w/W«lm'y«.■<,|■A.!,rf;^*|(('^^/''f^■'■J>'•')• 'r' < The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924014058170 ».1 '^^iP.?™? °" "'^ commercial relations of 3 1924 014 058 170 Zii iv i. _ 34th Congress, ? SENATE. < Ex. Doc. 1st Session. S I ^o- ^Q'^- REPORT COMMERCIAL RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES ALL FOUEIGN NATIONS EDMUND FLAGG, SUPERINTENDENT. PBXPAUED AHD PEIHTia) TJUDEIl THE DIRECTION OF THE SECKETAET OF STATE, IN ACCOBDAKOB WUH BESOLCTIONS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. VOLUME I. WASHINGTON: / A. 0. P. NICHOLSON, PEINTEE. 185 6. V.I A£ Cs^ ^^7 fe' KESOLUTIONS. OONGKESS OP THE UNITED STATES. THIRiy-FOURTH CONGRESS I FIRST SESSION. IN THE SENATE. Thursday, August 14, 1856. Mr. Slidell submitted the following resolution ; which was considered by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Printing : Resolved, That the Committee on Printing be instructed to report on the expediency of printing in quarto form five thousand copies of the message of the President to the House of Eepresentatives on Commercial Statistics, with the accompanying docu ments, for the use of the Senate. Friday, August 15, 1856. Mr. FiTZPATRioK, from the Committee on Printing, to whom was referred the resolution of the 14th instant, to inquire into the expediency of printing, for the use of the Senate, five thousand copies of the message of the President to the House of Kepre- sentatives on commercial statistics, reported the following resolution, which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to : Resolved, That there be printed for the use of the Senate, the usual number, and five thousand additional copies of the mes- sage of the President to the House of Eepresentatives on commercial Etatistics of different nations, with the accompanying documents. COMMERCIAL REPORT MESSAGE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING THE EEPOET. To the House of Bepreseniatives : I transmit a report on the commercial relations of the United States with all foreign nations, in answer to the resolution of the House of Representatives of December 14, 1853. FRANKLIN PIERCE. Washington, March 4, 1856. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. Depaetmbnt of State, Washington, March 4, 1856. To the President of the United States : The Secretary of State, to whom was referred the resolution of the House of Representatives of December 14, 1853, requesting the President to report to "this House a statement of the privileges and restrictions of the commercial intercourse of the United States with all foreign nations, similar to that communicated to this House on the 29th of March, 1842 ; and further, that he be requested to give a table exhibiting a comparative statement between the tariffs of other nations and that of the United States, similar to the one prepared and laid before this body in March, 1842," has the honor to lay before the President the accompanying papers. All of which is respectfully submitted. W. L. MAROY. VI COMMERCIAL REPOET. LETTEE FEOM THE SUPEE INTE ND ENT . Depabtment of State, Statistical Office, February 29^ 1856. Sir: — I have the honor to submit to you an answer to the resolution of the House of Eepre- sentatives, requesting a report on the commercial relations of the United States with all foreign nations, with the preparation of which I was charged. In a work so comprehensive and so complicated, some errors have doubtless occixrred ; but, could it have been committed to an organized and practised bureau of commercial statistics, promptly supplied by consular agents with all requisite materials from abroad, or were a similar report now demanded from the persons who have been employed on the one herewith presented, fewer errors would, unquestionably, be detected — the execution of the work being, at the same time, attended with less labor and expense. The resolution of the House of Eepresentatives, in obedience to which this report has been prepared, was offered and agreed to December 14, 1853. The circular to United States consuls calling for the requisite materials was issued from this Department March 15, 1854. The appro- priation of $10,000 to defray the expense was made August 4th of the same year; and the work was entered upon the ensuing month. Three reports on "the privileges and restrictions of the commercial intercourse of the United States with foreign nations," similar to the present, have appeared since the establishment of this government. The first was communicated to the House of Eepresentatives, December 16, 1793, by Mr. Secretary Jefferson, in conformity to "instructions" of that body, February 14, 1791, and embraces what is equivalent to some eight or ten octavo pages. The second was com- municated to the Senate by Mr. Secretary Forsyth, December 18, 1839, in compliance with a resolution of that body of December 19, 1838, and comprises seventy-four octavo pages. The third and last report was communicated to the House of Eepresentatives by Mr. Secretary Webster, March 29, 1842, in accordance with resolutions of that body of September 3, 1841, and January 31, 1842, and forms a document of nearly six hundred pages. In addition to these reports, three other commercial compilations issued by the government should be named — to wit: the "Commercial Digest," transmitted to the Senate by President Monroe, December 7, 1819, conformably to a resolution of that body, March 3, 1817; the "Digest of Commercial Eegulations," showing the "changes" in such regulations subsequent to the Digest of 1819, prepared by Mr. Secretary Adams, in accordance with a resolution of the House, January 21^ 1823, and communicated to that body January 30, 1824"; and last, the "Digest of Commercial Eegulations," prepared and printed, in three volumes, under the direc- tion of the Secretary of the Treasury, in compliance with a resolution of the House, March 3, 1831 ; the first volume being completed for transmission to that body. May 28, 1833, and the second and third volumes in 1836. But in neither of these works last named, was it required to communicate specifically "the privileges and restrictions of the commercial intercourse of the United States with foreign nations," by which requirement the former were characterized. By the resolutions calling for the report of 1842, it is required that said report shall be "similar to that communicated to the Senate, December 18, 1839," by Mr. Forsyth; and the report now submitted is, in like manner, required to be "similar to that communicated to the House on the 29th of March, 1842," by Mr. Webster. It may be remarked, that the observance COMMERCIAL REPORT. Vn of this requirement, though tending to aid somewhat the accomplishment of the present work, by affording a model, has, nevertheless, greatly tended also to restrict its scope. The report has been divided into three parts : Part I. — Commercial Digests. This branch of the work is far more comprehensive than in the report of 1842. It embraces a succinct account of the history, character, and extent of the commercial relations of the United States with each one of all foreign nations, about fifty in number^ together with their numerous dependencies, accompanied by nearly one thousand tabular statements. Many of these statements, illustrative of the character and extent of the foreign commerce of the United States, are comprehensive and complicated, requiring much labor — more especially a series ex- hibiting the commerce of the United States with the Spanish Antilles, during the last ten or twelve years, made up of figures derived from the original "Balanzas Generales" of those islands. This part of the work closes with a summary statement exhibiting the aggregate value of all imports into the United States from each of the principal commercial countries, with their dependencies, annually, for a period of thirty -five years — some countries a few years less — from 1821 to 1855, both inclusive, and the aggregate value of all exports to each of the same countries, from the United States, for the same period ; followed by a summary of the commercial stipulations of all treaties between the United States and foreign nations, in tabu- lar form. Some idea of the labor involved in the preparation of these Digests may be gained by a glance at the catalogue of leading authorities, numbering nearly one hundred, in five or six different languages, several of the works embracing numerous volumes, to which it was found indis- pensable to resort for the requisite information. Part II. — Comparative Tariffs. This branch of the work comprises tables exhibiting a comparative statement of the tariff of the United States with the tariffs of all other nations, numbering, with those of their depen- dencies, more than forty — tariffs of exportation as well as of importation being given where found to exist ; the denominations of foreign moneys, weights, and measures^ being, in all in- stances, reduced to the federal standard of the United States, (a) and each tariff being preceded by an explanatory preface. In addition to these comparative statements of the tariffs of separate nations with that of the United States, others are given, which, grouping the tariffs of countries contiguous to each other, and having similar trade, the customs-rates of these countries are presented at a glance, in comparison with those of the tariff of the United States, as regards the most important sta- ples of commerce. In one tabular group, for example, are compared the customs-rates of the nations of northern Europe ; in another, those of southern Europe ; in a third, those to which our indirect trade with central Europe is subjected ; a fourth presents the tariff-rates of the South American republics ; a fifths those of the States of Central America ; and a sixth, those of Hayti and the Dominican Kepublic. A like course has been pursued with the colonial and other possessions of Great Britain, forming four such tabulated groups — East Indies, West Indies, North America, and one composed of Gibraltar and Malta. (a) The pound sterling excepted, which, for reasons given in the preface to the tariiBf of Great Britain, is estimated &% $i 80, instead of $i 84. Vm COMMERCIAL EBPOET. Anotlier similar comparative statement exhibits, at a glance, the import duties levied by twelve of the principal commercial nations, respectively, on thirty-five of the staple products of the United States. Another statement exhibits, at a glance, the per-centage increase or de- crease of the rates of duty on prominent articles of commerce by the customs-tariffs of the principal commercial countries of Europe for a period of eight years, from 1846 to 1853, both inclusive, showing the changes within that period, during which no change occurred in the tariff of the United States ; while still another exhibits the rates of duty imposed on principal imports for a period of nearly fifty years, under each of the eighteen different tariffs of the United States, from that of 1789 to that of 1846, both inclusive, with the increase or decrease of the rates for that period. Following the series of Comparative Tariffs is presented a series of tabular statements, pre- ceded by an explanatory introduction illustrated by numerous tables, exhibiting the quantities and values of thirty of the stajjle products exported from the United States to thirteen of the principal commercial countries, together with the amounts of duties paid thereon, during the commercial years 1851, 1852, and 1853; and, also, a summary statement exhibiting the aggre- gate value of the staple and other domestic products exported to the same countries, during the same years, with the aggregate amount of duties paid on the staple products exported ; and a summary statement exhibiting the average value of the same, to the same countries, for the same years, with the average amount of duties thereon accruing to each country in each of the years specified. An elaborate series of tabular statements is next given, exhibiting, in detail, the import duties levied by the tariffs of all nations, and by those of their dependencies, on the staple or principal productions of the United States — products of the sea, of the soil, of the forest, of manufactures, &c., being specified in distinct tables — columns being added to show the rates of duty levied on the same articles imported from other countries, and the discrimination in favor of, or against, the United States, where such may exist. A statement exhibiting the same facts with regard to all portions of the British empire follows ; while detailed statements of the privileges afforded, and the restrictions imposed, by all nations and their dependencies, on com- mercial intercourse with the United States — whether by treaty or local legislation, by duties on imports or on exports, by bounties or drawbacks, or in any other way, in distinct tables ; to- gether with their tonnage charges, whether by treaty or legislation, their modes of measuring tonnage, their sanitary regulations, and the regulations of their colonial trade, also in distinct tables — complete the second part of the Eeport. The preparation of the Comparative Tariffs has proved a tedious and toilsome task ; while there can be none, perhaps, in which, despite all possible care, there is a greater liability to error. The latest official publications, in the original languages, have alone, in all instances, been relied on as authority ; and the work has been repeatedly subjected to vexatious delay by the difficulty in procuring them from abroad. Changes and modifications also in foreign cus- toms-rates have been so frequent and so important the last year or two, that it has been found by no means easy to keep pace with them, even by constant alterations in the work performed; while, in several instances, the unlooked-for appearance of entirely new tariffs has rendered worthless long and labored tabular statements already prepared, and complete substitution in- dispensable, (a) (a) Since the above was written, a tariff of Mexico, in most respects new, promulgated January 31, 1856, has come to hand, superseding, for the third time, the results of much labor upon the changing customs-rates of that republic. COMMERCIAL EEPOET. IX Part III. — Consulab Eetukns. •. • These documents are -the answers of United States consuls to the circular of this Department of March 15, 1854, already referred to, issued with a view to obtain the requisite materials for this Report. No very considerable portion of each of these returns, however, it was soon found, could he made available in the work ; and, although parts of some of them might not be deemed of the first importance, still, as much valuable information would, unquestionably, be withheld by their entire suppression, no better mode of making them serviceable could be thought of than to present them, with a few exceptions, exactly as received — such modifications, in form and substance, alone being made, as seemed demanded by regard to uniformity and propriety. The authors of these returns have thus the credit of their service, when it has proved creditable, as it generally has, by having their names appended to their works ; while they thus, also, receive salutary encouragement to make still more vigorous and useful efforts in the same manner in future. To make a digest of the varied and comprehensive commercial intelligence conveyed by these ■ returns — the only remaining mode of disposing of them, if they were neither to be published entire nor suppressed — would have involved an expenditure of time, which could not, under all the circumstances of the case, be seriously contemplated, however valuable such digest, when completed, might have proved to be. Errors of fact and deduction have often been detected in these returns, in preparing them for the Report, and they have in most instances, though not in all, been corrected ; while discrep- ancies of more or less moment, between the statements and estimates of the returns and of other portions of the work, will be frequently perceived. In the various tables of Comparative Tarifi's, for example, the rates of duty will generally be found somewhat higher when given in the re- turns than in the statements prepared from the original publications in this office ; owing, mainly, to the fact that, by the United States official standard of foreign moneys used in this work, their value is more or less depreciated from that sustained by them in the countries whence they emanate. The commercial value of such foreign moneys must also, as a matter of course, be governed at all times by the rate of exchange for the time being. Papers accompanying returns, as exhibits, &c., and referred to as such in the returns, have not often been deemed sufficiently important to be given ; but the reference to these exhibits, as well as to all authorities cited, has, for obvious reasons, in all cases, been scrupulously retained. Changes have oftener, perhaps, been made in the tabular statements accompanying the returns than in other portions — uniformity, perspicuity, condensation, and statistical exactness requir- ing at times considerable modifications in form ; several tables of kindred character being often thrown into one. It has not been found possible, in all instances, with scrupulous care, to avoid repetitions ; but it has been considered that light is sometimes thrown on a subject by one mode of state- ment, which is not thrown by another; and conciseness has, at times, been sacrificed to perspi- cuity. For the same reason, restriction to the consular returns in answer to the circular, has not always been deemed advisable; and they have been accompanied, to some extent, by other commercial matter found in the bureaus of the Department, received from consulates and lega- tions, containing information of the character demanded by the resolution. Thus the number of consulates from which answers to the circular of March 15th have been received, as given in t2]o S COMMERCIAL EEPORT. the Keport, is about one hundred and thirty ; while the whole number of despatches and returns from legations and consulates presented is nearly one hundred and fifty. The value of well-considered and carefully-prepared returns on commercial subjects, from agents of the government abroad, cannot well be estimated too highly. In no manner can a consular corps render better service to the country by which it is sustained ; and prompt obe- dience on the part of United States consuls to the instructions (a) recently issued from this De- partment, cannot fail to supply it most abundantly, in future, with all required information on the commercial relations of the United States with all other nations. A system lik* this has long existed under other governments, especially under those of Great Britain and France ; and the value attached to its results by the latter nation may be inferred from the fact, that^ during the last thirteen or fourteen years, a volume, averaging in size more than a hundred large octavo pages, has been issued every month from the commer- cial bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works, made up of digests of returns from French consuls abroad, and entitled " Annales du Commerce Exterieur."(h) The order of publication is such, that the monthly sheets containing commercial facts and com- mercial legislation in foreign countries, thus digested from consular returns, may, from time to 'time, as they accumulate, be readily made up into volumes — each volume being devoted, if conve- nient, to a distinct country. And thus, we already have, since 1843, a commercial encyclopedia, or library, of more than twenty large volumes, which, inasmuch as it aifords much information, even as regards the United States, nowhere else to be found in detail, has proved invaluable for consultation in preparing the present Report, But this commercial library has been compiled with peculiar reference to French interestSj and its value to France is, of course, far greater than to any other country. Whether, in view of these results in France, and of the importance of the subject itself, it may be deemed advisable to take steps for a somewhat similar disposition of the returns which the late instructions to consuls have already caused to accumulate in this Department ; and to do this in connexion with the annual report on "commercial changes" now required bylaw, is most respectfully submitted for your consideration. By a resolution of the House of Eepresentatives of December 26, 1854, the President of the United States was requested to communicate to that House, in connexion with the report now submitted, which was then in course of preparation, copies of all returns of consuls and com- mercial agents of the United States, made in reply to a circular from the Department of State dated October 8, 1853, or such portions thereof as he might deem expedient. This resolution was referred to this Department, and I was charged with its answer. The returns alluded to are voluminous and valuable, relating chiefly to ship-building, shipping, navigation, tonnage, sailors in merchant service, &c., &c. Progress has been made in preparing and copying these documents, as required ; and the work will be submitted to you when completed. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDMUND FLAGG, Superintendent. Hon. W. L. Makcy, Secretary of State. (a) General instructions to consuls, June 22, 1865, c. i, sections 53-57, pp. 22-25. (b) From 1825 to 1843, similar publications, under other titles, and in v. less regular form, were issued by the same department. AUTHOKITIES. United States : Seybert's Statistical Annals. Pitkin's Statistical View. Watterson and Van Zandt's Tabular Statistiqjil Views. Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury on Commerce and Navigation. Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the Finances. Regulations and Decisions of the Treasury Department under the Revenue Laws. Digests of Commercial Regulations with Foreign Countries ; 1819; 1824; 1833-36 — 5 vols. De Bow's Industrial Resources of the Southern and Western States. Hunt's Merchants' Magazine. Universal Dictionary of Weights and Measures, Ancient and Modem. Manual of Coins and Bullions. (Eckfield and Du Bois.) Cone's Revenue Digest. Mayo's Fiscal Department. American State Papers. American Statistical Annual. (185i.) Tucker's Progress of the United States. Hay's United States Tariff. Blunt' s Commercial Digest. United States Census. United States Statutes at Large — Commercial Treaties, etc. Official Returns of United States Consuls ; with tariffs, decrees, &c. , of all nations, in translation or original. United States Tariffs, from 1789 to 1846. — Executive Documents, generally, 1830 — 1855. Gazetteers. (Latest standard editions.) Colton's Atlas, etc. United States Dispensatory. ' British : Macgregor's Commercial Tariffs and Regulations — 15 vols. Annual Statements of the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries. Tables of the Revenue, Population, Commerce, &c. , of the United Kingdom and its Dependencies. General Orders and Minutes of the Board of Customs, consolidated to the 30th June, 1854. Navigation and Mercantile Marine Laws. (Lindsay.) ' McCuUoch's Commercial Dictionary. McCulloch's Geographical Dictionary. Hansard's Parliamentary Debates. Statistics of Great Britain and Lreland. (Thorn.) Forrester's Oliveira Prize Essay on Portugal : London, 1853. Manual of Commerce. (1855.) Laws of the Customs. (Supplement for 1855.) Laws and Regulations of the Customs. (Ellis.) Clements' Customs Guide. Annual Maritime Dictionary and Commercial Advertiser. (Marwood.) Beedell's British Tariff. British Almanac. The Ship-Master's Guide. The Saint Helena Almanac. (1853.) The Cape of Good Hope Almanac. (1854.) A Practical Digest of the Merchants' Shipping Act. Directory to the Port Charges of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Commerce of Liverpool. (1854.) Liverpool Dock Laws. Abstract of Reports on the Trade of Various Countries and Places, for the year 1855, presented to Parliament. Kelly's Cambist. Pope's Tearly Journal of Trade. (1854-'5.) British Gazetteer. (Sharp) — 2 vols. Census of the Canadas. (1851-52.) Report on Trade and Navigation : Quebec, 1866. SII AUTHORITIES. FjiBNcn : Annales du Commerce Extdiieur ; Legislation Commerciale et Faits Commerciaux ; publides par lo Departemcnt flo r Agriculture, du Commerce, et des Travaux Publics. (About 20 volumes.) Archives du Commerce. (1835 — 1841.) Bulletins des Lois. Statistique de I'lndustrie h Paris, pour les anndes 1847, 1848. (1851.) Annuaire G&dral du Commerce et de I'lndustrie. (1853.) Tarif G&dral des Douaues de France. (1844.) Administration des Douanes; Tarif de Droits de Navigation, suivi du Tarif des Droits Sanitaires. (1850.) Tableau Gdndral du Commerce de la France avec ses Colonies et les Puissances ifitrangferes. (1852 — -1855.) Tableau G^ndral des Mouvements du Cabotage. (1852-1855.) Le Moniteur Universel — Journal ofSciel de I'empire Franjais. Tarif Officiel des Douanes de Belgique, (1847, 1855.) Statistique do la Belgique — Tableau Gfedral du Commerce avec les Pays Strangers. (1852-1855.) Si'AuisH : Cuadro General del Comercio Esterior de EspaEa con sus Posesiones Ultramarinas y Potenciaa Estrangeras : Madrid, 1852. Bi'lanza General del Comercio de la Isla de Cuba. (1848-1854.) B.il;.nza Mercantil de la Isla de Puerto-Eico. (1848-1853.) Balanza General del Comercio de las Islas Filipinas : Manila, 1852. Aran T es de Aduams para la Peninsula g Islas Baleares : Madrid, 1852. Avpnceles Generales, &c. , de la Isla de Cuba. (1853.) Ara ic> les .'enerales, &c., de la Isla de Puerto-Kico. (1851.) Anales y Memorias de la Real Junta de Fomento y de la Sociedad Economica de la HabaBa. Cu dro Estadistico de la siempre fiel Isla de Cuba al ailo 1846. Instruccion Eeglamentaria para el Servicio de las Aduanas en los Puertos Habilitados de la Isla de Cuba. Mexican akd South Ameeican : Com( rcio Esterior de Mexico, desde la Conquista hasta hoy : Mexico, 1853. Coleccion de Disposiciones relativas & la Eenta de Alcabalas y Derecho de Consume : Mexico, 1854. Godigo de Comercio de Mexico : Mexico, 1854. Proposta c Eelatorio apresentados &, Assemble Ger" 1 Legislativa na terceira Sessao da nona Legislatura, pelo Ministro e Secretario d' Estado dos Negocios da Fazenda : Eio de Janeiro, 1855. Eelatorio apresentado A, Assemblda Geral Legislativa na terceira Sessao da nona Legislatura, pelo Ministro e Secretario de Estiido ■ os Negocios da Marinha : Eio de Janeiro, 1855. Doeumentos Estadisticos sobre o Comercio do Imperio do Brazil nos annos de 1845 a 1849 : Kio de Janeiro, 1853. Balanza Jeneral del Comercio de la Eepublica Peruana. (1851-1853.) Estadistica Comercial de la Eepublica de Chile. (1844-1851.) Eegistro Estadistico del Estado de Buenos Ayres. (1855.) GsniiAN AND Dutch: Die ZoUtarife aller Lander Gesammelt, Uebersetzt, Geordnet, von Otto Huebner, Ijeipzig. 1852. JJittheilungen aus dem gebiete der; Statistik Herausgegeben von der direction der AdministratiVen Btatlgtik im E. E> Ilandels-Ministerium : Wien, 1854. Tabellarische Uebersicht des Bremischen Handels : Bremen, 1854. Beitrage zur Statistik des Konigreichs Bavern : Munchen, 1855. Statistiek van den Handel en de Scheepvaart van het Koningrijk der Nedorlainden. (1854.) Statistisch Jaarboekje voor het Koningrijk der Nederlanden. (1852 — 1855.) Tarief van inkomcnde regten op Java & Madura : Batavia, 1844. Nederlandsche Scheepvaartwetten : Amsterdam, 1850. Beknopte Verzameling van de Voornaamste Bepalingen op het Stuk van Handel, Scheepvaart en Nijverheid in Neder- landsch Oost-Indie : Eotterdam, 1854. Italian : Formolario ossia Istruzioni Teorico-Praticho suUa legge della Navigazione di Commeroio : Palermo, 1852. Movimento della Navigazione Nazionale edjEstera nel Porti dello Stato e della Navigazione Nazionale all' Estero: Torino, 1851. Navigazione ill Porti Austsriaci, e Navigazione Austriaca all' Estero, durante 1' AnnfrAnuniaJStrativoHSSO: Trieste, 1861. EERATA. To one feimiliar with commercial statistics, it is unnecessary to suggest, that, in a worli so complicated and so compre- hensive as the present, involving facts and figures almost without numher, derived from authorities numerous, and often conflicting, in various languages, errors, notwithsta'jding the most unsleeping vigilance and the most toilsome scrutiny, are unavoidable. The correction of a few of these errors, which have chanced to arrest the eye, in print, as the sheets of the present volume have passed through the press, is subjoined : Page 35, at the top, under the caption " Duty," in the 5th column of the table, for" Pounds," read £. Page 129, at the bottom, and page 130, at the top — the figures of the cotton tables were derived from the " Rivue" tax 1855, a commercial publication of Havre, and do not exactly coincide with those of the " TaMeau GMral du Commerce de la France" for the same years, subsequently received. Page 146, at the top — for " Gor^e is the only port which foreign vessels are permitted to enter," read — Merchandise of every kind and of every production (Guineas or India-blue cloths excepted) can be imported into, or exported from, the island of Gor^e, by vessels of all nations, free of customs-duty. Page 151, under the caption "Senegal and Dependencies"— add, after the words "neither export nor import," (except as to Gor^e, as stated on page 146.) Page 193, 8th line from the bottom, for " none other being published or prepared ; and for all useful purposes" — read ; None other being published, if prepared ; and for most useful purposes, perhaps. Page 454, 9th line from the top — for "Its preamble, however, declares that it is to be of perpetual duration," substi- tute : It is not limited as to duration. CONTENTS.. CONTENTS PAKT I.-COMMIECIAL DIGESTS. Page. GREAT BRITAIN 5 British Colonial Possessions 47 Canada 59 Nova Scotia 63 New Bruaswick '. 64 Prince Edward' s Island 65 Newfoundland 66 West Indies 69 The Bahama Islands 69 Jamaica . 70 St. Christopher 72 Barbadoes 72 Antigua 73 Trinidad 73 British Honduras 74 British Guiana 74 Bast Indies - 76 Bengal 77 Bombay 78 Australian possessions -. -- 79 Victoria .-- 79 South Australia 81 Western Australia 82 Van Dieman's Land 83 Cape of Good Hope 83 New South Wales - - 84 Mauritius - 85 Falkland Islands 85 GiBKAMAR AND MaLTA - 89 / EUSSU - - 95 FRANCE -- 121 French Colonial Possessions : French West Indies.. 141 French Guiana, or Cayenne - — 144 Corsica.. 144 Algeria 145 Senegal and dependencies 146 Isle of Bourbon 146 Pondicherry 147 St. Pierre and Miquelon - 147 Society Islands 154 ["3]» XVIII CONTENTS. Page. SPAIN 159 Philippine Islands 170 Spahish American Possessions : Cuba 177 Porto Eico - 207 POKTUGAL 219 POETUGUESE POSSESSIONS : Azores 233 Madeira 235 Cape Verde Islands 236 Macao.-- - - 237 BELGIUM - - - 241 HOLLAND - - -- 259 Java and Madura 271 Padang- -- - --- 278 Dutch Guiana, or Surinam 278 Cura^oa 278 St. Martin- 280 DENMARK - -- 283 Danish West India colonies 295 SWEDEN AND NOEWAY ." - 307 Sweden - 309 Norway 320 ZOLLYEEEIN - -- 329 Prussia . 335 Bavaria -- - 337 Saxony 338 Saxe-Meiningen ^ 338 Grand Duchy of Baden - --- 339 Hanover . 340 The Free City of Frankfort-on-the-Mayn -. 343 AUSTEIA -- 355 Trieste - - 360 Venice - 370 HANSE-TOWNS - _ - - 381 Hamburg .- 386 Bremen 391 Lubeck - - - - 396 SWITZEELAND.. - - 405 ITALIAN STATES - - - - 417 Sardinia 417 Tuscany 422 Parma, Modena, Lucca, San Marino, and Monaco . 425 Papal States 426 The Two Sicilies 426 TURKEY, THE LEVANT, &c. - 439 Turkey - 439 Egypt- - 460 Greece 455 Ionian Islands 457 AFRICA GENEEALLY _ 455 Barbary States , 4gg Empire of Morocco . _ 4gg Eegency of Tunis . 471 Tripoli _ 473 CONTENTS. XIX Page. AFEICA GENERALLY : Portuguese Settlements -^ ...... 475 Liberia 476 Eastern Africa : Muscat 479 Zanzibar 480 BOENEO 487 SIAM 491 JAPAN 501 Lew Chew Islands 608 CHINA 513 SANDWICH ISLANDS 537 FEEJEE ISLANDS 555 WEST INDIAN STATES 559 Empire of Hayti 559 Dominican Eepublic 571 MEXICO ". 577 CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES - 595 Guatemala 596 San Salvador 597 Honduras 597 Nicaragua 598 Costa Rica 601 Mosquito Coast — (Mosquitia). 603 SOUTH AMERICAN STATES - 607 New Granada - 611 Venezuela - 621' Equador 635 Brazil - 643 Peru 685 Bolivia - - 713 Chili -- - - 723 Argentine Republic - -- - .., 743 Paraguay - 755 Uruguay 767 SUMMARY STATEMENT OF THE COMMERCE OP THE UNITED STATES, FROM 1821 TO 1855 778 SUMMARY OF TREATIES 785 INDEX 809 PARTI. COMME-KCIAL DIGESTS. GEEAT BKITAIN. GREAT BRITAIN. The definitive treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, in 1783, con- tains only one stipulation in any manner relating to commercial intercourse. Article viii provides that the navigation of the Mississippi, from its source to the ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the suhjects of Great Britain and the citizens of the United States. It was not until 1794 that commercial intercourse hetween the two nations was defined by treaty stipulations. The treaty of that year regulates trade hetween the high contracting parties, on the continent of America, in the East Indies, the territories of Great Britain in Europe, and in those of the United States. It provides that no other or higher duties shall be paid by the ships or merchandise of the one party in the ports of the other, than such as are paid by the like vessels or merchandise of all other nations ; that no other or higher duty shall be imposed in one country on the importation of any articles, the growth, produce, or manufac- ture of the other, than are or shall be payable on the importation of the like articles being of the growth, produce, or manufacture of any other foreign country ; nor shall any prohibition be imposed on the exportation or importation of any articles to or from the territories of the two parties, respectively, which shall not equally extend to all other nations : the British govern- ment reserving to itself the right of imposing on American vessels entering into the British ports in Europe "a tonnage duty equal to that which shall be payable by British vessels in the ports of America, and also such duty as may be adequate to countervail the diff'erence of duty now payable on the importation of European and Asiatic goods when imported into the United States in British or in American vessels." The other stipulations respecting commerce relate chiefly to the trade with the West Indies. The duration of this treaty, so far as it regulates the commerce between the United States and the European possessions of Great Britain, is limited to twelve years. During the interval which elapsed from the treaty of peace in 1783 to the ratification of the treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, in 1794, the commercial relations between Great Britain and the United States were regulated by the separate and distinct legislation of the several States (a) on the one side, and by General Orders in Council on the other. The navigation laws of Great Britain, immediately after the proclamation of peace, were enforced against the vessels and commerce of the United States. The first in the series of these laws was the act of 1651. It provided that no goods or commodities whatever, the growth, production, or manufacture of Asia, Africa, or America, should be imported either into England or Ireland, or any of the plantations, except in English-built ships, and belonging either to England or to English plantation subjects, and of which the master and three-fourths of the crew were also English ; and that no goods of the growth, production, or manufacture of any country in Europe should be imported into Great Britain, Ireland, or the plantations, except in British ships, or in such ships as were the real property of the people of the country or place in (a) This separate legislation ended with the 1st session of the 1st Congress in 1789. 6 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. which the goods were produced, and from which they could only be^ or were usually exported. This act was never enforced, nor intended to he enforced, (a) in the British North American colonies. It was especially aimed at the Dutch, who Were at this period the great carriers of the world. Having hut few staples of their own to export to foreign countries, their merchant- ships were found in every port, and were even employed in bringing home the products of the British colonies to the mother country. After the Eestoration, the navigation act was re-enacted ; with such amendments, however, as seemed still necessary to give more effective protection to British interests, and curb the Dutch yet further. Among the provisions of the new act of 1660, it was declared that "no sugar, tobacco, cotton, wool, indigo, ginger, fustic, or other dying woods of the growth or manufacture of our Asian, African, or American colonies, shall be shipped from the said colonies to any place but England, or to some other of his Majesty's said plantations." Whatever relaxations were permitted in the operation of these navigation laws in the North American colonies, the United States became subjected to them in all their rigor immediately on assuming an independent existence. In the language of Lord Liverpool, "The connexion which had so long subsisted between Great Britain and the countries now forming the United States of America was finally dissolved by the acknowledgment of their independence in the year 1783; the ancient commercial system arising out of that connexion of course ended with it; and the laws by which the trade of these countries, considered as colonies, had hitherto been regulated ceased to have eifect." The King, by and with the advice and consent of his privy council, was, however, vested with authority to regulate the future commerce between Great Britain and the United States. The first order in council issued after the independence of the United States had been acknow- ledged by Great Britain, established the following regulations : First. That any goods, the importation of which into this kingdom is not prohibited by law, being the growth or production of any of the territories of the United States of America, may be imported directly from thence into any of the ports of the kingdom, not only in British ships, owned by British subjects, and navigated according to law, but, also, in ships built in the countries belonging to the United States of America, and owned by the subjects of the said States, and whereof the master and three-fourths of the mariners, at least, are subjects of the United States. Secondly. That any goods, being unmanufactured, (except fish-oil, blubber whale fins, and spermaceti,) and also any pig-iron, bar-iron, pitch, tar, turpentine, rosin potash, pearl-ash, indigo, masts, yards, and bowsprits, being the growth or production of any of the territories of the United States of America, may be imported directly from thence into any of the ports of Great Britain, upon payment of the same duties as the like sort of goods are or may be subjected to, if imported from any British island or plantation in America; and that the excepted articles, as well as all others not enumerated, the growth, production, or' manufac- ture of the said United States, shall be admitted on the payment of the same duties as are levied on similar articles when imported from the most favored nation, except such nations only with which treaties of reciprocity have been established. Thirdly. It was ordered that goods and merchandise, being the growth, production, or manufacture of the territories of the United States, though imported in ships belonging to the subjects of the said States, should be exempted from the alien's duty. Fourthly. It was permitted to be imported into the other American and West Indian possessions, from the ports of the United States, in British ships only, such articles of the growth, production, or manufacture of any of the said States, (except salted provisions and the produce of the fisheries,) as might by law, before the independence of the United States, have been miported from the said States; but prohibiting all intercourse between the United States and the said American and West Indian possessions in ships belonging to citizens of the United States. {«) Bancroft GREAT BRITAIN. 7 The first three orders, it will he perceived, suspend, in favor of the United States, that pro- vision (a) of the navigation laws of Great Britain which enacts " that no goods or commodities whatsoever, of the growth, production, or manufacture of any part of America, are to he im- ported into any of his Majesty's European dominions in any other ship or vessel than such as do truly belong to his Majesty's suhjects, and navigated according to law, in the manner therein described, under the penalty of forfeiting all such goods and the ship or vessel in which they are hrought." The commerce of the United States, with respect to certain articles enume- rated, (and it is admitted that these articles formed a principal portion of the American export trade at that period,) was also allowed the same preference as was granted to the remaining American possessions of Great Britain. The privileges conferred on American commerce hy this order are shown in the following table : Merchandise. Quantity. Duties, if imported from the United States. Duties, if imported from other for- eign countries. Potasli Per cwt do Free. Free. Free. $2 64 2 64 2 30 SO 54 54 13 48 2 98 2 97 16J 84 do Pitch Per last do Tar _. Each Per pound.. Tobacco The last regulation operated to exclude United States vessels from the ports of British pos- sessions in America, including the West Indies, and to restrict the importation of the products or manufactures of the said States in such possessions to British ships only, navigated according to law. This order was dictated by a spirit of illiherality and selfishness, universally con- demned both in England and the United States ; and furnished a prolific subject of diplomatic discussion between the two governments, until the question was definitively and satisfactorily settled towards the close of the year 1830. (b) The following summary exhibits a brief abstract of the separate acts of the different State legislatures, affecting British commerce, passed between 1783 and 1T89 : By laws passed in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Khode Island, vessels owned, in whole or in part, by the subjects of Great Britain, were prohibited from taking on board, in these provinces, any goods or merchandise of the growth or manufacture of these States, or of any other of the United States ; and such vessels, so loaded, were, together with their cargoes, made subject to seizure and condemnation. The legislature of Pennsylvania vested in Congress a power to prohibit for fifteen years the importation or exportation of all merchandise in vessels belonging to or navigated by the subjects of any nations with which Congress shall not have formed treaties of commerce. By laws passed in Massachusetts and Ehode Island, Congress was empowered to prohibit the importation of British West India produce in British vessels. Another law was enacted, in Pennsylvania, imposing a duty of 4s. &d. (currency) per ton on the vessels of every nation with which Congress had not made treaties of commerce. In Maryland, a duty of Is. per ton was imposed on all foreign shipping except British, and on British a duty of 5s. per ton. In 1788 Virginia passed a law imposing a duty of 6s. per ton on British vessels, and half that amount on all other foreign vessels. In North Carolina the discrimination was still greater ; the duties (a) 12th Charles II, chap. 18, sec. 3. (b) See proclamation of General Jackson, October 5, 1830. 8 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. on British vessels entering the ports of that State being 5s. per ton, while 'that on all other foreign vessels was only Is. per ton. The import duties of the different States on British cargoes were equally characterized hy a similar spirit of retaliation. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Ehode Island, Virginia, Mary- land, South Carolina, and Georgia imposed discriminating duties, varying from fifty to one hundred per cent, on British cargoes over those levied on similar merchandise inported. in other foreign vessels. The effect of these countervailing and retaliatory measures can be traced in the following tables : Value of British manufactures and other articles annually imported into the United States, upon an average of six years before the war of independence, ending with 1774 |13,113,773 Value of British manufactures and other articles annually imported into the United States, upon an average of six years ending with 1789 11,201,486 Annual decrease since the war 1,912,287 Annual value of exports from the United States to G-reat Britain, upon an average of six years before the war of independence, ending with 1774 |8, 410, 281 Annual value of exports from the United States to Great Britain, upon an average of six years since the war of independence 4,361,452 Annual decrease since the war 4,048,829 A close analysis of the official returns of trade during this period will show that tobacco and rice were the articles upon which this decrease chiefly fell. The quantity of tobacco exported to England decreased annually, upon an average of six years, 44,774,458 pounds, valued at $2,798,390; and the annual decrease in rice exported to England from the United States was 259,035 cwt., valued at $943,326; making a total decrease in tobacco and rice of $3,741,716. The tonnage employed in the trade during the two periods above designated cannot be ascer- tained with accuracy. We are enabled, however, to supply from British authorities the num- ber and tonnage of vessels employed in the trade between the two countries for two periods of three years before, and subsequent to, the war of independence: Number and tonnage of vessels annually clearing from Great Britain for the United States, on an average of the years 1770, 1771, and ^'^'^2 Vessels 628. ..Tons 81,951 Nimiber and tonnage of vessels annually entering British ports from the United States, on a like average <' ggg n a-^ kaq Total. 1,327 " 173,491 Number and tonnage of British vessels clearing from British ports annually, on an average of the years 1787, 1788, and 1789 Vessels 272. ..Tons 55 785 Number and tonnage of United States vessels clearing, annually from British ports, on like average u igir u of; "rof; GREAT BRITAIN. 