The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-31 00:00:00

MARKETS.

COTTON.—LirmooL, I)ec. D.—The trade have pi,.
shaved freely to-day, enabling holders to recover the
decline of yesterday. Estimated sales to-day 20,000 bales,
includiag 3,000 speculation and expert. 7,000 America%
140. to 160. ; 1,000 Pernam, ke., 14d. to 104 d. ; 500
Mantic, end Bahia, 13d. to 14g. ; 800 Egyptian, 17d. to
'od. ; 200 Smyrna, 120. to 141 d. ; 19,500 Surat, Nil.
to 130. ; Madras, 1140. to 12d. ; Bengal, ode, ke.,
aid.te ; China, 104 d.

COTTON GOODS. —llAxcerrese, Dec. The
market is quiet to-day, and very little business has been
done. The excess in cotton at Liverpool over the estimate
took the market by surprise yesterday, but it does not
cancel previous engagements. Buyers, after pursuing a
very cautious policy over months past, were drawn ling
a
little incautiousness by the excitement its the cotton
market from the supposed great diminution of stock. The
coretcquencc was that, though some of the heaviest buyers
of cloth here for India continued to hold aloof, an amount
of business was done which cleared off in some cases, and
relieved in others, the stockswhich had been accumulating ,
for some time. In more than a few instances orders had '
been placed for future delivery. Now that 100.000 bales
more of cotton than were expected have been discovered
at Liverpool, prices do not go hack immediately, either for
yarn or cloth, to former depressed rates. Producers of
such goods feel themselves in a better position from the
sales they have made and the orders booked, and are show-
ing. a good deal of firmness. This is the case with water
twist, and Bolton yarns which remain steady. hells
mule and twist and plumps for the home trade are easier,
say by shout 44. per lb. In cloth some kinds of shirting'
d printers awe weaker, hut jacconets and mulls are
statdy, as are also the heavier classes of domestics and
, T
cloths.

WOOL AND WORSTED.—BRA Deo RD, Dgc. 20. —There
has been very little business done in the worsted trade
during the past week, the Christmas holidays and the
usually dull period at the close of the year having tended
to restrict operations to the utmost. The quantity of
wool wh;cli has changed bands has been very small. But
there is little desire on the part of woolstaplers to sell.
They seem to have the greatest confidence in prices,
which are extremely firm, with a hardening tendency.
The wools chiefly in demand, especially lustre hogs, are a
fraction dearer. In worsted yarns there has been the
same inactivity. Spinners, however, continue well em-
ployed on old contract'. The export trade has been less
active than of late. The new business done for home and
export was very small. Spinners have sought higher
rates, without much Pieces'. The piece trade has been
most active in the French and German branches. The
business doing for home and America is very meagre.
Prioes arc steadily maintained.

WOOLLEN.—Ltrui, Dec. 29.—The markets this
morning have varied little from those of Wednesday, the
appearance of holiday having pervaded both cloth halls.
The coloured market has been thinly attended both by
manufacturers and merchants, and few tran-actions bare
takea plain beyond the Mandel of a limited numberof blue
grey tweeds for next season's account. The business done
in other fabrics has been merely nominal. There have
been few inquiries in the white hall for hairlists, and the
attendance in this market has also been limited. There
has not been any alteration in prices.

HARDWARE.—IITRYIWCRAII, toEc. 29.—business has
been suspended at most of the manufactories here this
week, and repairs, stock taking, kc., will occupy yet a
few days longer. As a rule, the manufacturers have few
orders on their books, so that mar,' of them will he in no
hurry to resume, and as the factors' travellers will not go
on their journeys for another fortnight, there will be only
a moderate amount doing for the next two or three weeks.
The advance of 51. per ton in the price of copper has been
followed by a corresponding rise in the price of rolled
metal.

CORN.—CAstnatnoz, Dar. V.—Onr market MME thout
any change in prices from last week. Wheat,. to liOs.
Barley, 40s. to 50s. Beans, 425. to 52a. Oats. its.