The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-07 00:00:00

State of Trade.

MANCHESTER, June 6.—The market has been very firm
for all descriptions of shipping yarns, and from the length
of time for which spinners have taken contracts they are
not by any means anxious to sell, being under the impres-
sion that prices will advance, and that they will gain by
waiting. The amount of business has not been large. Many
buyers are absent for the holidays, and it is generally
anticipated that business for the week will terminate with
the operations of to-day. In home trade yarns the market
has been very flat, and prices are weaker. Were offers to
be made uo doubt easier terms would be conceded, but
there has hardly been business enough to fairly test the
disposition of spinners. Yarns made for long-stapled
cotton nra atilidipr than others. Tha sellers of short-stapled
yarns have thought it prudent not to seek the advance they
were desirous of establishing towards the close of last week,
under the influence of an excited and rising cotton market.
Since our last market day cloths have been in very little
demand, and the operations have been small. Buyers show
no spirit of enterprise, no•disposition to operate, but there
has been little alteration in prices, if we except the lower
qualities of cloth. To-day the market has partaken of the
holiday character of the week, and the buyers who have
been present have shown a disposition still to hold aloof.
There has been some business in printing cloths, which
remain very firm, but the business in other fabrics has been
of inconsiderable amount. Messrs. Slagg and Co. report
of to-day's cloth market :—" The business of the week has
been of insignificant amount, and prices are almost un-
changed since last Tuesday. To-day the general unwill-
ingness of buyers to operate, combined with the holiday
character of the season, leave us but a very limited business
to report. _ _ _

LEEDS, 6th.—There was a small attendance of both
buyers and sellers in the cloth-halls this morning, the Whit-
suntide holydays keeping both parties away. So far as
business transactions are concerned they were of a cheer-
ful order, prices being well supported, and anticipations of
a good autumn trade being generally entertained. The great
mass of the working classes are well employed at good
wages, the rates of provisions, except those of animal food,
are low, and harvest prospects are good. All these things
combine, with improved commercial relations with different
parts of the Continent and the cessation of civil war in
America, to a hopeful expectation that the woollen trade of
the West Riding of Yorkshire, in common with other great
industrial pursuits, will be prosperous for some time to come.
Some strikes in different branches of the building trade
here are an evidence of there being work for the classes of
operatives comprised in that trade, inasmuch as the strikes
have been made by the men, who want an advance of wages;
and it would be difficult to find any class of operatives in
this part of the country that are really unable to procure
work, and that, too, at wages which, if properly laid out,
would procure comforts unknown even to the middle classes
of the last generation.
NOTTLNGHAM, 6th.—At our Exchange-hall to-day there
was a very limited attendance owing to its being the Whit-
suntide holydays. The demand for lace yarns was quiet,
and prices remained about the same as last week. The
business done in hosiery yarns was small, and late rates
may be quoted. Silks of all descriptions were dearer.
There is a better demand for brown nets, and prices are
again higher. An advance of 10 per cent. has taken place
in the value of musquitoes.

ROCHDALE, sth.—The market has to-day had very much
of a holyday appearance, but the ton:of trade generally is
undoubtedly improved. During the whole week since our
last report the buyers on behalf of the home merchants
have been well engaged, to the satisfaction of the merchants.
Manufacturers were very obstinate in opposing all offers
to do business on lower terms than those improved ones
which have been current during the last fortnight. The
trade in Yorkshire goods does not at all seem to rally, and
the season is now getting late. There is still great caution
among the purchasers of wool, and though there is a deter-
mined effort to bring down the prices of English wool there
seems very little chance of its taking effect.

THE FORGERY ON THE BANK OF IRELAND.—It
was stated yesterday that a forgery upon the Bank
of Ireland to the amount of £B,OOO had been attempted.
Tho name forged was that of tho Chief Secretary for Ire-
land. A cheque, purporting to have been drawn by Sir
Robert Peel, was forwarded from London on Monday.
But tho amount being so considerable tho idea of fraud
was suggested, and it was thought prudent to communi-
cate by telegraph with the right hon. baronet. It was
then found that the signature was a forgery. The person
accused of the forgery is a clerk in the bank of 15 years'
standing, who bore an excellent character, and who was
never before charged with any irregularity, or even sus-
pected. lle obtained leave of absence a few days before
the forgery was committed, and proceeded to London,
having abstracted a blank cheque from the book of some
other customer of the bank. The cheque he filled up for
the sum of £B,OOO, drawing it in the name of Sir Robert
Peel, and dating it about a month back to avoid suspicion.
It was then passed, as if in the way of business, by a per-
son whom the absconding clerk called his cousin, and intro-
duced as a customer. From the London bank the cheque
was forwarded for collection to the Bank of Ireland at
Dublin. It was referred to the secretary, who on examin-
ing Sir R. Peel's account, found that the number was not
consecutive, or nearly so. On making this discovery a tele-
gram was sent to Sir R. Peel, and thus was frustrated an
attempt at fraud as artful as it was daring.