Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-03 00:00:00

NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.

MANCHESTER TRADE

In their monthly circular, dated the Ist instant,
Messrs. Du Fay and_ Co., say :—ln our last report we
stated, that the liberal principles of trade, adopted by
this country in 1846, had zow been sufficiently tested
to induce neighbouring states, who carefully watched
England's progress, to adopt a similar course. We had
then not the least notion that France would so soon set
the example to the continental states, by proposing to
enter into a commercial treaty with this country ;
according to which raw materials, such as cotton and
wool, are to be admitted from the Ist of July
next free of duty; and, later on, iron at a duty
of £2 18s. per ton. Textile fabrics are to be admitted
at a duty of 30 per cent. on the value in eighteen
months hence. This country, on the other hand, admits
at once French wines and other articles at a consider-
able reduction of the existing duties. The present year
thus far bids fair to form an important epoch in the
commercial history of the two countries. Over-sanguine
people are speculating rather freely on the immediate
benefits of the contemplated change; however, its impor-
tance in a prospective point of view can scarcely be over-
rated. It is a gratifying feature in the present state of
things that the raw material (cotton) is likely to reach us in
sufficient quantity, for with. a consumption such as we
had last year, during which more American than East
Indian cotton has been consumed (by which process the
weekly consumption was rather diminished than in-
creased) it is of vital importance to receive plenty of
cotton. The consumption of this important staple was, dur-
ing 1859, in round numbers as follows :—Great Britain,
970,000,000 lbs.; the United States, 327,000,000 lbs.;
France, 222,000,000 lbs.; the rest of Europe, 3.52,000,000
lbs. And in Great Britain thirty millions of spindles, of
which about twenty-five millions are mule spindles,
have been required to reduce the raw cotton into yarn;
a large deduction in the total quantity of the former
must however be made for the various purposes for
which Cotton is used in its natural state, such as wad-
ding, &c. Manchester Market. —Yarn : The transac-
tions in Yarns have been rather considerable, and a rise of
prices has been the consequence. Some descriptions of
double mule and warps are contracted for some time to
come. Good qualities of Cotton, particularly long
stapled, are rather scarce and command full prices.
Warps are in good demand for Yorkshire and other
home markets. Manufactured Goods : A slight rise has
taken place in nearly all descriptions of goods, but it
has Been most considerable in 5-4th shirtings suitable
for India or China, which are 3d. to 6d. per piece higher
than last month. Stocks on hand of suitable makes
are not easily to be met with. 9-Bth shirtings
are I id. to 3d. per piece higher, while printers and
Madapollams have risen lid. per piece. The purchases
have been considerable, but latterly buyers have acted
with more caution. Long cloths continue in good
demand at an advance of lid. to 3d. per piece, while
domestics have also experienced an advancement in price
of about 1-16 d. to ii d. per yard. Jacconets have advancd
from ld. to 13d. per piece. The present rate of prices
is interfering in some measure with the purchases for
the nearer markets in Europe.