"American beef is far superior to Irish, and brings more money. The import of the latter is about 1000 tierces--of the former, 20,000 tierces. Irish pork stands higher than American, and the finest quality eastern will sell within 5s. per barrel of Irish. The import of Irish is about 3000 barrels--of American, 35,000 barrels." The following table will show the comparative prices of Irish and American produce:-- _Comparative Table of Prices of Irish and American Provisions at Liverpool, in December 1849._ Irish. American. Prime mess beef, per _s._ _s._ _s._ _d._ _s._ tierce, 304 lbs., 80 to 85 67 6 to 81 Prime mess pork, per barrel, 200 lbs., 62 to 66 34 0 to 60 Mess do., per do., 54 to 60 45 0 to 50 Bacon, per cwt., 45 to 48 30 0 to 32 Lard, per do., 38 to -- 33 6 to 34 These are figures which may well astound the boldest Free-trader; for they show that the provision trade is altogether passing from our hands. To those who regard the welfare of Great Britain, they furnish additional proof of the headlong rate of our decline. But we have yet other statements to make, for which, we are certain, no one was prepared, though the facts they disclose are the necessary consequence of such comparative prices as we have just given. _We believe that the British navy, which is victualled by contract, is at this moment supplied from foreign, and not British produce!_ We crave the special attention of the reader to the following letter from a gentleman residing in Dundee, who stands nearly at the head of the meat-curing business in Scotland. We have authority to give his name, if that should be considered necessary. His letter bears date 12th November 1849:-- "In reply to the queries put to me by you, as to the value, &c. of foreign provisions, I beg leave to hand you a statement of the difference of price of Scotch and American beef, calculating the Scotch beef at the present low price of 40s. per cwt., and the present price of my American prime mess beef at 87s. 6d. per tierce of 304 lbs., the quality of which is not inferior to the best Scotch beef. Present price of Scotch beef, from butcher, 40s. per cwt., or for 304 lbs., £5 8 6 Price of tierce, 5s. 6d.--expense of curing, 4s., 0 9 6 In leakage of weight. 0 7 6 Allowance of value between necks, shanks, and prime beef, 0 2 6 ________ Present price of one tierce Scotch beef, £6 8 0 Present price of my prime mess American beef, 4 7 6 ________ Difference, £2 0 6