The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-09 00:00:00

THE LEATHER TRADE.

The oonrse of the bide and leather trade is no-
ticed an follows by Mourn T. J. and T. Powell,
under date yesterday :

In our last Circular, dated July 4, we announced the
failure of some of the largest firms connected with the
leather and hide trade. Their suspension had occurred
only two days previously, and the market was then suffer-
ing from the immediate shock which the magnitude of these
disasters occasioned. The effect produced on the market
has been much as we anticipated : we stated that we consi-
dered some depreciation in prices inevitable, but that no
diminution of consumption could result from these calami-
ties. Our Price Current now shows a reduction in the va.
Ins of nearly all descriptions of leather, the extent of which
will be more particularly noted below, but we are happy to
be able to state that a feeling of caladium has been growing
throughout the month—that the sales, at the reduced
rates, have been large-Tend that the trade has hitherto
=through the crisis most satisfactorily, proving that,
the range of the houses thathave suspended a sound
sad healthy state of the trade is prevalent. Made° important
to take into consideration that of the enormous aggregate of
liabilities which are shown 1)7 the whole of the firms sus-
pended, a very small proportion, probably not more than 10
per cent, represents capital, engaged in tte purchase or sale
of leather and hides. The ator.ks belouging to these estates
must therefore be very much smaller than would be sup-
posed, and there is every reason to expect that the removal
of so much fictitious hulloess will work a great benefit to all le-
gitintate trade. In mw goodsafairamountof business has been
done, considering the circumstances of the market. Although
the imports generally have not been large, the stocks on the
whole are generally increased. The home trade have bought
sparingly, but a demand for exportation has assisted the
market. Prices generally have declined, and with a little
more disposition to concede in prices on the part of im-
porters the transactions would have been larger. At
Leadenhall yesterday the transactions were about equal in
extent to the previous Tuesday, and scarcely any change
occurred in prices.

The following, on the same trade, is from Messrs
Culverwell, Brooks, and Co.
Since the Bth ultimo there have been two series of public
sales, the results of which may be regarded as satisfactory,
the tone of the market generally being quite as favourable,
if not more so than might have been expected after so try-
ing a crisis as the leather trade has so lately undergone.
The leather market is reported to be moving steadily, •
fair average amount of business being done, although at
prices graduating slightly in favour of buyers. Salted
hides are being held firmly by the importers and other
holders interested. The prices required for South American
Saladero) heavy ox being about 7id. per lb. ; Australian
Sydney) selling as follows : heavy, firsts, at 54d. to 5f d. ;
ight, firsts, 4ad ; seconds, 31d. ; Melbourne, first., heavy,
4ld. to sd. ; first, light, ted. ; seconds, 31d. to 34d. per
lb. East India : All export qualities have been in good de-
mand, but at a decline of ed. to ed. per lb. for the month.
The value of the hides sold was not large in the earegate,
and chiefly confined to purchases for export, the home de-
mand being very small. The course of the crisis may now
be viewed as passing away as regards London, although
some more failures in the provinces may be reckoned upon,
nevertheless, we have but little doubt that with a revival of
confidence in all quarters the trade will soon assume • more
active apnca, and be upon • firmer and steadier basis
than h.oi ens the case for some time past.