9 Number and tonnage of British vessels clearing from the United States for British ports, annually, on an average of the years 1787, 1788, and 1789 Vessels 261. ..Tons 52,595 Number and tonnage of United States vessels clearing from the United States for British ports, annually, on a like average " 163 '' 26,564 Total " 853 " 160,669 Showing a decrease, during the periods compared, of... " 474 " 12,822 Thus, in the very infancy of ourcommeree, the disastrous effects of restrictions, and of the retaliatory measures which they provoked, were exhibited as well in the spirit of commercial illiberality and antagonism which they engendered between the two countries, as in the general decrease of navigation and tracle. That the object as well as the effect of the various orders in council relative to the trade between Great Britain and this country, issued from 1783 to 1794, was to paralyze the efforts even then made in the Uiiited States to compete for a portion of that trade which England had, long anterior to this period, wrested from Holland, and now seemed to regard as legitimately her own, cannot be doubted. A British statesman, (a) in a work on this subject, -published in 1792,. remarks; "That this increase in our shipping is to be ascribed to our navigation system may be made to appear from recent experience in the application of it to the trade of the United States. When those countries were part of our plantations, a great portion of their produce was transhipped to Great Britain and our West India islands in American bottoms; they had a share in the freight of sugars from those islands to Great Britain. But since the independence of those States, since their ships have been excluded from our plantations,^ and that trade is wholly confined to British-built ships, we have gained that share of our carrying trade from which they are now excluded, and we moreover enjoy a considerable proportion in the carriage of the produce of the United States." The commercial policy of the United States, from the very infancy of the government, has been to encourage reciprocity and freedom of commerce with all nations willing to adopt a similar principle. In the report from the Treasury Department on the subject of commerce, submitted to Congress in 1791, the basis of a commercial system was suggested, in which the Secretary argued that duties imposed upon imports would be disadvantageous in building up trade. " Instead," the report adds, " of embarrassing commerce under piles of regulating laws, duties, and prohibitions, it should be relieved from all its shackles, in all parts of the world. Would even a single nation begin with the United States this system of free commerce, it would be advisable to begin it with that nation." In the spirit of this suggestion, the United States, soon after the peace of 1783, proposed to enter into treaties of commerce, not only with Great Britain, but also with France, Spain, and Portugal. Every overture, however, to that end, was, under various pretexts, rejected; (b) and it was not until five years after the adoption of our present constitution that Great Britain could be induced to listen to any propositions, on the part of the United States, having in view the equalization or reciprocity of commercial relations between the two nations. Under the operation of their navigation laws, the productions of Asia, Africa, and America could only be imported direct from the places of their growth in British vessels. As respects the United States, this restriction was suspended, as already observed, by orders in council, and proclama- tions issued in pursuance thereof, until the treaty already cited was ratified. (a) Iiord Liverpool. (i) Seybert's Statistical Annals, page 58. [2] 10 COMMEKCIAL DIGESTS. The following tables exhibit the details of the import and export trade between Great Britain and the United States from 1T95 to 1807, and from the latter year to 1815, when a convention of reciprocity was entered into and ratified between the two governments : Years. Exports from Great Brit- ain to tl^e U. States. Imports into Great Brit- ain from the U. States. Years. Exports from Great Brit- ain to the U. States. Imports into Great Brit- ain from the U. SiSites. 1795 . $26,270,590 30,270,160 25,283,995 27,901,845 35,282,790 39,427,970 $6,760,680 10,404,850 5,877,560 8,913,600 9,094,705 11,789,615 1801 $37,687,650 26,647,450 26, 364, 055 31,992,130 35,733,825 43,065,610 $13,532,590 9,617,520 9,570,490 8,257,335 8,882,780 9,999,420 1796.. 1797 1798 1799.. 1800 1802 1803.. 1804 1805.. 1806 The preceding table is derived from British authorities ; and though it exhibits a variance in almost every instance, more or less, from the United States official reports, it is believed to approximate the actual value of the imports and exports in the English market. From 1803, when the stipulations of the treaty of 1794, relative to commerce, expired, there was no treaty regu- lating the commercial intercourse between the two countries until 1815. It is true a treaty was agreed to, December 31, 1806, between Messrs. Monroe and Pinckney and the commissioners ap- pointed by Great Britain for that purpose ; but so restrictive were some of its stipulations, especially as respecting American commerce with the East Indies, that it was rejected by the President, without having been submitted to the Senate, notwithstanding it contained a stipulation for an equalization 'of tonnage and other duties in the intercourse between the United States and the dominions of Great Britain in Europe. This principle was recognised and admitted in the commercial convention of July 3d, 1815, entered into between the two countries, with the limitation, however, on the part of England, to her dominions in Europe. Prior to the adoption of this treaty, the United States passed an act repealing all the dis- criminating duties of impost and tonnage in regard to the vessels of such nations as should extend similar favors to the shipping and produce of the United States ; thus carrying into practical working, and recommending by legislative example, the suggestion of Mr. Jefferson already quoted, that if " even a single nation would begin with the United States the system of free commerce, it would be advisable to begin it with that nation." We recur, however, before proceeding to trace the operation of this convention in the subse- quent returns of trade, to the tables, resuming at the year 1806 : Years. Exports from Great Brit- ain to the U. States. Imports into Great Brit- ain from the U. States. Years. Exports from Great Brit- ain to the U. States. Imports into Great Brit- ain from the U. States. 1806 - $43,065,610 39,605,600 19,960,295 25,938,065 39,066,585 $9,999,420 14,237,610 4,181,710 11,026,655 13,072,025 1811 $7,159,145 20,677,960 36,515 59,682,505 $11,547,075 6,470,760 113,105 11,811,440 1807 1812 1808-- 1813 {a) 1814 1809 1810 - 1815--. In Seybert's Statistical Annals we find a minute analysis of the trade between the United States and Great Britain during the years designated in the preceding tables. In 1793, exports from the United States to Great Britain were estimated, in a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, under date December 23, 1793, at ,$9,363,416, and the imports into (n) The custom-houBe records were this year destroyed by fire. GREAT BRITAIN. 11 fhe United States from Great Britain at $15,285,428, leaving a balance in favor of Great Britain of|5,922,012. From 1*793 to 1800, the amount of manufactures imported into the United States from Great Britain exceeded in value the amount of similar exports to all the nations in Europe, as will be seen from the following table, taken from British returns : Years. Amount of manufac- tures exported from Great Britain to na- tions in Europe. Amount of manufac- tures exported from Great Britain to the United States. Years. Amount of manufac- tures exported from Great Britain to na- tions in Europe. Amount of manufac- tures exported from Great Britain to the United States. 1793 $17,655,230 22,291,915 21,113,910 22,488,415 $16,363,625 17,944,445 24,462,860 29,178,200 1797 . . $18,664,150 19,908,250 22,768,040 37,580,615 $24,356,580 26,565,340 33,481,105 32,947,335 1794 .. . 1798 1795 1799 1796... . 1800 ..- . The annual value of merchandise exported from the United States to the European dominions of Great Britain, on an average of the years 1802, 1803, and 1804, amounted to $18,665,777 ; and on a similar average, the annual value of the merchandise imported into the United States from Great Britain amounted to $35,737,030; showing an annual balance of $17,071,253 against the United States. The annual value of British produce and manufactures, and of foreign and colonial merchan- dise, distinguished in separate columns, exported from Great Britain to the United States, and to all parts of the world, during the years designated, will be seen in the following tables : VALUE OF THE EXPOETS FROM GREAT BRITAIN. Years. TO THE UNITED STATES. Years. TO AH PARTS or THE WORLD, INCLDDINO THE UNITED STATES. British manufactures and produce. Foreign and colonial merchandise. British manufactures and produce. Foreign and colonial merchandise. 1805 $55,057,045 61,987,440 59,232,565 26,208,695 36,292,500 54,603,760 9,206,265 $2,177,650 2,380,315 1, 257, 145 305, 635 1,011,340 1,484,665 165, 320 1805 $205,344,710 216,210,880 202,399,325 204,408,355 251,213,805 249,878,170 174,586,405 $50, 200, 945 48,933,525 50,013,980 45,440,375 78,874,755 63,633,875 45,111,695 1806 1806 1807 1807 1808 1808 1809 1809 1810 1810 1811 1811... The aggregate value of British manufactures and produce exported to the United States during the seven years designated above, was $302,588,270, making an annual average of $43,226,896 ; the aggregate value of British produce and manufactures exported to all parts of the world, including the United States, during the same period, was- $1,504,041,650, making an annual average of $214,863,093. The aggregate value of foreign and colonial merchandise exported from Great Britain to the United States during the same period was $8,782,070, making an annual average of $1,254,582 ; the aggregate value of similar exports to all parts of the world, including the United States, was $382,209,150. The preceding figures exhibit many interesting facts relative to the trade between the two 12 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. countries, during fhe period which intervened hctween 1793 and. 1816. The exports of foreign and colonial merchandise from Great Britain to the United States show that England enjoyed but a small share of our carrying trade ; whilst a comparison between the totals of domestic manufactures exported to the United States, and to all other parts of the world, will exhibit the importance to Great Britain of unrestricted commercial intercourse with the United States. The effect of the restrictive and retaliatory measures which were, at this period, adopted by both countries, is even more fully illus-trated in the tonnage employed in this trade by each, respectively, from 1790 to 1816. The number of British vessels which entered and cleared between the United States and Great Britain amounted to 1,715, with an aggregate tonnage of 382,552 tons. The number of American vessels which entered and cleared in the same trade, during the same period, was 3,245 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 516,702 tons. In 1790, 557 British vessels were employed in the commerce between the two coTintries ; in 1800 this num- ber was reduced to 139. In 1790 the American vessels employed in this trade amounted only to 464 ; in 1800 this number reached as high as 1,057. In 1789, 253 British vessels engaged in this trade entered British ports from the United States, while 358 vessels cleared in the same trade. In a period of ten years, up to 1799, the number that entered from the United States was reduced to 42 vessels, while the number that cleared fell to 57. In 1806, 561 vessels employed in the trade with the United States entered British ports ; of these only 56 were under the British flag ; and of the 575 vessels that cleared from British ports in the same trade, only 39 were British. These statistics, 'which are chiefly compiled from Seybert, show an augmentation of tonnage in the United States, and a diminution in the tonnage of Great Britain engaged in the trade "between the two countries, well calculated to excite alarm among the ship-owners in England, and even to arrest the attention of the British government. And when it is considered that It was at that period — if it has not always been — the policy of Great Britain to sacrifice, if necessary, the interests even of commerce and trade to the great object of strengthening her naval power, it will not be a subject of surprise that orders in council and acts of Parliament were issued, in quick succession, avowedly designed to check this rapid progress of American navigation, and drive American ships from the carrying trade, even as respected the exporta- tion of the products of the United States to other countries. " Trade," said the report of the privy council, to whom the subject was, at this time, referred by his Majesty's orders, " was con- sidered principally as the means of promoting the employment of ships, and was encouraged chiefly as it conduced to the one great national object — the naval strength of the country." It was the universal prevalence throughout England of this sentiment, exhibited upwards of a century in her navigation laws, in her prohibitions and restrictions, in her differential duties and, above all, in her colonial system, that emboldened the privy council to recommend to his Majesty " that, notwithstanding their (the United States') extreme anxiety for an arrangement on the principle of reciprocity, if Congress should propose (as they certainly will) that the principle of equality should be extended to the ports of our colonies, and that the ships of the United States should be there treated as British ships, it should be answered, that this demand cannot be admitted even as a subject of negotiation." Hence, biit little could be expected from the treaty of 1794, in which this principle was carried out to the fullest extent of rigorous restriction ; and hence, also, the series of regulating orders, acts, and counter-acts, which were made the instruments of commercial warfare between the two countries for upwards of a quarter of a century. It would be a tedious task to present even a synopsis of the different restrictive and retali- atory measures adopted by the two governments during this long period. Were it even other- wise, it would be superfluous to go into minute details, as the legislation of both governments during this period, as well as its effects upon the commerce of the two countries, are succinctly set forth in the former reports issued from this Department. UREAT BRITAIN. 13 It will, therefore, suffice to refer to the tables of trade and tonnage already given, as the best illustration that can be offered of the operation of these measures, and of the total inadequacy of restrictions and prohibitions as a necessary means of fostering commercial industry, or of augmenting the naval power of a nation. The ablest pens in England have been employed in demonstrating that it is to other causes than the navigation laws that Great Britain owes her vast commercial greatness, and that naval ascendancy which she has so long maintained ; (a) and it is a question still unsettled, whether the adoption by the United States of the navigation laws and the restrictive policy of Great Britain, even as a means of protection or self-defence, was as beneficial in its ultimate results upon the commercial prosperity of the country, as would have been a strict adherence to the maxim of Mr. Jefferson, already cited, that "commerce should be relieved frorh all its shackles in all parts of the world." Be this as it may, the enlightened policy which now rules the councils of Great Britain — a policy which, at this distant and remote period in British history, received the co-operation and support of two of England's greatest statesmen (&) — has dissipated the fallacies upon which past legislation was based, and has demonstrated already, in the brief period of five years, that England can best compete with the merchant-marine of the world by placing the trade of every port in her vast dominions, European and colonial, for the ships of all countries, upon the footing of an imrestricted coasting trade. A liberal tariff of duties, especially upon articles of prime necessity (c) among the great masses of her people, even should they be classed in the category of luxuries, is all that seems now wanting to perfect the present commercial code of this powerful kingdom. The commercial convention of 1815, between Great Britain and the United States, was limited to four years. The second article of this treaty provides for an equality of duties on imports and tonnage in the ports of the United States and the ports of the British territories in Europe. With respect to imports, this equality of duties applies only to articles being the growth, prod- uce, and manufacture of the respective countries. The intercourse between the United States and the British West Indies and American colo- nies is not to be affected by any provisions of the convention; "but each party is to remain in complete possession of its rights with respect to such intercourse." Under the stipulations of this convention, the vessels of Great Britain are exempted from the payment of the arira tonnage and import duties, only when they arrive from, and their cargoes are of the growth, produce, or manufacture of, the British dominions in Europe; and the vessels of the United' States, in like manner, are admitted into British ports on terms of equality as to tonnage and import duties, with British vessels, only when their cargoes consist of merchandise the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States. The effect of this convention, especially of its restrictive clauses, upon the shipping interests of Great Britain, formed no exception to the general rule, that all shackles upon commerce ultimately recoil upon those by whom they are imposed. In the practical consequences of this arrangement, as was stated by the celebrated Huskisson, in a speech delivered in Parliament, the adherence of Great Britain to another part of her navigation laws, instead of serving, appeared to that statesman to have shackled the shipping interests of that country. And he thus illustrates his position: "An American vessel, on her voyage to England, is freighted with a cargo wholly produced in the United States. For her return to America, she may load in British ports, with a cargo partly the produce or manufac- ture of any other country. This a British ship cannot do; for if a British ship were to bring to the United States a single cask of brandy, or a pipe of wine, she would be liable to seizure and forfeiture." And yet, at this very period, and up to the year 1830, the representatives of the American government were pressing iipon the cabinet of England the justice as well as the (a) Macgregor, Part 15, toI. ii, p. 1370. (6) Mr. Pitt and Sir Robert Peel, (f) Tlic present duty on raw tobacco is, at least, 1,000 per cent, above prime cost. 14 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. policy of unrestricted commercial intercourse between all the ports of the two countries, but without success. In 1818 another convention was ratified between the two governments, by the fourth article of which that of 1815 was continued in force for the term of ten years from that date ; and in 1827 it was indefinitely extended and continued, either party being at liberty, on giving twelve months' notice to the other, to annul and terminate the said convention. No terms, however, would be acceded to by the British government respecting the trade with her American colonies. A recapitulation of the various acts of Parliament and orders in council, as well as the general history of the commercial antagonism and reciprocal exclusion which marked this period, be- longs more properly to the digest of our commercial relations with the English colonial possessions. It is true, it would not be difficult to trace the influence of this controversy in the commercial legislation, more particularly in relation to the tariff regulations of both countries, during the entire period of its continuance. Still, the general subject belongs to a review of our trade with the colonies of Great Britain, and to that portion of this digest reference is made. It has been already stated that, in the convention of 1827, it was agreed that the provisions of the convention of 1815 should be indefinitely extended and continued; but that it should be competent, nevertheless, to either of the parties, on giving twelve months' notice, to annul and abrogate the said convention. No such notice has been given by either party, and, consequently, the convention still remains in force. Since that period, however, the commercial policy of Great Britain has totally changed. The vast pile of navigation laws which contributed to build up her naval power, and extend her commerce to every corner of the globe, has been swept away by the reforming hand of a more liberal legislation ; the whole frame-work of her tariff policy has been demolished ; the heavy duties on the various classes of raw material have been removed ; and, with the exception of a few articles on which, for revenue purposes only, heavy duties are still retained, the raw produce of the world is brought to the storehouses of her manufacturers, unencumbered with those custom-house charges which, before this period, absorbed so large a share of the profits of their industry and skill. The act of 12 and 13 Victoria, chapter 29, passed on the 26th June, 1849, introduced this new era in the commercial history of Great Britain. The leading provisions of this act, as well as of the various acts, orders in council, proclamations, &c., which it superseded, will be found at length in a report from the Department of State in 1853, entitled "Ex. Doc. No. 52, Senate," pages 9-16. Section 21 of this act declares that it shall come into operation on the 1st day of January, 1850. Thiis, at length, the limbs of British commerce were freed from the pinions by which it was fettered for upwards of two centuries. The visions of Mr. Pitt were realized in the liberal policy of Sir Eobert Peel's enlarged and enlightened statesmanship. This act establishes the comprehensive principle of admitting into the ports of Great Britain, or into any British possessions, goods of any sort, in a ship of any country, from any part of the world. Such prohibitions and restrictions, however, as were, before the passage of this act, deemed necessary either for the safety or for the protection of revenue and mercantile interests, still remain in force. The following is a brief summary of such prohibitions and restrictions, so far as they affect the commercial relations of the United States with Great Britain : Books, wherein the copyright shall be first subsisting, first composed, or written or printed in the United Kingdom, and printed or reprinted in any other country, as to which the pro- prietor of such copyright or his agent shall have given to the commissioners of customs a notice in writing that such copyright subsists, such notice also stating when such copyright shall expire. GREAT BRITAIN. 15 Coin, viz: False money or counterfeit sterling; silver coin of the realm, or any money purporting to be such, not being of the established standard in weight or fineness ; extracts, essences or other concentrations of coffee, chicory, tea, or tobacco, or any admixtures of the same ; malt. Prints, indecent or obscene; paintings, books, cards, lithographic or other engravings, or any other indecent or obscene articles. Snuff-work ; tobacco-stalks stripped from the leaf, whether manufactured or not ; tobacco- stalk flour. GOODS PROHIBITED TO BE IMPORTED EXCEPT IN TRANSIT, AND SUBJECT TO SUCH REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS AS THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE TREASURY MAY DIRECT, AND DULY REPORTED AS GOODS IN TRANSIT. Articles of foreign manufacture, and any packages of such articles bearing any names, brands, or marks, being, or purporting to be, the names, brands, or marks of manufacturers resident in the United Kingdom. Parts of articles, viz : Any distinct or separate part of any article not accompanied by the other part or all the other parts of such articles so as to be complete and perfect, if such articles be subject to duty according to the value thereof, (a.) GOODS PROHIBITED TO BE IMPORTED, EXCEPT SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTATION. Arms, ammunition, gunpowder, or any other goods, may be prohibited by proclamation or order in council. Silk. — Manufactures of silk, being the manufactures of Europe, unless into London, Liver- pool, Hull, Southampton, Leith, Dublin, or ports appointed by the commissioners, or into Dover or Folkstone, direct from Calais or Boulogne, and unless in ships of 50 tons burden or upwards. Spirits, (not being perfumed or medicinal spirits,) unless in ships of 50 tons burden at least^ and in casks or other vessels, each of such casks or other vessels being of the contents of 20 gallons at least, and duly reported, or in glass bottles, or stone bottles, not exceeding the size of 3-pint bottles, and being part of the cargo of the importing ship and duly reported. Tobacco, snuff, cigars, cigarillos or cigarettos. — Unless in ships of not less than 120 tons burden, and into ports approved by the commissioners of the customs. Tobacco, cigars, or snuff, unless in packages each containing not less than 80 pounds net weight, (b) Cigarillos or cigarettos, unless in packages each containing not less than 75 pounds net weight. If any goods be imported contrary to the foregoing prohibitions and restrictions, the same to be forfeited. The following are the only ports into which tobacco and snuff can be imported, viz : England. — London, Liverpool, Southampton, Falmouth, Lancaster, Whitehaven, Plymouth, Newcastle, Swansea, Hull, Preston, Cowes, Bristol. Scotland. — Glasgow, Port Glasgow, Aberdeen, Leith, Greenock. (a) By Treasury order of February 3, 1855, watch-works, when introduced separately as a raw material for watch-making, are exempted from this prohibition. (6) Tobacco and snuff for private use, in paclcages under tlie legal size, may be admitted by special leave of the board, provided it be for the use of the person to whom it is consigned, and be inserted in the manifest and report,- the application and proof being made by such person. 16 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Ireland. — Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Londonderry, Newry, Sligo, Waterford, Wexford, Drogheda. The 43d section of 16 and lY Victoria provides that no goods shall be deemed to be imported from any particular place, unless imported direct from such place, and shall have been there laden on board the importing ship, either as the first shipment of such goods, or after the same shall have been actually landed at such place. Section 41 (chapter 107) of 16 and 17 Victoria declares that it shall be lawful to import into the United Kingdom any goods not prohibited, and to warehouse such as are subject to duties of customs, in duly approved warehouses, without payment of duty on their first entering ; but the duties on the following goods, and such other goods as the commissioners of the treasury may, from time to time, direct, shall be paid on the first importation thereof, viz : Corn, grain, meal, and flour, and wood goods from British possessions. No goods except diamonds, bullion, lobsters, and fresh fish of British taking, and imported in British ships, which may be landed without report or entry, shall be unshipped or be landed on Sundays or holidays, nor on any other days except between eight o'clock in the morning and four o'clock in the afternoon from the 1st of March until the 1st of November ; and between nine o'clock in the morning and four o'clock in the afternoon, from the 1st of November until the 1st of March, or during such other hours as may be appointed by the commissioners ; nor shall any goods be unshipped or landed, unless in the presence or with the authority of a cus- toms officer ; nor shall they be landed, except at some legal quay, wharf, or other duly ap- pointed place ; nor shall any goods, after having been transhipped, be removed into any other craft, without permission of such officer, under the penalty of forfeiture ; and if any goods shall be unshipped for the purpose of being landed after due entry thereof, they shall be forthwith removed to and landed at the place at which the same are intended to be landed ; and in default thereof, such goods shall be forfeited, together with the barge or other vessel employed. The master of every ship, whether laden or in ballast, shall, within twenty-four hours after arrival from ports beyond the seas, and before bulk be broken, make due report of such ship in the form following, (a) or to the same effect, embracing the several particulars indicated therein ; and if the cargo of such ship shall have been laden at several places, he shall state the names of those places, in the order of time in which the same were laden, opposite to the particulars of the goods so laden ; and failing so to do, or if any of the particulars contained in such report be false, the master shall forfeit £100 ($500). The master of every ship arriving from ports beyond the seas, at the time of making report, if required, shall deliver to the collector or comptroller the bill of lading, or a copy thereof, for any part of the cargo laden on board, and shall answer all such questions relating to the ship, cargo, crew, and voyage, as shall be put to him ; and in case of failure or refusal, or to answer truly, or to produce such bill of lading or copy ; or if the same be false ; or if any bill of lading be uttered or produced by any master, and the goods specified therein shall not have been bona fide shipped on board such ship ; or if any bill of lading uttered or produced by any master shall not have been signed by him, or any such copy shall not have been received previously to his leaving the place where the goods expressed therein were shipped ; or, if after the arrival of any ship within four leagues of the coast of the United Kingdom, bulk be broken, or any (a) FORM OF ENTRY. NAME OF SHIP. BRITISH OR FOREIGN. (If foreign, country to whicli she belongs.) NUMBER OF CREW. British seamen. Foreign seamen. Name of master. Port or place whence arrived. GREAT BRITAIN. 17 alteration made in the stowage of tlie cargo so as to facilitate the unlading of any part thereof ; or if any part be staved, destroyed, or thrown overheard, or any package he opened, in every such case the master shall forfeit £100 ($500). A perfect entry shall he made hefore unshipment, by the importer or his agent, of all goods liable to duty and intended for home use on the landing thereof, and the particulars thereof shall agree with those of the report, and any certificate of origin or other document conferring a benefit by the distinction ; and whenever the value of any goods is required to be stated in the entry, the importer or his agent shall declare to the same at the foot thereof. It is competent, under the provisions of 16 and 17 Victoria, chapter 107, section 57, for the officers of the customs to detain goods which appear to them to be undervalued ; in which case, they shall forthwith give notice in writing to the party entering the same, and stating the value thereof as estimated by them ; either delivering such notice in person, or transmitting it by post to the address stated in the entry ; (a) and the commissioners shall, within seven days after the detention of such goods, determine either to deliver them on the entry or retain them for the use of the Crown ; in which latter case, they shall cause the value, as stated in the entry, together with five per cent, additional, and the duty already paid, to be paid to the party entering them, in full satisfaction for such goods ; or, on application, may permit such person to amend his entry at such value. Sections 66 to 73 of the act already cited require that, with each entry, two or more dupli- cates shall be delivered, in which all sums or numbers may be expressed in figures, and the number of duplicates shall be such as the collector or comptroller may require. Importers or agents wilfully failing to comply with these regulations, so far as applicable to the goods entered by them, shall pay £20 ($100). No entry shall be valid unless the goods are properly described therein by the denominations, and with the character and circumstances according to which such goods are charged with duty, or may he imported either for home use, or to be warehoused for exportation only. If any goods or other things shall be found concealed in any way, or packed to deceive the officers, in any package landed in pursuance of any entry, such package and its entire contents shall be forfeited ; and if any goods not duly entered shall be taken or delivered from any ship or warehouse, the same shall be forfeited. It is provided, however, that no entry shall be required in respect of passengers' baggage, which may be landed, examined, and delivered as the commissioners may direct ; but if prohib- ited or uncustomed goods be found concealed therein, either before or after landing, the same shall be forfeited, together with the other articles of the package. Surplus stores, not being merchandise, nor deemed excessive, may be entered for private use, or warehoused for future use as ship stores, although they cannot be legally imported as merchandise. At ports where agents for the clearance of ships, goods, or baggage shall be required to be licensed, any person not so licensed, or duly appointed clerk to a person licensed, acting as such agent or clerk, or whether licensed or not, making entry of any goods without the authority of the pro- prietor or consignee, shall for such ofi'ence forfeit £20 ($100) ; but no such penalty shall extend to persons acting for dock companies, or otherwise authorized by law to pass entries, or to any merchant, importer, or consignee of goods, acting himself in respect thereof ; or any clerk or servant exclusively employed by him, or by any such person in copartnership. Officers of cus- toms may require of persons applying to transact business on account of others a written author- ity, and, in default of its production, refuse to transact such business. Officers of customs may take samples of goods for examination, for ascertaining the duties payable thereon, or for such other purpose as the commissioners may deem necessary, and dispose of the same in the manner they may direct. If within fourteen days after the arrival of the ship, (exclusive of Sundays and holidays,) the (a) In cases in which articles shall have been undervalued, or entered under a wrong denomination, and the difference of duty shall not exceed £10 (iJ50), the collector and comptroller may permit the entry to he amended, on proof that no fraud had been intended, taking a deposite not exceeding £2 (SIO) to abide the board's decision. L3J 18 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. importer shall not make entry of tiis goods, or, having entered, shall not within that time, or within snch further period as the commissioners shall direct, land the same, the oi3Eicers may con- vey the said goods to the Queen's warehouse ; and whenever the cargo of any ship shall have heen discharged within fourteen days, excepting only a small quantity, the officers of customs may forthwith convey such remaining goods to the Queen's warehouse, and also, at any time after arrival, may convey any small parcels or packages of goods to the Queen's warehouses, there to remain during the remainder of such fourteen days, for due entry ; and if the duties on goods so conveyed to the Queen's warehouse he not paid within three months afterwards, or within such further period as the commissioners may direct, together with all charges of remo- val and warehouse-rent, such goods may he sold, and the proceeds thereof be applied, first, to the payment of freight and charges, next of duties, and the overplus, if any, shall be paid to the proprietor on his application for the same ; but if such goods he of a perishable nature, the commissioners may forthwith direct their sale, and apply the proceeds thereof: provided, always, that, if forty-eight hours, or any earlier period after the report, is specified in the bills of lading for the discharge of cargo, the importer, &c., neglect to enter and hand the same within such forty-eight hours, the master or owner of such ship may then himself enter and land such goods. Whenever goods shall remain on board ship beyond the period of fourteen days after arrival, or beyond any further period the commissioners may allow, such ship shall be detained by the pro- per officer until all expenses be paid for watching and guarding such goods beyond the ])re- scribed period, not exceeding 5s. (|1 20) per diem, and for removal to the Queen's warehouse, provided they be removed. If goods be removed from any ship, quay, v/harf, or other place, previous to the examination thereof by the proper officer of the customs, unless under the care or authority of such officer ; or if goods entered to be warehoused, or re-Avarehoused, shall be carried into the wareliouse, unless with the authority or under the care of the jjroper officer, and in such manner, by such persons, within such time, and by such roads or ways as the officer shall direct, such goods shall be forfeited. All goods warehoused shall be deposited in the packages in which they shall have been im- ported, except such goods as are permitted to be skipped (a) on the quay, or bulked, sorted, lotted, packed, or re-packed in the warehouse after the landing thereof, in which case they shall be deposited in the packages in which they shall be when the account thereof is taken by the proper officer ; and if such goods are not so deposited, or if any alteration shall afterwards be made in them, or in the packing thereof in the warehouse, or if they shall be removed without the presence or sanction of the proper officer, except for delivering under the proper warrant, order, or authority for that purpose, they shall be forfeited. All goods deposited in warehouses shall be cleared, either for home use or exportation, at the expiration of five years from the date of warehousing, or within such further period and in such cases as the commissioners of the treasury shall direct, unless the owner or proprietor of such goods be desirous of re-warehousing them ; in which case they shall be examined by the proper officers, and the duties due on any deficiencies or difference between the quantity ascertained on landing and the quantity then found to exist, subject to such allowances as are by law per- mitted in respect thereof, together with the necessary expense attendant thereon, shall be paid down, and the quantity so found shall be re-warehoused in the name of the then owner or pro- prietor thereof, in the same manner as on first importation. If any warehoused goods shall not be duly cleared, exported, or re-warehoused, and the duties due on the deficiencies shall not be paid down at the expiration of five years from the previous entry and warehousing, or within such further period as shall be directed, the same, if worth the duty, after one month's notice to the warehouse-keeper, shall, with all convenient speed, be sold either for home use or exportation, with or without the consent of the warehouse- keeper, and the proceeds thereof be applied to the payment of the duties, warehouse-rent and (a) The temporary transfer of goods from one package to another. GREAT BRITAIN. 