Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-31 00:00:00

ANNUAL WOOL CIRCULAR.

We beg, as usual at this season, to wait on you with a few brief
remarks on the course of our Jt'ool markat during the past twelve
months.

The year 1857 opened with very high prices, short stocks, and an
animated demand for all class s of Wools, and with prospects
apparently so favourable, as to induce a good deal of speculation,
notnithstandiag the grew: advarve in value which hod already tak, n
place, and the high rate of interest. The alteration then proje.cted in
the American tariff, an] inns adopted, admitting, duty free, Wools
the prime cost of which is below 10d per lh, tentled materially to
foster this state of things, and prices raneed far above an average of
years. Very large purchases were made during spr.ng and summer,
not only here, but in various foreign markets, with a view to supply
the Art. erican demand, which it afterwards appoared had been a good
deal over estimate]. As the cap time for home-grown Wools drew
near, a great deal of excitement prevailed, and prices advanced very
rapidly, Middle Wethers ultimately attained the maximum price of 19d
per lb, being higher than they have been known for more than
twenty years past. Scotch Breeds were equally In favour, and the
bast managed flocks of Laid Highland were sold at the dearest period
at I6s Gd per 24 Ins. The first symptoms of the American Cli/Si9,
which were felt about the beginning of October, exercised au
unfavourable influence ou our mark: t, and alt sough far some
time this was show more in a complete suspension of busiaese,
than in any sufden drop in prices, tha decilne since been very
decided. Wool forming no exception to the generality of pro Luce in
the deprecia,ion it has suffered. The stagnation in trade during the
last thr e months has ben severely felt, consumption and exports
having materially fallen off, stocks have accumulated, being incresed
by the return of the bulk of the purchases effected for American
account, exported during the summer months. For a time it ap-
peared as though the wool trade would escape the havoc occasioned
in other branches of commerce by th • severity of the monetary crisis.
but we regret to say that it has net terminated without some disa-ters
among the large ho:ders of wool, which may for a time prevent much
improvement, more particularly should the stocks of failed houses
be pressed on the market. Generally speaking hewever, the trade
Is sound, and manu'acturer n t being heavily stocked, are in a
better posiUoa to avail themselves of the reduction in vain of the
raw materiel than would otherwise havo been the case. The
suspension of shipments, which has been pretty general, as shown
by the late Board of Trade returns, must exercise a healthy is fluency
on foreign markets, and lead to a resumption of demand when
confidence returns.

A more than usual amount of Colonist Wools remained for sale in
this market during the past yt ar, and the Importers have had no
reason to complain of the prices obtained—the highest rates of the
seasoa having been realised here. In the commencement of the year,
prices of Austraiian Woos advanced very conaiderab.y, subse-
quently under the influence of a dissolution of parliament and other
adverse clrcumstances a dec'ine was experienced, and for same time
the market remained dull and inactive ; but the very thin harvest
weather and encouraging prospects, tocether with the extraordinary
Continental demand, led to a great improveresnit during the months
of August and September, which c .nunued uninterrupted by the
high rates of discount, until it becams evident that a severe
monetary crisis was at hand. Sin e that period prices have been
very irregular, the average decline from the tqp of the market being
equal to 25 per cant. We may here allude to a rather novel feature
in the Fele Wool trade, viz., the late importstions of United Stated
Native Grown Wools, which have not bean inconsiderable. These
Wools have mach to recommend them, both for combing and clothing
purposes, and have found ready buyers at proportionate rases to
Australian. Many of the samples would have found more favour if
better washed and less warty. It is many years since Native
Grown North American Wools have found their way here in quantity,
the production having been not more than saffieient for the con-
sumption of the United States,
he demard for Foreign Wools through the season has been much
above an average, from the heavy consumption in progress; but
those descriptions with length of staple, suitable for Carpet Yarn and
other carding purposes, have been the most in savour, and have
brought a greater proportionate advance. Blanket Wools have gone
off until recently with spirit, the consumption ►eeping pace with the
inn mations. Under the Influence of the monetary pressure, Long
Foreign Woe's have declined from 2d to 4d rer lb., and short alas sea
from lid to 2d per lb. ; great as the fall appears, however, the value
in many instances varies sery little from the quotations current in the
early part of 1856, while in fine Merino growths prices ate highernow
than at the sameperied of 1856,at which time there was a fair trade
going forward,
English, Irish, and Scotch Wools cammanded more attention than
usual, although the two former sold at excessive rates, szotch has
been relatively dearer than any class, and now feels the greatest
reduction. English and Irish Wools have suffered a decline of nearly
35 per cent. from the highest point attained in autumn, while Scotch
are even more depressed. PRIMINS & ROslN SON.

Lmcouv's INN —We understand that the Lord Justice
Turner will be tho Treasurer of Lincoln's Inn for the year
1858. The armo-ial bearings of the retiring treasurer, the
Vice Chanc. llor, S r J. Stuart, have already been added to
the :imilar Me in or ials which Pdorn the fine stained glair
window at the east end of the chapel, and of which there to
only room row for about half a &zap more.