The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-25 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE•

MANCHESTER, Dec. 24.—The yarn and cloth
market has been exceedingly dull and inactive, with
prices a good deal depressed. In shipping yarns
there has been very little business, and spinners
have found that to effect sales they would have to
take lower prices. Yarns suitable to the Continental
markets have been in some request, at prices rather
below current rates ; but sellers, as a rule, adhere
to their own quotations, and but little trade has
resulted. For China yarn the market has been
languid. Spinners are holding with more steadiness
to their quotations for these goods, believing that
prices will not go much lower, notwithstanding a
decline of *d. to ed. per lb. since the close of last
Week in cotton. Cop yarns for the home trade have
not been in general demand. Yarns suitable for
India shirtings—such as 32's twist and 30's to 40's
Weft—have been in fair request, but other descrip-
tions have been neglected. There has not been
much done in cloth. Flat as the cloth market
generally is at Christmas it ►s duller and quieter
than usual, and there is a tendency to lower prices.
The India and China advices are bad, and it
transpires that heavy losses have been incurred
in these markets, so that merchants here are a
good deal discouraged, and refrain from making
Offers. Cloths generally are flat, and prices weaker.
Alessrs. John Slagg and Co. report of the cloth
market :—" We have to report a very quiet week,
with a tendency to lower prices ; but as manufac-
turers are mostly engaged, there is not much pres-
sure to sell. Usually at this period of the year
very little business is transacted, and this may to
some extent account for the want of animation
which now characterises our market."

CARDIFF, 23.—The steam coal proprietors of the
district are doing a fair amount of business, prin-
cipally on foreign account, and, if expectations are
realised, requirements will gradually increase from
some of the:markets. Advices from the East confirm
previous reports that, despite the rather large sup-
plies sent out there, stocks are by no means heavy.
Freights are moderately well maintained, although
there is no particular activity evinced, the tonnage
offering being equal to the wants of shippers. Coal
rates to Aden are quoted 455. per ton ; Bombay,
40s. ; Mauritius, 325. ; and Alexandria, 16s. 6d.
French houses continue large purchasers, Nantes,
Marseilles, Rouen, and Havre being among the
principal markets. The trade is chiefly carried on
iti French vessels, which are able to accept lower
rates than British ships. For the West Indies
there is a moderate demand, and to the South
4-tuerican markets the shipments have been
about the average. Iu house qualities business
is comparatively quiet, and quotations have not
111 Proved. usual dulness is evinced in all
branches
of the iron trade, and at the works em-
i'LlTri,,nt keeps irregular. Tin plates are selling
slowly, and prices show a downward tendency.
LEEDS, 21T1L—The markets in the cloth-halls
this morning have been almost of a nominal
eharacter. The few buyers present were indis-
posed to do almost any business, except on
very advantageous terms. The market, indeed,
wasquite of a holyday character to-day, being the
gay before the great Christian holyday of the year
l
lough there is a quiet feeling throughout the
woollen cloth trade of this town and district, there
is rather more business doing than we had to re
port a mouth ago, and a feeling of hopefulness
that there will be a further improvement in the
ensuing month generally prevails. -
a