The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-16 00:00:00

THE GAS SUPPLY TO THE CITY.

Dr. LETHEBY reported that the illuminating power of the
gas supplied to the City during the week had been above
the requirements of the act of Parliament, and that the
chemical quality had greatly improved, the average pro-
portion of sulphur in the gas not being above the quantity
sanctioned by Parliament.

After transacting some further business the Commis-
sioners adjourned.

- - -
STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, Dec. 15.—The yarn-market has been very
quiet to-day, and little or no business of moment has been
transacted. To make sales spinners would have to make
some concession in price. The demand for cop yarns has
been fully as sluggish as that for shipping yarns, and
manufacturers hold determinedly aloof from business.
Prices are nominally the same as last week, but, practically,
manufacturers, who are buyers, report that they can do
better than they could some days ago. What business has
been done has been on a small scale, buyers manifesting no
disposition at all to operate except for small lots wanted for
immediate use. The cloth-market is quite as dull and in-
active as that for yarns. Since the telegrams from India
came to hand buyers for Calcutta and Bombay have almost
entirely abstained from business. The dates are to the 27th
of November, when business at Calcutta was almost sus-
pended and prices nominal for cotton goods. At Bombay
madapollams and some other cloths were 6d. to 9d.. and
shirtings 2s to 2s 3d per piece lower. Cotton was 2d per lb
lower. Advices like these, after the encouraging reports
which had previously come,have necessarily had a depress-
ing influence on our market to-day. Still, manufacturers
in general adhere to their last quotations with more tena-
city than might have been expected, and in cases of excep-
tion sellers are willing only to make a small concession.
Under these circumstances there have been few offers for
any market. There is a great talk again of stopping mills,
and unless there is an improvement soon, there seems every
probability that manufacturers will be driven to the neces-
sity of lessening production. At such rates as have been
offered to-day no doubt many manufacturars would prefer
to stop the mills. Messrs. John Slagg and Co., in their
cloth circular of this evening, say—" We have had a very
dull market since Tuesday last, and the recent India
accounts have still more deterred buyers from ope-
rating. Manufacturers, however, continue firm at
last week's quotations, and, as yet, show little disposition
to concede in price."
LEEW, 15th.—The markets in both the white and the
coloured cloth halls have been of a very quiet character this
morning. The purchases were almost confined to sample
goods for the spring trade and a few small miscellaneous
parcels. This slackness arises from the fact that merchants
are engaged in stock-taking and balancing of accounts rather
than from any absolute declension in the active and health-
ful condition which the woollen trade of this district has
maintained during the greater part of the year. The manu-
facturers throughout the district are well employed, and
there is a general anticipation of a good spring trade. The
flax trade is scarcely so buoyant as it was a month ago, and
prices are not quite so firm.
isTOTTINGRAM, 15th.—We had a pretty fair attendance
at
lacethe Exchange-hall to-day, and there was more doing in
yarns, prices on the whole being a shade better than on
the
met a rather improved Previous Tuesday. There was not much doing in hosiery
Yarns,
saniltsprateos remained without any important altera-
tion.
before; limited business. Brown nets
cent races may
be vuedt demand, and a slight advance on re-
Rocune.Le, quoted.
,
only a a fortnight ago still continues.
in the flannel trade -I;estaciness which manifested itself
To-day there was
purchased sparingly, as
small attendance of buyers, and
plain
and fancy, well of Yorkshire goods as of
they
by
me'rachayb:teThe mildness of the weather
The manufacturers
afinadnnsetolse,kb.oothking
ness. ho_combine to cause the fiat-
and prices are steady, Wools Zen_ keep well employed,
at late quotations, Lirmiy held by the staplers