The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-12 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, FEB. 11.—Cotton Goods.—
There is very little change in the cloth-market since
last Tuesday. The prices of cloth are nominally
dearer, but business is on a small, almost trifling,
scale, for India and most ether markets. The home
trade is still suffering, and is very flat, but rather
more business is reported in printing cloths. There
have been some offers for India cloths, but at prices
which could not lead to business. Letters and tele-
grams from India speak of lower prices and large
stocks, but up to the date of these accounts news
had not reached there of the amicable settlement of
the American question. In yarns there has been con-
siderably more business done to-day, and prices are
about Id per lb. higher than last Tuesday. There
has been an increase of demand for2o's and 30's water
twist for Germany at the advance abovementioned.
The business done altogether has been rather large,
and at last week's prices much heavier sales could
have been effected. At the advance there has been
some fair sales for India, the Mediterranean, and
home trade, as well as Germany, The strengthening
tendency of prices checks business, but not to the
same extent in yarns as in cloths. Manufacturers
manifest no anxiety to sell at the present inadequate
rates, and show much firmness. We regret to hear
that two manufacturers north of this are announced
this morning as having stopped payment, and almost
every market-day brings accounts of factories being
closed in various parts of this district, or about to
close immediately they have used up present stocks
of cotton. The distress among the operatives is
beginning to show itself more and more through the
returns of application for relief from poor-rates.
Last week the number of persons returned as having
received relief was 8,002, against 7,200 in the pre-
vious return for the township of Manchester. In
the Charlton Union (including a large and populous
district of the city of Manchester) during the week
ending Feb, 1, 2,532 persons were relieved, and last
week 2,255. At Blackburn last week 7,331 persons
received out-door relief, against 6,750 the previous
week. A soup kitchen has alSo been opened there,
which distributes 2,500 quarts per day. In Man-
chester,where the closing of mills has not progressed
to so great an extent as in other parts of the dis-
trict, there is some improvement this week; 'the
number of hands totally out of employment is 6,532
against 7,197 last week. On short time this week
there are 14,306 against 15,575 last week; and the
number working full time is 26,643 against 24,677
last week. Messrs. John Slagg and Co. report of
the cloth market :—" With the exception of certain
descriptions of printing cloths, in which there is
more doing at somewhat better prices, the market
is without change since Tuesday last. For nearly
all otter kinds the demand continues on the smallest
possible scale ; but as a rule there is no anxiety on
the part of manufneturers to sell, and prices are well
supported!"

LEEDS, llth.—For a Tuesday's market there has
been a fair attendance of buyers in the cloth halls
this morning, and the intaket was cheerful in tone.
The amount of business done was not large, and
was confined chiefly to fabrics for spring wear, in-
cluding Meltons and other low and medium priced
articles. The reports as to the general condition of
the manufacturers in the surrounding district show
that there is part short-time working, but not more
than there was a month ago. The state of American
affairs is inducing considerable caution, which in
some degree extends to the Canadian trade, The
home trade is steady, but far from being brisk.
There is nothing new to notice in the wool trade;
but prices rule much the same as last month.
ROCHDALE, 10th.—There has been a moderate
market for flannel and wool to-day ; bnt the parcels
purchased were generally for immediate require.
ments, and were small. There is a little slackness
in the trade generally, the demand whether forhome
or exportation being flat. The Yorkshire goods'
trade has shown a trifling improvement. Prices,
those of goods as well as those of wools, keep
steady.