have not been so great as during the month of January; those of the Thermometer much the same. Repeated instances have occurred, during the month, of a sudden elevation of temperature preceding a gale of wind; and the transitions from frost to thaw have been unusually frequent. Contrary to what generally takes place, the mean temperature is lower than that of January. METEOROLOGICAL TABLE, Extracted from the Register kept on the Banks of the Tay, four miles cast from Perth, Latitude 56° 25', Elevation 185 feet. FEBRUARY 1818. Fair days 16; rainy days 12; wind, west of meridian, 23; east of meridian, 5. METEOROLOGICAL TABLE, Kept at Edinburgh, in the Observatory, Callonhill. N. B.- The Observations are made twice every day, at eight o'clock in the morning, and eight o'clock in the evening. State of the Barometer, &c. from February 14th to March 13th 1818, in the Vicinity of Edinburgh. THOUGH about half the spring quarter is gone, we have had no genial weather in this part of the island. March, indeed, so far as it is past, has been the most severe month since autumn. Besides the damage sustained from high winds, there has fallen so much snow, that a few days ago the roads were impassable at a short distance from Edinburgh. The ground has seldom been in a state for receiving the seed; and, excepting beans in a few instances, none of the spring grains are yet sown. This is now the middle of the lambing season in our low lands; and much loss must ensue if the weather does not soon become more dry and mild. Great complaints of the rot in sheep continue-we hear of whole flocks being affected in our Border counties ;--and this not only in high wet districts, but even on arable farms, where it cannot be ascribed to want of food, or exposure to the storm. What is still more remarkable, some farms of bad repute in this respect seem to have escaped, while lands on which the disease was never known have suffered. All sorts of live stock are in demand; but sheep, in particular, are expected to be very scarce and dear. Butcher-meat continues to advance. Corn markets are steady. The ports are now open to wheat, barley, and oats; but we do not hear of any considerable arrivals. The distress of our moorland farmers is extreme. Their two last crops were destroyed by frost, and now their sheep, always their principal fund for the payment of rent, are about to perish by a distemper which has hitherto been found incurable. What might be the effect of salt on the health of this most valuable animal, remains to be tried in this part of the island. That it would be beneficial, there is every reason to hope, from the experiments that have been made in the south. But, independent of this, few have so much interest in urging a repeal of the high duties as the farmer; and we cannot but look forward to the time, and that at no great distance, when he shall not be deterred from using it freely as an important material in his system of management. 17th March. N. B.-WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.-The Linlithgow boll, which is to be understood in the following tables when no particular measure is mentioned, is for wheat, beans, and peas, about two per Hent, more than four bushels, or half an English quarter; and for barley and oats, something less than six Winchester bushels. But, though these are the standards of Scotland, the measure of every county varies a little from them; and even in the same county, two or more customary measures are found ditferent from the standard, and from one another. The Stirlingshire measure, in the Glasgow table, is more than 8 per cent. above the Linlithgow wheat boll. The boll of oatmeal is 8 Dutch stones, or 140 lb. avoirdupois, and the peck a sixteenth part, or 84 lb. avoirdupois; but the peck of potatoes, in Edinburgh, ought to weigh 28 lb. The weight by which butcher meat is sold, is commonly the Dutch pound of 174 ounces,-the stone containing 16 of these pounds, and being thus equal to 14 stone avoirdupois. Hay is sold by the stone, weighing from 22 (which is the weight in Edinburgh) to 28 lbs. ;. and butter by the lb. of as many ounces. Aggregate Averages of the Twelve Maritime Districts of England and Wales, Wheat, 86s.-Rye, 49s. 10d.-Barley, 45s. 6d.-Oats, 27s. 2d.-Beans, 49s. 7d.-Pease, 51s. 10d. Oatmeal, 31s. 2d.-Rapeseed, 106s. 6d. Average. Prices of Scotland for the Four Weeks immediately preceding 15th Feb. Wheat, 698. 6d.--Rye, 61s. 9d.-Barley, 41s. 3d.-Oats, 325: 11d.-Beans, 52s. 10d.-Pease, 52s. 8Oatmeal, 29s. 7d.-Bear or Big, 40s. 3d. COMMERCIAL REPORT. COLONIAL PRODUCE.-Sugars. Since our last Report, the demand for Muscova does has continued steady, chiefly by the wholesale grocers anticipating an extensive home trade. Prices have kept up fully to last quotations; and at Liverpool and Glas gow are nearly the same as in London. Refined sugars have been quoted rather a shade lower; but, from the reduced stock, no serious decline can take place. Foreign continues in request. Coffee-has undergone considerable fluctuations, and the public sales have been generally at a reduction of Is. to 2s. per cwt.; but no public sales were brought forward last week, and holders are sanguine in their expectation of an advance. Cotton.-Prices have experienced a small improvement; and, although little business has been done last week, holders will not submit to a depression to facilitate sales. Rum.-Little business has been done since our last, and prices are merely nominal; but purchases may be made a shade lower. Tobacco.-There have been considerable sales lately; the prices are improving, and the reports of the Continental markets are also more favourable, though still below the currency of London. The imports this season have been considerably less than had been generally anticipated. Tea.At the India sale, which is expected to close towards the end of the week, Boheas have soid 4d. per lb. above the last sale prices; Congos are going off 2d. to 3d. per lb. higher. Oil.The prices of Greenland are again lower; a public sale of 64 tons of fine American sperm went off at L. 113, 10s. to L. 115, 10s. EUROPEAN PRODUCE.-Hemp, Flax, and Tallow.-The prices of tallow fluctuate greatly on account of expected arrivals. Prices for parcels in hand, Is. to 2s. lower; for parcels expected soon to arrive, Is. to 2s. higher. Brandy and Geneva-have remained nearly stationary; some inferior parcels of Cogniac have been sold at a small reduction.-March 10. Course of Exchange, London, March 13.-Amsterdam, 36: 10 B. 2 U. Ditto at sight, 36: 4. Rotterdam, 11:7: 2 U. Antwerp, 11: 9 Ex. M. Agio of the Bank on Holland, 2. Hamburgh, 34: 0:24 U. Altona, 34: 1: 24 U. Paris, 3 days sight, 24: 5 U. Bourdeaux, 24: 25. Frankfort on the Maine, 142: Ex. M. Madrid, 39 effective. Cadiz, 39 effective. Gibraltar, 35. Leghorn, 513. Lisbon, 584. Rio Janeiro, 67. Dublin, 8 per cent. Cork, 9. Prices of Gold and Silver, per oz.-Portugal gold, in coin, L. 4:16. Foreign gold, in bars, L. 4: 1: 6. New Dollars, L. 0:5: 5. Silver in bars, standard, L. 0:5: 4. T Premiums of Insurance at Lloyd's.-Guernsey or Jersey, 20s.-Cork or Dublin, 20s. a 258. Belfast, 25s. Hamburgh, 20s. a 25s. Madeira, 20s. Jamaica, 35s. a 40s. Greenland, out and home, Weekly Prices of the Public Funds, from February 18 to March 11, 1818. |