The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-11 00:00:00

STATE OF THE PEOPLE.

(From the Derbyshire Coirier.)
When an improved state of the money market
is raising the hopes of commercial men, and im.
parting increased confidence to trade in general,
there is a large portion of the community who have,
as yet, derived little advantage from the antici-
pated improvement of affairs.
The pernicious effects of a monetary crisis, as they
do not immediately reach the operative and la-
bourer, continue longer to exercise a depressing in-
fluence on his condition.

The iron trade, which six months ago was in so
firm and satisfactory a condition, is suffering greatly
from the failures of many manufacturers, and the
suspension of orders. The Times report from Bir-
mingham states that " in the vicinity of Oldbury,
Bilstoo, and other country neighbourhoods, the
roads ara crowaed with colliers and furnace-men
out of work, or only partially employed."
Of Birmingham itself, where the paper money
system has been supposed to have met with so muck
encouragement, we are told that " after all the dia.
asters which within these few weeks have occurred

n the neighbourhood and throughout the country,
it may congratulate itself on having weathered the
storm without any material damage to commercial
credit." The banks are said to " have exercised
great liberality and forbearance" throughout the
late crisis, and in no instance, it is understood,
" has their confidence been abused." The state of
Nottingham is most lamentable. The number of
inmates of the workhouse has increased since the
last week in 1856, by 257 ; the numbers being in
1856 553, and in the last week in 1857, 810. The
total number of persons depending on the Union in
1847 was, 4,950. The number now being relieved
amounts to 5,786, being an increase of 836 persons.
In Leicester, great numbers of the operatives ere
out of employment. In Bradford, " the stoppage
of machinery and working short time are telling
with increased severity upon the labouring classes. '
The number of persons receiving parochial relief
was at the close of 1856, 3,177, it is now 5,072—
being an increase of 1895.
At Halifax and Kidderminster a little improve..
meat. At Norwich, " not half so many opera.
tives at work as last year at this time."
The state of Spitalfields is most wretched.
Worse it is said than in 1847, though food was
then so dear, and indeed worse than it has been
at any time during the past 30 years,
It is evidently the intention of Government to
leave things to " come round" as they may. The
poor man may pawn or sell his tools or his looin, or
he may break up his home and come into the work-
house. There are many operatives in England at
this moment, who l we not for many weeks had
any bther food than bread with a little tea or
coffee. Now these are the things which naturally
result from a rapid and violent depreciation of
prices caused by the working of Peel's monetary
system. These are parts of the operation of the
Bank Charter Act, which Lord Overston.e tells us
'X he " never took into consideration."

But these are exactly things which, first and
above all, a Government and a legislature is bound
to take into consideration. The way in which
every law will affect the working classes, the great
body of the English people, should in every enact-
ment be the primary object of regard.
If by any unexpected and extraordinary deprea-
sion of trade the great mass of the people are de-
prived of employment, and therefore of the proper
means of subsistence, it is the duty of a Government,
by extraordinary means, to meet the emergency.
We warn the Government that the let alone
'4 policy cannot be carried out with safety to the na-
tional institutions. •
Our own opinion is clear enough that the exist-
g distress is the creation of panic-mongers and

usurers. But whatever the cause, liberal grid im-
mediate assistance should be extended to the poor
man, who, without any fault of his own, is reduced
to a state of suffering and destitution.

Country Markets.

DALKEITH GRAIN MARKET-JAN. 7.

Qrs. Best. Current. Inferior
% 451 Wheat 50s Od 3Bs 7d ......... 25s 6d
1675 Oats 26s 6d_ 2ls 7d ... ...... 163 Od
' 1218 Barley 33s 6cl 2ss lld
40 Peas & beans 38s Od . 35s Oid 34s Od

HADDINGTON GRAIN MARKET—JAN. 8.
win A.T. sansy I OATS. I BRAN O.
First 46s Od 34a 6d 27s Od I 37s Od
Second 3Bs 5d 27s 8d ) 22s 2d 134 9d.
Third 29s Od 22s 01 119 s 6d i 31s Od
Total quantity of wheat in market, 719 qrs., 599 sold
barley „ 1076 qr5.,1064 sold
oats ~ 424 qrs., 417 sold
PP beans ft 93 qrs., 80 sold
AVERAGES PER impritTAL QUARTER.

OP 0

Wheat, 1/.113---6-3-l2ths Barley, : 1/. 7 8 1-12tba
Oats, 11. 2 2 3.l2ths Beans, 1L 14 9 9-12th

ABERDEEN—JAN. 8.
Potato oats 19s 01 to 20a Od 1401bs par bushel
Common oats 188 Od to 18a fid
Bere 23s Od to 25s Ods3lba
Barley 23s Od to 25s Od
Wheat, red (spring)3os Od to 33s Od
white 2BB Od to 44s Od 621bs
Oatmeal 15s Od to I.'B Od per boll.
Flour 3fis Od to 39s Od per sack.

PROVISION MARKET.
Beef, per lb 5d to 8d Butter, p lb. I —d to is Oa
,1/4 Mutton, per lb. lsdto 8d Eggs, p doz. Os 8d to Os 9a
Lamb, do., Os 5d to Os 8d I Hens, p pair 3s Od to 3s 6d
• Veal, per lb ... 5d to Os 8 Chickens,do.2s Od to 2s Gd
- Pork, perlb...os Od to Os Od Ducks, do., Is 61 to 2. Od
tit Salmon, per lb .........Os Od Ducklings,do 2s Od to 2s 61
r% Grouse, por brace Os to Os I Turkeys, each Os Od to Os 011
- Tallow, p stone, Os to —s 01 Potatoes, pr peck, --(1 to I.OCI
Pab bi ts, each 7d to Bd.
- Butter for exportation (present cure) per cwt....86s to 1001
Eggs, wholesale price, per dozen
RETAIL PRICES.
F10ur,14113....0s Od to 2s 2d Barley f10ur,141b.06 to is 84
Oatmeal Os Od to is 7d I „ dust, ..... Oa to Os 104
Ice. Beremeal ....0s Od to is 6d „ per lb 2d to 20
I
Peasemeal... Os Od to 2s 4d Sids,
Tel
Cheese, per imperial stone, 4s. Od. to Is Gd
Fos , 4-lb. 10af...6d. 1 2-lb. loaf...lds

Os DUBLIN, JAN. 8.
os There was a moderate suyply of grain at market to-daft
' o and our quotations of Tuesday were fully supported.
Os l7s In Indian corn rather more business doing.
Os White wheat, 28s Od to 30s 6d ; red ditto, 24s Od to 280
Los Od; ditto new, —s Od; barley, malting, 15s to 19a Od; grind-
Lis —a to —s ; oats, old, 12s 6d to 15s; ditto, new, ---0
Os Od to —a 01; oatmeal, lls to 15s Od; bere, new, its to 1511
,o Od ; rapeseed, 23s Od to 25s Od per brl ; bakers' flour, OS
" Od to 22s Od per cwt; Indian corn, 315 0.1 to 32s 6d pig
iis
oi 480 lbs.
,t 105 4