The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-06 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

(From the Manchester Guardian, of this day.)

MANCHESTER, Jan. s.—The dullness which we had
to report on Tuesday continues unabated, and the week
is closing upon a small amount of business, both in yarns
and goods. The condition of most foreign markets
affords little encouragement to merchants to operate
in our productions ; and the home dealers see no-
thing in the immediate prospect before them to warrant
auy departure from the cautious policy they are pursu-
ing. The Greeks, who, as we have before pointed out,
have had a special trade to some extent created for them
by the war, find themselves restricted in their transac-
tions through the Government monopoly of the means of
transit, which caused a most serious accumulation of
cargoes in the ports of Liverpool and London. Under
these circumstances, not only are India goods showing
some deficiency of steadiness in price with an increase of
stock, but longcloths and T cloths are less in request
than they were, though unchanged in value.
BRADFORD, JAN. 4.—Wool—The same dullness we
have for some weeks recorded, continues in the demand
for combing wools. The consumption for worsted pur-
poses is very limited, and the price too high to induce
more extended operations. Yarns—With the opening
of the year the working short time is as stringently
carried out as ever. The quantity of unemployed ma-
chinery was never known to be so great, and the price
of yarns is so disproportionate to that of wool, that un-
lesii better prices can be realised for yarns, there is no
hope of an increased production. Pieces—The number
of lookers to-day is more than several weeks past, and
there is somewhat more confidence, with a belief that
goods have seen their lowest point, and that any change
may be expected to be for the better.
NOTTINGHAM, Jan. 4.—We cannot yet report an im-
provement. Although our own holidays are over, those
of Scotland and Lancashire have only commenced this
week.

LEICESTER, Jan. 4.—The present new year has found
the manufacturers more clear of stock than usual, and
further Government orders still keep the operatives in
employ.

WOOLLEN TRADE.

(Front the Leeds Mercury of this day.)

LEEDS; JAN. s.—The last market day in the Old year
and the first in the new year are seldom of much busi-
ness importance. They have been merely nominal mar-
kets this year. On both days there was only a very slight
attendance of merchants, and the business done was ex-
ceedingly light. The trade in the warehouses has been
very quiet this week. The general occupation is the
important one of ascertaining the result of last year's
trade.

There has been very little in the state of the woollen
trade during the last year that calls for special retrospec-
tive remark. From the commencement of the year until
the middle of November a good and steady trade was
generally done. The home market furnished the prin-
cipal demand. Early in the year it was evident that
both the Australian, the-American, and Canada markets
were well supplied, and hence the shipping trade has
been dull throughout most of the year. But notwith
standing this, the prosperous state of the country at the
commencement of 1854 has been quite sufficient to keep
up a steady and healthy trade throughout the woollen
district. It has not been so large as the trade in 1853,
but it has been done on an equally sound basis, and
hence there have been very few bad debts made hitherto
in Leeds. The most important failure in which Leeds is
involved is Messrs. Swain and Webb; of Huddersfield,
and, with one exception, the debts owing in Leeds are
not heavy, bearing in mind the position of the parties
affected. A meeting of the creditors of Messrs. Swain
and Webbs was held at Huddersfield on Tuesday, when
it was agreed to wind up the estate under an assignment-
The balance-sheet shows that there are debts owing to
creditors, 127,6191. 17s. 10d. ; less securities held by
them, 9,522/. Bs. ; total, 118,0971. 9s. 10d. The
assets are as follows :—la Huddersfield, 31,0301. 9s.
6d. ; in Melbourne, 32,8121. 6s. 10d. ; in Sydney,
34,0771. 18s. 4d. ; total, 97,920/. 14s. Bd., leaving
a deficiency of 20,1761. 155. 2d. The impression of the
meeting was that with time and care a moderate divi-
dend might be paid out of the estate.
The trade at the present time throughout the woollen
district may be considered in a satisfactory state. The
mills are generally in good work. Most of them are
running nearly full time, and the working classes are in
fair employment. But we believe the manufacturers are
acting very cautiously, watching the course of passing
events, and regulating their operations accordingly.
Prices throughout the year have been on the whole
steady. The stock of cloth in the market is at present
rather on the increase.
There can be no doubt that the war has to some ex-
tent contributed to keep up the woollen trade ; in the
districts of Stanningley, Heckmondwicke, Batley, Go-
mersall, &c., considerable employment has been given
in the manufacture of army clothing ; and as there are
some large contracts advertised, the probabilities are
that some activity may continue in this branch of the
trade. But while the price of corn and other provisions
are at a very high rate, and the principal foreign mar-
kets are glutted with our manufactures, and otherwise
deranged, the prospects of the trade cannot possibly be
either good or cheering. The general anticipation is
that we nay have a moderate trade during the year, but
it will probably be one of great uncertainty, and subject
to many casualties.

