The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-24 00:00:00

MARKETS.

COTTON.—LrregeooL, Dec. 22.—Market very lamely,
at yesterday's rates. Sales to-day 12,000 bales, including
4,000 speculation and export. 4,000 American, 1341. to
150. ; 400 Femme, &c., 140. to 160. ; 550 ?decal° and
1341. to 130. ; 350 raptian, 13d. to ; 6,600
Surat, 100. to 13d.; Madras, 110. to 'lid. ; Bengal,
Scinde ?sc., Bd. to 90. ; China, 90. to 101 d. ; 100 Peru,ls4l.

COTTON GOODS.-11mICASSTER, Die. 2.l.—The mar-
ket is quieter this morning. Most of the buyers had satis-
fied their wants during the last few days in anticipation of
the Christmas holidays, and the majority of both buyers
and sellers had turned their backs on business yester
d
ay
with the determination of giving themselves rap
to t
enjoyments of the season till the middle of next week—
some of them probably for a longerwilrizli than thaiy open
t. On
l'l'plaortda7ry imnetrhcehamnotarningandto look at letter'° irbPirct may
to hand, and the chief market day next week will be on
Friday. In yarns a rather considerable business has been
done during the week, and India mules have rather im•
proved in price. This has also been the case in water
twist and warps for the continent, but the demand appears
to havo been pretty fully satisfied. In home trade yarns
the demand appears not only to have cleared out stock
tent a
good deal, but to have placed spinners to some ex
under engagement for future delivery at prices ficl. per
not
lb.
higher than on this day week. Doubled yarns do
appear to have shared much in the improvement, except
some of the lower counts. Is cloth there has been more
business than of late, but it has not improved in price so as
to cover the extra cost of cotton and yarn. There has
been some improvement in demand for wide printers.
Some of the holders of skirtings have eased their stocks
considerably. The class of Bolton goods coming under the
name of counterpanes have gone off moderately well, the
orders which usually begin to come in at this season from
the home trade being of about the average bulk, while a
good deal has lately been doing for shipping—especially to
America. Prices of all cloths are nominally higher, but as
a rule sellers ha ve not realised more than the full rates of

WOOL AND WORSTED.—BRADVORD, Dgc. =—
The market on Monday opened with great quietness, and
little wool changed bands. A better feeling waspar
apent,
however, as the week advanced, and a steady business was
done iu most sorts of wool. There is great scarcity in
some sorts of wool, such as hogs and bog matching'', which
are most in request, and in these sorts the tendency of
prices is slightly in the upward direction. Country rates
are still in advance of those in this market, and staplers
find no inducement to replace. There has been less doing
in worsted yarns than for two or three weeks past. The
advanced rates sought by spinners have had a tendency to
restrict orders. Some purchases for shipment, however,
have been made, chiefly in single 40's for Russia, lustre
yarns of various counts, and twofold 40's. Carded and
genappe yarns have also been more in request. A steady
business has also been done for home consumption. There
has been rather more business done in pieces, particularly
in plain goods, both for home and foreign account. The
continental merchants are at present the best customers of
the manufacturer. In the home warehouses there is no
appreciable change for the better. Manufacturers, on
account of the advanced rates of wool and cotton, seek
higher prices, though they seldom succeed.

WOOLLEN. —LEEDS, DEC. 22.—There has been a
tolerably good market in the coloed hall this morning
for the advanced period of the year.ur Although the atten-
dance of buyers has not been large, there has nevertheless
been a moderate amount of business transacted in spring
fabrics, several parcels of thin meltons and tweeds in light
shades having changed hands, blue, claret, and puce
mixtures being the prevailing colours. The demand for
plain cloths has also been well sustained ; a few good
paled' of blue and wool-black clothe have met with pur-
chasers, and if we take into consideration the near ap-
proach of Christmas, the transactions in this market have
been of a satisfactory nature. There lias not been such
animation in the white hall ; although hairlists have been
in dium request, the baldness done has not been so ex-
tensive as in the coloured hall. Rates have not in any