COMPARATIVE PRICES PER PICUL IN MANILLA, AND FREIGHTS, FOR FOUR BALES.

1858.

CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED STATES. 1854. 1855. 1856. 1857. 87,176 106,376 90,174 100,760 114,203 111,047 110,582

1852.

1853.

Date.

129,100 142,270

COMPARATIVE EXPORT OF HEMP TO UNITED STATES AND EUROPE. 1850. 1851. 1852, 1853. 1854. 1855. 1856. 1857. 1958. 1859. To the United States, 51,097 71,566 110,257 102,292 114,008 107,290 156,193 121,655 144,476 142,828 To Europe,.. 10,608 15,402 18,871 8,467 47,801 11,881 19,699 47,991 52,816 65,386 61,705 86,968 124,128 110,759 161,809 119,171 175,892 169,646 197,292 207,664

Bales,....

Boston, New-York and Philadelphia.

Jute. The low price of Manilla hemp has brought that article in

competition with jute during the past year, and, to some extent, has driven the latter out of the market. In view of the reduced stock at the commencement of the year, and the large falling off in shipments at Calcutta, holders were firm at $92 50 @ $95; but trade was dull, and manufacturers demanded lower prices. Market gradually yielded until early in the summer, when an unexpected demand came from the South for baling use, to supply the deficiency of Western rope. With moderate supplies, a gradual reduction of stock ensued, and holders became firmer. Later in the season, a prospective short supply induced manufacturers to buy freely, and the market became quite active. Appreciation rapidly followed, and sales were made as high as $110; but the advance has been strongly resisted, manufacturers contending that, so long as Manilla continues to decline, they must stop, unless jute can be obtained at lower rates. During the last month they have done but very little, and will only meet the pressing wants of the trade until a better chance for profit exists than they now have. A small lot was brought out from England, but her short supplies have not permitted our market to be relieved from that quarter. The crop of 1859 was small and of inferior quality. Good or even fair qualities have been scarce; and a

very inferior grade, known as jute ends, a new article in this market, has been sent here, and found buyers, because of its cheapness; but the quality is too poor to work to advantage, and sales are made with great difficulty. The new crop is spoken favorably of, both as regards quality and quantity. The shipments to England have been active, and, when the deficiency is made up, we shall look for lower prices at Calcutta and larger shipments to this country. The stock afloat is 4,562 bales, for Boston, including 2,898 bales of jute ends; 605 do. for New-York, and 200 do. for Philadelphia; altogether, 5,367 bales. Our statement shows a falling off in the consumption from last year, occasioned by the competition with Manilla hemp.

Stock on hand and afloat, 10,442 bales; same time last year, 13,825 do.; 1858, 26,903 bales. Of the present stock there are but 2,325 bales in New-York, Boston and Philadelphia, in first hands. At our close, price is nominal and no demand whatever.

Stock in all hands January 1, 1860,..

Imports from January 1, 1860, to January 1, 1861, (including arrivals from England,)...

Bales.

12,700

15,226

27,926

Stock in all hands January 1, 1861,......

5,075

Consumption for 1860,......

22,851

EXPORTS FROM CALCUTTA TO THE UNITED STATES.

From January 1, 1860, to November 1, 1860, (including 3,368

bales jute ends,).

16,021

From January 1, 1859, to November 1, 1859,..

14,050

REVIEW OF THE TOBACCO MARKET FOR THE YEAR 1860.

By Messrs. T. & H. MESSENGER.

THE stocks held this side of the Atlantic and in Europe on the 1st of January were placed at 96,000 hhds., an increase of 12,000 hhds. compared with same time the year previous. This liberal supply, added to the extreme estimate of the incoming crop, viz., 227,000 hhds., (which subsequent receipts proved to be short of the reality,) acted as an incubus to any advance in the value of this staple; and had the crop under culture resulted in a full average, we doubtless should have witnessed a feeble market throughout the year.

We proceed briefly to delineate the prominent features of the season. The demand for the closing winter months proved a fair average, the sales rather exceeding 2,000 hhds. at full quotations for the better grades, while inferior were less firm. The spring opened with a light demand and prices rather drooping, May closing with a declension in prices for inferior and medium of@c. The market remained inanimate until near the close of summer, with limited sales, inferior grades exhibiting a further decline of @c. without leading to increased activity. The chief notable circumstance was the rapidly accumulating stock, which now reached the unprecedented total of nearly 15,000 hhds. The prevailing lethargic feeling at length gave way, and ere the opening fall, an active demand sprang up, induced by an apprehension of a large diminution in the growing crop from the effect of drought, resulting in an increased volume of transactions partly speculative, without, however, immediately advancing prices. As the season progressed, additional stimulus was imparted by reiterated statements of damage sustained by the crop, which was followed by large transactions, the sales for September and October reaching nearly 5,000 hhds., with a responding advance of @ 14 cents, the better classifications being most favorably affected. We regret that it is not in our power to follow up this favorable change, the business in the closing fall month being brought to a stand by political vicissitudes, which have had a paralyzing influence on commerce generally. And although tobacco has maintained its position favorably, compared with other staples, and holders appear comparatively firm, there is no disguising the fact that present quotations should be deemed nominal, and will simply indicate to the reader about where the market left off.

Regarding the crop we have been treating of, our favorable expectations of its quality were far from being realized, there being a sad deficit of sweet fleshy leaf, as also a very meager supply of desirable African and West India sorts. The bulk of the excessive stock held here consists of medium and nondescript, for which there is but little inquiry, and we apprehend losses will occur in its realization; while really desirable, from comparative scarcity, will probably be better maintained. As to the extent and quality of the new crop, opinions are somewhat at variance; that there will be a deficiency in length, and an absence of dark rich leaf and choice manufacturing, there remains but little doubt. We retain our usual practice of rendering the outside estimated growth, as we discover, on referring to many past years, it generally comes within the compass of actual results.

The year will open with stocks of the world, amounting, in the aggregate, to 146,496 hhds., or an excess beyond those of last year of 50,496 hhds. Of the future course of the market we advance no opinion. We invite the attention of the reader to the following statistics:

Kentucky. Maryland. Virginia. Kentucky. Maryland. Virginia