The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-11 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

The accounts of the state of trade in the provinces
throughout the first week of the new year furnish indi-
cations of a more uniformly satisfactory kind than have,
perhaps, ever before been presented on a similar occa-
sion. At Manchester the market has been quiet as
regards prices, but the business transacted has been
large, and chiefly for home wants. The prospects of the
market are considered favourable, and holders are firm
At Birmingham increasing activity prevails in all de-
partments, and a further advance is talked of in manu-
factured iron. The controversy is still kept up as
to the existence of undue speculation ; but, supposing
such to be the case, the conclusion may be entertained
that it cannot be to any very dangerous extent, or the
balance of testimony would not be such as to leave
the matter in any doubt. Apprehensions, however, are
expressed, and perhaps with reason after past experience,
that there will soon be a too rapid augmentation .of
the number of furnaces in Scotland. Tin-plates and
copper are also showing a tendency to a further
advance. The demand for coal continues to be unpre-
cedently large, but, the wages of the colliers having
been raised to ss. per day, it is hoped that all probabi-
lity of a strike has been removed. Evidence is fur-
nished on all sides of the prosperous condition of the
people generally, and the poor law returns, as well as
those of the savings-banks, provident societies, &c.,
present very striking results. In the woollen districts
the year has commenced with remarkable animation and
great firmness in prices. Among many persons appre-
hensions appear again to be gaining ground of a short
supply of wool, since, even assuming that the Australian
shipments, as was the case last season, should show no
falling off in 1853, it is contended that, with the rapid
increase of demand, a stationary supply is virtually a
very deficient one. From Nottingham mention is
made of the receipt of large additional orders from
Canada, the United States, and South America, and the
conviction is stated that there is nothing in the general
aspect of monetary' affairs to mar the hopes that have
been entertained for 1853. In the Irish linen markets
the supply of goods has been small, and higher prices have
been demanded.

MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.)

COLONIAL.

SUGAR.—The market looks firmer, as there is less offer-
ing. The quantity of British plantation landed last week
at the East and West India Docks was 1,183 hhds., 7
tierces, and 187 barrels ; there were taken for home con-
sumption 1,228 hhds., 60 tierces, and 316 barrels. The stock
in the same places is 11,206 hhds., 1,229 tierces, and 2,468
barrels.

COFFEE.—This article is steady, and good ord Native
Ceylon is wanted at 475, at which there are no sellers.
RICE.-490 bags Madras at auction realised lOs to lOs 6d
for mid and good Corringa.
SPlCES.—Pepper, 901 bags Alepi mostly sold at 3ad to
3id for mid and good half heavy greyish mixed. Ginger,
34 cases 29 bags cultivated Madras, sold at 30s to 31s for
mouldy.

SALTPETRE.-At auction 5,247 bags Bengal, nearly all
sold at 275. to 295. 6d. for mid. and good, Si to 54 per cent.;
at 255. 6d. to 265. 6d. for low ord., 201 per cent. refraction.
Madras, 333 bags sold at 245. to 245. 6cl. for ord., 26i per
cent. refraction.

ARROW ROOT.—St. Vincents, 244 tins sold at 3d. to 6d.
per lb. for ord. to good.
Rum.—The quantity landed last week at the East and
West India Docks was 193 puns. 33 hhds., there were
taken for home consumption 322 puns. 3 hhds., and
exported 41 puns. 216 hhds. The stock in the same
places is 11,603 puns. 833 hhds.
TALLOW.—P.Y.O. is 465 9d per cwt, on the spot, and
Town 47s 9d.

TEA.—The market is steady, and the deliveries increase,

HAY MARKETS.
SMITHFIELD. Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ 2s ; clover
ditto, 3/ 15s to 5/ Os ; and straw, 1/ 6s to 1/ ],2s per load.
Trade steady, at full prices.
CUMBERLAND.—Meadow hay, 2/ 17s to 4/ 4s ; clover
ditto, 3/ 15s to 4/ 15s ; and straw, 1/ 6s to 1/ 13s per load.
Supply tolerably good, and trade dull.
WHITECHAPEL. —Meadow hay, 2/ 15s to 4/ Os ; clover
ditto, 3/ 15s to Si Os ; and straw, 1/ 58 to 1/ 12s per load.
A full average supply, and a steady demand.

