The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-16 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, TUESDAY.—The market hero continues
generally in the dull and inanimate condition which it
has exhibited for two or three weeks past. There is
little demand, except for long-cloths and a few other
inferior fabrics, suitable to the Levant trade. These
fully maintain their prices, and are now remunerating
the manufacturers. In other descriptions of goods, and
in yarns generally, there is very little business done,
and that generally at slightly declining prices.
We hear from various 'planers of arrangements
making by millowners to elude the provisions of the last
Factories' Regulation Act, by increasing those descrip-
tions of machinery for which the labour of women and
young persons is required, and working the mules and
looms, with men only, for thirteen or fourteen hours per
day. There is no doubt that the parties who adopt this
plan will readily obtain hands; for however much some
portion of the workpeople may have clamoured
for a Ten flours' Bill, very few indeed of them will
accept employment at that rate, if they can procure it
at the rate of thirteen or fourteen hours per day. The
obvious effect of any extensive adoption of this mode of
working will be, to make a ♦ery serious difference in
the rate of payment for the labour of those who can and
those who cannot legally work beyond ten hours, to the
great detriment of the latter, who will not only be pre-
vented from performing the same quantity of work, but
must necessarily be paid a lower price for what they do
perform.
ROCHDALE, MONDAY.—The demand for flannels
continues dull, and the business transacted to-day has
been very light. The manufacturers complain of the
low prices given for their goods, and this is likely to be
the case while the demand for flannels continues so
limited. Wool is much the same, both in price and
demand, as last week.

lIALIFAX,ATUWDAY.—Fewer merchants made their
appearance in the Piece-hall to-day than this day week,
and but little business has bee❑ done. There seems to
be an impression that things will take a favourable
turn after Christmas, yet that the improvement,
when it does come, will be very gradual. The con-
tinuance of open weather enabling the export merchants
to ship, supports the limited demand for yarn that has
been experienced the last few weeks; but in spite of the
reduced production, job lots are still thrown upon the
market. Prices for known spinnings continue without
alteration. Deep bright wool, both hogs and wailers,
are thin in the market, and are in request; but manY
sacrifices are made under the pressure of necessity.
Short wools remain without change.
HUDDERSFIELD, TUESDAY.—More sales have been
effected to-day, in the Cloth-hall, than last week, but
these have been in the lowest description of goods.
There is an inclination to purchase the better sort of
woollens, but at such sacrifices that manufacturers are
unwilling to accept, feeling assured that a few weeks
will produce in our affairs a more healthy state. This
being what is termed " Second Tuesday," there is a
general complaint of the difficulty in obtaining settle-
ments.
LEEDS, TUESDAY.—Our market presents little alters-
tion from last week, the tendency being, though, to-
wards improvement.—Manchester Guardian.

SCOTTISH CENTRAL AND CALE-