The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-08-07 00:00:00

THE COTTON TRADE.

In reviewing the transactions in Cotton during the past
month, we have the advantage of having perused several
of our eminent brokers circulars, published at this period
of the month for their East India and American corres-
pondents, and what we have hitherto stated on this im-
portant subject we have much satisfaction in perceiving is
fully borne out. In the early part of the month the trade
bought very largely, and the market was further stimu-
lated by purchases for export and speculation, when prices
advanced to id. per lb., but the last fortnight spinners
have kept aloof from the market, except for their imme-
mediate wants ; and though the market has been quiet,
prices have kept pretty steady, and now rule for American
Id., and for Surat id. per lb. higher than on the Ist of
last month. On the whole the accounts from abroad are
satisfactory, and it must be quite evident to all that the
demand for twist and manufactured goods must be consi-
derable for some months to come. The stock of cotton
in this port on the 3rd instant was
probable import for the coming week..

726,420 „
Suppose the trade buy sparingly, they will
take
Exporters

30,420

which will leave, on the 10th instant, of all
descriptions
against 601,790 same period last year ; so that we are ap-
proximating the stock of last year, when the consumption
of Manchester and the surrounding district was only 26,000
bales weekly, against 32,000 at present. There are now
to arrive of the exports from the States. some 20,000 bales,
and with the loss which would attend shipments at the
present prices, we cannot with any degree of reason look
I for a supply of any moment from this our great source for
nearly five months ; particularly when we know that the
stock in the ports was reduced to 173,000 bales, exclusive
of some 27,000 bales yet to be received of the crop, against
239,000 in 1848, and 377,000 in 1847. With regard to the
growing crop, it is an admitted fact that it will be three to
four weeks later than usual ; and from this circumstance
alone is placed in a hazardous position, as to its ultimate
outturn. It has been remarked by several parties who are
not conversant with the position of this article, that, if it
is manifest that the value of cotton must be considerably
dearer before the end of the present year, how is it that
the demand has been so freely met by holders, as only to
establish an advance of 44. per lb. during the past four
weeks ? This is easily to be accounted for : in the first
place, the arrivals have been heavy, and have generally
left a good profit; and, in the second place, speculators
who purchased largely two months ago have begin tempted
by the late advance to realise. But how stands the matter
now ? The cheap cotton has been sold, and the bulk of
our stock which is now held will require a considerable ad-
vance to pay the investors a fair remuneration for their
outlay of capital ; and we may depend upon it, with
the cheapness of money and the daily improving prospects
of an abundant harvest, that it will be held. There are
" none so blind as those who won't see" ; and it is to be
regretted there is so much ignorance or stupidity amongst
a large number of the consumers. They have had so
much their own way of late years, both in commercial a
well as political matters, that they imagine they have
nothing to do but to will and to be successful, but we
shall be much mistaken if, in the present instance, they
do not find themselves wrong for once. On the other
hand, there are some of them, the most enlightened, who
have listened to the good advice of their brokers, and
having purchased freely, are in a position to keep out of
the market for a length of time. It is further advanced
by some parties that the late prosperous state of the
manufacturing districts cannot last ; but it must be borne
in mind that we are now only filling up the vacuum which
was occasioned by the commercial crisis of 1847 and the
subsequent revolutions on the continent of 1848. It is
also worthy of remark that in the spring of last year the
Americans experienced an active demand for breadstuffs
for this country, and kept back their cotton to be after-
wards sold at ruinous prices, arising from the French
revolution and other disastrous tumults in Europe. This
year the case has been very different—they had compara-
tively no demand for their corn, and with an unprece-
dented crop of cotton, and the sad experience of the
previous year fresh in their memory, they parted with, we
may almost say madly, their cotton ; and thus it is that
the surplus of their crop is now in this country. But
how, after this enormous import from America, does our
stock stand ? By the Brokers' Circular, dated last
Friday, the 3rd instant, we find it was only 706,420 bales,
including all descriptions, against 596,950 same period
last year, plainly showing that we have already nearly con-
sumed the surplus of their present crop. We might even
dilate further on this important subject, but our space for
such matters will not admit of it,though we shall have much
pleasure in laying before our readers, and those particu-
larly connected with this important branch of commerce,
any information we may obtain, in our future publications.
We cannot close this article without expressing our satis-
faction that whatever advance may take place in the value
of cotton during the next few months, though it may
militate against the interests of our manufacturers, yet
the profit will, in this instance, generally find its way into
the pockets of Englishmen, instead of the foreigner,
which hitherto has too often been the case ; and though
the transactions may possibly be extensive, and capital to
a large amount turned over, yet the money will not as
heretofore leave the country. Tim promising appearance
of the harvest has more to do with the future value of
cotton than any other circumstance, as the prospects of
an indifferent one would immediately enhance the value
of money, which would lay prostrate all speculation in
this and every other article. The harvest in the south
is becoming very general, and we hear of oats being cut
in this neighbourhood, and the last few days we have seen
several fields of wheat as near ripe as possible. The
potato plant is also looking exceeding well—the yield is
large, and the quality excellent, not only in this country
but in Ireland, which will be a great blessing. The apple
of the potato plant this year is very general, which is
augured as a good sign, showing that the plant has reached
maturity, and it is hoped overcome the disease. This is
a most important fact, for it has been remarked by several
scientific agriculturists, that for the last three or four
years the apple has not been visible.
P.S.—Monday, Noon.

