7 gd. per rouble. Tallow. 99 to 100 roubles. Hemp in demand, at our quotations. 



Cotton. The cotton market is heavy, and prices unaltered. 



Rum, Brandy, and Hollands. The purchases of rum are very considerable; under- 

 proofs sold at 2s. 4d.; Demerara, 3s. Oid. ; proof, 2s. 5d. to 2s. 6d. per gallon. The chief 

 purchases were in Leeward Island rums. Jamaica, 30 to 31s. Over 4s. to 4s. 2d. Brandy 

 is held, with firmness. In Hollands there is HO alteration. 



Course of Foreign Exchange. Amsterdam, 12. 3. Rotterdam, 12. 4. Antwerp, 

 12. 4. Hamburgh,^ 36. 16. Altona, 36. 11. Paris, 25. 65. Bordeaux, 25. 65. 

 Frankfort on the Main, 152. Exchange, Petersburg, 10. Vienna, 10. 6. Lisbon, 48|> 

 Cadiz, 35i. Bilboa, 35^. Barcelona, 34*. Seville, 34i. Leghorn, 48. Gibraltar, 

 (hard dollar), 45. Palermo, 115 per oz.-^-Rio, 48. Lisbon, 48|. Oporto, 48. Bahia, 

 46. Dublin, 1|._ Cork, U. Calcutta, 22 to 22i Bombay, 2 1 .Madras, 20^ to 21. 



