The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-18 00:00:00

STATE OP THE WOOLLEN TRADE.

(From the Leeds Mercury of this day.)
The wool market has been steady. The imports into
London during the week to Thursday last were, 5,396
bales, of which 1,789 were from Port Phillip, 1,216
from Sydney, 807 from Algoa Bay, 397 from Germany,
964 from Taganrog, and 120 from Shanghai. In the
English wool market manufacturers have purchased
rather more freely of combing and clothing wools this
week, and rather improved prices have been obtained.
In the Liverpool wool market, there has been a good
inquiry for wool at full prices. The public sales on
Wednesday and Thursday next, will include 2,400 bales
East India, and 2,000 bales sundry low wools. Im-
ports are very light. With regard to the woollen
trade of Leeds, although at this season of the year
inactivity and dulness are generally prevalent in
the cloth halls, yet we think a full average business
has been done in the markets this week. A good quantity
of cloth changed hands both on Saturday and Tuesday.
There have been several buyers in the town during the
week from London, Scotland, and other parts of the
country, and some of them have purchased rather freely ;
this, together with part shipping business that is doing
at present, has caused increased activity in the trade
of the warehouses this week. _

ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, DEC. 13.—We have
had a dull and heavy market, and there is no disposition
on the part of the merchants to purchase at the present
time. Wool is firm at previous prices, which operates as
a check both to the merchant and manufacturer.
BRADFORD WORSTED MARKET, DEC. 16.—W00l has
been stationary in price during the last week ; on yarns
we hear of an advance of 6d. per gross. The trade is
brisk for the time of the year, especially in crapes, and
as a natural consequence the position of the manufac-

turers is slowly improving.
HOSIERY TRADE LEICESTER.—Though orders in the
manufacturers' hands are nearly completed, there is
less slackness in the general demand at this period than
we have known for years past, the consequence of which
is that the operatives are generally well employed.
Many hosiers have turned their machinery on cotton
hose some time past, for which orders are in the market
for delivery in the coming year. These yarns have ex-
perienced a considerable rise, and notwithstanding the
reaction in the Liverpool and- Manchester markets,
prices remain firm, and the demand exceeds the supply
in useful numbers, particularly in blue greys. But little
doing in worsted yarns, the hosiers being engaged in
working down stocks before Christmas stock-taking.
Prices are firm, and if wools keep their upward tendency,
of which there seems every probability, a further advance
may he expected, as they are not equal to the present
value of sorts and skin wool.

PLYMOUTH GREAT WESTERN DOCKS.—The embank-
ment across Millbay is nearly completed. An opening of
about 12 feet will be left until about the middle of Febru-
ary, when the entrance will be closed, and 2,000 or 3,000
men set on the interior works. Some fears are entertained
of the water-tight powers of the embankment, and it has
been suggested that the contractors will further strengthen
it by laying on the inner side large quantities of the dock
excavations. An engine capable of clearing one ton of
water per minute will, it is said, be erected on the works.
ROBBERY OF 7001. NEAR NEWCASTLE.—On Monday
night last, the residence of Mr. Stephenson, at Pontea-
land, which is within seven miles north-west of New-
castle, was broken into by fOur men, and a watch and
7001. in notes and gold abstracted.
We hear that our esteemed representative, T. W.
Booker, Esq., has become the purchaser of that beautiful
and valuable estate called Cobrey Park, near Ross.—Herc-
, ford Journal.