The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-04 00:00:00

HIDES AND LEATHER.

The market for raw goods does not present any very
marked feature during the peat year. The total import
carresponds rather closely with that of 18W. The exports
show a slight deasase, but they by no means represent any
diminished demand for exportation, the principal supplies
being drawn more immediately from the producing coun-
tries. On the contrary, there is no doubt that the require-
ments of the Continent have greatly increased, and that all
calculations for the future of the hide market must recast-
miss) this fact. The shipment& to the United States have
been small throughout the year, cud should the existing
depression in prices, which the political excitement has oc-
casioned, continue, we way expect, at least for a time, to
receive hides from that country. Priors of raw goods were
buoyant for the first three month., but in June an univer-
sally lower tendency prevailed. The failures of July doubt-
less accelerated their decline, but prices in general still
afford little margin for profit to the manufacturer. We
cannot dismiss our retrospect of the year 1860,
without a more distinct reference to the disasters
which it has witnessed, and whisk will long make it
memorable in the trade. That so gigantic an amount of
commercial rottenness should hive existed, and have carried
so bold a front for so long a period, nay well have sur-
prised those unconnected with the leather and hide trades.
and have obtained for these trades generally an unenviable
notoriety, when to those within their sphere the disclosures
excited the utmost ,astonishrneut. Since the publication of
the proceedings in the Court of Bankruptcy, the only won-
der is that the witestrophe did not occur earlier. It is,
however, important to remember, as we stated in our cir-
cular of August last, that of the enormous aggregate of the
liabilities of the firms that suspended payment, a very small
proportion was due in the trade, and that the monied inte-
rest are the principal losers. We avail ourselves also of the
present opportunity to contradict the evidence that has been
given, more or less directly, stating that the custom of the
trade in represented in the practices that the evidence in
bankruptcy has disclosed. That the parties concerned may
have had transactions, analogous to other leather factors,
we do not dispute; but that the system that has been pur-
sued of propping up houses that have been brought to
hopeless insolvency by a course of excessive overtrudisg,
has any representative in any dealings in the leather and
hide trade outside the circle of the firma that have failed. we
most positively deny. We believe, on the contrary, that
the trade in general is in is sound and healthy state, and that
the relations of the manufacturers and factors are of an in-
dependent and legitimate nature. We hope, however, that the
lemons which these disgraceful disclosures are calculated to
teach will not be forgotten, and that a system which will
give to capital and fair dealing their rightful position, will
be scrupulously followed ; we may then anticipate great ad-
vantage from the removal of so much undue competition
from all departments of the leather and hide trade.. These
misfortunes could not, however, diminish the consumption
of leather, which must have been, in consequence of the wet
season, %mutually large during the past year. There is also
no doubt that the production has been greatly lessened, and
that dealers have to the utmost restricted their purchases.
The stocks of leather are by no means excessive, and we are
therefore of opinion that with restored confidence, the pros-
pect for the leather trade is more satisfactory than for some
time paid.—(From the Circular of Messrs. T. J. and T.
Powell.)

TRAFFIC RETURNS.
Miles Pas- Mer- Total, Total,
itArl.W923 open *engem eltaadlas 1360 16:6
Week sells* Oct W. 8. L L L
Great Indian Peninsula tri 1,771 1,643 3,419 3,212
Week ending Dec. 61
Last Angllan
Bristol end Exeter
Antwerp d Rotterdam
Week ending Dec. W.
North Eastern
Waterford and Kilaenny 31 146 147 995 102
Belgian Eastern Junction 26 96 158 PM 253
South Wales
Stockton and Darlinsteu — 764 5,647 2.411 8,0011
Week ending Dec. 30.
North British
Shropshire Union 224 400 730 1.220 975
Birkenhead — 1.264 1.647 5.611 2.419
Scottish Central — 1.050 6047 1.407 3.047
Casten Counties
Midland
Oewerap and Newtown

THE PROGRESS OF FRENCH EXTRAIA%•ARC3

(From the Money Markel Review.)

