The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-15 00:00:00

TIIFINEW RUSSTANRAILWAYS.

Those persons who have resolved not 'to specu-
late in Russian railroads will applaud their own
judgment when they read the subjoined extract
from a letter addressed by thie late Count Ficquel-
' mont, who for many years was Austrian Minister
at St Petersburg 'to the late Marshal Marmont,
Duke of Ragusa : •
" There ape persons who believe that the construction
of railroads would change the face of this country (Rug:
tie), by bringing the places of production and those of
exporta'ion nearer to each other. Doubtless rail-
roads would be beneficial for the landed proprie-
tors, but would the profit be in proportion to the ex-
pense of constructing and of keeping in repair such
railroads ? General Destrem, a skilful engineer, and
a man who is more competent than any other to give
an opinion on everything that concerns Russia, bas
clearly proved that the keeping in repair of (Russian)
railroads will always be too expensive. As the soil, even
in the so-mlled south, freezes to a depth of four feet,
would not the thaw continually throw the rails out of
their horizontal position ? Besides, what labour and
how much money would be required for repairs that
would have to be made at such enormous distances.
" I can well understand that such roads are made in
countries which Are so. rich that private companies can
undertake to construct them. It is a good method of in-
vesting capital, and it besides enables people to travel
more economically ; but is such the case when States
must borrow money in order to make them ? As the
interest on loans necessitates an augmentation of the
taxes, tilt se-who do not travel are obliged to pay a part of
the expenhoi of those persons who make use of the rail-
roads. This would be more especially the case in Russia,
where the Stats can :lone construct railways. The time
which elapsed before the St. Petersburg line was com-
pleted proved that bogs are even greater impediments to
the construction of railroads than mountains."

Theletter from which the foregoing passages are
taken is dated February 14, 1851, and is contained
in the ninth value of the Memoirs of the Duke of
Ragusa.

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, Aram 14.

The yarn market cootinues very firm, with a har-
dening tendency, in fact spinners have in many cases
raissd their quotations from to 4 per lb. Shippers
continue to purchase freely, even at advanced rates. In
cloth there is little or no change ; a very firm feeling
exists, which is maintained by the high price of cotton
and yarns.

NOTTINGHAM, Arum 14.
The bome demand for hce continues good, but the
holydays are interfering with business this week. Plain
nets are in request at high prices, and there are signs of
improvement in the fancy and silk branches. The price
of silk and cotton-is still very high.
The hosiery trade has been active for a considerable
period, and is still in a satisfactory state.
Worsted yarns and silk are exceedincly dear.
LEICESTER, APRIL 14.
We are in the midst of the Ilts.er holydays, and
therefore there is not much doing. In most branches
business is q iiet. Up to the present time the opera-
tives have been tolerably employed, and as stocks are
lqco anything like a demand will cause briskness in the
labour-market.

LEEDS, APRIL 14.
There has been a little more inquiry for light materials
suitable for spring, but in the other branches of the
woollen cloth trade no improvement has been manifested
since Saturday. The holyday seasons generally in-
fluence business, and this morning there was only a
small attendance of purchasers at the cloth-halls. The
transactions were few, and a quiet tone prevailed.
The inclemency of the weather tends to retard the
demand fur summer goods.

HUDDERSFIELD, APRIL 14.
The cloth trade of this district has rather retrograded,
the improvement noticed last week not having been
maintained. Teem have only been a small number of
buyers in the town, who have principally bought odd
lots, at a little reduction in price, or have contented
themselves with looking out for new patterns. There is
no auircatiou in any branch of the trade. ,