19 charges, and the surplus, if any, be paid to the owner or proprietor, if known ; but if he cannot be found, the surplus shall be carried to the Crown's account, to abide the claim of such party on his appearing and making it good; and if such goods be not worth the duty, then, after one month's notice, the same may be exported or destroyed, with or without the concur- rence of the owner thereof, or the proprietor of the warehouse, as the commissioners shall see fit ; and the duties due upon any deficiencies not allowed by law, shall be paid by the proprietor of the warehouse. The commissioners of customs may permit any goods to be taken out of the warehouse without payment of duty, for such purpose or for such period as to them shall appear ex- pedient, and in such quantities, and under such regulations and restrictions, and with such security, by bond, for the due return thereof or the payment of the duties, as they may direct. No warehoused goods shall be taken or delivered from the warehouse, except upon due entry for exportation, under the care of the proper officers, or upon due entry and payment of the full duties for home use, except goods delivered into the charge of the searchers to be shipped as stores, in such quantities as the collector or comptroller shall allow, subject to the regulations of the commissioners. Upon the entry of goods to be cleared from the warehouse for home use, the person entering the same shall deliver a bill of entry and duplicates thereof, in like manner and form, and containing the same particulars, as are hereinbefore required on the entry of goods to be delivered for home use on the landing thereof, as far as the same may be applicable, and shall pay down to the proper officer of the customs the full duties thereon, not being less in amount than according to the account of the quantity taken by the proper officer on the first entry, except as to the following goods, viz : Tobacco, wine, spirits, figs, currants, raisins, and sugar, the diities whereon, when cleared from the warehouse for home use, shall be charged upon the quantity ascertained by weight, measure, or strength, at the time of actual delivery thereof, unless there is reasonable ground to suppose that any portion of the deficiency between the weight ascertained on landing and first examination, and that ascertained at the time of actual delivery, has been caused by illegal or improper means ; in which case, the proper officer of customs shall make such allowances only for loss as he may consider fairly to have arisen from natural evaporation or other legitimate cause. When any deficiency occurs in goods chargeable to pay duty according to value, the value thereof shall be estimated, as nearly as conveniently may be, by the officers of customs, according to the market price of the like sort of goods. No duty shall be charged in respect of any deficiency in goods entered and cleared from the warehouse for exportation, unless the officers of customs have reasonable ground to suppose that such deficiency or part thereof has arisen from illegal abstraction. No entry for home consumption, from and after the passing of this act (customs consolidation act, 16 and 1*7 Vict., chap. 107,) shall be received for any timber or wood goods in bond, for a less quantity, at any one time, than five loads, unless such wood goods shall be delivered by tale, in which case the entry may be passed for any quantity not less than 240 pieces ; and no less qiiantity shall be delivered in virtue of any such entry, at any one time, than one load of such timber or wood goods, or than 90 pieces, if delivered by tale. No pack or parcel of playing-cards imported into the United Kingdom shall be sold or kept for sale, without being separately enclosed in a wrapper provided by the commissioners of inland revenue, with such device thereon as they may direct, and securely fastened, so that such wrap- per cannot be opened without being destroyed ; and persons selling or offering for sale any pack or parcel of playing-cards not separately enclosed, &c., shall be liable to a penalty of £10 (|50), and the goods to seizure. The first and immediate effect of these liberal reforms, introduced by the acts and regula- 20 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. tions just cited, and briefly condensed so far as they relate to foreign commerce, is, that a large bulb of our trade with France is now carried on by means of transit through English ports. This branch of trade in 1851 increased the commerce and shipping of England to the extent of $11,413,195 (£2,282,639), and in 1852 to the extent of $12,822,145 (£2,564,429). (o) The increase in Britisli tonnage in four years after tlie passage of the act, (12 and 13 Victoria, chap. 29,) was as higli as 700,000 tons, and the number of sailors was augmented to the amount of at least 20,000. Thus Great Britain herself derived the first fruits of a policy so comprehen- sive and liberal. The only restriction — if we except her tariff duties which bear with special rigor upon one of our leading staples {h) — which the act of 1849 has left untouched, was that which related to the coasting trade of Great Britain and her colonial dominions. In 1854 (March 16) Lord (Stanley introduced in the House of Lords his bill for the repeal of the regulations which then governed the coasting trade of Great Britain. He was of opinion that it woiild be a narrow and foolish course of reasoning to make tlie commerce of Great Britain in any way dependent on tire fears or inexperience of other nations. " We should," he remarked, " go on fearlessly and independently in our course of improvement, and show our confidence in the principles we advocated by the sincerity and energy with which we enforced them. By the repeal of the laws of this country with reference to our coasting trade, there was no doubt but that America would, in time, see that it was to her advantage to hold out to us the same benefits we extended to her, and other countries would do the same. With regard to the bill, he had no doubt it would eventually be found to contribute, in most important respects, to the benefit and advantage of all classes connected with, or dependent in any way on, the shipping interests . ' ' The preceding extract is given for the purpose of exhibiting the motives and views of British statesmen in admitting foreign vessels to the coasting trade of European ports of Great Britain. The bill met with but little serious opposition ; and by the act entitled Vj Victoria, chapter 5, foreign ships are admitted to the coasting trade, subject, as to stores for the use of their crews, to the same laws and regulations as British ships. The regulations for this trade are prescribed in sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the act. The first section empowers her Majesty to exercise, in respect of ships and merchandise em- ployed and conveyed in the coasting trade, like powers as are conferred in respect of foreign shijDs and merchandise employed and conveyed in the over-sea trade. Second section subjects foreign ships engaged in the coasting trade, in respect of stores and as to other custom-house regulations, to the same laws to which British ships, Avhen so em- ployed, are now subject. Section third equalizes foreign with British ships as to all dues, duties, and charges whatever, the employment of pilots, and as to all restrictions or extra charges whatever of private persons or bodies corporate. Section fourth subjects foreign steam-vessels, carrying passengers in the coasting trade, to the provisions of the steam-navigation act. The following is a summary of the rules applicable to British vessels engaged in the coasting trade, and, by virtue of the act above cited, also to foreign vessels which may avail themselves of the ^u'ivileges granted by the act : All trade by sea from one part of the kingdom to any other part thereof shall be deemed to be a coasting trade, and all ships emjoloyed therein shall be deemed coasting ships ; and if doubt shall at any time arise as to what or to or from what parts of the coast shall be deemed a passage by sea, the commissioners of the treasury may determine in what cases the trade by water from one place to another in the United Kingdom shall or shall not be deemed a trade by sea. (a) Speech delivered by Mr. Cardwell in the House of Commons, Feliruary 3, 1854. (h) See Comparative Tariffs, Great Britain, article Tobacco. GREAT BRITAIN, 21 COASTING SHIPS CONFINED TO COASTING VOYAGE. No goods shall be laden on board any sbip in the United Kingdom, to be carried coastwise, until all goods brought in such ship from parts beyond the seas shall have been unladen ; and if any goods shall be taken into or put out of any coasting ship at sea or over the sea, or any such ship deviate from her voyage unless forced by unavoidable circumstances, and in either case, if the master shall not declare the same in writing, under his hand, to the collector or comptroller at the port where such ship shall afterwards first arrive, he shall forfeit £100 ($500). TIMES AND PLACES FOR LANDING AND SHIPPING. If goods shall be unshipped from any ship arriving coastwise, or be shipped or water-borne to be shipped on Sundays or holidays to be carried coastwise, or unless in the presence or with the authority of the proper officer of the customs, or unless at the times and places appointed, the same shall be forfeited, and the master of the ship shall forfeit £50 ($250). MASTER TO KEEP A CARGO-BOOK, AND PENALTIES FOR FALSE ENTRIES. The master of every coasting ship shall keep a cargo-book, stating tlie names of the shij), the master, the port to which she belongs, and on each voyage of the port to which she is bound ; and at every port of lading, an account of all goods taken on board, stating the descriptions of the packages, the quantities and descriptions of the goods, whether packed or stowed loose, the names of the shippers and consignees, so far as such particulars are known, and at every port of discharge shall note the days on which any are delivered, and the times of departure ; and such master shall produce such book on demand of any officer of customs, who may make any remark therein ; and if, upon examination, any package entered in the cargo-book as con- taining foreign goods shall be found not to contain such goods, that package, with its contents, shall be forfeited ; or if any package shall be found to contain foreign goods not entered in such book, such goods shall be forfeited ; and if the master shall fail to keep such cargo-book, or to produce it, or if at any time there be found on board goods not entered in such book as laden, or any goods noted as delivered ; or if any goods entered as laden, or any goods not noted as delivered, be not on board, the master shall forfeit £20 ($100). ACCOUNT PREVIOUS TO DEPARTURE TO BE DELIVERED TO COLLECTOR, AND COMMISSIONERS MAY GRANT GENERAL TRANSIEES. Before any coasting ship shall depart from the port of lading, an account, in duplicate, signed by the master, shall be delivered to the collector or comptroller, and he shall retain the duplicate, and return the original, dated and signed by him, and such account shall be the clearance of the ship for the voyage, and the fransire (pass) for the goods expressed therein ; and if any such account be false, the master shall forfeit £20 ($100). Provided that the commissioners of customs, whenever it shall appear expedient, may permit general traiisires to be given for the lading and clearance, and for the entry and unlading of any coasting ship and goods. NOTICE OF ARRIVAL, EXCISE GOODS AND FORFEITURE. Within twenty-four hours after the arrival of any coasting ship at the port of discharge, and before any goods be unladen, the transire, with the name of the place where the lading is to be discharged noted thereon, shall be delivered to the collector or comptroller, who shall note thereon the date of delivery ; and if any goods on board be subject to any duty of excise, the 22 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. same shall not be unladen witliout the authority or permission of the proper officer of excise ; if any goods shall he laden or unladen contrary to any act relating to the customs, such goods shall be forfeited. OFFICERS MAY GO ON" BOARD AND EXAMINE ANY COASTING SHIP. Any officer of customs may go on board and search any coasting ship, and examine all goods on board, and all goods then lading or unlading, and demand all documents which ought to be on board such ship ; and the collector and comptroller may require that such documents shall be brought to him for inspection ; and the master refusing to j)roduce such documents on demand, or to bring the same to the collector or comptroller when required, shall forfeit £20 ($100). EXEMPTIONS FROM COASTING REGULATIONS. Steam vessels and sailing vessels employed in the conveyance of passengers and their bag- gage coastwise, are to be placed precisely on the same footing, and in neither case are the bag- gage and effects of jjassengers to be subjected to coast regulations, or the vessels to tonnage duty ; and all articles of apparel and household furniture, liquors, and provisions taken by passengers for their private use, or small quantities of shop goods taken by tradesmen, passen- gers on board such vessels, are to be considered as baggage, and exempt from coast regulations ; as are also exempt packages, live fish, chippings of granite, cobble stones, whin stones, kelp, Kentish rag stones, flints picked off land, pebbles, gravel, and chalk, faggots or bavins for bakers' use, hay, straw, fresh meat, soap, ashes for manure, coal-ashes, iron-stone, and all stone quarried in the country, bones for manure, bricks and British tiles, slates, native timber, and wood for pit-props and sleepers, also china clay. It is not known positively how many nations have so far reciprocated the coasting-trade privi- leges thus granted by Gf-reat Britain to foreign nations. On the 6th day of February, 1855, Tuscany entered into a convention with Great Britain for that purpose. The first article of this treaty stipulates that the subjects and ships of each of the high con- tracting parties shall enjoy in the dominions and territories of the other the same rights with respect to the coasting trade, and shall be treated in every case with regard to that trade in the same manner as native subjects and national vessels. A similar treaty was negotiated with Sardinia, March 22d, 1855. So long, however, as the restrictions with respect to the colonial coasting trade continue in force, it is very doubtful whether any of the great commercial nations of the world will be disposed to abolish or relax their present coasting-trade regulations. As respects the United States, there would be no equivalent whatever. THE EFFECT OF THE ACT OP 1854, OPENING THE COASTING TRADE OF GREAT BRITAIN TO FOREIGN VESSELS. During the month ending July 5, 1852, the tonnage entered inward (in all British European ports) in the coasting trade was 1,044,862 tons. For the same month in 1853, it reached 1,097',4T2 tons, and in the corresponding month of 1854 it was 1,069,384 tons. The clearances outward (in the same trade) for July, 1852, were 1,181,561 tons; for July, 1853, 1,196,188; and for the same month in 1854, 1,189,513. With but one or two exceptions, the whole of the tonnage given above was British ; a fact which a comparison of the figures representing this trade during the same month in three consecutive years, as given in the British official returns of trade, will at once exhibit. The following condensed summary will explain the regulations which must be complied with by every vessel, from the period of arrival in port until her discharge is completed ; and, with GREAT BRITAIN. 23 respect to exportations, the necessary proceedings from the entry outwards until the vessel's final clearance, will also be indicated. They are presented somewhat at length, so that a comparison between them and the United States custom-house regulations and laws may be the more easily made. Importation, as legally defined, takes place immediately the importing ship comes within the limits of the port, and the " time of a ship's arrival" is that at which the report thereof shall or ought to have been made. Exportation is, in like manner, determined to be the time at which goods shall be shipped on board an export vessel ; and final clearance, the time of her departure, The master of every merchant-vessel, within twenty-four hours of entering the port of arrival, is bound, under a penalty of £100 ($500), to report his cargo to the chief ofiicer of customs. The chief officer of any ship in commission from her Majesty or any foreign state, having foreign goods on board, is required, in like manner, to deliver an account in writing under his hand, and to the best of his knowledge, of the description and particulars of such goods. Before, however, the master is allowed to report, he must declare before some person duly authorized by the postmaster-general, that he has delivered, at the post ofiice, all letters that were on board his ship. And, likewise, he must, under a penalty of £20 ($100), and the further sum of £10 for each alien not included in the declaration, truly declare to the number of aliens on board, or landed from his ship. At the time of making his report, the master is to deliver, if required, to the collector or comptroller, the bill of lading, or a copy thereof, for every part of the cargo, and to answer such questions as shall be put to him, as to the ship, cargo, crew, and voyage, (a) So soon as a vessel has reported, the importers, agents, or consignees of the cargo, having been advised by receipt of bills of lading or other intimation, may each enter their several goods. A latitude of fourteen days is allowed by law for this purpose ; but, in order to clear the vessel more speedily, sight entries are permitted to the master or owner of any ship lying alongside the legal quays, or sufferance wharves, south of the Thames from London bridge eastward to Dockhead (&), under such general description as is contained in the report, for any goods that shall not have been entered by the owners thereof within forty-eight hours from the day of the report, (or earlier, if a briefer limit be set forth in the bill of lading,) upon condition that perfect entry be made by the proprietor within one month from the date of landing. Goods so circum- stanced are only liable to seizure from inaccuracy of entry after the lapse of a month. When a value is required to be stated, the importer or his agent is to subscribe a declaration verifying such value ; and false declarations render the parties making them liable to a penalty of £100 ($500). The following tabular statement exhibits the port charges at the principal ports of England, Scotland, and Ireland, condensed from ofiicial authorities: (a) The master, officer, crew, or passengers retaining letters after the delivery of the ship's letters to the post office, shall forfeit £5 ($25) for each letter ; and for detaining letters after demand by the officer of customs or person author- ized by the postmaster-general, £10 ($50) each. (b) Tlie regulations and legal provisions given in the summary are those that are followed at the port of London, but the general regulations are the same at other ports. 24 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. LIGHT DUES, (a) Names of lights. Coasters. British and foreign privileged vessels over sea, per ton. Scilly 1 light-house. Eddystone 1 do Milford. 2 do Portland 2 do St. Bees 1 do Foulness 1 do- Caskets 3 do- Nore - -do. Well 1 do. Flatholm 1 do. Lizard 2 do. Needles and Hurst, 3 do . Owers 1 do- Haisbro' 3 do . Goodwin 1 do. Sunk 1 do. Flambro' 1 do. South Stack .1 do. Fern 2 do. Burnham 1 do. Lowestoft 4 do Air, 1 light-house, and buoys in the river Dee. Lundy 1 light-house . . Spurn. 1 do Bideford Bar 2 do Bardsey 1 do . . Usk 1 do Lynn "Well 1 do Beachy Head 1 do Caldy .1 do Nash - 2 do Haisbro' 1 do i North end. ) South Sand 1 do i Head i Forelands 3 do Falmouth harbor 1 do 24 cents per vessel. 48 do- 24. do 24 do J cent per ton 12 cents per vessel 24 cents per 100 tons. J cent per ton . 24 cents per vessel 48. do 24. 24. I cent per ton 24 cents per vessel.. ^ cent per ton 4----(io ...do. ...do- .do- .do. 1^ At Bridgewatcr, 72 cents per vc?scl ; at Bristol, 12 cents per vessel. J cent per ton 4 do. -. .do. .do. 24 cents per voyage on limestone vessels. J cent per ton. i----onding increase in the imports from that island. Thus, in 1850, the value of exports fi-om Prince Edward's Island to the United States was $55,385 ; in 1851 it amounted to ^119,286, The trade between the United States and this island being now comparatively free, a still greater increase than that exhibited above may be annually expected^ t 9 ] 66 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. NEWFOUNDLAND. The great staple of this colony is derived from its extensive fisheries. An elaborate and interesting account of these maybe found in Mr. Andrews's report on Canada, &c., already referred to. Imports from NeAvfoundland into United States in the year 1850 f63,270 " " " " 1851 92,220 Exports to Newfoundland from United States during the year 1850 YGT, 550(a) " " " " 1851 954,266(ai Balance of trade against Newfoundland in those years, viz : Exports to, for 1850-51 $1,721,816 Imports from, for " 155,490 Amounting to 1,566,326 The trade of Newfoundland with other countries than the United States, particularly with Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the Brazils, is much more extensive, in jjroportion to its commercial capabilities, than is that of any other North American colony. The heavy balance against that island, in its trade with the United States, may suggest the reason why it seeks a European mar- ket for so large a portion of its products. The United States export to Newfoundland beef, pork, pitch and tar, corn-meal, flour, rice, tobacco, and general merchandise. Comparative statement exhibiting the quantities and values of the principal articles imported into the port of St. John's, N. F., from the United States of America, during the years 1853, 1854, and 1855. Description of goods. Apothecary's ware Bacon and hams cwt. Beef, salted bbls- Bread cwt . Butter - -- cwt- Candles Ibs. Coffee -cwt-- Indian corn bush- . Indian meal . bbls- Flour - bbls- Hardware and cutlery Leather and leather wares Molasses - galls . Pork, salted bbls - . Kum ...galls-- Tea. lbs Tobacco, manufactured Miscellaneous -- 1853. 1854. duantity. Total - 229 679 7,910 1,649 84, 903 210 725 8,086 55,117 12,630 9,289 14,231 90,678 $997 08 3,032 01 6,868 44 29,357 68 27,688 72 11,104 28 2,789 08 603 12 34,540 00 279,855 00 682 00 13.246 10 3,410 00 128,850 00 9,724 20 25,077 44 45,413 25 38,563 50 661,801 90 Quantity. 310 856 9,849 1,547 74,183 262 3,533 11,493 51,498 39,983 11,359 13,984 159,757 SI, 252 13 3,516 52 10,412 52 53,475 48 25,952 10 10,685 62 3,261 44 3,316 44 65,303 68 423,405 00 1,136 20 13,516 25 10,867 00 146,832 88 7,468 36 46,480 00 35,729 25 2^,437 61 887,048 48 1855. Quantity. 255 1,023 6,396 2,552 116,104 265 7,812 15, 146 75, 347 5,617 15,012 2,213 42,716 SI, 291 34 4,190 00 11,750 08 39, 105 00 39,685 00 17,407 88 3,350 38 9,160 00 88,535 00 841,623 60 6,479 30 20,387 25 2,210 00 237,040 00 1,205 48 10,826 00 35,381 50 ,38,160 81 1,407,788 54 (ff) Those figures indicate only the value of articles being of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United yiatcs. BRITISH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 67 Comparative statement exhibiting the staple articles of produce, and their quantities, exported from the port of St. John's, Newfoundland, to the United States of America, in the years 1853, 1854, and 1855. Description of goods. 1853. 1854. 1855. auantity. Quantity. Quantity. Fish, cod. - quintals Balmon tierces herring barrels Oil, seal tuns cod tuns Skins, seal .number 21,386 1,350 3,310 6 339 6,000 14,362 1,070 967 5 41 60,257 2,145 3,040 28 187 Statement shoiving the number and tonnage of United States vessels arriving at and clearing from the port of St. John's during the years 1853^ 1854, and 1865. Years. Entered. Cleared. 1853 10 vessels— 1, 802 tons. 13 vessels— 3, 170. .do. 42 vessels— 9, 107.. do 10 vessels— 1, 802 tons 11 vessels- 2,858.do 42 vessels— 9, 107. do 1854. 1855 Statement exhibiting the articles made free by the Beciprocity Treaty ; the value of such imported, and the amount of duties paid thereon, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1854. Articles. Grain, flour, and breadstuff's Animals, free dutiable Fresh, smoked, and salted meat Cotton.wool, free Seeds, plants, shrubs, &c., free dutiable Vegetables Undried fruits Dried fruits Fish of all kinds Products offish, and of all other creatures liv- ing in the water Poultry Eggs Hides and skins . Furs, undressed - Tails, undressed. Kate of duty, per cent. 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 5 10 20 Value of articles. S3, 906, 073 00 75,406 00 225,642 00 5,184 00 125 00 18,210 06 555 00 102,806 00 13,692 00 31 00 901,071 00 1,016 00 5,500 00 34,729 00 13,920 00 8 00 Duties. S7S1,214 CO 45, 128 40 1,036 80 111 00 20,561 20 2,738 40 6 20 180,334 20 203 20 1,100 00 1,736 45 1,392 00 1 60 68 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. STATEMENT— Continued. Un wrought stone-.. Unwrought marble . Butter Cheese Tallow Lard — Horns Manures Ores, of metals, free dutiable . Coal -. Pitch, tar, and turpentine . Ashes Fire and other wood- All other wood Pelts Wool Fish oil Rice - Broom corn Bark.. Gypsum, ground ungi'ound, free Grindstones Dye-stuffs Hemp, flax, tow, unmanufactured . Tobacco, unmanufactiired Rags Total . Kate of duty, per cent. Valne of articles. 10 20 20 30 10 20 5 20 30 20 20 30 20 20 30 20 $10,758 00 4 00 126,811 00 127 00 37 00 837 00 1,421 00 20 20 30 5 18,790 00 616 00 254,775 00 75 00 4,441 00 728,688 00 574,051 00 24,639 00 69, 182 00 110,402 00 978 00 353 00 113,312 00 23,265 00 14,717 00 2,915 00 12,696 00 7,398,358 00 $1,075 80 80 25,362 20 38 10 3 70 167 40 71 05 103 20 76,432 50 15 00 888 20 218,606 40 114,810 20 4,927 80 20,754 60 22,080 40 195 60 70 60 1,163 25 735 85 874 50 634 80 1,524,577 20 "Article 3. It is agreed that tlie articles enumerated in the schedule hereunto annexed, [the preceding list, J being the growth and produce of the aforesaid British colonies, or of the United States, shall he admitted into each country, resjoectively, free of duty." The colonies referred to in the foregoing article are, Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, ajid Prince Edward's Island. With respect to Newfoundland, article 6 provides as follows : " And it is hereby further agreed, that the provisions and stipulations of the foregoing articles shall extend to the island of Newfoundland, so far as they are applicable to that colony. But, if the Imperial Parliament, the provincial Parliament of Newfoundland, or the United States, shall not embrace in their laws, enacted for carrying this treaty into effect, the colony of New- foundland, then this article shall be of no eifect ; but the omission to make provision by law to give it effect, by either of the legislative bodies aforesaid, shall not in any way impair the remaining articles of this treaty." This treaty is limited to ten years, with the usual notice of twelve months by either of the high contracting parties who may wish to terminate the same. Date of exchange of ratifications of the treaty above referred to, September 9, 1854. BRITISH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 69 Date of President's proclamation of same, September 11, 1854. Date of its acceptance by Canada, 23d September, 1854 ; by New Brunswick, 11th November, 1854 ; by Nova Scotia, December 15, 1854 ; by Prince Edward's Island, 11th October, 1854 ; and by Newfoundland, 14th November, 1855. WEST INDIES. The following statement exhibits the condition of trade between the United States and the ^to West Indies generally, and the balance in favor of either country, during the years 1853 and 1854 : The exports and imports to and from the West Indies in 1854 were — Exports : Domestic produce $4,756,398 Foreign " 153,277 $4,909,675 Imports 1,126,417 Balance in favor of the United States in 1854 3,783,258 The exports and imports to and from the West Indies in 1853 were — • Exports : Domestic produce $4,056,527 Foreign '' 106,081 $4,162,608 Imports 1,044,264 Balance in favor of the United States in 1853 3,118,344 The increase in total trade in 1854 over the preceding year was — Total trade in 1854: Exports $4,909,675 Imports 1,126,417 ■ ■ $6,036,092 Total trade in 1853: Exports 4,162,608 Imports 1,044,264 5,206,872 Increase in total trade in 1854 829,220 THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. COMMERCIAL EEGULATIONS. There shall be paid a tonnage duty of 24 cents per ton of the registered tonnage of every vessel (except as hereinafter speciiied) arriving within these islands from any port or place without the limits thereof: Provided, always, That there shall be allowed, in favor of vessels takino- away a full and entire cargo of Bahama produce, and of vessels arriving with part cargo and filling up with Bahama produce, without landing any of their original cargo, a drawback of one-half of such duty : Provided, also, That the following vessels shall be totally exempt from the payment of such duty, viz : steam-vessels ; vessels arriving in ballast and departing in ballast, or arrivino' with cargo and not landing or transhipping any part thereof; and vessels employed 70 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, in turtling, fishing, or sponging, and arriving without any other cargo than turtle, fish, or sponge. There will be levied a fee of $3 on the entry, at any ports in the Bahama islands, of every vessel coming from any port or place beyond the limits of the colony. There shall be levied a fee on the clearance of vessels at any of the said ports for any port or place beyond the limits of the colony, that is to say : On the clearance of every vessel not exceeding 30 tons burden, a fee of $1 20 over 30 and not exceeding 60 tons 2 40 over 60 and not exceeding 100 tons 3 60 over 100 and not exceeding 150 tons 4 80 over 150 and not exceeding 200 tons 6 00 over 200 and not exceeding 250 tons Y 20 over 250 and not exceeding 300 tons 8 40 And on the clearance of every vessel exceeding 300 tons burden, a fee increased in the propor- tion of 24 cents for every ten tons of such excess. In addition to the foregoing, anchorage fees are levied, as follows : On vessels of 100 tons $1 20 " 100tol50tons 2 40 " '' 150 to 200 tons 3 00 " " 200 tons and upwards 4 80 Pilotage on vessels drawing from six to eighteen feet, from $3 to $26 40, and on every foot over eighteen feet, $1 20. National vessels are exempt from all the preceding charges except those for pilotage. The staple productions of the Bahamas consist of fruits, (principally oranges and pomegran- ates, and pine-aj^ples,) salt, sponges, dye-woods, and shells. These constitute all their principal exports, as no goods of any description are manufactured in the islands. The value of exports from these islands in 1853 was $155,932 80, of which the greater portion was shipped to the United States. The Bahamas are almost entirely dependent on the United States for the necessaries of life, and hence the principal exports from this country consist of 2)rovisions. The Bahamas embrace an area of 4,440 square miles, and contain a population of 4,650 whites, and about 13,900 free blacks : total, 18,550. JAMAICA. Staple Productions. — Sugar, rum, molasses, ginger, pimento, and coffee. The commercial resources of this island may be seen from the following tables of exports for three successive years : Years. Sugar. Bum. Molasses. Ginger. Pimento. Coffee. 1R50.- .- mds. 30, 030 40, 293 34,414 Puncheons. 15,591 18,492 15, 060 Casks. 9 40 11 POIITUU. 799,276 1,176,676 994,878 Pounds, 4,059,825 4,439,697 5,438,803 Pounds. 127,255 5,595,273 7,127,680 1851 1852 - BRITISH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 71 Value of exports in 1853 $331,621 Value of imports 1,216,359 Balance of trade against the island in 1853 884,738 Exports in 1854 $464,516 Imports 1,340,394 Balance of trade against the island in 1854 875,878 The following summary of official returns for 1854 will show the character and extent of trade hetween the tlnited States and Jamaica : Imports into the island of Jamaica from the United States in 1854. — Flour, 13,823 barrels ; candles, 7,941 boxes ; butter, 2,378 kegs; lard, 2,577 kegs; jiork, 1,433 barrels; hams, 20 barrels, 15 casks, 11 tierces ; cheese, 108 boxes ; meal, 2,614 barrels ; corn, 2,191 bags ; bread, 977 barrels; beef, 241 barrels; coals, 3,301 tons; lumber, 33,186 feet; rice, 1,542 bags. Approximate value, $499,515. American vessels engaged in trade with Jamaica in 1852, 194 ; from all European ports, 119. American vessels engaged in trade with Jamaica in 1853, 164 ; from all European ports, 155. PORT REGULATIONS. On every vessel entering Jamaica, there is levied, under the customs-tonnage act, a port duty of 24 cents the ton. Light-house duty, 6 cents per ton. Hospital tax — vessels from out of the tropics, 8 cents per ton ; from within the tropics, 4 cents per ton. Health officer's fees — on a ship or barque, $2 88 ; on a brig or brigantine, $2 16 ; on a schooner or sloop, $1 44. Har- bor dues — ship or barque, $7 68 ; brig or brigantine, $5 76 ; schooner or sloop, $3 84. Jamaica embraces an area of 5,520 square miles, and contains a population of about 36,000 whites and 312,000 free blacks. Total population, 348,000. Pilot dues in the ports of Kingston and Port Royal. /w— 350 tons and over $23 04 250 tons and over 17 28 150 tons and over 14 40 100 tons and over 11 52 100 tons 5 04 Out — 350 tons and over $15 36 250 tons and over 13 44 200 tons and over 11 52 150 tons and over 9 60 100 tons and over 7 68 100 tons 6 72 These charges are reduced when the vessel enters or clears from Port Eoyal only. 72 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. ST. CHEISTOPHER. Staple Productions. — Sugar, rum, molasses, arrow-root, fruits, and vegetables. The United States export to this island, and the other islands which compose this consular district, flour, grain, lumber, (principally pitch-pine,) and provisions of all kinds. American tonnage employed in the trade with this island' in 1853 : 31 vessels, with an aggre- gate tonnage of 5,070. There are no British vessels regularly engaged either in the foreign or coasting trade of this island. Hence American ships are frequently chartered to convey sugar, molasses, and other products to England, where, by reason of a protective duty on foreign similar products, they And the best market, (a) PORT REGULATIONS. All vessels on entering pay a tonnage duty of 36 cents per ton, and a fee of $4 to the colonial secretary. There is no pilotage tax, as the port of St. Christopher is open and free from all obstacles, such as reefs, &c. The official returns for six months will sufficiently exhibit the extent of trade between the United States and St. Christopher. Ueturns from 1st July to Zlst December, 1854. Imports from United States .$81,556 Exports to United States 14,714 Balance in favor of the United States 66,842 In addition to the staples of this island. United States vessels export large quantities of old metals, (as brass, iron, copper, lead,) and hides. A large portion of the revenue of this island is derived from an export duty on its staple productions. BARBADOES, In addition to the staples of this island, the United States also import thence large freights of old metals, hides, salt, &c. An idea of the trade between the United States and Barbadoes, and its dependencies St. Lucia and St. Vincent, may be gathered from the following summary of returns : Imports from the United States from 1st July to 31st December, 1853 : Boxes candles 4,962 ; shocks, 2,528 bundles ; 231 mules and 213 horses ; 118 barrels meal ; 25 tierces rice ; 1,907 bags corn ; 1,150 kegs lard ; 27 hogsheads and 664 boxes tobacco ; 262,000 staves ; 3,709 shingles; 61 tierces hams; 50 boxes snuff; 190 tons ice ; 414 barrels onions; 37,270 ropes onions ; 30 barrels ale ; 133 cases fish. American vessels employed in this trade, for the same period, 46 ; tonnage 9,222. Returns for St. Lucia, for six months ending 31st December, 1853 ; Value of imports from the United States, $28,000. Tonnage of American vessels, in same period, 328^ tons. Returns from St. Vincent for same period and date : Value of imports from United States 1^21,772. (a) This protective duty is now abolished. BRITISH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 73 From botli these ports, American vessels usually clear in ballast, and take in homeward freight at some of the other islands. Barhadoes embraces 164 square miles ; population 102,912. St. Vincent 121, and St. Lucia 275 square miles, with a total population of about 60,000. ANTIGUA. Exports the same as to the other West Indies, viz : Bread-stuifs, provisions of all kinds, lumber, staves, rice, tobacco, and sundries. This island imports, from all nations, annually, provisions and general merchandise to the amount of about $1,000,000, and exports articles to the amount of about |800,000. The heavy duties on flour and other bread-stuffs, nearly all of which are imported from the United States, have become a fruitful theme of discussion between the inhabitants and the government of this island. It is very probable that this discussion may lead to a reduction of these duties, the result of which will be a large increase in the export of these articles from the UnitedStates, and a corresponding augmentation in our trade with that island. The present duty on flour in Antigua is $1 20 per barrel of 196 pounds, or over 600 per cent, higher than in the mother country. Port regulations, harbor dues, &c., differ but little from those of the other islands. Antigua comprises 108 square miles, and contains a population of 37,000. TRINIDAD. Staples as in the other islands. United States vessels also export heavy quantities of iron, brass, lead, (old,) and hides. The following tables will exhibit the condition of trade with this island : Imports from United States in 1853 $537,604 Exports to United States 31 ,483 Balance in favor of the United States 506,121 American vessels in Port of Spain in 1853 : Vessels 59 Tonnage 11,472 Imports for first six months of 1853 compared with the last six months of 1852 : Imports from United States from 1st January to 30th June, 1853 $308,716 Imports from 1st July to 31st December, 1852 268,148 Increase over the last six months in 1852 40,568 PORT REGULATIONS. Duties of Tonnage. — Upon every ship or vessel of 50 tons and upwards, for every registered ton, 36 cents. [ 10] 74 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, Ujoon every sliip or vessel of 25 tons and upwards, "but under 50 tons, for every ton of regis- tered tonnage, 30 cents. And upon every sliip or vessel under 25 tons, for every registered ton, 6 cents. Lumber, staves, tricks, slates, shingles, coal, &c., are also subject to a small wharfage duty. Sugar, cocoa, coffee, rum, indigo, &c., are liable to an export duty in this island. Trinidad embraces an area of 1,970 square miles, containing a population of 45,284. BRITISH HONDURAS. The chief productions of this settlement are mahogany and various descriptions of dye-woods. Copper, scrap-iron, and other old metals, constitute a considerable portion of their exports to the United States. The following statement exhibits the value of the trade between the United States and Hon- duras during the years 1853, 1854, and 1855, up to June 30th of each year : 1853. 1854. 1855. Imports from the United States $381,360 268,298 $262,641 288,954 8522,959 339,974 Balance in favor of the United States 113,062 182,985 26,313 649,658 551,595 862,933 This settlement contains about 400 whites and 3,000 blacks. These are chiefly employed in cutting mahogany and dye-woods, and derive their principal suj)plies of sustenance, clothing, &c., from the United States. Groods manufactured from cotton, flax, wool, or silk, are subject only to a duty of one per cent, ad valorem. BRITISH GUIANA. Staple Productions. — Sugar, rum, molasses, coffee, timber, indigo, and cotton. The following comparative statement exhibits the trade between the United States and the two colonies, Demerara and Berbice, of which British G-uiana is composed : 1853. 1854. 1855. Imports from the United States - Exports to the United States - Balance in favor of the United States - Total trade between the United States and British Guiana $837,704 64,533 $719,249 47, 489 $824,932 107, 180 773,171 671,760 717,752 902,237 766,738 932,112 BRITISH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 75 An export duty is charged in the ports of these colonies on their staple productions. Both m Honduras and British Guiana, American vessels enjoy all the privileges extended to the vessels of the most favored nation ; and, as the preceding tahles for 1854 and 1853 will show, American commerce is generally on the increase. In 1854 the United States imported from Honduras : Indigo, (41,339 pounds,) valued at $34,842 Mahogany 83,459 Dye-wood 11,6Y8 Hides 6,706 Black pepper 1,055 137,740 Or nearly one-half of the entire imports from this colony for that year. From British G-uiana, the leading imports in 1854 were old and scrap iron, copper, hrass^ hides, sugar, and rum, amounting to nearly $40,000, of which copper alone reached $15,615» Demarara contains a population of 74,922 whites and free hlacks. Berbice contains a population of 21,580, of whom 21,000 are free blacks. GENERAL REMARKS. There are several other smaller islands in the West India group, but they are, in a commer- cial point of view, too unimportant to require a separate or more special notice, being all comprised under some of the consular districts for which Ml returns of trade, port regulations, &c., are given in the preceding pages. American trade with the West Indies is placed on an equal footing with that of the most favored nations. Indeed, in some of the islands, as in Canada, American vessels are allowed privileges that are not sanctioned, if not expressly withheld, by the colonial regulations of the mother country. In both these divisions of the British North American possessions, they are admitted, to a certain extent, to the benefits of the coasting trade ; thus proving how impossible it is for the mother country to frame commercial regulations adapted, in all respects, to the wants and necessities of her colonies in distant quarters of the globe, the effect, if not the design, of which would be to embarrass and clog their intercourse with the neighboring markets, on which they depend for all their supplies of subsistence. The act of the Imperial Parliament, 13 Victoria, chap, xxix, sees. 4, 5, 6, clothes the Governor General of the East India possessions with ample powers to admit to the coasting trade, in that part of the globe, all foreign vessels, whenever, in his opinion, the requirements of commerce or the interests of her Majesty's subjects in the East Indies, may demand such a concession. By virtue of this authority, the coasting trade of these vast possessions is now thrown open to every flag. A similar act in favor of the West India and North American possessions would seem to be more imperatively demanded, even as a boon to British subjects in these parts, par- ticularly in the West Indies, where but few of the staple articles of food are produced, and such as are imported are necessarily burdened with the taxes and imposts incident to re-ship- ment coastwise, and transportation into the interior, before they reach the consumer. Such a measure would be productive of the happiest results ; and, while it would impart additional stimulus to American enterprise, it would, at the same time, cheapen all the necessaries of life to the North American subjects of Great Britain, who, by reason of their geographical prox- imity and their different staples of trade, are the natural customers of the United States. 76 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Official returns received at the Department of State represent American commercial inter- course with the British West Indiew, generally, as being on the most satisfactory footing. Indeed, nothing seems wanting to render that intercourse wholly unembarrassed, save a modi- fication, if not a total repeal, of the protective tariff now in force in Great Britain, in favor of some of the staple productions of these islands. (a) EAST INDIES The commercial intercourse of the United States with the territories of the East India Com- pany is regulated by the different local governments thereof, under the supreme control and approval of the Governor General of India in council. The regulations prescribed by these authorities are not of a permanent character, being liable to modifications and changes when- ever, in their opinion, such become necessary. To jiresent, however, the true basis upon which this intercourse rests, it will be necessary to refer briefly to the treaty stipulations subsisting between the governments of the United States and Great Britain ; premising, that prior to the convention of London, signed on the 3d of July, 1815, between the United States and Great Britain, the commercial intercourse of the former with the East India possessions was regulated, as was that of other foreign nations, by a general clause in the Company's charter, providing that "vessels of countries in amity with Great Britain may import into, and export from, the British possessions in India, such goods and commodities as may be speci- fied in rules to be prescribed by the East India Company ; provided that such rules shall not be inconsistent with any treaty now [then] made or which may be made between Great Britain and any foreign state in amity with her, or with any act of Parliament for regulating the affairs of India." By the convention above referred to, and the subsequent convention of October, 1818, con- tinuing the former, it was stipulated: 1st. That vessels of the United States shall be admitted and hospitably received at the principal settlements of the British dominions in the East Indies, viz: Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, and Prince of Wales Island ; and the citizens of the United States may freely trade between the said settlements and the United States, in all articles of which the importation and exportation, respectively, to and from the said territories, shall not be entirely prohibited. And 2d. It was provided, that the citizens of the United States shall pay for their vessels, when admitted, no higher or other duty or charges than shall be payable on the vessels of the most favored European nations. And they shall pay no higher or other duties or charges on the importation or exportation of the cargoes of said vessels, than shall be payable on the same articles when imported or exported in the vessels of the most favored European nation. And 3d. It was expressly agreed, that the vessels of the United States shall not carry any articles from the said settlements to any port or place, except to some port or place in the United States of America, where the same shall be unladen. This convention is still in force, and regulates the commercial intercourse of the United States with the East India possessions, except as to paragraph 3, which has been superseded by the repeal of the British navigation laws in 1849 ; the effect of which has been to open the ports of Great Britain and of all her colonial possessions abroad to " goods of any sort, in a ship of any country, from any part of the world." By an act of the Imperial Parliament, entitled 13 Victoria, chap, xxix, sees. 3, 4, 5, 6, («) The differential duties in England in favor of colonial sugar are now repealed. The only articles to which such privi- leges at present apply, are : Apples, hooks, butter, cheese, eggs, embroidery and needlo-work, liquorice paste and powder, cavtoway seed, certain silk manufactures, rum and ram-shrub, tallow, wine, arid wood goods. BRITISH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 77 (already cited,) (a) the Governor General of the East India possessions was clothed with full powers to admit, whenever he should deem it advisable so to do, to the coasting trade in the East Indies, the vessels of all foreign nations. This privilege is now enjoyed by every flag. With these two exceptions, the convention of 1818 is still in full force, and constitutes the only guaranty which the United States possesses of equal privileges with the most favored nation in its intercourse and commerce with the East India possessions. Notwithstanding the express stipulations contained in the treaty above referred to, that the East India Company should prescribe no regulations " inconsistent with any treaty now made, or which may be made, by Great Britain, with any nation in amity with her," it has, on more than one occasion, been represented to the Department of State that "the officers of this Company do not consider themselves bound by the commercial treaties which exist between the United States and England. "(&) The despatch from which the foregoing extract is taken further says, that " the speedy settlement of this question is deemed of paramount importance to the commercial interests of the United States." No case, however, having been presented to the Department, beyond the naked assertion of this quasi independent sovereignty by the officers of the East India Company, the necessity has not yet arisen for an examination of the grounds upon which this claim is based. As the question may, however, hereafter embarrass the commercial relations of the United States with this portion of her Britannic Majesty's possessions, it has been deemed proper to present the facts in relation to it, which have come to the knowledge of the Department. The British East India possessions embrace an almost boundless extent of territory, extend- ing from the Himalayah range of mountains on the north, to the ocean, including nearly the whole of the peninsula of Hindoostan, the island of Ceylon, and that portion of Burmah lying between the 20th degree of north latitude and the bay of Bengal. These vast possessions are supposed to contain a population of one hundred and fifty-two millions of souls. The East India Company's possessions comprise the several presidencies of : 1, the Bengal presidency ; 2, the Bombay presidency ; 3, the Madras presidency ; 4, the Agra presidency ; and the several dependencies of each of these presidencies. BENGAL. The city of Calcutta is the capital of the Bengal presidency, and the seat of government of British India. The commerce of the United States is principally confined to the presidencies of Bengal and Bombay, and to a few of their dependencies. The leading exports from the East India possessions to the United States are wool, oil-seeds, hides, medicinal drugs, sandal-wood, gums, spices, horns, indigo, ivory, coir, saltpetre. The principal exports from the United States to the East Indies are, tobacco, naval stores, provisions, ice and miscellaneous merchandise, copper, pitch, tar, rosin, pine boards, and spars. Number of American vessels entered the port of Calcutta in 1852, 65. Tonnage 34,849. Number of vessels cleared from Calcutta in the same year, 101. Tonnage 59,340. In 1853, 109 vessels from the United States entered this port. Table exMhitincj the trade between the United States and Calcutta for the years designated. Years. Exports. Imports. 1850-51 $416,086 610,872 463,441 $2,699,276 3,842,112 3, 134, 684 1851-52 1852-'53 Total 1,490,399 9,676,072 (a) West Indies, page 75. (6) Mr. Consul Ely's despatch, Bombay, 1854. 78 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Aggregate value of imports from Calcutta during the three years ending with 1853, $9,676,072 Aggregate value of exports during the same period 1,490,399 Apparent balance against the United States 8,185,673 This heavy balance apiparently against the United States is accounted for by the large dis- criminating duties on all its manufactures, in favor of similar merchandise imported from the mother country. American vessels usually enter the ports of Calcutta and Bengal in ballast, for the purpose of taking in a homeward cargo. BOMBAY. Exports from Bombay the same as from Calcutta. The same description of merchandise is imported from the United States. The following market prices at Bombay will show that the articles specified might enter advantageously into American exports, not only to that port, but to the other ports in the East Indies : Copper sheathing sells at 55 rupees, (a) or $27 25 per cwt. Duty, 10 per cent. Annual imports, 400 tons. Copper bolts sell at 50 rupees, or $25, per cwt. Duty, 10 per cent. Annual imports, 700 tons. Pitch, 3 rupees^$l 50 per barrel. Annual imports, 1,100 barrels. Duty, 10 per cent. Tar, 4 rupees=$2 per barrel. Annual imports, 620 barrels. Duty, 10 per cent. Tonnage duty in Bombay jV rupee, or nearly 3 cents, per ton. Light-house dues on ships from 15 to 20 rupees=:from $7 50 to $10, according to the nature of the cargo and time of the year. Pilotage is regulated by the season, and is as follows : Vessels of— From September to June. From June to September. 