The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-04 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER, March 3.—We have had a very
quiet market in yarn and cloth to-day, at a decline
of id. to id. per lb. upon the prices of Friday. A
telegram reporting an improvement in the Liver-
pool cotton-market, about noon, caused a firmer
feeling, and led to the close of bargains under nego-
tiation, but the transactions have been few, and only
a very limited business has been done. The decline
in price extends to all classes of goods.
CARDIFF, March 2.—Shipments of steam coal
have not as yet reached the average at this period
of the year, and this may be said to be mainly owing
to the dispute lately existing between proprietors
and their workmen. The strike in this district may
be said to be at an end ; but the quantity of coal
sent down for shipment is not sufficient to meet the
orders on the books, consequently the sidings at the
docks have not, as is generally the case, a large
number of trucks laden with coal waiting for ship-
ment. Arrivals also have not been more than
sufficient for the supply, and as the store is very
short and clearances are rapidly effected there is a
probability of something like activity prevailing in
a short time, as the number of vessels entered out-
wards is larger than has been known for some time,
and shippers are not short of orders for several of
the foreign markets. France continues to purchase
largely, and has now become one of the best cus-
tomers for steam coal. Some GovernMent contracts
arc expected to be given out ; and, although there
has been a slight falling off in the exports during
the past fortnight or three weeks, future prospects
are far from unfavourable. 'There is no actual im-
provement to notice in the iron trade, but inquiries
are more numerous than they have been for some
time, and there are good reasons for anticipating
an improvement in the demand. In tin plates the
late improvement is fully maintained.
LEEDS, March 3.—The markets in the cloth-
halls to-day, like these of Saturday, were quiet.
There was a moderate attendance of buyers, includ-
ing some from Glasgow and Ireland, and represen-
tatives of Bradford, Huddersfield, and other ship-
ping houses, but they bought very cautiously, con-
fining their operations to small selections of goods.
Tweeds, low meltons, and white diagonals were the
chief goods sold. A little improvement was notice-
able in the sale of hairlists. As to prices, they were
generally firm, especially for goods for future deli-
very. The improvement in the price of colonial
wools at the current sales in the metropolis has
tended to lighten those of cloth.
ROCHDALE, March 2.—As the season for orders
for spring goods is nearly over, and merchants have
not begun to speculate for the autumn trade, the
flannel markets here are beginning to wear a rather
more than ordinarily quiet aspect. To-day the at-
tendance of buyers was small, and only a meagre
amount of business was done. There was rather
more inquiry for the best classes of fancies than for
plain goods. Prices were steady, and the same may
be said of those for Yorkshire goods and for wools.
Though the flannel trade, as far as sales are con-
cerned, is rather dull, the manufacturers are mode-
rately well employed.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.
4--

SOUTIIAMPTON, Wednesday.

The screw steamer Hammonia, Capt. Ehlers, which left
this port on the 21st ult., for Now York, put back this morn-
ing for repairs. She lost a blade of her propeller when in
long. 39, fire or simdays out, and about 36 hours afterwards
her stcrnpost became loose; and the captain then consi-
dered it advisable to return.
The North German Lloyd screw steamer Baltimore
arrived hero at 10 o'clock last night, front Bremen, and
left for Baltimore at 10 a.m. to-day.
GRAVESEND, Wednesday Morning.

Arrived, March 3.—Waterloo, steamer, from Rotterdam.
Arrived, March 4. —Batavier, steamer, from Rotterdam ;
Tiiton, steamer, from Ostend ; Reullura, from Antigua ;
ilendrika Christiana, from Groninen ; Northern Queen,
from Bitulipatam.

Sailed.—Pembroke Castle, for Calcutta.
DEAL, Wednesday Morning.
Passed.—Ealing Grove, from Demerara, for London ;
Zetus, of Shields, from the West, fur tho North.
Auchorod.—St. Michel, from Dunkirk, for L'Oriont ;
Germain, from Dttukirk, for Brest ; Alexandrina, from
Blytb, f9r )3vrdolizi front Leith, fvr Napief3.