The American steamer Niagara has arrived, and the
accounts by her are considered favourable to holders of
cotton. The receipts for the week were only 8,000, the
exports to Great Britain 14,000, and the stock in the
ports and on shipboard reduced to 154,400 bales.

BETTING AT TATTER.SALL'S LAST NIGHT.
(B Y EXPRESS.)
ST. LEGER.
5 to 4 on Flying Dutchman.
DERBY.
Ghillie Callum, 13 to 1 offered-15 to 1 taken.
EBOR HANDICAP.
7 to 1 agst Mahon.
8 to 1 agst Giselle.
The business of the settling for Goodwood left no time
for betting.

The Mayor has written to the masters of the Royal,
Collegiate, and Mechanics' Schools, soliciting for the
boys a holiday on Thursday next.
The West Indian mail brings intelligence that the
barque Milford, of Liverpool, with a large cargo of mer-
chandise consigned to Messrs. M'Cavan and Co., having
struck on Cobbler's rocks, became a total wreck.

ESCAPE FROM DROWNING.—The life of a boy was
nearly lost yesterday, as he was attempting to get on
board the Seacombe boat, after she had moved from the
landing-stage. He was rescued by one of the police on
board the stage, by means of a life-buoy. _

EXAMINATION OF MASTERS AND MATES.—At a
meeting of the board, held at the Board-room, No. 8,
Exchange-alley North, on the 3d instant, Captain David
Wilson, master of the Sarah, of Belfast, was examined
and found duly qualified for a second-class certificate as
master.

MAN DROWNED AT NEW BRIGHTON.-011 Saturday
afternoon, a young man, bathing at New Brighton, was
carried out of his depth by the tide, and drowned. A
party in a punt were within reach, but did not think the
deceased was in danger, He was, we learn, to have
sailed for America this day. _ _

DEPARTURE OF THE IfIDERNIA.—Shortly after eleven
o'clock on Saturday forenoon the British and North
American Royal Mail steam-ship Hibernia, Capt. Stone,
sailed from Liverpool for Boston vid Halifax, carrying out
the weekly mails for Canada and the United States, be-
sides passengers, to the number of eighty or ninety.
LIVER THEATRE.—This little place of amusement will
be re-opened this evening, when Mr. E. L. Hime will
commence a series of musical entertainments, which are
to be interspersed with anecdotes and similar amuse-
ments. We trust success will attend the young gentle-
man's efforts.
MAN DROWNED.—On Saturday evening a carpenter
named John Smith, who resided in Hurst-street, left his
home with the apparent purpose of enjoying the relaxa-
tion of a walk. As he did not return, his wife sought
him without success in all likely quarters. The poor
woman was shocked, ultimately, at hearing that the body
of her husband was lying in the dead-house. It appeared
it was found in the Albert Docks, into which deceased
must have walked unconsciously.
PLEASURE EXCURSIONS.—At this charming season of
the year there are few excursions that can afford greater
pleasure to the tourist than the delightful lakes of the
north. They are peculiarly our own, and to those who
have never yet visited them we cannot but recommend to
their notice an excursion to Windermere, which we find
announced in our columns, under the able and experienced
management of Mr. Marcus, which is a sufficient
guarantee for the comfort of the arrangements. Those
who have enjoyed this lovely scenery will require no
inducement to avail themselves of the opportunity, as the
cost is but six shillings for the trip there and back.
GRAND CONCERT.—Juliien's second concert, last night,
was another triumph of his excellent band ; and Madame
Persiani, who again delivered to a numerous and fashion-
able audience two of her most beautiful airs, has left an
indelible impression on the minds of all who heard her,
and takes the highest esteem of every friend of music with
her on her retirement. Signor Bottessini, the celebrated
contra-bassoist, took the audience by storm. Such a per-
formance on such an instrument as the contra-basso we
never heard before, and the applause bestowed on him was
justly deserved. All the pieces given were well calculated
to fascinate such an audience as was assembled last night,
consisting of much of the beauty and fashion Liverpool can
boast of.
MEDALLED HEROES.--IR the small town of Linlith-
gow, Stirlingshire, there are no less than fourteen indivi-
duals, formerly of the army, who have received the war
medal. Ten of these veterans belonged to the gallant
94th, and some of them have as many as ten bars. There
are likewise three old sailors in the town who have the
medal, and one of these was present at the battle of
Trafalgar.