The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-17 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Helena,
and attended by the Countess of Desart and Lord Alfred
Paget, ♦isited the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday
afternoon, at her residence, Gloucester House.

Prince Albert presided yesterday afternoon at a
meeting of the governors of the Wellington College.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured the Prin-
cess's Theatre with their presence in the evening. The
royal suite consisted of the Countess of Desart, Hon.
Matilda Paget, Lord de Tapley, Lord Alfred Paget, and
Captain the Hon. D. de Ros.
Mr. John Wood, chairman of the Board of Inland
Jilevenue, and Mr. Pressly, bad an interview with the
Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Sir Alexander
Spearman had also an interview with the right hon.
gentleman, at his residence in Downing street.
Despatches for the Governors of the North American
Provinces, and also for the Governors of the West India
Islands, were sent last evening from the Colonial-office. 3

STATE OF TRADE.

(From the Manchester Guardian of this day.)

MANCHESTER, Feb. 16.—The advices from Calcutta,
received since Tuesday have occasioned a little more in-
quiry for some descriptions of cloth and mule twist, but
not sufficient to exercise any favourable influence what-
ever upon prices. There is no change for the better in
printing cloths. Domestics continue very dull, and any
offers received by the makers are en slightly lower terms.
To the other causes of restricted business for Holland
and Germany, the enhanced cost of transit in conse-
quence of the rivers being frozen, has latterly been
added ; and the merchants connected with those
countries are consequently purchaing only for ne-
cessary assortments of stocks. There is an expectation
4ha wind chancres, +h. "”natia.llv larg4. gnarl-
tity of American cotton now on the sea, will certainly
afford us relief in an abatement of that relative dearness
which has so long pressed upon our trade.
NOTTINGHAM, Feb. 15.—Complete stagnation seems
to have set in upon the lace manufacture. With regard
to hosiery business similar complaints exist, though in
a minor degree, and without much restriction hitherto of
employment.
LEICESTER, Feb. 15.—Owing to the continued flatness
both of the London and country markets, manufactures
are further curtailing production, causing thereby great
distress and privation amongst the operatives.

WOOLLEN TRADE.

(From the Leeds Mercury of this day.)

LEEDS, Feb. 16.—There has been a slight improve-
ment in the market this week. Both on Saturday and
on Tuesday there was a better attendance of merchants
in the Cloth-halls, and more animation than we have had
lately.

Tfie trade in the warehouses continues flat. Very few
buyers have been in the town during the current week,
and while the present severe weather continues we d o
not expect any material alteraton for the better.
HunDERsmLD, Feb. 13.—There was a perceptible
improvement iu the market to-day, both in the Cloth-
hall and in the warehouses. We understand also that
some large army orders have been received by certain
houses which w ill afford relief in the present scarcity of
work.

BRADFORD, Feb. 15.—Except for some lots of wool
occasionally bought for clothing purposes, the trade still
wears the dullness we have had to report for a long time
past, The Elbe being still closed, our export merchants
ape disinclined to operate.
HALIFAX, Feb. 10.—The market here to-day has
shown extreme, dullness in almost every department.