100 to 300 tons 50 rupees = S25 00 75 rupees = S37 25 300 to 400 " 55 27 25 80 40 00 400 to 500 " 60 30 00 85 42 25 500 to 600 " 65 32 25 90 45 00 600 to 700 " 70 35 00 95 47 25 700 to 800 " 75 37 25 100 50 00 800 to 900 " 80 40 00 105 52 25 900 to 1,000 " 85 42 25 110 55 00 1,000 to 1,100 " 120 60 00 145 72 25 1,100 to 1,200 " 130 65 00 155 77 25 1,200 to 1,300 " .... 140 70 00 165 82 25 1,300 to 1,400 " 150 75 00 175 87 25 1,-100 to 1,500 " 160 80 00 185 92 25 1,500 to 1,600 " 170 85 00 195 97 25 The above rates are regulated by the local government of the Company's possessions, and the pilots are regularly licensed. The following tables exhibit the trade of the United States with the East Indies generally : (a) Tlic rupee is valncil liy Pope at 46 cents ; consular returns from Bombay value it at 50 cents. BRITISH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 79 1853. Exports to East Indies : Domestic manufactures $503,856 Foreign " 63,542 $567,398 Imports from 3,581,726 Excess of imports over exports 3,014,328 1854. Exports to East Indies : Domestic manufactures $567,193 Foreign "■ 69,219 $636,412 Imports from 5,378,321 Excess of imports over exports 4,741,909 AUSTEALIAN POSSESSIONS. The commercial relations of the United States with the British possessions in Australia, New- Zealand, and the Cape of Good Hope, are regulated hy the orders of the local governments, within the limits prescribed to their authority by the legislation of the Imperial Parliament. The repeal of the British navigation laws, already referred to in various parts of this Digest, abolished all the restrictions upon foreign commerce which, before that period, secured to the British merchant the monopoly of supplying the markets of these distant colonies. The trade is now open to all flags, and the vessels of every nation having commercial treaties with the mother country can freely, and upon equal terms, enter in the race of commercial competition. Co-operating with this liberal policy of the mother country, the discovery of gold in some of the Australian possessions, in 1851, contributed largely to infuse new commercial life and vigor 'into that distant part of the globe. Some estimate may be formed as to the extent of the won- derful advance of these colonies in commercial and colonial greatness, the increase of their imports and exports, and the augmentation of their resources generally, by glancing, over the subjoined statistics. VICTOBIA. The colony of Victoria embraces an area of 98,000 square miles, or 62,720,000 acres. Mel- bourne is the principal port. The population in 1836 was but 1,200 ; in 1846, 30,000 ; in 1855, 300,000. Of these, it is estimated that there are about 5,000 aborigines. In 1843 the value of their imports was $-1,229,840 ; that of their exports, $1,539,830. Of this latter sum, wool covered nearly $1,000,000, all of which was shipped to G-reat Britain. Value of imports in 1847, $2,188,480 ; of which $1,592,120 were from Great Britain. Value of exports in 1847, $3,342,555; of which wool covered $2,829,025, distributing the balance ($513,530) between the articles of beef, pork, horses, horned cattle, and tallow. Number of vessels in 1847, 423, with a tonnage of 47,885. The following tables will exhibit the trade of the colony of Victoria from 1851 to the end of the first half of 1854 : Imports from all nations : In the year 1851 $4,379,140 1852 17,524,355 " 1853 70,473,235 In the half year of 1854 42,780,340 Exports to all nations : In the year 1851 $4,181,210 1852 35,685,775 1853 45,412,870 In the half year of 1854 24,509,400 80 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Table sliowing the quantity of flour imported into and exported from the colony of Victoria^ and the quantity consumed therein, during tlie periods designated. Yenr. Imported. Exported. Consumed in the colony. In 1852 Tom. 10,596 26,358 10,849 Tow. 60 6,645 4,044 Tom. 10,536 19,813 6,805 In 1853 Amount of flour, from the United States, imported in 1853, 15,036 tons; or more than one- half of the whole quantity imjjorted. Amount imported from the United States, in the half year of 1854, 3,720 tons ; or more than one-third of all imported. Number cmd tonnage of American vessels which arrived at Ilelbourne, f'om January, 1853^ to September, 1854. Vessels, 113 ; aggregate tonnage, '7*7,633 ; of which arrived — From New York : ships, 52 ; average passage, 121 days. " " barques, 22 " " 118 " u u iQrigs, 2 " " 140 " " " schooners, 1 " " 120 " From Boston : ships. 25 a 11 112 C( li i< barques. 29 a a 118 cc U 11 brigs. 2 u u 12*7 y the United States on the 12th February, 1823. That convention provides that articles, the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, when exported to France in vessels of the United States, shall pay an additional duty, not exceeding tAventy francs (^^ 75) per ton of merchandise, over and above the duties paid on the like articles exported to Franco in French vessels ; that articles, the growth, produce, or manufacture of France, imported into the United States in French vessels, shall pay an addi- tional duty not exceeding $3 75 joer ton of merchandise, over and above the duties paid on like articles imported in vessels of the United States ; that no discriminating duties shall be levied upon the productions of France imported in French bottoms into our ports for re-cxiim-taiion ; that a like advantage shall be given, and is given, to the United States ; that the following quan- tities shall lie considered a ton for the articles specified, viz : Four 61-gallon hogsheails, or 241 gallons of 231 cul lie inches of wine, American measure; 244 gallons of brandies ainl all other 'ds ; 50 cubic i'eet of silk, American measure, in the United States; and 12 cubic feet, -"sure, in France ; 804 pounds avoirdupois of cotton ; 1,600 pounds avoirdupois of '"■nds avoirdupois of pot and pearl-ashes; 1,600 pounds avoirdupois of rice; FRANCE, 125 and for all weighaWe articles not specified, 2,240 pounds avoirdupois; that the duties of ton- nage, light-money, pilotage, port-charges, hrokerage, and all other duties on foreign shipping, over and above those paid hy tlie national shipping in the two countries, other than those above specified, shall not exceed, in France, for vessels of the United States, five francs (94 cents) per ton of the vessel's American register, nor for vessels of France in the United States 94 cents per ton of the vessel's French passport ; that the convention shall remain in force two years from the 1st of October, 1822, and after that time until the conclusion of a definitive treaty, or until one of the parties shall have declared its intention to renounce it, which declara- tion shall precede the renunciation six months ; and, finally, that, in case this convention shall not be discontinued by either party, the duties specified, exclusive of tonnage, light-money, pilotage, port-charges, &c., laid upon articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of either country, shall, at the expiration of two years, be reduced one-fourth of the whole amount, and afterward by one-fourth of said amount, from year to year, so long as it is not renounced by either party. The convention with France of July 4th, 1831, only slightly modifies the convention of 1822. The wines of France, from the ratification of that convention until the passage of the tarifi' act of 1846, were imported at duties not exceeding the following rates by the gallon, United States measure, viz: For red wines, in casks, fi cents ; for white wines, in casks, 10 cents; and for all kinds of wines, in bottles, 22 cents. This stipulation was limited to ten years, and con- sequently expired on the 4th of July, 1841. Our trade has, tlierefore, been since regulated by the convention of 1822, and guarded by the powers and privileges secured to the consuls of each nation by the consular convention of the 28th February, 1853. The results of the operation of the stipulations of these conventions may be traced in the taldes of imports and exports, as follows : IMPORTS. EXPORTS. IMPORTS. EXPORTS. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. 1822 $8,089,940 84,744,490 $1,280,870 1839 832,531,321 815,966,108 82,264,841 1823 5,666,730 5,001,775 3,699,554 1840 17,572,876 18,919,327 2,922,227 1824.... 7,188,567 7,851,639 1,846,043 1841 23,933,812 18,410,367 3, .-Joe, 388 1825.... 10,868,786 7,525,935 3,352,467 1842 16,974,058 16,015,298 1,150,552 1826 8,579,520 9,348,929 1,799,855 1843 7,657,686 11,570,872 525,279 1827 8,527,232 9,187,558 3,336,945 1814 ■17,549,484 12,066,212 2,372,188 1828.... 9,390,854 7,698,337 3,375,233 1845 21,595,425 12,330,171 3,170,233 1829 8,838,978 8,894,045 2,854,350 1846 23,911,332 13,601,650 1,528,925 1830 7,722,198 9,901,146 1,092,813 1847 24,900,841 18,592,531 505,087 1831.... 14,065,743 5,635,424 3,529,378 1848 28,096,031 15,374,885 4,444,425 1832.... 12,175,758 9,942,576 2,677,147 1849 24, 363, 7S3 12,523,759 2,986,824 1833...- 13,431,678 10,806,583 2,965,638 1850.... 27,538,025 17,950,277 1,883,070 1834.... 17,141,173 12,715.754 2,793,220 1851 31,715,553 25,302,085 2,950,061 1335... . 22,915,376 18,037,014 1,714,230 1852 25,890,266 22,190,070 1,800,575 1836 36,615,417 19,608,434 1,330,666 1853 33,455,942 25,120,806 1,450,978 1837 22,083,614 17,350,914 2,339,664 1854 35,781,393 30,968,252 1,179,729 1838 17,771,797 15,715,451 1,200,102 1855 31,609,131 31,623,898 1,254,230 This table is made up from the annual Treasury Eeports on Commerce and Navigation of the United States. It will not prove uninteresting, however, to subjoin, for comparison, a similar statement put forth by the French government. 126 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Value of commerce between the United States and France, for the years specified ; taken from the official reports published by the French Ministry of Commerce. YEARS. VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES INTO FRANCE. VALUE OF E.XPORTS FROM FRANCE INTO THE UNITED STATES. TOTAL. General commerce. Special commerce. General commerce. Special commerce. General commerce. Special commerce. 1831 1832 Francs. (a) 61, 463, 000 89,360,000 99,079,000 97,186,000 89,482,000 110,770,000 117,738,000 132,796,000 99,206,000 175,829,000 157,071,000 176,057,000 171,628,000 142,500,000 172,000,000 153,700,000 137,605,000 71,883,000 127,100,000 132,176,000 116,883,000 190,089,000 179,786,000 Francs. 47,523,000 64,927,000. 73,886,000 76,564,000 71,545,000 81,464,000 86,720,000 101,248,000 85,883,000 117,970,000 121,491,000 135,046,000 144,269,000 133,600,000 140,700,000 141,200,000 110,434,000 56,986,000 105,779,000 122,105,000 109,853,000 167,721,000 157,921,000 F> ancs. 1.34,793,000 87,631,000 134,965,000 113,094,000 196,042,000 238,874,000 98,615,000 170,698,000 204,591,000 136,120,000 183,562,000 83,346,000 96,639,000 161,400,000 143,000,000 160,100,000 185,684,000 165,749,000 232,669,000 285,941,000 242,626,000 263,040,000 328,992,000 Francs. 110,180,000 58,659,000 107,984,000 78,136,000 145,251,000 158,738,000 58,611,000 119,724,000 120,946,000 80,760,000 121,234,000 48,106,000 65,808,000 102,000,000 96,600,000 100,400,000 112,414,000 99,430,000 148,564,000 193,511,000 144,584,000 154,613,000 209,195,090 Francs. 186,256,000 176,991,000 234,044,000 210,280,000 285,524,000 349,664,000 216,353,000 303,494,000 303,797,000 311,949,000 340,633,000 258,403,000 271,267,000 303,900,000 315,000,000 303,800,000 323,289,000 237,362,000 369,769,000 418,116,000 359,609,000 453,129,000 508,778,000 Francs. 167,703,000 123,486,000 181,870,000 154,700,000 216,796,000 240,202,000 146,331,000 220,972,000 206,829,000 198,730,000 242,725,000 183,152,000 210,067,000 235,600,000 237,200,000 241,600,000 222,848,000 156,416,000 254,343,000 315,616,000 254,437,000 322,334,000 377,116,000 1833 1834 1836 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 (b) 1842 1843 1844 1846 1840 --- 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 --- 1863 - - In these tatles it is not difficult to trace the effects of the controversy relative to the re-charter of the Bank of the United States, the temporary expansion of the paper currency, the necessary contraction following the restoration of the constitutional currency, and the addition to the gold circulation of the world made by the mines of California. All these historical facts are of too recent occurrence to need comment in a work such as this. In like manner may be traced the effects of the French revolution of 1830, the eighteen years' policy of Louis Philippe, the con- vulsions of 1848, the temporary ascendancy of republican principles, and the re-establishment of the empire. Causes like these, which affect commerce without a change of international obligations, would require more space for their elucidation in detail, than can be accorded to them in this Digest. They are, however, alluded to for the purpose of awakening suggestive trains of reasoning. The article of cotton has, for a number of years, constituted in value, upon an average, three- cjuarters of all our domestic exports to France. The average annual value of our exports of (a) The franc equals 18.6 cents. (J) I'roui 1831 to 1S41 the general commerce between the two countries mcrcased 164,377,000 francs, or about 83 per cent. This augmentation falls etipccially upon the products of the United States imported into France, the amount of which has tripled in this period. In the following years the effect of the high tariff of 1842 will be perceived, especially on the value of exports from France into the United States. FRANCE. 127 home products to France from 1830 to 1833, was $9,000,000 ; and of the exports of cotton for the same period, $1,000,000. The following table exhibits the quantities of cotton exported to France for the years enumerated, viz : Years. Pounds. Years. Pounds. Years. Pounds. 1835 71,110,600 80,009,600 80,231,800 96,316,000 76,630,400 106,878,200 110,700,000 1842 115,130,400 123,497,000 119,345,600 124,610,400 121,518,000 125,628,800 167,457,400 1849 - 1850.- -.-J 1851_ J 1852 157,132,800 109,479,306 113,913,224 167,429,900 174,639,940 144,428,360 1836 1843 1837 1844 1838 1845 1839 1846 1853 1840 . 1847 1854 -- - 1841 1848 The tables from which we extract do not give the values of our cotton exports for the years stated above, but, as in some preceding years, we learn from other data, they have been equal to the value of three-fourths of our exports of home products. It may be added, that, with the exception of 1854, the above figures have been compiled from French custom-house returns. They are considerably below those given in the annual reports prepared by the United States Treasury Department, and are not so reliable. The following table, compiled from these annual reports, will show the exports of cotton to France for six years, ending with June 30th, 1855, and the value ; as also the total value of domestic exports to France during the said years, respectively : Years. Pounds. Value. Total value domestic exports. 1850 - 125,834,091 139,164,671 186,214,270 189,226,913 144,428,360 210,113,809 $14,396,449 18,124,512 15,438,586 19,248,076 14,632,712 19,035,423 $17,950,277 25,302,085 22,190,070 25,120,806 (a) 30,968,252 31,623,898 1851 1852 1863 1854 1855 Our other chief export to France is tobacco. In that country, the trade in this article is monopolized by the government. Information on this subject is derived from a recent publica- tion, from the pen of a gentleman who has analysed and studied our European tobacco trade in the principal markets of the eastern continent. The exclusive right to purchase imported and indigenous tobacco is invested in the regie, or commission — an association under the super- vision of the Minister of Finance. This regie alone can authorize its manufacture, fix the prices at which it is to be sold to retailers, and the prices at which the latter shall sell for con- sumption. The capital of the regie, consisting of houses, offices, machinery, and tobacco in store, is of the value of about $45,000,000. There is usually kept on hand a supply of tobacco sufficient to meet the demand for three years. This enables the re^ie to manufacture it more perfectly, and to provide against accidental failures of the supply. No one can purchase at wholesale of any one but the regie; and no one can retail without a license, which compels the purchaser to sell at prices fixed by that commission. Of late years, however, the system has been so far relaxed as to allow an importation, for personal use, of a certain quantity by individ- (a) The export of gold and silver coin and bullion was unusually large this year, amounting to $6,609,900. 128 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. uals, upon tlie payment, by the importer, of duties equal to the profits reaped by the regie upon its sales. One fact is encouraging : while the consumption is constantly increasing, the culture remains in France at a stand. It remains at a stand, because it is also under the supervision of the regie, which prescribes the methods of cultivation, and confines its produce to certain depart- ments, and even to certain individuals. There is nothing to stimulate enterprise, or to secure the concurring energy of individual interest. Up to 181Y, purchases were made upon the offers of merchants submitted to the director- general, and communicated by him to the Council of Administration. The number of competi- tors created embarrassment, and the present system was, after some years, adopted. The system is this : Proposals are published by the regie to make contracts for the supply of certain qualities and certain quantities of specified kinds of tobacco. Samples of the kinds and quali- ties are submitted to the inspection of those who desire to contract, and they thereupon submit their offers to supply at certain prices within a time specified. The samples submitted to the contractors are carefully preserved ; and when the cargoes arrive at the various ports, samples of them are forwarded to Paris and compared with the model samples, and the acceptance or refusal depends ujjon this comparison. It requires but little reflection to perceive that this system is seriously injurious to our trade. It is a moderate estimate to make, to suppose that, if tobacco were admitted into France as other products are admitted, we should export ten times as much as we do at the present time. The abolition of the system would, therefore, seem to be an object constantly to be kept in view by our government. It has stood so many years, however, and under so many forms of govern- ment, and is so productive to the revenues, and so important to the government itself, in the number of persons thus brought under its direct influence, that we cannot hope to see it soon materially changed. In addition to the facts already detailed on the subject of this important staple, the following extracts from official despatches, communicated to the Department of State, are presented as pertinent : '' Tobacco is only permitted to be cultivated in six dejDartments as a staple, and this cultiva- tion is under the most rigid surveillance of the government. In the other departments agricul- turists are allowed to grow/oio- plants for each tenement, for medicinal uses. " On the tobacco disposed of by the regie, whether imported or produced, the profit realized amounts to 447 per cent. " The retail dealers in the article, numbering about 30,000, are under the control of the regie inspection, and are allowed a commission on their sales of from 10 to 12 per cent. There are only ten manufactories. They are located at Paris, Havre, Lille, Strasbourg, Morlaix, Ton- neins, Lyons, Marseilles, Toulouse, and Bordeaux. Each has its circle of departments to supply, and is restricted to transactions therein. The manufactured article is deposited in mag- azines, of which there are 357. " In the departments adjoining Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium, the price established is vastly below that which rules in the interior. The object of this is to prevent smuggling. Where frontier facilities are afforded for illicit importations, the rate is comparatively moderate. Where none exist, it is enormous. Thus, at Strasburg a pound is worth only 15 sous (cents), while at Orleans it is worth 8 francs ($1 60). ***** "Last year [1848] the receipts from the customs only amounted to about 146,000,000 francs — 86,000,000 of which were derived from tobacco, nearly all grown in the United States — under the workings of the regie. " Were this regie abolished, and a moderate import duty substituted, instead of a market of 16,000 or 18,000 hogsheads of tobacco per annum, France would take from us double that quan- tity immediately thereafter." At the present time, we export about two-fifths of all the tobacco consumed in Europe. Strict attention to its proper culture will enable us to furnish a much greater proportion. From 1827 FRANCE. 129 to 1836, our exports to France amounted, annually, on an average, to 5,'72'7,900 pounds. For many years we have exported from three-fourths to four-fifths of the tobacco consumed in France. From official reports of the French authorities, we gather the following statistics of our exports and sales to the regie in the years specified: Years. Pounds. years. Pounds. Years. Pounds. 1837 10,622,108 11,643,710 13,089,036 17,840,613 21,046,924 19,148,800 1843 27,771,788 20,891,000 24,318,800 17,798,000 15,562,907 13,046,305 1849 16,852,130 18,612,628 12,088,876 32,305,240 9,741,600 1838 1844 1850 1839-- 1845 1851 1840 1846 1852 1841... 1847 1848 __ 1853 (a) 1842 No values are attached to these quantities, but they may be estimated by the aid of other data. The cost of American tobaccoes, on delivery at the factories of the regie, all expenses included, is given by a French legislative report as follows, on an average for several years ; Maryland tobacco, 9.5 cents per lb. ; Virginia, 8.2 cents ; Kentucky, Y.T cents ; Missouri, Y.5 cents. The following statement, also derived from French authorities, shows the net profits of the regie, which, after paying all expenses of purchase, transportation, manufacture, and sale of tobacco, it has paid over to the State treasury^ annually, from the 1st of July, 1811, (com- mencement of the monopoly with the regie), to the 1st of January, 1853: Years. Francs. Years. Francs. Years. Francs. 1811 6,000,000 26,000,000 29,355,842 32,000,000 33,123,303 32,355,321 39,182,994 41,705,861 41,412,893 42,219,604 42,279,004 41,950,997 41,584,489 43,129,723 44,030,453 1826- 44,993,057 45,728,983 46,385,633 45,632,490 46,782,408 45,920,930 47,751,597 49,230,280 50,843,714 51,700,181 55,629,540 59,026,912 61,682,425 66,001,841 70,111,157 1841- 71,989,095 73,804,142 77,368,735 79,499,379 82,534,494 85,961,080 86,391,198 85,271,053 85,136,106 88,915,000 92,233,729 95,344,082 1812 1827- -- 1842 - - 1813 1828 -- 1843-.- 1814 1829 1844 1815 1830 -. - 1845 - 1816 1831 1846.-- 181T 1832 1847- 1818 1833 1848 1819 1834 1849 1820 1835 .-- 1850- - 1821 1836 - 1851- 1822 1823 1837 1852 1838 Total 1824 1839 2,328,201,725 1825 1840 French official documents furnish the following facts relative to our cotton trade with that empire. By the custom-house returns for 1855, it appears that there were received for that year, from all countries 167,200,000 lbs., Against, for 1854 157,520,000 " « 1853 165,000,000 " u 1852 158,400,000 " (a) United States Treasury reports give the quantities of tobacco exported to France for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1854 and 1855, respectively, as follows: 1854, 15,162,000 lbs. ; 1855, 40,866,000 lbs., besides 2,905 cases, and 879 bales. The fcxcess of the latter year was probably for the army In the Crimea. The French fiscal year ends with that of the calendar. [ 17] 130 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The following table shows the quantities of cotton imported into Havre, from all countries, for a period of four years, ending with IS."),"): Years. From tlie Ignited Stales. JFroin Brazil. From elsewhere. Total. 1855 _ 1854 406, COO bales. 411,000 " 374.500 " 374.900 " 2,500 bales. 2,000 ■' 2,800 " 6,000 " 9,000 bales. 12,000 " 12,200 " 14,400 " 418,100 bales. 425,000 " j 1853 185'' 389,500 " 395,300 " Table showing the quantities of cotton received at the other ports of France during the same years. Years, From United States. From Brazil. From Egypt. From elsewhere. Total, 1855 12,000 bales. 19,300 " 14,500 " 17,800 " None, None, None, None. 30, 7U0 bales. 21,400 " 33,000 " 36,700 " 2,800 bales. 4,300 " 17,000 " 12.500 " 45, 500 bales, 45,000 " 64.500 " 67,000 " 1854 1853 1852 The preceding tables exhibit a total importation of cotton into France, viz: In 18.3.5 463,600 lialcs. 1834 4T0,000 " 1833 4.34,000 " 1852 462,300 " The document from which the preceding tables are translated and condensed, adds: "We may further remark, that, while England imjiorts from the East Indies annually 400,000 bales of cotton, and thus finds profitable employment for her commercial marine, France is deprived of the advantages of this trade. The fault is found in the apathy of our cotton- spinners and in our custom-house regulations. Cotton from the Indies, imported in the direct trade in French vessels, ought to be admitted free of duty ; and the impost on cotton introduced from the entrepots of Europe should be extremely moderate." The articles of domestic produce usually shipped from the United States to France, besides cotton and tobacco, are hops, fish, pot and pearl ashes, whale-oil and whale-bone; and those of foreign produce are principally sugar, coftee, teas, cocoa, popper, and other spices. The prin- cipal articles imported into the United States from France are wines, brandies, silks olive-oil jewelry of all kinds, and, latterly, some cotton goods. An examination of the details of the trade in these articles could add nothing to the inferences which the general tables, already pre- sented, suggest. In the year 1793 an act was passed by the National Assembly, interdicting direct commercial intercourse between foreign nations and the French republic. This act, although never formally repealed, has been practically abrogated by the introduction of numerous modifications. Even foreign goods actually prohibited are admitted to entrepot for re-exportation at the ports of Marseilles, Bayonne, Bordeaux, Nantes, Havre, and Dunkirk, on ])ayment of specified duties • and these goods may be transferred from one bonded warehouse to another. Goods not prohibited may be thus transferred by land, on the terms of the transfer, free of duties. Aries, Port Vendue and Strasbourg are points where merchandise not prohibited is received in bond, and from which FRANCE. 131 it can be exported by sea ouly. Tbere is also, at Lyons, a special depot to whicb all the ports of bonding depots may transmit merchandise for consumption or exportation. By tbe terms of the convention of tbe 24tli June, 1822, the time for levying discriminating duties has long since expired. The only charges upon commerce, in articles of home produce, which can be made by either country, are duties upon tonnage; and they are specifically limited to five francs (or ninety-four cents) per ton on the vessel's measurement, which is to be calculated according to the American vessel's register, and the French vessel's passport. This tonnage duty exceeds the amount levied by France on every other country, and thus operates injuriously to American interests. Vessels of all other countries, except Great Britain, pay seventy-seven cents. British vessels, going direct to France, pay twenty cents ; going in ballast from any other country, nothing. Other trivial port charges, such as light-money, permits, certificates, &c., are charged equally to all nations. The inequality in tonnage duties, alluded to, gives great advantages to some other nations over both France and the United States. This is the case as regards Austria, the Hanseatic League, and several other countries, which, by the terms of their treaties with the United States, are permitted to carry on an indirect trade. The vessels of these nations, being sub- jected to a lower duty than ours in France, and a lower duty than French vessels in our ports, are thus enabled to carry merchandise to and from the United States cheaper than the vessels of either country can do it. In this way they have monopolized no inconsiderable portion of the carrying trade between the two countries. The reciprocity stipulated in the convention of 1822 extends only to articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the respective countries. To admit a cargo from the United States to the advantages secured by the treaty, it must be certified by the French consul at the port of clearance to be of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States. The American ship-master is subjected, in a French port, to many small charges for the authentication of cer- tificates, &c., from which the French master is exempt in our ports. Most of these are, prob- ably, sheer abuses, without authority of law. They practically operate as an increase of duties, not warranted by the provisions of the treaty. There is a stipulation in the convention of 1822, by which products of the United States, car- ried in American vessels, after a certain period, are to become liable to no higher rate of duty than if imported in French vessels. This does not include tin, the products of the fisheries, or spermaceti, simply pressed. Copper and lead(a) are also excepted ; but, in point of fact, are admitted to the advantages of this provision, if it be shown that they are of American produc- tion. The prospects of future commerce with France depend upon a variety of facts and contin- gencies. The facts, of a permanent character, which operate upon them, are the natural capa- bilities of the countries, the populations, and the subdivisions of their labor; the contingencies chiefly arise from their relations to other countries and their legislation. The facts bearing upon the subject, in the United States, are to be found in its history and its census, and are familiar to all. Those respecting the French empire, maybe briefly summed up in a suggestive rather than an elaborate form. France proper, to which alone reference is now had, lies between 42° 49' and 51° 5' north latitude, and embraces an area of 204,355 square miles, greatly variegated by mountains, streams, and plains. The soils and their proportions are as follows: Mountain country 8 Land, or plains 10| Soil of rich mould 14 " chalk 18 " gravel 7 Soil of stones 13 " sand 10 " clay 5 " marsh 0^ Various soils 14 Making an aggregate of 100 parts (a) Circular letter of the Custom^ ^IminiBtration, September, 1827. 132 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. One-half tlie area of France is cultivable ; and of this, nine parts are meadow ; four and a half parts vineyard ; fifteen parts woods and forests ; fifteen, downs, pastures, and heaths ; all the remainder consisting of roads, cities, canals, vegetable gardens, &c. It presents every variety of geological formation, exhibited in almost every variety of known relations. All the depart- ments, eighty five in number, contain mineral substances. There are thirty-six coal-fields in thirty departments. The most important are those of the Loire, embracing an area of 42,000 acres, lying between the Loire and the Ehone, down which their products reach markets. Next to these come those of Nord, Saone, Avignon, G-ard, and Calvados. The remainder are small. The annual produce of coal exceeds 3,000,000 tons. France is surpassed by England only in the production of iron. There are twelve iron mines in operation. Lead, silver, antimonj^, copper, and magnesia are found, but do not assume commercial importance. Salt is made in several localities, and has become a considerable source of wealth. 300,000 persons are engaged in mining, and their operations show an annual value of $80,000,000. The population of France, in 1851, was 35,781,628. The increase in the preceding ten years was nearly 2,000,000. A like increase would give in 1855 a population of fully 37,000,000. A little less than one-half are males. Those of them who were old enough to vote under the late Republican constitution were employed as follows : Working class, or paupers 6,585,000 Manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural capitalists 927,000 Learned professions, and independent incomes 425,000- Paid officials, army, navy, and pensions 379,000 About the same distribution of employments yet prevails. Schools are provided for only about one-sixteenth of the children. The revenues of France are direct and indirect. The average aggregate annual revenue, from all sources, is about ,§180,000,000. The national debt is over $100,000,000. Wheat is the most important of its vegetable productions. Next to it is the vine, which extends over the southern half of the emiiire. The number of acres under vine cultivation exceeds 5,000,000, giving employment, in the cultivation of the vine and the manufacture of wine, to about 2,000,000 of persons, (mostly females,) and in its transportation and sale, to 250,000. The average home value depends, as does all other produce, on the supply and demand ; rarely, however, exceeding 20 cents, or falling below 10 cents per gallon. The vine disease, now more or less prevailing in all wine- producing countries, has increased the average price of wine from 100 to 175 per cent. In 1849 there were produced in France, in round numbers, 925,000,000 gallons of wine. This was an increase over the c[aantity produced in 1839 of 115,000,000 gallons; but there were half a million of acres more under cultivation. The quantity annually exported averages about 45,000,000 gallons. In 1849 there were exported 41,000,000 gallons. 1850 " " 42,000,000 " 1851 " " 49,500,000 " 1852 " " 53,200,000 " 1853 " " 43,500,000 " The quantity exported in 1854 has not been ascertained. About 90,000,000 gallons are annually distilled into brandy, the exportation of which is under special government restrictions. One hundred and thirty-three million gallons of wine, in its various forms, are annually exported to foreign countries. The government derives a considerable portion of its internal revenue from the manui'acture of wine. The excise duty in 1853 amounted to upwards of $22,000. Besides the 90,000,000 gallons converted into brandy, it is estimated that 220,000,000 PRANCE, 133 gallons are manufactured into otHer kinds of spirits. If this estimate be correct, there will be left for home consumption over 700,000,000 gallons, or about 21 gallons for each inhabitant. The disease of the vine, during the past few years, has been very destructive in France, Spain, Madeira, and other old wine-producing countries. Should the disease unfortunately continue in those countries which have hitherto supplied the markets of the world with this beverage, the day may not be distant when the United States shall become the exporter instead of the importer of wine. The vine culture has already attracted attention in the western and southern States. The following table will exhibit the annual value of each of the chief products of France, all which enter into or influence its commerce : Products. duantity. Value. Wheat bushels Rye and mixed corn do Buckwheat do- 150,000,000 85,000,000 26,000,000 38,000,000 3,970,000 56,000,000 90,000,000 12,000,000 800,000,000 $180,000,000 70,000,000 13,000,000 30,000,000 7,600,000 11,500,000 54,000,000 9,000,000 100,000,000 6,000,000 3,000,000 4,000,000 1,000,000 28,000,000 12,500,000 1,500,000 1,500,000 Peas and beans do Potatoes do- Oats do Indian corn do Wine gallons - - ^ Hemp . Kaw silk. _ Flax - Fuel and timber Tobacco Chestnuts Aggregate annual value of products 532,500,000 The wild animals are not numerous enough to have any material influence upon trade. It is not so with those domesticated. The annual value of the wool grown from sheep is about |18,000,000. This branch of industry is very inadequately attended to. There are fourteen or fifteen different species of beeves, and the total number of all kinds is about 12,000,000. This branch of husbandry is also much neglected. In the southern departments, olive-oil supersedes butter. The horse is not as well managed as in England, nor are there as many horses. Hogs are abundant, and so are doi^pstic fowls. The latter are well attended to. Landed property is more minutely divided in France than anywhere else in Europe, or even than in the United States. In a few departments may be found estates of two hundred acres ; but they are rare, and daily becoming more so, as the law divides the realty equally among the children. The greater portion of the farms are now less than twenty acres. Improvements in the methods of cultivation progress languidly, and the methods of manuring and rotation of crops and of employing machinery continue to be very defective. Commerce and manufactures may be justly said to have commenced with Charlemagne. They were repressed during the feudal ages, when the barons enslaved the artisans and peasants. They were revived by the return of the crusaders, who brought a taste for the luxuries of the East, Louis XIV well understood their importance. The death of Colbert and the revocation 134 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, of tlie edict of Nantes again paralyzed tliem, and the industry of France became subjected to monopolies. They continued enslaved, in a great measure, until the revolution of 1'789 unfet- tered them. Since that period, legislation has favored them by keeping them free, and giving full scope to individual enterprise and genius. They have only been retarded or disturbed by the intervention of wars. Their progress has, of late years, been wonderfully accelerated by the progress of science and its application to macliinery and the useful and ornamental arts. Of scientific stimulants, the most important has been the application of steam-power. To science are also attributable metallurgy ; the processes of dyeing ; the various preparations of animal substances ; the weaving of cloths, cashmeres, and damasks ; the making of paper, watches, and clocks, and of fine and common pottery ; the manufacture of silks and tissues ; and numberless other useful and tasteful arts, which have spread wide the wings of com- merce. The average annual value of the exports of France, from 1825 to 1833, was about $84,168,160, and of its imports §79,785,042. The official statement of the imports and exports, for the years 1844 to 1853, estimated in francs, were as follows: Years. IMPORTS. E.\PORTS. French vessels. Foreign vessels. French vessels. Foreign vessels. 1844 - Francs. 378,200,000 399,500,000 425,600,000 448,000,000 325,000,000 401,000,000 410,000,000 392,100,000 471,500,000 Francs. 454,100,000 474,000,000 468,500,000 526,000,000 254,000,000 349,200,000 361,200,000 341,800,000 457,800,000 522,100,000 Francs. 385,400,000 408,500,000 403,600,000 433,000,000 386,100,000 540,000,000 526,500,000 560,900,000 559,700,000 619,700,000 Francs. 440, 500, 000 454,700,000 456,100,000 531,000,000 476,100,000 538,600,000 656,900,000 703,700,000 745,600,000 869,000,000 1845 1846 - 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 , 1853 - 507,000,000 The number and tonnage of the vessels employed in the foreign trade of France during the same years were as follows : YEARS. INWARDS. ODTW.^KDS. FRENCH VESSELS. FOREIGN VESSELS. FRENCH VESSELS. FOREIGN VESSELS. No. Tonnage. No. Tonnage. No. *. Tonnage. No. Tonnage. 1844 1845 --- 1846 6,392 6,920 8,184 679,066 746,310 879,808 10,070 10,775 12,113 1,359,789 1,439,320 1,680,290 5,369 5,739 5,595 577,032 651,670 654,972 6,396 6,313 6,623 674,101 734,822 709,806 The following table, made up from materials contained in " Annales du Commerce Ex- terieur," brings down this statement of the amount and character of the foreign navigation statistics of France to the year 1853, the entrances and clearances being given in aggregate: PKANCB. 135 Navigation table continued to 1853 — the entrances and clearances united. TEARS. FRENCH VESSELS. FOREIGN VESSELS. No. Tonnage. No. Tonnage. 1847 9,701 10,010 11,200 11,808 11,668 11,216 12,132 1,047,000 1,049,000 1,142,000 1,192,000 1,202,000 1,199,000 1,339,000 20,794 13,320 14,768 16,892 19,247 19,803 20,425 2,708,000 1,626,000 1,721,000 2,110,000 2,389,000 2,546,000 2,743,000 1848 -- 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853- The special (a) commerce of France with foreign countries in 1853, was distributed as exhibited in the following table, estimated from official sources : Countries. Imports into France. Exports from France. Countries. Imports into France. Exports from France. Great Britain - United States Francs. 92,000,000 158,000,000 140,000,000 104,000,000 44,000,000 Francs. 317,000,000 217,000,000 123,000,000 67,000,000 69,000,000 ZoU-Verein Switzerland Russia Francs. 58,000,000 37,000,000 68,000,000 51,000,000 14,000,000 Francs, 45,000,000 54, 000, 000 11,000,000 22,000,000 34,000,000 Turkey - Brazil The following table exhibits the values of the chief articles imported and exported in 1853 : Cotton, raw Sillis, raw Cereals Silk tissues Cotton cloth Wool, raw Wood, common Stone coal Oil seeds Official v;i]ue in francs. 155,100,000 149,600,000 140,600,000 137,800,000 75,100,000 68,200,000 45,700,000 44,700,000 40,700.000 Silk cloth Cotton cloth Woollen cloth Wines Toys and other ma ufactures of wood_ Silks - Cereals Skins, worked Glassware Actual value in francs. 550,900,000 114,400,000 175,400,000 145,500,000 76,300,000 55,700,000 65,800,000 63,100,000 21,800,000 The manufacture of cotton was first introduced in 1Y70, and has increased at an enormous rate. The total number of persons now employed in it is near 300,000. The total value of all the manufactures of France, annually, is 1,600,000,000 francs, and they are rapidly increasing. The commercial legislation of France, which the Tariff, inserted under its appropriate head, (b) is more especially designed to illustrate, has undergone, during the past few years, several important modifications. The latest, and not the least advantageous to the tonnage interests of the United States, is a decree which allows foreign-built vessels to be naturalized, and to take the French flag with all its privileges, on the payment of 10 per cent, on their assessed value. (a) By "special" Is meant for interior consumption. (ft) Part II. 136 COMMEECIAL DIGESTS. This will create a new market, and an active demand for American vessels of 500 to 900 tons, and especially for steamers of 1,000 to 1,200 tons. A decree has also been promulgated admitting lumber, timber, naval stores, &c., free of duty for three years. Another extends to December 31, 1856, the decree of October 9, 1854, ex- empting from tonnage duties all vessels wholly laden with breadstuffs, flour, rice, &c.; and, if only partially laden therewith, an exemption of tonnage duties proportionate to the quantities of such cargoes. A decree has also been published, reviving an old decree of 1816, exempting from tonnage duties all vessels entering French ports for the purpose of exporting salt, on which article the export duty has been suppressed. Early in 1855 important movements were made in France, indicating an evident disposition in favor of the introduction and more general consumption of American salted provisions. From 1852 to 1854 the price of salt meats advanced at the extraordinary rate of 40 to 45 per cent. This state of the provision market immediately arrested the attention of the govern- ment, and various projects were adopted with a view, not only to prevent a further increase in prices, but also to reduce the rates already raised to so exorbitant a figure. The import duty on foreign cattle was lowered, viz.: from $10.23 to $0.14 per head, on beef; and every means was resorted to likely to encourage the use of salted beef amongst the general mass of the French people. To this end, the duty on salted meats has been successively reduced from $5 58 to $3 12, and again to $1 86 ; and in the month of September, 1855, it was further lowered to 9J cts. per 100 kilogrammes (220 lbs.) The effect of this reduction of duty has been to open the markets of France to American salted provisions; and the importation has increased, since that period, to such an extent as to render it not at all improbable that this article will, henceforth, become a leading staple of export from the United States to France. England is now almost exclusively supplied with salted meats by the United States and Ireland, the latter country exporting about an equal quantity with the former. The supply from the United States could be made always to equal the demand ; and if France should open her ports to American salted provisions, the consumption in that country would be almost exclusively supplied from the United States. The following brief summary of the trade in salted provisions in France during the past twenty years will exhibit the development which this article of American produce has made in that country. In 1834, the importation into France of salted meats reached only 3,521 quintaux, equal to about 111,844.58 lbs. After a lapse of twenty-one years — that is to say, in January, 1855, and during that single month— the importation reached as high as 3,120 quintaux, exceeding the importation of the whole year of 1852 by 203 quintaux, or 44,169 lbs. Prime pork is imported into France in barrels of 331^ lbs. gross, in brine of grey salt, and is usually sold at from $14 80 to $15 81 the barrel. For the English market such pork is exported from the United States in tierces of 304, 320, and 336 lbs., and in barrels of 200 lbs. American mess pork is too fat for the French market, and seldom finds a purchaser ; Ameri- can sugar-cured hams, however, always find a ready market and a brisk competition among purchasers. Shoulders, well cured and put up in hogsheads of 994 lbs., are equally in demand, and bring from $18 60 to $19 53 per 220 lbs. A similar feeling is manifested in France in behalf of her colonies. By decree of 10th March, 1855, the duty on salted meats has been reduced as follows: Into Martinique, Guadaloupe, Guiana, andEeunion, salted meats of whatever origin, or under whatever flag, pay 9^ cents per 220 pounds. This measure has attracted the attention of pork merchants of the United States, and already heavy freights of this article have been forwarded to those islands. Various other modifications have been decreed, but as they relate mostly to the tariff regula- FRANCE. 