The Sun.
London, England, 1869-12-27 00:00:00

This Day. I LIFEBOAT SERVICES ON CHRISIMA.S
DAY.

The 'Lelia, lifeboat of the National Lifeboat
Institution, was hunched, about one o'clock, this
:norning, to the assistance of a vessel which had
gone on the Holm Sand, says Mr John Henderson,
chief officer of Coast Guard. The life-boat was
towel to the spot by the Rainbow steam-
tug, and was haiipily succ3ssful iu bringing
safely ashore the master and crew of nine men from
the wreck, which proved to be that of the schooner
Agathe Siheilbers, of and from Stettin, for Bor-
deaux, with timber.

DROGHEDA (11:ELAND), Dec. 25

The brig Englishman, of Workington, and the
schooner Louisa Jane, of Drogheda, while running
for the river Boyne, became unmanageable through
a sudden change of the wind, drove on the South
Bull in a heavy sea, about one o'clock this morning
(states the chief officer of Coastguard, Mr. Win.
Fackrell). The lifeboat Old George Irlam, of
Liverpool, belonging to the Lif.lboat Society, imme-
diately proceeded to them, and found the brig had
injured her stern-post, and that the water was
gaining on her rapidly. The master and crew of five
men therefore gladly availed themselves of the aid
of the lifeboat, and were landed all safe. The
schooner's crew preferred to remain by their vessel,
as she was not leaking and the tide was ebbing.
itAMSGATE, Sunday.

The Ramsgate lifeboat Brad.ord and steam-tug
Aid went out yesterday and the day before on ser-
vice (reports Capt. Shaw, the harbour master). On
the first trip their aid was not required, the endan-
gered vessel having been extricated from her peril-
ous position by a steam-tug before their arrival.
On the second occasion, however, when the lifeboat
and steamer proceeded off to the Goodwin Sands
on Christmas morning, in a strong and squally
wind, with heavy falls of snow, they were instru-
mental, with the help of the steam-tug Palmerston,
in getting the ship Constancios, of Bremen, off the
Sands, and in taking her and her crew of 26 men
safely into Ramsgate harbour.

STATE OF TRADE.

BARNSLEY, Dec. 24.—There has been rather
more activity dating the week at the ironworks and

collieries in South Yorkshire. Plates and rails are

still in good request, and there are some fair orders
in hand for tires and axles. The Bessemer steel
works continue very Lusy, and will for some time

with the present contracts. There is a very fair
demand for house coal for London, and as the Bal-
i,: ports hava kept, free from ice rather later than
usual, a good trade is being done in steam quali-

ties to Grimsby ; but there is not so much doing
with Hull. There has been a slight improvement

iu some branches of the linen trade during the past

week.

BIRMINGHAM, 25tb.—The trade of this town went
fiat suddenly at the beginning of the week, and

although they kept on working at many of the

manufactorie3, at the majority of them only a mo-
derate amount was done. A good part of next
week the works will be partially closed.
BRADFORD, 25th.—During the past week there
has been an improved tone mauifested, with rather
more business, in every branch of the worsted trade,
affording to the more hopeful an encouraging
look of a revival of bu3icess early in the new year.
En some classes of wool, such as fine Stafford and

north country hogs and bright-haired sorts, prices
are extremely firm, and in some kinds, such as blue
and fine drawing, there is a hardening tendency iu
price. In worsted yarns there is rather more ac•
tivity in some departments, especially two-folds,
and prices, which have a stiffening tendency, are
more readily conceded. There is a good trade

doing on home account, though the prices given
are hardly remunerative. A steady business is
done in the piece market, and prices are firm.
NEWCASTLE-ON TYNE, 25 th. —No twiths ta tiding
that at Christmas time trade is generally flack in
the north-eastern district, this year it keeps won-

derfully brisk, and so hard praised with work are
some of the large engine factories, that one or two
of them have been obliged to keep their hands at
work to-day, which is a very unusual circum-
stance indeed. Tha-coal trade is very brisk, and
the steam coal trade, which reckons this the dullest
period of its year, is doing well. There is an active
demand for collier vessels, and on account of the
northerly winds detaining sailing vessels on their
passage down, freights are good. The imports into
the Tyne are well kept up, and there have been
heavy deliveries of Esparto in the Tyne dock this
month. A number of large vessels are in the Tyne
at present. The demand for the Mediterranean is
pretty good, but at present there is not a great
amount of business doing for distant voyages.

NEWPORT (Mosmounisitin), 25.—The Christ-
mas holidays have interfered with business this
week to a considerable extent, and since Wednes-
day but little work has been done at either the iron
or coal works. The latest American advices are
more favourable as to future requirements, and if
there is no interference with the tariff it is evident

that early in the New Year shipments to the United
States will further increase. The orders now in
course of execution are chiefly American and Ita-
lian. Home business is characterised by quietude,
which is not unusual at this period of the year.
There is no change in the quotations for bars. In

tia plates there is but a small amount of business
doing. Stocks are materially reduced as compared
with three months ago, and it is believed that there
will shortly be an improvement in the American
demand. Steam coal proprietors are able to keep
their pits fairly employed, and for house qualities
there is a full average coasting inquiry.
24th.—Business in the lace trade
has on the whole been quiet during the week, owing
to most houses being engaged in stock taking. In

the value of goods generally there is no alteration.
There is very little doing in brown nets, but manu-
facturers still maintain the late advanced prices.
In the silk department there is a slight improve-
ment, but makers still complain of the scarcity of
orders. There has been more business doing in
the hosiery trade during the past week in conse-
quence of the hardening price of yarns, and there
is a better demand for the American trade. More
orders are also placed for the home market, and,
on the whole, business may be reported in a more
satisfactory state.
SHEFFIELD, 24th.---This being what is generally
known as "bull" week (the week before Christmas)
the men in almost all branches of the Sheffield
trades have been working overtime. Most of the
shops will now be closed for several days. The
prospects of the new year aro encouraging.
There promises to be a goof trade in cutlery, and
a much improved demand for files and for some de-
scriptions of edge tools. Should the unfortunate
difficulty which at present exists as to the invoic-
ing of steel for the American markets soon become
settled, the new year will in all probability see a
very active trade in that class of goods. The
Bessemer royalty will run out in February, and it
is expected that this will have an important bear-
ing upon the trade in steel. Not much improve-
ment can be expected in the demand for saws,
which for some time past has been of a most languid
character.

WOLVERHAMPTON, 25th.—There is a steadily
maintained demand for coal and slack throughout
the district, and sellers are firm in their quotations.
Limestone is 6d. per ton higher. The pig-iron trade
sustains the improvement recently reported, best
brands being especially sought for. An addition
to the number of furnaces in blast is contemplated
by the Earl of Dudley and other large producers.
There is no change in the finished iron department,
buyers withholding orders for distribution until
of to the preliminary meeting. The tin-plate trade
is quiet. Manufactured hardwares are improving.
Industrial operations in the district, which were
were
suspended yesterday (Friday) for the Christmas
hulydays, are now virtually over for the year.

11. WALKER's NEEDLES (by authority), the
"Queen's Own," treble-pointed, with largo eyes, easy to
thread, and Patent Ridges to open the Cloth, are the best
Needles. Packets is. ; post free of any dealer.—ll.
WALKER is Patentee of the Penelope Crochets, and Maker
of Improved Sewing Machine Needles, Fish Hooks, Sea
Reels, Hooks and Eyes, Scc.—Aleester, and 47, Gresham-
street' London,