The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-06 00:00:00

STATE OP TRADE.

MANCHESTER, Aug. 4.—There has been a better in-
quiry for 40-inch shirtings, but not a oonsiderable in-
crease of business. Much of this inquiry is no doubt
owing to the rather better advices by the last mail from
Calcutta. The great room there for the extension of
our markets in India is forcibly illustrated by the increase
of imports within a few years, the quantity of shirtings,
madapollams, jaeonets, and cambrics sent thither in the
last year, being 7,101,937 pieces, against 2,201,681 in
the year 1847-8. With a decrease, commencing this
week. in the production of these goods, equal to between
60,000 a-d 70,000 pieces per week, following diminished
shipments recently, there is much ground for hoping that
this great trade will omen right itself and manufacturers
realise more remunerative rates. In printing cloth a
moderate business, end domestics are going off in mode-
rate quantities, with prices barely maintained. In yarns
the demand for warps and cops is very limited, and
prices are rather in favour of buyers. For India quali-
ties of mule yarn from 30's upwards, there is rather more
business, and prices are steadier.
BIRMINGHAM, Aug. 4.—The iron trade of the district
during the past week has maintained its improved posi-
tion, and orders are said to carne in satisfactorily. There
has, however, teem no alteration in prices. Ironstone is
advancing in price on account of its scarcity. The fac-
tors repre- wit the country trade as improving, and more
particularly the demand for Birmingham goods is encou-
raging. Forges and heavy iron hardware are in request,
but hi-ass f eindry of all descriptions, if we except articles
required for the colonial markets, is extremely dul'.
Some founders have little to do, and others are not
working inure than half time. Electro-plating as well as
the tin-plate business is unusually slack. Bat although
these departments of manufacture continue depressed,
there are others in a state of considerable activity.
The railway carriage business, considering the few new
railways projectel, is extraordinarily active, and consi-
derable foreign orders are in hand for all parts of the
world. During the week deputations of merchants from
Bristol, Bradford, Worcester, the Potteries, &c., have
met in conference in Birmingham for the purpose of con-
sidering the propriety of establishing an agency in Lon-
don, through which all the proceedings of provincial
chambers of commerce relating to bills before Parliament
shall be more effectually directed. The deputations
present approved the proposal, and they were desired to
confer with the members of their respective chambers of
commerce at another meeting upon the subject.
NOTTINGHAM, Aug. 4.—The extent of business done
this week in the hosiery warehouses varies very little
from the amount transacted in each of the three or four
weeks previously. Prices of yarns continue firm at the
rates of last week. In the lace market there is but a
moderate amount of activity. The retail trades of the
town are just now very dull.
LEICESTER, Aug. 4.---The contracts for the Govern-
ment keep the hosiery trade tolerably brisk. There is,
however, not much demand for goods for home consump-
tion, and, contrasted with firmer years, there is by no
means an average amount of business doing. Still, in
some departments, trade may be said to be brisk. A
good deal is doing in the woollen shirt branoh. At Lei-
cester some of the hands are on strike. The worsted

mills are tolerably employed. Lambs' wool yarns (used,
in the woollen shirt trade) are in demand. There is not
much doing in the wool market, manufacturers being
pretty well supplied.
LEEDS, Aug. 4.—The opening markets for the pre-
sent month in the two cloth-halls of this town today
have been of a satisfactory character. There has been a
fair average business done, and the stock in the White-
hall is very low, while that In the Coloured-hall is also
in a smaller compa.4s than it bas often been at this sea-
son at the year. The demand is rather increasing for
_
the stouter kinds of cloth of moderate quality, but small
quantities of various tweeds and mixtures con
tin
purchased. The wool trade is steady, but prz
flash
of colonial and home grown, are not quite so 11 rb
oteeottho
they were.
nOt recapitulate, business continues sluggishrou
th ghout this
and a succession of broken weather
DUBLIN, Aug. 3.—Owing to causes
week was not calculated to impart a brlskness to any
branch of trade.
wbiehio weour
oniteyed;

-----
LAUNCII.—A very interesting launch took place at
Liverpool last week, the North Lancashire Steam Na,i.
nrntlhere week •
gation Company having completed another of their yes-
tuhebetepeeenlise
sels, which are remarkable for fortheir qualities as good
former
loitended to launched has been named
run alongside the steamers, which is Fleetwood
cabs,
to railway travellers, and 'avoidsru
and Belfast, and will complete for the present the ar-
rangement fora daily communication between
and Ireland. The vessels leave both England
. way carriages
Fleetwood and
with the exception of
sts
Belfastthe Patrick.
d beats.aytri every
ekn
rd.
y TheaSeveningvesselei n
port the rag
a great convenience
porters, &c.—a system of toll which is attended with
some annoyance, and adds '
expenses. ln some instances to railway