137 tions, they are merely alluded to here for the purpo33 of noting the tendency to a more liheral commercial policy which has, of late years, been ohservable in French legislation. Recent custom-house returns, published in France, show that tlie revenue to the state during the first six months of 1855, upon eighteen different articles, the duties on which have been lowered, was 34,181,574 francs, against 18,258,808 francs, derived from the same description of mer- chandise during the corresponding six months of 1854. Such figures supply the best argument in favor of free trade, especially in a country in which a prohibitive and protective system has so long prevailed. The annexed table will also illustrate the wise policy by which, it would appear^ that the commercial legislation of France is hence- forth to be shaped. Navigation between France and foreign countries — 1855, 1854, and 1853, compared. I'ORTa OR I'LACES. In tlic first 10 months of 1855 : Marseilles' Havre Bordeaux Nantes Rouen Dunkerque Boulogne Calais Cettc Other ports ENTRY OF VESSELS INTO FRANCE. No. of ships. 3,214 616 855 786 390 325 9 410 309 2,185 Tonnage. 409,564 137,889 99,053 87,688 28,632 35,380 1,107 45,445 33,031 169,570 No. of ships. 2,441 1,389 462 173 588 710 949 871 316 3,485 Tonnage. 431,262 383,228 103,876 27,061 61,175 67,578 152,807 114,704 21,251 357,957 No. of ships. 4,655 2,005 1,315 959 978 1,053 958 1,281 625 5,668 Tonnage. 840,826 521,117 202,929 114,749 89,807 102,958 153,914 160,149 54,282 527,537 DEPARTURE OF VESSELS FROIM FRANCE. FRENCH. No. Of ships. 1,527 311 391 167 152 135 4 402 206 1,605 Tonnage. No. of ships. 350,993 I 79,2.58 73,427 43,757 17,771 12,225 494 46,414 20,720 135,653 1,529 624 166 44 163 287 7U 633 Tonnage. No. of ships. 216,200 216,862 37,638 5,586 13,715 27,770 118,378 78,839 26,879 141,641 3,056 935 557 208 315 413 715 1,035 452 3,905 Tonnage. 597,193 296, 100 111,065 49,423 31,486 39,993 118,872 125,253 47,599 277,253 Total 10 months of 1855. . For 1854 " 1853 8,099 8,285 7,639 1,047,359 992,337 880,393 11,384 1,720,899 9,543 1,378,259 9,574 ' 1,385, 355 19,479 17,828 17,213 3,768,358 2,378,626 2,365,648 4,890 4,918 5,845 780,711 6,701 681,189 6,895 600,049 7,678 883,608 11,590 911,813 11,813 902,001 13,625 1,694,237 1,393,003 1,392,050 The preceding statement exhibits the navigation between France and foreign nations in 1855 as compared with 1854 and 1853. The following statement exhibits the exports of principal manufactured staples in 1855 compared with 1854: Table of exportations of the principal articles of merchandise from France, in 1855 and 1854, compared. Drinks : Wine, ordinary gallons . 18, 286, 000 deliqueur do.. 435,000 Brandy, pure alcohol do . . 2, 102, 000 Spirits of wine, pure alcohol. do.. 144,100 Machines and mechan'l apparatus . lbs . . 1,326,330,000 Modes, raimnery, &c do.. 1,962,000,000 Porcelain, fine and common do.. 7,300,000 Soap, (perfumed excepted) do . , 13, 000, 000 Silk: Raw do-- 1,808,560 l)j,.a do.. 90,180 Floss of all sorts do.. 441,000 Sugar, refined do.. 55,575,000 fly"] French and for- eign during the first 10 months of 1855. French and for- eign during the first 10 months of 1854. 27,286,500 344, 100 3,042,920 158,000 1,681,000,000 1,242,500,000 9,550,000 10,799,000 1,819,360 84,450 366,000 46,363,000 Articles. Cotton tissues : Unbleached and white lbs . Fainted and dyed do . Tulle do. Others do. Flax and hemp tissues : Linen do. Cambric and 1 awn do . others , do. Woolen tissues : Cloths, eassimeres & merinos. do. Others do . Silk tissues do . Gla^^ and crystal do . French and for- eign during the first 10 months of 1855. 9,393,300 6,903,900 123,040 4,776,900 4,387,700 105,180 304,400 5,700,320 6,676,600 6,573,880 48,117,300 French and for- eign during the first 10 months of 1854. 7,062,000 6,644,600 156,340 4,685,600 2,920,300 96,340 178,360 4,991,700 6,230,900 6,185,240 41,542,000 138 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. In addition to the numerous tables already given, the following statement is submitted, exhibiting the general direct trade between the United States and .France during a period of eleven successive years : Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with France, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. COMMERCE. - NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. TEARS. VALUE OF IMPORTS. Domestic pro- Foreign pro- Total. Entered the Cleared from Entered the Cleared from duce. duce. United States. the U. States. United States. the U. States. 1845- $12,330,171 $3,170,233 $15,500,404 $21,595,425 126,417 141,032 14,104 10,690 1846 13,601,650 1,528,925 15,130,575 23,911,332 113,554 134,679 13,714 12,116 1847 18,592,531 505, 087 19,097,618 24,900,841 139,672 160,657 29,535 23,107 1848 15,374,885 4, 444, 425 19,819,310 28,096,031 156,326 132,546 24,837 27,387 1849 12,523,759 2,986,824 15,610,583 24,363,783 102,017 127,888 33,917 30,388 1850 17,950,277 1,883,070 19,833,347 27,538,025 114,867 128,747 42,852 26,392 1851 25,302,085 2,950,061 28,252,146 31,715,553 142,842 163,707 41,154 33,160 1852 22,190,070 1,800,575 23,990,645 25,890,266 193,242 214,763 46,768 17,602 1853 25,120,806 1,450,978 26,571,784 33,455,942 189,916 201,181 37,966 14,888 1854 30,968,252 1,179,729 32,147,981 35,781,393 233, 148 230,052 31,833 18,091 1855 31,623,898 1,254,230 32,878,128 31,609,131 199,695 266,823 28,765 16,063 FRENCH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. FEENCH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. I. FRENCH WEST INDIES. The Frencli colonial possessions in the West Indies formerly comprised a domain of great extent and value, agriculturally and commercially. The war consequent upon the great revo- lution in France terminated in an almost total destruction of her power in the New World. Hayti was then wrested from her. Her necessities compelled her to dispose of Louisiana. At the close of the war in 1815, the naval power of Great Britain had enahled her to seize every one of the French islands, and drive the fleets of France from the seas. By the treaty of peace consummated in 1814, and confirmed in 1815, England released to her some of the cap- tured islands. Her possessions in that quarter now consist of Martinique, Guadaloupe and adjacent islands, and the north side of St. Martin. The intercourse hetween the United States and the French islands (San Domingo heing then included) was originally regulated hy an arret of the French government, dated the 30th of August, 1784. American vessels of at least sixty tons were admitted into certain ports in these islands, laden with lumher of all kinds, dye-woods, live stock, salt beef, salt fish, rice, rawhides, peltiy, rosin, pitch, and tar, which they exchanged for rum and molasses, and goods of French manufacture, paying thereon the local duties and one per cent, ad valorem on all imports and exports. A further duty of three livres was imposed on every hundredweight of salt beef and fish, to form a fund for premiums to he given for fish from the French fisheries. The colonial legislatures were authorized, in times of scarcity, to suspend this law. Prior to the French revolution^ the policy of France was in contrast with that of England. That of England was to monopolize the carriage of the articles exchanged ; that of France to monopolize the articles themselves. The former was willing that the United States should have sugar and coffee, pro- vided they were carried in British bottoms ; the latter was willing that the United States should supply her sugar and coffee plantations with certain articles she was unahle to furnish herself, but would not allow them to receive, in return, the most valuable productions of the colonies. They were reserved for consumption in the mother country, and to augment the national wealth. Under these regulations, the United States were prompt in availing themselves of the advantages of the carrying trade to and from the French islands. In 1786, our exports, domestic and foreign, to the French West Indies, were of the value of 13,263,000 livres; and our imports, from thence, of the value of 7,263,000 livres ; (a) and the American vessels engaged in the trade had an aggregate of 5,095 tons burden. Upon the declaration of war against Great Britain, in 1793^, France opened a free trade with all her colo- nies. She offered the United States the monopoly of this trade, on condition of a guaranty of her possessions, which was wisely declined. Our trade with the islands, during the war, was (a) The livre was a coin of France prior to 1191 ; 81 livres being equal to 80 francs. 142 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, nevertheless much augmented. Our proximity enabled us to seize the advantages in advance of other countries. The following table exhibits the imports from and exports to the French West Indies for the years designated : Years. Jmpoi'ts. Exports. 1795 $15,751,758 15,743,774 14,030,337 15,380,091 2,022,929 9,385,111 13,593,255 $4,954,952 8,408,946 8,565,053 5,344,690 2,776,694 5,123,433 7,147,972 1796 1797 1798 1799 - 1800 1801 . . The exports of our domestic produce, during the years 1804, 1805, 1806, and 1807, were of the average value of $2,800,000, and of foreign produce between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000. Our imports, during the same period, were of much greater value; but the principal part of them were reshipped to France and other countries. About the latter part of the year 1807, the English had become possessed of nearly all the French islands, and they were not restored to France until 1814; and then with the loss of the most important one — St. Domingo. Its loss greatly reduced the amount of commerce of those islands with the United States, as is exhibited by the subjoined statement of imports and exports from 1821 to 1833: Years. Imports. Exports. Years. Imports. Exports. 1821 $900,619 969,509 938,613 884,084 848,968 973,270 921,330 $896,435 961,002 867,595 811,732 1,011,956 956,174 1,040,853 1828 $896,651 777,992 518,687 671,842 578,857 511,242 $1,024,771 1,072,407 805,769 717,877 624,975 613,719 i 1822 1829 1823.- 1830 1824. 1831 1825--. 1832 1826 1827 1833.. .. The conditions of our commercial intercourse with the French West Indies were again changed by a royal ordinance bearing date the 5th February, 1826, and an act of Congress bearing date the 9th May, 1828. By the former, it is ordained that, after the 1st July following, all vessels, either foreign or national, may import into Guadaloupe and Martinique certain articles of merchandise, specified in the tables accompanying the ordinance, on paying the duties therein recjuired, without regard to their flags. This ordinance, also, annuls all then existing tariffs. The act of Congress admits all French vessels "coming directly from the islands of Martinique and Guadaloupe, and laden with articles the growth or manufacture of either of ^'aid islands, and which are permitted to be exported therefrom in American vessels," into the ports of the United States, on payment of no higher duties on tonnage or on cargoes than are imposed on American vessels, and on cargoes imported in American vessels. The French ordinance exempts foreign vessels, also, importing the articles thus authorized, from any other duties or tonnage, or any port charges, but those to which the vessels of France are subjected. The importation of other articles than those specified by the ordinance, by foreign vessels, is prohibited; and articles allowed to be imported can only be re-exported from one colony to another by French vessels. The imports and exports under these regulations have already been given up to the FRENCH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 143 year 1833. The following table exhibits them from the year 1844 up to the close of the year 1855, inclusive, embracing a period of twelve years: Years. Imports from French West Indies. Exports to French West Indies. Years. Imports from French West Indies. Exports to French West Indies. 1844 S374,695 415,032 348,236 151,366 • 127,039 71,469 $617,546 564,103 635,621 603, 164 489,924 194,998 1850- - 1851- $75, 684 22,909 46,287 52,304 161,085 44, 434 8287,668 310,281 455, 444 398,259 612,027 409,701 1845.- 1846- 1852-- -- 1847 1853- 1848 1854 --. 1849 1855 On the 8th of December, 1849, the tariff of 1826 was somewhat modified by slightly enlarging the imports; but the equal conditions upon which national and foreign vessels were placed in respect of tonnage and port charges were not disturbed. The prospects of an increase of our trade with the French West India possessions, and the motives to impel us to strive to obtain it, will be found in a brief summary of their natural resources and the condition of their population. The island of Guadaloupe lies between 15° 58' and 16° 13' north latitude, twenty miles north of Dominica. Its dependencies are Marie-galante, La Desirade, Les Saintes, and a portion of St. Martin. The aggregate area of the whole of them is 309 square miles, and the populations of all 135,000. The central ridge of G-uadaloupe is a chain of volcanic mountains 3,000 feet high. From its bases a multitude ol rivulets descend, watering the low lands to the sea. The Saintes are three small islands situated between G-uadaloupe and Marie-galante ; Desirade is 10 miles long and 5 miles broad. Marie-galante approximates to a circle, and is 14 miles in diameter. The soil of G-uadaloupe is light and easy of tillage. The climate is excessively hot, "but much tempered by the sea-breeze. About 86 inches of rain falls during the year. About one-half its surface is planted in sugar-cane. The improvement in machinery has added much to its productive powers. The live stock consists of black cattle, sheep, and mules. Guinea grass is the only forage grown. The annual value of all the produce exported averages 25,000,000 francs, and consists, chiefly, of raw sugars, rum, and molasses, with some coffee, dye-woods, cotton, copper, &c. Nearly all these exports go to France. The imports consist of salt meats and fish; flour, olive oil, cotton, linen, and silk fabrics; wine, perfumery, &c.: the annual value of which equals that of the exports. About 500 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 50,000 tons, enter and depart during the year. Martinique is situated between latitude 14° 23' and 14° 52' north. It is about 28 miles long, and 10 in average breadth, with an area of 290 square miles, and a population of 15,000. Mountains occupy its centre, sloping into plains towards the sea-shore. About one-third of the island is level land, and cultivation ascends 1,500 feet along the mountain-sides. The staple product is sugar ; its other products are like those of Guadaloupe. The annual value of its exports is a little under 20,000,000 francs, and the imports are of a like -value. About 750 vessels, French and foreign, are engaged in the trade. Both these islands are divided into arrondissements, and have a governor and legislative council, and judicial tribunals. Slavery was abolished in all the French colonies some years since. The larger portion of their population is black. 144 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. II. FEENCH GUIANA, OE CAYENNE. A DECREE of the French government, issued in 1822, and continued by a decree of the gover- nor of the colony dated the 23d December, 1833, gives an advantage to Frencla goods shipped directly from French ports in French vessels, and to French goods and products of French colonies brought in French vessels, over the foreign trade, in the rate of duties they impose. The products of the colony carried to France, in French vessels, have also an advantage over pro- ducts carried to other countries in foreign vessels. The only duties paid by French or foreign vessels remaining in port over seventy-two hours, without putting out or taking in any cargo, are pilotage and fees to the custom-house guards. Cayenne is the most easterly of the three colonies. It extends along the coast from the river Maroni to the Ozapob, the boundary of Brazil. It lies between 2° and 6° north latitude. Its length, from north to south, is 250 miles, and the breadth varies from 100 to 190 miles, com- prising an area of 2*7,560 square miles, and containing a population of 5,056 whites, and 16,592 blacks. The coast is an alluvial tract of great fertility ;, and the uplands are also very fertile. There are upwards of twenty rivers of tolerable size, which are navigable from 30 to 60 miles, for small craft. About one-eighth part of the surface is occupied; the remainder is left to Indians and wild beasts. The articles cultivated are the sugar-cane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, cloves, annatto, pepper, cinnamon, nutmegs, corn, &c. There are about 40 large establish- ments for the manufacture of sugar, and about 50 sugar-mills, most of which are worked by steam. The imports are chiefly from France, being about 2,6*75,000 francs in value. The im- ports from other countries amount to about 550,000 francs. The exports are of the value of 3,128,000 francs, and are nearly all shipped to France. About forty French vessels, of the aggregate burden of '7,000 tons, usually enter, and about the same number clear from Guiana every year. Some twenty or thirty foreign vessels enter and depart each year. These statistics are not exact, but, probably, approximate nearly enough for practical legislation in reference to them. III. COESICA This island is now a department of France. Its commerce is regulated by a decree dated the 16th of December, 1815, sanctioned by a royal ordinance of the 18th of November, 1816. The laws of the 21st of April, 1818, and the 17th of May, 1826, regulated the details. The ordi- nance of 1816 authorized the importation on the French continent of certain articles, free of duty ; and the laws of 1818 and 1826 extended the privilege to all the products of the soil. These regulations remained in force until 1835, when a more liberal policy was adopted. This was forced upon the government by the prevalence and extent of the contraband trade. The new system makes no change in the duties, port charges, &c., on foreign shipping, but only provides a more efficient police. It allows to Corsica an admission of her products in certain French ports, and grants to her manufactures, previously excluded, the same privilege. Foreign merchandise is allowed to be carried to Corsica, after paying the duties imposed by the general tariff in some French port. Other small charges are made on foreign goods, by the authorities of the island. Corsica lies between 41° 2*7' and 43° 1' north latitude. Its southern extremity is ten miles north of Sardinia. Landed property has been, for ages, equally divided among the children, and, consequently, is even more minutely sub-divided than in France. Tropical fruits are abun- dant. The corn grown does not supply the demand. There is an immense product of chestnuts and honey. The wealth of the agriculturist is chiefly in his cattle. There is a full supply of horses, oxen, mules, and asses. Hogs are plentiful. There are about 400,000 head of sheep. FRENCH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 145 The fisheries are of great value. They have only manufactures of coarse woolens, a few tanneries and potteries, and two or three of glass and soap. The exports consist of timber, fire-wood, wines, dried fruits, oil, silk, leather, and fish, and these in inconsiderable quantities. The imports from France amount annually to about $1,000,000; from all other places to little or nothing. IV. ALGEEIA. The duties and port charges for the north of Africa are regulated by the royal ordinance of 11th November, 1835. It restricts the trade between France and Algeria to French vessels, (a) and exempts them from port charges. Foreign vessels, laden or in ballast, pay on entering the port STg cents per ton. A duty of 9yVu cents is levied upon the permit to load or discharge cargoes, and on the passport. There is no fee for discharge, clearance, or certificate. On the production of the custom-house certificate, the products of foreign countries, passing through French ports, are freely admitted. When products of foreign countries are carried directly to Algeria, they pay certain specified duties. There is an export duty upon every thing shipped to foreign ports, except grain and flour, equivalent to the usual French export duties. Exports of articles not allowed to be exported from France pay 15 per cent, ad valorem. There are entrepots, where foreign goods may be warehoused, and taken for re-exportation to France, or any other entrepot, free of duty. There are also quarantine fees required to be paid. Algeria comprises ancient Numidia, and a strip of country south of the Atlas, and extends eastward along the Mediterranean, from Morocco, about 600 miles. It is intersected much by spurs of the Atlas chain. There are but few valleys of any size. The largest is 50 by 20 miles. Some of these valleys have fine soil. There are a number of rivers, some of which are naviga- ble for small craft. Salt and iron are everywhere abundant. Precious stones and metals are found in some of the streams. The mountains are shrouded in deep forests. The northern portions are assimilated in productions to southern EuroiJe. South of tlie Atlas, dates and palms are plentiful. The country abounds in lions, panthers, hyenas, bears, leopards, wolves, and wild cats. Coral is abundant on the coast. The population of Algeria is composed of nine distinct races, viz: the Berbers, who consti- tute about one-half; the Mozabs ; the Moors ; the Arabs ; the Negroes ; the Jews ; the Turks ; the Koolouglis; and the European, who are chiefly French. Agriculture is little attended to, and nearly exclusively by the Arabs. Their manufactures exhibit little skill. The external commerce is in the hands of the Jews. The articles principally manufactured are silks, coarse linens, saddles, carpets, iron implements, and pottery. The coral fisheries are open to foreign- ers, who pay a rent for them. There were in 1836, 245 boats engaged in this fishery, which paid a revenue to the French of about $50,000. The value of the coral exported in 183Y was about $350,000. The soil is so fertile that it has famished a chief part of the exports, in spite of the negligence and indolence of the cultivators. The general export trade consists of corals, hides, wool, wax, oil, leather, gums, ostrich feathers, dates, and some minerals. The importations are of cotton, woolen, silk, and linen stuffs, wines, fruits, sugar, coffee, hardware, cutlery, &c. The value of the imports is about $12,000,000, and of the exports about $1,000,000. These amounts are based upon data furnished up to 1838, and estimated therefrom. Algeria is governed by the French, and the civil is subordinated to the military power. (a) Decrees have recently been published — of a limited duration, however— granting to foreign vessels the priyilejjc of the carrying trade between Algeria and France, in cereals, breadstuffs, &c. [ 19 ] 146 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. V. SENEGAL AND DEPENDENCIES. GoEEB is the only port which foreign vessels are permitted to enter. Vessels of the United States pay a duty of I8| cents per ton. (a) They are upon an equal footing with those of France in respect to navigation duties. Up to 1831, the exportation of gum Senegal was limited to France. By a royal ordinance of that year, it is permitted to he exported to all countries fj'om the port of Goree only. The name Senegal is derived from the great river of that name, and includes several small French colonies, emhi'acing a number of little islands, and a .strip of tlie main land between the Seneo-al and Gambia rivers. It is divided into a northern and a southern arrondissement. The total native population of these settlements amounted in 1836 to upwards of 18,000. They are all Mohammedan and blacks. The soil of the islands is very poor. The main land, not near the shore, is fertile, and covered with forests. The climate is sultry, and extremely unhealthy. The rainy season lasts from June to October, and breeds fatal diseases. Gold is found near the sources of the Senegal, but attempts to form settlements there have proved abor- tive. Salt is quite abundant. The vegetable products are varied and luxuriant. There may be found the gigantic palm, the gum, mimosas, ebony, cotton, indigo, coffee, annatto, olives, hemp, cassia, sweet jiotatoes, millet, maize, &c. The wild animals are the elephant, lion, hypopota- mus, boar, buffalo, tiger-cat, deer, and an immense variety of birds. Oxen, goats, mules, horses, and asses are used for domestic purposes, and sheep and hogs are bred. The articles of export are raw hides, wax, elephant teeth, gum Senegal, cabinet woods, and gold. The value of the exports, including goods re-exported, is about $1,300,000; and the value of the imports is about §2,3.30,000. The imports are chiefly linen and cotton goods, ready-made clothing, brandy^ lic|uors, wines, and some provisions. \'I. ISLE OF BOUEBON. Merchandise from Europe, or any country facing the Mediterranean, is inadmissible to the established entrepot of this island, unless directly imported from French entrepots, or the place of production; but merchandise of any other origin may be imported under any flag. This island is situated in the Indian ocean, between latitude 20° 50' and 21° 24' south, 440 miles east of Madagascar. It is of an oval shape, greatest length 40 miles, greatest breadth 27 miles. Population about 109,000. Area 900 square miles. It is intersected by two moun- tain ridges, with volcanoes. There are many small rivers, but none navigable. The valleys of any considerable size are not numerous. It has no safe harbor. The climate is healthy and pleasant. From December to May is the hot and rainy season. The soil is very fertile. In 1836 the surface was distributed into about 65 parts of cultivated land, 14 parts of p)asturage, 55 parts of wood, and 97 parts of waste lands. The cultivated parts encircle the island, and press up the sides of the interior mountains. The articles produced are the sugar-cane, coffee, cloves, cocoa, tobacco, and grain; of these, the sugar-cane, grain, and coffee are most largely produced. The fisheries are excellent. They employ about five Imndred persons. The fish taken sell ill the island for about §80,000 per annum. In 1848 the population consisted of 108,000 souls. They have numerous brick and lime kilns, tanneries, forges, foundries, tinware factories, breweries, and manufactures of palm-leaf bagging. The principal articles of export are raw sugar^ coffee, cloves, dye-woods, cabinet wood, and saltpetre. The staples are enumerated in the order of their importance, and are of the annual (a) By decree of January 6, 1855, foreign vessels visiting Gore'e are subject to a duty of 50 centimes per ton, about one- half of a franc, or 9.3 ceuts. FRENCH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 147 value of about $5,000,000. The chief imports are rice, wheat, oil, wines, cattle, timber, salt, glass, porcelain, and cottons and other manufactured goods. The total value of the imports is about 12,800,000. VII. PONDIOHEKRY. The law of the lYth May, 1826, provides that the distinction between the French and foreign factories in India shall be suppressed in the tariff, and that merchandise from any of these settlements {teak specially excepted) shall pay no other duties than are imposed on the same articles brought from the French settlements. The name of Pondicherry is here made to include all the French possessions in India, because it is the most considerable of them. It is situated on the Coromandel coast of Hindostan, in latitude 11° 57' north. Its population in 1836 was 52,127, of whom 696 were Europeans. The French possessions in India comprise also Chandarnagore, Karikal, in the Carnatic; Mahe, in Malabar ; Yanaon, in Orissa ; with the territory attached to each. These have a total population of 166,000, of whom 1,000 are whites. The products are rice, grain, cocoa-nuts, betel, indigo, tobacco, and cotton. The annual value of the imports is about $373,000, and of the exports about $1,200,000. The trade, nearly all being at Pondicherry^ is with tlie Coromandel coast. Isle of Bourbon, the Mauritius, and Senegal. Pondicherry would have been a commercial point of great magnitude, but for the changes of ownership, occasioned by the frequent wars of Franco and England. VIII. ST. PIEERE AND MIQUELON Akb French fisheries, near the coast of Newfoundland, and the commercial intercourse with them is conducted by French vessels only. They have, however, no trade of value, (a) FEENCH FISHERIES. BOUNTIES TO MEN AND SHIPS EMPLOYED IN THE FRENCH FISHERIES. High bounties have, since the year 1767, been paid to those owning ships, and to men em- ployed in the French fisheries. In pursuance of ordinances dated the 24th June, and 9th and 12th July, 1851, the following bounties were granted for the encouragement of the French fisheries. They came into operation on the 1st January, 1852, and are to remain in force until the 30th June, 1861, COD FISHERY. Premiums for chartering and equijiping vessels. Francs. For every man engaged in the fisheries, having drying or curing grounds, whether on the coasts of Newfoundland, Saint Pierre or Miquelon, or upon the great Newfound- land bank 50 (a) French vessels, laden with the produce of St. Pierre or Miquelon, are admitted into the ports of the United States on the same terms, as to duties and tonnage, as United States vessels. — (Laws, May 9, 1828 ; March 3, 1848 ; and President's proclamation, April 20, 1847.) 148 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Francs. For every man engaged in the fisheries, not having drying or curing grounds, in the Ice- landic seas 50 For every man engaged in the fisheries, not having drying or curing grounds, on the great Newfoundland bank 30 For every man engaged in the fisheries on the Dogger bank 15 Bounties on the jji'odicce of the fisheries. 1st. On the importation into tlie French colonies, whether in America or on the other side of the Cajie of Good Hope, of every r^uintal of dried cod-fish, the produce of the French fisheries on the coasts of Newfoundland, Saint Pierre or Miquelon, or which may be taken from entrepots in France 20 2d, On the importation into the above colonies, of every quintal of dried cod-fish, the pro- duce of the French fisheries, if the fish shall be exported from French ports with- out having been there warehoused 16 3d. On every qiiintal of dried cod-fish, the produce of the French fisheries, and imported direct from the same or from French entrepots, into such foreign Mediterranean ports (except those of Sardinia and Algeria) in which a French consul may reside 16 4th. On every quintal of dried cod-fish, the produce of the French fisheries, forwarded direct either from those fisheries or from French ports, and imported into Sardinia and Algerian ports 12 5th. For every quintal of cod-sounds that the fishing-vessels may bring into France, the produce of their fishery 20 Vessels departing for the fisheries with drying grounds, whether on the coasts of Newfound- land, Saint Pierre, Miquelon, or the great bank of Newfoundland, shall have a crew whose minimum is to be fixed by a roj'al ordinance. WHALE-FISHERY. The bounties granted in pursuance of the laws of 24tli June, and 9th and 12th July, 1851, for the encouragement of the whale-fisheries, shall be fixed as follows, to date from the 1st Jan- uary, 1852, and to continue in force until the 30th Jime, 1861: Bou7ities on the departure of vessels. Francs. For every ton of shipj^ing outward bound, with crews composed entirely of French sailors 70 And for vessels with crews composed partly of French and foreign sailors, agreeably to the provision that the foreigners exceed not one-third either of the officers or crew... 48 Bounties on the return of vessels. On each ton of shipjjing where the crew is composed entirely of French sailors 50 On each ton of shipping with a mixed crew 24.5 Under the conditions that the vessels shall have fished either beyond Cape Horn or to the east of the Cape of G-ood Hope, as far as 62° of latitude, and shall have been out at least sixteen months. In addition to tlie above, there shall be allowed to vcf^sels especially manned for the sperm- whale (cachelot) fishery, in the Pacific ocean, after they have been at sea for the space of at least thirty months, and during which time they may have reached as far as 28° of north lati- tude, an additional bounty of 15 francs upon the sperm oil, &c., which they shall bring home. The bounty on the produce will only be accorded for an account not exceeding 600 tons. FRENCH COLONIAL POSSESSIONS. 149 FEENCH COLONIAL TARIFFS. The navigation between France and her colonies is confined to French vessels measuring not less than 40 tons, in which the oiScers, and at least three-fourths of the crew, are French. FRENCH GUIANA (cATENNE). The tariff of this colony is established by decrees of the local authority, sanctioned by the metropolitan government. Duties on imports. French merchandise, (with the exception of that admitted free,) imported direct from ports of France or her colonies in French bottoms, pays 2 per cent, ad valorem. Foreign merchandise (with the exception of that admitted free) permitted to be imported, both under French and foreign flags, viz: Beef, salted ; (a) butter ; codfish, green, dried and salted ; fish, all salted ; fish-oil ; wheat flour, rye flour and corn-meal ; lard ; vegetables, fresh and dry ; lime, slaked ; salt pork ; rice ; salt ; staves ; stone-coal ; tallow and tallow-candles ; tobacco, in leaves ; whalebone and whale-oil ; wood and pitch-pine, pay 5 per cent, ad valorem. All articles not enumerated above 10 " " The following articles are prohibited importation for consumption, and are only admitted in entrepot (entrepot fictif).(h) From, French colonies in French vessels. Cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, coffee; cotton, raw; indigo and prepared roucou; all spirituous liquors, with the exception of brandy, French and Martinique cordials ; Kirschenwasser and gin ; nutmegs, pepper; sugar, raw and whitened, and wool. From foreign countries and in foreign vessels. Clothes, ready made, comprising hats and all articles for the feet; cotton, spun; gunpowder; sugar, refined ; tissues of cotton, silk, wool, and hemp. The following articles are admitted free of duty, without reference to their source, under all flags: Animals, living ; agricultural instruments imported for trial ; machines and similar articles necessary for colonial industry ; specimens of natural history ; precious metals in bullion and coin; quick-lime. By French vessels arriving direct from France. Utensils and implements of hvrsbandry, especially shovels, hoes, hatchets, ploughs, pruning- hooks and harrows ; salt beef; boilers for sugar factories ; cod-fish and other salted fish ; fiour and all other farinaceous provisions; vegetables, fresh and dry; salt pork and red herrings. Duties on exports. All products of the colony (except those which are free) exported to France or to French colo- nies, in French vessels | per cent, ad valorem. The same exported to foreign countries in French vessels 2 " " (a) By a late decree, salted provisions under all flags and from all conntries pay 50 centimes per 100 kilogrammes. (6) "Entrepot Jidif," a private storehouse, where goods are under the sole supervision of the depositor. 150 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Tlie following products of the colony are subject, on exportation, to the following additional duty, called (contribution fonciere) " ground tax:" Denomination of merchandise. Number, weight, or measure. In national vessels. In foreign vessels. Annatto or roticou 100 kilogrammes or 220 lbs - __ do $0 55| 2 46| m 9A 1 9A 12A $0 55| m 90A H 1 02 64| 9A 4 9A 24 do stalks do Coffee do Cotton do do Ox-hides Each TafEa, (rum) • 1,000 litres=264 gallons i.. 220 pounds Sugar, raw or wliitened Foreign prohibited goods having been seized and re-exjjorted 2 per cent, ad valorem. Foreign prohibited merchandise on leaving the " entrepot Jid if " ... |- of 1 " " The following articles are exempt from all exportation duties, whether for France or foreign countries : Cinnamon; eggs, fresh; ginger-root, indigo, nutmegs, pepper, pimento, simarouba, speci- mens of natural history, turmeric, turtles, vanilla, and wood. Charges for nationalizing foreign vessels. For a vessel of 100 tons and under |11 23.5 " " 101 to 200 tons 13 88.8 " " 201 to 300 tons 16 66.6 " " over 300 for each additional 100 tons 2 80.8 Clearance duties. For the long course (foreign voyage) per vessel |3 YO.SS For the great and small coasting trade 2 80.8 Inscription duty (registration fee) for changing the proprietorship 1 11.6 Filoi dues. If the vessel anchors in the roads or in the harbor : For a vessel under 50 tons, great and small coasting trade !^5 55 " 50 to 99 tons, '' 100 to 149 tons, " 150 to 199 tons, " 200 to 299 tons, " 300 to 399 tons, " 400 tons and upwards, for each additional 100 tons .... If the vessel casts anchor in the roads : 5 Values. United States British Spanish Prussian .... Danish i- casks. 2,170 125 680 469 200 Bhk. 500 100 340 BOXRB. 55,524 21,885 10,475 411 Casks. 1,259 441 FraiU. 1,081 300 Boxes. 540 134 166 Boxes. 1,998 598 176 Tom. 575 245 294 175 66 376 Kegs. 1,264 710 Cases. 16 46 Bundles. 1,060 Bundles. 789 237 150 391 176 Bales. 758 Kegs. 850 ^cask. 472 275 150 .■5-337, .WS 73,767 57,283 30,037 8,733 23,274 234 370 150 300 34 32 Total 3,644 940 88,295 1,700 1,381 840 2,772 1,631 2,006 96 1,060 1,743 1.512 1,150 897 420,653 The above table gives the United States vessels a little more than one-half of the total amount ; but there are other ports from which the entire carrying trade to the United States is confined to foreign flags. The following statement will furnish an example: Statement of exports to the United States from the port of Almeria for the half year ending July 1, 1854. Nationality. No. of vessels. Nature of cargo. Value. Dutch i 1 5 3 1 Lead S17,892 2,050 7,237 7,005 1,845 ..do ..do ..do Spanish Hanoverian Total U 8,926 quintals-. 36,029 In the port of Alicante, 256 vessels of all nations, carrying a tonnage of 40,393, arrived in 1852 ; of which there were but six, with a tonnage of 3,175, from the United States. The imports from the United States to Spain consist chiefly of staves, hogsheads, and other articles of wood manufacture. The port duties and charges of entering and clearing at the port of Malaga are, on a vessel of 200 tons, (about the average of American vessels trading to Spanish ports,) Spanish and privileged flags 1,'790 reals =: §89 50 Not privileged flags 3,266 " 163 30 Staves (the principal article of import from the United States) are subject, in addition to the tariff rates, to a "landing duty," payable in staves. BAKCELONA. Number of vessels entered at Barcelona in 1850 320 Tonnage 60,595 Number of vessels entered in 1852 357 Tonnage 78,267 164 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Of these, there was not a single American vessel. Indeed — and this remark applies to Spain generally — while the navigation and commerce of that country are perceptihly increasing, owing to the continuance of the public peace, to the affluence of money from South America, and the large investments of wealthy Cuhan merchants and of other cajDitalists, and to the improved condition of the manufactures at Barcelona and in the other manufacturing districts, the direct trade between the United States and Spain is on the decline, and must continue so until the heavy differential and discriminating duties, now recognised hy the Spanish tariff of customs-duties, are either materially modified or altogether abolished. DENIA. This port comes under the 4th class, (see infra, "New Organization of Ports,") and no direct import trade is allowed. The exports, however, from Denia to the United States are increasing each year; they consist j)rincipally of raisins, almonds, wines, wool, silk, &c. ; and there is scarcely a doubt that this export trade to the United States would be largely augmented if the duties on such articles as are above specified, on their importation into this country, were reduced. The number of vessels arrived and cleared at the port of Denia in 1852 was 122. Tonnage 10,390. Cargoes inward — ballast outward. Eaisins, wines, almonds, mats, oranges, liquorice- root, and sundries, valued at .$820,60'!, of which amount $13,600 only reached the United States in American bottoms. NEW OKG-ANIZATIOJT OF POETS. By royal decree of February 28, 1854, a new organization is made of the customs service by land and sea, the principal features of which it may be interesting to the mercantile interests of the United States to have noted. As regards the sea, it divides the service into four classes. The first class comprises importation, exportation, re-exportation, coasting-trade, and all other commercial operations in the ports of Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilboa, Cadiz, Carthagena, Palma de Majorca, San Sebastian, Santander, Seville, Tarragona, and Vigo. In the second class, comprising the ports of Carril, Palomas, and Kivadeo, the importation of cotton tissues is not to be permitted. In the ports of the third class, comprising those of seventeen provinces, only certain specified articles, principally raw materials, are to be imported and exported ; and in those of the fourth class, comprising sixteen provinces and the Balearic Isles, only coasting- trade operations and exports are to be allowed. As regards the land, it is divided into three classes, and the regulations are framed solely with a view to prevent smuggling. They do not, however, possess sufficient interest for insertion here at length. ROYAL ORDER. By a royal order of January 3, 1852, it was decreed that all foreign vessels, belonging to countries where Spanish vessels are placed on the same footing as national, with respect to port dues and charges, should enjoy a like privilege in the ports of Spain and adjacent islands; but, practically, this decree was not permitted to apply to vessels of the United States, and they con- tinued subject to double the amount of such dues and charges paid by other foreign and the national vessels. The reason for the non-fulfilment of this provision, as respects this country, was the refusal of the government of the United States to receive vessels in its ports on equal terms from Cuba and Porto Eico ; and the government of Spain refused to accede to such condition, as it desired to secure this benefit for its marine, from wheresoever her vessels might proceed. On the 16th of June, 1854, however, the American minister at Madrid was officially informed by the Spanish minister of state that her Majesty the Queen had been pleased to SPAIN. 165 command that American vessels "be considered in the Peninsula and adjacent islands like national ones, as regards the duties of port and navigation, in reciprocity for what is practised with the Spanish vessels proceeding from the same places in the United States, and with refer- ence to the same duties." The official notification added, that corresponding orders had heen given, "under date of the 14th inst., to the general direction of custom-houses and tariffs," to carry into effect the dispositions of this order. The effect of the above-recited royal order will be to place American shipping on an equality, as respects the duties of port and navigation, with national and privileged vessels, and thus reciprocate the terms on which Spanish vessels have been admitted into the ports of the United States since 1852. Should this be followed up by a liberal modification, or an entire abolition, of the enormous discriminating duties levied on foreign imports in the ports of Spain, the commercial intercourse between the two countries would soon become a source of industrial development and national prosperity, equally beneficial and profitable to each. The quarantine regulations of Spain have always been complicated and vexatious. They were simplified, however, by a sanitary tariff, promulgated December, 1855, a translation of which is subjoined : TAKIFF OF SANITARY DUTIES EXACTED IN THE PORTS AND LAZARETTOS OF SPAIN. Entrance duties. — Coasting vessels of more than twenty tons burden will pay one-quarter of a real per ton for the round voyage. Vessels proceeding from the ports of the Mediterranean and other ports of Europe, including the coast of Africa to the parallel of the Canary Islands, will pay one-half of a real per ton for the round voyage. Vessels from other places will pay one real per ton each voyage. Quarantine duties. — Vessels of every class will pay one-quarter of a real per ton each day they are subject to quarantine, whether in actual lazarettos or undergoing observation. Lazaretto duties. — The fee for each person in the lazaretto will be fou^ reals per diem. Merchandise subject to purification, will pay as follows : The clothing and baggage of each of the crew 5 reals. Tbe clothing and baggage of each passenger 10 Hides of cows, per 100 6 Fine skins 6 Groat, sheep, lamb skins, and the skins of other small animals, per 100 2 Feathers, goats' hair, soft hair, wool, cotton, hemp, and flax, per quintal.... 1 Large live animals, such as horses and mules, each 8 Small animals, each 4 Certificates of health shall be made out, and legally attested, free of charge. Regidations. Vessels in quarantine defray all the expenses attending the discharge of merchandise, its transfer to the sheds and work-houses, and its purification. They, in like manner, pay, as an additional duty, the expenses attending the application of hygeine measures, which must be employed before the departure or arrival of the embarcations, as the regulations dispose, or as the condition of the vessel may require. During all the incidents of quarantine, every possible facility is to be afforded to vessels, no expense being permitted without the knowledge or consent of the captain, agent, or consignee. 166 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. All persons who perform quarantine in the lazarettos defray all the necessary expenses, inasmuch as the four reals per diem which is exacted from each is only the fee for residence. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States luith Spain, including the Canaries and Philippine Islands, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Years. VALUE OF IMPORTS. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Total. Entered the (Jnited States. Cleared from United States. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. 1845... $452,091 864,673 $516,764 81,759 877 31,498 14, 134 10,774 2,115 1846... 541,903 61,843 603,746 1,939,740 27,981 16,242 6,422 3,198 1847... 2,006,716 95,938 2,102,654 1,847,179 37, 133 20,896 14, 079 17,500 1848... 2,386,141 21, 647 2,407,788 2,428,539 43,677 25,276 10,849 29,637 1849... 