HUDDERSFIELD, .Tan. 2.—The market for the opening
of the year was a slight improvement upon its prede-
cessor. A few streaks of light passed through the gloom,
but there is nothing to report as very radiant yet. We
hope the prospect will brighten. The effects of the
Australian business is felt severely among the smaller
class of manufacturers.
ROCHDALE, -an. I.—We have had but few buyers in
the market to-day, which is generally the case en the
Monday between Christmas day and the new market,
which will be this year on the Bth inst. Those who have
attended appeared more intent on settling Christmas
accounts than buying and selling.. In pieces as well as
wool the market has been inactive, with prices much the
same as those of the preceding week.
HALIFAX, Dec. 30.—To•day has been a kind of no
market, and we are unable to add anything in the way
of information to what we communicated to the public
in our last report of the trade of this place.

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

( From th,e Mining Journal of this day. )

_ .
MINES.-There has been a good demand this week
for dividend shares, and advanced prices have been
offered in many cases, without sellers being found.
In progressive mines, also, a good business
has been transacted, the tone of the market
generally being decidedly better, and might still
further be improved, if many of the calling mines with.
out prospects to justify a greater outlay, were suspended.
Devon Great Consols, 3701. to 3751. ; South Caradon,
3101. to 3201., buyers ; South Frances in demand,
at 2651. to 2751. ; Bullers have advanced from 5701.
to 6001. ; the mine has improved in one or two
levels, and it is expected tile dividends for the
future will be 251. per share every two months. Basset,
5401. to 5601. ; West Basset. 31/. ; North Basset,
181. ; South Tamar, 71. ; South Tolgus, 801. to 901., and
large transactions have taken place ; Stray Park,
31. ; Mill Pool, 2/. 12s. 66. to 2/. 178. 6d, ; Trefusis,
41. 10s. to Si. ; Copper Hill, 551. to 601. ; Bryntail,
4/. 10s. to 51. ; Gonamena, 101. I@s. to 11/. Os. ;
North Crofty, Si. 10s. to 91. ; Tremayne, 3L 103. to 3/.
15s. ; East Gunnis Lake, 1/. 7s. 6d. to I/. lOs ; Crad-
dock Moor, 121. to 13/. ; Vale of Towy, Is. 6d. t• 10s. ;
West Providence, 211. to 231. ; Sortridge Consols have
declined to 11. 7s. 6d. to 11. les., with a dull market.

TERRIBLE SCENE AT A. BALL.-At Madrid, a few nights
back, a lady gave a ball, and amongst the guests were a
M. R- and Mdlle. It was observed that the
young man constantly kept close to the young lady, and
followed her when she went from one part of the room
to another. It was also noticed that she seemed greatly
annoyed by his attentions. The mother of the young
lady wished to interfere, but the mistress of the house,
anxious to avoid an unpleasant scene, prevented her.
At a late hour a lady of high rank and her daughters
were announced, and the whole party rose to receive
them. M. R , taking advantage of the slight confu-
sion which this created, seized Mdlle. B-by the
hand, and whispered something in her ear. She turned
pale, then blushed, and replied in a low voice. There-
upon, the young man, without saying a word, pulled a
poignard from his pocket, stabbed the young lady in
the breast, and then stabbed himself near the
heart. Both fell bathed in blood. A surgeon was im-
mediately sent for, and on his arrival he found that the
wound of the young lady was not mortal, as the poig-
nard had struck the sternum, but the young man was
quite dead. It is said that M. R--- had long sought
Mdlle. B-- in marriage, but that she had refused to
accept him, and that meeting her at the ball he had
again pressed her to accept his addresses, but that she
had again peremptorily refused.

MERCHANT SHIPPING Act--Under this important
act, passed during the last session of Parliament, it has
been found necessary to constitute a new office in the
Custom-house, but under the control of the Board, called
the Department of the Surveyor-General for Tonnage,
upon whom, assisted by a competent staff, will devolve
the duty of accurately ascertaining the exact tonnage of
every vessel belonging to, or trading with, this country.
—Civil Service Gazette.