The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-04 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, ,MARCH 2.—There has not been quite
so much business Nut yesterday and to day as during
the last week. Many of the spinners and manufacturers
who have recently sold at low prices, are now asking a
slight advance ; and, in some numbers of yarns, rather
higher rates have been obtained ; but it has bad the
effect of checking the demand for goods, which remain
without alteration, but perfectly steady and firm.
ROCHDALE, MARCH I.—We have had a dull market
to-day, and a very limited business has been transacted
at last week's prices. The wool market has also been
quiet, and the manufacturers buy for immediate use only.
Prices continue firm.

HALIFAX, FEB. 27.—The piece trade has been very
dull to-day in the hall ; and we learn that some of the
manufacturers are beginning to run short time. It is
expected that the failures in Hamburgh will not much,
if at all, affect this neighbourhood, but that they will
be felt chiefly at Bradford. There continues a slight
improvement in the demand for shipping yarns, but
without any advance in price. The demand for long
wool is languid, and staplers are free sellers. Short wool
ramains firm, the supply being limited ; but the trade is
not brisk.

HUDDERSFIELD, MARCH 2.—There has been consi-
derable improvement in our market to-day, and trade
much brisker than it has been for some weeks past. The
warehouses during the week have been but flat.
LEEDS, MARCH 2.—We had rather a better market
on Saturday last, but to-day very little has been doing.
—Manchester Guardian.

(From the Circular of Messrs. M'Nair, Greenhow, and Ir-
ving, of Manchester.)
MaxcuusrEn, Fan. 27.—From the date of our last Cir-
cular up to the middle of the present month the condition
of this market was characterised by increasing gloom and
depression, accompanied with a further decline in the value
of nearly all descriptions of cloth and yarns. Since that
period it has experienced a perceptible change for the bet-
ter, consequent upon the revival of demand, which up to this
date has continued to a fair extent. Still with all this there
is an absence of practical amendment, so far as spinners and
manufacturers (the former especially) are concerned, whose
position continues undeniably to be exceedingly unfavourable
—probably more so now than it has been since the rise in
the value of cotton took place, as the stocks of that article
which those of them who were fortunate enough to be po3-
aessed of at low rates have been exhausted. Were the His-
tory of the cotton manufacture consulted it would scarcely
supply us with a period when the margin between the cost
of the raw material and the price of the manufactured article
was so small as at the present time.
Prices of goods and yarns which, from the improvement
in the demand, have become rather steadier and firmer, it
has been stated are about the same as they were previous to
the advance on cotton. This is an error; and if trade reports
be of any value, they must be chiefly so from a conviction
that they are records of facts. A reference to the prices
current at the two periods will satisfy you that goods and
yarns generally are now from 5 to 10 per cent. higher than
they were at the period alluded to.
The working of short time has been considerably ex-
tended during the month. Some establishments have closed
their mills entirely, and others are intending to do the same
unless matters improve. This lessening of the production,
necessary and prudent though it be, is producing great
distress and sering amongst the operatives, whose dimi-
nished means of subsistence are still further reduced by the
dearness of provisions. This state of things necessarily
exercises a most important influence upon our country trade,
which is represented to be very bad. The long and severe
winter has, however, prevented an earlier setting in of the
spring trade. In this county we have heard of the reduction
of many hands by retail establishments.
The last advices from the United States are of a very
satisfactory character as regards the trade in British manu-
factures, and lead to the expectation that there will be a
very considerable increase in our exports thither, an expec-
tation which, if realised, will naturally have a most impor-
tant bearing upon the productions of this district. For
Canada the purchases so far have been very limited ; to our
other North American colonies they will constitute an
average.

SPIRITS AND SILK.—An account, moved for by
Mr. Cardwell, shows that the quantities of spirits entered for
home consumption in the United Kingdom, amounted, in
1846, to 2,683,515 gallons of rum, 1,515,954 gallons of
brandy, and 40,266 gallons of Geneva—against 2,469,485
gallons of rum, 1,058,777 gallons cf brandy, and
15,536 gallons of Geneva, in 1845. Since 1842 the an-
nual consumption of spirits appears to have increased
as follows, viz., rum, 585,226 gallons ,• brandy, 432,865
gallons; and Geneva, 25,677 gallons. The silk manufac-
tures of India imported in 1846, amounted to 187,174 pieces,
the manufactured stuffs of Europe (altogether) to 17,9331 b.;
the silks or satins (broad stuffs), to 119,7281 b.; the silk ri-
bands, to 195,7001 b.; the gauze ar crape ribands, to
31,7701 b.; and the broad velvet stuffs, to 25,6161 b. The
quantity of Indian silks exported from England in 1846
amounted to 471,817 pieces; and that of European stuffs,
&c., to 24,8971 b. The value of the British silk manufactures
exportgd from England. amounted, in 1846, to 837,6771.,
against 766,4051. in 1845, and 590,1891. in 1842. The quan-
tities of raw silk imported into the United Kingdom amounted
in 1846, to 4;390,0081b., against 4,354,6961 k. in 1845. The
quantities of British spirits brought to charge at the Excise-
office in 1846 amounted to 24,106,697 gallons, against
23,122,588 gallons in 1845, and 18,841,890 gallons in 1842.
EFFECTS OF NEGRO EMANCIPATION.—The slaves
constituted formerly the wealth of the planters; now, as free
island
commerce, remunerated labourers, they are the soul of our
commerce, and as such are the wealth of the merchants.
Let us look back at the commercial revolution which
The
has
taken place in Trinidad since the dawn of
people
labouring
signs of comparative wealth among b
everywhere appear. The great change of their condition has
greatly stimulated trade o every description. Mechanics of
every class have increased a hundred fold among the lower
order of society; these are rapidly rising into respectability
and wealth, and promise at no very distant day to act an
important part in the internal trade and affairs of the colony.
In consequence of the posse • anon of money by the people, our
island imports have incre_ased. to a surprising extent, in the
Course of a few years. —Trinidad Spectator.
The Earl. of Clarendon gave a dinner to the Cabinet
`Ministers yesterdayCauca. evening at his residence in Grosvenor