The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-22 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

LEICESTER, May 21.—The hosiery trade conti-
nues slightly more active, and there is an improve-
ment in the tone of business generally. More is
being purchased for the home trade, both for the

town aid country houses, and there is more doing
in the warehouses. At Loughborough and Hinck
ley there is more activity. There is no important
change in the wool market; material is not in much
demand. Yarns are making exceedingly high rates,
and spinners produce only what is required.
NGTTINGHAM, May 21.—The improvement in the
lace trade continues, and future prospects are en-
couraging. There has been a fair demand for cot-
ton goods this week. Plain nets are selling more
freely, but at low prices, and cotton quiltings are
in excellent request. The silk face trade is fully
as active as for some time past. Laces and edgings
are in demand, and many Spanish goods are mak-
ing. The buyers for the home market purchase
more freely, and there appears to be every pro-
bability of an active summer trade. As a proof
of a more prosperous state of things in one of the
staple trades of Nottingham, the chairman of the
board of guardians stated yesterday that there was
a decrease of more than 300 in and out-door paupers
on the books since last week, and that there had
not been so small a number in the house since
October, 1860. There is a slight improvement in
the hosiery trade. Inquiries have been made
(although only in small quantities) for most descrip-
tions of goods required in the home trade.

THE OXFORD MUSIC HALL.

" OR ANY OTHER MAN."

The phrase " Or any other Man" is acquiring a Bohemian
currency. The multitude are never long without a cant
watchword—whether it be in the form of an inquiry about
your hatter, of an affirmation that certain people are
" Cures," or under any other guise which suits the popular
fancy for the moment. Without attempting to divine the
mysterious agencies by which these inscrutable passwords
fly from lip to lip, we know that they multitudinousiy
assail the ear with all the terrible iteration of " Benk,
Benk," and with even more ready emphasis than street
cries. The prime mover of the particular phrase in ques-
tion—" Or any other Man"—is Mr. Unsworth, member of
the Rumsey and Newcomb's minstrels, the cleverest of
Ethiopian delineators, to whose performances at this and
the Canterbury Music Hall we have already directed atten-
tion. In a stump speech of great humour, varying with
the events of the hour, the orator, perpetually pausing for
a reply to his own positions, shouts out "Or any other
man" as anti-climax. This richly garnished scene im-
proves upon acquaintance. The harangue is as rapid and
inconsequential as if it came from the lips of a Dundreary ;
but is relieved by some sublime flashes of bathos. An irre
verent hit is made where the orator asks, if there "any
reason why rubbish should be shot here, becauseia the
Chancellor Speaker o f tthe ea Hr
ioflues emoaft
eCho
pm. o h
Thos as
burlesquec ll e n gaei
ad
gt
ihne Lgaoardd
dancing of Eugene, Unsworth's collaborateur, are the finest
we have witnessed. Greatly as the metropolis has been
surfeited with nigger representation, we cannot doubt that
the peculiar talent of these individuals will rivet public
attention. The performances by the rest of the troupe
contain some exquisite tit-bits of humour, and some of the
parties are excellent instrumentalists. The plantation
dance and song of Master Hughes, being out the mercurial
and light hearted, as opposed to the lugubrious and Uncle
Tom like nigger of Mr. Newcomb—albeit the latter plunges
through one of the angular dances of the South, the South
Car-lina Extract—with cart-horse energy of purpose. The
stage fight of Mr. Duley, limier the fearful menaces of Mr.
Rumsey in the scene of " The two Adventurers," and the
efforts of the former to
oStihnegrinagt
tLr
aeos
tsioonn,;
oarf e
trhe
em ahrka
lalb y Clever exhibitions. The
get the key-note in " The first
are of the usual brilliant
description.