SHOCKING AND MYRTEILIOIIB OCCURS/NCH AT THE
BOTHELL ROCKS, BIUSTOL.—RIDSTOL, WIDICKSDAT.—
An appalling occurrence, and one which is attended by cir
enmetances of considerable mystery, has occurred at the
famous Hotwell Rocks, near this city. Those who are
acquainted with the romantic scenery of Clifton and the
River Avon will be familiar with what are known as the
Cooke's Folly woods, and with the range of gigantic
rocks which adjoins it. Those cliffs, which am
called the Black Rocks, and were quarried by an
extensive contractor named Eaglesteff, are of great
altitude, and nearly perpendicular. The Durdbam
Downs run out to the very eunimita of these cliffs, and,
with a view to the safety of the public, a wall of about five
feet high bee been built along them. At about seven
o'clock this morning two of the quarrymen in Mr. Eagle-
staff's employ were crossing the upper part of the rocks to
their works, when, at about half-way down the cliffs they
observed amongst a mar of large blocks of stone the body of
• man, lifeless, and sadly mangled. They gave an alarm,
and a policeman of the Clifton division of the city police
being near the spot, was celled, and assisted by some others
he got the body down the rock, and deposited it in an out-
house near the Rock Tavern. It appeared to be that of a
middle aged man, respectably dressed in black. The face
and bead had been frightfully injured during the fall, and
one of the legs appeared abio to have been broken. On ex-
amining
the top of the rock there were found, at about five
or six feet from the spot where the body must have coins
over, two considerable pools of blood, and also marks as if • !
body or some heavy yielding substance had been rolled
along but the blood did not approach the rock, nor is there
any biug in the condition of the man's clothes or linen to
account for its preserce. A bat was picked up near the spot
It is very much cut sad bruised, and no doubt belomgal to
the deceased. Information of the catastrophe has been sent
to the coroner of the county of Gloucester, within whose
Ijurisdiction the body now lie*, and an inquest will no doubt
se held. The body has since been identified as that of •
Mr. Propert, • cooper by trade—a married man with five
children.
ACCIDLNT ON THE SOUTH WHISTRIEN RAILWAY.
An accident happened on the South Western line on Mon-
day, unattended, fortunately, by serious consequences. The
whole of the up Sunday might mail train got off the line
between Farnborough and Woking• soon after 3 am. For-
tunately it ran off to the right instead of to the left side, and
therefore got between the rails. Had it run off to the left
it would have fallen over a steep bank. As it happened
DO one was injured but the mail guard, who bad his head
and hand' bruised. The tender was buried up to the axle.
trees between the rails, the rand being windy. The line
could not be cleated for tteraaesaee sate the middle of the day,
Net in time for bar MO:sty to pre over it.
THE UNITED STAVE 11A11.--800THAMPTON,
WEDNIVIDAT. —The Bremen steamer New York left here
to-day, with the United Steins mail. The mail was • very
small one, consisting of not more than twelve begs. The
New York took out nearly 500 passengers, chiefly Germans,
and a large cargo.

RAP Iritt
EQUITY COURTS.—Arausr 8.
(Wore the Lord Chancellor. )
WAI/11:118 r. NOROLIL

This wan an appeal from Vioraianoellor Wood. The
suit was instituted to compel specific performance of an
agreement for a lease of the um& and minerals in about
40 acre; of land, called Egypt, in the county of Pembroke,
for 21 years, renewable far a further period on certain paid
royalties, and subject to all the usual covenants ; the
lease to be settled in the judge's chambers if the parties
differed. The defendant resisted the performance of the
agreement, on the ground that he had been taken by sue-
I prima, and that the plaintiff was aware that the property
was of greater value than was summed, and that the
royalties payable were wholly inadequate. The Vice.
Ccellor dismissed the bill, and the present appeal was
brought. At the conclusion of the arguments,
The Lord Chancellor postponed his judgment till the
first day of next term.

COURT OF BANIERITPTCY.—AuGuar 8.
(Before Mr. Coreariee' looker Face.)
Ia RE HOOTEL-1111 LEATHER TRADE.

This was a sitting for the choice of assignees under the
bankruptcy of Joseph Hooper, leather merchant, in New
Weston-street, Bermondsey, who failed shortly after the
adjudication of Mamma Strestfeild and Co. as bankrupt..
The following is a preliminary statement of affairs, prepared
Paul and Turner :—Dr., To creditors unsecured,
3831. 16s. 6d. ; ditto, holding security, 2.7191. 14a. H.;
on bills receivable, 23,8221. 14s. 3d.—Total,
419261. 41. 10d.—Cr., By bills receivable an hand, 631. 13s. ;
debtor., 1,830/. ss. &I. ; stock-in-trade, 3,070/. ; property
in hands of creditors, 1,9461. 10.--Total. 6,9101. Bs. Bd.
Mews. Linklater and Hackwood represented several of
the largest creditor. ; Mr. Abrahams appeared for the pe-
titioning creditor, and Mr. Robins supported the bankrepe.
The following gentlemen were appointed assignees :—Mr.
Ebenezer Ball Brown, of Adam's-court, Old Broadetreet,
billbroker, and Frederick Maynard, of Bread-street, ac-
countant.
Debbi were proved in the course of the day to the amount
of between 20,0001. and 30,0001.

LN ILK LANdON.

The bankrupt, a ship•broker, of 166, Ferichurch-street,
applied for his discharge from custody. He had been in
primon for fifteen months at the suit of Mr. Anderson, •
solicitor, who bad advanced money to one named Callow,
Callow at the time of the advance being bankrupt's partner,
and having since failed and passed through this court, bank-
rupt became liable.
The bankrupt was discharged from custody, and re-
ceived protection from arrest until the examination meet-
ing, which is appointed to be held on the 11th September
next.