No. 41-(3.)

Prices current of American produce at Liverpool, January 3, 1845; made up from actual

transactions.

Quoted in bond, except when mentioned as duty paid. Five per cent. additional is charged on duties stated; but provisions for export or ship stores pay no duty. Hams and bacon, in pickle, pay pork duty.

A barrel is 200 pounds, a tierce is 304 pounds, a quarter is 8 bushels, a cwt. is 112 pounds, an imperial gallon is 9 pounds, a tun is 252 imperial gallons.

Aggregate average prices of foreign corn for six weeks, (which regulate the duty,) made up to December 21, 1844-Wheat, 45s. 3d.; oats, 21s. 9d.; Indian corn, 32s.; peas, 35s. 11d., per imperial quarter.

Duty during the present week.-Wheat, 20s. ; oats, 6s.; Indian corn, 4s,; peas, 7s. 6d. ; flour, 12s, 04d., per barrel.

Duty on Canada grain.-Wheat, 1s.; oats, 2s. ; Indian corn, 6d. ; peas, 6d.; flour, 74d.

LIVERPOOL, January 3, 1845.

DEAR SIR: I have much pleasure to note, at the commencement of another year, the favorable position of the American provision trade. The advances evident in the few samples of the new cure of beef and pork that have arrived, and the marked improvement and liberal supplies of cheese, give strong assurances of a permanent business in those articles; while a profitable trade in lard and tallow has only been limited by a want of supplies.

The following extract from the circular of an extensive cattle-dealing firm contains important corroboration of our anticipations of the growing success of the provision trade; and is the more valuable as it is written for the home market only, without any reference to American circulation, and certainly without any partiality shown to the trade:

"With respect to salted provisions, we shall have a permanently established business from America for beef and pork; hitherto it has been inefficiently conducted, through ignorance on the part of the Americans as to what would suit the English market, and sales here having had to be effected at considerable sacrifice, and a clearance of nearly all the inju-, dicious selections and old and bad lots having been made, and experience regulating the basis upon which the shipments on the road, and which are preparing for this country [must be made,] will be the means of placing this trade in future in a methodical channel. From what has transpired, it is evident the Irish curers can have no chance of competing with the American importers in point of beef; but, with respect to pork, Irish maintains and is likely to maintain the pre-eminence, although some corn-fed pork of excellent quality was sold here last week at 61s. per barrel; which shows that, if America will really send the article required, price is a secondary object. Tierce middles, or bacon, of which there were a few arrivals in the early stage of this business, are not now looked for or thought of. Lard has been the steadiest article imported since the opening of this trade. The description, however, has been of various quality, very little amongst it suitable for culinary purposes-though, in consequence of the high price of Irish, it is inquired for now for that purpose; but it has become a staple article of commerce amongst the chandlers and lard pressers. United States or Canadian butter has been a small import during the year; and considering the high price of Irish, and rapid communication between this port and America, its not coming forward leads to a confirmation of the accounts that the Canadians have not turned their attention to it as an article of export; and that the duty from the States, added to the price there, would not make it a profitable shipment, even if the present high price of Irish could be obtained for it. The import of cheese from America has

been heavy; and although a large quantity has been of inferior quality, there have been some very prime parcels amongst it; and this article, like all the American provisions intended for this market, will, as the knowledge of the trade becomes extended, find a proper level. Of the continuance and permanence of our business with America for this article there can be no doubt, as they can send it good in quality, and moderate in price."

I have understood it would be acceptable to many parties to republish, at this time, the directions for packing some of the leading articles of import, although they have been already widely circulated, and do not possess the same interest they had two years since. They will be found annexed.

The threatened scarcity of money has not been realized. The rate in London is about 24 per cent. This, with the continued employment of the manufacturing districts, and the entire absence of mercantile speculation, gives good promise for the results of the new year just commenced. The prevailing easterly winds have limited arrivals during the month of December, but transactions to a fair extent have taken place-for which, see remarks under the usual head.

With compliments of the season, I am, very respectfully,

JAMES MCHENRY.

Review of the market for December.

Beef. The small imports of new have been taken readily, on arrival, at extreme quotations. There is no doubt this market will be entirely dependent on America for supplies of beef.

Pork. About 150 barrels new have arrived, so well handled as to realize at once prices nearly equal to Irish; showing that the low prices heretofore obtained were attributable to careless curing and packing, and not to quality of meat.

Butter continues scarce, and prices advance. With an import from Ireland equal to 1,000 firkins per day, the stock is less than same time last year.

Cheese. A large business has been done, but dealers have submitted reluctantly to the advanced prices. The quality continues to give satisfac

tion.

Hams.-Sales of really fine small hams could be made at highest quotations, but there are none here.

Beeswax.-Sales at £7 12s. 6d. per cwt.; but it is questionable whether this price could be had for more, as the supplies are more than ample for the demand. This article does not enter as largely into manufacturing purposes as formerly.

Cloverseed. The stock is undoubtedly light, but holders ask higher rates than buyers will submit to. Should increased supplies from the continent not arrive, a considerable advance on present quotations must be looked for; but there have been no sales this season of new American.

