The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-02 00:00:00

BEI7 E OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, June I.—Since Tuesday no tran-
sactions of any importance have taken place, the
Manchester races and other Whitsuntide recreations
having withdrawn nearly all attention from busi-
ness. The following review of the state of the mar-
ket is from the monthly Price Current of Messrs.
G. Fraser, Son, and Co., issued this day :—" The
aspect of our market has been materially changed
since our last. At that date the demand continued
very active for India and China in common with
most of the other foreign markets, and contracts
were still being entered upon for very distant for-
ward delivery without much hesitation, even at the
extreme rates of prices which had been attained.
Thus very large contracts are still in the hands of
manufacturers for domestics, India and China shirt-
ings, and for yarns of various descriptions. But
even these contracts have not entirely sufficed to
maintain prices for any of our chief staples, while
some kinds have given way materially in price
under the pressure of unfavourable advices from
the East, and of a great check in the deniand. The
principal causes of the present dulness are the back-
ward state of the home trade, arising from the cold
and ungenial weather experienced to the end of
April, by which it is estimated that much of the
trade in muslins, prints, and fancy goods has been
lost for the year, notwithstanding the splendid
growing weather we have recently had; to the ' po-
litical unsettledness of the last few weeks, both
abroad, respecting which uneasiness never ceases,
and at home, whet e difficulties have been appre-
hended in the course of legislation from the stand
made by the House of Lords in protection of the
revenue, by refusing to repeal the paper duties, a.
course which, apart from the constitutional point of
view, has given satisfaction and confidence to the
commercial, moneyed, and property classes gene-
rally, but more than all to the unlooked-for reaction
in prices in the Calcutta, market. From China it was
surmised that we might have less favourable accounts
—the supplies had been con siderablyaugment ed, and
prospects were uncertain from the measures which
might become requisite,and which it is now believed
will have to be carried into effect, to force the Go-
vernment to respect the treaty, and to restore our
prestige after last year's disasters on the Peiho.
From Bombay, also, the advices have been very un-
favourable as respects prices, for they are consider-
ably lower for shirting's than at Calcutta; and the
season is drawing to a close, leaving, apparently, a
large amount of goods undisposed of to lay over.
LEEDS, lst.—The following is the trade report
by the Leeds Chamber of Commerce for the month
of May Woollen trade—Though by no means
brisk, there has been a steady amount of business
transacted during the great part of the month, both
in the warehouses and at the halls. Towards the
close there has been a lull in the demand, the re-
currence of cold ungenial weather having especially
checked to some extent the call for light summer
fabrics. Manufacturers still continue fairly em-
ployed, inclucl,ing those engaged in the production
of felted cloth's and sheathing. WoolL-During the
greater part of the time since the publication of the
previous month's report, the public sales of colonial
wools in London have been in progress, at which
the rates of the March series have been very firmly
established, with an advance' upon some descrip-
tions. The large quantity offered, exceeding 40,000
bales, has found a ready sale, competition having
been very brisk. The presence of an unusually
large number of foreign buyers has materially con-
tributed to this result. The hpme trade continues
steady, but owing to the backwardness of the sea-
son, and perhaps in part to the unsettled appear-
ance of foreign politics, there has not been as yet an
average quantity of new wool bought by the manu-
facturers. For wool of English growth the demand
has been very brisk, and stock in the hands of stap-
lers have been reduced to an exceedingly low quan-
, tity, and probably there was never at the commence-
ment of the new clip such a small quantity of old
wool left over as is the case this year. The new
markets consequently open at high' rates, and
buyers show great eagerness to secure any clips
pitched, 45s to 50s having been paid, the latter all
hogs. Flax—The market for the raw material has
been rather easier since last report, and prices are a
shade lower. The appearance Of the growing crop is
described on all sides as being very promising. For
yarns the demand has been steady at full prices,
more especially for low yarns, the Stocks of which
are reduced to a small compass. Zeather.--During
the past month this branch of local trade had ex-
perienced very little change. The recent season,
usually a quiet one, has been no exception to the
general rule, and the demand, though rather im-
proved since the previous month's report, is still
limited, buyers restricting their purchases to the
supply of their immediate wants. Prices remain
unaltered. Corn.—The show of wheat at our
markets during the month has been only moderate
in quantity,. especially of fine new red, which met
with better demand towards the middle of the
month, at an advance of ls. per quarter over pre-
vious rates. At the close of the month this de-
scription was scarce and firmly held, though the
demand had somewhat slackened. In other de-
scriptions but few transactions have taken place.
Prices of fine malting barley have been somewhat
irregular, maltsters having generally ceased buy-
ing. Grinding descriptiens have. sold slowly at
cheaper rates. Oats and beans have been in fair
demand, ,without any quotable change in value."