The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-12-10 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE

LEEDS.—Our markets still continue very dull, the confi-
dence of the merchants being ver) far from restored. The
accounts from the United States brought by the Great Wes-
tern are considered favourable only because they do not re-
put any further depression of the money market. in most
of our manufactories there has been a further decrease in the
hours of working, and the demand for labour is consequently
very limited. The number of unemployed poor is daily in-
creasing.

BRADFORD.—The market on Thursday was quite as dull
as any that has been seen for a long time. In the Piece
Hall there was very little business done, chiefly at recent
rates, and no material alteration in terms can be noted.
The yarn market was very flat, and former prices could
not be sustained. The principal demand in the wool mar-
ket is for medium and inferior combing qualities, with
respect to which prices may be, said to be steady.
BARNSLEY.—We are sorry to say that no improve-
ment is visible in the linen trade at this place. In the
home trade a considerable number of weavers have been
compelled to take in their reeds during the last ten days,
but drill houses are very buSy, and it is hoped many will
find employment in that department.
LEICESTER.—The manufacturers engaged in the country
or home trade, continue to do a fair amount of business, and
the stock of useful goods on hand, adapted to the home
trade, is not large ; hut the houses principally dependent
upon the foreign and London markets, find the demand
extremely dull, and have lersened their manufacture to a
great extent.

OLDHAM.—The cotton business at Oldham seems revi-
virig. The machinery of several manufactories is again
at work full time.

STORM AND APPALLING SHIPWRECK.

On Friday, 29th ult., the east coast of Scotland expe-
rienced a severe storm, which, it is to be dreaded, has
caused extensive devastation amongst the shipping. We
have just received authentic accounts of a melancholy ship-
wreck which has happened on the coast of Fife, immediately
opposite Boarhills near King's Barns, and about half way
between Fife Ness and St. Andrews. The details of the dis-
astrous occurrence are truly lamentable. On Friday after-
noon, about 5 o'clock, a vessel was observed, at a conside-
rable distance from the coast, apparently labouring under
great distress, and in vain attempting to round Fife Ness.
The raging of the storm, and the darkness of the night, pre-
vented the Coast Guard on shore from keeping the vessel in
'sight ; but the only survivor of the crew gives a sufficient ac-
count of the deplorable catastrophe. The vessel was the
Peterel, of Stockton-on-Tees, David Parry, master, bound
from Dalhousie in North America to Stockton, with
timber. She was a new brig of about 200 tons - burden.
After night closed in the captain and crew did every
thing in their power to keep the vessel at sea, but in vain.
She was gradually driven by the force of the gale towards
the shore. At about one o'clock they let go both anchors,
which were immediately dragged, and shortly after-
wards the -vessel was thrown with tremendous force on the
rocks. The crew took to the rigging, but in a moment a
resistless sea broke over the Peterel, and with awful violence
split her in two, fair along the middle of the deck. In the
dreadful confusion of that terrible crisis the survivor dropped
from his place on the rigging upon a log floating upon the
surface of the water. On it, however, his life was exposed
to dreadful hazard. The cargo was tossed about by the waves
as if the immense logs of wood were light as straws, and the
risk of being crushed to death in their collision was described
as ten times greater than that of drowning. The poor fellow,
however, clung to his last hope. and was at length thrown, in
an exceedingly exhausted state, upon the beach. With the
greatest exertion he managed to crawl a short distance from
.the sea ; and, exposed to the bitter blast of that dreadful
night, almost dead with fatigue, cold, and hunger, he awaited
the dawn of morning. It displayed a fearful prospect to the
inhabitants of the neighbourhood. The vessel was literally
dash to pieces, and the shore, to a great extent, was strewn
- with Braga-lents of the wreak and portions of the cargo. But
a more melancholy and heart-rending sight was prepared for
the spectators. The bodica of six of the crew, and that of a
lady were found on the beach, and the poor fellow—
the sole survivor of the merciless havoc of the storm—was
discovered, almost insensible, crouching behind a dyke
near the shore. His name was found to be Henry
Thomas, and he is a native of Wales. He stated,
that the vessel, on her homeward voyage, touched at
Stromness, being wind bound, and the lady, whose body was
found, had embarked at that port. Her trunk was cast on
shore, and on being opened, there were found inside a value-
-ble gold watch, £4OO in bills, and a quantity of wearing ap-
parel. Her name was ascertained to be Elizabeth Westgaff—
and the papers contained in the trunk lead us to suppose that
she belongs to Richmond in Yorkshire. Henry Thomas does
nit appear to be scquainted with the surnames of his brother
seamen. The six cast on shore were fine stout fellows about
. thirty years of age. Altogether there were nine of the crew,
with one passenger. A black man and a boy are still mis-
sing. The officer of the Coast Guard states, that he never
• saw such a wreck in his experience—the vessel being literally
shivered to atoms. The surviving seaman has met with the
most kind attention from a-lr. Adamson, farmer, Burnside,
and no doubt will be enabled to proceed to his native place
by means of a subscription among the benevolent inhabitants
of the district, whose sympathies are powerfully excited in
'his behalf. The dead bodies will be decently interred. Great
. exertion are making to secure as much of the cargo as pos-
aihle, ender the superintendence of Lieutenant Cox of the
Comet Guard, who has been unremitting in his exertions.-
- Dundee Courier.

Lord Prang* Egerton, M.P., in his yacht, with Viscount
Ei‘nfrn, the Aron. James Stuart Wortley, and the Hon. Geo.
:JONrern et boars!, after cruising on the Slanish coast, pro-
ero4tied Maraeillvs, where Lady Francis Egerton and Lady
cijorlabspGraville embarked with-the party for Naples. The
now kfrii did lady with their friend' hadsafely landed when
the4prit Iseptgli were received in town, and were to have gone
Witome early-in the present wank.