The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-28 00:00:00

tiREAT fIRE AT NEIV YORK.

Raw Ent('thyme.
coma OF BANKRUVICY.—YLbreaDAT.

Or. the 10th inst. the Moat extensive conflagration
th it has happ.ued, in New York, since the greet lire at
Istd. br.ite out in the premises of Mi stirs. Harter and
brothers, the celebrated Actieri,su publisher, The %ca-
det.: was occasioned by a plumber, who was at work in ohe
of the lower storeys, and who, atter ligtsting his pipe, threw
the burning paper into a vemel of campliine which he had
mistaken for water. Instantly the place was in flames.
Fed with combustible materials on every side, they soon
I, raged with volcanic fury. 'there was scarcely time for the
oecupeuu of the vast building to escape with their lives.
Fortunately, cut of the Gio employes within its walls, some •
40) hot not returned from Mums', those who remained
being chiefly the young women employed in the press-roams
sad bindery. Thanks to the darn:* efforts of the firemen,
whose first straits were directed to saving life, these were
all rescued from a dreadful fete, though one of the number
was so much injured that she died on the way to the hos-
pital. Several other persons were more or less Injured. No
fewer than '2,000 men, women, and chaldten, have been
thrown out of employment by this catastrophe. The ravages
of the fire were not confined to Messrs. Harper'. establish-
`meat, but extended to the neighbouring premises. The
, Walton Hotel, an extensive editice, built a hundred years
ago by a gentleman of that name, but which has of late been
an emigrants' boarding house, was also completely destroyed.
The following is the estimate of the property of the
Harpers, lost and saved:—Property in the buildings: The
bindery establishment, estimateu to be worth about 60,000
dots. ; 34 Adams presses, valued at 75,000 doh. ; 9 hydraulic
presses, 15,000 dols.; materiels in the composing room,
15,000 dole. ; the stereot)pe foundry and electrotype appa-
ratus, 5,000 dele. ; printed sheets of the Pictorial Bibles,
half of which was owned by J. G. Adams, 30,000 doh
steam engine and boiler, 5,000 dols.; stock of books and
printed sheets. estimated in the inventory to be worth not
tar from 800,000 dole.; wood cuts, estimated at 50,000 dols.;
ten buildings, worth probably 160,000 dots. ; stereotype
plates, valued at 400,000 dole. ; total property, 1,053,000
dots. Property saved Stereotype plates, 400,000 dole.;
wood cuts (probably), 40,000 doh.; books, paper, and =is-
, cellaneous, 10,000 doh.; total saved, 450,000 dots.—total
loss, 1,205,000 dots. On this amount the insurance does
not exceed 2.50,000 dub., distributed among a large number
of companies, only one company, en English one, in
Boston, having over 3,000 dots. ten buildings were occu-
pied by the establishment of the Harpers, five stories high,
, and extending through the entire block from Franklin-
, square to Cliff street, five fronting on each side. They were
, also all of recent erection. .

1,10,10. Mkt. COIMISPIWIIII NOLIWI t.
IN NE IiIIAI.TItEET.

The bankrupt was a holm., to Pearson-street, and Great
Cambridge-street, Kineslaud-road. This was the last exa-
mination meeting. His debts were 5311. ; no assets.
Mr. Bagley opposed for the assignees.
It appeared that the bankrupt had, a few days before the
petition, transferred his business to a persan named Payne,
on the ground of a pre-existing debt, he having previously
pain hot for the business. He went on contracting debts
up to the date of the failure. Besides the business of
baker, he had traded as a miller and flourifactor ; and
though several thousands of pounds had passed through his
hands, his accounts showed little or no profit. There being
nothing whatever in the hands of the assignees, they had
not the opportunity of investigating the case thoroughly.
The bankrupt was swamped, and stated that he had kept
no account of his ready money sales. At one time he took
121. or 131. a week. lie lad 600 sacks belong:ag to him,
which were at present in the hands of the bakers. It was
• usual thing, even in a small business, to lose as many as
200 sacks in • year. They were not worth more than 10d.
each.
Mr. Harris, for the bankrupt, submitted that he ought to
pass, as the accounts were undoubtedly correct and were
all vouched. .

