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 frarnework-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 lid. and 2d. was offered ; on Sutton goods 3d. ; and
on wrought goods 6d., 9d., and ls. This week also the
pantaloon workers have come forward with a similar
demand and have been offered 6d., 9d., and is., to com-
mence 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 the trade. The men must remember that
their wages, as well as everything else, are regulated
by the state of the supply and demand ; and that what-
ever the manufacturers advance to them, must 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
cent.) upon the cost of labour at home that our manu-
facturers are enabled to keep their ground at all. Better
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 ss. a dozen seems
ridiculous, even as a joke.
We are happy to state, that since our last report, the
lace trade has experienced a complete resuscitation in al-
most all its branches owing doubtless to the desired return
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 of 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 present
orders, or in making preparation for the winter season.
Saxony edgings still remain rather flat. The hosiery
trade in all its departments is rather duller than last
week, but yet continues tolerably brisk.—NottsGuardian

THE CHOLERA.—Between 20 and 30 cases of Asiatic
cholera have occurred in Newcastle and the immediate
neighbourhood within the last few days, all terminating
fatally. It appears to have broken out a place called
Bill Quay, on the south bank of the Tyne, towards
Shields, the first case reported being that of a woman
residing there, who was seized on Thursday, and died
the day following. Since then, five more cases have
occurred at Bill Quay. DiarThcea is very prevalent in
this district.

STRIKE OF SEAMSTRESSES, &c.—A very large number
of seamstresses employed at the most inferior descrip-
tion of under-clothing, have at length refused to work
for the miserable pittance doled 0 ut to them • female
waistcoat makers, and those employed on slop clothing,
have also turned out for an advance of wages ; and the
tailors, cap makers, and others employed in the large
exporting houses, have made a demand for an increase
of pay, alleging that the advance that has taken place
in the prices of bread, meat, coals, and other necessa-
ries, requires that a proportionate advance should be
made in their pay. There is scarcely a doubt that the
hasinte
request will be complied with, as several shipping
houses have large orders to complete, and offers of ad-
vanced wages were made by a great number.
e
itEPAVING OF FLEET-STREET.--Yesterday morning the
1::. ends of Fleet-street, from the foot of Ludgate-
-34_ alisbury-square, was closed, by order of the
LordLo
was made iftereding
carriaayor, for a few days, for the purpose of repaving
busily „:: "'day. A large number of workmen were
through Stonecutetrsire
the day, and considerable progress
reet Tvudor-
leet-
passing to thtf lacing the granite stones. All vehicles
thence up Ludgate-1; ; but those going proceeded along Shoe-lane,
et, into Faningdon-street, and
through New gridge_at a
et
tr
re:e
etgt: westward Temple-street,
wholewent
f
thisand grWehaitteafrindarsim-sptroertetanituttlio
and lou.grare is to undergo con-
ordwir
ohe repaved forthwith
siderable improvements 4
The Maho-
as far as Temple-bar,
sioners.
POPULATION OF ELTROPEANe
medan population of European Turkey dc,-,--
not exceed three millions ; Bulgaria may
be reckoned
certainly
to contain three millions of Christians • Wallachia,roned
Tel nt:zelrCity Commis-
millions and a half ; Moldavia, one million al,ahtwo
Albania, Bosnia, the Hezegovine, and Montenegro, half
;
millions. The bulk of these Christians profess the
Greek faith. There are from 700,000 to 800,000 Greeks
in European Turkey.
INTERDICTION UPON SMOKING AT PRIBURO.--The
police of Friburg bas just promulgated two measures by
the bellman, one interdicting every person under 16
years of age from smoking ; and the other recommend-
ine• parents not to allow their children to play with
chemical matches.
LAND AND ASSESSED TAXES RECEIPTS.—Under the
16th and 17th Vict., cap. 68, receipts for land and as-
sessed taxes, or for the income tax, are, from the 4th
ult., exempted from duty.