The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-22 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCIIESTER.—The business transacted during this week
has been limited, and prices have been exceedingly irregular.
The action in the Liverpool market on the rates of the raw
staple, produced by the operations of speculators, and the
credulity or the trade in the recent intelligence of injuries
sustained by the growing crop, has had the effect of putting
spinners and manufacturers in a worse position than before.
The prices of textile fabrics, at the previous low rates of cotton,
barely left a margin of profit ; and, at the present advance on
the raw material, it will be quite impossible to continue pro-
duction, unless a correspondent advance can be realised here,
Merchants and factors have refused to pay the advanced rates
demanded by spinners and manufacturers, and consequently
business is materially limited. Although money is abundant,
there appears to be little disposition on the part of capitalists to
speculate in goods; and, as accounts from all foreign markets
represent the existence of an excess of stocks, and sales diffi-
cult even at low rates, it can hardly 132 expected that merchants
can operate at enhanced prices in this market. The only safe
policy for manufacturers would be to curtail production by
working " short time," until the demand counterpoise supply ;
or they may calcalate on a repetition of a continued decline in
prices, such as took place from September, 1838, until the great
strike in September, 1842. We refrain quoting prices, as they
are irregular. The business done has beer, in almost all cases
at old rates, but, at the same time, many manufacturers are
stiff in their demands for an advsnce of lid to 3d pps. on Mad-
dapolam s and Printers, and of 3d to rid on 40 in. 72 reed G. E.
Longcloths. The va'ue of all heavy goods, as Punjums, Do-
mestics, and T c'oths, are materially affected by the rise in
cotton ; but the makers find it up-hill work to reconcile prices
here with the consumers. Notwithstanding the eagerness with
which many spinners have rushed into the Liverpool market,
to buy at an advance of id to 5-16ths per lb., there are many ex-
perienced parties here who look upon the recent reports of a
failure in the cotton crop as only a repetition of the A.,-lerican
tactics of 1843-4, by which it will be remembered many of our
clever speculators burnt their fingers in February of the latter

year.
ROCHDALE.—We have had a brisk market to-day, and a good
demand for Flannels, at former prices. There is little change
in the Wool market to report.
HUDDERSFIEI,I).—We have had a very fair market to-day,
with every prospect of a good trade doing for some time to
come. Prices are still very low, and this circumstance, added
to the large importations of foreign produce which are going
on, will no doubt have a very important influence on the export
trade of the country, so far, at least, as this district is con-
cerned. The demand for Wool continues firm, without any
great alteration in prices.
LEEDS.—The markets at our Cloth Halls have been dull, both
on Saturday and to-day, but from the circumstance of many
manufacturers being engaged in delivering to order, the stocks
do not increase, and it is pretty apparent that a fair amount of
business is doing in bulk goods. Prices are steady. In the
warehouses there has been some little improvement this week,
on comparison with the business the last few weeks, particularly
for goods for the winter demand at home. The foreign houses
continue dull, they are, nevertheless, doing rather more than
they have done for some time past. _ _ .

BRADFortn.—Owing to the unsettled question of combing
wages in the district of Keighley, there is but little Wool pur-
chased, and the supply in the market abundant ; but as there
are great difficulties in getting Wool from the farmers at prices
to meet the rates current here, there is no disposition to press
sales.—Yarn Market. —There is nothing new in this branch of
the trade. Prices are still very disproportionate to the cost of
Wool, and the inclination to prevent any increase in stocks is
strongly maintained. There is a very large quantity of unem-
ployed machinery ; and till better prices can be realised, the
production must continue limited.—Piece Mark et.—The busi-
ness going is satisfactory, and the beautiful weather tends to
inspire confidence that our home trade will be a good one.
LEICESTER.—There continues to be a steady business doing
in goods suitable to the season ; the stocks of goods on hand
are small, and there is a reasonable prospect that the " hands"
will be fully employed for some time to come. Wool and Yarn
are without alteration in price.
NOTTINGHAM.—The condition of the wrought stocking trade,
though the best of all the hosiery branches, is still in a very de-
pressed state, especially for fine hose. The silk glove trade gets
gradually worse. The bobbin ❑et trade is certainly consider-
ably amended, and some activity prevails in preparing for the
German and Russian, especially the Leipsic and Novor•orod
fairs. The cotton warp lace trade, upon the whole, hr,
last week stood rather firmer. The silk warp trade has also
a shade revived, and the fancy warp trade is in some measure
in abeyance, the Jacquard frames, in many instances, being
rather in a dull state and stagnant. As yet the making of
velvet lace is exciting but little speeulation.