The Express.
London, England, 1855-12-31 00:00:00

STAFFORDSHIRE.

BIRMINGHAM, BATuartAT.
The following feels relating to the state of the trade in
this town and the district fur the plot year are from the
Birmingham Journal of this morning :
The principal feature to be noticed in connexion with the trade of
the town has been the remarkable ate:idiom which has marked the
bums trade. Though the prices of metals have been and still are
high, there have been Lone of the fluotuatime which base a ten-
dency so seriously to disturb trade, and did ea between two
and three years since, when the manufacturers had an immerse
pressure of orders (In some instances four or five months'
accumulation), yet the varying price of metals cared bust-
nem to be oondected with more hazard, and In all probability
less peolitably than it has been this year. In respect of the staple
trades there has been, upon the whole, very little cause for complaint.
Three rears ego the jewellery trade, and especially the gold chain mas
nufacture, wee brisker than at had ever been known to be. Ilesenley
that subsided end there have been c..usea since to Increase the dot-
now; but all the principal factors and merchants who are engaged in
that branch report that there has been, and still is, a very steady
trade doing in jewellery and fancy °mamma morally. The
greatest drawback on the trade of the tem this year has been the
fall-eff in the Australian orders; and this it is which Ms mare
than anything affected the jewellery trades ; but the detains
it no more than might be expected, atter the realm manner
in which • colony with a population of • :ow hundred thousands
was glutted nth manufactures to the value of mildew of
pounduterling. Some time must evidently elapse before the Ans.
ualian trade revives ; but at present there are Loge orders in for
spades. shovels, and edge tools, indeed for all articles of that kind
suitable to the requirements of the colony. We have noticed the gar.
prelim manner in which trade has kept up in the face of ha high
pries of materials. As an instance of this we may cite hollow and tin
wares Ern those engaged in the trade are unable to account foe
this; because, apart brow government smarm:lls, :here base been very
large gauntry ceders, though the present price of the tin used Is toot.
(with • probability of an advance), the average prim being about kb,
sad it has been ea low es 101. per ton. 'that tome manufactories bass
been poorly off tor ceders we do not doubt ; these are exceptional
eases, such as will at all Grace occur; but that the home
trade leas been steadier, Is healthier sad has been more
profitably carried on this year thin it has been foe
many years we see no reason whatever to doubt; it is
equally certain that it is brisker now than it usually is at this period.
The export trade, so his as the Board of Trade returns indicate, has
undoubtedly declined. There has been the fall off in the Australian
trade. Perhaps, upon the whole, the United states trade bar been
not quite so lup as usual. The fall orders, perhaps, were not mite
so large as was expected, but they have emu in very tartly of late,
and upon the whole it has sot been • bad year. Oar trade with
South America is undoubtedly improving. do with tweet to integral
pontos of that trade, the East Indian and the blediterranem omens
ham bee soestderable. The German trade, and a very beggarly
trade It is, has undoubtedly fallen off. The West India trade for
this year has been quite up to the average; as regards Cuba
especially Mere has been no cause for complaint. Beninese
with JIII2StOS has undoubtedly been dull enough, the in-
evitable consequence of Mites out of cultivation or partly
cultivated, and building operations altogether in shame.
It to a fact that there are conidearable orders already oat for the next
quarter; that In some instances the merchants have a difficulty in
getting their ordere executed ; and it ia no bed sign when men who
work out for menutecturers kt.ve plenty to do, whim is the case at
the present time. There is every prospect of the spring trade with
America being undue in some of the States the growers have two
crops on hand, the feeders to the waters of the Mississippi having
been to bate, supplied that there have been no means of transport for
the produce. Railways already in course of coney mum will remedy
this min and tend very materially to increase trade. Al: things con.
skered, Me prospects of trade for 1850 are by no means unfamarsbis,
seism peculiarly adverse eireamstanece occur to cripple our internal
ty.
That the iron trade should be in the promerdas condition it now is,
la the hoe of the shacks it haeeedured le the ramie of the sea is a
remarkable evioleme of the vitality of that great branched oar national
kettotry. The quarterly meetings MWe trade In January last were
Ike dulled we remember to have witnessed for several years the
Awoken orders were scanty, and the country trade dull ; the ;malt
wee a redaction a fromßle. to Me. per ten on skeet all kinds .1
gesendactured nen ; by the end of March the demand had mill far.
km declined; in April the district was disturbed by the sol-
i Sere mime, and badness wee almost entirely suspended.
Mills and forges were at • stand; femme were blown
net se rapidly that at me time the number in blast
knead% [Rambled,* and East Woreseterktre did not exceed ninety.
At the quarterly meetings la April the trade was Is a state ot panic ;
pig iron, which six months previously bad sold far U. 10a. per too,
I sow found purchasers with difficulty at from 50s. to has.; the come-
, quenee of tarrying en trade without capital soon developed itself'
me Silures which lollowed in such rapid sucesesion in the menthe of
May and June filled every bushier man in the district with anxiety
and alarm. Ever singe the month of August the trade has been ice.
peeving; before that time many of the worts wore again is operation;
orders began to some in rapidly, and in the month of October the
price of manufactured iron was fixed at the price at which it now
stands. Ihe trade hes been healthy for the last four or five smiths,
berm there has been a legitimatesmak foe whateter has beernma-
teak ; and the trade Is in a temsder and more natural state. became
these who manly eoutributed latrine about the difficulties of r he early
part of the year are no longer in • position todomiabist. For the last
two oe three months there has been • complete abeam of ex-
Mike macs of any hind iu the district; all the works bays been in
felloperatien, labour Is fully employed, and in some instances It is in
demend ; all kinds of manufactured iron are in request, and for plates
reptailly there is a probability of increased eoesumption. time the
esseißeMeMent of the present quarter there has been amen cheerful
le=smaelpt the trade; and although the high rates of diteount
Uhl to bare affected • trade carried on chiefly by four sleuths'
Wet op in the present time this difficulty has not been sufficient to
elteekbeimin to say materials:stmt.
The coal trade bas been in 'remarkably prosperous date for many
deaths, and se it remains. The colliers are all at week and the
district is altogether tree from all disputes between employers and
the employed.
The manulacturing trades of the district bam in some icstanoes suf-
fered from depression at various periods In the course o: the year;
but this has not prevailed to any serious 'Meat, and the last three or
four mouths there has been a decided improvement. The glass
trade in the ndektourbood of litembridge hes suffered rather
considerably ; bat the seceunts have been haw of late. Like the
tows, the district trade has to some exert knelled by government
work. There ham been large °entracte for shells, and a great deal
has been done in saddler's 11063120 try. For astge.teole, elutes and
cables, tubes, and all kinds of saaebluery there has been • very fair
trade • foe some time these besmear have been rather heisk, so baths
Indlovi ware trade at West firemewtala dumb them ie nothing like
the activity in the isanufsetanag trades Mika exists be the Iron and
soel trades, but, so kens we eanlaara, the yeses warldng has been