The Sun.
London, England, 1834-06-23 00:00:00

AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE.

TRADE OF LEEDS.—Greater activity has been dis-
played in our cloth halls for the last two or three mar-
ket days than for some time previously. The attend-
ance of buyers last Tuesday was much better, and
there was a decided improvement in the amount of
business done, particularly in the white market. The
prices obtained, however, are very low, compared with
the advance in wool during the last twelvemonths,
which the buyers of goods continue to resist, and the
sellers appear convinced that it cannot be established,
but that a general reduction must be submitted to
when the new clip comes fairly into the market. In
this state of things attention is anxiously directed to
the progress of the sales now pending at the German
wool fairs, which are understood to be attended by
buyers and sellers with ideas and intentions as to
prices somewhat widely asunder. Some advance was'
obtained in the fairs of 1833 upon the- prices of the
year preceding, but the great advance took place
afterwards, and went on gradually increasing from
the month of July until the Close of the year,
at which period the prices demanded for the
sorts most in request were full 50 per cent.
higher than those of the clip. It may be doubted whe-
ther such prices were actually realized or not to-any
extent. An almost entire suspension took place in the
demand for goods about that time. On the other
hand, a large portion of foreign wools being held in
this country, on consignment for foreign account,
when the holder finds he cannot obtain a high price,.
he has to wait the tardy arrival of fresh instructions
before he is at liberty to offer a lower, and confidence
became so far shaken three months ago, that offers of
reduction even were found inoperative ; but there can
be no doubt that in the early stages of the advance,
the consumers had purchased freely under the pre-
vailing impression that prices were not yet at the top,
and that they had better supply themselves in time.
Hence a stock of goods has been produced which now
gluts the market. But the foreign grower sees only
the bright side of the question. After selling his wool
at the regular season, he became a mere spectator of
the subsequent improvement, of which he saw others
derive the advantage. He hears likewise of some
fortunate few who sold their clips prospectively
months ago at an advance of thirty to forty per cent.
upon last year's prices, and thus he now comes to the
fairs with expectations naturally very much excited,
and with a determination to share in the supposed
general good luck. The buyers, however, have seen
the other side of the picture, and feel no disposition to
return home and repeat the same lesson which they
have been practising for the last six months. English
wools have fluctuated still more than foreign in the
same period: Combing wools from ls. rose to 2s. per
lb. ; two months ago they fell 6d. to 7d. per lb., but
have since advanced again about 3d. The spinners,
however, are cautiously waiting the result of the new
clip, and the general impression is, that as autumn
advances prices will be lower.—Leeds Intelligencer.
BRADFORD MARKET.--There was an unusually large
attendance of merchants at this market, on Thursday,
and the demand for all descriptions of manufactured
goods was greater than for several weeks. Prices
were consequently firmer, and on some descriptions a
slight advance was obtained, particularly on merinoes
and lastings of the finer qualities,• of which the supply
was not equal to the demand. The yarn market was
likewise brisker, and a trifling improvement in prices
was realized.. Fine hog wools were in demand at
rather better terms, but in other descriptions there was
no material alteration. —lbid.
HUDDERSFIELD MARKET.—This market was much
brisker on Tuesday than has been the case for some
weeks past. The principal demand was for cloths of
the lower and medium qualities, and. many were sold
in a finished as well as in a balk state. Wools were
firm.—lbid.

HALIFAX MARKET, on Saturday last, was far less
active than that of the preceding week. The high
price of wool still presents an almost insuperable bar-
rier to the improvement of lradc.—Thid.
BARNSLEY LINEN TRADE --There is scarcely any
perceptible improvement in the linen trade at this
place. Business is much the same as last week.
The Mercury was grossly imposed upon when it was
induced to state last Saturday that the trade in Barns-
ley has not been so brisk these four or five years. I
they
business acts
aty
all
h e mustmust rise
d o
it their
at a
have it from several manufacturers and foremen, whose
information may be relied on, that trade is now slacker
than, it has been these four years. Yarn having risen
il no s
loss,
manufacturerr
ai price, the t
his
i msufu rers
say
in proportion, but the buyers won't give the ad-
vance, as they expect yarn to lower ; therefore if the
doesathe
cause of the
Ibid. present stagnation._

ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET.—On Monday last
the attendance at the flannel market was not so
numerous as of late, yet business was brisk. Middle
and coarse qualities sold well at'the prices of last
week, but finer sorts were rather
PONTEFRACT WOOL MARKET, JUNE 14.—Very little
in, and prices rather lower than last week.—lbid.
YORK WOOL MARKET, JUNE 19.—There has been a
good supply of wool at to-day's market, with a fair
attendance of buyers, but upon the whole there was
rather dull sale, at our last week's quotations. Very
superfine hog wool evidently has the call of the
market, but ewes and half-breds are very dull of sale.
The prices of the day may be quoted—for very
superfine hog, 265. to 275. ; half hog and ewe, 255. to
265. 6d. ; all ewe, 225. to 245. ; locks and cots, 16s.
per stone of 161 b. Several parcels remain unsold ;no
moor wools at market.—lbid.

ENGLISH IRON.-It is now authenticated that the
iron ore lately discovered near Minehead will prove a
substitute for what is now imported from Russia ; and
that it will make steel equal to that now made from
Swedish iron.—lbid.

DUTY ON OLIVE OIL.—A deputation of merchants
interested in the olive oil trade waited on Mr. P.
Thomson on Friday, the 13th inst., respecting the
contemplated reduction of duty on this article, when
they were informed that it was the intention of govern-
ment to reduce the present duty of Si. Bs. per tun to
141. 4s. or probably to 31. 3s. per tun..—/bid.