1,944,202 60,629 2,004,831 2,485,210 38,790 27,584 11,997 30,542 1850... 3,899,362 131,928 4,031,290 3,504,484 42,797 27,385 30,064 48,848 1851... 5,555,128 151,186 5,706,314 3,444,979 35,283 40,151 28,432 61,400 1852... 3,445,080 152,417 3,597,497 3,360,332 37,908 28,974 22,402 53,532 1853... 4,642,740 51,848 4,694,588 4,643,629 47,369 40,012 24, 272 47,597 1854... 4,650,181 78,494 4,728,675 5,122,458 45,904 38,924 16,050 41,231 1855... 4,702,252 441,612 5,143,864 5,366,108 61,690 55,709 36,687 42,303 A summary of the amount of national tonnage, and of the number of efficient seamen engaged in the commerce and naval service of Spain, as officially stated, for the year 1853. ,\ E s 1 ^ * . Districta. "1 g S i s IJ i s 11 > s Z 2 a £ a. 2 bo .s •1 s > s *§ CI 1^ a s ■s =1 s o CQ > Cadiz 2 076 13,001 4 25 62 313 39 18 28 389 10 12 5 9 20 13 62 79 23 Ferrol 3,202 22, 116 11 74 342 442 Carthagena - . _ - 7,774 20, 897 15 118 380 1 193 TTavana 696 2,052 7 30 99 295 93 17,772 8 16 84 1,244 Total 13,841 75,838 45 263 967 3,487 484 46 177 In this resumen the seamen, tonnage, &c., of the province of Porto Eico are omitted ; and there are some omissions also in the provinces of Vascongados, Philippines, &c. The marine service of Spain in 1855 consisted of four vessels of the line, nine frigates, eight corvettes, fifteen brigs of the first, and four of the second class; five schooners, six sloops, forty steamers, and three hundred and nineteen smaller craft, mounting, in all, 1,250 ordinary, and 280 swivel guns. SPAIN. 167 TARIFF OF SPAIN AND THE BALEAEIC ISLANDS, (a) [Passed by the Cortes, July 17, 1849 ; sanctioned by the Queen October 5, 1849 ; reformed and ordered to be published the 1st of March, 1852.] Principles in accordance with which the Lists of the Tariffs are formed. Machines and implements to be used for agricultural, mining, and fabrile purposes, will pay 1 to 14 per cent, on their value. Kaw materials, not abundantly produced in Spain, and which serve for domestic manufacture, will pay 1 to 14 per cent, on their value, however that value may be affected by the introduction. The material for masts and spars is included. Kaw materials similar to those abundantly produced in Spain ; the agents of production in like case, such as are mineral coal and coke ; and the articles of foreign manufacture that may compete with like domestic, will pay from 25 to 50 per cent. Articles which domestic labor is insufficient to supply the demand for, will pay not beyond 15 per cent., except in some rare cases, when it will not exceed 20 per cent. The duties existing on colonial goods, which are also the produce of foreign countries, will be suitably relieved. The goods of the Spanish possessions will pay as follows : The sugar of Cuba and Porto Rico, eight reals the arroba. The sugar of Asia, two reals the arroba. The coffee of Cuba and Porto Rico, eight reals the arroba. The sugar, refined and double refined, prepared in the Peninsula, will receive a bounty of eight reals on the arroba, when exported to a foreign country. Other articles from the Spanish Asiatic possessions will pay, as a general rule, the fifth part of the duty exacted for similar articles from foreign countries. The differential duty between Spanish and foreign vessels shall be 20 per cent. ; but this shall be increased on articles which effectually tend to increase Spanish navigation. * * Foreign merchandise, and that from the Spanish possessions beyond sea, will, after the pay- ment of the duties of introduction according to the list, become nationalized, and subject to the same duties of exportation, consumption, tax or other imposts, by whatsoever name, levied on the kinds similar in the kingdom. ******* No exception will be made or duty lowered in favor of fabrile labor, public establishment, association or person, of whatsoever condition they may be. ~ * * * * The questions that arise in the administration of the custom-houses on points within the instructions for the good direction thereof, and the exaction of the imposts, shall be adjudged officially, without cost or detriment to the persons interested. * * * * Duties established shall be collected on cloths under their respective classes, whether they be in pieces, patterns, or in other form. Coarse goods, such as are generally used for trowsers, jackets, and other clothing for men, plain, twilled, checked, or in other way worked, of cotton only, will continue prohibited. Cloths of silk, wool, flax and hemp, having a mixture of cotton of more than one-third part, continue prohibited when they have not as many as twenty threads in the Spanish square inch ; such as equal or exceed this number will be admitted by the payment of the following rates : Cloths, plain, twilled, or with other work, with a mixture of silk or wool, or of both, usually worn for jackets, and called kerseymere, pelo de cobra, (goat's hair,) or by whatever other name, if the silk or woolen visibly prevail, they will pay the rate affixed to goods of these materials respectively ; if the cotton prevail, having visibly silk or wool in a less quantity, the square yard 14 reals, 35 per cent. (a) Translation. See Comparative Tariffs, No. 3, Part II. 168 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Cloths, plain, twilled, (asargados,) checked and worked with a mixture of flax and hemp, used generally for trowsers and other clothing for summer, called drill, cuties, or by other names, 16 reals the pound, 35 per cent. The same, with mixture of wool, called kerseymeres, patencures, &c., 30 reals the square yard, 35 per cent. Unmixed cloth, (tejidos sencillos,) plain or checked, colored, called mousselin de laine, or by other name, if the wool prevail, will pay as the goods of this material; and if the cotton, 8 reals the square yard, 35 per cent. If any cloth of a novel character be presented, which cannot be classed under any of the pre- ceding heads, it will pay 40 per cent, upon its valuer RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TARIFF. Directory to the Custom-houses . Merchandise of new invention will be passed the first time under the duties applicable to those similar or analogous — samples being sent of them to the general directory of custom-houses, that the government of her Majesty may point out the duties assignable to them by a general rule. If they should present no analogy to, or likeness with, any articles in the list, on the first occasion they will pay 15 per cent, on the value when coming in national ships, and 18 jDcr cent, in foreign, or by land. All merchandise imported in small quantities and of little value, not particularly designated in the list, will pay 15 per cent, on its value in national vessels, and 18 per cent, in foreign, or by land, giving account thereof to superior authority. For the passing of merchandise by the value, (ad valorem,) the parties interested shall pre- sent to the ministers of the customs the original invoice of prices. Should the ofiicers not agree with the importers in what should be the valire, they may pass at the prices that each may affix. When the interested parties have not agreed, an order thereupon shall issue that the subject may be referred to superior authority, accomjjanied by samples of the merchandise, if possible to be given, the ofiicers being hereby empowered to purchase the same by paying the cost thereof, according to the invoice, with an additional 10 per cent.; the importers satisfying the duties thereon, and abiding the consequence of either loss or gain. The treasury will sup- ply the means in view of a redisposal. Merchandise the product of the Spanish possessions in America, and introduced thence, the values whereof, as such, may not be specified by the list, will be subject to only 10 per cent, on the value thereof, when imported in national vessels, having a care that they be not unequally rated when compared with their introduction from foreign ports, as in such cases the duties will give place to those applicable to the other. Should the goods be introduced by foreign flag, they will pay the duties assignable to them coming from a foreign country. Colonial merchandise, and all foreign products taken to the deposits at Havana and Porto Rico in national vessels, and transported in like bottoms to the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, will pay only the duty applicable to the Spanish flag. The same merchandise and products taken to those deposits in foreign ships, and conducted thence in national vessels to the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, will pay the duty due by the national flag, and, besides, one-half the charge imposed on foreign bottoms. If the two voyages are made under the Spanish flag, the differential duty will be paid, and the half, besides, of the charge assignable to it. The second-hand merchandise that comes from the Spanish possessions beyond sea will be con- sidered as national on its introduction to the Peninsula, and consequently free of duty, the same as if it had been brought coastwise. SPAIN. 169 The merchandise the product of, and coming from, the Spanish possessions of Asia, and which is not considered accordingly in the list of duties to be paid, will be subject only to the fifth part of those established for similar articles when foreign, and coming in national vessels. When it comes otherwise, the duties will be paid as required of the foreign flag from a foreign port. Merchandise from the foreign countries of Asia, which comes directly thence under the Spanish flag, and which has no duties particularly assigned to it, will pay three-fifths only of those fixed by the list. The same, when it has been taken to the Philippine Islands, and thence, also, directly brought in Spanish vessels, will pay half the duties pointed out in the list. If it comes under a foreign flag, it will pay the duty assignable to it when coming from a foreign country. The merchandise which, having been entered at the Canary Islands, comes in the coasting trade to the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, will pay, at its introduction, only the difi"er- ence of duties between the general tariff of the kingdom and the particular one of the Canary Islands, annotating the fact on the invoices. MONEYS, WEIGHTS. AND MEASURES. The weights and measures are the established ones of Castile ; the arroba of solids being con- sidered of 25 pounds, of 16 ounces to the pound; and of liquids, 32 ciiartillas, except in the article of olive oil, which will be deemed a solid. The quintal will be of 100 pounds, and the ton of 20 quintals. The yard will be of 36 inches. The money is the 7-eal de vellon, which is divided into 100 parts, called centimes. ******* MONEYS. The real vellon is valued at the custom-house of the United States at §0 05 20 real vellons are equal to 1 00 The real of plate is double the real vellon, equal to 10 One hard dollar = If-^ dollar of exchange =10 reals of new plate = lOf of old plate = 20 reals vellon = 170 quarters = 361|- maravedis of old plate = 680 reals vel- lon = 1 03^ ^VEIGHTS. Gold and silver weight. — Gold and silver are weighed by the Castilian mark of 50 castellanos, 400 tomines, or 4,800 grains. Apothecaries' weight. — The apothecaries' weight is the Castilian, but the ounce is divided into 8 drachmas, 24 escrupulos, 48 obolos, 144 caracteres, or 576 grains. Commercial weight. — One commercial pound is equal to 2 marks, (Castilian,) or 16 ounces. One commercial ounce = 8 drachmas = 16 adarmes = 576 grains. One quintal of 4 arrobas, or 100 pounds, = 101.44 pounds avoirdupois, or 46 kilogrammes. One arroba = 25 pounds 7 ounces. MEASURES. Dry measure. — Corn, salt, and other dry articles, are measured by the cahiz. One cahiz = 12 fanegas, 1 fanega = 12 celemines. The celimine has various subdivisions, as \, ^, \, &c. The fanega measures 4,322| Spanish, or 3,439 English cubic inches, and is equivalent to 1.55 English imperial bushels. Five fanegas are nearly equal to 1 quarter English. Wine measure. — One arroba of wine measures 4.245 English imperial gallons. One arroba of oil 3^ English gallons. [ 22 ] 170 COMMEECIAL DIGESTS. One botta = 30 arrobas of wine, or 38^ of oil. Tbe botta contains 12'7| English gallons, and the pipe 114f English gallons. Long measure. — One Spanish foot = 12 pulgadas, or 144 lines, and is equivalent to 11.128 English inches, or 0.2826 of a French metre. One palmo, of 9 pulgadas, or 12 dedos, = 8^ English inches. One vara, or 4 palmos, = 33.384 English inches, or 0.847 of a metre. One braza = 2 varas, or 6 feet. One passo = 5 feet. One estadal = 4 varas, or 12 feet. One cuerda = 8 J varas, or 25^ feet. PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. These islands form an extensive group, lying in the Asiatic archipelago, embracing an area of about 120,000 square miles, and containing a population of between three and a half and four millions. They yield all tropical products, including rice, millet, maize, sugar, indigo, tobacco, coffee, hemp, and cotton, with a variety of fruits, timber, and other products. The hemp known as Manilla hemp, or abaca, constitutes the leading article of export in the trade of the United States with these islands. The chief exports from Manilla, (the seat of government, and the chief port of the islands,) are hemp, sugar, sapan-wood, cigars, (a) cordage, indigo, coifee, rice, hides, mother-of-pearl shell, almaciga, grass-cloth, and tortoise-shell. The principal imports are cotton fabrics, silks, woolens, haberdashery, drugs, clocks, jewellery, &c. The following tables exhibit the general trade of Manilla at three different periods: Imports and exports of the Philippine Islands in 1842. Countries. VALUES IN FRANCS. Imports. Exports. Total. England - 7,466,000 3,154,000 2,694,000 893,000 3,137,000 480,000 1,886,000 1,070,000 617,000 226,000 610,000 5,099,000 4,772,000 4,422,000 5,323,000 1,404,000 2,546,000 12,565,000 7,92,6,000 7,116,000 6,216,000 4,541,000 3,026,000 1,886,000 1,070,000 686,000 635,000 610,000 188,000 189,000 162,000 40,000 United States British East Indies _ Australia . _ _ . Mexico - Chili - Soulon Isles - _ - - 69,000 409,000 Dutch Indies - France . Cape of Good Hope 188,000 46,000 36,000 40,000 143,000 126,000 Sandwich Islands Total francs. . _ 22,502,000 4,275,380 24,354,000 4,627,260 46,856,000 8,902,640 Total dollars [6] {a) Tobacco is a government monopoly, and only allowed to be exported when manufactured into cigars, except to Spain. (h) The franc is here estimated at 19 cents, for convenience of calculation. SPAIN. 171 Imports and exports of the Philippine Islands in 1844. Coun tries. VALUES IN FRANCS. Imports. Exports. Total. China . 8,944,000 4,234,000 4,375,000 1,122,000 1,018,000 1,119,000 349, 000 146,000 290,000 340,000 109,000 32,000 267,000 23,000 5,883,000 2,759,000 476,000 3,335,000 2,970,000 620,000 925,000 989,000 461,000 281,000 304,000 330,000 14,827,000 6,993,000 4,851,000 4,457,000 3,988,000 1,739,000 1,274,000 1,135,000 751,000 621,000 413,000 362,000 267,000 23,000 United States Spain .Java and Molucca. Australia . _ East Indies Cape of Good Hope South America. Total francs 22,368,000 4,249,920 19,333,000 3,673,270 41,701,000 7,923,190 Total dollars The leading exports to the United States in 1844 were: Sugar 1,080,000 francs, = $205,200 00 Coffee 149,000 " = 28,310 00 Hemp 1,444,000 " = 274,360 00 Indigo ?84,000 " = 72,960 00 Hides 108,000 " = 20,520 00 The following summary exhibits the general commercial results in 1851 : Imports. — National commerce |125,011 Foreign " 3,176,325 Imports for deposit 718,631 Total Exports, — National commerce $3 ,834, 069 Foreign " 338,204 Exports from deposit 436,638 Total Balance of trade in favor of the islands in 1851. Imports from the United States, according to U. S. Treasury Eeport for 1851. Exports to the United States, per same report $4,019,967 4,608,911 588,944 $132,544 1,254,688 Balance of trade against United States 1,122,144 172 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Comparative statement showing the quantities of hemp and sugar exported from Manilla to the United States and Europe, respectively, from 1844 to 1853. HEMP. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852, 1853. 89,132 5,934 95,288 7,202 92,696 16,500 100,285 16,739 123,040 20,543 113,404 39,948 102, 194 21,2)6 143,133 30, 805 ^0,514 27,743 204,584 16,934 96,066 102,490 109,196 117,024 143,583 153,352 123,410 173,938 248,257 221,518 SUGAR. To the United States 90,106 127,420 72, 100 103,000 35,050 176,208 91,435 111,447 77,330 68,402 89,122 184,839 78,480 21J,774 116,412 127,725 143, 140 123,792 194,195 198,922 Piculs 217,626 175,100 211,258 202,882 145,738 273,961 290,254 244,137 266,932 393, 117 Note. — The average price of hemp at Manilla is from $7 to $7 06^ per picul, though in 1854-'55 it ascended as high as flO, owing to the Eastern war. The average price of sugar is $3 37^. The preceding table sliows that the quantity of hemp exported from Manilla to the United States in 1853 amounted to 204,584 piculs = 27,277,866 pounds; and the quantity of sugar to 194,195 piculs = 25,892,667 pounds. The following condensed summary exhibits the total export trade from Manilla to the United States during the same year : Hemp, 204,584 piculs; sugar, 194,195 piculs; indigo, 9,050 quintals; sapan-wood, 8,602 piculs; coffee, 1,724 piculs; mother-of-pearl shell, 712 piculs; hide cuttings, 3,291 piculs; rat- tans, 763 piculs ; hides, 4,886 piculs; grass cloth, 19,598 piculs; gum almaciga, 2,556 piculs; tortoise-shell, 214 catties (5) ; cigars, 148 thousand. The merchandise above specified was floated in 41 vessels ; of which 21 cleared for New York, 17 for Boston, 2 for Salem, and 1 for Philadelphia. The preceding summary exhibits the general character of the imports into the United States from the Philippine Islands. In the official reports published at Manilla, the trade with San Francisco is given separately from that with the United States. During the year under review, (1853,) the exports to Cali- fornia consisted of: Sugar, 3,976 piculs; coffee, 7,546 piculs; rice, 16,876 piculs; cordage, 2,285 piculs; cigars, 812 thousand; paddy, 2,949 cavanas (c) ; panocha, 1,818 baskets; Indian corn, 8,922 lbs. ; garlic, 46 piculs; lime, 78 cavanas; hats 1,200. The total exports from Manilla to all countries, in 1853, were: Sugar, 566,371 piculs; hemp, 222,689 piculs; sapan-wood, 31,963 piculs; rice, 303,902 piculs; cordage, 12,119 piculs; coffee, 18,080 piculs; cigars, 79,311 thousand; indigo 9,123 quintals; mother-of-pearl, 2,040 piculs; hides, 5,874 piculs; hide cuttings, 3,697 piculs. In cotton goods (the principal import of the Philippine Islands) England and the United States are the chief competitors. The following summary of the movements in the Manilla market during one month, (July, 1854,) will show the general demand and prices for cotton fabrics: British white shirtings, 14,150 pieces, viz: 800 at $1 93f per piece. 3,100 at |2 12^ a 2 25 37^ 50 3,300 at 2 31i a 4,850 at 2 43| a 1,500 at 2 75 600 at 2 87^ (h) The picul is estimated at about 133J lbs. (6) 100 catties = 1 picul = 133J lbs. (c) A carana of rice weighs about 127 lbs.; of coffee, 52 lbs.; of wheat, 150 lbs. SPAIN. 173 British grey shirtings, 2,100 pieces, viz : 1,000 ps. 40 inches at $2 18f per 40 yards. 500 ps. 40 inches at 2 SIJ " " 250 ps. 42 inches at 2 37^ " " 360 ps. 45 inches at 2 62^ " " British long cloths, 4,700 pieces, viz: 4,500 ps. 39 inches at $2 12^ per 40 yards. 200 ps. 43 inches at 2 75 " British grey domestics, 2,650 pieces, viz: 650 ps. 29 inches at |1 62^ a 1 81^ per 40 yards. 50 ps. 27 inches at 2 22J " 600 ps. 36 inches at 2 09 " 1,350 ps. 39 inches at 2 50 a 2 56-i- " " British grey drills, 300 pieces 29 inches at 2 12^ per 32 yards. American brown jeans, 800 pieces at 3 06J " " drills, 2,800 pieces at 2 37-| a 2 50 " " ie u The articles designated in the preceding summary are such as command, at all times, a ready market in the trade of these islands, and, generally, at the prices indicated. When imported, they are subject to a duty of 14 per cent., as are nearly all other articles from foreign countries. The export duty on hemp is 2 per cent. ; shells and rattans, 1 per cent. ; all other articles, 3 per cent. Formerly, if the master of a vessel touching at these islands desired to ship native sailors, he was obliged to give his bond for their return to Manilla. This, it is obvious, was but a mere matter of form, and hence but few of the sailors thus taken away ever returned. After the discovery of gold in California, it was found extremely difficult to procure sailors at any of the Malaysian islands; and this difficulty was increased by a new regulation at the Philippines, which requires the consignee to sign the captain's bond for the return of such sailors as should be shipped at Manilla. This the consignees are, in most cases, unwilling to do. Hence, the trade between the United States and the Philippines remains so long stationary. For a num- ber of years, the United States has enjoyed about one-fifth of the entire trade of the islands. Were this difficulty in regard to the employment of native sailors removed, this one-fifth of the trade would, in a short time, ascend to one-half. PORT CHARGES. Vessels arriving in ballast, and not breaking bulk, pay 12^ cents per ton, (register tonnage.) If cargo is landed or stripped, 25 cents per ton. Mud machine, 65- cents per ton; light-house dues, 6^- cents per ton. Spanish vessels pay only one-half of the above rates. SPANISH AMEKICAN POSSESSIONS. SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. The Islands of Cuba and Porto Kico, with their dependencies, are all that now remain of the vast possessions in the western hemisphere that once acknowledged the dominion of Spain. CUBA. Its great fertility of soil, its genial climate, its almost limitless resources, its commercial wealth, and its geographical position, render the island of Cuba the most important, as it is the largest, of the Antilles. It lies between 19° 43' and 23° 12' north latitude, and extends from 74° to 84° ST' west longitude, about TTO miles, varying in breadth from 25 to 90 miles. It is distant, at the nearest point, from Yucatan 126 miles, from Hayti 50 miles, from Jamaica TO miles, and from Florida 150 miles. It comprises an area of 31,468 square miles. The census of 1175 gave a population of 170,370; that of 1817, of 551,998; that of 1841, of 1,007,624; and that of 1850, of 1,247,230; of which last, 605,560 persons were whites, 205,570 free colored, and 436,100 slaves, (a) The portion of the island under cultivation does not exceed two millions of acres ; but most abundant crops of maize, yams, bananas, potatoes, sugar, coffee, tobacco, and, to a limited extent, of cotton, cocoa, and indigo, are produced. The latest and most reliable statistics of the island present the following divisions of agricul- tural industry, viz: Sugar estates, 1,442; coffee estates, 1,618; tobacco estates, 9,102; and grazing farms, 9,930, on which are reared about 898,199 head of cattle. Besides these, large herds of cattle are also reared on the extensive and fertile prairies of the uncultivated portions of the island. Politically, the island of Cuba is divided into three departments : the Oriental, the Central, (o) A recent publication gives the following more minute classification of the population of the island ; Creole whites - - 520,000 Spaniards 30,000 Troops and marines 28,000 Foreigners 10,560 Floating population 17, 000 Total whites 605,560 605,660 Free mulattoes - 118,200 Free blacks -- 87,370 Total fi-ee colored population 205, 570 205, 570 Slaves, mulattoes 11, 100 blacks 425,000 Totalslaves 436,100 436,100 Grand total., 1,247,230 [ 23 ] 178 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. and the Occidental ; and these are again subdivided into a number of governments, sub-govern- ments, and colonies. The Central and Occidental departments form the civil province of Havana, and the Oriental the civil province of Cuba. In 1809, the restrictions imposed upon Cuba, of trading to no foreign country whatever, were removed ; and, from that period to the present, official returns of the population, agriculture, commerce, and revenue of the island have been annually prepared, and, apparently, with great care. These reports, or "Balanzas Generales," exhibit a regular and marked progress in the industrial and commercial movements of Cuba, from the period above specified ; its trade with foreign nations steadily advancing, and the supplies of its more prominent staples regularly keefjing pace with the increased demands of an enlarged and comparatively emancipated com- merce. In 1775, the entire population of the island was, as already stated, 170,370. In 1850, it had risen to 1,247,230, showing an increase during the intervening 75 years of 1,076,860, or about 700 per cent. Prior to the removal of the restrictions on foreign commerce, there was some trade carried on between the United States and Cuba, by virtue of Spanish grants and occasional relaxations of the law, but it was generally limited to the importation of articles necessary to supply the people of the island with the means of subsistence. The wars between the mother country and the Spanish American republics having driven the Spanish flag from the ocean, the laws of differential duties remained in abeyance, and the com- merce of Cuba, existing chiefly with the United States, was carried on in American bottoms, which even extended their services to Spain, bringing the oil and wine of the Peninsula to the colonists. The gradual settlement of the difiiculties with the revolted provinces enabled the flag of Spain again to come upon the sea, and her mercantile marine received a new impulse. During the period that had elapsed since the opening of the ports, the natural increase of the wants of the colonists, attendant upon an exchange of their products with those of foreign countries, opened a market in Cuba for many of the products of mechanical industrj^, which found their way there through the ports of the United States ; so that, at the close of this era, in the year 1830, the foreign commerce of the island was confined almost exclusively to our marts, to which she looked even for those articles which were not produced in this country. This was the season of the most ]3rosperons commerce between Cuba and the United States. The re-birth of the Spanish merchant-marine brought with it clamors for protection, and the tariif of Cuba was altered, imposing a difi'erential duty upon goods imported in foreign bottoms. The object of this duty was to encourage the employment of national vessels in the trade of the island with this country. Spanish ships very soon made their appearance in American ports, and were rapidly obtaining a large share of the carrying trade, which had, before that period, been enjoyed exclusively by American vessels. About this time, repeated but unavailing representations had been made to the Spanish gov- ernment of the injustice of its course in imposing such discriminating duties both on the navi- gation and commerce of foreign countries, and in favor of Spanish bottoms. Negotiations having proved abortive, a system of defensive or retaliatory measures was recommended, as the only means of self-protection, in an elaborate report made by the Committee on Commerce of the House of Eepresentatives, in May, 1834, which concludes thus: "Your committee, therefore, from a view of all the circumstances, have deemed it their duty to report a bill, authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to collect such additional tonnage duties upon Spanish vessels enter- ing the ports of the United States from Cuba and Porto Rico as shall be equivalent to the dis- criminating duty that would have been imposed upon the cargoes of such vessels, respectively, if the same had been exported from Havana in American bottoms ; and also upon Spanish ves- sels, clearing out from the ports of the United States, such additional tonnage duty as would be equivalent to the discriminating duty payable upon their cargoes, respectively, if imported into Havana in American bottoms." SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 179 The bill reported became a law in June, 1834, and, conformably to its provisions, the Secre- tary of the Treasury, in February, 1835, issued to the collectors of the customs his circular, in the following words : "I have to call the attention of the officers of the customs to the accompanying copy of the act of Congress concerning tonnage duty on Spanish vessels, approved the 30th June last, and which goes into operation on the first day of March next. Tabular statements are annexed, showing the rate of duty to be levied, in the nature of tonnage duty, on the arrival of Spanish vessels at any port in the United States, coming from the islands of Cuba or Porto Rico, either directly or after touching at any port or place, laden with merchandise subject to discriminating duty when exported from the port of Havana in American bottoms, together with the rate of duty to be exacted from the aforesaid vessels departing from a port of the United States, with a cargo destined, directly or indirectly, to either of the islands before described." The above extract from the circular contains, in substance, the first three sections of the act of 1834. The 5th section shows the purport and scope of the act, and that it was designed by the committee from which it emanated, as well as by Congress in its adoption, to force the gov- ernment of Spain into a more liberal and just course of legislation in regard to the commerce between the United States and this island, by placing Spanish vessels, with their cargoes, coming into or departing from the United States, in the same condition, as to imposts of all kinds, that American vessels are subjected to in the colonies of Spain. This equality was demanded as imperatively in behalf of the interests of Cuba and Porto Rico, as in vindication of our commercial rights ; and the 5th section expressly limits its contin- uance and restricts its application to the accomplishment of that end. This section is in these words : "And be it further enacted, That whenever the President of the United States shall be satis- fied that the discriminating duties in favor of Spanish bottoms levied upon the cargoes of Ameri- can vessels in the ports of Cuba and Porto Rico have been abolished, or whenever, in his opinion, a satisfactory arrangement upon the subject of the said duties shall have been made between the United States and Spain, the President is hereby authorized to declare the same by proclama- tion, and thereupon this act shall cease to have any further force or efi'ect." In 1849 the Treasury Department ascertained that certain privileges had been accorded on the part of the Spanish government to vessels of the United States entering and departing from ports in the island of Cuba. A circular was immediately issued from that department, which, after citing the provisions of the acts of 1832 and 1834, and specifying the privileges alluded to, says: "It consequently follows, that where no tonnage duty or discriminating duty on the car- goes of American vessels entering or departing from ports or places in the island of Cuba is imposed and collected thereat, Spanish vessels coming from such ports or places are to be simi- larly treated, as regards tonnage duty, in the ports of the United States. "The collectors of the customs are, therefore, instructed to abstain from the exaction of any tonnage duty on Spanish vessels coming from ports or places in the island of Cuba, in ballast, or when laden with cargoes of molasses taken in at either of said ports." In 1852 a similar circular was issued to collectors, instructing them to admit Spanish vessels arriving from Spanish or any other foreign ports, those of Cuba and Porto Rico excepted, (a) to entry on the same footing as American vessels, as regarded tonnage duty, light-money, and all other dues to the United States, so far as respects vessels. These acts (of 1832-'34) have been in force now during a period of twenty-two years, and, with the exception of the slight privileges which called for the circulars already referred to, have failed to produce the effect contemplated by their enactment. The commerce between the United States and these islands, in the aggregate, has not fallen off; but the increase has not been such as should be expected from the great expansion of our general commerce, and the increased development of the agricultural and industrial resources of Cuba, since that period. (a) The royal decree of 3d January, 1862, excepted Cuba and Porto Eico from the privilegeg thus redprocated. 180 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The most obvious effect has been to exclude Spanish ships from our ports, and to destroy, in a measure, all that portion of the carrying trade hence to Cuba which comprised articles of foreign product ; for, the Spanish vessels, no longer permitted to engage in the carrying trade between the United States and Cuba, on more favorable terms than American vessels, were soon driven from our ports, and supplied the wants of the island from the countries where the articles were produced; and thus the hardware, glass, delf, and dry-goods of England, that had been previously brought to the United States in American packet-ships, principally, from London and Liverpool to New York, were now directly imported into Cuba; and the same result has attended the carrying trade from France in her silks and fancy wares, and Germany in her cottons, linens, and hosiery. The following table exhibits the number and nationality of vessels employed in the trade of Cuba during the three years 1826, 1829, and 1834: ENTERED. CLEARED. 1 ; 1826. 1 1829. 1834. 1826. 1829. 1834. 188 1,106 365 396 969 337 797 945 294 127 914 247 366 890 314 717 910 290 United States All other United States All other Total Total 1,659 1,702 2,036 1,288 1,570 1,917 An analysis of the preceding figures will show an aggregate increase in the number of vessels entered from 1826 to 1829 of 43 ; and to 1834, of S'T'T ; and in vessels cleared, an increase, for the first period, of 282, and for the second, of 629. The increase in Spanish vessels entered from 1826 to 1829 was 208, and to 1834, 609 vessels. The decrease from 1826 to 1829 in United States vessels was 13*7, and to 1834, 161 ; and the decrease in vessels from all other nations, for the first period, was 28, and to 1834, 71 vessels. Table exhibiting the value of imports into Cuba during the three years 1826, 1829, 1834. 1826. 1829. 1834. NATIONAL COMMEECE. National vessels §409,352 2,449,440 1,759,621 314, 683 5,632,808 1,169,451 1,323,627 1,293,989 572,783 $1,460,041 3,501,002 2,521,442 844, 826 5,734,765 1,245,947 1,837,775 1,005,749 544, 309 [$3,412,487 1,134,407 4,970,013 3,690,101 906,414 1,676,918 562,690 2,210,270 rOBEIGN COMMERCE. National vessels From United States From France From F.ngl.n.nrl _ From Hanse Towns From Italy, Holland, Portugal, Denmark, and East Indies... Total 14,925,754 18,695,856 18,563,300 SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 181 The preceding tables slio-w an increase in the aggregate value of imports into the island in 1829 over 1826 of $3,770,102 ; while, during the second period, from 1829 to 1834, this trade remained stationary. A minute analysis of the figures, however, will show the significant fact that, while the carrying trade in Spanish bottoms has risen from |844,826 in 1829 to $4,970,013 in 1834, the imports from the United States, during the same period, fell from $5,734,765 to $3,690,101. During the three years compared, the imports into the United States from Cuba remained stationary, being in 1826 $3,894,597; in 1829, $3,191,535; and in 1834, $3,824,724. During the periods under review — indeed, at all times — -provisions form the largest item in the imports from the United States. The enormous discrimination in favor of the national flag on flour has always had the efi'ect of restricting almost exclusively to national vessels the trade in this article. Thus, in 1829 the value of flour imported into Cuba, in Spanish vessels, was $1,582,768, while from the United States it amounted only to $345,335, and from all other places to $13,662 ; and in 1849, or twenty years after, the value of flour imported in Spanish bottoms was $2,675,262; from the United States, $9,334; and from all other places, $1,725. The acts of 1832 and 1834 can, unquestionably, be traced in tliis great falling off in the article of flour ; but, that other causes also contributed in securing for the Spanish flag so com- plete a monopoly of the trade in this article is demonstrated by the fact that, while the value of flour imported from all other places (than the United States) in 1829 amounted to $13,662, representing 1,093 barrels, we find this figure in 1849 dwindled down to $1,725, representing only 138 barrels. That the repeal of these acts would largely augment the export as well as the import trade of the United States with Cuba, there can be no question ; but, until the discriminations in favor of the national flag are modified or removed, the carrying trade between the United States and that island would, under their unequal and unjust opera- tion, be almost exclusively monopolized by Spanish bottoms. The restrictive policy of Spain, especially as regards the trade of her colonies, is adhered to to-day, in Cuba and Porto Kico, almost as rigorously as when she was mistress of nearly the entire southern portion of this continent; and the stationary condition of the trade between the United States and these islands since 1834 would seem to indicate the fruitlessness of any efforts to force her from this line of policy by measures of retaliation or countervailing acts. So long as the system itself shall continue to be the colonial policy of Spain but little modification in its details need be looked for, whether the influence to that end be countervailing acts or diplomacy. "Be careful," say the instructions of the King and Council of the Indies to Luis de Velasco, viceroy of New Spain, early in the sixteenth century — "Be careful not to foster manufactures, nor to allow the cultivation of vines, inasmuch as there was always ample pro- vision of these things, and the commerce of the kingdom should not be impaired by such colonial products ;" and in the year 1610 these royal instructions were repeated, with the addition of the following emphatic language: "Inasmuch as you understand perfectly how much the observance of these rules is necessary for the dependence of the colonies, we charge and com- mand you to see to their faithful execution." The same spirit that dictated this protection for the wine and oil of Spain, and for the exclu- sive trade in these articles to her American colonies, in 1610, remains unchanged in any degree (because there is no practical distinction between prohibitive discriminations and positive prohi- bitions,) in the commercial policy, which, in 1856, two centuries and a half later, virtually excludes American flour, and many other staples, for which the inhabitants of Cuba must neces- sarily look to a foreign market. Until the system itself is abolished, and Spain adopts the more liberal commercial policy which characterizes the present enlightened age; until she follows the example of Great Brit- ain, Belgium, Holland, and other neighboring countries, in removing all unnecessary shackles from commercial enterprise, the commerce of Cuba, not only with the mother country, but with the United States, and all foreign nations, must remain as it has during the past quarter of a century — crippled, restricted, and struggling ; incompetent as a source of revenue to the home 182 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. governmeiit — inadequate to meet the expenses of the colonial, and almost powerless, from the restrictions with which it is burdened, in developing the exhaustless resources of the island, or even in supplying the necessary means of comfortable subsistence to the great bulk of its inhabitants, unless at prices far above their scanty means. If the government of Spain could be induced to propose, or to agree to a similar commercial reciprocity with the United States to that now existing between the latter country and the British North American provinces, it would not only supersede countervailing acts and retali- atory measures, by establishing the commercial relations between them on a basis of just and liberal reciprocity ; but, it is believed that, while in a very short period it would make the island of Cuba the richest in wealth, as it is in natural resources, of any island of the same size in the world, it would also eminently contribute to cement more strongly, if not render indis- soluble, the bonds of union between it and the mother country. The following table exhibits the value of exports from the United States to Cuba during two periods, embracing three years each : Years. Value. Uuantity of flour. Value. 1834 $3,690,101 5,406,919 6,553,281 6,287,959 8,551,752 8,004,582 Barrels. 1,537 11,593 3,428 Dollars. 7,730 82,489 33,176 1835 1836 1853 1854 1855 It will be seen from this table that the export trade of the United States to Cuba in 1853 is less than it was in 1836, while the increase in 1854 and 1855 is by no means proportionate to the rapid increase of our general commerce, and of the agricultural products of Cuba. Were the discriminations removed, flour would, unquestionably, become our leading staple export to Cuba. The importations of this article into Cuba in 1847, were 235,243 barrels, of which 175,870 barrels were from Spain, and 59,373 barrels from the United States. In 1848, the number of barrels imported fell to 231,119, of which only 18,175 barrels were from the United States. The most moderate estimate puts the consumption of flour in Cuba, were it admitted at reasonable duties, at from 800,000 to 900,000 barrels. That this trade would be enjoyed almost exclusively by the United States is evident from the fact that flour is among our heaviest articles of export, and European competition with a country within a few days' sail of the island would be out of the question. The balance of trade between the United States and Cuba is enormously against the former. In 1853, this balance amounted to $12,297,796; in 1855 it was $10,620,757. The value of 500,000 barrels of flour, fixing the price at $5 per barrel, would be $2,500,000; or one-fifth of the balance against the United States would be realized on the single article of flour alone. The increased quantities of bacon, pork, lard, and provisions generally, of domestic manufactures, &c., would render the commerce between this country and Cuba more equal, as well as more just; while the exports from Cuba to the United States would be proportionably augmented. One year's trade, if conducted on principles of reciprocity, would be sufficient to demonstrate the advantages which would result to both countries from the adoption of a policy commended alike by the products and wants of each, respectively, and by every principle of commercial economy. SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 183 Since the adoption of the Spanish tariff of the year 1830, in Cuha, several revisions have been made, and the rates of duty from time to time have been materially diminished, to the eminent advantage of the revenue ; hut there has still been retained, and in many instances increased, the differential duty in favor of Spanish products and national bottoms. The following instances of the operation of these differential duties will sufficiently exhibit their general character. Lard — an article of great consumption in Cuba, imported almost exclusively from the United States, is subject to a duty of 4^ cents per pound when brought from this country in American bottoms ; the coarser qualities of oil, (olive,) which are imported for the same pur- poses, are delivered with a duty of 2|- cents per pound; and the result is, that 10,000,000 pounds of lard, being a vastly superior article, are imported, while 8,500,000 pounds of oil from other countries, far inferior to lard, are enabled to compete with it in the markets of Cuba, because of the difference of price, in its favor, produced by the duty. The following table will show the values of lard and oil imported into Cuba in 1851, 1852, and 1853 : 1851 Lard $891,743 1852 " 883,785 1853 861,036 Olive oil $477,259 " " 485,264 " " 472,783 Meats. — The existence of a differential duty on meats imported in Spanish bottoms, draws the supply of this article in the markets of Cuba from Buenos Ayres to the extent of 30,000,000 pounds annually ; while from the United States it comes to a very limited extent, notwith- standing the quality of the article importijd from the United States is far superior to that from South America. The following table exhibits the quantity of jerked beef imported into Cuba during the years 1850, 1851, 1852, and 1853, and the countries whence exported: Years. FROM THE UNITED STATES. FROM SPAIN, CENTRAL AND S. AMERICA. Arrobas. (a) Dollars. Arrobas. Dollars. 1850 .. . 5,244 5,377 4,419 674 8,860 7,862 6,236 1,058 1,208,016 1,376,552 1,163,231 1,016,695 1,633,101 1,673,910 1,607,322 1,367,140 1851 1852 . 1853 Table exhibiting the value of jhur imported into Cuha from 1847 to 1853, digested from the " Balanzas Generales" of that island. Years. From Spain. From the United States. From England. From other countries. 1847 $2,137,976 2, 650, 623 2,672,500 3,204,928 3,081,525 3,971,909 2,677,791 $528,655 174,405 9,332 6,665 26,281 91,664 29,830 $63,684 9,711 5,362 1,250 650 2,725 (b) 30, 149 $14, 547 25,650 125 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 25 (a) The arroba equals about 25 lbs. (6) Of this sum $27, 187 was imported in Spanish bottoms. 