WOOL, HIDES, AND BARK. 413 



price of butts at Chatham is 34^., when the entries cease for a 

 time. 



In 1653 tanned hides cost iSs. $d. each in London. At 

 the same place in 1663 leather backs are at 2$s. 4^., backs 

 and butts at 28j. 8^., upper leather hides at 2is. i\d. In 

 1669 backs and butts are at 14^. 3^., upper leather hides at 

 i6s. z\d. There is a marked contrast in these prices. This 

 painful change perhaps explains the reason why Irish cattle 

 were described by the Lords in 1667 as a nuisance, and their 

 importation into England forbidden, because English rents 

 were lowered by Irish imports. Some prices of leather are in 

 Houghton's Sundries. 



It may be convenient to connect the comments which may 

 be made on the price of hides with those which arise from 

 entries of the price of oak bark. This article is sold fre- 

 quently by Eton College, and occasionally by New College, 

 Oxford. The measures are the load and the yard, the former 

 containing 55 of the latter at Eton and 52 at Oxford. These 

 measures are now obsolete, and on enquiry I find that no 

 memory survives of their use. 



There are great fluctuations in the price of bark from the 

 Eton woods. The earliest entry, in 1625, is at 40^. the load, 

 when only a small quantity is sold. Then there is an entry 

 in 1636 at 66j. The next is in 1645, when entries are fairly 

 continuous, for there are fifty entries at Eton from this date 

 to the end of the period. The highest price during the whole 

 period is 1664, when it makes 165*. the load ; the lowest 1651, 

 when it is only 50 s. Even in the same year great differences 

 occur; in 1683 the College sold nine loads at 55*. and three 

 at loos. Twice, in 1672 and 1680, it is at nos. From 1690 

 to 1702 the price is uniform, %2s. 6d.> and this seems to sug- 

 gest a contract price. It is generally peeled and stacked at 

 i8j. qd. a load. 



In all probability, Eton being at a comparatively short dis- 

 tance from London, and having cheap and easy water com- 

 munications with the Southwark tanneries, which have been 



