The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-10 00:00:00

ri-)mo-li 4D. STAMPED :sr.

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, Nov. 8
The reaction in the cotton-market has led to ex-
treme caution among buyers of goods here, from
an impression that prices must give way ; and this
result has followed to scone extent in yarns, which
like cotton, are Id. per lb. below the extreme rates
attained eight or ten days ago. Spinners have
been easier to deal with, perhaps because many
who have had engagements are coming out of order,
and find it difficult to secure new contracts. The
aggregate of the week's transactions is inconsider-
able. In cloth, there is rather more business,
though iu most kinds for shipping the demand is
very sluggish. For light printers there is still a
fair demand from the home trade, calico printers
'being mostly. well engaged, as they have been for
some months past, notwithstanding the dearness of
madder, indigo, and other dyes and drugs, aslvell
as of the fabrics required. In heavy domestics,
longcloths, and T-cloths, there is not much busi-
ness, and shirting cloths are neglected. Manufac-
turers, however, are mostly engaged to order, and
maintain prices with much steadiness.
BIRMINGHAM, Nov. 8.
There is little alteration in the state of the South
Staffordshire iron trade, the leading firms baying,
been according to all authentic accounts, in no de-
gree affected by the failure of Messrs. Fox and
Henderson and the consequent embarrassment of
dependent founders. Few new or extensive orders
have been I t )ught.into the district, but first-class
houses are well employed and evince no disposition
to !recede from last quarter-day's prices. The de-
mands of the United States, as usual in the autumn
and the approach of winter, are limited, and there
appears little probability of an increase until .the
arrival of spring. There is fair, but not an im-
moderate supply of mine pigs, but cinder pigs don-
Untie in excess, and as a consequence sales are
forced at reduced rates. It is stated that there is
no foundation for the report that any meeting of
the pig makers, with a view to arrangements ()con-
nected- with the state of the trade, has been in con-
templation this quarter.
The coal trade of South Staffordshire and East
Worcestershire is increasingly active, but as TO
there has been no advance to' the furnaces, nor
from the pits to domestic consumers. The great
iron foundries of the neighbourhood remain com-
paratively quiet. The determination of the cre-
ditors of Messrs. Fox and Henderson at the meeting
held in this town yesterday has afforded pretty
general satisfaction, although it cannot be denied
that there are creditors who doubt whether the
estate will realise the amount anticipated.
The last few days have witnessed some improve-
ment in several branches of the trade and manu-
factures of Birmingham. Brass-foundry—one; if
not its chief, staple manufacture—takes the lead.
The brass bedstead makers are represented as being
busy, and:one or two of the largest establishments
aro at work overtime. The better descriptions are
required for abroad, and of the commoner descrip-
tion of metal bedsteads considerable quantities are
required for the army at home as well as in the
colonies. The stove manufacture continues to be
brisk, and the patent 'safe trade has greatly in-
creased. The grate manufacture is dull, while the
fire-iron business is represented as being far from
active. The hollow ware trade, although mode-
rately good, is less brisk, owing to the stocks' in
hand in Australia, arid the great falling off which
has taken place in the exports to those colonies.
The tin ware business, notwithstanding the late
advance in the pride of the material, continues re-
markably busy, and the patent enamel branch is
proportionably active. The paper furniture manu-
facture, as distinguished from the papier mache, is
extremely active. The increased demand is chiefly
for first-class articles. The manufacture of the
best qualities of japannery goods is dull, the trade
being injured both as regards the character of the
articles produced and the profits of the manufacture
by the numerous mock auctions established in all
parts of the country. The lamp trade continues
good, and the chandelier manufacture has upon the
whole been tolerably active. There have been
some extensive orders for the East and the Med

terranean.
The factors of this town and Wolverhampton
represent the country trade in hardware slightly
improving. The commerce which existed in moist
of the principal seaports has within the last few
months declined to some extent 1 but in Liverpool
there has been an increase. In the north the im-
provement has been most marked. In the agri-
cultural counties of the kingdom business with the
Birmingham houses is at the present time rather
slack.