184 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The duty in Cuba on flour imported from Spain is $2 50; on that imported from the United States, in American or other foreign bottoms, is $10 81 ; the effect of which is to drive the American article entirely from the Cuban market, except at such times as when scarcity may have carried it up to famine point. The tonnage duty that exists on Spanish bottoms is 62^ cents per ton, and on foreign ship- ping $1 50 per ton, contributing, in combination with other differential duties and restrictions, to the Spanisli flag, advantages in the carrying trade of the products of that island to the northern European ports. The annual report of the Board of Trade of the island, to the superintendent of the royal treasury, of the general navigation and commercial movements of the island, in the year 1850, sets forth these facts in a manner worthy attention. It shows that in 1850 there had been an increase over the last year of $2,088,226 in the value of goods imported in national vessels, but that the importation in foreign vessels had only increased $574,540 ; a result to be ascribed to the protective and differential system which favors Spanish over foreign shipping, and on which tlie present tariff is based. In regard to exportation, exactly the contrary state of facts will appear. In 1850 the exports in foreign vessels increased $2,748,287, while the increase in national bottoms was only $447,104. These different results are traceable to two causes, namely : as to imports, to the discrimina- tions, both in respect of tonnage and tariff duties, in favor of the national flag ; and as to exports, to the advantages which foreign vessels, exporting the products of the island, enjoy as national vessels in the countries to which they respectively belong' — advantages which, in general, more than countervail the discriminating export duty in Cuba in favor of the national flag. In the year 1849 the value of importation was $26,320,460, an increase over the previous year of $885,892— an amount much less, however, than had been expected from the steady pro- gress of the island; and in the same time the importation diminished, as it appears, in many articles of provision. Foreign flour, preserved meats, cod-fish, bacon, jerked beef, lard, butter, and foreign wine, (although the national wine increased to an amount, in value, $200,000) fell in the scale of quantity, and the article of rice increased more than 8,000 arrobas over the importation of the last year, in consequence of cargoes of that article from Manilla (a) ; so that had it not been for this, and the increased amount of some other provisions imported, articles of manufacture and coin, the yearly account would have exhibited a still more consider- able diminution. This state of things was considered by the Board (&) to be tlie result of some evident causes, such as the extreme drought, which affected the crops of the season, and tlie prev- alence of cholera in the ports of Europe and the United States, rendering sanitary measures neces- sary, which interfered with the natural flow of commerce. But, be these causes what they may, a result of the year was an amount of carrying trade under the Spanish flag to the island, of more than $1,000,000 in the value of effects imported; and if the produce of the Peninsula, brought in national vessels, be taken into account, the increase of this branch of business reached, in twelve months, near $700,000, which was considered to be the result of the differ- ential duties existing. From earlier tables, it appears that in the year 1826 the value of Spanish produce, arriving at Cuba in Spanish ships, amounted to only $409,352; in the year 1830 it reached $3,000,000 ; it exceeded $5,000,000 in 1840, and at the close of 1848 had risen to more than $7,000,000. For- (a) Value of the importation of rice inlc Cuba, in the years 1848 and 1849. Years. From Spain and her colonies. From Spanish Amer. republics. From the United States. From all other countries. 1848 $223,943 146,925 5101,654 51,418 $701,118 799,499 $15,521 41,234 1849 (6) Balanz'a General del Comeroio de la Isla de Cuba, 1849. SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 185 eign produce brought in national vessels in 1825 amounted to $2,449,440, exceeded $5,000,000 in 1840, and reached near $8,000,000 in 1848 ; when the Spanish flag, in both commercial movements, came to float a value of $14,936,811. The duties arising on importations in the year 1849 were $5,844,783 ; on exportations, |584,4'7ir; making a total of $6,429,260, diminishing, when compared with the preceding year, in the one instance $436,621, and in the other $124,836 ; making a total of $561,457. Foreign flours fell off 16,654 barrels, although the Spanish increased 1,121 barrels; and a general increase of importations of national produce had ensued, and a lessening of foreign, which tended greatly to decrease the amount of duties. The commercial action of 1848 and 1849, and of succeeding years, is illustrated by the follow- ing tables, made up from the official exhibits compiled, annually, for the government : Statement of the quantities or values of the principal articles of subsistence exported from Cuba, during the years 1848 to 1854, each year being compared with its immediate predecessor. Years. Aguardiente, (Rum.) Cotton. Sugar. Coffee. Beeswax. Woods. Honey. Molasses. Copper ore. Leaf tobacco. Cigars. 1849 11,640 16,339 Pounds. 73,655 38,590 Boxes. 1,099,884 1,228,718 Jirrolios. 877,636 694,137 Jlrrohas. 35,691 50,110 Dollars. 317,894 350,205 Dollars. 48,103 56,523 UJids. 246,570 228,726 (^uiTltals. 583,310 656,491 Pomuls. 4,019,133 6,275,630 M. 123,720 161,480 1848 45,065 183,499 17,844 Dimmution 1850 4,699 128,834 14,419 32,311 8,420 73,181 2,256,497 37,760 (a) 4,825 11,640 83,475 73,655 1,249,613 1,099,884 520,134 877,636 58,194 35,691 359,128 317,894 55,132 48,103 269,044 246,570 552,288 583,310 7,978,148 4,019,133 212,640 123,720 1849 Increase 185 9,820 149,729 22,503 41,234 7,029 22,474 3,959,015 88,920 357,502 31,022 1851 9,221 11,825 13,045 83,475 1,539,994 1,249,613 575,119 520,134 57,453 58,194 398,811 359,128 69,625 55, IM 318,428 269,044 432,882 552,288 9,436,591 7,978,148 270,313 212,640 1850 290,381 54,985 39,683 14,493 49,384 1,458,443 57,673 Diminution 3852 2,604 70,430 741 119,406 11,359 9,221 12,009 13,045 1,409,012 1,539,994 739,326 575,119 58,591 57,453 458,945 398,811 78,638 69,625 262,593 318,428 381,470 432,882 9,737,443 9,436,591 142,567 270,313 1851 Increase 2,138 164,207 1,138 60,134 9,013 300,832 1,036 130,982 55,835 51,412 127. 746 1853 14,294 11,359 138,625 12,009 1,657,192 1,409,012 442,730 739,326 45,946 58,591 448,433 458,945 85,959 78,638 303,331 262,593 ••■•w 381,470 8,039,797 9,737,443 237,350 c 142,567 1852 Increase 2,935 126,616 248, 180 7,321 40,738 94, 783 296,596 12,645 10,512 381,470 1,697,646 1854 25,272 14,294 37,263 138,625 1,685,751 1,657,192 611,493 442,730 71,334 45,946 547,818 448,433 104,312 85,959 261,815 303,331 549,553 345,080 9,809,150 8,039,797 251,313 237,350 1853 Increase 10,978 28,559 68,763 25,388 99,385 18,353 204,473 1,769,353 13,963 101,363 41,~516 Note.— Slight discrepancies have been detected in the figures for the same years as given in different Balanzas ; they are, however, generally unim- portantj and seldom affect the columns of hundreds. (a) Error— tlie figures for 1650 should stand 11,825. (i) An error in the " Balanza" resumen. The details show an importation of 345,0&0, which would make the diminution 36,390. (c) There is an error in the original tables of tlio Balanza for 1853, amounting to 38,043, which brings tlie total up to 180,610, and leaves an increase of only 56,740. [ 24] 186 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. 5. Si 00 r-H O 00 "Si 00 O -2 '^ Sh ^ ^ lii o s: r^ ^ 1'. 'ii r^ ■3 2 o '> 1 CO CO I- o CO ci ^ CI CO CD l- CO sf CO o> 3 I- 164,69-3 173,403 — • CO" CO 01 CO*" ^ CO ^ crT hi ■ 3 S CO CO 1 s s d o" CD CD ^-: CD HO r; 01 CD • 1 CO en : ^i 4i§ s iff S" li, lO (D ?f i-l CI CO Ct CO LO CTi cT co" 3 s CD ■n CO ^ 3 CI .-H CJ ^ ira CO 2 CO 1 Si 1 2-3 CI --I CD CI II T' CO CO CI r~ CO CO " 1 CO 01 It CO CO CO CO i-T co" 1: Cl^ CD~ CI en t ■* o g CD I- O CO '^ CO >.o CD ■* 11 ,— CO 'ii 1.0 co" 'S ?! ^ g 1 00 CO i ,/ —1 CO -^ Oi Tj- O (^ CD G^ 1- CO CO CO n-< «=> CTi CO n en CO 10 i> CD ;=H CO IQ 25 li CO CD CC in cT en" ^ in CO ill ^ IfT co~ c5 CO CO C3 00- i i i 8 CD CD" ci CI 1 1 1 CI C! CO CD CO CI s i hH 1 s s" ^ -'■ erf £ M* g CO 15 CO CO to CO CO IP 00 liO CJl ?) CD ±' II s O Pi o o J - o = r-i Co' oT § g o~ co" S i2 1 CO C! O. s s" CO 01 CO si 3 s CO -^ CO CI 00 1 .-" Co" s 3 III 1 >0 01 10 CO c § 1 1 CD or CO 00 t II en 1 i ii ro'" c1 1^ 31 I-: CD CO in S cC CO 11 t-- ox d yj Iff t^" 00 v^ Ct — ' 1-' in CO - o -r "S ^' ^' 1 s s r-T CO co" -r CO CD CO CD*" cd" cr, C3 CI cl 1 § C> CO (- CD 3j ^0 CO -r CC .— ' Cl CI Ol CD ■5 CO s" CO CO -r 10 it en CO CO ciT 'A ^ co" r-T CO ^ c a Cl CO CO to CO CD 1 tt r PL' S (5 CO a5 CO CO 05 CO s l§ CO CI s 1 5 f-2 s CD CO 5 io ri CO CC £ K' en o c c = 2 C C =1 c 0. 'J \ ^ 'y ' C , ■X c SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 187 Commerce of Cuha with foreign nations, from 1848 to 1854. [Made up from the " Balanzas Gcnerales."] COUNTRIES. Spain United States England France Germany Belgium Spanish-America Portugal and Brazil.. Holland Denmark Russia Sweden and Norway . Austria Italy-- Deposit Total . 1848. Imports. Exports. 088,7.50 8.3 933, .538 974, 545 349,683 483,439 67,385 166,278 199,027 108,035 476,750 17,766 570,364 927,007 285,828 064,798 184,201 918,806 503,456 356,774 31,834 364, 680 109,331 76,418 23,409 193,722 25,435,505 26,077,068 («) 1849. Imports. 682,757 578,295 810, 670 252,466 223,681 402,785 107,630 12,849 194, 147 357,134 27,313 580, 608 26,320,460 (6) Exports. 1850. Imports. 113,070 301,657 127,420 212,909 712,067 673,562 872,083 14,720 301,365 230,754 638,702 36,150 16,964 185, 128 640,025 653, 360 117,669 747, 580 107,293 318,881 001,604 33,882 190,479 520,200 $3,071,084 8,359,252 7,001,056 1,862,596 1,871,020 963,393 578, 237 13,297 638,291 22,436,556 28,983,227 Exports. 1851. Imports. 554,450 279,937 446,770 11,262 572,286 25,631,948 $8,500,258 8,14-8,077 7,374,958 1,738,368 1,852,576 412,283 2,759,797 61, 365 240, 875 596,010 28,998 27, 148 570,712 Exports. $2,836,328 13, 222, 844 7,159,896 1,463,168 2,242,220 519,982 748,068 530,981 256,309 1,766,482 94,369 19,880 481,151 .32, 311, 430. '31,. 341, TABLE— Continued. COUNTRIES. 1852. Imports. Exports. 1853. Imports. Exports. 1854. Imports. Exports. Spain United States England France Germany Belgium - Spanish- America Portugal and Brazil.. Holland Denmark Russia Sweden and Norway . Austria Italy-. Deposit $10,200,429 6,552,585 5,638,824 2,203,354 1,102,002 493,908 2, 144, 618 $3,882,634 12,^076,408 5,486,677 1,513,368 1,690,165 321,260 801,160 $7,756,905 6,799,732 6,195,921 2,177,222 1,115,940 998,511 1,677,476 $3,298,871 12,131,095 8, 322, 835 3,293,389 1,474,018 466,306 514,831 243,386 657, 554 27,783 32,309 483,486 297,152 864,366 483,218 15,489 241,458 380,586 88,876 485,422 47,756 69,022 377,011 246,661 403,085 253,688 16,309 138,036 651,275 $3,057,428 7,807,680 6,610,909 2,558,198 1,420,639 635,806 2,145,370 16,245 134,390 538,824 $3,615,692 11,641,813 11,119,526 1,921,567 1,824,074 811,880 671,380 14,186 251,482 309,949 14,076 24,082 310,865 23,694 168,453 313,779 Total. 29,780.242 27,453,936 27,789,800 31,210,405 31,394,578 32,683,731 Note. — The totals in these tables, in some instances, differ from the actual amounts of the sums given; but, as the fractional parts of the dollar are omitted, and as it is more likely that typographical errors have occurred in the hands of the printer than in tlie calculations at tlie Havana custom-house, the figures found in the Balanzas are in no instance departed from. (a) To make tliid total, add for Prussia ^36,800. (6) To make this tot-al, add for Prussia $120. (c) To make this total, add for Pruasia ^,958. 188 COMMERCIAL, DIGESTS. Nmnher of vessels entering the ports of Cuba from 1848 to 1854. Nation. Spanish United States Englisll Frencll German Danisli Dutcl) Belgian Spanish American Swedish and Norwegian . Russian Prussian , . , Sardinian Brazilian Austrian Italian 1848. 875 1,733 670 85 72 20 21 23 15 16 7 3,548 877 1,639 451 67 58 11 24 24 9 12 15 13 9 3 1 3,213 1,596 498 125 70 24 20 49 7 25 22 9 11 2 18 2 883 3,014 570 116 74 35 25 61 13 27 14 7 3 23 4 1852. 476 82 60 32 36 27 11 11 3,612 901 2,307 368 326 57 20 24 45 13 17 7 17 3,918 928 2,130 467 100 67 29 25 24 16 16 1 4 3,811 Statement of the quantities or values of the principal articles exported from Cuba, 1848—1854. [Made up from the " Balanzas Generales."] Coffee arrobas-- Cotton (a) arrobas - - Cacao - ^- ..arrobas-- Maj aqua, (cut. ) dollars - - Beeswax, (brown) ..arrobas- - Beeswax, (white) arrobas . . Tobacco, (leaf) pounds . . Turtle-shell pounds.. Sugar boxes. - Molasses hhds. . Copper-ore quintals - . Guano, (palm leaf ).seroons-_ Aguardiente pipes. - Cigars thousands - - Cigarillos and picado ..dola.. Honey dollars. . Fruits, &o - dollars . . "Woods dollars. . Metals, (old) dollars.. Mats .dollars. . Manufactures dollars . . Liquids and pro visions, dols.. Hides -dollars. . All other articles dollars.. Total value of all exports.. S 1848. 694, 137 1,143 3,485J 7,857 15,566 34, 544 6,275,630 2,395 1,228,718 228,726 656,491 26,044 16,336 161,480 110,096 56,523 37,267 350, 205 102,638 48,483 70,143 96,284 7,983 174,372 26,077,067 1849. 877,636 2,946 2,170 3,368 16,532 19,158 4,019,133 3,678 1,099,884 246,570 583,310 36, 0.38 11,640 123,720 39,110 48,103 24,619 317,894 36,592 7,692 47,332 106,613 8,150 349,492 22,436,556 1850. .'•i20, i:u 3,339 7,768 11,076 18,234 39,960 7,978,148 4,884 1,249,613 269,044 552,288 53,831 11,825 208,212 77,299 55,132 54,547 359,128 84, 889 6,774 41,037 131,093 9,655 231,772 25,631,948 1851. .575, 119 521J 7,039 28, 179 13,449 44, 004 9,436,591 30, 140 1,539,994 318,428 432,882 47,361 9,221 270,313 105,445 69,625 82,044 398,811 62,254 7,138 49,837 142,058 5,819 260,333 1852. 31,341,683 739, 326 12,009 38,614 1,458 27,310 31,281 9,737,443 3,343 1,409,012 262,593 381,470 42,851 11,359 180,610 64,796 78,638 83,476 458,945 80,126 8,008 236,630 107,510 25,548 434,376 1853. 27,453,936 442,730 5,545 37,857 1,021 26,406 19,540 8,039,797 4,363 1,657,192 303,331 345,080 4,283 14,294 237,350 84, 595 85,959 63,106 448,433 193,100 50,624 151,522 88,456 21,162 395,028 1854. 31,210,405 511,493 1,490 18,650 59 29,042 42,292 9,809,150 2,730 1,685,751 261,815 549,553 10,411 25,272 251,313 178,825 104,312 82,028 547,818 99,138 12,693 99,136 124,277 21, 1S5 1.30, 724 32,683,731 SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 189 Statement of the values of the principal articles imported into Cuba from 1848 to 1854. [Made up from the " Balanzas Generales."] 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. Articles of subsistence. Olive oil Liquids Meats Spices Fruits, nuts, preserves Eice Cereals, flour, pulse, cacao.. Lard and butter Cheese Fish.. Ice Dry goods. Cottons . . Woolens . Linens . . Silks Other manufactures. Skins and peltries Wood Metal Glass Iron- ware Soap -. Medicines Furniture Perfumery Candles, sperm, lard... Tobacco of all kinds Coin. Gold and silver.. $563,717 2,042,042 2,075,129 58,434 240, 304 1,075,636 3,220,682 1,176,084 100,338 723,602 Total value of all imports-. $ ,177,716 405,851 ,028,350 486,672 475, 152 ,312,733 188,084 72,284 ,061,893 420,432 99,441 120,091 27,982 123,882 22,729 759,191 $567,440 2,164,920 1,971,262 62,934 271,017 1,092,597 3,067,544 1,200,755 149,751 653, 680 189,753 2,487,205 497,888 2,840,982 330,943 433,710 1,721,299 213,266 64,450 993,044 518,315 96,430 94, 106 43, 219 134, 672 22, 676 858,634 25,435,565 26,320,460 $707,974 2,448,561 1,978,011 66,558 259, 445 1,138,744 3,410,938 968,072 167,924 521,348 201,837 2,595,909 522,422 3,151,798 427,907 476,801 1,885,375 230,749 95,583 1,098,313 479,525 144, 007 107,932 50,473 178,826 13,223 1,361,058 $477, 259 2,347,786 1,985,423 86,442 287,586 1,159,656 3, 644, 154 974,781 171,662 619,205 199,842 3,021,009 431,702 3,528,084 529,812 589,457 2,211,229 280,209 104, 504 1,186,579 515,139 168,925 157, 628 65, 141 183,901 20,769 2,511,408 $485,264 2,563,303 1,909,393 92,065 305,374 1,046,604 4,404,497 948, 143 186,245 668,424 72,717 2,661,567 359,060 2,431,564 598,747 635, 374 2,042,186 156,985 176,797 1,329,695 581,067 137,136 131,200 103, 944 140, 344 27, 672 989,424 $472,783 2,359,058 1,625,657 81,146 275, 340 1,072,685 3,127,293 941,408 89,416 599,285 97,942 3,080,874 487, 187 2,198,592 583,165 703,802 1,868,960 106,460 217,258 1,634,535 518,220 150,423 162,963 171,646 171,247 17,852 479,560 S4S8, 162 2,736,874 2,215,029 97,514 275,742 1,000,221 4, 388, 846 1,197,643 153, 135 878,323 119,985 2,595,098 424, 673 2,425,195 654,837 864,825 2,402,807 167, 172 141,510 1,578,945 529,130 142,960 164, 984 115,338 127,871 20,325 238,937 28,983,227 32,311,430 29,780,242 27,789,800 31,394,578 In 1851 Cuba imported to tlie amount of $32,311,430, iDeing an increase over the year 1850 of $3,328,203, wliieli exceeded the importations of 1849 nearly two millions of dollars. The only articles that had suffered diminution were liquids, woolens, and materials for railroad cars. The importations were, in value — Under the national flag , 119,899,176 Under foreign flags 12,412,254 Total importations in 1851 32,311,430 190 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Tlie imports under the Spanish flag exceeded those of 1850 hj $1,444,104 — a result that was considered chiefly attributahle to the system of duties in force ; under foreign flags, the importa- tions, which for several years had rarely exceeded eleven millions of dollars, increased in 1851 to the amount of $1,884^098 over the previous year. The merchandise brought from Spanish ports amounted to more than eight and a half millions of dollars, being $352,181 more than the total imports from the United States; $1,225,300 more than those from Great Britain; $5, 740, 461 more than those from the former Spanish possessions, and nearly 25 per cent, on the total amount of imports from all countries. The exports of 1851 exceeded those of 1850 by 15,709,735, which was an increase over 1849 of more than three millions of dollars. The following will show the relative proportion of the exports in Spanish and foreign bottoms in 1851: In national vessels $6,204,653 In foreign vessels 25,137,029 Total exports in 1851 31,341,682 This was an increase over 1850 of $184,013 in national ships, and .$5,525,721 in foreign sliips; which was nearly equal to the value of the increased production and exports of the island over the preceding year. The quantity of sugar exported from the island in 1851 was 281,381 boxes over 1850, which exceeded the previous year nearly 150,000 boxes. The increase of the impor- tant staples of molasses, coffee, and tobacco, (raw and manufactured,) though not so great, was highly important. These facts are significant of the force of foreign reciprocal duties, and forci- bly demonstrate that any discriminating export or tonnage duty on foreign vessels, sufficiently effective to give this outward movement to the Spanish flag, must fatally injure the productive- ness, national commerce, and industry of the island. The amount of shipping which entered the ports of Cuba during 1851 was as follows : Under the national flag 270,176 tons. Under foreign flags 727,814 " Total 997,990 IC This was an increase over the year 1850 as follows : Under the national flag 24,112 tons. Under foreign flags 99,864 " Total increase 123,976 u A comparison of the returns for 1845 with those for the year under review gives to the Spanish flag an increase, during that period, of nearly one hundred per cent. The value of importations diminished in the year 1852 .$2,531,188, and the exportations $3,887,746, below those of the previous year. The falling off in imports was on the articles rice, 91,382 arrobas; pork, 187,413 pounds; hams, 878,532 pounds; lard, 3,891 arrobas; but- ter, 133,775 pounds; jerked beef, 118,317 arrobas; and in exports, on cotton, 1,036 pounds; sugar, 130, 9i82 boxes; molasses, 55,834 hogsheads; copper, 51,412 quintals; cigars, 127,746,000. The great falling off in the item of sugar could not have failed to act in a corresponding man- ner on the amount of tonnage, and, measurably, on the value of imports. The importations in 1853 reached an aggregate value of $27,789,800 — an amount exceeded, the preceding year, by .§1,990,441. The articles which suffered the greatest diminution were cod-fish, flour, beef, lard, cheese, jerked beef, bacon, Spanish and foreign wines. While thus SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 191 tlie value of imports diminished, that of exports considerahly increased. The total increase over 1852 amounted to $3,156,468. The United States exported to Cuha in 1853 goods to the value of 16,799,733, heing an increase on the exportations of the preceding year of $247,148; and imported to the value of $12,131,095, showing an increase of $54,687. The total trade between Cuha and the United States is usually about the third part, or 33-^ per cent., of the total imports and exports of the island. The total number of vessels entered the ports of Cuba in 1853 Avas 3,918; total number cleared, 3,827. The following table exhibits the nationality of these vessels: Nationality. Entered. Cleared. Spanish. _ __ _ 901 _ 2, SOT 368 126 45 24 57 20 17 7 17 13 6 2 8 882 . 2, 173 461 121 26 18 67 23 22 11 7 11 5 United States -- British. -_- French -_ - Dutch - --- Swedish Prussian _ _ Spanish. American Austrian Total- - 3,918 3,827 In 1854, the total trade of Cuba ascended to $64,078,309, viz: imports to $31,394,578, and exports to $32,683,731. This movement exhibited the following result, when compared with the trade of the preceding year : Total imports in 1854 $31,394,578 06-i- " " 1853 27,789,800 62^ Increase in 1854 3,604,777 43| Total exports in 1854 $32,683,731 00 1853 31,210,405 12^ Increase in 1854 1,473,325 87^ An analysis of the returns from which the preceding figures are derived exhibits the follow- ing details: Of imports, the increase is perceived especially on the articles cod-fish, flour, (national and foreign,) pork, beef, hams, lard, cheese, jerked beef, bacon, and foreign wine ; while there was a slight decrease on the articles rice, butter, and Spanish wine. Of exports, the increase fell, chiefly, on rum, sugar, coffee, wax, woods, honey, copper ore, leaf-tobacco. and cigars : while the articles raw cotton and molasses show a slight falling off. 192 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Under th.e national flag, the increase of importations over those of 1853 was, in value, |2, 254, 524; in foreign bottoms, there was a similar increase of $1,350,453. The increase in exports, under the Spanish flag, was $1, 232, 759 ; under foreign flags, 1240,566. The exports from Cuba to the United States, during this year, amounted in value to 111,641,813, or more than one-third of the exports of the island to all countries; the imports into Cuba from the United States, during the same period, reached, in value, $'7,867,680, or over one-fourth of the total imports from all countries. Of the imports into Cuba from the United States, only $19,755, in value, was carried in Spanish vessels ; while the value of such imports, under foreign flags, reached as high as $7,847,925. The exports from Cuba to the United States were exclusively borne in foreign bot- toms — two arrivals, one from Havana, carrying a value of $219 ; the other from Gibara, with freight amounting to $540: in all, $759 — being too insignificant to constitute a noticeable exception. No data are accessible on which to estimate the commerce of Cuba for 1855, the Balanza for that year not having, as yet, been received at the Department of State, (a) The following, ' ' state- ments" of revenue collected by the maritime and terrestrial custom-houses of that island in the month of December, 1855, compared with the same month of 1854; and, also, for the year 1855, compared with the preceding year^ published in the Government Gazette, by order of the super- intendent general of the royal exchequer, indicate increased activity of trade; the excess of rev- enue collected in December, 1855, over the same month in 1854, being nearly $254,000, and the excess for the whole of 1855 over the whole of 1854 amounting to $350,428 43f . Statement of revenue collected in Cuba in December, 1855 and 1854, compared. ADHlNISTRATIONa. Havana Matanzas Cardenas Trinidad ViUa-Clara Sto. Espintu Sagua La Grande. . . Cienfuegos Remedies Cuba Manzanillo Gibara Bayamo Holguin Baracoa Nuevitas Sta. Cruz Guantananio Pto. Principe Lottery Department. IN DECEMBER, 1855. Maritime. Terrestrial. 554:i,589 12i 46,993 43| 13,146 75 17,487 31i 1,423 06i 20,973 75 2,392 37J 41,897 18^ 7,377 3U 2,020 06i 513 06^ 4,433 43J 7 25 75 §123,787 25,676 6,803 11,218 J, 768 6,736 6,409 7,620 3,825 23,809 8,038 648 9,030 2,150 1,051 1,172 70 2,722 26,366 59,424 IN DECEMBER, 1854. Maritime. Terrestrial. 1364,798 18} 57,970 93i 7,467 874 14,714 3U 2,979 121 16,007 871 31,686 25 3,999 561 2,807 311 215 62i 3,761 311 1,489 25 448 62i §103,602 20,755 5,179, 8,592 5,348 6,500 3,566 5,433 3,135 27,682 7,435 211 2,617 1,980 7.-|l 763 47 833 18,119 52,766 na,S:.4 871 335,330 00 , 508,306 25 275,333 811 209,259 311 63,879 311 15,310 68J INCREASE IN 1855. Maritime. Terrestrial. 5,678 87J 2,773 00 4,965 874 2,392 374 10,310 93J 3,377 75 297 4.3j 672 12i $20,184 4,920 1,623 2,625 3,419 236 2,843 2,187 602 437 6,413 169 300 408 22 1,889 8,247 6,658 DECREASE IN 1855. Maritime. Terrestrial. 0,977 50 1,483 00 447 874 1,873 18} 3,873 18} Revenue collected in December, 1855 .-jj-l, 037, 584 874 Do. do. do. 1Sj4 783,630 061 Increase in 1855. 253,954 811 («) The Balanza for 1854 (lid not reach the Department of Stale until April, 1856. SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 193 Statement of revenue collected in Cuba in 1855 and 1854, compared. AtLministrations. Havana Matanzas Ciirdcnas Triuidad Villa-Clara Sto. Espiritu Saguala Grande- .. Cienfuegos Rcracdios Cuba Maiizanillo Gibara Bayamo llolguin Baiacoa Nuevitas Sta. Cruz Guantanamo Pto. Principe Lottery department Total . IK THE YEAR 1855. Maritime. Terrestrial. 6,458,359 62i 869,011 12i 315.560 75 260.561 67^ 132,511 37J 354,272 16^ 68,715 43} 626,699 12J 62,148 25 42,710 68J 3,498 75 74,451 06J: 10,600 121 16,961 25 .^■2,094,971 56i 230,900 00 88,782 81 J 78,719 37i 88,534 00 83,584 43^ 31,865 00 84,429 68J 37,269 18} 364,520 75 34,709 311 7,578 87i 50,092 5Si 30,876 18} 11,043 62i 9,921 25 630 75 14,529 00 183,950 37i 1,096,429 75 IN THE YEAR 1854. Maritime. Terrestrial. 1,416,416 43} 918,509 68} 329,954 62i 216,233 18} 30,114 81i 115,878 061 359,891 87J 48,322 87^ 674,362 18} 75,585 811 40,170 561 22,910 18} 95,0.-|4 061 17,950 811 12,936 12i !,033,226 12^ 205,651 25 68,943 811 63,903 43} 63,608 311 69,010 661 29,010 061 59,650 00 41,301 12i 296,378 124 30,834 37J 8,111 311 37,539 93} 24,712 93} 7,267 37; 9,818 62i 635 811 8,525 50 177,159 061 939,492 18} 9,288,761621a 4,601,338 50 9,374,891311 4,164,779 93f 117,863 00 441,127 661 203,992 683// 4,569 43} INCREASE IN 1655. Maritime. Terrestrial. $39,943 18} 44,328 68} 16,633 311 10,392 561 2,540 12J 4,025 12J .561,745 43} 25,248 75 27,839 00 14,815 93} 4,925 68} 14,573 87| 3,854 50 21,779 68} 68,142 62} 3,874 93} 12,552 621 6, 163 25 3,776 25 102 62J 6,003 50 6,791 311 156,937 561 DECREASE IN 1855. Maritime. Terrestrial. 849,498 561 14,393 87i 47,663 061 13,437 561 14,411 43} 21,5«3 00 7,350 68} $4,031 93} 532 43} Revenue collected in I8.S5 $13,890,100 12i [c] Do 1854 13,539,671 24} Increase in 1855. 350,428 87i It may be proper to remark in this place, tliat tlie Balanzas Generates, from which the pre- ceding and subsequent tables are derived, are not to be considered as giving the precise quanti- ties and values of the commercial exchanges of the island of Cuba witli foreign nations. They, doubtless, present the minimum amounts of each, as it would seem to be the policy of the cus- tom-house officials, by whom these annual reports are prepared, to undervalue the foreign trade of the island. As far back as the year 1825, the unreliability of these Balanzas, as authority in statistical compilations, requiring precise accuracy, was noticed by Baron Humboldt, in that portion of his "Personal Narrative" which relates to the island of Cuba. Alluding to them, he observes: "I have examined, in another work, fifteen years since, the basis upon which are founded the tables published under the fallacious title of "Balanza de Comercio." Since that period, it would seem that but little improvement has been made in the preparation of these annual ex- hibits of trade ; for the Department is officially advised, as late as 1853, that, in respect of values, the amounts stated in the Balanzas are fully one-fourth less than the real market value both of imports and exports. However this may be, the statements and tables given are all which are accessible; none other being published or prepared; and for all useful purposes, they will serve the statistician as well as if the greatest accuracy had been attained. The commerce of Cuba with foreign nations for the years 1852, 1853, and 1854, is fully set forth in the annexed statements, taken from the ' ' Balanzas Clenerales ' ' for those years. They are followed by two other tables, made up from the Balanzas, designed to illustrate the commercial movements of Cuba during a period of twenty-nine years, from 1826 to 1851, lioth inclusive; while a third table cxliiliits a comparative view of the foreign commerce of Cuba and Porto Rico during a period of seven years, from 1848 to 1854. (a) Error in original : the figures should be 9,284,061 62 J. (7j) Error of S5,618 68— excess. W Error of $4,700— excess. [ 25 ] 194 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. 00 OQ ^ O ^-1 H < ^ ^ cb- 1— 1 - w ri; M il !^ O o f=^ s 5 -^ W ■73 H H fq « fa o o 1— t Amount, Pesos. rls. 16,577,685 4 1,251,604 OJ 418.993 4 303. .593 4) 113,403 4 29,191 1,399,356 162,294 4 4.545 l-l 67,084 5 o c CO* L-:" oi r^ -^f ^ i-H CQ cj 05 1- ^^ cH" r-^" :-:' i--' ,0 -^ — . ?^ C) CI C> Oi C) "* -f CO Cl CI —I CO Tj CD Jj 1- O ■'". ^ — 1 ^ Oi — ' I- O '.- 1- r— CD 1— 1 1- Oi J— 1 CO CI -r iX l- C X ~i -r ~ -T c: L-'' 1-r — "^ oT ro CD i-f CO cr x' 'X' -^ c! '-> cr ce CO 1- .-( CO o >- — 1 '■: ■-- cc -^f- en I- c ^T. .xj ^ tri c^ ct f-i — 1 -. 1 ci ! £, Hi o ■ " i 00 c^ : o • r^ '■ cr a < i a. 1? J3 .. 1^ o cT o X' GO .3 i a, ; i « n, CI 1 en ?f i i c — K (M - 5f = S- : l> (71 r-i « C^ O • of pT c^ 1 S3 o^ 2 r-li. m ■ CO • ". i t^ O Tj< - 1-, O CO • S^ g S : GO 1 o co" 1 CO Xi CD I> -^ O CO CQ C-. Tf CO r-t O to 'T 1 g « s" to i CO o CO j r-l J! 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C K -J ^ 3 ^ :c 5 3 o o SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 195 T-H lO O ,-, -^ »o f to Xi •f ■* S i o i u o CO n F." ' -- ^ O O O O lO 3; o CO w :rj cr: o I— I e H o M . in o o CO T (O »r -^ — C-i CO -T l~ 'CD(NC'ic»0'«!fr-otDOi o -^r to f£in-rt<-rt:~-rton 10 ^ ^ -f ■ (7) -^ o 10 -c tt ■ C' tfJ OJ O (S Ql O ' CI f CI i- »0 I 31 00 CI CD CO I O Q} '/I ■* (N ' a, -H l-H CI C O .- to i~ to 10 -sj- CB Oi CO -^ (0~ I a;- (Ti -q* i~ ' CO w o ^ to i- r- ■ ■tJ'tO— '■^'^COCO'CCOi-CCO .— ico:^rocc'3'*n""Ceo t-coi~iooioococoo>— I O ■-< CO T-H CT o to CD 'o ':c er, -f eri X: ro T :c (71 — ' T- -c 3 £h 5 Si x K '/J g3 5?? m 03 OS >-H C! s s s ^ Q to 6 *" ? ^ r~ 1 ^ :i P T ra 1 1 TO 1 1 •• -^ i 2 • CO i ■•1 — I n ; 2 fi^ H 3- r^ 1- i- i- CO s a cc ^ x^ 10 CO CO ■V r2 s C-; a " Ct CI . i - g < '-'^ 1 S S5 S n 31 a s 7n ic t-H -H C (n Cl ^ 'f^ ^ i4! CT* . T 196 COMMBECIAL DIGESTS. CO 00 CO ^ O 1— 1 Eh PM m "^ o o o o o 3 o S < Pesos. rls. 15,081,298 3} 932,414 5 405,080 5 217,175 a 115.019 5 a, 190 820 19,121 5 1,427,548 3J 181,560 5 5,802 OJ 33,503 3 CD C) -i3 -w -fti -m -1^ -,^ -iti -fa -^ cot-oco'JiLOcc-^oi--rco — Cli— '— < C0ajClC0Cnr-CDC0^3}Ot;;C^i-g^ cr c-^ d co' -p 00 tcT -r t-^ irT -r o' ■^'^ icT "^ ""^ — C^C(, m-rcDCOiO COOOCDOIC) COXO r-lCOn-.^ 00 n co' CO 1 o p. n if i 00- ■ o : 1 ■r3 : S : CO CD O •a 1 (5; g FO 1 : |S5 O CI O -la r- s CO ft. 1°^ - o C35 CiT no 03 s lO = 1 CD i Ah CD i 1 co^ co" -J3 C) -la • -W CO ; CO 00 . CD CO*" • i-T 3" CD i GO a g CD 2^ s o CI CO co'^ PPo CO OD CO ^ < i - -la -kt -ior ^ O l> O O *" CT -^ O CJ r- oj o CQ g o £ f§ ?? Cft , o 5^ CO 1 "-^ i o- r 1 ■; 1.0 2~ - 1 CD ' a D § " ■ a, f: : CO CD CI o i 03 o o c> % 1 5 .a t- to O CO Hi' -m -la IS :• CD BO - ^ O .-1 ^ - ■ O CO ■ • : 2 g : ; CD CI o ■1 1 a> * § S : 8 S . Oh « : in • g : CO O O S5 s CO ax - § : i CD CI CO .3 S *■ : ^ o ■ en o • CO CO * co" '*^ 1 sD m i^ CT o ; s' € 'i " : HO ?!r ^ CD - 1 i i : eg ct" o" ; CD 1-1 • Ct cT CI CD LO ^ ^ ^ 3 Sj CO en i~ JO o rT -r ox co" rT • C! rr^'" Co" r^ : : K S S r^ : - CD CD o -r - c-r -t" Co" 1-r ■ \ % CO . C! 1 i ii 03 ^ ^ o" ■ "^ CO oo - PT ^" CI CD CO 55" -^ to" ;o ti" C) t^ CO f ^^ * 1— iCDCO-T-COOOCOClCOeOOF— lOXi O CO O) C*^ CO CO CO O lO liT Co" Co" i-T -/"^ T)!^' • S^ S S S S S S '-'' « =o c! « s; : o CO CO 5i isl ^ Tjt CV3 o ;!," lo o * ^ CO -rr- CT h- OT O • (N (D CT CO ^H m CO- nH i^ CO t- -1 . TjT ^ -^ i^*" o cf ' . CO oj en CD ^ « CO to CO M ^ 3 uf '• ii : CO 1 § 1^- CT; CD CD X' CI • cT CO -^ • o - 1 w > : ; a ■ : S Cd S -^ r: - °^ ^ S ■^ h s Z s O c: 6 d o 1 « j u > : K '• 3 _ c: Pi - !i '= -; - u. ^ .i; 5 = s 6 s r-< O 3 5 "^ - 5 c" 5 2 ^c^ 3 o -1 [ 1 SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 197 o &^ <1 o X -gor-ll>CTCl^rHCD-^T'"-^COCTr-'"cOr-l -^ji- — : H CO s - ooco(NcocDcioinioi'--TOii-(-rQOTf' r-- "f >— '■^r— iiOOICOi-OCT'jO-t'ioOi— iiiCOfTi i" - 1 S S ffl 1 C CT CT t- c,^ ^i, -^^ ^, "1 ^^ -^ ro § So S O CI '- 1 ^ i -CD ^3" o 1 ssii°'s""g|grf-s ; ■f ^ S' 4^ '^ ?" S" ^ ci" 2 S" rF of rC ^ ^ "" iS c d ccT co" co" 00 ^ CO i-l 3 >o" -^ oT'^Crr^i-n'r-r r^" a'i? 1 ^ ^ f m o (^ a 1 • 1 i ^5 r 0" CO -S i g I :? is — 3 j^ n s ■^ OJ 1 < O . TT ^ c; CO 1—1 ^ _^_^ TT J ':'£ ■i I .■a i; 2 CD l> ^ I o 10 CO CO 1 n ,^ fo' § ^ -.~ g CD r- j!i - -2 : CO CD C71 m CO S rt " • en - 03 o o g !S -r^ ■ co" tc CC Q. i-H 1 •i i • o o CD d s X 1 °M cc cc c *i 3 't- O ■* ■^ _>. 1 g s s s 10 c s rt II ■ t 1_J (2 c; c - c c £ G S W Eh t3 a ^ o T^ • CT ^" \ ^ : ^ In CD (D d 3 - 00 CO - Cl I s s^ s " cr § s o c 5 S ■ c •5 CO CO H ^ W a tr. CO =3 3d o ■ ' 3 IJO 10 CO ^ 2 ^ -■o lln ■2 s: i * ° 01 r- b d CI - o m d d 00 '-0 s R s -H C 3 '• c 2 s i - r~ CJ r-; CD nH s^ X O lO Of "■ [ ; ' . .-1 M< CO TT r-. 01 00 ir. CT O ■ Ol ^ ^ i^ t- "^ CO irj d CO 5 sS"S • co" CI c ~. CO ■* . >ra lO 00 - CO 2 (t '-' c c^ d o 3 ^ Oh = CI i ^ c CD """^ t^ r^ CO — CI CO -3 CO ■* o ^ ■* ~~l ■<*•:*< : -f* o ~~ii r-l '- o ^ r- c. 3 CO CI • 1—1 -- -r c GO 3) CC CD o C^ -H S3 aO ■ Ol I- m t-H • CO OJ S 08 Tj d 1-: o 00 H CI ^ - M- CO CI n rt c 3 e3 lO Ot CO CJ . 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CO -r 51 o <= CO cc c D 1 CO c i- ■» C^ Iff c^" cT c i S ? S '"' ci 1 i : i i g s ^ =f r ' - co^ Oi in m ; s '"' d >J T. Cd Ed ; ; c W '. u • ■^ 1-^ a > ; 3 . >■ : ^ • 3 . j_ 1 w : ." : o ■ J § 'S : _o ■= ; 6 — ' - c= ' t 5 " N ri S; ii 2 5 g 1 -1 ■? rt 'E !^ r- w - r Bi - ^ o rr le •5III ^Ht J g ^ i 1 E^ h- c t "? : = S h 3 2 :5 •>; ;J; ::^' 5 s = s c S H ij ^ X zS yj -^ U e ?^ = Z 198 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. CO t3 o o O o CQ ^ o 1—1 E^ -^ ^ ^ cb 1— ( r H ■^ Ph G O O fii ^ d rt M c3 &H W o <^ O a 5 o B < Pesos. Ws. 16,819,133 1,224,067 5i 124,198 1 268. 025 6 378,848 1 224.580 4 l,0.-i5 1,. 52(5, 112 5 49,371 OJ- 47.764 7 12,792 to CO >0 cl f-" co" t~ ^10 "o* rH Cl cd"' In" i"-" uo ?;■' 0' c^iOOT-^cJco^in^D^i-c^o^o oT r-T „■ CO x^ rT i-r ^ -r^ d i-r =' —' 10 t-T CO CO CO -r CI CO in --1 CO C' Ct 'X- CI rH CO 1-1 i^ c> -r 1-1 ■-■ CO to" r-T ci CD CD -la in CO o a. 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'rt ^" OT '-< -^ ^ ^ Cf OJ 00 CO CJ ■ -^ Ci CO cc 10 --H F-H l~ « Co'~ o' -r ■£' CD P CD CO C ro 1 -r j> ^ CI CO CD 8 Cl 0' n ;2 g S £ 1— I ^ en ■ -la Co" Cl -rf< Cl CO CO- K £ 1 Ic c^ c c t - _c I? E- u M > : c r Z ^ 5 ~ 1 ■= < 2 r r r 1 7 [ C c- = c c a 1 i SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 199 |2i o l-H O Oh M ^" i-i -r -^ (b to Tf j Ol ■* in o -3 o ;? i> en OD to 00 to Oi ^ o CO ro — 1 t^ CO to CO t* CO ^ CD m (O r-l -rr I-. to CO 5J t; ^ CTj C' T lO 03 ep o o i~ ci o oi ; to CO O) ct o CO ■"-! OI O) O) t^ Ol -^ "^ ".^.^„ CO cr o CO rt \ tc ^ Ol CO m CO TJ. o t- CO o n iQ -Yj -r in - O CO CO CO tc oT co" irT -h' t-^ go" -^ o co" co" to" o3 -V H o t~ CI CO Ct yr. CO Oi o -^ Oi "^ CO 2 o CO O O r-- 1-1 ; to r^ lO .-. 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S ^ o r~ «n <« (f( r^ m g « CO lO t- o o •»• ai CO oi r- CO t- to r- r-coosocoioojTr-j Wf-CDt-Ol-'l-CDCO 00 i i i to i i i .§ S s 3 g i i i i i g CO s S S i 00 s 51 CO o S ui ^ ui «D lO lO «o «= ui ■o O CO l" ■ S 2" § S m oo CO ft oa T O CD U5 CT CO O i^ Co' oT cT pT CT* CO* W OO CO CD TP ^ O to (71 CO en OJ to o» CO CO CO CO .-( CO o o US 3* CO I- I— QO 1-1 "T 03 l^ I- CO t- (N CO (O 00 CD lO -^ r- CO t~ 00 to >— I CO CO -V Oi CO o CTi"iCT Oi r^ CO Oi o S S 3 S : US 1= £ - !■=■ t -O ? - ' ■S £ 's M 5 i: o o -r 202 COMMEKCIAL DIGESTS. o S i< 00 -2 ■< 00 ^ 00 T-H ai g § o 5j < t-s 8 '-!* «:; r\ E^ ^, ?^ o ^ a^ m 'vi -Ka s >i! c s; IS « s 'w O S^ >. 1-) o ^ "« ff g « §£ 'S 8 ^ « ^ -3 ? '^ Ci ri; 1^ o «> '? s e s- »> s ^SS o ■^^ s ^ ■8 ^ < M ^ fe. 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J= f& "S e H ■n a UJ 0) s 3 Ui •^ so 3 1 •§ ^ ,- fli SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 203 GENERAL POET REGULATIONS. 1. Ships leaving with a full cargo of molasses are free of tonnage duties. 2. Ships arriving in ballast, and leaving in the same state, pay no tonnage duty; hut if they should take return cargoes of the fruits, or other articles of the island, (entire cargoes of molasses only excepted,) they pay the regular duty. 3. Ships arriving in distress for water, or other necessaries, are free from tonnage duty; but when they discharge the whole or part of their cargo, (unless every part is again taken in, and no more,) or load with produce, foreign or native, (molasses excepted,) they are subjected to the entire tonnage duty. 4. "Vessels, foreign or national, which have left a port of the island, having paid the proper tonnage duty, and which enter any port of the island to repair damages they may have sus- tained at sea, by reason of storm or other casualty, are exempt from further tonnage duty. 5. Vessels entering the ports of the island with mineral coal, in equal or greater quantity than the number of tons per their register, pay only 50 cents per ton for tonnage duty, even if they bring other merchandise besides. They are also exempt from all other local charges, (excepting captain of the port's fees,) such as ponton and health dues, custom-house visits, entry and clearance fees, wharfage, stage-hire, &c. Such as bring coal, solely, in less quantity than their tonnage measure, pay 50 cents per ton upon the portion occupied by coal ; and the difference between this portion and the number of tons that the vessel may prove to have, by Spanish measurement, will be subjected to the payment of the full tonnage duty ; but these vessels are allowed the exemption from all other charges except captain of the port's fees. Vessels having on board, besides coal in less quantity than their measurement, other cargo, are in the same case respecting the tonnage dues, but are subjected to the ponton, health visits, registering, and other usual dues. Mail steamers, recognized as such, are permitted to bring and carry three tons of cargo without paying tonnage dues. If the cargo discharged exceeds the three tons, they pay duty on such excess over and above the three tons. Vessels going from one port to another of the island, carry a sea-letter of introduction to the custom-house of the other port, stating that the regular charges have been paid. This letter costs |4. By order of November 4, 1854, all vessels having to perform quarantine must go either to Havana or to St. Jago de Cuba for that purpose. Quarantine fee, $1 per day. Besides the foregoing general regulations, which are in force at all the ports of the island, there are others of a more local character, applicable to some, and not to others. These relate more especially to tonnage and port duties, and other charges. The tonnage duties and other charges at the principal ports are subjoined : AT BAEACOA. Nature of charges. Tonnage duty Anchorage - Free pass at the fort . Health officers' fee for boarding vessels Custom-house interpreter's fee Custom-house officer's fee to visit on board, to seal and imseal, so long as the vessel is discharging Opening vessel's register Register of despatch Foreign vessels pay. $1 50 12 00 3 00 8 00 5 00 5 00 8 GO 8 00 204 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. AT HAVANA. Nature of charges. Foreign vessels Spanish vessel* pay. pay. $0 03 $0 03 2 00 3 00 3 00 3 00 3 00 4 00 1 50 62J H H 2H m n n 5 50 5 50 5 60 6 50 2 00 2 00 4 00 to 6 00 4 00 to 6 00 5 50 5 50 8 25 8 25 6 00 6 00 4 00 4 00 Health visit, per ton (a) Government interpreter Captain of the port's fees: On entering the port On clearing the port Translation of manifest Tonnage duty, per ton (b) Light dues, per ton Ponton dues, per ton Wharfage dues, per ton Custom-house fees: Inward visit Outward visit Annotation fee. . . Extracts of manifest, according to length of incidental charges, from Eegister dues (for each daily return of cargo discharged, whether one or one thousand packages) For outward register and stamp paper Bill of health: Over 150 tons Under 150 tons Pilotage. — -It is optional for a vessel to take a pilot, unless she goes into tlie inner harbor heyond the shoals ; in which case, whether she takes one or not, she has to pay $10 coming in as far as the inner harhor, $10 going out, and $10 from any part of the outer harbor into the inner. Foreign men-of-war pay no port charges. If a pilot is taken, the rate charged is the same as paid by Spanish men-of-war — $7 in, and the same out. AT SAINT JAGO. Nature of charges. Health visit, per ton. Government interpreter Custom-houBe interpreter ' ' inward visit ' ' outward visit Extract of manifest Custom-house officer, per diem, while vessel is discharging -. On aggregate amount of tonnage duty, per cent Foreign vessels pay. $0 03J 2 00 4 00 5 50 5 50 60 5 50 1 00 Spanish vessels pay. $0 OIJ 5 50 5 50 50 5 80 1 00 Nature of charges. Light-house dues, per ton Captain of port's fee Fort pass Pilotage - "Wharfage per diem, on 100 tons Wharfinger Stamped paper Clearance . Telegraph Duty, per ton Foreign vessels pay. $0 061 12 50 50 4 00 1 50 1 50 10 00 8 50 4 00 1 80 Spanish vessels pay. $0 03J 12 50 50 4 00 76 1 50 10 00* 8 50 4 00 62J (a) This fee is received by the boarding physician, and is applied to the general board of health. He receives the bill of health, which must be authenticated by the Spanish consul at the port of departure, under a penalty ofbeing sent to quarantine for .«nvpn days, and a fine of fifty dollars. (fi) Per ^J[iaiiisli measurement ; in addition tg this duty, one per cent, balanza upon the result of the tun=. multiplied by 1^, is charged. SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 206 AT TKINIDAD, MATANZAS, AKD CARDENAS. Nature of charges. rOREION VESSELS PAY At Trinidad. At Matanzas. At Cardenas. On aggregate amount of tonnage duty Light dues, per ton Pilotage for schooner, in and out Brig, " " Barque or ship, " Entering in ballast, per day ' ' with cargo, while discharging, per day Clearing in ballast ' ' with cargo -- Governor'sfoe -- Health visit, per ton Captain of the port Fort pass -- - Mud-machine duty, per ton Look-out man $0 oej Entering and leav- ing with or with- out pilot, S12-., When drawing 7 to 10 feet, $12 00. Each additional i foot, $2 00. Whole expense, $28. - Opening register & clearing, $27 $1 00 3 6 00 2 50 (& stamps) Anchorage, $6 00 . MODE OF COLLECTING DUTIES. The collection of the duties is made in a very simple manner. The island of Cuba is divided into customs intendencies, of which Havana is the principal. The intendency is organized into seven branches, viz : the intendant, the superior council of the hacienda, the tribunal of accounts, the accountant-general, the treasurer-general, the admin- istration of the customs, and the administration of the internal revenue. The administration of the customs is comprised of the administrator or collector, the accountant, and the treasurer. When a vessel arrives at the Havana, she is first boarded by the health officer, after whom comes the revenue officer and the smuggling preventive service. A copy of the custom-house regulations, in Spanish, French, and English, is handed to the captain, and a manifest required of him of all the particulars of his vessel and cargo. Every article on board the vessel, omitted in the manifest, is subject to confiscation. "Within forty-eight hours after the entry of the vessel, every consignee must deliver detailed statements of the articles coming to him, with their quantities, weights, and measures, all reduced to the legal standard. All the documents and papers relating to a vessel are stitched together in a boob, with the signatures and seals of all the government officers, through whose hands the several documents pass. A copy of this book is made for the use of the inspectors and appraisers; the latter function being restrained within very narrow limits, by a printed tariff of all articles of import, with a valuation to each, which valuation, in a great degree, defines the duties of the ad valorem character. As fast as the inspection and appraisement take place, the consignee is permitted to remove the goods, by procuring the signature of some responsible person to the words inscribed in the book, "I make myself answerable for the duties." The inspection and appraisement being concluded, the book is returned to the accountant's office, where the liquid- ation of the duties is forthwith made. _ The payment is then proceeded with. These payments are mostly cash; that is to say, on some articles, whatever may be the amount, cash is required ; upon other articles, the duties are cash under 1,000 dollars. 206 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. If the amount is greater, a credit of one-fourth is given for sixty days, and one-fourth paya- ble at the end of each succeeding month — making five months' credit in all. The security for this credit consists simply in the promissory note of the consignee, without endorsement, with the power, in case of a failure, to convert every other note of the same individual into a cash debt; the individual to be forever after incapacitated to enter goods, except for cash. This system has been in force many years, and, under it, no loss whatever has been sustained by the government. Formerly, the same credits required the endorsement of a holder of real estate; but this was abandoned on account of its insecurity, (a) Statement of imports at the port of Havana, from January 1 to September 30, 1855, compared with the same, for the same periods, in 1854 and 1853. [From custom-house returns.] Countriea. 1855. 1854. 1853. 1855. 1864. 1853. United States Flmr. Barrels. 864 109,434 2,808 117,519 176 120,862 Rice. Quintals. 77,906 93,945 29,746 93,998 28,420 1,474 60,089 28,458 7,092 Other countries Total 110,298 120,327 121,027 201,596 123,892 95,639 United States British provinces- - European Total Lumber. M. feet. Codfish. Quintals. 