The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

FRANCE.

A projected rising at Lyons mentioned some
days ago, has been prevented by a military demons-
tration. On the 20th, the day fixed for the revolt;
all the troops were out, and the revolutionists see-
ing the hopelessness of success, abandoned their
intention. Several arrests have been made, and
the government has obtained possession of a roe•
resdondence, sheaving that the plan. was concerted
by one of Llie refugee committees in London.
The journals announce the death, at Tulle, of
General Hugo, the uncle of Victor Hugo and
Count Abel Hugo, the well-known statistician and
historian. The General was advanced in years.

THE MANCHESTER TRADE.

The following extracts from the monthly circular
of oue of the most eminent mercantile houses in
Manchester will be read with interest :

Our market had relapsed into a dull and inanimate staje
when we issued our last circular from the somewhat im-

proved tone which a week previously it had exhibited, and
during the interval which has since elapsed the same features
have shown, but with partial indications of improvement
from time to time, which, after making their appearance,
have in a few days been again dissipated ; still they have,
on the whole, tended to the strength of prices in our market,
and in some cases even to a higher point being established
for some articles the most in demand, or of which the con-

tinuance of strikes, or otherwise diminished production, has
kept our market ill supplied.
Thus, whilst 7-Bth printers, 9-Bths madapollams of middle
qualities, T cloths, and ordinary to medium qualities of
9-Bths shirtings have remained either stationary in price or
tending to a lower point, and whilst longcloths, low mada-
pollams, and 34in. to 36in. 60 reed printers and shirtings
have rather receded in value, there has been
a decided improvement in the price, and a con-
siderably increased facility in the sale of most descrip-
tions of yarns and goods suitable for shipment to India, and
at length this week China shirtings have found ready buyers,
and many of the stocks which had weighed as an incubus on
the market have changed hands. We quote, consequently,
39-40iu. 8 to 11 pick shirtings lid to 2d per piece dearer ;
China shirtings 3d per piece advanced ; figured shirtings 3d
per piece higher; and jacconets also id to lid per piece
above last month's rates. There has been more animation
also in the demand for domestics, in anticipation of the
wants of the home trade, taking advantage of which, and of
their sales, some manufacturers have raised their prices
1-16 d to per yard. In these goods, however, consider-
able irregularity exists.
There are no newfeatures of moment which have developed
themselves since our last which require notice, as bearing
on the future course of business in our market. The weather
has continued fine and seasonable ' • and it is understood
that the breadth of ground sown with wheat is now gre.*..
;than it has been for many years past, which is a fact of
great importance, in relation to the prospects of our next
harvest. lint of lime influence, as affecting the aetn.l
state of the grain markets at present. They gave way a
little further some weeks ago, but of late they have begun
to advance decidedly again, and the present price of wheat
is nearly the double of what it was a twelvemonth ago.
Should this high state of prices be maintained, as most
probably it will be for several months to come, the increased
cost of living must be sensibly felt by the general operative
body throughout the kingdom, and of other classes above
them in the social scale. And as a result it cannot be an-
ticipated that so large a production of manufactures can find
consumption, so that the employers' " short time" move-
ment, in these districts, is most prudential.
To the same end, namely, of curtailed demand for manu-
factures, do the present disagreements betwixt the work-
people and the employers of labour greatly contribute. At
the present time the amount of wages paid by spinners and
manufacturers cannotbe withinls per cent. of what is custom-
ary when the factories are all at work, and on full time.
The Preston strike continues with unabated vigour, and
probably may do for months to come, unless trade improves
more rapidly than can reasonably be looked for, or the weekly
support which the Preston operatives receive from sympa-
thisers throughout the kingdom be withdrawn. At Burnley
and Bacup the operatives have accepted the reduced wages
offered by the masters, and work has been resumed four days
per week. Ashton, Hyde, Stalybridge, Glossop, and the
contiguous districts, have gone also to four days per week :
and Stockport has followed the same course.
Then again, the prospects of a general European war are
more than ever imminent, and the impression is very strong
in well-informed quartets, that unless some unforeseen and
unexpected turn of a favorable nature takes place, peace can-
not much longer be preserved. It is now known that the
English and Franch fleets have left Beicos bay, for the Black
Sea, and Sebastopol is surmised to be their destination. A
few weeks more will probably end the first great ant in this
eventful drama.

With such influences as these, coupled as they are with
some ministerial changes of no small importance,•which have
unexpectedly added another element of complication, it
would scarcely be looked for that confidence should be firmly
re-established. Hence the immediate relapse of feeling after
each manifestation of improvement which has shown itself.
Still, on the whole, our market has rather gained than lost
ground during the month. The diminished supply of goods
has begun to be sensibly felt in some departments "of our
market, and the probability of their manufacture continuing
to be interfered with, has caused buyers to act with spirit,
and for India fabrics many contracts have been given out,
extending over the next three or four months' production of
certain articles. No doubt the improved accounts from India
by the later mails have been auxiliary to this, and latterly
a brighter expectation seems to have become general of the
prospects of even the China markets.

From Australia accounts have been far more satisfactory
than previously looked for, and as largo remittances of gold
continue to pour in weekly, it is naturally to be expected
that increased shipments will again be made outwards.
The firm position of the cotton market has also exerted
no inconsiderable influence in sustaining our market. Des-
pite the diminishing consumption, cotton maintains its price,
or rather tends upwards for middle and good qualities. It
is only low grades that show any weakness, and:they not to
any important extent. The prospects for the next year are
for an ample supply, though, it is said, of inferior quality.
It is, however, late in coming to the ports, which delay is
favourable to the maintenance of prices on this side, and
also in the transatlantic markets.