The average price of wheat for the six weeks ending
September 28th, having again fallen to 68s. 7d., the duty at present is 16s. 8d. s quarter. The decline in the average price is assumed by the Standard as a proof that persons most interested and most com- petent to come to a correct judgment on the question, consider the harvest as likely to turn out well. It is a fact, however, that in Mark Lane the price of good wheat has advanced during the week, and the supply of home-grown is but small. Of the new crop brought to market, a large proportion is described as damp and of inferior qua- lity; of course it is offered on lower terms than the better samples; and the consequence is, depression of the averages with advance of duty. The foreign intelligence is to the same effect as last week, but more decisive us to the failure of the crops in Saxony and Po- land; where the deficiency is declared to be equal to 25 per cent. in some districts, and in others 50 per cent. In Paris, the price of bread has been officially raised ; and in consequence of pur- chases of a small quantity of wheat at Dunkirk and Ruuiin, the French Government immediately imposed a duty of five shillings a quarter on the exportation of that article. These facts, taken in connexion with accounts which we find in many papers published in the North of England, stating the deficiency and indifferent quality of the crops, convince us that the fall of the average prices is not to he taken by any means as proof that the harvest is a good &even an average one. We should rather conclude that the pressure of debts compelling the farmers to sell, and the inferior quality of much of the wheat, had caused the depression in the country markets.
