The Sun.
London, England, 1829-10-10 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENT IN TRADE.

The symptoms of an approaching improvement in
trade, to which we have before adverted, are now
manifesting themselves, more or less, in all the great
manufacturing districts of the country; nor is there
to be found in any of them, as we believe, any se-
rious want of employment, except from causes to-
tally distinct from a paralysed state of manufacturing
industry. The rate of profit is in most cases very
low, but the better suited on that account for the
competition now to be sustained with the Conti-•
nental fabrics, and almost affording the assurance
that the result will exclude foreigners from every
market where they are fairly met by English-
wrought goods. A gentleman who is engaged
largely in the woollen-trade, and who is just re-
turned from a visit to Leeds, mentioned a fact yes-
terday on 'Change, which is worth volumes of ar-
gument, in favour of the future ascendancy of
the English manufaCturers—viz., that our products
in articles of woollen fabric have so essentially im-
proved since the reduction of the duty and the fall
in value of the raw material, that the woollens of
Germany and Switzerland, which obtained a de-
cided preference over our own about the year
1625, are now surpassed by us both in quality
and cheapness, and even driven out of the home-
market of those countries. English cloth is now
selling at the door of the German manufacturer,
and obtains of course a still more decided pre-
ference in the assortments made up here far
general exportation. This is the fruit, without
doubt, of that enlightened policy which dictated the
reduction of the wool-tax, which operated in this
way—that it raised the value to the foreign manu-
facturer at the same time that it reduced it in the
English market, and thus brought the parties to the
same level, so far as the price of the raw material
was concerned. While the contrary course was
pursued, the want of a sufficient market for foreign
wool made it a mere drug on the spot where it was
produced, and gave to the foreign manufacturer those
advantages over us, which before the tax was re-
duced were striking at the very root of our national
prosperity. Could the same principle be applied to
the trade in corn, the last bar to the triumph of
English manufacturing skill and industry would pro-
bably be removed, as that step, by raising the price
of grain on the Continent, would place the rival
manufacturers on the same level with regard to the
wages of labour which has now been arrived at in
the value of the raw material, through the wise policy
of the Legislature.
These facts being fairly established, it is reason-
able to expect that the improvement of our manu-
factures w►ll have the same beneficial effects which
have heretofore attended it, in gradually extending
the demand for the staple articles of colonial pro-
duce, the'markets for which have been so long in a
state of depression, and our whole system of trade
thus regain a wholesome, if not a decidedly pro-
sperous state.—Tintes.

O❑ Saturday night last, as Mr. WRITE, gar-
dener, was returning from Boston market in his cart, Le
met the Monarch coach within ten yards of the toll-gate
at Spalding, when, the two vehicles coming in contact,
his leg was literally erushed to atoms, and although ampu-
tation was speedily effected, he died on Sunday night,
being a very old man, we believe in his 75th year. An
inquest was held over the body on Monday afternoon, be-
fore SAMUEL EDWA nns, Gent., Coroner. Verdict—
" Accidental Death."—Cambridge Chronicle.

On Thursday evening the hamlet of Ham-
mersmith was thrown into a state of alarm by the report
that Mr. J. W. KEAN, residing at the corner of William-
street and Vale-place, had laid violent hands on himself.
It appeared that the unfortunate gentleman had retired
from the dining-table to his own room, as his relatives sup-
posed, ft.r the purpose of lying down. Between six and
seven o'clock one of the female servants had occasion to
enter the apartment, when she was shocked at beholding
her master stretched on the carpet in nearly a lifeless state,
with his throat cut from ear to ear; the wound in his
throat was of a most dreadful description, and a razor was
lying near him. Mr. Bowi,lNc, of the Broadway, Ham-
mersmith, surgeon, was immediately sent for, and promptly
attended, but his services were of no avail, as the unfortu-
nate gentleman expired in about half an hour afterwards.
Mr. KEAN was unmarried, anti two maiden sisters resided
with him. He was a member of the Society of Friend,
and possessed considerable property in the neighbourhood,
where be was universally respected. His father duct! about
two years ago, which circumstance, it is said, preyed
greatly on his spirits, as he entirely secluded himself from
society, and was but seldom seen out of his house since the
decease of his father.