The upward movement in the grain-market still continues. Wheat was

at least ls. dearer at Mark Lane yesterday ; and the demand for Indian corn is said to have been so brisk lately that hardly any could be had, even at 47s. a quarter. Much was said a few weeks ago about large supplies of wheat which were to come from Ireland, but the report this week is that the stocks of grain in the hands of the Irish farmers are lower than usual. All the evidence we can obtain goes to confirm the opinion we have held for some time, that the attempt to keep down prices by understating the deficiency of last harvest is likely to aggravate the evils of scarcity, as it may prevent Great Britain from receiving an adequate share of the supplies from the East of Europe and the United States. The following remarks on the diminishing sales of wheat, communicated by a Norfolk correspondent, corroborate what wo have been saying as to the extent of the deficiency.

" The returns issued by the Inspector of corn averages for the last four- teen weeks show a continuous and progressive decline in the quantity of wheat sold in the 290 towns under his jurisdiction. The following are the official figures.

Quarters sold.

Decrease. 1053.

Week ending Sept. 17 93,539 93,857 318

72 21

96,461 106,800 10,339

32 Oct. 1

8

101,508 103,932 114,961 115,663 13,453 11,731

SA 15

95,494 114,838 19,344

27-

85,066 117,026 31,960

„ 29

81,623 104,437 19,814 ,. Nov. 5 79,011 104,437 25,426

22 12

72,622 107,876 34,754

32 19

65,473 96,792 31,319 ,. 26 70,629 94,301 23,672 Dec. 3 73,714 116,791 43,077

II 10

70,352 121,054 50,780 17 55,349 121,850 66,501.

Total decrease in fourteen weeks 372,460

" This state of things would seem to indicate an absence of that specula- tion of which we have lately heard so much; for in periods of excitement corn changes hands very frequently, and the returns are, or ought to be, swelled to an unusual amount. The present paucity of supplies is rendered the more extraordinary by the high rates which all descriptions of agricul- tural produce now command, and which one would suppose would be likely to induce farmers to realize as speedily as possible. The deficiency is the last year's crop is becoming more painfully obvious every day ; but the re- gistrar's figures cannot accurately reflect its extent ; for if they were to be believed, prices would inevitably be much higher than at present."