MR. INSPECTOR FIELD OF THE DETECTIVE POLICE.—
This active officer has had the satisfaction to receive
from Sir Richard Mayne, C. 8., her Majesty's Commis-
sioner of Metropolitan Police, a first-class certificate of
good conduct, and from the late Government, a pension
of 1261. per annum. An annuity so liberal, together
with the property which Mr. Field has been fortunate
enough to save during twenty-four years hard service,
will enable him to live comfortable the remainder of his
days. We are, however, glad to learn that the Inspec-
tor's experience is not to be altogether lost to the com-
mercial and railway world, and that these two important
bodies are likely, by Mr. Field's suggestions and advice,
to be saved from numerous " robberies and depredations"
on their respective exchequers.
The Commander-in-Chief of Portsmouth, Vice-Admiral
Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., was married on Saturday
morning to Miss Rosetta Wheeler Cuffe, daughter of Sir
Wheeler Cuffe, Bart., of Lyroth, county Kilkenny, and
niece of the late, Earl of Mayo.

MYSTERIOUS SUICIDE.—On Thursday afternoon last
a gentleman arrived at the Peahen Inn, St. Albans, from
the Watford station of the London and North-Western
Railway. He ordered a private room, stating that he
had a considerable amount of writing to do. After his
dinner, which he had about five o'clock, he asked for a
postage stamp, and walked out, it is supposed to post a
letter. He retired to rest about tefi o'clock, and the fol-
lowing morning, at nine o'clock, the chambermaid went
into his room with a letter, directed, " Mr. Bowden,
Peahen Inn, to be delivered immediately," and asked if
it was his. He replied, " Oh, no, no, no," and added
that he should lie a little longer. His room door was
open then, but about twelve o'clock, finding that he did
not come down, she went to his door again, and found
it fastened. She knocked several times, but receiving
no answer, an entrance was effected into the room, when
the unfortunate gentleman was discovered to have com-
mitted suicide by cutting his throat. An inquest was
held on Friday evening, before Mr. R. G. Low, coroner,
but adjourned, with a view of procuring evidence as to
the deceased's identity, as he was quite unknown to
any one in St. Albans. The deceased was a man of
gentlemanly appearance and manners, was well dressed
in mourning, and had a band of crape round his hat.
He was upwards of six feet high, and was a remarkably
handsome man, with dark hair, and whiskers meeting
under his chin. Beneath the lining of his hat was writ-
ten, " Bailey, August 12, '52," with the letters "H.
W. D." written above. The inquest was adjourned.
STABBING IN MANCHESTER.—it is with unfeigned re-
gret that we have observed of late an increase in the
cowardly and ruffianly use of the knife amongst the
lower classes of Manchester and Salford. Scarcely a
week has passed over of late without some brutal assault
of this character being brought under the cognizance of
the magistrates. On making inquiries, we find that in
these cases there have usually been intoxication and
quarrelling ; and the instrument with which the offence
was committed had not a sharp-pointed blade, like the
stiletto, poignard, or bowie knife—so that it does not
seem to have been carried for purposes of violence, but
to be a broad-bladed strong clasp-knife, chiefly used for
cutting provisions, and commonly called a junk knife"
—a knife to cut lumps or thick pieces. This is so far a
circumstance in mitigation, as indicating an instrument
not carried specially for unlawful purposes. Still, as
almost every working man carries a knife of this sort,
which, under the influence of irritation and intemper-
ance, becomes at once a deadly weapon, there seems the
more need to repress the abuse of it. On various occa-
sions, at the assizes for this county, the judges have
deemed it necess'ary to declare, in their opening charges
to grand juries, and in their sentencing of prisoners con-
victed of this unmanly offence of stabbing, that they
felt it necessary, from the great increase of this crime in
Lancashire to- visit it with the heaviest punishment- -
which the law would allow. Accordingly, the sentences
in some cases have been justly heavy ; but this fact is
one which does not sufficiently reach the knowledge of
the ignorant and disorderly classes, who supply the great
majority of these delinquents,—Manchester Guardian.