The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-18 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

The present commercial distress seems to pervade
the whole kingdom to a greater extent than has been
known for years, and probably in no part of it is it
more seriously felt than in the cotton districts.
Starvation is overwhelming the manufacturers, and
the condition of trade is now such as to preclude the
possibility of profit to any one, however great the
capital he may have embarked. The wretchedness
of the hand-loom weavers in Lancashire, by the state
of the markets, is unexampled even in the silk trade,
the average earnings of them being not more than 3s.
to 4s. a head for able-bodied workers, whose daily
sustenance is confined to two meals of thin water-
gruel with an occasional one of oatmeal porridge.
Wheaten bread is a luxury they never enjoy; and
this manner of eking out a wretched existence is too
evident in their haggard cheeks to admit a single
doubt of the truth of this distressing statement even
for one moment. Many of them have, in conse-
quence, been encouraged to quit such a life of de-
gradation and misery, and to accept employment at
power-loom weaving and dressing, which has been
offered to them by several of the manufacturers of
this town, whose establishments have been standing
still during a protracted struggle, for a reduction of
wages, cf fifteen weeks. Many families have ar-
rived and have been set to work, and many others
are preparing for their removal hither as soon as cir-
cumstances will admit, but some time must neces-
sarily be lost before the factories can be corn-
' pleted with hands obtained by such slow means,
amd from such a distance. The turn-out, which, We
are sorry to say, first originated in this town, has now
extended itself with so much influence, through-
out this district, as we fear will amount to a general
turn-out of the whole working class of the cotton
trade ; for besides the whole of the fine spinners
which are already out in Manchester, we learn the
coarser spinners are about to undergo an abatement
in order to bring them to the prices offered he►e,
and that at Dukinfield, Newton, and Hyde, it has
been deemed desirable by the masters there so to
meet the opinions and feelings of the masters here,
as by the step intended to be taken, so to equalise
the prices of labour, as to place the trade on a more
equal footing in the Manchester market. During
the last week the bands of one concern in the town
have returned to work :—the weavers at the new
reduced price-16d. for 20 and 21 picks—the
dressers at a provisional price ; if under 50 cuts at
3d, and above that number to 70 at 3}d.—and the
spinners, though only part have yet gone in, are at
wo►k, with the understanding, that if the other
spinners return to their situations, the price they
obtain shall be the price for the hands now at work,
but if no arrangement be entered into at the end of
a month, with the other proprietors of mills, then
the price to be, with a little alteration, the same as
before the turn-out.—Stockport Advertiser.

On Sunday night there was some rioting in
Clare-street, Limerick, between some low ruffians who in-
fest the City. The police, baying interfered, were at-
tacked and driven into their guard-room, followed by the
mob, uho pelted them with stones. Some of the police
were more or less injured. The serjeant (Moors), to in-
timidate them, gave orders to fire some blank cartridges,
but it rather enraged the party, who broke the guard-
house door. We are glad to say that seven of the ring-
leaders were arrested yesterday, arid committed for exami-
nation to-morrow. We regret to learn that two men,
keepers on a property in Ballinvaner, near Kilmallock,
were murdered on Sunday night, and their bodies thrown
into a ditch.—Limerick Chronicle.

REPAIR OF YORK MINSTER.—We under-
stand that Government have granted wood for the resto-
ration of the Cathedral to the value of 5,0001. It is re-
ported that the new roof of the choir is now actually in
progress, in London, under the superintendence of Mr.
SMIRKE. In the interior of the Cathedral, a great number
of artisans are proceeding with the work of renovation.
It is gratifying to add that, as we at first prognosticated,
the inhabitants of this town are among the foremost of
those who have poured in their retributory streams. The
total sum Puhscribed is upwards of 47,0001. of which
Leeds alone has contributed 4,0001.-.-,Leeds Intelligencer.

LONDON,
SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 18, 1829.

