The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-03 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

(From the Manchester Guardian of yesterday. )

Business has scarcely yet resumed its course after
the holidays. The attendance on 'Change has in-
deed been comparatively small.
The prices offered for the middle and lower
counts of yarns are rather below those a week
back, and buyers are able to do a little better for
themselves than they were then. Thisis more par-
ticularly the case with 16's to 28's warps, and 32's
cop twist, as well as with wefts of corresponding
numbers, and 40's twist in the bundle. In some of
these, the practical difference is now id. per lb., in
others Id. as compared with this day fortnight. On
the other hand, Nos. 4to 12, in both mule and
water remain steady. The dearness of Surat cotton
contributes to this steadiness. The spinners of 60's
and upwards are obliged to decline the very inade-
quate terms submitted to them. Double yarns are
still neglected, and weaker in price.
Forty-inch shirtings for the East may be had at a
decline of 14d. to 3d. per piece from the late full
quotations. The commercial and political advices
from both India and China tend to restrict bu9i-
ness, yet offers are made by merchants, but they
are mostly such as manufacturers are not prepared
to accept. Domestics, T's, longcloths, and printers
are not affected in an equal degree, but they are
inanimate, and whatever rates may be offered• are
slightly in the wrong direction ; producers, how-
ever, continue to bo remarkably firm.
The state of the raw material at the present mo.
ment is evidently affecting our market in some de-
gree, as is also the unsatisfactory aspect of political
affairs.

It is needful to direct attention to some circum-
stances in the struggle now going on between the
power-loom-weavers of Great Harwood and their
employers. The former sent a very respectful letter
the other day to the latter, requesting a conference,
by deputation, for the purpose of attempting an
agreement. Accordingly a meeting took place en
Saturday last. The representatives of the weavers
heard what the masters had to say,. and caudidlY
admitted that the grounds for the reduction for
wages were valid. Various terms of compromise
wars named and discussed ; and, at last, conditions
were agreed to on both sides, subject, however, to
ratification or otherwise on the Monday: -The par-
ties met again on Monday, when the representa-
tives of the hands stated the regret they felt at not
being allowed to confirm the previous provisional
agreement. Mr. Whittle, said they, with certain
delegates, had come over from Blackburn, and told
them that they had no power to settle matters ;
that it was the province of the committee to accept
or reject terms ; and that, on the part of that body,
he (Mr. Whittle) forbade them to resume work on
any abatement whatever from the old wages. So
these poor people are forbidden to earn their dsilY
bread by a knotof despots who could not pocket the
subscriptions of their dupes if they permitted theta
to manage their own affairs. But this is not the
worst result of the tyranny. It is attempted to
frighten the manufacturers into submission.. we
see that a reward of 501. is oflered for " such infor-
mation as will lead to the apprehension and con'
viction of some person or persons who, on Satur-
day night last, or early on Sunday morning, killed
a valuable cow, and cut and wounded in a most dan-
gerous manner an in-foal mare, both the propertY,
ofMr. R. Smith, manufacturer, Great Harwood.'
We learn, too, that threats of personal violence
have been conveyed to other manufacturers. It is
to be hoped that conduct so wicked, viewed in con'
nect.on with the intolerable dictation above de'
scribed, will open the eyes of all well-disposed and
thoughtful weavers at Harwood to the degrading
and ruinous character of the despotism which rules
them with an iron hand. If it be true (and we
fear it is) that many shopkeepers and others sub-
scribe to the funds of the mischievous association
referred to, we beg them to reflect that they 'are
actually participators in its guilt.

(From the Wolverhampton, Chronicle of yesterday.)
The mills and forges of the district have been for
the most part suspended during nearly the, whole
of last week, consequent upon the general holiday.
The official returns of the exports for the month
ending April 30 were issued last week, showing
revival ; and the improved tone in trade, as noticed
in our last week's article, is still maintained ; ,und
now that political matters wear a more settled t?'
pect, and the prospects of a dissolution of Parb
went are at an end, at least for a time, things will,
we hope, continue to improve. Our expectation°
are based upon the facts that there is an abundano.e
of money in the market, and orders are coming 111
rather more freely from America and the Contl"
nent. The requirements for India are increasing,
and orders from thence are in the market for -canon°
sorts of merchant iron. Good mine pigs are rest'
rising 31. 15s. per too, except in few instanceSt
where parties are obliged by necessitous circunr
stinces to sell, if their furnaces are to be kept in
blast. Some of the furnaces that were blown out
doting the late panic are again in operation, whiabo
it is to be hoped, is a symptom of further improve'
went. The coal trade is languid, but the price'
generally speaking, is firmly maintained ; and, ag._
we are fast approaching Midsummer-day, there
.19
no likelihood of prices receding. Gubbin and nor
mine ironstone is in good request, especially ele
.
former, and 16s. 6d. per ton for good qualities
readily obtained. There is a tendency to improve
meat in the labour market, especially west of Po
ley—a district not troubled during the late dies!,
ters to the extent that some others were. There 11
good reason to believe that the worst is past ; 1113'
that ere long we shall recover from the monotonOl
and dull condition which has been the elite
characteristic of the trade during the quartz r.