The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1826-04-04 (London, England)

STATE OF TRADE.  Trade, we SIT happy to state, has somewhat revived in Leith within these few days. There have been several arrivals from foreign ports, and considerable bustle en the quays. The approach of the season for the spring aailinr will materially contribute to enliven the port. Malmesbury fair on Tuesday last was attended by the graziers and (lentos from most parts of the weatesn cow,ties. The oxen, of which there was a very large shell . were chiefly of the Devon breed; there wets also a grew: number from Glamorganshire, and sonic Herefords. A more heavy fair with regard to sale, perhaps has not taken place within the last two or three years. In the morning lk/. and 191. were demanded for oxen, which, before the close, would gladly have been sold at 16/. and 17 '. Many of the leaner kind were obliged to he driven bark A distance of a hundred miles, for want of purchasers. There was also a number of sheep, among which were some short ones ; but for the latter no one seemed disposed to buga;!l. On the whole it was a very bad fair for the seller: Although all parties connected with agriculture seem to anticipate the approach of a malevolent crisis, as arising out of the recent infraction of the money-market, or the probable alteration of the currency, yet it appears that few are apprehensive of any lasting impression sufficient to depreciate the value of landed property ; nor chew any disposition on the part of the tenantry to defer the time fez making new contracts, where their leases are about to expire, in order that they may witness the event. On the contrary, applications for farms are made with as much setlicitude as ever.  We wish that it were in our power t announce the /east improvement of the state of trade in this town ; but such is not the case. Every one seems to be looking forward with anxiety to the eventful sth of July, when, under various restrictions, and upon payment of certain duties. silk goods of foreign manufacture may be introduced in„to England. We fervently hope that the result will not prove so ruinous as is generally anticipetetl. We believe that the silk weaver and manufacturer of brood goods will feel less than the throwster, who, we fear, will be a great sufferer. In the mean time the state of our mechanics is truly deplorable, applications for relief daily increase, and, but for the seasonable supply received this week from noble and generous donors, the funds raised for their relief would have been soon exhausted.  We have been at some paha' in endeavouring to form a correct estimate of the present state of meny of tilt neighbouring districts, from personal observation and inquiry, and are sorry to say, that the result is by no means satisfactory. In Congleton, nearly, the whole of the labourink population is destitute of employment, almost every mill is at a stand, and their only support is derived from the con• tributions of the benevolent. Trade, at Leek, which a few weeks since bore a consoling aspect, is again in a deprrseed state. As to Sandbach, we may almost go to the extent of saying, that, with little exception, parochial aid is the only means by which the silk throwsters, who formerly lived on their earnings, are now maintained. It is, indeed, high time that a change for the better should take place.—Mae. cleffield Herald, April 1.  A number of young English Excise officers are doing duty in Scotland, being sent down to supply vacancies and learn distillery service. _  The number of unemployed weavers in Hamilton now amounts to five hundred. Mr. Brown, factor to his Grace the Duke of Hamilton, continues to give employment to numbers in digging and levelling ground in the neigh.. bourhooS.  On Saturday last a basket was sent by one of the Exeter coaches, directed to a gentleman at Teignmouth, which on being upacked was found to contain the dead body of a new-born infant. An inquest has been hell, and the Jury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder" against sonic person or persons unknown. Strong suspicion attach es to a female in Exeter, and we trust the steps taking will lead to the discovery and punishment of the unnatural mother. Claude Seurat, the living skeleton, passel through Dover on Tuesday, en his way home. to France.  1 ~.  ,  ;  1  ii