AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
267 
made, and a close search instituted in her 
room for it, but in vain ; and she had come to 
the conclusion that some of those skilful Indian 
robbers, who can steal the sheets from under 
one, unfelt and unseen, had carried off her 
property, for the loss was considerable. When 
walking by chance into the back enclosure of 
the tent, she found her friend the monkey seated 
in grave dignity with her apron on, imitating 
her yester-evening’s action, and supplying the 
want of nuts with her gold and silver coins, 
which he scattered liberally around him. He 
was suffered to empty the purse, when they 
tried to catch him, but, so far as we remember, 
did not succeed; he returned to his woods 
clad in a black satin apron! and doubtless 
played for the future the part of the monkey 
who had seen the world. 
-»-o-«- 
USES OF FAIRY LITERATURE. 
It would be hard to estimate the amount 
of gentleness and mercy that has made its way 
among us through these slight channels. For¬ 
bearance, courtesy, consideration for the poor 
and aged, kind treatment of animals, the love 
of nature, abhorrence of tyranny and brute 
force—many such good things have been first 
nourished in the child’s heart by this powerful 
aid. It has greatly helped to keep us, in some 
sense, ever young, by preserving through our 
worldly ways one slender track not overgrown 
with weeds, where we may walk with child¬ 
ren, sharing their delights. In an utilitarian 
age, of all other times, it is a matter of grave 
importance that Fairy tales should be respect¬ 
ed. To preserve them in their usefulness, 
they must be as much preserved in their sim¬ 
plicity and purity, and innocent extravagance, 
as if they were actual fact. Whosoever alters 
them to suit his own opinions, whatever they 
are, is guilty, to our thinking, of an act of pre¬ 
sumption, and appropriates to himself what 
does not belong to him .—Household Words. 
Dating Lettebb. —Where our correspondents are 
not perfectly well known to us, we wish they would 
in all cases, date their letters very plainly, with their 
post-office address. Nearly every town in the United 
States has half a dozen name-sakes in other States, 
and of some of the most popular, they number by 
fifties. A few years since, there were about thirty 
Washingtons in Ohio alone. Let us, in all cases, 
have the name of their post-office and State, at the 
head of their letter, and they will be sure of a light 
direction for their letters in return. 
Pre-payment of Postage. —All correspondents 
are requested to pre-pay their postage on letters to 
us, as they thereby secure pre-payment in return. 
The saving of two cents for each letter may seem a 
small matter to such as seldom write, but the gen¬ 
eral omission to pre-pay would make a difference of 
hundreds of dollars per annum in our own postage 
bills. 
We also suggest the propriety, where correspond¬ 
ents write us expressly on their own business, re¬ 
questing a favor which causes us some trouble, and 
with no corresponding benefit, that they not only 
pre-pay their postage, but also enclose a stamp, to 
pre-pay the answer they solicit in return. 
®arluk 
Hog Market. —A brisk trade is going on at 
present at Evansville—a mutual good feeling 
exists between buyers and sellers. Messrs. Orr 
& Laughlin are taking in a large number of fine 
hogs this week—while several other houses are 
commencing to buy liberally. There will, from 
present prospects, be an increased business done 
here this year—a larger quantity and better 
quality of hogs will be put up than ever before. 
We can see nothing in the future to vary the 
prices from those above stated. The ruling 
price here now is $3.75a$4.00 for good hogs. 
— Evansville, (. Ind .) Jour. 22 d Dec. 
Hogs. —The weather has been excellent du¬ 
ring the week for killing, and our packers have 
been improving it. There have been in all 
about 10,000 head slaughtered, and there were 
yesterday nearly 4,000 in pens, awaiting the 
knife,besides large droves daily arriving. At 
the slaughterhouse of Marshal & Doyle about 
GOO are slaughtered daily. Prices firm at $3.00 
nett.— Nashville Whig , Dec. 22 d. 
