The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-02 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, Oct.l.—Prices continued to weaken

in this market up to last Saturday, when business
had fallen off considerably, owing to buyers reducing
their offers to ruinously low rates. Yesterday some
improvement manifested itself, owing to a turn for
the better in the Liverpool cotton market, and has

continued to-day, and there is reason to believe that
in the makes of cloth suitable to India and China

there has been a very fair amount of business done,

at prices decidedly better than could have been ob-
tained last week. Still the quotations of sellers are
yet below those of last Tuesday. After Tuesday the
prices of cloth and yarn fell fully id. per lb. up to
Saturday, and even an improved demand to-day has
failed to bring back the whole loss. Home-trade

qualities of yarn have hardly improved at all, but

buyers are rather more free in offering the rates of
last Friday for such goods as they stand in need of.

A telegram dated Calcutta, Sept. 23, reports a fair
business doing without change in price. Messrs. J.
Slagg and Co. report of this day's cloth market :
" Up to the end of last week prices showed a down-

ward tendency, with a greatly reduced business.

Yesterday and to-day there has been an improved
feeling and renewed business at rates quite unobtain-

able last week.

LEEDS, Ist.—There has been a moderate attend-
ance of buyers in the cloth-halls this morning, but
the tone of the market upon the whole was quiet.
Still the amount of business done was rather more
than last Tuesday. The selections were of a mis-

cellaneous character, but the chief goods sold were

tweeds, for some patterns of which there is a less
supply than demand, and heavy fabrics, including
black and indigo beavers, fine witneys, and other
fabrics in vogue. As to prices they arc steady, ex-
cept it be for any job lots of goods that are passing
out of season. The following is the trade report of
the Leeds Chamber of Commerce for the month of

September :—" Although in the woollen trade a
considerable amount of goods has been sold during
the month, yet, compared with former years, the
trade has been dull. Very little is being done by
the shipping houses, who are quieter than for some
time past. The manufacturers have, however, been
generally very fairly employed, but have very few
orders in hand, and unless there is an improvement in
the demand it is to be feared that many of the hands
will be out of work. The woollen cap trade is not so
good as before. The sales of wool which were in
progress at the date of the last report concluded on
the 21st ult., when upwards of 140,000 bales had
been sold. The total quantity catalogued in the
present year is 440,000 bales, against 380,000 in the
same period in 1865 and 1866. This increase and
the general dulness of trade are sufficient to account
for the low scale of prices which has prevailed in
nearly all descriptions, except good stapled Port
Philip and Sydney wools, which have been in brisk
demand throughout, at full rates. Some exception-
ally fine wools, got up for local exhibition at Mel-
bourne and at the Cape, brought unprecedentedly
high prices, ranging from 3s. 6d. to 4s. 10d. per lb.
The demand for home consumption has generally
been very languid. The foreign demand has fluc-
tuated considerably, but improved towards the close,
land not less than 45,000 bales are believed to have
been taken for export. There has been very little
done in flaxes in this market, stocks being very
small. Prices are without material change. Fine
tows are scarce and dear ; lower sorts are plentiful
and prices easier. There is very little demand for
yarns, and stocks are increasing. Some of the spin-
ners are working short time. Prices of yarns are
much the same, but are very low compared with the
cost of material. Threads are about the same as
before. The demand for manufactured iron is very
languid, and quite insufficient to keep all hands in
word, the railway companies buying as sparingly
as possible. There are very few orders for machinery
in hand, and many workmen are out of employ. The
engineer tool trade continues to be depressed. The
locomotive manufacturers are in much the same
position as the iron manufacturers. The cut nail
trade is without change. There has been a good de-
mand during the month for rapeseed and linseed, the
latter is dearer than last month, with every prospect
of an advance, owing to short supplies from the
Baltic. Rape oil is in good consumptive demand,
and rates are firmly maintained. Linseed oil is
scarce, and higher prices freely paid, Cakes are in
moderate request, as usual during harvest. Olive
oils are again dearer, with an upward tendency, as
present rates will not pay the importers. In leather
there is little change to note during the past month.
I Some articles are low in stock, and rates have ad-
vanced, but generally prices are unaltered. The
principal demand this week has been for the best
quality of butts and bends, light butts for the manu-
facturing purposes, light dressing goods, and thin
offal ; of the latter the market is completely bare,
and prices are stiffening. The tanners are rather
busier. There is no improvement to report iu the
shoe trade,which continues dull. For sanitary tubes,
fire-bricks, &c., the demand has improved, and the
makers are busier. As usual towards the end of the
quarter the paper trade has been quieter. Material
continues to be plentiful, at reasonable rates. There
has been a very good supply of cattle, and prices
have consequently fallen, particularly for sheep,
which are low compared with the prices of meat.
Number shown (four markets) :—Beasts, 2,069 ;
sheep, 17,100. Wheat has advanced 2s. to 3s. per
qr., owing to the unfavourable reports as to the
yield. Barley has been in good supply, and prices
tend downwards. Oats are without much change."
ROCHDALE, 30th.—The flannel market to-day
has been almost of a nominal character. The number
of buyers who were present were below the usual
attendance, and they purchased only a small quan-
tity of goods. The manufacturers report that their
orders on hand are low, and the trade altogether
wears a quiet aspect, Yorkshire goods, too, keep