The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-11 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS—Continued.
International Financial Society, lim., 91 1
Italian Irrigation (Canal Cavour),
Ditto, 6 per cent. Bonds, redem. 1870, issued 90, 83
Joint •stock Discount, 6E
Ditto, new, 61-
London Financial Association, 251
Mercantile Credit Association, lim., 74 8 and Si for Money
National Discount Compiny, lim., lot
National Steam Navigation, lim., lf 2
Ocean Marine (Insurance), 19};
Peninsula and Oriental Steam, 79

Ditto, new. 48
Quebrada Land, Rail., and Mining, lim., 2
Rio de Janeiro City Improvements, 26i
Ditto (£4), 41
South Australian Land, 33&
Thames and Mersey Marine (Insurance), Ilm., 71
Universal Marine (Rm.) insurance, 5i

STATE OF TRADE.

BARNSLEY, Jan. 9 —The weather throughout the whole
of South Yorkshire is very severe, though to-day it is not
quite so severe as it was on Thursday. The demand for
coals of all descriptions, so long as this weather continues,
is sure to be brisk ; and, although the London and many
provincial dealers took the precaution some time ago to in-
crease their stocks, the inquiry at all the leading pits of this
locality is large, and much beyond what collieries in some
instances can meet. The tonnage sent away by railway and
navigation is below what it was before the Christmas holi-
days. For house coal good prices are paid by merchants,
ranging principally from 4s 9d to 7s 3d, the latter being the
price for the best Silkatones. Malting coke rules up to 6s 3d
per ton; and gas coal, according to the seam, ranges from
4s 9d to 6s 3d per ton. A fair trade is doing in locomotive
and foundry coke. The ironworks of the district around
here and on the Trent are doing a good business.
BIRMINGHAM, 9th.—The Christmas holidays are over,
so far as regarda the trade of this town. Business was re-
sumed at all the manufactorie s last Monda—at some of
them it had been recommenced in the middle of the previous
week, there being quite sufficient orders in hand in all the
most important branches to render it unnecessary that the
stoppage should be prolonged beyond a limited period. It
is seldom that such is the case at this time of the year, but
more than the usual number of orders had been given out
on account of the current quarter, and, although there are
very few coming in at this moment, in consequence of the
travellers being off their journeys, the greater number of the
manufacturers have sufficient in hand to keep them going
for the next two or three weeks. The metal trades are in a
most satisfactory state ; there is a good demand for mate-
rial, and most of the rolling mills have been on at full time
during the past week. In the gun trade the depression is
very great, and no indication of any improvement is visible.
The artisans who are engaged in it are many of them earn-
ing not more than a few shillings per week, whereas a year
or twe since (that is, upon the great demand for America
which followed the commencement of the war) they were in
the receipt of many pounds, very little of which, it is to be
feared, was takeu care of for the reverse which has followed.
In the fancy trades some degree of slackness is felt.
BRADFORD, 9th.—There is a moderate business doing in
wool, especially in bright-aired sorts, and prices have, if
anything, an upward tendency. There is a very limited
business doing in worsted yarns. Frames, however, are
everywhere fully employed on old contracts, and spinners
are extremely firm in maintaining late quotations. Ihe ex-
port houses confine their operations to small purchases from
stock to supply immediate requirements. Offers are fre-
quently made below tha current quotations, but there is no
disposition to yield any concession. The unsettled state of
the Holstein question is an obstacle to much business being
done for the German market. This removed a brisk trade,
after a long interval of dullness from this cause, might be
expected. There is a steady business doing in pieces. Home
merchants give out some orders. Continental merchants,
however, are exceedingly restricted in their operaions.
There is a steady demand for America. There is a good
contract business doing, however, in both plain and fancy
goods. Prices, if not hardening in tendency, are very firm.
DUNDEE, Bth.—The demand for flax on the spot is quiet,
but as holders are not pressing their stocks on the market,
prices are unchanged. The amount of business done since
last report is not great, and to-day only a few sales are re-
ported. Every market day public sales of flax, landed da-
maged by salt water, are taking place, which has an injuri •
ous effect on the regular trade, as they keep the smaller
consumers supplied. A very large contract business has
been done both in flax and tow, to be be shipped from Arch-
angel at full prices. A considerable quantity of Riga flax
has also been sold at high rates for shipment in spring ;
some contract sales have also been done for shipment at
other Baltic ports. This shows the confidence of the trade
in the continuance of high prices throughout the season.
Some sales of jute continue to be made from day to day, both
of medium and fine parcels, at about late rates, but the de-
mand is entirely consumptive, and spinners will not pur-
chase beyond their present wants. The yarn market keeps
firm, and considerable transactions are entered into daily at
the full prices of last market day. To day a fair quantity
changed hands of flax, tow, and jute qualities. Some spin-
ners are not pressing sellers, as they anticipate getting an
advance shortly. The demand for jute goods is keeping up
well, and some descriptions are much wanted and command
full prices. The finer classes of linens, chiefly made in the
neighbouring districts are also in excellent request, and
manufacturers continue full of orders. Home trade and also
shipping houses both operate more freely than before the
end of the year, and a good business was done to. day.
HALIFAX, 9th.—The attendance of buyers of piece goods
has not been very large this week, and the tone of that
branch of trade has been rather flat. Manufacturers, how-
ever, keep well employed, and there is a fair amount of
orders on hand for spring goods. The carpet trade is in
much the same condition as the worsted, the demand not
being very brisk, but the chief firms being well employed.
The woollen manufacturers of the district are also working
their machinery to a fair extent. Indeed, taking the textile
manufacturers in the aggregate in this locality, their condi-
tion and prospects are satisfactory. Wools, yarns, and
goods are alike frm in price.
HUDDERSFIELD, 9th.—There has been rather more busi-
ness done in the woollen cloth market and at the warehouses
this week than the last. Buyers, as well for some of the
foreign houses as those of the home trade, have purchased
rather more liberally than we have lately had to notice.
Fair parcels of both plain and fancy coatings and trouser-
ings have been made up, and the promises of a good spring
trade, unless they should be blighted by a European war,
are likely to be fulfilled. The local wool trade is rather
quiet, but prices are firmly held by the staplers.
LEEDS, 9th.—The cloth halls have been thinly attended
by buyers to-day, and comparatively little business was
done. The winterly character of the weather has appa-

- .
rently checked operations in spring goods—and very little
is doing either at the warehouses or in the public markets
in heavy fabrics, the retail dealers and tailors having suffi-
cient in stock to meet any demand which may be excited by
the prevailing low temperature. The goods which were
sold to-day were of a miscellaneous nature,for they included
some light fabrics for spring and summer, a few heavy
cloths, some tweeds, and a moderate proportion or ordinary
blacks. The manufacturers of heavy goods in the neigh-
bourhood are rather slack, but those whose trade is chiefly
in light and medium productions are busy.