The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-01-21 00:00:00

STATE OF TRAD

MANCHESTER, JAN. 19.—We regret to say that the flat-
tering appearances of improvement, which presented them-
selves in our market a fortnight ago, have entirely disap-
peared, and prices, both of goods and yarn, have sunk to the
extremely low rates which prevailed about three weeks ago;
and even at those rates it was not easy to make sales yester-
day, some of the purchasers demanding still further conces-
sions in several descriptions of yarn and goons. This decline
occurring so shortly after an impression that trade was about
to revive, shows the extreme feebleness of the market, arising
mainly from the inability of large numbers of spinners and
manhlacturers to bold their produce ; in consequence of
which the slightest check in the demand causes a pressure to
sell, and an immediate reduction of price. Nor can any
substantial or durable improvement be expected without an
extensive revival of credit and confidence throughout the
country; a revival which, under existing circumstances,
must necessarily be slow and gradual, and therefore any ex-
pectations of rapid amelioration in the trade of the district
cannot reasonably be looked for.

ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MONDAY, JAN. 17.—
The market has been dull and heavy to-day, and the business
transacted very limited. Wool may be quoted at last week's
prices.

HUDDERSFIELD MARKET, JAN. 18.—We have again to
report as had a market day as, perhaps, was ever known in
Huddersfield. Buyers were few, and the purchases made
were generally at a loss. In fact, the more business is done,
under existing circumstances, the greater is the loss to the
energies of an industrious people. Profit is out of the ques-
tion ; to exist for a time seems to be the sole object of the
present commercial struggle.

COMMERCIAL TELEGRAPHS AND THE PENNY

POSTAGE

Improvements generate improvements, oftentimes, in most
unexpected directions. It seems almost absurd to say, that
the reduction of the duty on salt has cheapened literature ; it
is so, nevertheless. The reduction of this duty led to the
manufacture of a very cheap bleaching liquid, which, acting
upon coloured rags, rendered them suitable for white paper;
the manufacture of? which, before this discovery, was limited
to white rags. The consequence has been, that paper is mach
cheapened.
A somewhat analogous instance is afforded, by the exten-
sion of mercantile telegraphs, along the chief headlands of
the coast ; which may be attributed to the existenee of the
penny postage. The establishment of these telegraphs and
private enterprise, quite unconnected with government, is
mainly established for the purposes of rapid communication,
on subjects connected with mercantile shipping. Great must
be the commerce, and deep its interests, to support a system
of telegraphs for its own use. Public attention has been re-
, cently called to the subject, by the completion of a line of
telegraphs between London and Dover ; being a part of the
general system. The system began some years ago, by
Lieutenant Watson (of the Royal Navy), who formed a line
of telegraphs at the port of Liverpool, and subsequently at
Hull, and projected the establishment of telegraphs at the
chief headlands along the whole coast. Their advantages in
communicating with vessels at sea, and procuring timely as-
sistance, in cases where the want of it has led to serious
losses of life and property, were felt to be very valuable.
But the cost of the necessary correspondence, between the
telegraphic stations and the central office, with the owners
and other parties interested, was found to be so great under
the old rate of postage, that the extension of the system to
the headlands was abandoned. No sooner, however, did the
penny postage loosen the bonds which fettered correspond-
ence, than Lieutenant Watson appears to have commenced
the extension of his telegraphs.
The reduction of postage (he states) offered such facilities
for transmitting intelligence to all parts of the kingdom, that
it was determined to extend the system to the principal head-
lands round the coast. Telegraph stations are now at work
at Flamborough Head and the North Foreland; at the
Needles, Isle of Wight, to Southampton, whence, by the rail-
road, communications are received six times a-day in Lon-
don; at Skirra Head, Pentland Firth, Peterhead, Aberdeen-
shire ; and others are in progress from the Start to Dart-
mouth, and other principal headlands; including the Bristol
Channel, the Clyde, and the southwest coast of Ireland.
Cutters, as floating telegraphs, will be constantly cruising in
the Downs, and off the Isle of Wight, for the purpose of
communicating with vessels as they pass.
Such telegraphs, when established, will enable vessels from
every quarter of the globe to report themselves, or forward
intelligence immediately on making the British shores. They
may communicate to their owners, consignees, or others in-
terested, in case of accident or distress ; if out of time, or
detained by adverse winds ; if in want of stores or provisions;
the state of foreign markets ; notices of arrivals out, &c.
and they may frequently save pilotage, port charges, and loss
of time, by calling off any of the telegraph stations for orders.
It may not be uninteresting to adduce some instances where
the service of these telegraphs has been very apparent.

Ist, The shii;Consbrook., from Bombay, unable to save her
tide into Liverpool, came to an anchor off the floating light.
She had but one anchor on board : at low water a gale com-
menced from the westward, and as the flood made she drag-
ged towards the hanks : she could not slip and claw off
against wind and tide, nor could she run into port for want
of water ; she therefore telegraphed as follows :-
1545. In want of an anchor and cable.
1531. Weight of anchor, 16 cwt.
These were supplied, and brought the vessel up within 150
yards of that fatal spot, the North Spit Bank. The vessel
and cargo were estimated at about £65,000, and were under-
written in London, Liverpool, and Glasgow,
6th. In a snow storm, a brigantine, 68 tons register, with
a cargo on board estimated at £12,000 value, having sailed
from Hull the previous day, was driven ashore on that dange-
rous point, the Binks, off Spurn. Early in the morning, the
telegraph announced the fact of " a brigantine being
ashore ; but as the vessel had not been provided with the
necessary flags for signals, her name could not then be an-
nounced. At eleven o'clock, however, some means of com-
munication having been effected between the vessel and the
telegraph on board the Humber boat, intelligence was in-
stantly forwarded that she was the Mary, Captain Lancaster,
bound to Dunkirk, which information might have been re-
ceived several hours earlier had the vessel possessed the sig-
mas. On its being communicated to the parties interested,
they secured the means of rendering efficient assistance, by
sending down a steamer, and hiring lighters,which succeeded
blowing wig f
in discharging and translipping this valuable cargo during
the night ; and thus, in consequence of the rapid intelligence
conveyed by the telegraph, placing the cargo in safety before
theto thei itthe time the accident could have been known in Hull the
the ordinary means. Indeed, the telegraph may fairly lay
claim
time,
n e,
w meritas o
ning. having savedresn
galeboth,
andvessel
a heavynd cargo,sea r uans
at

There seems but little relationship between a penny-post
letter and the safety of a ship's ca go of several thousand
pounds in value, yet that such is the fact, these telegraphs
seem to prove ; and we doubt not that, as post-Office
im-
provement becomes more and more developed, beneficial re-
sults, not less remarkable, will be traced to its existence. -
S lurclay Magazine.