•
It appears that the French estimates for IVA
have just been drawn up, and are published in the
des Lois. The amount required for the coming year is no
less than 1,840,121,858 f. (73,004,8000. The War Depart-
ment absorbs 345,.550044,,644f. (13,821,1000 ; the Navy,
124,195,7ftif. (4,97,8001.) ; the Ministry of Finane”,
945,575,345 f. (37,820,0000 ; the Ministry of the Interior,
163,382,221 f. (6,535,2000 ; the Ministry of Justice,
28,681,219 C; the Ministry of Public instruction, 20,609,800 f.;
the Ministry of Public W0r5hip,47,219,136f.; the Miiiatryu
Trade and Public Woeka, 102,767,3501. (4,110,6001.). The Mi.
Matey of Algeria, although it was rap sensed on the 24th of
November, is put down for 40,036,1001.; sad the Ministry of
State, 11,398,400 f. Among the items charged to the
Ministry of State two are worth quoting-100,000f. (4,0006.),
for the salary of M. Fould as privy councilor, and 62,0008.
to defray the cost of publishing the private correspondence
of Napoleon I. The Emperor's civil list Is also set down for
the enormous sum of 30,000,000 f (1 200.0000 ; the civil
list of the Empress for 12,500,000 f. (500,0000 ; not to tweak
of the pensions to Princess Mathilde, Prince Napoleon,
Princess Clotilde, the Murat family, the Bacciochi
family, ke.
Well may Frame groan beneath the weight of her bor.
thens. Perhaps, the most remarkable feature in the above
enumeration is the enormous draught (37,820,0)00 made
upon the Treasury by the Ministry of Finance. This is the
inevitable result of the immense additions that have been
made to the charge of the public debt of Frame sine the
re-establishment of the Empire. Where is this svg,ta, to
eml, save ie public baukrumey ! Scarcely less remarkable is
the result of a comparison of the enormous civil 114 of the
imperial family with the comparatively modest aunt which
our Queeis finds adequate to keep up her state cud dignity.
What mast France think, in her secret heart, of the mkried
and titled multitude, whose first object is to plume them.
selves thus richly at her expense ? Is it to be wondered at
that slcialist and levelling doctrines find in that country so
many Supporter.?

WEATHER REPORT.

JILIIVLBT

3, naming is NaDI 3.11.

B. E. 3L D. 7. C. t.
- --- --.
A3PRDXF.3 .. 30.39 SA 31 S.W.--- W. h
1131390 Ci .. 10.33 SI II L f
LARWICIA .. mom 36 34 W. N. W. c
CAAWILLaZII 3910 12 N. 0
Po WrItIISI .. 30.33 30 —8.3. W. b
GALWAY .... 30.33 133 B.L b
lieu
Livll.oool 30.32 30 —8.8. L
VALENCIA
qC EIMATORII 10.17 39 M F.. e
lino=
YARYPOIW
L 03308 33.81 38 N.I. 00
LarrEzereiMe 00.00 SI L. be
Kw 30.33 333 N.ll, a 0
Dorn 30.31 33 32 &&L b
P011391011T8 30.34 Ite I. t
PLTXO11111
MUMS
Bata
BAYONNE ...
Llanon
EXPLANATION.
B.—Barometer corrected and reduced to 32 deg. at mesa Na
level : eachlo feet, of vertical vise, causing about onehundredth
of an tech diminution: and each 10 deg., above 82 deg., cac.inc
ncarlythrethundredths finemm. k..—Exposed tbermomet.r

: eacell
of an look din
nearly Wen
In shade. 11—
point). D.—Direr,
(1 to 12—ootinistock.
e: clouds (donsebed) :
S. overcast (C
letter moiled swim

lamed bulb (for evaporation and dew
of wind ,true—sot magnetic . 7.—Fetee
I—Cloud kl to 9;. : b, blue sky,
f, fog: b, ball I, lightning Way
; I. thunder. A
nio—tboa, rt. much rain.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
CASUALTIES. _

Aire, from London to Yalta, ;rltlT goveTninent stares, has been
abandoned at sea: maw siored.—Onernam,
Bostonian. from New Tort to London, has been totally lost oil
this Island : crew saved.—Guernsey,
Coquetdale (barque', Captain Doi:Anson, from Alexandria to Sum.
deriand, with wheat and beans, was totally lost on the Kentish
K nock this morning, during a heavy gale from ENE.. crew
landed here —lLargate, Jan. Y.