The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-26 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

( From the Manchester Guardian of yesterday. )

MANCHESTER, IVIAY 24.—We learn from the advices of
the 11th inst. that, at New York and New Orleans, cot-
ton had receded lie. per lb, in consequence of the previous
transatlantic reports having produced a less effect on the
Liverpool market than had been expected. Yesterday
and to-day, the Liverpool market has been quiet, but
decidedly firm in prices. Last week, there was a more
general abandonment of business for the enjoyments of
the Whitsuntide holidays, than has been known in Man-
chester, we believe, in any former year. To-day, there
has been a resumption of business in a cheerful and
healthy spirit. The buyers of yarns and of various kinds
of goods have manifested a disposition to operate rather
freely at previous prices. But higher rates have been
required by the spinners of the medium and lower counts
of yarns, whether mule or water, bundles, warps or cops ;
and the transactions of the day have reached a fair
amount at an advance of an Ad. to id. per lb. upon the
quotations:of this day fortnight. Improved accounts from
Batavia as regards the sale of Dutch (not English)
goods, have led to some considerable purchases of 28's
warps and 30's pin cops for. Holland, at 4d. more than
was given last Tuesday but one. Common 40's mule
are still affected by the turn-out ; but some of the hands
have now resumed work, and the dispute appears on the
point of settlement. Rather better prices have been
obtained to a fair extent for 7-Bths and 9-Bths printers,
jacconets, madapollams, and the lower qualities of 40-
inch shirtings. As regards domestics, however, although
saleable at somewhat higher prices than were lately ob-
tainable, the position of the manufacturer is worsened
by the greater relative rise in the yarns he uses.
ROCHDALE, MAY 23.—There is little or no change in
the piece market to report- either in price or demand.
The stocks on hand are very light, which is not, gene-
rally the case at this time of the year. The wool mar-
ket continues inactive, but prices remain firm.
HIIDDERSYIELD, MAY 24.—The market is quiet to-
day, and has been so during the past week. There is a
slackness in the demand for all kinds of woollens, which
may be expected now for a few weeks, considering the
length and briskness of the nearly ended season, Stocks
are not much on the increase, and prices remain firm.
In wools not much has been done, brokers being up in
London, attending the present sales. Business trans-
acted has been done at former rates.

HALIFAX, MAY 21.—The only noticeable change in
the trade in our piece hall to-day was that a little more
was done in low mixtures, but not, we believe, at remu-
nerative prices. Yarns are firm, but the demand not
active. Wools change hands slowly, and the late quo-
tations are stiffly maintained.
BIRMINGHAM, MAY 23.—The Whitsun holidays have
materially interfered with the usual business transactions
of the week, otherwise there is little alteration to re-
port in the state of the iron trade. The feeling of dis-
satisfaction naturally consequent upon the abandon-
ment of prices wantonly adopted, without the slightest
effort to maintain them, has not yet subsided ; but the
supply of an unusually brisk consumption of iron in most of
the home as well as export departments, is still found suf-
ficient to keep in employment all our works, to the extent
to which fuel and labour can be obtained. It is gene-
rally believed that manufacturers of the great staple
hardwares of the district are declining for the time good.
orders, and are unable to give work to their hands for
want of iron, which they, in common with our mer-
chants and dealers, lack confidence to purchase. While
this feeling remains, but little activity can be expected ;
and unfortunately it has been fostered by the ironmas-
ten themselves, who have availed themselves of every
possible shift, to avoid entering into their usual contracts
for pigs, and the pig-makers also have lent a helping
hand by attempting to beat down the prices of materials,
although the supply of the district is notoriously far be-
low the consumption, and the furnace yards have not in
our memory exhibited so universally naked an appear-
ance. The question of a further reduction of 10s. per
ton for the next quarter has been broached. In pig iron
transactions still remain very limited, and manufacturers
pressing for reductions which the pig maker is not in a
position to concede, are chiefly workingupon their stocks,
or draining the few remaining lots from the hands of
small speculators—a state of affairs which cannot ob-
tain long. Ironstone banks are being rapidly cleared at
sustained quotations, and the quality of South Stafford-
shire iron is being put in jeopardy by the increasing
substitution of ore from other districts. Coals maintain
their full value, and appear likely to do so, under a more
pressing demand than has been experienced for the last
12 or 14 years.—Aris's Birmingham Gazette.