In the course of a Meeting, held on Thursday
evening last, at the Freemasons' Tavern, to con-
sider of measures to be adopted for correcting the
abuses of the Select Vestry system, Mr. HOBIIOUSE
took the opportunity of stating the course which
he intended to pursue in the House of Commons
when the question came before it. He observed
that he should submit a motion for a Select Com-
mittee, to take into consideration the general opera-
tion of the Select Vestry Laws in parishes within
the Bills of Mortality, and that if he succeeded in
his motion, he should bring in a Bill for the regula-

tion of vestries upon the elective principle which
might be modified according to circumstances, and a
clause inttoduced that no parish should be included
but with the consent of a certain proportion—say one
half—of the inhabitants. Supposing the Committee
to be appointed, he should then immediately call
upon the gentlemen delegated by the different
parishes to furnish him with evidence in support of
his object. We are glad that Mr. HOBIiOUSE has taken
this knotty subject in hand. The whole system o
Select Vestries is bad ; it is a sweeping tyrannical
monopoly, that cramps and enfeebles every parish
over which it exercises the slightest influence.
Many exposures have from time to time been made
of the flagrant abuses of which it has been the fos-
terer, but by far the greater number yet remain to be
developed; and Mr. HOBHOUSE will, we are well
aware, when the subject comes fully before the
House, make out one of those emphatic unanswer-

Lble cases which none but the purbrnd and the

prejudiced can resist.

The latest accounts from Ireland concur in repre-
senting the great benefit that, even at this early
period, has accrued to that long afflicted country,
from the passing of the glorious Catholic Relief Bill.
The Papists evince no indecent vulgar exultation on
the occasion; the Protestants no abject despondency
but both parties seem inclined to meet half-way, and
co-operate with each other in the promotion of a
general good will mid toleratien. Meanwhile, nu-
merous commercial speculations are already on font,
and which wait only till the country shall have
settled down into a firm, decided, and permanent
tranquillity. Confidence, we may add, has already
extended itself more or less among all classes of the
community and many of those who, up to the pre-
sent period, have been distinguished by the strong
violence of their Ultra-Protestantism, have, now that
the great question is settled, confessed that they
have been mistaken in their opinions. Such a re-
cantation of old prejudices does then.' the highest
honour.

The French Journals, as they have been for some
days past, are barren of i►►telligence and uninterest-
ing. The Journal du Commerce says that the suc-
cessor of M. DE LA FF:RRONAYS has not yet been
named, and that the choice will not be made before
the first Council after Easter Sunday. A letter
from Madrid, dated the 2d inst., and quoted in the
same Paper, mentions a report that all Cadiz is sub-
merged by the effect of tl'e re-action of the earth-
quake shock at Murcia, and that the greatest pains
are taken to conceal this dreadful event. The Mes-
sager des Chambres,in an article headed the frontiers
of Moldavia, gives a few reports respecting the most
recent events between Russia and Turkey. None
of these rumours, however, seem entitled to implicit
credence ; there may probably he some slight truth
at the bottom of them, but at present they are vague
and indefinite. _

The German Papers are for the most part filled
with statements of the differences (and their ad-
justment), between Prussia and Holland respecting

