The Sun.
London, England, 1847-10-18 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

FOREIGN WOOL TRADE.—LEEDS, OCT. 15.—The
continued scarcity of money still very much restricts
operations in this market, though there is no corre-
sponding depression in prices.
ENGLISH WOOL MARKET.—LEEDS, OCT. 15.—The
amount of sales this week has been small, and prices
are rather in favour of the buyers.
LEEDS.—We have had rather duller markets at
our Cloth Halls since this day week than for several
weeks past. The want of confidence consequent
upon the recent heavy failures and the pressure in
the money market, has completely stopped any pur-
chases on speculation. The principal demand appears
to be for good beavers and other heavy articles for
the home trade, but in goods for shipping there is
nothing doing. Prices are without alteration. There
has not been quite so many buyers in the town this
week as last, and consequently less business has been
done in the warehouses.

BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY.—There was an
unusually dull market for combing wools. The
prices fell a shade, but staplers are not anxious for
sales at the reduction, on account of the difficulty of
replacing their stocks at reduced prices from the
producer. There is no improvement in the yarn
market, but rather the contrary. The spinners are
lcurtailing their trade operations as much as possible;
the trade is in a very depressed state. There was a
dull market for pieces. The stocks in the manufac-
tories, from all accounts, are very low. There was
no alteration in prices ; indeed a reduction, accord-
ing to the present prices of materials, would be
ruinous.
MANCHESTER, THURSDAY EVENING. —We have
had so little doing in cloth this week, owing to the
complete want of confidence that exists, that a re-
port of our market is all but impossible. The only
business doing is for the country trade, and this is
on a limited scale. Prices nominally as on this day
week. Yarns are a little easier to buy, but as the
close of the shipping season for the north is at hand,
the spinners are likely in the present state of things
to have most dreary prospects.
DUNDEE.—The linen trade is still languid, and
prices are declining. The demand for flax has much
decreased, and reductions have been made which, it
is said, will be followed by others.
NOTTINGHAM,—The wrought hose branch of the
cotton stocking trade at Nottingham has settled down
to a point, scarcely equal to one-tenth of the quantity
required to keep the hands in full work, while the
cut-up branches have still more fallen off. The cotton
glove branch is very dull, but the silk glove trade,
after lingering for some months, is a shade worse,
and the hands in mnny instances have less employ.
ment. The cotton bobbin net branch has suddenly
imprc.ved, and we see on all sides the bundles and
handkerchiefs of net upon the move to the ware-
houses ; still the machine owners are in a very de-
sponding condition, the price for net having been
lowered to a ruinous rate in many instances. The
cause of this stir we conceive to he the Leipsic fair,
which is now in full activity. From what is now
going on it is evident that the Americans will shortly
he enabled to supply themselves with hosiery, as they
have done several other manufactures, the aim of
Congress being for a long time to become independent
of Europe for productions, and especially of England.
The cotton warp lace trade is still further amended,
and some of the houses have increased activity. The
silk warp net is, however, in a very depressed condi-
tion, and considerable reductions have taken place in
the actual amount of wages given, the frame charges
being enormous; we have beard of 140-inch frames
paying 17s. a week frame rent.—Nottingham Review.
LEICESTER.—We have no alteration in our market
to report this week. The pressure on the money
market continues, and seems likely to do, making
discounts very dilicult, and the rates of interest un-
usually great. There is, therefore, extreme caution
used in all branches of the manufacture. Wools and
yarns remain without alteration.—Leicester Journal.

THE IRISH CHARACTER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIE,—Now, while certain charitable scribes would
fain persuade the English public that the Irish cha-
racter is absolutely " all evil ;" that Nicoll's words,
" The blackest heart hath signs to tell
That God still lingers there,"
may be true, provided the heart be not an Irish one,
permit me to refer you to a memorable instance of
Irish sympathy with the Saxon in his hour of need.
After the great fire of London, when many thou-
sands of its inhabitants had not a roof to shelter
them—when they were without house or home, or
wherewithal to purchase a morsel of food, then do
we find that the Irish consulted together, and sent over
thirty thousand head of cattle to help the Londoners
over their difficulties.
By publishing this note you will much oblige,
Your very obedient servant,
SAMUEL MURPHY LANGLEY.
23, Vauxhall-bridge-road, Westminster,
October 15, 1847.

QUESTIONS IRIS RATE-
PAYERS AND LANDOWNERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,— Should you think any of the following ques-
tions worth making public, or if you take them as
topics of discussion for general benefit, in either case
I shall be satisfied, and remain
YOUR CONSTANT READER.
Huddersfield.
1. Is there not waste land in Ireland that will take
twenty years to cultivate ?
2. Can the poor be better employed than in break..
ing up waste land?
3. Will not one-half of it grow potatoes ?
4. Are not too many of the Irish people satisfied
with potatoes ?
5. Cannot any able-bodied man plant as many
potatoes as will serve twenty families ?
6. Is it not true that many of the owners of waste
land are very poor indeed ?
7. Can they do better than sell one-half to enable
them to cultivate the other ?
8. Is not Ireland well situated for obtaining large
quantities of fish ?
9. Would not fish be acceptable to eat with pota-
toes ?
10. Could net fishermen exchange fish for potatoes?
11. Could not all the unemployed be engaged in
fishing, and preparing for, or planting potatoes ?
12. Should not every large workhouse have at least
ten acres of land for a garden ?
13. Can able-bodied paupers (old or young) be
better employed than in cultivating the earth ?
14. Does not idleness produce want, vice, and
misery, as sure as industry yields the contrary 9
P.S. We contributed largely for the Irish in this
town, but now they must work for their own bread.

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,--To obviate some of the dreadful accidents
that have taken place on railroads by the carriages
getting off the line, whereby passengers are liable to
lose their lives, pray excuse my troubling you; it is
for the purpose of proposing to have a bell placed on
the top of each carriage, with a pull inside; the pas-
sengers would have the satisfaction, if any danger
should occur, that by ringing the bell the train would
be stopped, and, perhaps, save the lives of many per-
sons. A proper cover over each bell, to keep them
dry, would be rather an ornament than otherwise. If
you approve of the plan, perhaps you will give the
managers a hint of it. I have no power of doing it
myself, not knowing any of the parties.
Yours, ice.,
A CONSTANT READER'