The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-02-01 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

MANCHESTER.—AIthough there have been little, if any in-
crease in the demand since our last report, the feeling of de-
pression which prevailed a week ago, has been in some degree
alleviated. To what cause the change of feeling may be
ascribed,—whether entirely to the reduction of the rate of in-
terest by the Bank of England, or partly to that and partly to
some expectation of an early improvement in the demand for
goods and yarn,—we are unable to say. It has led, however,to
an increased demand for cotton at Liverpool, where more busi-
ness has been done, at slightly improving rates. We regret to
say that the failure of Mr. Charles Smith, commission agent
and warehouseman, has been announced this week. The liabi-
lities, principally in Manchester and Glasgow, are understood
to amount to ten or twelve thousand pounds. Of the nature or
amount of the assets, we have heard nothing worthy of confi-
dence.

LEIEDS.--The shipping houses are making inquiries
for spring goods, and in the public cloth markets, on
Tuesday last, a fair amount of cloth changed hands. Stocks
are not heavy, and there is no change in prices or the general
circumstances of the trade to require notice this week.
HALIFAX.—Out market presented a very gloomy appear-
ance last market day, and very little business was done. The
yarn trade is exceedingly depressed, and there is very little do-
ing in wool. The slight advance that was obtained on low and
deep wools has now been abandoned, and old rates are submit-
ted to.

BRADFORD.—Pieces: We are sorry it is not yet in our power
to notice any improvement in the general aspect of our market
which remains still very dull. The unsettled state of commer-
cial and political affairs on the continent will to some extent ac-
count for this, to which may be added Thursday was the last
market of the month, when purchases are seldom freely made.
Stocks however are upon the whole light and production limit-
ed. ' The market is only supplied with Wool on a limited scale,
as the wants of the trade hold out no inducement to give the
prices asked in the country. There is no alteration in the ex-
tentof business done, and prices are stationary. There is less
doing in Yarns, and until the navigation of the rivers is again
free, we do not expect any material change in the demand.
Prices have become easier for the buyer, thovgli from the late
ruinous rates at which yarns have been selling, it might have
been thought that any alteration must be one in favour of
spinners.
HOSIERY AND LACE TRADES.—The condition of many of the
branches of the hosiery manufactures continues gradually to
improve, and many of the shops which are employed in snaking
silk gloves and drawers, which a few days since only showed a
solitary light, are now in the full blaze of illumination, every
frame being employed ; but this is by no means universal. The
cut-up hose hands have rather more employment, but, upon the
whole, they are still suffering most severely. The cotton glove
trade is still in rather a depressed state. The bobbin net trade
is in a more critical state than ever. To speak generally, the
lace trade is in a most stagnant condition, and a sort of paraly-
sis prevails amongst the factory owners. In the midst of so
many discouraging circumstances in the lace trade, we are glad
to observe that there is a slight reaction in the traverse warp
branch, whilst the pusher machines in general maintain their
groiu.d. The bobbin and carriage comb and bolt shops are
still in a very stagnant condition, being in a manner half closed,
with a solitary exception or two.—Nottingham Journal.