The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-28 00:00:00

Anglo-Norman works, such as the entrance-door of Selpeck
Church, Hereford. Mediaeval art will be chiefly represented
by examples taken from Mitelit hiitl Wells tatliedtals aiid
the cloisters of gt itohn Lateran. The Renaissance period
is to be illustrated in particular from the Cortoaa at Pavia.
In giving an idea of the art of tbnl6th and 17th eentttrieg
the architeptnre of Bkaiiiiiiite and the Scitlptiire of Michael
Angelo will be haol.tted as the foundation of the decorations,
tombinea, probably, with arabesque reproductions of the
works of GioVanni da Udine and other at Italian
masters. From this oilit the hiStoriCal series will
merge into tbM it&ools. of modern sculpture, com-
meßsitig with the age of Canova. The artists of every
Other country in Europe have eagerly tendered their good
offices in aid of an undertaking more calculated to impart
a stimulus-to their profession tlias anything of the kind
that has ever been attempted in thig country, in the hope.
that our English sculptors will ha hesitate in showing
equal liberality. An opportunity ig now presented such as
may not soon again-recur of engaging the favour and ad-
miration of the multitude on beog of those great monu-
ments, hitherto seen under the most disadvantageous cir-
cumstances, which carry down to our time so many touch-
ing and authentic association's of the mighty past.
While' as a conservatory, the building may be consi-
dered to be halved between the Old World and the New,
in the illustration of the fine'arts and of manufactures the
former mainly occupy the eastern division, while the latter
are confined to the west. It is unnecessary, at the present
stage of the undertaking, to enter into any particulars
with respect to the exhibiting spaces, and the
conclusion of this notice may therefore best be devoted to
an account of what progress has been made by Sir Joseph
Paxton in the decorative arrangement of the park. A vast
amount of work has been got through by him, and there is
now no difficulty in seeing at a glance what his plans in
their main features are. The water does not yet spring up
from innumerable fountains, or come tearing down each
side of the main avenue in broad cataracts of foam ; but
there are the basins and channels-formed, or in process of
formation, and the extent of them is sufficiently startling
to people whose notions are formed upon the hydraulic dis-
plays of Trafalgar-square. One of these basins, circular in
shape, is 200 feet across, and far down in the park excava-
tions are in progress over a space nearly 2,000 feet broad,
which is to contain 1,001 j ets, and to accommodate especially
two pyramidal fountains containing more than 90 jets each,
and throwing water upwards of 200 feet high. What Will
be the effect of a main avenue, a good gunshot in breadth,
leading up a double row of spacious terraces, bastioned
and ornamented with statues passing through a magnifi-
cent Italian garden, ascending staircases constructed on a
scale never before attempted, and finally landing the visi-
tor at the threshold of a building which, even in its present
half-finished state, fascinates the eye and fills the imagiva-
tion of the most careless spectator

STATE OF TRADE.

(From the Manchester Guardian of Saturday.)

MANCHESTER, FEB. 25.—The letters and circulars of
this week hold out a prospect of a larger supply of cot-
ton than most parties have latterly calculated upon. The
total receipts at the ports had reached 1,935,000 bales,
against 1,447,000 last year, leaving an excess of 488,000
bales, which, it is said, would be swollen to 510,000 or
515,000 in the following week. Some of the most cau-
tious and trustworthy authorities state very decidedly
that there can be no doubt of the crop turning out
3,250,000 to-3,300,000 bales. The swampy lands of the
Mississippi and the further West, which were considered
to have suffered materially from the rains, appear to be
generally yielding more than they did last year. And it
is a most important fact that, down to the latest dates
of intelligence, the weather continued remarkably fa-
vourable for "picking" over the greater portion of the
cotton reg,ions. Under these circumstances, there was
a tendency to lower prices in the southern markets, which
improved accounts from Liverpool failed to counteract.
GLASGOW, FEB. 25.—The cotton market has been
very quiet during the week. The trade operates with
caution and prices were barely sustained.
BitAT/FORD, FEB. 24.—W00l : The sale now progress-
ing in London maintain the firmness with which they
opened, and this being spread through the country,
gives a tone of firmness. The dealers hold for prices
which cannot be given to come to this market. The
business doing here is very languid ; the spinners have
shown more disposition to look, but the prices sought
deter them from buying. In noils and brokes there is
but little change. Yarns.—The business doing con-
tinues limited, ,as regards hank yarns. The demand for
sßools is not so active as at the turn of the year, and the
position of the spinner decidedly worse to enter into en
gagements, at anything like the price at, which
old contracts were made. This serious change cannot
at once be met, and some of the Lancashire houses
are placing their looms on cotton, till either mixed goods
command a better price, or yarns can be supplied at a
lower price, when they will resume its active use.—
Pieces : There is a better feeling prevailing, and more
inquiry for goods, both for the. Leipsic and other Ger-
man fairs, which open at Easter, and also for goods
suitable or our spring trade here ; yet there is a great
dearth of novelty, and what is offering is very similar to
the last season. The demand for plain goods is also
better, but the prices are most ruinous compared with
the cost to make them.

