The sales on plantation generally, ranged from 19 a 20 cents per gallon in the cisterns, though the latter was the prevailing rate for prime crops, most of which were taken for western account by prior contract. There have again been importations from Cuba for refining purposes, and up to this date the quantity reaches about 800,000 gallons, against 1,200,000 gallons to the same date last year. Of our own erop of 18,300,000 gallons, there have been shipped to Atlantic ports 2,700,000 gallons, against 2,000,000 gallons last year; leaving 15,600,000 gallons as the quantity taken for the consumption of the West and South, which would indicate a remarkable increase over any previous year. TOBACCO. At the commencement of the commercial year which has just closed, the stock of tobacco in this port (including all on shipboard not cleared) was 23,871 hhds., of which about 10,000 hhds. were in the hands of factors, the remainder being composed of strips and lugs for forwarding, and of parcels which had changed hands, and were awaiting opportunity for shipment. The quotations given in our last annual statement, were :— From the 1st September to the close of December, the demand was moder ately fair; the arrivals during that time being about 5,000 hhds., while the sales exceeded 10,000 hhds. In prices there was a downward tendency from the middle of October, and on the 31st December our quotations were : The first hogshead of the new crop reached here on the 18th October, and in January some few parcels of new came to market, and found buyers at rates to cent below the closing figures of Dec., but it was not until the middle of March that any considerable arrivals took place. From that time until the end of April he receipts were upon a pretty liberal scale, and the demand at the same time was fair, and was freely met by factors generally. In this period buyers gradually obtained some further advantage in prices, and on the 1st May we quoted: Early in May a number of buyers who had previously held aloof, entered the market, and an active demand sprang up which continued unabated for some sixty days, the sales in that time reaching nearly 30,000 hhds. The consequences of these exceedingly heavy transactions were, that the stock on the market (notwithstanding the unusual extent of the receipts) was reduced to a very moderate quantity, and that prices gradually improved, until at the commencement of July our figures were advanced to the following range:— At about these rates some 6,000 hhds. changed hands during July, the demand being fair, though not animated, and the stock on sale being too limited to admit of any very extensive operations. During the past month the inquiry, has been more brisk, and the sales reported embrace some 6,500 hhds., including some parcels which had previously changed hands, and were resold. Under the influence of this improved demand, prices have again taken a start upwards within the past three weeks, and we now quote, for We close our tables with a stock in port of 18,831 hhds., though the quantity immediately on sale is estimated not to exceed 4,000 hhds. It may be proper to remark, however, that in addition to this amount there are probably 6,000 to 8,000 hhds. held in second hand, which may, in certain contingencies, be again placed upon the market. The total receipts at this port since 1st September, as shown by our tables, are 89,675 hhds., which amount includes 11,740 hhds. strips and 2,118 hhds. stems. The quantity inspected since 1st September is 64,645 hhds., of which 5,615 hhds. were Mason County. Early in the season it was very generally known that the crop would certainly be a large one, and in view of the experience of previous years as to the effect of a heavy accumulation of stock upon our market, a majority, both of shippers in the country and of factors here, were in favor of speedy sales. This course has been generally pursued, and its advantages have been fully made manifest. The extent of our receipts (which would have been several thousand hogsheads greater but for the low stage of water in the rivers above for several weeks past) shows that the estimates of the crop were about correct. Its quality, however, was probably over-estimated, as the reports received from the interior last fall led to the expectation of something unusually fine, whereas the receipts from most sections have been decidedly below the average quality of former years. And here we take the liberty again to call the attention of planters to the neces sity, if they would protect their own interest, and the interest of the trade generally, of bestowing more care upon the handling, sorting, and prizing of their erops. Their negligence in these particulars has been a matter of serious complaint for some years past. With regard to the growing crop, we have briefly to remark, that the accounts received thus far have been of a decidedly discouraging character. Complaints of scarcity of plants, of want of proper seasons for planting, and of long continued drought since the planting was made, have been very general, and we hear of no section of the tobacco-growing region (unless it may be Missouri) in which anything like an average crop is expected. It is quite too early, however, to determine what the extent of the crop is likely to be, and at a later period we may take occasion again to advert to its prospects. WESTERN PRODUCE.