The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-26 00:00:00

State of Trade.

CARDIFF, Oct. 24.—The staple trades of the dis-
trict are in a fairly satisfactory state. For steam
coal the export inquiry continues moderately buoy-
ant, and the collieries in the Aberdare and Merthyr
valleys are, as a rule, in pretty regular employ.
Coasting buyers continue to purchase largely of
house coals, and the local and inland sale, which
has been so long depressed, is gradually improving.
For coke and patent fuel the demand remains with-
out change. Scarcity of hands is a generalcomplaint
at both the iron and coal works. The reconstruc-
tion of the railways in the Southern States will, it
Is expected, send important contracts for railway
iron to this district ; but the Alabama claims have
for the moment rather disarranged matters, although
there is unmistakable confidence that ultimately there
will be a brisk demand from the States. The Besse-
mer process is being adopted at Dowlais, and ex-
periments are about to be made on rails coated only
with steel. Increased firmness is evinced in the pig
iron trade, and makers' books are so full of orders
that they do not care about entering into fresh en-
gagements except at advanced rates. The plates
maintain previous quotations, and the tendency of
the market is in favour of sellers.

LEEDS, 24th.—There has been a moderate attend-
ance of buyersionwthe and
hhe aggregateallsthismoranminogn,
amount
tbuoft
they operated slowly, the
goods sold was /*her below than above the average.
The market was steaciy as to prices, and the reports
from the manufacturers and country clothiers show
that they keep well employed, many of them having
good orders for spring fabrics on hand. The export
houses are doing full average business for the season
of the year. Wools command last week's prices.
LEICESTER, 25th.--The hosiery trade has been
active during the past few days. Goods usually in
demand at this time of the year sell readily, and the
manufacturers are well engaged at the warehouses
with orders on hand. In the rural districts busi-
ness is in a healthy condition, and the workpeople,
both in Leicester and the neighbourhood, are well
employed. Worsted yarns are in firm demand at
high prices, and spinners continue well engaged.
Cotton yarns are extremely firm. There is no im-
portant change in wools, but, with a firm market,
rates are very high.
NOTTINGHAM, 25th.—. There has been a fair
amount of business doing in some classes of cotton
goods during the past week. Mechlin quillings are
finishing both for the home and foreign markets.
There is also rather more doing in cotton fancy
goods. There is not much doing in plain nets. A
few silk
the blackMchseilklilnaes anetrd siladke
tqhueirlelinisg are
no
eimfipn
and the narrow edging trade remains improvement,
and
low as possible. The hosiery
• ds of goods keep well
fiat. Stocks of all kinds of goods are
rkeeempxamt.doswinngya
satisfactory state. Most kin
as
a healthy state.
at extreme rates.
Yarns are very firm,
in demand. There arterapdleenisty
ionf orders for ship-
ping, and the home

The following letter appeared in the Times of the 24th
instant :
GOOD NEWS FOR PORT WINE DRINKERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
SIR,—In an article which lately appeared in The Times,
you refer to the practice which largely prevails in Portugal
of more or less branding the wine intended for this mar-
ket, and you add, "t his brandy is added in order to stop
fermentation, and to retain a certain amount of sugar in
the wine." The apology for this practice consists in the
fact that the appearance of the (*limn in 1851 necessitated
a larger addition of alcohol than heretofore for the preser-
vation of the wine.
Now that the Miura has passed away, and the fruit-
bearing of the vine is not disturbed by the appearance_ of
disease, it becomes matter of some importance to reduce
the alcoholic properties of port to a minimum of strength.
With this view we have endeavoured to secure ports pos-
sessing lightness, purity, and quality, and we have just re
ceived a parcel equal to about 1,700 dozen from a
well-
known "quinta" of. the Lower Douro.
Our correspondent states that "this wme possesses many
of the characteristics of Burgandy—viz.,
fine
great flavour.
flaanvdeiusrs.
It is, besides, a fully fermented wine.ilky, soft, and extremely dry, combined colour, great
with
your very obedient servants,
We beg to remain, sir,
H. R. WILLIAMS & Co.
pelrVdeozwould only further mention that the price is 30s.
Crosby Thdl, 32, Lleistohbe oprsrate-street

AMERICA.—Southampton, Oct. 25.--The North
German Lloyd's steamer America sailed to-day for New
York, with the German, French, and English mails, 142
cabin passengers and a full cargo, including French jewel-
lery to the amount of £8,500 sterling.