Cincinnati, Dec. 27.—There was an active 
demand to-day; and although receipts were fair, 
they were not adequate thereto. In prices, an 
advance of fully 10c. was established. The sales 
comprised 600, 1300, 382, and 260 at $4.35; 
150 at $4.36; 750, 640, 260, 600 and 436 at 
$4.40, closing firm at the latter figure, with 
holders generally asking $4.50. 
Cincinnati, Dec.'30.—The market for Hogs is 
firm at $4.50 a $4.60. 
- 0 6 «-- 
From the Mark Lane Express, Dec. 12th. 
REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE. 
From St. Petersburg the shipments of Wheat 
have been on an extensive scale, and a very 
large proportion of the same has been for Lon¬ 
don. This supply is now close at hand, and 
the major part will probably arrive in the 
Thames in the course of the next eight days. 
Whether the effect has already been anticipa¬ 
ted remains to be seen, but that the close 
approach of this large supply has not caused 
any degree of uneasiness on the part of the re¬ 
ceivers may be inferred from the improved tone 
which the trade has assumed within the last 
few days. The extreme languor which prevailed 
in the early part of the week has given place to 
more activity, and though no portion of the re¬ 
cent decline has yet been recovered, present 
appearances are indicative of a rally rather than 
a further reduction. This may be partly owing 
to the belief that no further shipments from the 
north of Europe will be practicable until spring, 
the navigation of most of the rivers and harbors 
having, according to late advices, become 
impeded by ice; and further, to the accounts 
from France, prices having again began to 
ascend in that country after a period of rather 
severe depression. That the wants of France 
are fully as urgent as those of Great Britain 
does not admit of doubt—the enormous impor¬ 
tations from the Black Sea into Marseilles, the 
shipments made from the Baltic, from America, 
and from hence to the northern ports of France, 
have failed to create any lasting impression. 
The supplies have been rapidly absorbed, and 
the probability is that that country will be com¬ 
pelled to import on a very extensive scale up to 
the time of the next harvest. This is a very 
important consideration in regard to the future; 
for with so active a competitor Great Britain is 
not likely to obtain the aid we believe she will 
stand in need of on as easy terms as might other¬ 
wise have been possible. Within the last few 
days buyers of Wheat from France have again 
made their appearance in the London market, 
and rather large purchases have been made, 
principally of floating cargoes, either arrived off 
the coast or still on passage, but having the 
continental clause in the charter, i. e., instruc¬ 
tions to call at Falmouth, or some other port 
agreed on, and there receive orders as to the ul¬ 
timate destination. 
Indian corn has been neglected; and, though 
there have been no arrivals off the coast for 
several days past, the only cargo undisposed of 
(800qrs. from Galatz) has been offered in vain 
at 44s. per qr., cost, freight, and insurance. 
THE CONTINENTAL CORN TRADE. 
The advices from the Baltic inform us that 
most of the vessels had finished loading, and 
had taken their departure, and that, the ship¬ 
ping season being over, very little had been 
done in the grain trade. 
The Danzig reports state that hardly a bar¬ 
gain had been closed during the preceding week, 
and the prices had become in a great measure 
nominal. The quality of the new Wheat con¬ 
tinued to be much complained of; and that this 
was not without reason may be readily con¬ 
ceived by the weights quoted for new. The 
stock in granary was estimated at 40,000 qrs., 
consisting for the most part of inferior unsound 
qualities. 
From Stettin we have letters of Wednesday’s 
date. The weather having become milder, it 
was intended to make an attempt to break the 
ice, so as to allow the laden vessels lying in the 
harbor to put to sea. There was not at the mo¬ 
ment much doing in Wheat; but holders were 
firm, and previous prices had been tolerably 
well maintained. 
From Greifswald and Anclam we have similar 
accounts. 
At Kostock, on Monday last, there was not 
much doing in Wheat; the dull tone of the 
English advices had begun to have an influence 
on the minds of holders, and the tendency of 
prices had been downwards. The weather had 
been very severe, and the river had been cov¬ 
ered with ice; but, a thaw having set in the 
previous day, it was hoped that the few vessels 
caught in the ice would be set free, and be able 
to proceed to their destination. 
