The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-19 00:00:00

STEVENS and SONS beg to call attention to
their euperlor !MOCK of WINES and SEIBITS.—Ports
from the wood, 275., , ssa, 43. per dozen : crusted, :et,
54.. Whi., Ode. hherrtes. Era. 3b., Sea : very superior, 421.. 4E4,
n4a, flOs. Marsala. the Sweet, : Clarets, Hs., 20a, Ws..
sly.: chntee growths, yes.. e 2,.. and upwards. Bread', awed
Creiner. We., tie. per gallon very old pale ditto, Vs., 30e. Bum
Ohl JADOALCS, 114. 44.. . very choice proof. 17s, per gallon •
whisk( y,lits. and 20e. English idn. 9s. ed., 10s. sl., lle. . best
and larblllet. lk 4d per cash.-79, Bishops.
gateetrest Within. MehMbed 60 Teem

MR. CHARLES PAGE? Ar NOTTINGHAM.

Charles Paget, M. P., at the meeting of t he Mer-
chant and Traders' Association at Nottingham,on Thursday,
in proposing the toast of "Prosperity to the town and
trade of Nottingham" said :—" It is natural on an con-
eon like the present, when on. twelve month has passed
since a meeting of a similar kind, that we should take •
review of what were our views sad prospects at that time
and compare them with what has been the state of the
town of Nottingham and the country in general since that
period. I think I can say that when we look at oar
anticipations at that time, we must say that the year
that has passed over us has passed with less difficulty and
lees suffering than we, moat of us, expected, and rea-
sonably expected also. The affairs of the world were
thee dark, sad they still retain the same deep and sombre
colour. Therms war which we all so much regret is still
raging in America, and as far as we cao judge, with no nearer
prospect than then existed for its termination. The honzon
of Europe is still mere troubled than it was in the former
year. bat I treat that the same gracious Providence which
has directed our affairs through this year will be with us
is the future, and will share in the extreme sufferings
which might have to ne endured should this ostion be
plunged into war. (Hear.) I see around me so many
gentlemen of both political parties that it is but mere
common good taste that I should refrain from any topic
likely to excite any party feeling whatever, but I think we
all, Lord Derby as well u the whole of the liberal party,
agree that our foreign policy has been directed wisely sod
successfully, end has been attended with the roaintepanee
of peace, and I trust that Lord Palmerston, who throughout
his hug life has shown how much he values peace as well
as the maintenance of the honour of the country, will
continue to preserve our pacific relations. The great duff;
cults which has been felt in the trade of this country has
bees the want of thestipply of raw material for the manu-
facture of cloth. Now exertions are being made is all
parts of the world to supply that want, and with great
success, to obtain a supply of cotton from other places than
America ; and, therefore, it is to be hoped that the present
high prices will decrease still more rapidly. (Hear,
bear.) I carnet but look upon this as one of
the beuetits of this awfal trial to which human
nature has been subjected, as I think that one beneficial
result will be that the world will not be dependent ou one
country alone for the supply of as article of such general
want as cotton. It must strike any one with surprise that
this country in its general prosperity his not suffered
more eon it has done. I find the revenue is unimpaired,
that the exports of the country have rather increased than
diminished ; but I think that we cannot hod an explains-
tire for tbia in the way that some public writers do, because
the eoormons enhancement of the price of the raw material
has made such a difference is the value of the article that
I believe the export of two thirds of the amount of menu-
featured goods in general clothing would reach to as high •
moue amount as the whole quantity did before, and,
therefore, although the exports from this country have
been equal to what they were before, they have sot pro-
duced the same employment for the people, or the same
profit for the meoulacturer. (Hear, hear.) But still, not-
withstanding that, and perhaps partly in consequence of
the bounteous harvest, which, beyond all precedent, I he.
here is the most bounteous that this lend has ever bees
blessed with, the sufferings of this country have bees miti-
gated. We find that the railway traffic hasinereased during
the past twelve months. The large quantity of awe which
has been sent from the rural districts to the great seats of
manufacture and population was one of the causes of this
increase, and this can has been consumed instead of °ors
having been imported from abroad. But still I think that
there is a margin left to show that the country has not, on
the whole, suffered in any degree so much as we might have
expected it would, and I trust that the supplies of cotton
which we have got from other countries than America may
Morose, and that the trade of Nottingham may Jerome
with it is my most earnest desire. I believe that the very
fart of the considerable enhancement is price to which I
have alluded prevents customers from coming forward,
makes them hold off as long as they possibly can, and that
the stock in the shops of the retailers must be very nista-
rielly brought down before they will come to the maeufac-
curers for • fresh supply. Bat that is in its nature thee.
table, and as those stacks are sow in a great measure ex-
hausted, the retailers are now applying to manufactures to
replenish their stores, and I trust that in the cominisity
here we shall have more employment for the workmen,
and that our manufacturers will have more customers.
(Hear, hear.) I beg to propose to you the town and trade
of Nottingham."