The market has not improved since the date of our last English mail report. The Northern dealers have shown considerable desire to purchase, but the prices they continue to offer have as yet received little countenance from holders. From Hankow, there is no special news thehtonile. According to latest advices thence, the market was inactive, and reten were eater.
The last received telegram from London indicates weakness, and a declining tendency in the Liverpool and Manchester markets, Gnex Sutnrtvas.—After a period of unusual quiet, business in these was resumed on 30th ultimo by the settlement of some 25,000 pols aggregating 40,000 pieces, at the same rates. Buyers fancying that the state of the market still favors ons now submit lower offers. pieces 8f-1b, common chop at Tls. 1.88 a 1.90 per piece, and this transaction was supplemented on the following days by sales of similar class bribe cloth a fair enquiry has existed at Tle. 1.72 0 173. per piece, and the few sales recorded have been made at about these figures. Heavy Shirtings call for no remark, excepting that they are easier in value and in very limited demand. fine quality at Tls. 3.70 per piece; 2,000 pieces, 66 R. at Tls. 2.15 "2.20 per piece; 10,000 pieces, 64 RL at Ts. 201 a 2.04 per piece, atid'
Warre Suugrinos.—The busines of the fortnight hat been transacted within the let two or thres day; it compris 200 poos extra 1300 pects, 60 Re at Tia 1.90 per picae, T-Crorns,—Transactions have been neither numerous nor extensive. Small sales have been of daily occurrence, and prices were fairly beld utu Tot instant, when a parcel of Dewhurats MI'. 7-ths changed hands at Ts. 1.58 per piece, At the clote there ars, buyers of ths clan of goods at that price, but we ind few importers to imitate the example set them by the above operation, The lower counts of 7-Iba. have not bee much enquired for, nor have t-lbs. or S-lbs. attracted much attention during the fortnight. Total sales" estimated at 50,000 "@ 60,000 pieces.
Dutch were pamed off SeTls, 298 209 por piece, and Tin:200.2 297 per piece respectively, while inferior chop Atercana ie second Datts,—Something akin to a panic prevailed immediately after the departure of last English mail, and fair to good quality English and ants commanded Pls, 3.98/30 per piece, these low prices caused a run on the article and a considerable business at improved rates is the tual The decline established atthe opening of the market has latterly been almost wholly recovered, Tls. 3.10 per piece having yesterday en refused for, Mendel's "horse and jockey" chop, while best Datch, which at one time could not be sold at over Tis: 3.07) per Tite, have recently changed hands to some extent at Tls. 3.10 per piece. Total sales 25,009 " 30,000 pieces.
For Jeaxs a fair enquiry has existed, and some 15,000 pieces English have been quitted by importers, at prices ranging between Th, 2.20 and 2.25 per piece." ing ate reported sold at Ts. 9.78 per pieces Engl, 14fbs. at Tls. 3.10 to 3.12 per piece; and Y5Ibs. at 3.12 @ 3.19 per piece. Estimated Suurrixos.—The market has been irregular, and quotations are lower than when we last published. Second quality American, Sheet; business 1000 pieces American Cloth; and 6,500 pieces of English. les ate 3000 pivots Chintss at Ths 1 00 per piece, 1000 pi Gentian Shitings at Tia, 223/0. per piece, 2000 pisos Dye! Brocadee at Faxcy Corrows.—The trade in thia class of imports has been so trifling that it is scarcely worth while alluding to it. The reported 2.75/85 por piece, 600 pieces While Brocadee at lo, 2.34 per piece, and 2000 dozen Handkerchicis at 6 mace per Sozen.
pring salon, "A few Spans Stripes, Canto, Long Bla, Sad Luatres, have changed bands at quotations and some black Lastings have Woounexs—The market for Woollen goods shows no change. Inactivity still prevails, but holders appear in no way anxious, and are beau taken for Japan at Tls. 11.574 per piece, for H. H. quality. The recorded settlementa, are as follows 1,000 Fieoes Cenitts Soeted at 15.00 to 15 er piece."
500 pieces Scarlet Long Ells C.P.H. at Tls. 6.40 per pi 5,000 pieces Figured Orleans at 3.90 to 409 '600 pieces Spanish Stripes at 0.60 to 0.68} por yard.
The higher figure being for extra fine cloth. a we een es ihe The Shanghai Customs have issued the "Statistics of the trade of this port for the first quarter of 1872," and we believe that it wil cee ae tat Mice here one of tro of the re sell cat pousta which the dhlet presents.
In the first place, itis satisfactory to find that, notwithstanding the discouraging nature of, the advices received-—ostensibly from the Consuming districts-—and the late date at which business commenced this season, trade in Piece Goods on the whole has not diminished. True {bere is a taling off in the aggregate import revenue of Taels 16,000, Hacquap, and this at first sight ai an unfavorable symptom; ut in reality, "it forma no criterion for our guidance, inasmuch as it is influenced solely by the quantity of goods entered inwards Customs. "We the quantity and valneof the merchandise taken by consumers 4s the true measure of commerce. Whether those are trays sources of profit to the producers, or whether, in the present instance, i have great reason to congratulate themselves on the in-"ease in value which the trade of this year shews over that of last season for the same are questions with which we; do not care to mie. Our present object, more particularly, is to point out that the constant, cry of the dealers about bad markets and nothing doing in the }strior has not of late been quite in accordance with trath; and this, to our mind, is proved to demonstration by the statistics now before us.
following table is based on the Customs' pamphlet, and compares the trade in Piece Goods for the first three months of 1872 with that tame period of 1871
Quantity. Value in round Numbers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.