le freedom of the navigation of the Rhine. The

following are extracts :
MAYENCE, APRIL 6.—The news which we received
ten (lays ago from Cologne, that the differences between
Prussia and Holland respecting the freedom of the naviga-
tion of the Rhine are finally adjusted, and that the comb-
tions on which this important matter is to be regulated are
finally agreed to by the Governments of both countries, has
been confirmed by later accounts. It is said that Prussia,
which has long had in view the conclusion of a political
convention with the Netherlands, has made fewer diffi-
culties than before respecting the regulations of the
commerce and navigation, in order to induce Hol-
land to similar concessions in the arrangement of the
political relations, and that in this manner the two
parties have at length come to an understanding. From
these circumstances it is presumed that the freedom of the
navigation of the Rhine has not been established in this
' convention between Prussia and the Netherlands in so
comprehensive a manner as laid down in the act of Con-
gress at Vienna, and may probably therefore not have the
assent of the other States on the bank, or of the Allied
Powers, especially England, which signed and' guaranteed
the treaties of Paris and Vienna. It cannot be suffi-
ciently repeated, th it the maintenance of the state of
things on the Rhine, as it now is, however imperfect,
is yet far more advantageous for Germany than the free
navigation of the Rhine on the plan hitherto proposed by
the Dutch, which would put them in possession of the
trade and navigation of the Germans, while it would keep
the latter as much excluded as ever from that part of the
Rhine which flows through the Nethet lands, and with-
hold from them the advantages promised by the act of
Congress.
Letters have been received at Frankfort from Dr.
Macklot, a native of that city, who is gone as naturalist
to the Dutch colonies, and is employed by the Government
on board an expedition in the Asiatic Archipelago. The
Dutch had commenced building a fort in 33 deg. 33 min.
30 sec. south latitude, and 154 deg. 51 min. longitude, on
the coast of New Guinea, in a country which Dr. M. de-
scribes as mountainous and extremely beautiful. The 24th
of Sept., as the birth-day of the King of the Netherlands,
was fixed for takitg possession of the country in his Ma-
jesty's name. The crews were very sickly, and Dr. Al.
was very ill for some weeks. They had previously had
an encounter with the natives near the Dourga River, in
which two officers were mortally wounded and several of
the natives killed. The place where the new settlement
is to be founded was called Triton's Bay, after one of the
ships belonging to the expedition.

By his MAJESTY'S brig Cygnet, Lieutenant GOO-
DINGE,R mail from Jamaica has arrived at Falmouth ;
she sailed from Carthagena on the 4th, Kingston on
the 17th, and Crown Island on the 21st March. The
Papers received by this conveyance are extremely
barren of any intelligence. The only extract worth
taking is contained in a letter in the Kingston Chro-
nicle, dated Carthagena, February 26, 1829.
" Yesterday arrived the French brig of war Alci-
biades, Capt. GARNIE, having on board Mr. G. BRIS-
soN, bearing a diplomatic commission to this Govern-
ment from his Most Christian MAJESTY. Among
other gentleman that accompany him in the character
of travellers, is his Excellency the Duke of MONTE
BELL°, a Peer of France. It is said they will pro-
ceed to Bogota almost immediately. BouvAn
is at La Ceja, on his route to Popayan—the
depot of the rebels. An order has come down
to remove General SANTANDER to Venezuela.
The Condinamarca is fitting out, and it is sup-
posed he will go in her. The subject of the double
duties still occupies the public mind in the island.
Letters, through the medium of Mr. EDWARDS, the
Deputy Commissary-General, had been addressed to
Mr. JAMES and the Commissioners of Public Ac-
counts, requesting to be informed in what manner
an authority or renewal of the contracts, which ex-
pire on the 28th January, for the supply of the
troops, is to be obtained, in the event of the sup-
plies being rescinded by the Legislature of the
island. The Board stated that they could give no
answer on the subject."

Extract of a letter from the Havannah, dated the
28th February :
" Soon after noon yesterday there came in the British
schooners of war Nimble and Pincher, with a small Gui-
nealnan, a prize, with no prisoners or slaves. The Com-
mander of the Nimble, on hearing of the recent piracies,
immediately left the port for the neighbourhood of Ma-
tanzas, in pursuit of the marauders. The expedition pre-
pared by the Consul and merchants of this place was sup-
pressed by Commodore Laborde, who seems to have con-
sidered it a reflection on his squadron."

The following is an extract from a letter of a
Correspondent on the Portsmouth station :
" All the Assistant-Surgeons on Preventive and Blockade
Service have been replaced by full Surgeons, the former
being wanted for sea service. Does this look like war ?
A convoy of eighty sail passed Dungeness yesterday (the
14th instant), keeping close ovir on the French coast.
I think they must have been Russians, bound to the Medi-
terranean ; they appeared to be escorted by a frigate, and
three or four corvettes and brigs."

