The Sun.
London, England, 1829-03-14 00:00:00

11 II
5 10

THE COTTON TRADE.

The cotton cloth manufacture in this city and ,
neighbourhood at present, is, we regret to notice, in
a very depressed state. The manufacturer as well
as the weaver, during the winter, anticipated that a
revival, as was usual at this period of the year,
would take place about now ; but in this their ex-
pectations have most unfortunately been disappoint-
ed, for, instead of any improvement in the demand
for goods, and a rise in the price of weaving, a mani-
fest dullness has lately taken place, which was alto-
gether unexpected, and there is not at present ally
sanguine expectations existing or encouraged, of
trade any way improving. The causes of this have,
by some, been more remotely traced to an overstock
of manufactured goods in the market for some
months past, which was expected to be relieved by
the shipments that were usually made at this time
of the year, but have not yet taken place, while
others supposed it to have arisen more immediately
from a want of confidence, occasioned by the failures
which have taken place among the manufacturers
within these eight or ten weeks. The conse-
quences, however; are such as might have been ex-
pected. There is a very slight demand for cotton
yarn, which was commonly brisk during the spring,
but this article is continuing steady -in price, al. I
though the sales effected these four weeks past
have comparatively been very trifling. The state
of hand-loom weaving, we believe, was never at
a lower ebb than it is at present. A consider-
able decrease in the number of weavers has taken
place since the beginning of the year. The weekly
earnings of a first-rate weaver, working from 14 to
16 hours a-day, may be estimated at 65.,: while,
about 12 months ago, when their income was con-
sidered low enough, the same individual could earn
10s. in the same period; and in consequence of
this, hundreds of our weaving population may be
said to be in a starving state; many of them, after
finishing a web, and taking it to the warehouse, have
to wait three or four days, and some have waited
eight days ere they procured another. A distinc-
tion, however, ought to be made; those employed
at stripes and checks have had more constant em-
ployment than the others engaged at light fabrics,
which has of late induced many of the latter to
commence the coarse kinds. The demand for either
is far from being spirited. Nor can the power-loom
trade be said to be in a much superior state. The
number of power-loom factories in the city and
suburbs, amount to 44, the number of looms in each
may average 250, and the number of people em-
ployed may be estimated at 76 for every 100 looms.
The persons employed therein are principally females,
from the age of 10 years and upwards, who, while
working 12 hours per day, earned each per week,
about four years ago, from twenty to twenty-
five shillings, while their present income, from the
reduction that has been made on the price of cotton,
has been reduced to Ss., or Bd. per piece, at looms
throwing off from five to six pieces per week. The price
for weaving has not been greatly reduced, but the
premium that was allowed them by the manufacturer
on the quantity woven, which amounted to 3s. and
45., was reduced a half about two years ago, and
has lately been totally withdrawn from them. In
consequence of the late failures, upwards of 1200
power-looms have been stopped, and are still un-
employed. About ten or twelve factories are at
present completely at a stand; others have been re-
duced to one-half and 2-3ds time, and in many of
. the mills a number of the loom's, are unpccupied,
while the other looms are continuing at full time,
with a lesser number of hands employed. There arc
• however, about SOO .people completely idle, and
• nearly entirely destitute. The principal fabrics ma-
nufactured in these factories have been cloth of
10" and 11" reed, suitable for bandanas and coarse

prints, chiefly for export, while of late, in some of
the mills, finer fabrics, from 12QQ to 14Q° reed have
been attempted; but the demand for either is no
way increased, and independent of all the looms at
present unengaged, the stock of cloth in the facto-
ries is still increasing, as manufacturers are sup-
posed to anticipate a demand, and are holding off in
the expectation of a rise in the price, which may be
partly experienced, as we notice that the printers, as
usual, are very brisk, and many of the calenderers of
late have been chiefly employed in finishing printed
goods.—Glasgow Free Press.

It gives us great pleasure to announce, that
his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant and her Grace the
Duchess of Northumberland have expressed themselves
most anxious to give every encouragement to the manu-
factures of Ireland ; and that it would be particularly
gratifying to them, if persons attending the approaching
ball on the 17th, Drawing-rooms, &c. at the Castle,
could make it convenient to appear in dresses of Irish
manufacture.—Dublin Freeman's Journal.

CONSTANTINOPLE, FEB. 10.—The nego-
ciations in favour of the Greeks are actively followed up,
and, it is asserted, with some prospect of success. The
Sultan has just left the capital for the Dardanelles, on
board of his steamer. He is on a shooting excursion—to
this sport he has latterly devoted a good share of his time.
It is a rare thing to see a Sultan thus active—it reminds
me of the better time of this empire. I think we may as-
sure ourselves that shooting is not his only object, he will
doubtless inspect the splendid batteries which defend his
capital on this side. He is certainly a great Prince.—
Morning Paper.

Modern science attempts to wrap up the
meaning of its epithets in Greek and Latin terms, which
are often at best but translations of old names, which were
much better expressed as such.

If thou shouldest chance to be gallopping
through a field of young wheat, and, on hearing a shout
behind thee, thou shouldest look round and espy a man
running after thee, with a florid complexion, anti a hedge-
stick in his hand, tarry not a moment, how earnest so-
ever he may appear in his endeavour to overtake thee; for
it may be that he is the bearer of ill tidings, and it is the
property of a wise man to snatch such brief moments of
bliss as lie in his way in this world of care, without heed
to the future.

MURDERS AT PORTSMOUTH.PORTS..
MOUTH, MARCH 11.—A person of the name of John Ed-
wards being stated as apprehended under very suspicious
circumstances, it is but right to state that he proves inno-
cent of this charge, but proves to be a deserter from the
Royal Marines, and to have been secreted by some girls of
ill-fame for nearly five months; he has been given up to
his corps. The soiled clothes found in his possession have
been accounted for.
STRAND IMPROVEMENTS.—We have fre-
quently had occasion to notice the various necessary altera-
tions that were taking place in Chandos-street, Burleigh-
street, St. Martin's-lane, and the vicinity, but at the same
time we candidly admit that we did not expect that the
change would proceed so rapidly and uniformly. Work-
men have been employed for the last week or two in pulling
down the old houses in the Strand which, in consequence
of being too near the road, had impeded for a length of
time the carriage-way, and, in fact, foot-path of that place,
and, although not perceived by the public, in erecting the
new buildings in lieu of the others. A day or two since,
the labourers having cleared away all the rubbish occa-
sioned by taking down the three houses that were nearest to
Exeter 'Change, the passers by were (as well they might
be) astonished to see one house at the distance of five or six
yards from the old pavement completed and occupied, and
another nearly half finished. The improvement, which
will undoubtedly be finished soon, is decidedly one of the
most useful that has been lately effected, and the Strand
will shortly present a very pretty appearance, especially
when the long-talked of King's College is erected, and the
square built near the National Repository at Charing-
cross. It is said that the conductors of the works are
only waiting now for the pulling down of Exeter 'Change
to advance more rapidly.