The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-20 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

BARNSLEY, Jan. 17.—Although the men at the
various ironworks have accepted the ten per cent.
reduction, still several of the large establishments
remain closed. At Milton and Elsecar, with the
exception of the blast furnaces, the rail and other
mills, as well as every other branch, are standing.
The demand for coal continues very quiet for
the season, there not being so much doing in
household qualities for London and the southern
depots.

BIRMINGHAM, 18th.--The reports in reference to
the state of trade in this town are still unsatisfac-
tory. Although some of the manufacturers are
tolerably well engaged, the bulk of them are very
moderately employed, and in many instances the
men are not making more than half or two-thirds
time. The complete prostration prevailing in the
trade of the United States forbids the hope that
there will be much done with that quarter this

spring.
BRADFORD, 18th.—The week opened with the
better feeling so apparent on the previous Thurs-
day, but this disappeared as the week advanced,
and at the second and principal market on Thurs-
day last there was great languor in the wool trade.
The demand for the home trade is very small.
Prices continue weak and irregular. The slight
improvement last week apparent in piece goods
has hardly been maintained during this. Prices
are, on the whole, rather steadier than they have
been.

DUNDEE, 17th.—Extreme dulness is still the pre-
vailing tone of trade here, any transactions of greater
than trivial extent having only been induced by the
acceptance of still lower prices than yet quoted.
Flax, especially fine brands, owing to the great
barrenness of the local market, and the stoppage of
arrivals from the chief sources of supply, is firmly
held at about former prices, but spinners generally
prefer the alternative of making further stoppages
of machinery to that of going on spinning in excess
of present demand, while the price of raw material
is at such a dangerously high level. Tows of good
quality and strength are also not plentiful on the
spot, and maintain their value; commoner varieties
are not readily saleable, and would be sold cheaper.
Of jute the finer qualities command fully last week's
rates, but medium and common are about 10s. per
ton cheaper ; at these prices a moderate business
continues to be done.
HALIFAX, 18th.—A slight improvement is notice-
able in the worsted trade. Two or three firms who
have been working short time have resumed full
employment; and there is a better demand for
fine damasks, table covers, and some other classes
of goods. Yarn spinners are scarcely any busier
than they have been for a long time, but their
stocks are low. The yarns most in demand are
those known as genapes, which are steady, but low
in price. In wools there is a quiet business doing ;
but staplers complain of the lowness of prices, while
farmers who still hold stocks are stiff in their de-
mands. The woollen and the cotton trades of the
district are far from being active, but they are not
so much depressed as they were a short time ago.
The carpet trade remains moderately active, and
most of the hands are well employed.
HUDDERSFIELD, 18th.---The reports from both
woollen cloth manufacturers and merchants here
this week are quite as good as those of the past
month—indeed, upon the whole, they are rather
better. There is more inquiry for spring goods, and
of such some moderate orders are in the course of
execution, but the purchases have not been large
during the week. Some fair parcels have been pur-
chased by the representatives of Canadian houses,
and there is reason to believe that a good trade will
be done in the better class of fabrics for our North
American colonies generally. We cannot report
the yarn trade to be more active than of late, but

spinners are quite as well employed as they have
been for the past three months. The local wool
trade keeps quiet, but prices are steady.
LEEDS, 18th.—The woollen cloth ;trade of this
town remains quiet. The business of the week in
the public markets, as well as in the cloth-halls, has
rather exceeded that of last week, but 'not to so
great an extent as to denote an increased activity
in the trade as a whole. The quietness appertains
to both the home and the export trades. If there

be any exception as to the latter, it is as respects
the demand for spring goods from Canada, of which
a toleratiy large amount has been purchased and
ordered this week. To-day's markets in the cloth-
hails have been moderately well attended, but there
was no great disposition shown to purchase goods.
anything
in bulk for the season.
command the most
Buyers seem disposed to wait till nearer spring
Tbewfoereedstlalend ypluigrchhtasfeanc an;
fabrics
attention, and the manufacturers of such goods are
well employed. The demand for ordinary plain
cloths keeps flat, but; the best qualities of blacks
may be said to be in fair demand, considering the
Period of the year. No change of importance is
noticeable in the prices of wool, woollen yarns, or
cloths.

lBth.—A good deal of business has
MANCHESTER,
been done in both cloth and yarn this week, but
more especially during the last three days. No
doubt the rise in cotton, commencing on Thurs.
day, has brought the holders of orders for yarns and
cloth rather more precipitately upon the market,
and there is reason to fear that they have con-
sented to give higher prices than prudence would
dictate. Sellers of shirtings yesterday and this
morning have been able to realise an advance of

4id per piece, and in some cases they are demanding
fully double that amount of advance. The advance

is not great when compared with what we have

_ -
been accustomed to during the exceptional years of
trade arising out of the cotton famine, when cotton

chiefly ranged at prices of half-a-crown per lb.
down to (in the earlier months of this year) MI. ;
but now that middling Orleans has touched lid.
per lb., it is doubtful if such violent and sudden

fluctuations can be sustained, or, at least, if they
will be found consistent with a sound and healthy
business. The improvement is chiefly due to the

improvement of one market (that of Chit-A), and the
. .

shipments have already been extensive, while large
contracts are in band for future export, In the