The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-09-04 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STAND. RA

THE COTTON TRADE.

Spinners have kept out of the market during the past
week, and have taken little more than half of their weekly
consumption ;—the consequence has been that towards
the middle of the week prices gave way 31d. to 4d . per lb.,
but the market closes firmer, with every appearance of
higher prices ruling, there being eager buyers both for the
home trade, export, and on speculation, with few sellers.
The more the private accounts by the Cambria are looked
into, respecting the prospects of the coming crop, the
stronger the impression gains ground that they are as bad
as they can be. The accounts from India are considered
very satisfactory, political matters there assuming an ap-
pearance of repose; and with the extended markets of the
interior being thrown open to British enterprise, we may
reasonably look for an increased and healthy trade with
this valuable Colony. From the continent every post
brings us more cheering accounts of the settlement of the
recent vexed difficulties, and this change for the better in
the aspect of affairs in southern Europe cannot fail in
giving a stimulus to the exports of our manufactures for
this quarter.
By the Cambria's advices from America, though the
cholera was abating, it had committed great havoc amongst
the nezroes, particularly in some of tLe Western States,
which is of the utmost consequence as regards a large
cotton crop, making it next to an impossibility The
money market was easy, and a good fall trade was anti-
cipated in our manufactures.
The past week was looked upon by many as one of par-
ticular interest, both as regarded the harvest and certain
heavy cotton bills which were known to be coming due;
in fact, the latter circumstance had more to do with the
temporary decline in prices th an any other; but the weather
generally has been favourable, there is little wheat
uncut,in this locality, and the bills falling due have been
duly proVided for.
On Monday last, the 27th ult., we were informed there
was a private meeting in Manchester of the leading spin-
ners and manufacturers of the neighbourhood, respecting
what course they should adopt in the present position of
the cotton market. They came to the unanimous conclu-
sion, that the accounts from America of a bad season,
injury done to the cotton plant, &a., are a hum, and got
up by the poor Liverpool cotton holders. It also trans-
pired at the said meeting, that though a considerable
quantity of cotton is held by certain far-seeing monied
spinners, yet that the many have light stocks, and that in
consequence they will be compelled to appear again in our
market. This we are not at all surprised to hear, and
with the extraordinary demand for export, which we have
experienced for so many weeks, we consider future prices
to be in a great degree at the mercy of holders. As we
have on previous occasions stated, if trade is to continue
good, of which there is every prospect, with a comparative
short stock of cotton, which let it be borne in mind is yet
to be had at reasonable prices, (the present value of mid-
dling Boweds being 51d. per lb., against 7d. in 1547,) and
a certainty of no supply worth mentioning from the
" States" for the next three months, higher prices
seem to be inevitable. We perfectly agree with the gen-
tleman who writes the monetary and commercial article
in the Albion, and who very justly stated on Monday, the
27th of last month, " that so long as prices do not reach
that point at which consumption becomes checked, the
advance is not only legitimate, but its maintenance is
more than probable, provided the market cannot be inun-
dated with supplies."
Now we imagine few will be found to say, with the
brightening prospects which we have before us of an ex-
tensive demand for our manufactures, that cotton has
already arrived at that price when our looms must be
worked short time, or that there is any possibility of our
being inundated with supplies ; for, on the one hand, at
all events, it is well known that manufacturers hold light
stocks, if any ; and on the other, le, is equally certain that
the imports will be exceedingly small. The only place
whence we can receive any supplies of moment is
Bombay, and the description of cotton (Surat)"ds- not in
general use, and the utmost quantity for the next three
or four months cannot exceed three weeks' consumption.
To hazard an opinion of what the coming crop in
America will be, would be highly chimerical, but from
present appearances it is not only probable that it will be
a late one, but also a short one.
MoNnrof NOON.

The American steamship arrived this morning. The
accounts by her are somewhat conflicting,. but they all
agree that considerable damage has been done, and that
the crop will' be a month late. The general estimate of
the coming crop is 2,000,000 to 2,200,000' bales. The
receipts for the week were rather heavier, but the exports.,
nil, being under 600 bales, and their total estimated at
100,000,