COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 10, 15 March 1866, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The following is Mr. Harthill's Tobacco Circular, dated New York, December 2 : — "' Considering the season of'the year, the gross amount of business done has been large, although the market has ruled quiet, when compared with the past few months. The receipts of southern manufactured tobaccoes have been about 13,600 packages— comprising 6,200 packages direct from Virginia, and 7,400 via Baltimore— as atrainst 19,000 the previous month. The export trade for the month has been light, as compared with last month, being 2,054 boxes from New York, as against B,SOO in October. The eastern home-trade has fallen off considerably, as it generally does towards the end of the year ; but with liberal shipments to southern ports, a full average month's business for home consumption has been made up. One of the most important events ot the month was by the sale by auction of 1,947 packages of Virginia tobacco on Government account, which, until it took place, held the market in abeyance. Of those sold 1,219 boxes consisted of black pounds, which had been put up for the Confederate Government, made of fair stock, but having no sweetening, and being box and seam moulded, were held to be very undesirable tobaccoes for general consumption. The first lot of 50 boxes j sold realised 21 1 cents in gold, which was considered . by the trade as" a good price, Judging, however, from the remarks of the Government agent at the sale, he thought otherwise ; and, notwithstanding some observations made by him with the view of stimulating higher figures, "accompanied by a threat to stop the sale unless higher figures could be obtained (which only provoked the laughter of the audience), prices gradually became lower instead pf higher, and subsequent lots sold down to 1 8| cents i: 1 gold — the average price of the entire line being barely 20 cents in gold. 41 S boxes bright pounds, of IS different brands, formed the next largest lots offered, and being all more or less out of order, sold at from 15 cents to 38 cents, gold; 355 boxes of tens, very much out of order, sold at from \2-\ cents to 14 cents, gold. The attendance of buyers was large ; and although the bidding was by no means spirited, the general impression was that tlie tobaccoes sold for all they were worth, and the result of the sale was to strengthen the market rather than otherwise. "