Flaxseed.-There have been considerable arrivals from New York; but holders prefer storing to accepting less than 70s. per tierce. The imports from Riga into Ireland being 16,436 barrels against 53,789 last year, leaves

a large balance of clean sowing seed to be made up by purchases elsewhere, and must cause prices to rule high during the season.

Flour.-Sales of 1,200 barrels in bond have been made at 17s. 6d., which shows a gradual advance.

Indian corn has gone largely into consumption, and is used as a substitute for cattle-feeding articles, the price being relatively lower.

Lard.-45s. have been had during the month for fine leaf in kegs. This was an extreme price for a favorite parcel. 40s. to 42s. could be had for a fair article. Irish lard has advanced 8s. per cwt. during the month. Lard in barrels has also been selling freely at extreme quotations, but is now less in demand. The stock is only 100 tons, against 700 tons last year. The consumption in 1844 has been equally great as in 1843, with an advance in price equal to 4s. per cwt. during the last three months.

Tallow. The large supplies from Australia, added to those from South America, have more than made up the small deficiency from Russia, and press down prices of North American, which, however, have advanced greatly in reputation. 40s. 6d. may now be given as the highest quotation for best quality, without any tendency to advance.

Linseed cake continues to advance, but there is no stock here from the United States.

Quercitron bark.-Sales to a considerable extent have been made at 7s. 6d. to Ss. The use of substitutes interferes with an active demand. Taken for home consumption during the month of December, 1844, 356 tons lard, 2,600 barrels apples, 192 tons cheese, 8,000 bushels rice, 1,800 bushels Indian corn, 108 tons quercitron bark. Paid on clocks £209, on chairs £15.

JAMES MCHENRY.

Imports from the 1st to the 31st of December, 1844.

Montreal.-13,600 bushels peas; 996 barrels flour; 3,237 barrels pot ash; 509 barrels pearl ash; 71 barrels apples; 17 barrels cheese; 60 tierces flaxseed; 1,074 kegs butter; 9,767 bushels wheat; 14 tons linseed cake; 30 barrels pork.

Quebec. 10,914 bushels peas; 772 barrels flour; 467 barrels pot ash; 110 barrels pearl ash; 26 barrels apples; 101 barrels beef; 187 barrels pork; 186 kegs butter; 12 kegs lard; 10 barrels onions.

Boston.-35 barrels apples; 202 boxes cheese.

New York. 1,696 barrels apples; 365 tierces beef; 645 barrels pork; 2,612 barrels and 2,358 kegs lard; 547 casks and 1,499 boxes cheese; 45 casks sperm oil; 4,497 barrels turpentine; 135 hogsheads, 53 casks, and 43 barrels tallow; 25 barrels onions; 1,272 wet hides; 161 barrels ashes; 170 barrels tar; 121 tons ore; 1,730 tierces flaxseed; 11 packages beeswax; 1,411 pieces maple; 10 kegs and 41 hogsheads tobacco.

Philadelphia.-59 hogsheads tobacco.

New Orleans.-82 hogsheads tobacco; 178 bales hemp; 345 barrels pork; 4 tons bones; 27 hogsheads, 51 tierces, and 47 barrels tallow; 421 hides; 66 barrels lard; 112 barrels flour.

1843

3,500 5,005 2,956 4,922 19,004|13,060| 623 23,962 24,650 1,600 2,200 1844 9,300 8,354 7,939 5,674 18,641 3,458 2,500 441 20,027 28,960 2,116 2,801

Stocks on hand at Liverpool, January 1, 1845.

Beef. Pork. Cheese. Tallow. Lard. Beeswax. Clover- Quercitron Flaxseed.

Directions for preparing beef, pork, lard, and hams, for the English

market.

Beef.-Kill fat cattle only. All parts are used but the head, feet, and legs; to be cut, as nearly as possible, into pieces of 8 pounds each. Pack away in store casks, with dry salt, well rubbed in; the casks to be filled up with pickle, sufficient saltpetre being added to give a bright color and proper consistency. In a day or two, or as soon as the blood is sufficiently purged out, the beef is to be removed to fresh pickle, where it remains until packed for exportation. Observe saltpetre must not be used in any pickle after the first. Pickle should be strained, and strong enough to float an egg. To be packed in tierces containing 38 pieces, or 304 pounds, perfectly water tight, with two iron hoops at each end, and made just to fit. The edges of the pieces to be trimmed and laid in smoothly, firmly, and in layers. Between each layer some fine salt is to be used, and over the top of the whole an inch or two of very coarse Turk's island or St. Ubes should be placed.

Pork. After killing, the hogs should be allowed to hang for twentyfour or thirty-six hours, to become quite firm. In curing, the same process is to be observed as in beef. To be packed for exportation in barrels of 50 neat square pieces of 4 pounds each. A barrel of prime mess pork should contain 4 pieces, fore leg to knee joint, with part of shoulder attached; 16 shoulder pieces; 10 belly pieces; 10 rib pieces; 10 chine or back-bone pieces. Each packer must brand his own name conspicuously on the head of his casks, with the number of pieces and description of beef or pork.

Lard. Really fine lard for culinary purposes should be packed in neat white kegs of 40 pounds each. It should be poured in, and allowed to cool before heading. So much care is not required in barrel lard, which is chiefly used for chandlery purposes or machinery; but, if poured in before