The Hamburg advices, on Tuesday, report a 
change in the weather, and a partial reopening 
of the river navigation. The demand for Wheat 
—after having been very languid for a time— 
had improved, a few purchases had been made 
for French account. 
In the Dutch markets prices have rather 
given way of late; and at Rotterdam, on Monday, 
white Zealand Wheat was decidedly easier to 
buy. 
From Belgium, we learn the supplies of home¬ 
grown corn had sufficed for the consumption, 
and the prices of Wheat had, consequently, ad¬ 
vanced. That the last harvest gave but an 
indifferent return in that country cannot be 
doubted. 
The most recently received advices from 
France state that prices of Wheat and Flour had 
undergone an important advance at the princi¬ 
pal markets. At Paris, on Wednesday, as much 
as 100 francs per sack was paid for fine Flour, 
being the highest point yet attained. The stock 
of Flour on hand amounted to only 13,855 metri¬ 
cal quintals. The upward movement appears 
to have extended to all the northern markets. 
At Berg the rise, on Wednesday, was equal to 
nearly 5s. per sack; and a similar improvement 
had taken place at Lisle. 
Letters from Marseilles, of the 2nd inst., 
inform us that about 280,000qrs. of Wheat had 
been received at that port in November. From 
the more distant places, the accounts report a 
continued demand for Wheat, principally on 
French and Italian account. 
Letters from Odessa, dated Nov. 25, state 
that of the enormously large shipments made 
from thence, comparatively little had been for 
Great Britain. The inquiry had been active 
during the week, and about 65,000qrs. had been 
taken, principally for the Mediterranean. 
PRODUCE MARKETS. 
Wholesale prices of the more important Vegetables, 
Fruits, &c.. 
Washington Market, Dec. 31,1853. 
Vegetables. —Potatoes, Carters, and Mercers, 3P bbl., $2 
75 ; Junes, $2 50 , Western Reds, $2 25 ; Sweet Potatoes, 
$ bbl. $3 50; Cabbages, $ 100, $6@$8 ; Red do.,$7@$9; 
Savoys, $7@10 ;Onions, white, ^ bbl., $i 75@$2; do., 
yellow, $1 5U@.$1 75 ; do. red, $i 25@41 37X; Parsneps ^ 
bushel, 50c.; Carrots, tp bushel, 50c. ; Beets, ^p bushel, 44 
@50; Turnips, white jp bbl. $1 25@$1 50 ; Ruta Baga, 
bbl., $1 50 ; Spinach, t|p bbl., $2 50 ; Corn Salad, basket, 
62>£c.; Lettuce, !jp 100, $2 ; Endive, ^p 100, $2; Celery ^p 
doz. bunches, 87>£c.@$l ; Parsley, ^p doz. bunches, 37^c. 
Leeks, ^ doz. bunches, 75c.; Salsafy, $ doz. bunches, 75c. 
Fruits. —Apples, Newtown Pippins, ^p bbl., $4 50@5 50; 
R. I. Greenings, $4@$4 50 ; Spitzenburgs,$2 50@$>3 ; Bald¬ 
wins, $2 75@$3 25 ; Vandervere, $2 50@$3 ; Swaar, $2 25 
@g2 50 ; Russets, $2 50@$2 75; Romanites, $1250@j>2 75 ; 
Cranberries, ^p bbl., $6@$8; Chestnuts, ^ bush,, $3 ; Hick¬ 
ory nuts, ^p bush., $3 25. 
The supply of vegetables this morning was the smallest 
we have seen during the season; and the prices have ad¬ 
vanced considerably. Very few cabbages were offered, and 
these were not of extra quality. There was a good supply 
of Celery, though the stalks were small in comparison with 
these ofiered some weeks ago. Ruta Baga turnips are plen¬ 
tiful, though small. Potatoes are gradually rising in prico, 
as the quantfty sent to market this season is limited, and 
they are subject to damage. 
