The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-17 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE,

MANCHESTER, May 16.—1 n shipping yarns of all
kinds there has been a very good demand to-day,
and sellers in most instances have been able to ob-
tain full prices. Spinners, being deeply under con-
tract, do not seem disposed to accept lower rates,
and buyers have generally had to comply with their
demands. These yarns close strong, with an up-
ward tendency in values. The market for home-
trade yarns has also been very strong, and prices
are much the same as on Friday last. There has
been a fair inquiry for these yarns, but not any great
amount of business. In cloth we have had a week
very barren of operations since last Tuesday. Buyers
have shown very little disposition to do business, and
have made but few offers. However, prices have
kept their position pretty well. There have been
few or no stocks of cloth pressing on the market, and
manufacturers being mostly well engaged hardly any
weakness has been observable as the result of the
quietness prevailing. To-day buyers appear to be
looking about them rather more, as if disposed to a
renewal of more active business, and the inquiry has
been very general for most classes of goods. It is
believed that there are considerable orders in the
market waiting for execution, and offers have already
been made for some fair quantities of cloth, but in
most cases at very low rates. The rates offered, in
fact, have been in some instances so low that it
would be impossible, looking to the hardening tend-
ency of cotton and yarn, for manufacturers to accept
them, and the business of the day has been consider-
ably restricted from this cause.
CARDIFF, 15th.—The steam coal trade continues
rather unsettled. There are not many vessels in
port, and freights remain without change. It is said
the falling off in the inquiry for steam coal is attri-
butable in a great measure to the high prices which
prevail, as compared with the quotations for North
of England coal, and this sends some buyers to
other districts for their supplies. France is still
the principal customer, and the shipments to Spain
and Italy are considerable. About the usual quan-
tity is sent inland and to Birkenhead for shipment.
There is a better feeling in the tin-plate trade, and
the advanced quotations are well maintained. The
ironworks are in regular employ, and the makers
are, as a rule, well supplied with specifications.
More firmness is shown in the trade, and no anxiety
is evinced to secure contracts, for it is believed that
there will be a decided improvement before long,
provided matters are satisfactorily arranged in the
States. Quotations are without alteration.
LEEDS, 16th.—At the woollen cloth markets this
morning there was a moderate attendange of buyers,
but they did not operate very freely. Small parcels
of goods suitable for autumn and winter, with a
sprinkling of light fabrics, was made up, chiefly for
the home trade. In the wool cloth hall there was a
moderate sale of hair lists and ordinary goods.
Prices of both wools and goods are firm. There is
a further improvement in the flax trade, and prices
are better for the raw material, as well as for yarns
and threads. The mills are running full time, and
most of the hands are employed.
NorrnioHAm, 16th.—There was a moderate at-
tendance at our Exchange-hall to-day, and a steady
trade was done in lace yarns at the full currencies
of the week previous. In hosiery yarns there was
rather more doing, and recent rates were well sup-
ported. An advance of 6d. per lb. must be quoted
in the value of all kinds of silk. The demand for
brown nets continues quiet,. and there is very little
change to note in the quotations.
ROCHDALE, 15th.—The flannel trade here con-
tinues quiet. The attendance of buyers to-day has
been small, and purchases were made without ani-
mation. The approach of stock-taking for.the half-
year kept merchants out of the market, except for
small quantities of goods to meet the demand of the
season. Manufacturers are moderately well em-
ployed, and their stocks are not large. Prices keep
steady, those for heavy as well as those for light
goods. For the better description of Yorkshire
goods there is rather more inquiry than of late, but
the commoner sorts are in slow request. The local
wool trade. is steady both as to demand and prices.

THE GRACE DARLING LIFEBOAT.—The National
Lifeboat Institution sent on Monday a fine self-
righting lifeboat, 32 feet long, to Holy Island, Northumber-
land. The lifeboat, with its transporting carriage, is the
gift of Lady W— to the institution, through Sir W. G.
Armstrong, F.R.S. The boat is named the Grace Darling,
after the heroine who many years ago distinguished her-
self in saving life from shipwreck near Holy Island. A
commodious and substantial boathouse has been prepared
for the lifeboat. The Great Northern and North-Eastern
Railway Companies readily gave a free conveyance to the
boat over their lines to its destination. During the past
year 698 lives were saved by the lifeboats of the institu-
tion, and by the crews of fishing boats, &c., to whom the
institution granted rewards. For these services it awarded
£1,545, in addition to 22 silver medals and other honorary
rewards.