-In this department of our trade there is embraced a vast variety of products, which contribute largely to the value of our Commerce with the interior, but our limited space will only permit us to review briefly the course of the market in a few of the most prominent articles. There has been some increase in the supply of breadstuffs, as compared with the last year, and the average of prices has been lower. The receipts of flour are 927,212 bbls, against 941,106 last year, and of Indian corn they are equal to 3,750,000 bushels, against 3,300,000 bushels last year. Of wheat the supply has been light, and the receipts, which have been mostly to go forward to Alabama, Georgia, etc., have only reached 130,000 bushels, against 180,000 bushels last year. The few sales that have taken place have been at the extreme range of 65 a 85 cents, though mostly at about 70 cents per bushel. Of corn meal there has been received only 2,514 barrels, against 3,662 barrels last year. The total exports of flour, since 1st September, amount to 544,711 barrels, against 583,418 barrels to same date last year. Of this quantity, 138,569 barrels were shipped to Great Britain, 70,445 to West Indies, etc., and the remainder to coast wise ports. Of Indian corn the total exports have been equal to 2,182,000 bushels, against 1,300,000 bushels last year. Of this quantity 382,000 bushels were shipped to Great Britain and Ireland, 122,000 to the West Indies, etc., and the remainder to coastwise ports. The following tables will indicate the course of prices for flour and corn, as they present the highest and lowest points of the market in each month, the range being according to quality. The annexed table shows the exports of breadstuffs from the United States to Great Britain and Ireland since 1st September, compared with the same period With respect to the supply of breadstuffs for the coming year, it is likely to be most ample; for it is understood that the yield throughout the country has been more generally abundant than in any previous year, at least for a long period. Even in the Southern States, where the grain crops have been almost a total failure for two years in succession, the harvest is ample, and large sections" of country, which have depended upon the West for supplies, are likely to have a surplus to send to market. The crops of Europe, also, are generally represented as giving favorable promise, and the probabilities would seem to indicate a lower range of prices than the American farmer has realized for some years past. The article of pork has presented unusual interest the past season. It was declared that there was a further deficiency in the supply of hogs, as compared with the previous year, while it was evident that the consumption was rapidly on the increase, as the increase of population was large and constant, besides which the failure of the corn crops at the South had involved at the same time the failure of the usual home supply of pork, and on these considerations the market for hogs opened in the West at what appeared, to some at least, to be high prices. The sequel, however, has sustained the views of the purchasers, though we doubt whether any one anticipated so high a range of prices as the market has at tained within the past two months, a range that has scarcely been approached since 1838. In beef there has been some increase of supply, but prices, nevertheless, have ranged considerably higher than last year. The following tables show the highest and lowest points of the market, in each month : PRICES OF PORK. Highest. Septemper.per bbl. $16 50 a 17 00 $16 00 a 16 50 $15 00 a 16 00 $15 00 a 15 50 October 13.00 14 50 14 50 Highest. Highest. September.per bbl. $14 50 a 15 00 $14 50 a 15 00 $11 50 a 12 50 $10 50 a 11 00 Lowest. PRIME. Lowest. October... 14 50 15 00 14 00 15 00 11 50 12 50 11 50 12 50 The receipts of lard have rather exceeded those of last year, but the average of prices has been about the same. The total exports since 1st September, [all packages being reduced to kegs] are equal to 792,543 kegs, against 738,956 kegs last year. Of this quantity 222,224 kegs were exported to foreign ports, against 188,353 kegs last year, Great Britain taking 61,923 kegs, against 41,663 last year. The course of the market will be observed by reference to the annexed table, which shows the highest and lowest points in each month, the lowest figures being for inferior, in barrels, and the highest for prime, in kegs: LEAD. The discovery of gold in California has greatly interfered with the production of this article, and our receipts the past year have fallen to 267,564 pigs, which is the lowest amount since 1837. Our largest receipts were 785,000 pigs in 1846-47. The great bulk of the receipts has been forwarded to Northern cities, the sales in this market scarcely reaching 20,000 pigs for the entire season. The extreme range of prices has been $3 75 per 100 lbs. in October, and $4 70 in June, when it was shipped freight free. The total exports since 1st September are 256,939 pigs, against 320,608 pigs last year. HEMP.-There has been a further reduction in the supply of this article, the receipts since 1st September being 17,149 bales, against 25,116 bales last year. As in the case of lead, nearly all that is received is sent forward, only occasional parcels being offered for sale in this market, and those generally of an inferior quality. Under these circumstances very few sales have taken place here during the past season, and those mostly of limited parcels, at an extreme range of $85 a $95 per ton for dew-rotted. The exports since 1st September are 15,728 bales, all to Northern ports. COFFEE. This article has rapidly risen in importance in our market, and may now be said to take the lead among our foreign imports. The first direct cargo from Rio was in 1835, and up to 1840 the imports only amounted to 44,000 bags, while in the same year we received from Cuba, etc., 91,000 bags. The following table, which shows the direct imports from Rio de Janeiro, in each year for ten years, will exhibit the rapid increase in this branch of our foreign trade, and will also establish the interesting fact that this is now the largest market in the world (out of Brazil) for Rio coffee: The market during the past season has been characterized by more steadiness than we have had occasion to notice for some years previous, but the increased supply has reduced the average of prices, which have fluctuated between 7 cents in December and January, and 9 cents in April, as the highest and lowest points. The following table, which we take from the annual circular of Mr. H. T. Lonsdale, coffee broker, shows the monthly sales and average prices for the year ended July 1st, 1852. By this it will be seen that the average price of the season, for Rio Coffee, has been 8 60-100 cents per lb., while the year previ ous it was 10 18-100 cents: The above sales include the transactions from importers' and speculators' hands, and exceed the quantity taken for consumption by about 30,000 bags. The following table shows the imports, stock, etc.:- |