The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-12-21 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE

LANCASHIRE.—We are glad to report that a continued im-
provoment has taken place in Manchester and the surrounding
district, in reference to the state of employment, during the
past week. Within the borough of Manchester, the total
number of hands employed in the various mills and other
manufactories is, this week, 44,205; last week, 44,215; number
of hands now working full time, 26,496 ; last week, 25,9„64,,,, f
hands, this week, working short time, 8,481; last week, 8,01!,
hands tow wholly unemployed, 9,2•8 ; last week, 9,629.
the surrounding districts several large establishments have
resumed work, and the population in those places are again
actively employed. Amongst these are the extensive mills 01
Messrs. Fielden Brothers, of Todmorden, and Messrs. Ashton,
of Hyde. Other manufactories are daily expected to recom-
mence full work. From Blackburn we learn that out of 38
mills employing 14,014 hands, 4 employing 1610 hands are work-
ing full time, 16 employing 8276 persons are going three, four,
and some five days a week, and 13, giving employment to 4128
persons, are entirely closed. Cotton hand-loom wearers have
rather more work than they had a month ago. Weavers of
jacconets, however, have had to submit to a reduction of wages.
Mechanics and machine makers have very little work at pre-
sent. Calico, block, and machine printing at Accrington and
its neighbourhood is in a very depressed condition at present.
MANCHESTER.—There has been but little alteration in the
privateben t
mestate of the market since our last. A considerable degree Of
dulness continues to prevail, and may be expected to the end
of the present year. The business doing at this season is al-
ways much contracted, even in ordinary times ; the present
inactivity is not, therefore, greater than might have been
looked for, considering the disastrous state of things through
which we have been, and are, struggling. The continued
consequence,Tbenheasws
yn been
pe r aandvaigreeees,a
nb agreeable relief.
tb ete
Bence throughout the week of announcements of any failures
let-
ters have come to hand by the Indian mail, which arrived on
Tof
d y. Noha s
to digest them, are looked upon as favourable; but we have
no accounts from Calcutta, or those places on which the
failures of the India houses in this country would tell the
most heavily; still the feeling at Bombay, so far as there was
time to elicit it before the departure of the mail, shewing the
absence of evil foreboding is viewed as rather a favourable
indication, evincing somewhat greater strength than was anti-
cipated. A very general impression seems to be gaining
ground, that the turn of the year will witness a gradually im-
proving state of commercial matters. We certainly have be-
fore us some of the important elements of a good trade—cheap
cotton, and cheap food of all kinds. We, however, still want
cheap money, confidence, and a brisk demand for our manu-
factures ; but with the return of the two former, we may expect
the latter as an almost certain, albeit slow consequence. As
regards the prospect of a relaxation in the stringency of the
money market, we find that the Morning Post holds forth
hopes of its s reedy attainment, and that on the opinion of a
very high authority.
ROCHDALE.—The flannel market has been much in the same
state as on this day week, both as respects demand and prices.
There has been but very little alteration in the wool market,
English wool, in some tew instances, has been a shade higher
in price, but other sorts are without alteration.

LE/M.S.—We can notice no change in the state of the woollea
trade here this week. Happily, if there be any feature of alte-
ration, it is for the better; but business is very slack, and few
buyers have attended either the public rilitrlietS Qr the WATC.
houses. We look for no improvement till after Christmas.
bPORIS.—,TOO/ i—The business doing is still very limit-
ed, and there is no disposition on the part of buyers to add
anything to their diminished stock. Prices are without anY
material note.—Yam: —This part of our trade, so far as
actual sales go, is still most discouraging.; for prices are so
low that even more than the cost of spinning is sacrificed.,
This state of things is fast drawing to an end. The stock 01
yarns is materially diminished, and the quantity now spun is
chiefly to order. —Pieces :—We have not heard of anything
different for one or two weeks past. Anything cheap or job-
bish in fancy goods is inquired for, and plain goods are steadily
moved to meet actual orders. The business doing is most le-
gitimate, being freed from all speculation ; and the care mani-
fested by the manufacturers to prevent any increase in stock,
augurs well for activity on the opening of the new year.
HunnaasFiELD.—There has been more business done is
the Cloth-hall this week. The warehouses have been generally
quiet. Prices are without any alteration.
HALIFAX.—Very few buyers attended at our market on Sa-
turday, and only a small amount of business was transacted,
but manufacturers seem now to be in better spirits, and fully
look for an improvement early in the new year. "Yarns are
still very much depressed, but some of the spinners have com-
menced running full time, and seem to have better prospects
before them. In Wool there is not much alteration, spinners
only buying sparingly.

iYo.f— the new
have not any further im
provement to notice since our last; but there begins to be a lit-
tie more confidence felt in the trade, and a higher prospect for
the openingNorriNonAm.—Lecce:—ln the present state of things, and
particularly at a period of the year when, even in the best of
s
times, we were not much better off, no improvement can bi
expected. The usual stock-takings occupy th,e warehouses foi
the next fortnight; after that we may be sure of renewed acti-
vity taking place in this branch of our local trade, particularly
as many buyers from the Continent are expected towards the
middle of January. For the present, nothing sells well. WI

our report on the various articles till a future oecasion•—
—The prospects of the trade are now, every
~veakt ,

Hoiien

a more encouraging nature. Although the actual- business
now transacting is, as usual at this period, of a comparatively
small amount, yet we hear of large spring parcels having been
made, perhaps not equal in extent to last year's (which were of
an unprecedentedly large amount), but still of sufficient impor-
tance to warrant the oninion that returning confidence is ma-
.

nifesting itself in every department of the trade. The yarn
market still continues to improve, and shows a much firmer
tone, consequent upon the increased demand for good useful
yarns.—Nottingham Mercury.
LElCESTRlL—Manufacturers and factors are preparingfel
their annual stock-taking, and there is nothing selling. 10'
unusual mild state of the weather is very much against the•
retail trade. Spinners are doing as little as possible. Wolsr
are h at, With 119 VftriAtiou.in price,—Leiceder Journal.