The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-30 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

BIRMINGHAM.—The trade of the town has this year
maintained a degree of steadiness, and, up-,n the whole, of
activity, such as has not been experienced up to Christmas
for several years. The home trade will, it is most likely,
be quiet until the middle of next month, when the factors-
travellers resume their journeys. In all the autumn trades
there has been a good average amount of business dotie.
The tinplate workers have not been quite so busy of late,
but for other descriptions of hollow ware the orders have
kept up well. The various rolling mills have been at work
full time ; the tube makers report business steady. Tn the
jewellery department there has been more business doing,
and stocks are less than they were at the corresponding
period of last year. The numerous robberies, accompanied
by personal violence, which have taken place of late, have
resulted in a great demand for " dirks," of which a large
number has recently been made here and sold as rapidly.
The orders are still also kept up for pocket breech-loading
revolvers for the London market.—Birmingham Iour):4

SHEFFlELD,—Christmas being generally observed as st.
holiday throughout the country, as well as on the conti-
nent, an almost entire cessation of business operations is;
the consequence. The only good which can be derived
from the Sheffield custom of permitting excessive over-
work to be done in the week immediately before Christ-
mas is, that it allows manufacturers to clear off more
rapidly the orders on their books. 'We learn from commer-
cial travellers, who have just returned from the cotton
manufacturing districts, that the belief is gaining ground
that the worst is past, and a more satisfactory state of
bffairs, at least to a limited extent, may now be ex-
pected. Sanguine hopes are entertained that we shall
do a good business with the chief continental countries
at the commencement of th© forthcoming year. The sales
of the retail shopkeepers in the town have this Christmas
not been equal to last year ; the principal djerease being
amongst the clothiers and woollen drapers. The amount
paid in wages this Christmas, taking into account the pay-
ments made on Saturday, is a little in excess of the amount
paid last year.—. Sheffield Independent.

00IINTRY MARKETS.

•►- -.

COLCHESTER-DEC. 27.

•
A rather limited attendance to-day, and prices of best
samples of wheat may be quoted is above last week's rates.
All other articles a slow trade, and last week's quotationg
unaltered.
Wheat, white 46s 52s Beans, Mazagan . . 34s 36g
red 42s 48s middle & small.36s 428
Barley . 33s 39s Peas, white ..428 448
Oats

GLOUCESTER—DEc. 27.
To-day there was a fair supply of English wheat, which
generally advanced is per qr on last week's rates. Foreign
wheat brisker, although the prices remain the same as 10t
woek. Barley, peas, beans, and oats were dull.

CHELMSFORD—DEc. 26.
he trade in wheat to- day at our market was firm, and for
good samples is per qr advance was obtained. Fine bar-
ley rather dearer. In beans and peas very little business
doing.
Wheat, old white...37s 53s
new ..37s 50s
old red....42s 49s
new 38s 47s
Barley 2Ss 35s
Chevalier 2Bs 38s
Grinding ..22s 30s
Malt. 6ls 67s
Chevalier 64s 69s
Oats 20s 28s

Peas, Partridge 37s 400
White 3913 400
Boiling 4os 43s
Dun 3ss 38°
Ditto new .. —s
Beans, Tick, old 34s 3°
new —s ----6
Harrow Ticks 3ss 400
new —s ---s
Mazagan 3os 381/

KIRKCALDY GRAIN—DEc. 27.
A moderate supply of grain at market, and the trade
inactive, with prices generally in favour of sellers.
Wheat. Barley. Oats.
First.... 35s Od lBs Od I 18s Od
Second ..38s Od 25s Od 21s Od
Third....4os Od —s Od —s Od

COAL MARKET.
(Priori of Coal per Ton at the close of the market.
s
s. d. . ds
Bell's Primrose l3 6 Walls End.
Buddle's West Hartley 14 6 Hetton ..
******
Carway and Duffryn South Hetton 1188 cog
Malting
Do. Anthracite 20 0 Russel's Hetton ...... 17
Eden Main .. 16 6 Haswell .. 18 0
16 .
Byass's Bebside West , James 15 g 6
Hartley
Cam's Hartley l4 6 Lawson..... ........ 14 ,-
14 6 Wharnclifle . .16 3
. 0 „
Lambert's West Hart- Belmont
ley l4 6 Fraassmowp
. ... ellgate ........ 111 0
Cowpen Hartley
14
6 I e
Taniield Moor Butes l3 6 tHartlepool .... 17 '
6
Davison's West Hart- South Hartlepool...... lu ,
ley. 2.. ... l4 6 i Relloe .17 "
... , 0
North 'Felton Gas 14, 0. ' Heu h Hall .......... 1,1, 3
g
Walker Primrose 13 0 South Kelloe .... 1' 9
Craighead Steam 14 0 I Thorpe l6

Ships at market,. 152; sold, 110.

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