The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-07 00:00:00

sign markets, which have been closed, and I dare say
!fore many weeks elapse we shall find some of the large
which have been engaged in casting cannon, shot,
shell to blow d Sebastopol, will be employed in
inn and manufacturing articles of a far different de-
;ription for the Czar and his subjects. Before the war
se certainly made a great deal of valuable machinery
for Russia, and there were some lucrative orders in comes
' execution when they were suspended by hostilities.
a the copper and hemp trades of Russia this district
s c*siderably interested, and a change of prices in these
articles of general utility may speedily be anticipated.
The iron masters, as I apprised you in my last letter,
resolved, on the 27th, to uphold the quotations of last
quarter ; and, as you may suppose, the recent important
event has not caused theta to alter their decision. On
the contrary, they are more sanguine than before, and
additional orders for the home market are reported. It
has been stated this evening that the demand for iron
during the week has been increased, and that there will
be no difficulty whatever in maintaining the prices at the
forthcoming ineetitg. Indeed, there cannot be any doubt
upon that point, even if the Eastern question had main•
tained the Beau 200, as it would have been impossible to
reduce the price of made iron; and uphold the price of
pigs and wages at their present stands, d. The iran trade
of South Staffordshire may, theref ire, on the whole, be
reported in a sound state, and likely to furnish ample
employment t iroughout the summer' to the numerous
hands depending on it. Before the war our manufac-
turers were in the habit of sending out a great quantity
of plates to Prussia and Rus-ii, ; and, if I am correctly
informed, the merchants formerly engaged in trade with
St. Petersburg, are already in the market inst;tuting, in-
quiries relative to prices, &c.
A few weeks, and we shall find a decided change for
the better, but no permanent improvement can take
place until the Bank screw is loosened. It is filly to ex
pect we can carry on trade with such rates of discount
as we now pay, and the sooner the gentlemen in Thread-
needle-street look to it the better. It we are to prep:ire

for the foreign markets, and enter upon a fair competi-
tion with the French and German makers, it is not wits,
such mi,erabls limited accommodation as our bankers
now give, and at such ruinous rates of intere t, that it
can be d ,ne ; m .re money on easier terms we must have,
if the machinery of this immense hive is to be kept in

motion.
In the general hardware trade there is also an improve-
meat reported, and prices rather advancing. The April
lists sent in from the manufacturers to the merchants do
not show any giving way, nor can there be any material
reduction made so long as the raw material maintains
its present price. By some it is thought that the impor-
tation of Russian copper will lead to an alteration in the
price of that article, and it is not without reason that
this opinion is formed. When we ceased importing it,
two years ago, our..own mine-owners and others directed
their best energies to make np for the deficiency, and
many new mines were set to work at vast expense, and
with improved machinery. A large supply was the result,
and it is not unreasonable to suppose that importation to
any considerable extent, with such increased means of sup-
ply at home, will soon lead to large stocks, and reduced
prices. If such be the result, most welcome will the
change be to the manufacturers who have long suffered
from the monopoly of the smelters. To the small makers,
the enormous high price of copper has been ruinous, and
deprived many of the means of continuing their shops.
The same applies but with too much truth to the article
of tin. It also stands in need of a reduction before any
ease can be afforded to the immense number of poor
people depending on the trade. The jewellery trade is
still dull, and holds out no encouragemeant to the hands
employed in it elsewhere to come to armingham.
Superior chasers are not numerous, but of ordinary
hands there are sufficient in the town to execute the
orders. At the works of the large coach and waggon
builders there is increased activity fir executing foreign
and home orders, and owing to the return of peace,
strong hopes are held out to the men in these branches,
, that they may not unreasonably look forward to con-
siderable animation in their trade during the . warner.—
, Morning .Adrertiser.