TIIE FUNDS.--(TIIIS DAY.)

CITY, TWELVE 09 CLOCK.

Although there has been but little business in the English
Funds they hove had an advance of a quarter per cent.
since the closing price on Thursday, when Consols left off
at 87/ 4 for money, and 874 1 for account. This morn-
ing the first quotation was 871 s for Tuesday, and 874 8
for account, which rates are fully maintained. Exchequer
Bills are sid 60 pm. ; and India Bonds, 48 50 pm.
The Foreign Funds remain in a very inactive state ;
Brazilian Bonds, 521 3 ; Buenos Ayres, 204 11; Mexi-
can, Six per Cent., 20 4 ; the Continental Securities,
particularly Russian and Danish, seem on the rise, the
former being 90. 7, and the latter, 651 1; Spanish, 91
10 ; Colombian Bonds, 144- 15. The Jamaica packet
does not appear to have been the bearer of any intelligegce
affecting this stock.
In Shares there is nothing new to state, the various
speculations being completely dormant.
Three per Cent. Consols, 871 4 ; Ditto, for Account,
878- 8 ; 'flute per Cent. Reduced, S 7 4 ; Three and a
half per Cent. Reduced, 954 90 ; Four per Cent., 1021 4;
Four per Cent., 1826, 1031 ; India Stock, 231 2 ;
Bank Stock, 209 10 ; India Bonds, 48 60 ; Exchequer
Bills, 5S 60 pm.
FOREIGN.-Brazilian, 521 3 ; Buenos Ayres, 204 ;
Chilian, 15 17 ; Colombian, 144 15 ; Danish, 654 4 ;
French, 5 per Cent., 108+ 9; 3 per Cent., 79+ SO ; Greek,
144 154 ; Mexican, Five per Cent., 16 17 ; Six per
Cent., 20 4-; Peruvian, 11 12 ; Portuguese, 434 ;
Russian, 961 7 ; Spanish, 91 10.
Mireirs.—Anglo Mexican, 774 5 dis. ; Brazilian, 43 45
pm. ; Bolanos, 60 40 dis. ; Colombian, 244 234 die. ;
Real Del Monte, 120 130 per share; United Mexican, 29)$
284 die.

TWO O'CLOCK.

Consols continue to advance, and the present price is
87i 88 for Money, and 88i. for time; Four per Cents.
1826, 1031 104, ; Bank Stock is' a'so higher 210 211.
The Foreign Stocks remain with Out any alteration.
A report, contained in a French Paper, ( Journal du
Commerce,) of the destruction of Cadiz by water, in con-
sequence of the fatal effects of an earthquake, although dis-
believed by many well informed persons, has created much
uneasiness among the mercantile world in the City,
many of whom have relatives and friends there. It is not
a little extraordinary, that an opinion has been entertained
at Cadiz for years that such an event was not only possible
but probable at some period, of calamity arising from the
effects of such a terrible event. The private letters from
Paris allude to this distressing circumstance.

THREE 0' CL 0 CK.
Consols, 88 Money; and 88i for Account,

At no period within the last ten or twelve
years has the iron trade of Shropshire and Staffordshire
been in a more depressed state than at the present moment.
Notwithstanding the makers have not for a long time past
been able to continue their furnaces with a price to meet
the expense of working, they have been compelled, at the
quarterly meetings held this week, to submit to a fall of
ss. per ton on pig, and 105. per ton on bar iron.

HAY MARKETS.—(At per Load of 36 Trusses.)
ST. JAMES'S
Coarse heavy Lonland Meadow Hay £2 0 to £2 5
Best dew Meadow Hay 2 5 2 10
tine Upland Meadow and Itye-grass Hay 3 10 4 4
Clover Hay 3 8 5 0
Oat straw .£l Bto .£1 12 1 Wheat Straw I 12 1 16
A good supply, and a very dull trade, at Thursday's prices.