The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-09 00:00:00

NOTTINGHAM TRADE.

The Hosiery trade has this week ruled rather quieter,
although for all /hand-wrought goods there still exists a
large demand, and one which is likely to continue, so
long as the present free demand for goods for Australia
and favourable state of the home market are maintained.
Orders do not continue certainly to pour in as formerly
reported ; but there are now a sufficient number of them
in hand to last for some time.

For lower-class goods the demand is still very small.
The American trade is, however, commencing very
favourably—several of the buyers having arrived, and a
good many being on the way ; so that in a fortnight or
three weeks we may look for a considerable arrival of
American buyers—an event which, besides sustaining
the current activity of the trade, may also impart, it is
to be hoped, a start to the lower class of goods.
The only question which seems to cloud our prospects
is that of the wages question. The committee of the
cut-up and selvege heel branches of the framework-knit-
ting trade, have issued an address to the manufacturers
and workmen stating that the great advance in the price
of provisions and other articles of consumption has
necessitated them to ask for an advance. It is charac-
teristic of Nottingham on these occasions, and in the
present prospects of the trade it is a feeling we should
certainly like to see preserved, that the masters and men
are usually disposed to consult together with the view
of coming to an accommodation. And, in this instance
we believe, that on cut-ups and selvege heels an advance
of 11d. and 2d. was offered ; on Sutton goods 3d. ; and
on wrought goods 6d., 9d., and is. This week also the
pantaloon workers have come forward with a similar
demand and have been offered 6d., 9d., and is., to com-
mAnce on Saturday first. With the exception of the Sutton
goods, these advances have been accepted by the men.
The Suttons are those goods which are made upon three
distinct frames for tops, feet, and middles ; and, so far
as our inquiries go, we really would advise the men to
reconsider well the position of the case before determin-
ing on anything like a strike. Nottingham, in this re-
spect, has been a sort of model town. In Manchester
we consider the men to have behaved disreputably in the
mode of raising and enforcing the "ten per cent. ;" and
the masters in refusing to meet and reason with them.
to have behaved little better. In Nottingham we
believe the manufacturers to have offered as much
of an advance as would be politic for the well-
being
of
their
wag
etsh, e a
sw trade.elas The
everythingm en must
ei s
else,
areremember that
regulated
bythestateof
manufacturers
esupp
advancelyandde to them,mand; mustdtha
that
what-
ever the be laid
on the price of our productions. By over-doing the ad.
vance, therefore, the trade might very soon be destroyed ;
and where would they be then ? The Germans would
inevitably enter the London market as soon as a frac-
tion above competition price was laid on. The recent
tariff of the Chancellor of Exchequer reduces the duty
on this class of goods to the nominal point of 6d. a
dozen, and it is only by a shade of difference (5 per
Better
for )r
our ups oanr the
bcloo sdt
toof
kl
ea
obpo ut
eai
rt g
rh o
omoen
dt haatt aol
lu. r
for the operatives to rest contented with that amount
of advance which is really practicable than to ruin the
trade by throwing it over to the Germans. After all,
it will be found that the advance now offered by the
Nottingham employers is equivalent (in some branches
at all events) to the Manchester shibboleth of "ten per
cent."
Two houses have, moreover, advanced Merino this
week is. a bundle ; and it is decidedly looking up. Silk
and spun silk are also dearer. The operatives should
also take these counteractives into consideration. We
do not wish to appear to take the part of one side more
than another, but rather to offer good counsel and pre-
vent mischief. Some of the men have appealed to us
through the medium of anonymous letters ridiculing the
advance. We cannot depart from our usual course of
disregarding unauthenticated communications ; but we
must say that the idea of an advance of 55. a dozen seems
g tadh
doubtless
out
mbs
tipinel since e
to
resuscitation
as
desired
report,
rien t
utak.:
ridiculous,lma owrestera alaldrieet
shhbeaavrpsaepennyxcaphtseeoars
state,jeoonwi
eend •
of more settled and seasonable weather. In many de-
partments, and especially the common lace and edging
branches, the manufacturers are totally unable to supply
the demand, mainly in consequence of the extremely high
price of yarns, which renders the manufacture of inferior
classes 8f goods at the price offered by purchasers quite
impossible. Were the yarn merchants more reasonable
in their demands, their ultimate returns would certainly
be much greater than they at present are, and the amount
of benefit conferred on trade generally would be incon-
conceivable. The future prospects and anticipations of
our merchants and manufacturers are of the most en-
couraging nature ; indeed, there is no period in the an-
nals of the lace trade when they were more so. Great
preparations are consequently being made, either in the
erection of new factories and warehouses, or in the repa-
ration and enlargement of those already existing. The
alternation of the seasons had operated materially to the
deterioration of the black and white silk branches, and
it appears probable that they will continue in that con-
dition for some time to come. On the other hand, the
demand for plain bobbin nets is exceedingly active, as
also is the inquiry for goods produced from the pusher
machines, which are partly employed executing prese
nt
orders, or in making preparation for
thewinterTe h season.
hosiery
Saxony edgings still remain rather flat.
trade
week, ibnu but lyleittosondteipoaurtesmteonletsrabi Zchl,raust
tolerably

DEATH OF A LUNATIC BY FIRE.--Between seven and
eight o'clock on Wednesday morning the inmates of St.
Peter's Hospital, Bristol, were alarmed i
by an outcry
from the female lunatics' ward. On inquiry t turned out
that the clothes of one of the female lunatics had, by
some means caught fire. The event caused great con-
sternation in the ward, which was heightened by the
fact that the doors were locked, and the poor creature
unable to get out, or any immediate assistance rendered
her. The nurse who had possession of the keys was not,
it appears, up at the time, but she quickly appeared,
half-dressed, with the keys, and having entered the
ward the woman on fire was soon stripped of her clothes,
though not before she received some severe burns. She
was promptly attended by the nouse surgeon, but the
injury she received was such that she lingered in the
greatest agony till yesterday, when death put a period
to her sufferings. At an inquest held yesterday it ap-
peared that her name was Caroline Gwillarn, and that
she had been an inmate of the lunatic asylum for twenty-
nine years. When asked how the accident happened,
the deceased said she wanted to burn the house and
herself to, and that she set herself on fire with a lucifer
match. The jury returned a verdict to that effect.
DARING ESCAPE.—As the steamer Baron was sailing
down the Clyde on Saturday last, a roan suddenly sprang
into the river. He struck out for the shore, which he
He proved to be a prisoner, who was
reached in safety.
being conveyed to Dumbarton in custody of a constable,
accompanied by a gamekeeper, on a charge of poaching.
He had been handcuffed, but the irons had been re-
moved for a few minutes, at his urgent request, until he
should retire. Then it was that he seized upon a favour-
able moment to effect his escape. It is not known
, whether he has been recaptured.