Mr. Edwards, the official assignee, expressing • similar
opinion.
His Honour allowed the bankrupt to pea, observing
that the question was more one for the certificate meeting.
From the figures in the balance-sheet it would appear that
be had been carrying on trade for a long tints without pro-
fit,. and living out of his creditors.
Mr. Mania said that would be explained at the proper time.
11111021 coinnwionsa cool ICBM.
IN RI COHEN.

This was the adjourned last examination meeting in the
ease of Abraham Cohen, clothier, of lioundsditch. The
accounts have been already published.
Mr. A. Turner, (or the assignees, stated that after the last
examination, when the bankrupt was adjourned sine die,
without protection, ace. a. had been taken out by one of the
assignees in his individual capacity, on the understanding
that whatever was obtained should go to the credit of the
' estate. Under these circumstances the assignees were not

use,. mg fur the bankrupt to pass.
His Honour said that under the circumstances, the ac
counts beiog most unsatisfactory, and no other accounts hav-
ing been filed, the court could not take notice of any ar-
rangement with the assigned, but must again order an
adjournment Woe die.
.Ir. Poole applied for the discharge of the bankrupt from
custody, but hie Honour directed the application to stand
Over.

The New York Daily MRCS gives the following sketch
of the operations of this enterprising firm a—" The esta-
blishment of the Harpers was founded by James Harper,
the eldest of the four brothers who now constitute the firm.
He came to this city in 1810, a lad 15 years old, and served
an apprenticeship of six years to Paul and Thomas, the
leading printers of that day. His brother John soon fol-
lowed bim, and learned his trade of Mr. Seymoutaprinter
in John•street. In 1817, with the small capital James bad
saved, the brothers opened a small book and job office in
Dover-street. The first book they printed was 'Seneca's
Morals; ' the seeond was an edition of the ' Methodist
Catechism.'. The first book they published on their own
amount wee Locke's ' Essay en the Human Understand-
ing.' They toiled with unremitting industry, and main-
tamed the highest character for enterprise and integrity.
la 1820, the third brother, Joseph Wesley, joined them,
and sin years later Fletcher became a member of the firm.
From that time until now they have carried on Ike pub.
lisping haziness with a degree of well. directed energy wt ich
has few parallels. They removed to Cliff-street about 1820,
and have added one building after another to their establish-
ment as the demands of their business required. The
traount of books they have issued is almost incalculable.
Fur the last few years they have published, on an average,
4,000 volumes a minute for ten hours a day ; and from
three to four thousand persons have obtained a livelihood
from their employment"

IN RI LLWGYORD.

The bankrupt wasa brewer ;;;m 'lister, of Poise',
Portsmouth. This was the last examination meeting. The
accounts, prepared by Mr. Pettis, commenced on the let
February, 1851, with a capital of 501. The bankrupt now
owed to unsecured creditors 1,0801. ; to those holding seen-
rity, 4,1341. ; liabilities, 611.; assets in good debts and pro-
perty, about 9001.; property held as security, 4,310!. The
profits had been 2,5891. ; looms, 1321. ; trade expenses,
1,8271. ; interest and discount, 3481.; law expenses, 1941. ;
domestic ditto, 4151.
The banktopt passed unopposed.

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28, 1853.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE:—Tuesday,Dec.27.

FOREIGN-OFFICE, DEC. 13.

The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Niven
M00r.., E.g., now her Majesty's Consul at kleirout, to be
her Majesty's Consul-General in Syria.

FOREIGN-OFFICE, Dn. 23.
The Queen hu been graciously pleased to appoint the
lion. licary Elliot, now Secretary to her Majesty', Legation
at the [Lague, to be Secretary to her 'Majesty's Legation at
Vienna.