The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-24 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE,

MANCHESTER, March 22.—Oar recent reports of
this market have referred to the increasing imports
of cotton, and their probable influence on business
and prices. The arrivals already this week, com-
mencing with Friday, almost reach 60,000 bales.
Yesterday alone 35,600 bales reached Liverpool, and
these heavy arrivals, taken in conjunction with the
unfavourable commercial advices from Bombay and
Calcutta, have very seriously affected business: Our
yarn market has been very quiet to-day, with little
or no business in shipping descriptions. Spinners,
however, having' been placed well under contract
by the orders obtained during the sudden but
temporary improvement which took place in the
early part of last week, have shown no disposition
to press sales this morning. The market is
decidedly weaker, and to force sales sellers would
have had to take lower prices than they obtained
last week. In the coarser counts of home trade
descriptions prices are easier. In fine counts there
has been no change, but the market for all kinds is
flat. In the cloth market manufacturers say this is
the flattest day they have had for a very long time.
There has been not only an utter absence of busi-
ness, but a stronger apprehension as to the stability
of prices than they have hitherto been willing to
acknowledge. Buyers have not only abstained from
making any offers as to which there was the least
probability of acceptance. The cloth houses are not
quoting lower rates, but these quotations can only be
regarded as nominal. Fortunately, manufacturers
do not held lsrge stocks, and they are not very
pressing to make sales. Many people say that they
have really heard of no actual transactions today,
and that they believe, if their desire to sell was
ever so great, they would be unable to obtain offers
at anything like the prices they would feel disposed
to accept.

CARDIFF, 22d.—There is a large business doing
in both house and steam coal, and there is no lack
of employment at the collieries. An association
of the colliery proprietors has been formed in order
to oppose any unreasonable demands on the part of
the colliery. The iron market is firmer than was
the case last week, and quotations are better
maintained.

DUNDEE, 22c1,—Flax, tow, and cedilla have been
rather more inquired for to-day, but the actual
sales are not of great extent. Good and fine jute
is scarce here and wanted, full prices being paid
for suitable parcels, but common is still very dull.
Yarns of all kinds continue in active request,
and the tendency in prices upward, and many
spinners are greatly foresold. The inquiry
for linens is still excellent, but the fact that
the manufacturers have generally largely sold
in advance restrict transactions greatly. It is
now almost impossible to purchase goods for im-
mediate delivery at any price.
LEICESTER, 23d.—The hosiery trade is in most
branches improving, and a good amount of buEiness
is being transacted at the warehouses. The demand
for cotton goods is not active. %Vools are selling at
high rates, and continue in fair consumptive de-
mand. Yearns hold extremely firm, and very high
prices are realised.
NOTTINGHAM, 23d.—There is less doing in lace
goods generally. Nearly all departments are flat,
with the exception of silk Alechlins and silk quit.
lings. The cotton plain trade is extremely dull,
and the buyers of cotton goods are very sparing in
their orders. There is uo improvement whatever
in the demand for narrow silk edgings or black
laces. The hosiery trade is in a healthy state, and
a fair amount of business is doing both for shipping
and for the home market. The yarn-market is
firm, and material has an upward tendency.

MARKETS—This Day.