The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-02-22 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER.—Since Tuesday, the gradual abatement ix
the demand for cotton at Liverpool, and the slight decline of
prices, caused by the nature of the recent mimes from the
United States, by the Cambria, have rendered buyers here more
and more unwilling to give the advanced rates demanded by
spinners and manufacturers. At the close of the week, espe-
cially, the business done was exceedingly limited, generally at
the rates current on Tuesday; and the market presents a very
fiat appearance, which will certainly not do much to counter-
act the tendency towards shorter hours of labour. The general
tendency of the trade is decidedly towards diminished produc-
tion, in almost every branch. Since our last report, there has
been a failure- in London, that of Messrs. W. Clay and Co.;
Manchester and Yorkshire warehousemen, whose liabilities are
stated to be of moderate amount. We believe their engage+.
ments in Manchester will prove very small. We are sorry to
learn, however, by a letter from Huddersfield, that the house
has been largely connected with the trade of that town ; that,
in consequence of its tailure, many of the principal houses in
Huddersfield are more or less involved, and that one firm, that
Of Benjamin Mellor and Co., of Paddock Foot- Mills, have
yielded to the pressure, with liabilities amounting to about
.i 14,000. This last-named failure will seriously affect some-of
the wool-staplers, dyers, &c., of the district.
LEEns.—The woollen trade in this town 'and neighbourhood
is without much alteration since our last report. A little more
activity has been manifested in the home trade, and inquiries
are making by the foreign houses for goods suited to the spring
trade. Stocks are not heavy ; and from the advance in the
price of wools, a rise in the price of manufactured goods is ex-
pected.
BRADFORD.—WOOI. 'There is no disposition evinced to buy
English combing, except to supply present.wants. The sales of
• colonial now progressing in London, at higher rates, will only
• tend to lessen the consumption, the spinners being previously
unable to make a profit. Yarns.—There is more inquiry for
'Yarns, both by shippers and manufacturers, but the prices at
which they are buyers are -such as rather to retard than, aug-
ment the present diminished production. -Pieces.—There is a
shade more doing than last week, but without alteration in
prices.
Hunnaasairmn.-,A fair amount of goods has changed
hands here this week, at fair prices ; and the staple trade of
the district wears a slightly improved aspect.
HALIFAX.—This' week's market has been pretty much the
same as last week's, but fewbuyers having visited the hall; and
very few pieces having changed hands. There is no improve-
ment in the demand for yarn, though the present open weather
leads to the expectation of an early resumption of business by
the shipping houses. Not much wool is selling, and prices are
slightly-giving way. There is, however, a more active demand
for short wool, accompanied by a small advance in price:
ROCHDALE.—The flannel market this 'week was equally as
well attended as last. There has been a good demand for mid-
dling qualities of gray goods; higher prices were asked, and,
in some few instances, a small advance was obtained.
LEICESTEI2.—Both the London and country markets still
continue in .a very depressed state; the little doing is chiefly
in low cotton goods. Worsted spinners continue to act with
great caution, ;and the !mills are not working much more than
half the time. There has been more doing in Wools, at firm
prices, particularly in short kipds and noils.
NOTTINGHAAL—Lace : There is little change to notice since
our last. Many buyers have been and are in the market, but
their operations have scarcely commenced: they limit them-
selves, as yet, to inspection and inquiry. Prices are without
material change. Hosiery: We are gratified in being able to
notice, this week, a much better feeling in our market, and al-
though at present this is but ,slight, yet it is the opinion of
many persons that there are visible signs of improvement
which will continue, and, as the season advances, be morefully
developed; and gradually lead to a more steady and regular bu-
siness. It has been noticed, that many large parcels of goods
have been sent off during the last week or two; and we hear
also that several extensive orders are now in the town for vari-
ous descriptions of spring goods. In the yarn market, the
prices remain firm; but the, transactions are very limited for
this season of the year. This may, in part, arise from the ex-
tensive purchases made in the earlier part of the year ; yet, at
the same time, it shows how cautiously manufacturers are act
ing in the present depressed state of trade.