The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-09 00:00:00

influence. When such alterations are known to have taken
place within 100 or even 50 years, scarcely any limit could
be assigned to changes that might be effected in 1,000 years
or more. Mr Crawfurd, on the other hand, defended the
opinions expressed by Mr Farrar, which he considered con-
firmed his views respecting the diversity of the human spe-
cies. The president adverted to the recent discoveries of
the works of man mingled with the bones of extinct ani-
mals, as proving that human beings must have lived on the
earth many thousands of years before the historical record,
and that it was possible in that lapse Of time for all the
ohanges now observed in the races of man to have been
effected.

The meeting then adjourned.

STATE OF TRADE,

MANCHESTER, Nov. B.—Our market has been very firm
to-day for all kinds of shipping yarns, and most spinners
ask a slight advance, which has rather checked business.
But for this we should have had a fair amount doing. In
home-trade yarns we have had a very strong market, and
though not much business has been effected prices are pretty
much as on Friday last. The yarn market generally closes
rather firm, with a decided tendency to improvement. Spin-
ners seem pretty easy about prices, which they appear to
think have touched the lowest point for some time to come.
[he cloth market has been rather qaiet for some days past,
but, owing to the scarcity of stocks, sellers have been able
to do a moderate amount of business at last week's prices.
In most cases sellers of cloth are asking for a further advance
in prices, which has the effect of checking the desire to do
business wherever it is pressed. Buyers of cloth and yarn
are more cautious than they were eight or ten days ago.
Many people think a more cheerful feeling would pervade
this market if the pending difficulties talked of in London
wore settled. The failureof several manufacturers has been
mentioned, and among them one at Preston and one at
Roct.dalo. It is stated in the hon. secretary's report to the
Relief Fund Committee that no less than 623 spinners and
manufacturers were compelled to suspend payment during
the month of October, and though most of these were in a
small way it is estinsatedin the aggregate that they employed
13,00') operatives. Messrs John Slagg and Co. report :
"We have had but little business during the week, the
general feeling of uncertainty and distrust having prevented
buyers from operating. Prices, however. have remained
firm, and to-day we have a more general inquiry at slightly
advanced rates."

LEEDS, Bth.—The woollen cloth markets to-day have been
a shade bettor than those of this day selnuight. The tone '
of the trade was a little more cheerful, and there was more
business done. Good plain blacks, with meltons and tweeds,
were the most saleable articles. Some inquiries were
made for spring goods, but in such only a small business
was done. The manufacturers are rather curtailing their
rate of production, late mercantile failures and the conse-
quent loss of capital, as well as the general aspect of the
trade, being the principal causes for lessening the supply.
Stocks are in a moderate compass, and prices keep steady,
those of goods as well as those of wool. Some of the second-
hand raw materials, such as shoddy, &e„, are.rather easier.
Woollen rags, too, are not quite so clear as they were a short
time ego. The flax trade is not so buoyant as we lately had
to report it, and the demand for threads and yarns is rather
flat,

NOTTINGHAM, Bth.—At this Exchange-hall to-day there
was a fair attendance. The demand, however, for lace yarns
was slow, at the prices of last week. There was not much
doing in hosiery yarns, and prices were without material
change. Silks were disposed of at recent prices. The de.
mand for brown nets was very dull, but little or no alters..

tion in prices can be written.
ROCHDALE, 7th.—The attendance at market to-day was
no better than it has been for several weeks past, and opera-
tions have been correspondingly small. Prices of some kinds
of goods ate lower, but cheapness did not seem to be a suffi-
cient incentive to the London and Manchester buyers to
operate with that freedom which distinguishes them when
the commercial tone is of a more buoyant character. The
demand for flannel in the warehouses has this we( ;k been
slack, and manufacturers have such difficulty in obtaining
orders at remunerative prices, that most have resolved to
begin a system of running short time. The business donehere
in wool is so small that the only remark to be made about
it is,with reference to price, which seems to be getting
higher for all kinds, though sales very rarely take place.