NOTTINGHAM, FEB. 24.—There has not been much
business doing since our report in lace goods. At the
same time the hosiery trade appears to be in the state of
prosperity in which it has continued during a consider-
able period. The advanced price of coal, and the
prospect of its being yet further enhanced in price, is a
circumstance of much difficulty, as it must compel all
who use steam power in their operations to raise the
price of their work. Dyers, bleachers, lace drapers, and
lace thread doublers, are experiencing great perplexity
on this account, and those thus engaged will be com-
pelled to make additional charges for their work. There
is not any change at present in the price of yarn ; but
it is generally supposed it will be higher still, mainly
from the circumstance above-mentioned.
LEICESTER, Feb. 24.—The confidence that worsted
goods must even realise more than the present prices re-
quired by the manufacturers, added to the present sea-
sonable weather, has produced an increased activity in
the warehouses ; the stock on hand not being large has
met with a ready market, and shipping orders arrive
for shirts and drawers. The cotton demand for both
knits, middle gauge, straight-downs, and fashioned
Hinckley and Shilton hose perhaps never was greater at
this season. There exists- great objections to the hose
made from round frames in our market, but it is certain
that they have already acoomplished their mission in
our shipping trade, by superseding the cheap Saxony
hose for the American market, so much boasted of a
few years since ; and to the Nottingham trade on that
account alone, they are of great importance and advan-
tage.

The Birmingham correspondent of the Mining Jour-
nal, writing the 24th, states that exorbitant high prices,
and consequent derangement of trade, 'are still the order
of the day. Since my last communication, another ad-
vance has been declared in the price of copper, which is
now quoted at 1391. per ton ; although the metal dealers
will not accept orders at this price, and some require a
premium upon that quotation. A few weeks ago some
of the manufacturers issued circulars cancelling all
existing orders and discounts ; but this week there has
been a wholesale renunciation of them by nearly every
house engaged in the manufacture of brass articles.
Indeed, it is almost impossible to convey an adequate
idea of the embarrassment which has been occasioned
by this state of things to that class of men known
as the " small masters." Their workshops are
almost daily being closed ; and the orders, which
hitherto furnished them with remunerative employ-
ment, are now finding their way to the exten-
sive houses of large capital. It- appears, however,
hopes are entertained of a speedy termination to
what is now universally considered a most ruinous mo-
nopoly. Letter s have been received from the agents of
the Russian mines, offering a large supply upon very
advantageous terms ; and as soon as the opening of the
rivers in that country will permit of transmission, a large
supply may be expected. Until then, however, little
hopes can be entertained that any reduction upon pre-
sent prices will take place. Relative to tin, the same, if
not greater difficulties, are being daily felt. No later
than yesterday, circulars were issued by Messrs. Fiddian,
announcing another advance of 51. per ton, and giving
the following quotations :—Tin in blocks, Si. 18s. per
cwt. ; ingots, 51. 18s. 6d. ; bars, 61. ; refined in blocks,
6/. is. ; plate grain, 6/. ss. ; granulated, 71. The manu-
facturers in this trade have also issued circulars within
the last few days, announcing an advance of from 10 to
15 per cent. upon the manufactured goods ; but find it
almost impossible to realise it. The American buyers
for the spring trade are still numerous, though their
orders, in some instances, are limited, in consequence
of the additional per centage required for manufactured
goods. Reports still represent the iron trade as being
in a satisfactory condition, although pigs are said to
have been offered for 51. The market price for blast
mine pigs is Si. 10s. ; and the Shropshire masters re-
quire 61. for iron delivered at Stourport. The furnaces
and iron works throughout the district are actively en-
gaged • and many old establishments, which had become
dilapidated, are now being repaired and set to work.
An additional impetua has been latterly given to the
boiler plate trade by a recent decree of the Prussian
Government, which abolishes, during 12 months, the duty
on plates imported into that country for the construction
of iron vessels. Already Prussian agents are in this
district making arrangements according to this decree ;
and although it will only continue in force for the above
period, it cannot fail to be attended with beneficial re-
sults to our mining interests. In the principal works. in
mbeeenn. dtothtehevawnooruks.
dtheepatdowninenctoonsaiffdeorardbloeoacnsttiatyopnarpeivoaymils,enant
grnuenfascetsorryapoifdMly.esFsresr.
Brown, Marshall, and Co., some large contracts have
offo
ri improved vßerdacz con-
struction, the East India a great quantity of iron work, probably
to the extent of 400 tons, is being prepared and forwarded
enAtetredthientroa,ilawnadytchaer:ogrke progresses
They will be built in a manner to admit of their being
shipped in parts, and easily put together on arrival at
sttoruCoatlicount,taa;reanind
oaonnursmoboefr
noofacnanfrriaoatguerse,
their destination. Carriages are also being made for the
Valentian Railway in Spain; and a contract has recently
been entered into for 100 goods waggons, upon Henson's
patent, for the Great Western Railway Company, in-
tended for the goods traffic between London and the
north. A contract made for 550 goods waggons fur the
Midland Railway is also being completed, and others for
waggons for the South-Eastern, and railways in Ireland,
are in course of manufacture. The forthcoming Irish
Exhibition is also supplying extensive employment to a
large number of hands in various branches ; and the
number of contributors from Birmingham .are expected
to be very large. Monetary matters continue satisfac-
tory, as appears from the report of the Birmingham
Banking Company, laid before the proprietor& yesterday,
at their twenty-third annual meeting, held at Dee's
Royal Hotel; W. Chance, Esq., in the chair. The di-
rectors reported that, after deducting all expenses, and
providing for bad and doubtful debts, the nett profits
of the year ending 31st December last, are 35,5441.
of arltoheptoortoa.lnits.3p7o,r2san6/n.nlm4s. 9andd. Aa dividend
at Bs. 9d.; and that, with the balance brought from the
declared ; the guarantee ntee fund tieing
Sast .thp oe rr previousastbye a
rec,
was
80,000/,