9,635 1,273 10,004 388 8,015 109 19,241 29,186 11,787 18,199 23,171 9,269 21,249 24,940 10,327 10,908 10,392 8,124 60,163 50,629 56,616 United States South America United States British provinces.. Total Lard. Quintals. Slid, shooles. Number. ( Jerked beef, i Quintals. ( Box shooh. Number. 64,477 68,536 45,636 185,739 150,477 148,477 87,319 46,026 49,054 568,495 39, 257 385,740 12,755 386,732 20,092 87,319 46,026 49,054 607,752 398,496 406,824 Spain ...... - Oil. Jars- . Wine. Pipes- 365,828 177,786 190,993 26,674 28,294 16,403 Number and tonnage of vessels which entered the port of Havana from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, 1855. Nationality. No. of vessels. Tonnage. Nationality. No. of vessels. Tonnage. 708 398 92 110 13 13 299,127 87,827 39,675 29,967 6,217 2,842 Danish 12 14 4 42 3,040 4,493 860 9,819 Bremen British French - - . Other nations Total Dutch 1,406 482,867 (a) Macgregor. SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 207 Comparative statement of the commerce between the United States and Cuba, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. TEARS. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OF IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign produce. Total. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850. 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 $6,203,808 4,713,966 6,005,617 6, 432, 380 4, 641, 145 4,530,256 5,239,276 5,803,196 5,773,419 8,228,116 7,607,119 $360,946 773, 170 972,089 464,333 668,068 460,041 1,284,847 714,355 61*, 540 323,636 397,463 $6,564,754 5,487,136 6,977,706 6,896,713 5,309,213 4,990,297 6,524,123 6,517,551 6,287,959 8,551,752 8,004,582 $6,804,414 8, 159, 632 12,394,867 12,853,472 10,659,956 10,292,398 17,046,931 17,861,728 18,585,755 17,124,339 18,625,339 193,183 156,905 233,258 284, 304 271,061 249,307 355,515 441,418 455, 700 467,356 488, 146 171,892 177,580 243,515 281,251 284,568 254,018 361,732 370,306 365,392 398,049 481,545 9,238 3,404 10,756 23, 487 31,577 33, 030 53,162 48, 537 37,362 42, 182 32,968 16,193 12,338 18,493 13,435 19,564 29,703 29,942 22,780 22,730 25,188 31,196 POETO KICO. The island of Porto Eico, the smallest of the G-reat Antilles, and one of the most fertile on the glohe, lies between 17° 55' and 18° 30' N. latitude, and 65° 40' and 6T° 20' W. longitude. Its entire length is stated to be about 100 miles, and its average breadth about 39 miles, com- prising an area of about 3,Y50 square miles, or about 2,398,370 acres. A ridge of mountains extends east and west through the island. The population is about 500,000, of which nearly one-tenth is composed of slaves. Porto Eico was discovered by Columbus in 1493, at which period it is said to have had a pop- ulation of 800,000 souls. In 1509 it was invaded by the Spaniards from St. Domingo; and, in a few years, the natives were exterminated. The island was explored and conquered by Ponce de Leon, the discoverer of Florida, while prosecuting his voyage in search of the foun- tain of perpetual youth. Although, during the past fifteen years, agriculture has made great progress on the island of Porto Eico, there yet remains, owing chiefly to the want of labor and good roads, a considerable portion of it uncultivated. Immense plains, which, if planted with the sugar-cane, would reward labor most bountifully, are yet lying untouched by the hand of civilization or culture, because canals are wanting, through which the water by which they are now inundated could be drawn off. The island abounds in excellent timber, but, as ret, it has yielded no profit to the inhabitants. There are, also, different kinds of the more valuable woods for cabinet-makers, such as the acajou, polysander, &q. ; but they still repose undisturbed amid the ravines of the mountains. A remedy for these evils might be found in immigration ; but it has ever been the policy of the government to discourage the introduction and settlement of foreigners. The laws to that 208 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. end have been particularly severe in regard to all foreigners, especially to those not professing the Roman Catholic religion. Every foreigner arriving in Porto Rico is compelled, before landing, to give some responsible resident as surety for his good behavior. After six months he must either domiciliate or leave the island. Should he' select the former alternative, he must embrace the Roman Catholic faith, the only religion tolerated, (a) An intelligent traveller, who lived for some time on the island, gives the following informa- tion relative to the laws under which foreigners could become denizens : "Previous to the year 1828, strangers were required to produce the most undoubted evidence of being Roman Catholics, in order to become domiciled; and, having satisfied the authorities on this point, they were further obliged, after five years' residence, to become naturalized. Before a stranger would be permitted to land, he must give security for good political and moral conduct ; and supposing that he could gratify the requirements of the law in all these particu- lars, such were the jealousy and illiberality of the government, that few could be induced to remain in a country where no prospect of success appeared. "In 1828, however, the leniency and more liberal policy of Don Miguel La Tone, the captain- general, by relaxing the rigor of former requirements, contributed greatly in removing the impediments to the settlement of foreigners on the island. La Tone strictly carried out the spirit of the " Beal Cedule" of 1815, having for its object the encouragement of agriculture and commerce in the Spanish colonies. Thus, the domicilio was procured by paying a trifling sum of money, and by the applicant complying with certain formalities. A considerable immigra- tion was the immediate effect of these measures of La Tone. Lured by the superior fertility of the soil, and the liberal policy of his administration, planters from the neighboring islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas sold their estates, and brought their capital and slaves into Porto Rico. Their example was followed by several planters from the windward British and French islands. Thus seconded by foreign enterprise and foreign capital, the island has continued to prosper, in a most extraordinary degree, since 1828. But, notwithstanding this rapid improve- ment, and the continued augmentation of its staple exports, this improvement would have been greater, and the exports considerably larger, but for the oppressive duties upon all articles of necessary consumption, and the frequent heavy exactions made by the government towards the sup- port of the war in Spain. These causes, by diminishing the profits of the planters, have pre- vented them from extending their estates. Hence, the progress which has been made in the cultivation of the soil is due rather to the continued influx of new settlers with their important capital, than to the prosperity or increased industry of the old." The slave population is almost thp only producing power on the island ; but this is so totally inadequate to the wants of the planters, that they are frequently obliged to procure additional help from Cuba. This, however, greatly augments their expenses ; since a robust and good- working slave, who, in Porto Rico, may be valued at |350, cannot be purchased in Cuba for less than $600. Sugar and coffee are the staple productions ; while tobacco, hides, woods, cotton, fruit, and rum form also a part, though to no considerable extent, of the exports. Tobacco is cultivated entirely by free labor. The five principal commercial ports of Porto Rico are San Juan, (the capital of the island,) Arecibo, Mayagiiez, Ponce, and Guayama. SAN JUAN, OR ST. JOHN. Although possessing a magnificent port, considered one of the best on the island, San Juan is not the first commercial place, as the products exported thence are of a very inferior quality. Of the sugar shipped from this port, as well as from the other ports of the island, the United States receives more than two-thirds of the whole. But a small quantity goes to England, (a) Most of the historical part of this Digest is derived from Macgregor. SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 209 and, also, thougli rarely, to France. From tlie United States are imported cod-fisli, and other salt fish.; salt meat, boards, lumber, hoops, staves, and butter; from England, boilers for the manufacture of sugar, machinery, small quantities of iron, and heavy supplies of earthenware. Spanish vessels take in cargoes at St. Thomas, and discharge at San Juan, thereby avoiding the duty applicable to all vessels from all other adjacent foreign ports, in the ports of Porto Eico. Generally speaking, the whole island of St. Thomas is but a great entrepot of European and American manufactures destined for the markets of Cuba and Porto Eico — a fact shown by the large amount of importations from St. Thomas into both these islands. The annual exports from San Juan in 1853 consisted of 11,369,304 pounds of sugar; 5,803 hogsheads of molasses; 3*76 hogsheads of rum; and 910,966 pounds of coffee. It is to be regretted that the port of San Juan, one of the best and safest of the island, should be kept in so deplorable a condition. Six or seven years ago, a vessel drawing 16 to 18 feet water could take in a full cargo at the wharf ; at present, a ship of the same tonnage can receive only three-fourths of her cargo, and is compelled to leave the wharf in order to get into water deep enough to take in the balance. AEECIBO, OE AREIBO. During the last eight years, the commercial condition of this port has been highly prosperous. The imports and exports have greatly increased; splendid mansions have been erected, and several commercial houses established. The harbor, however, is so totally unprotected, that vessels are compelled to anchor in a very wide berth, and frequently, during the prevalence of north winds, are forced to retire from the shore and put out to sea. They sometimes receive cargoes, under sail, without casting anchor. Accidents are, in consequence, so frequent, that seldom does a year pass without having to record the loss of one or more vessels. Imports are nearly the same as at San Juan; the exports comprise about 10,000 hogsheads of sugar; 3,000 of molasses; 1,000 of rum; 14,000 to 15,000 quintals of coffee; and a consid- erable quantity of timber for Spain, to be used in the Spanish ship-yards. Arecibo also ex- ports considerable quantities of tobacco to Germany, the United States, and Cuba, amounting, in the whole, to about 2,500,000 pounds. MAYAGUEZ, OE MAYAGUAS. This is the most important port on the island. It possesses large capital, and contains several costly and fine dwellings. Eapidly rebuilt after the great conflagration, by which it was destroyed in 1841, Mayagiiez has gained in prosperity; having been before that disaster but an inconsiderable village, it has now become the most important city on the island. The surrounding district produces large quantities of coffee, though, since 1840, there has been a sensible diminution in that article. For that year, the exports amounted to 80,000 quintals, while in 1853 they fell to 43,500 quintals. The coffee of MayagUez stands in such high repute in America and Germany, that purchases are frequently made in advance of the crop. Hence comes also the best sugar of the island, which is mostly imported in American bottoms into the United States. In 1853, there arrived 83 American vessels, of 13,272 tons, carrying freight to the value of $223,600; and there cleared 76, of 12,680^ tons, taking cargoes worth $460,013. The molasses from this port is always of the best quality, and much sought after by American and English shippers. Besides coffee, in 1853 there were exported 165| hogsheads of rum; 8,221 hogsheads of molasses; 20,766,033 pounds of sugar; but only 4,463 pounds of tobacco, showing a decrease, compared with the preceding year, of over 50,000 pounds. There were, besides, 1,000 hogs- heads of rum mixed with tabasco pepper (malagueta), a preparation constituting now a new and profitable branch of domestic industry. Imports from the United States and England are generally similar to the imports into San Juan. Within the past few years a considerable number of planters, of moderate capital, have en- [ 27 ] 210 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. gaged in the cultivation of cocoa, with perfect success. A few quintals of it sold to Spanish merchants have found a ready appreciation at Barcelona, and tlie article is considered equal to the cocoa of Caraccas. It is quite prohable tliat, in the course of a i'ew years, cocoa will be largely exported from Mayagiiez, and thus supply the deficit caused by the diminution in the exportation of cofl^ee. In addition to the products already specified, Mayagiiez exports also considerable quantities of oranges, citrons, and other fruits, to the United States. PONCE. This port is almost as important, in a commercial point of view, as Mayagiiez. In 1853, it exported even more sugar and molasses than the latter. But the long droughts frequently destroy entire crops — no rain falling, oftentimes, for five or six successive months. Notwith- standing, by dint of incessant labor, and by means of artificial irrigation, the industrious planter often succeeds in partially overcoming this drawback, and in securing a passable harvest. Like Mayagiiez, Ponce possesses some few vessels, which make regular voyages to and from Spain. In 1853, the exports consisted of 27,804,269 pounds of sugar; 13,161 hogs- heads of molasses ; 1,876,249 pounds of coifee ; 72 hogsheads of rum, and some hides. This trade employed 90 vessels from the United States, carrying 15,616 tons, and entering with cargoes of the value of $173,168; and 80 vessels of 15,208 tons, clearing with cargoes in value $684,662. aUAYAMA. The drought, which afilicts this district even more severely than Ponce, is the chief caiise of its commercial decadence. Many of the inhabitants have abandoned their establishments, and gone with their slaves to seek, in the interior of the island, a climate more congenial to the culture of the sugar-cane. The sugar of Guayama shows a fine grain and good color for refinery. In 1853 there entered the port 85 American vessels, having an aggregate of 15,471 tons, importing in value |255,153; and cleared 83, of 14,873 tons, exporting a value of |492,338. The total exports of sugar during the same year were 21,920,511 jjounds; of molasses, 11,618 hogsheads; of coffee, 306,683 pounds; and of tobacco, 101,802 pounds. Mayagiiez, Ponce, and Guayama are the three places on the island which possess the greatest number of steam-engines, and machines for the manufacture of sugar. This remark applies, in a special manner, to Mayagiiez, the climate of which is particularly favorable to the devel- opment of labor. In 1850 there were put up here ten machines of from 10 to 16 horse-power each. The exportation of rum is not in proportion to that of sugar, owing to the large consumption of that article on the island. Among the secondary ports of the island, Aguadilla and Humacao are the most considerable. In 1853 the former exported 3,092,302 pounds of sugar; 2,438,788 pounds of coffee; 649 hogs- heads of molasses; and 469,956 pounds of tobacco. The latter, in the same year, exported 4,183,233 pounds of sugar; 100,000 pounds of coffee; 1,676 hogsheads of molasses; and only 11,220 pounds of tobacco, against 28,300 the preceding year. Tlie great bulk of the coffee shipped from these two ports goes to Trieste, Genoa, and Hamburg. Germany also takes from these ports a considerable quantity of tobacco. Fajardo and Naguaba have some trade with the French West Indies, with St. Thomas and St. Croix, consisting chiefly in an exchange of live animals and provisions for the imports from those islands. Their sugar, however, amounting annually to about 5,000 hogsheads, is almost exclusively sent to the United States. Sugar. — Previously to 1820, scarcely enough sugar was produced for the consumption of the island. According to ofiicial statements, the quantity exported from all parts of the island of Porto Eieo in 1839 amounted to 69,245,783 pounds, valued at $2,423,602; while in 1853 the quantity of sugar exported amounted to 110,605,859 pounds, valued at $3,318,175 ; showing an increase in fourte<'n years of over fifty per cent. The Unileil Shitos alone received in 1853 74,710,336 pounds, valued at $2,244,309, or over two-thirds of the whole quantity expurted. SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 211 Coffee. — The quantity exported in 1839 was 8,538,:!r)2 pounds, valued at $853,000; and in 184'.>, S, 015,311 pounds, valued at $51fi,018. In 1853, it amounted to 11,580,604 pounds, valued at $(')'.)4,830. Despite this seeming increase, it is a well-known fact that the cultivation of coffee is on the decline. The Hanseatic cities receive nearly one-half of the whole exporta- tion of coffee, while the United States take hut an inconsiderahle quantity. Molasses.— In 1839 there were exported 3,311,7191 gallons, of the value of $496,'759; in 1849,4,328,135^ gallons, valued at $649,220; and in 1853, 46,630| hogsheads, valued at $466,307. The United States received of the quantity exported in 1853 to the value of ^ $363,612, nearly three-fourths of the total exportation. Cotton. — The cultivation of cotton declines yearly, and "has become at this time insignificant. In 1839 there were exported 1,183,973 pounds, valued at $189,435 ; while in 1853 the whole amount did not exceed 280,565 pounds, valued at $28,056. Rum.— The value of rum exported in 1839 was $16,241, and in 1853, $17,106. The exporta- tion of this article bears no proportion to that of molasses, as rum is immoderately consumed by the common people on the island. ' The commerce of Porto Rico with foreign nations during six years, from 1848 to 1853, both inclusive, is illustrated by the following statements : Statement of the values of the prinei2)al articles imported into Porto Rico, 1848 — 1853. [Miulo up from the "Balanzas Generales."] Olive oil , Liquids Moats Spicos Fruits, &c Kico Ci'ii'iils, Sic Lard nml butter. Choi'so Fish Other edibles.. .. Cottons. . Woolens . Linens . . Silks Tobacco tikiiiM and peltries . Wood Motnl Iron nails Iron w.irc , Marliint's, and parts tliereof, for sugar nianufiietorics Agricultunil implements i^i'H' M.'.luini's Furniture IN'rtliinery Candles Gold and silver . Unenunierntcd. $86,019 50 193,638 94 71,7ia 40 5,967 42 32, 139 56 38,580 26 598,958 91 84,149 12 27,314 76 365,902 00 116,986 63 521,310 87 52,(191 03 308,446 65 68,940 44 199,929 18 72,409 53 233,360 00 26, 126 60 12,024 97 36,505 36 19,059 48 9,855 12 22, 174 05 127,431 30 33,209 82 61,338 02 12,438 15 46,652 15 234,116 00 $99,289 50 187,250 70 96,375 29 6,450 50 27.838 98 40,598 31 580,415 98 80,733 93 25, 196 73 364,488 41 112,706 09 755,287 33 49,291 34 405,699 03 61,578 08 143, 120 94 58,030 87 211,196 42 33,033 34 15,963 04 68,275 68 23,738 56 28.839 28 22,781 25 13-1,339 00 33,667 40 44,173 47 18,306 61 16, 806' 63 612,155 00 $89,197 15 228, 132 07 83,278 73 14,657 46 29,959 19 43,987 37 688,859 82 88,158 34 30,697 76 436,990 91 116,620 52 651, 105 34 47,244 04 310,130 17 62,186 03 185,580 84 85,049 14 316,291 80 24,619 34 20,829 16 58,170 54 35,493 97 24,983 44 23,582 36 112,438 75 31,9,">5 38 44,945 02 15,028 08 62,678 40 740,002 50 Total 4,469,75162 4,981,583 89 15.222,021198 6,073,870 02 6,298,395 65 5,335,910 36 $79,259 70 236,431 00 92,607 11 14,895 22 50,672 74 46,809 78 1,000,319 92 74,671 74 45,888 50 381,208 51 164,037 40 625,535 14 50,594 36 253,582 22 8,645 38 222,056 45 121,449 15 337,088 66 35,446 71 14,727 11 51,273 36 42,445 57 97,739 16 49,1^ 67 156,881 00 20,374 79 45,756 27 17,355 00 63,087 32 70.1,475 25 $99,932 63 340,868 17 91,724 16 (a) 15,533 18 50,021 56 145,498 58 1,193,123 23 91,658 76 67,014 58 402,232 21 166,031 64 599,201 52 48,744 18 267,459 22 93,880 46 138,440 21 134,141 93 254,947 98 71,738 55 32,957 23 42,294 96 65,179 66 21.166 48 89,706 05 215,940 35 30,617 56 84,488 03 35.167 50 68,945 92 392,281 00 1853. $122,707 00 242,993 68 67,218 67 10,657 34 43,340 01 83,265 75 693,701 40 69,578 30 33,837 50 343,093 02 135,732 06 677,841 81 75,777 62 352,494 05 76,496 07 124,374 56 106,406 23 216,867 15 33,074 29 25,073 74 39,741 36 36,383 21 15,207 52 38,013 91 97,312 10 36,192 61 34,568 64 25,029 00 48,017 38 735,630 75 (a) The Balanza gives this sum as .^107,0.'">7 34, which is nn error. 212 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. CO lO 00 T-H 1 1 m -* 00 I— 1 ^ op O •r.^ « s •& ^ i pi 'fi JiSi <-£! i-jD 10 1 CO 3 ? g 2 CO lO CO 01 O 10 C) CT I~ I~ CO -Ht-oo-^'fr-oicoo-^ci -r 00 CI CO CO 00 «3 O) ci 'o i~ ^o CO f~ OS 51 (~ ^ -^ to i- to CO C-Zj (~ CJ 00 1- lO CO to to csT S3 24,387 24,409 2.923 8,136 42. 143 113,116 234,939 iSi .-( Cl f7l to -. Cfl to OJ CI T C> T' ^ 5 t~ c/j r^ rj-j ih CI -r t^ i-H irt ,-1 CO CI o to r~ to '-0 I CJ .-H rt Ci 10 -V O CI CO CO to I to -r o <-■ ^ I CO -r L- (- CT ^ CO 'T Tf otT cT ss -f r- -f rH CO ^ I S :; '^ " a , (O O (D CO CO . CD -H CT) r: S 3 CI g? CO -i o m o CI .-I —( r-i to ff) O 1^ l- lO O ."O CO I Q (O f O -f CO ■ ' CO -T* ct — ' I - cS t >-< <0 CT O to I -r CI 1-1 C) iH o -^ t^ :-B to co' UO 10 ?! l- CI 3 en O) CO £ cr. CO O -J ^ o» to to OJ (P C) f/j ^ ,-1 T- 10 W CI f/J rl 01 I~ to 0> ci ^ oT r-H CT) to CO o) CO r- o ^ g ^ S - .H — cj -r CTi o 'o CI in u-j T- CT) o . to CI -r CI <— I (yj ■ to o to to GO CI O O CTl O ft CI I- CT C» =- 7y '/; = o SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 213 The tonnage of American vessels arriving in 1853 at Porto Kico amounted to 67,180, or nearly one-half of the total tonnage of the island, double that of all the Spanish, and nearly triple that of all the English vessels. Ports mostly visited by American vessels were Mayaguez, 97 vessels; Ponce, 69 vessels; Guayama, 50 vessels; and Porto Rico (San Juan), 45 vessels. Statement of the quantities of the principal products of Porto Rico, 1848 — 1853. [Made up from the "Balanzas Generales."] Years. Aguardiente Cotton. Hogsheads. Poiwwis. 984i 182,457 l,241i 304,062 572i 241,574i 347^ 366,581 113* 218,792 648J 280,565 Coffee. Sugar. Hides. Pounds. Pounds. 101,298,754 745,880 10D,742,517i 519,070i 112,129,432 544,752 118,416,304 632,706 93,631,396 508,820 110,605,859 507,251 Tobacco. 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 Pounds, 9,613,074 8,615,311 11,783,684 12,111,971 11,370,763 11,580,604 Pounds. 2,457,449 2, 430, 540 J 2,973,308 6,478,084 5,565,739 3,703,457 Gallons, 3,867,474 4,328,135} 4,905,313 4,827,558 3,357,900 4,896,228 Head, 4,372 3,700 4,376 6,053 6,220 6,019 The foreign Antilles, and among them, especially, St. Thomas and St. Croix, have the largest amount of the imports into Porto Rico. Indeed, the former, as already observed, may be considered merely as an entrepot for European and American manufactures, serving the Spanish merchants, from its proximity to the Spanish West Indies, as a market for all their merchandise. It will be seen that the United States occupy the first rank as regards the amount of exports, taking more than one-half of the total exportations. They receive two- thirds of all the sugar, and three-fourths of all the molasses exported ; these being the principal articles entering into the export trade of Porto Eico. The exportation to the United States amounted in 1853 to |2, 340, 000, chiefly for sugar and molasses. Spain holds the second rank in importations into, and only the fourth as respects exportations from, Porto Rico, since the foreign Antilles import more into the island; and the United States, England, and the Hanseatic cities take more "from it than does Spain, despite all differential duties in her favor, both as respects shipping and trade. GENEEA.L REGULATIONS. Tonnage Duties. — Ships entering the ports of the island of Porto Rico will pay, if foreign, fl the ton; if national, 37^ cents the ton, as per register. (The sections marked 1, 2, 3, 4, in the General Regulations of Cuba, are also applicable to Porto Rico.) National vessels bringing full cargoes of coals will pay no tonnage duties, although the number of tons be less than indicated by their register; foreign vessels will, however, pay 50 cents per ton, in compliance with the royal decree of December 23d, 1848. But, whenever a ship, either national or foreign, brings other cargo besides coals, no matter whether the coals he equal to, or more than, the amount of her tonnage, she will pay the tonnage duty in accord- ance with said decree. Vessels loaded with coals only, are exempted from local duties, with the single exception of the fee ($23) to the captain of the port for entering and clearing. National or foreign vessels entering the ports will pay, in addition to the duties specified, 12^ cents per ton, as per register, for the purpose of deepening the harbor. Vessels arriving in the harbor of San Juan, under whatever circumstances, or for whatever purpose, will pay 12^ cents per ton for dredging and keeping the port navigable. 214 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. National vessels to or from the island of St. Thomas will pay, at whatever port, the tonnage duties applicable to the flag. Comparative statement of the commerce heticeen the United States and Porto Rico, and other Span- ish West Indies, (except Cuba,) exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. YEARS, VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OF IMPORTai AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign pro- duce. Total. Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. 1845 $688,149 S20,775 $708, 924 $2,026,253 51,150 28,575 629 622 1846 675,441 25,905 701,346 2,277,110 51,284 30,056 487 1,373 1847..., 825,079 33,985 859,064 2,141,929 38,063 26,767 1,746 1,879 1848 801,722 37,012 838,734 2,106,296 45,438 35,241 513 1,150 1849 523,292 33, 234 556,526 1,964,861 47,534 25, 87,0 2,192 3,898 1850 816,062 93,591 909,653 2,067,866 41,768 30, 744 3,074 3,108 1851.... 961,410 57,209 1,018,619 2,480,329 48,336 36,320 7,874 6,013 1852 1,015,563 39,542 1,055,105 3,001,223 58,885 35,010 12,061 5,544 1853...- 810,411 54, 143 864, 554 2,800,936 47,838 30,815 15,844 9,429 1854 990,886 60,997 1,051,883 2,850,353 52,228 31,014 8,710 '8,528 1855 1,144,581 38,937 1,183,518 2,475,998 43, 249 34, 190 7,830 5,592 TARIFF OF PORTO RICO, {a) [Approved August 2, 1849 ; modified August 8 : in force from November 1, 1851.] Regulations. 1. The products of the island, except timber, are free from all export duty, both municipal and of the government. 2. National products in national ships will pay, on their introduction, 7 per cent. ; and the like in foreign ships will pay 12 and 15 per cent. Foreign products in foreign ships will pay 23 and 29 per cent. ; the like, though they may come from the ports of Spain, in national ves- sels, will pay 16 and 20 per cent, (h) 3. In these duties are absorbed the | per cent, considado; ^ per cent, for the construction of moles, custom-houses, and their warehouses ; and ^ per cent, for tlie construction of roads and bridges in the interior ; and 2 per cent, extraordinary duty established by royal order of the 28th of January, 1845, on the importation of foreign products. 5. Articles, the duties on which are less than those generally stated in the list, such as 1 2 2^, 3, 4, and 6 per cent., to which are subject fine wares {prenderia fina), quicksilver, cochi- neal, implements of husbandry, &c., will not be subject to the duties of consulado, roads, and aqueducts. (a) Sec Comparative Tariffs No. 3, Part II, (li) This last difference (9 per cent.) — tliatis, the difference "between the last duty named, viz., 20, and its corresponding duty on the like not "from the ports of Spain," viz, 29, or a difference of 9 — appears to be payable only on such articles as are also made in Spain ; that on flour is 8J per cent, in favor of Spanish vessels. SPANISH AMERICAN POSSESSIONS. 215 6. One per cent. Balanza duty will continue to be collected on all the duties of imj^ortation and exportation, in accordance with the royal order of November 5, 1824, with the exception of those called _^a:;ec? and sole, those of tonnage, anchorage, and local imposts. 7. Alembics, trees for planting, plants and seeds, manures, and machinery for agriculture, will pay a duty of 1 per.cent., if they come from foreign ports and in foreign bottoms; their introduction being free in national ships, when from national ports. 8. Imports, not products of the countries whence they come, will pay an additional duty of 2\ per cent, on the duties already imposed. 9. Merchandise, fruits, and eifects from foreign islands, in the neighborhood of Porto Kico, introduced into ports open for such goods, by national vessels, will pay the same duties as if brought in foreign bottoms. 10. Foreign refined white sugar, in loaf, crushed, or powdered, will pay a fixed rate of |8 the quintal ; and the like from the island of Cuba, $4. The foreign white sugars will pay $4 the c|,uintal, and that of Cuba $2. 11. Virginia leaf-tobacco will pay a fixed rate of $4 the quintal ; that of Manilla, of the same quality, |5 the quintal; that in carrots, foreign, %1 the quintal; foreign cigars, $2 the 1,000; the leaf-tobacco of Santo Domingo |5 the quintal ; the same of Cuba $3 the quintal ; cigars of Cuba $2 the 1,000; and cigarettes thence, fl the 100 (small paper bundles). 12. Notwithstanding that, in the tarifi', salt is designated as an article of importation, and an appropriate duty assigned thereto; nevertheless, since by royal order, bearing date the 4th day of August, 1851, the public sale of the salt-works of the island was ordered, and such order has been executed ; the exclusive privilege of introducing this article, whether of national or foreign production, on the payment of the specified duty, having been conferred upon the purchaser, by rescript of the tribunal of intendency of the Tth June, 1851, notice is hereby given, that, until otherwise ordered, no other person will be allowed to verify such im- portation. 13. Various pieces of cloths being designated in the list, of a determinate number of yards, which they usually measure, no allowance will be made for any less number, unless the defi- ciency exceed 6 per cent, on the piece, and notice thereof be given at the time of the entry. 14. Cinnamon in sticks and in bundles may be sold at auction in the warehouse of damaged goods, though they may not have been damaged ; the duty being payable according to the price at which they sell, unless the amount exceed the value stated in the tarifi", in which case they will pay what is there required. 15. Oil, grease, ham, bacon, sausages, cheese, salt, lard, butter, fish, (pickled or dry), cocoa, and other articles of the same sort, subject to leakage or loss, shall be considered at the weight and measure they are of at the time the duties are paid at the custom-house, whenever they are less than appears in the manifest; but whenever greater than ten per cent., the excess will be subject to such penalties as the superintendency may impose, to which, in every case, the repre- sentation will be made. 16. From agua ras (spirits of turpentine), and liquids of all kinds, and from whencesoever, fruits in spirituous liquors, or simple sirup, capers, olives, pomatums, hair-oil, and other articles that are generally imported in wooden vessels, clay, crystal, glass, and other brittle wares, will be deducted 1 per cent., in consideration of leakage, spilling, and breakage. 17. On mirrors, crystal, glass, earthen vessels, and vessels of clay, will be deducted 3 per cent., in consideration of breakage. 18. Dry or jerked beef imported from Buenos Ayres, or from other places not less distant, will be allowed for damage, &c., a deduction from manifest exhibit of 10 per cent. 19. On jerked beef from Yucatan, the United States, Costa-Firma, and other places at equal distances, 4 per cent, will be deducted on the same account. 20. Should the weight of a cargo of jerked beef, or a part of one, not appear on the manifest, tlie administrador will take the charge of the unlading, and the rates thereon shall be paid, 216 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. without any deduction, even for damage by the sea. In this case, the master will be also amerced for the defect of his manifest, in such manner as the superintendency adjudge. 21. If, of the jerked beef on the manifest, any part should prove to be spoiled, so that it must be thrown overboard, it shall be deducted, and no allowance of duty shall be made on the remainder ; and if any excess appear, the owners shall be subject to th^ penalties that may be imposed by the superintendency, to whom the case shall be made known. 22. If in the event of storm, or other extraordinary accident, the articles imported shall have suffered considerable damage, so that the owners or agents do not abide by the allowances assigned, the custom-house officer will cause the articles which deserve consideration to receive a scrupulous examination, at which competent persons shall engage, appointed by that officer and those interested, who shall inspect the damage ; and the allowance adjudged, if it exceed 6 per cent., shall be made known to the superintendency for such decision as it shall make. 23. As a general rule, all articles not included in the tariff will be subject to the rates pointed out for those to which they are analogous. 24. The rate of anchorage will be continued as it exists up to this time, in all the custom- houses of the island ; and at the capital, the contribution, also, established for the aqueduct by royal order. That for the light-house will also be collected under the regulations established. 25. The duty, hitherto existing under the name amortizacion, on the vessels entering in bal- last, is repealed. 26. The custom-house will continue to receive the local duties that may be found in force, im- posed by competent authority. One-fourth part of the duties may be paid in Spanish gold, as formerly. PORTUGAL. POETUGAL. This kingdom contains an area of 35,268 square miles, embracing 22,764,600 acres, and con- tains a population estimated at 3,814,771 souls. The chief ports are Lisbon and Oporto. The soil is capable of yielding all the productions common to France and Spain ; but, beyond the necessary supplies for consumption in the agricultural districts, its tillage may be said to be totally neglected. The want of roads and internal communications presents so effectual a check to every kind of production, and to native industry generally, (if we except the cultivation of the vine,) that fully one-half of the entire area of Portugal remains, to this day, totally unre- claimed. According to a calculation made by Da Costa, of the entire area of Portugal, only 233 leagues, or 1,787,957,188 bra9as, or 2,113,749 English acres, are cultivated as grain lands. The great fountain of wealth in Portugal is in its vineyards; and yet, under the system of political economy practised by the government of that kingdom, wine cannot be either grown, made, or exported, except under heavy restrictions and imposts. Until within the past few years, there was not sufficient corn grown in the few agricultural districts for the necessities of the country ; still, corn is classed among its staples, and its importation from foreign coun- tries prohibited, unless when, from any cause, the home supplies are inadequate to meet the demands for consumption. The following official return exhibits the entire agricultural resources of Portugal for the year 1851, and, with the exception of corn, the supply of which is constantly fluctuating, may be regarded as a fair index of the average yearly agricultural wealth of this kingdom : Articles. auantities. Amount. Articles. Quantities. Amount. Moios (o).-- ..do - --do -- (6)1,139,737 178,812 12,252 466,166 37, 640 338,700 248, 160 360,000 Cattle- Heads Pipes ..do ..do Arobas Pounds Arobas ..do 5,782,712 787,809 100,000 43,682 337,589 315, 140 59,137 25,616 Beans (pulse) Wine (Maduro e verde) Alto-Douro port Olive oil Wool Salt - --do Walnuts, filberts, almonds, and chestnuts Figs ..do Arobas (c) --do -- Thousand. -- Silk - Hmipy Carob beans. ^.j. Oranges and lemons Beeswax. (a) The moio is equivalent to 22.39 bushels. (6) Showing an increase of 80,538 moios on the production of 1850 ; but a decrease of 19,352 on that of 1848. {c) Tlie aroba equals 32 lbs. 220 COMMERCIAL DiasSTS. In 1831, Portugal imported 553,740 alquieres (each equal to 32 lbs.) of grain; between 1846 and 1851, she exported, as ajipears from her official statistics, about 1,800,000 alquieres from Caminha, and about 4,000,000 alquieres from Vianna; making a total of nearly 6,000,000 alquieres, or 1,000,000 alquieres per annum; or an exportation of about twice as much as she formerly imported. With this brief reference to the natural capabilities and agricultural resources of Portugal, the laws and regulations under which that kingdom conducts its foreign commerce, the character and extent of that commerce, and the description of merchandise which constitutes the leading articles of exchange^ especially between Portugal and the United States, will next be con- sidered. For a long period the commercial relations of the United States with Portugal were regulated by such acts of legislation as the Portuguese government thought proper to adopt, with no other check than the countervailing legislation of the United States. Under this system, the direct trade between the two countries, in national vessels, laden with the produce and manufactures of either, was allowed on terms of full reciprocity ; but the indirect trade was fettered by dis- criminations and restrictions, and by the countervailing duties to which they gave rise, until the treaty of commerce and navigation entered into between the two countries, in 1840, placed their trade on a basis of entire reciprocity. This treaty stipulates that vessels of either country, arriving in the ports of the other, shall be put on the footing of national vessels ; that no other or higher duties shall be levied on the produce or manufactures of either country, when imported into the other, than on similar produce, &c., of other foreign countries; that the same duties shall be levied on such importations, whether in American or Portuguese vessels ; that all favors granted by either party to other nations shall become common to both ; and that American vessels shall pay no higher duties of export in the ports of Portugal than national vessels. This treaty is declared to be in force for six years, and further, until the end of one year after either party shall have given notice to the other to terminate the same: no such notice having been given by either party, commercial relations between the two countries are still governed by its provisions. Under the stipulation equalizing American and Portuguese vessels with respect to direct im- portations, the American flag enjoyed, during a brief period after the ratification of the treaty, special advantages over the vessels of other foreign nations. This was the result of a law passed by the Cortes, in 183*7, (before the treaty was adopted,) by which a deduction of 15 per cent, on all duties was allowed on merchandise imported in national bottoms. This measure, although it had given a great impulse to the national shipping of Portugal, and largely augmented importations in American bottoms, was found to exercise a disastrous effect on the public treasury, diminishing the revenue from that source about |300,000 annually. It was consequently abolished, and after the 15th January, 1842, all foreign vessels were equalized, in this respect, with the national flag. Notwithstanding Portugal possesses natural advantages and resources which might enable her to rank among the most important trading countries in Europe, her commerce with foreign nations, and particularly with the United States, has dwindled down to the mere shadow of what it was in former times ; nor can much hope be indulged of a speedy commercial regeneration of this kingdom so long as her present restrictive and prohibitory regulations exist, and her unsurpassed natural resources remain under their present partial and imperfect system of devel- opment. The dismemberment of Brazil from the kingdom of Portugal (1820) would seem to mark the period of the greatest decline in her commerce with the United States. This can be best illustrated by giving the official returns for two equal periods, preceding and following this event, and contrasting the results. PORTUGAL. 221 Exports from the United States to Portugal and dependencies — the years designated. Years. Amount. Years. Amount. 1810 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 -"... 1817 1818 1819 1820 Total $7,679,210 11,466,150 9,399,520 10,687,928 591,669 2,281,101 2,270,389 1,834,823 2,898,177 2,263,580 1,325,751 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827. 1828 1829. 1830 1831 1832 Total $427,000 246, 648 518,836 408, 100 313,553 357,370 291,614 322,911 279,799 294,383 296,218 52,698,298 3,756,492 Showing a falling off in the total amounts, during the eleven years compared, of |48,941,806, or, in the average annual amounts, of $4,449,255. It is proper, however, to remark, that the trade with Brazil ahsorhed more than a moiety of the total amount of the exports from 1810 to 1820. The general trade of Portugal with all foreign countries has also declined during the past half-century, in a ratio of nearly one-third in exports, and one-half in imports. This will he seen from the following comparison of imports and exports, for a series of years within the above-named period : 1801. — Imports into Portugal from all nations 124,171,780 Exports from Portugal to all nations 31,379,730 Total trade in 1801 55,551,510 1816. — Imports into Portugal $22,337,430 Exports from " 20,223,385 Total trade in 1816 42,560,815 1830.— Imports into Portugal $16,194,500 Exports from " 13,085,000 Total trade in 1830 29,279,500 1844.— Imports into Portugal $12,282,530 Exports from " 8,225,665 Total trade in 1844 20,508,195 1848. — Imports into Portugal $13,507,210 Exports from " 10,679,430 Total trade in 1848 24,186,640 222 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. It thus appears that in 1848 the exports from Portugal to all nations were only about one- third, and the imports from all nations about one-half of the amount of exports and imports in 1801, or half a century ago. The general movements of trade between the United States and Portugal have varied so little during the past twenty years, that they may be regarded as stationary, at least so long as the existing commercial regulations remain unchanged in both countries. During the past year, however, the government of Portugal has manifested some disposition to review and modify its entire system of commercial policy ; and the good effects that have already succeeded the initiatory measures to this end, already adopted, will, it is believed, encourage it to remove altogether the onerous restrictions which have so long fettered its trade with foreign nations. In 1853, the export duty on wine was materially reduced, anxl equalized to all nations, (a discrimination having been made, before that period, between exports to Europe and America ;) and the effect of this first step towards a more liberal policy is evidenced in the increased export- ation of that great staple in 1853 over the preceding year, to an amount exceeding three-fourths of the whole. This will be seen from the following table : Exports of loine, brandy, tt'c. , from the port of Oporto in the years 1852 and 1853. 1859. Pipes. 1853. Pipes. (*) 19,219 4,452 2,833 2,001 917 902 373 250 156 119 15 21 2 238 46,834 2, 531 1,658 1,002 923 743 561 455 357 232 215 163 114 15 9 1 United States Brazil . Brazil Bremen Denmark- _ Porttiguese possessions - _ Bremen - . _ Prussia France Sweden. _-- Holland Newfoundland . _ _ Spain Prussia Sweden _ . France Total Holland Total .-.. (a) 31, 499 55,813 Exports in 1853 55,813 pipes. 1S52 31,499 " Excess in 185.^ over 1852 24,314 The subjoined statements of the commerce and navigation of Oporto during the Portuguese financial year 1854-'55, and the movements in wines and brandy the same period, are made up from returns of the United States con.sul at that port. (a) I'linliuiial pai(s amounting to 1 pipe arc omittpd (h) The pipe is fstimated at tlie United States rubtum house at aljout 113.', .'gallon PORTUGAL. 223 Statement of the quantities and values of different classes of merchandise imported into Oporto from foreign countries and Portuguese possessions, and of the duties paid on the sa/me, in the economic year 1854-'55. Merchandise. Class I. — Cottons. Wool Yarn Velveteens and cords Muslins - Dimities, &c Calico Cotton velvets Various textures white " " unbleached .. " " printed, dyed- Various articles Class II. — Animals. Animals - Class III. — Liquors. Brandy and gin . Beer Wine Other liquors Class IV. — Spoils of Animals. Leather, in goods of all Icinds . Skins, dressed and undressed-. Various spoils of animals Class V. — Farinacema Articles. Eice Eye and barley Flowers of mandioca Indian corn - Various feculjc and flour - Class VI. — Colonial Goods. Sugar . Coffee. Tea. . . Various articles . Molasses Class VII. — Falli/ Substances. Sweet oil Butter -- Cheese Various articles Class VIII. — Woolen Goods. Woolen goods - Quantities. Pounds 2, Number 911,451 213,157 205,199 68, 140 3,518 33,935 36,710 581,240 070, 745 570,028 3,331 250 Pounds 128,021 ,887,355 3,755 Pounds 3, Alqu's {a) Pounds Alquieres Pounds 621,340 63,448 659,762 776,540 57,619 Pounds 8,830,261 634,658 60,208 10,620 207,312 Almudes (h) Pounds Values. 1,122 j 50,553 j 87,622 j 5,968 119,135 .S197,872 72 171,817 07 101,971 26 70,751 04 3,960 84 16,503 24 31,872 80 177,572 72 410,393 27 330,941 04 2,988 02 1,857 55 2,917 37 2,607 58 4,928 24 45 64 17,580 41 302,897 45 8,338 02 146,245 56 37,902 14 24,491 27 590,869 11 3,190 20 475,330 04 65,352 12 35,333 66 3,073 89 6,31.5 63 3,942 36 11,923 90 10,671 72 783 67 13,330 41 Duties paid. S411 93 61,142 84, 20,073 74 18,669 69 1,687 05 5,729 00 7,684 93 41,467 61 93,936 40 145,939 14 836 80 70 40 1 027 72 1 178 56 632 39 10 48 2 516 18 7 797 70 2 468 10 47,278 96 3,578 58 716 48 278,648 43 22,111 74 11,850 63 677 09 662 94 729 26 3,023 49 3,201 07 69 07 31 19 (a) 100 Lisbon alquieres=Z'l .3% bushels. (6) The almude=5.61 gallons. 224 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. STATEMENT— Continued. Merchandise. Quantitieii. Values. Butie a paid $32 685 85 105 iU 82 i 199 71 15 602 14 6 629 93 173 64 3 380 93 2 962 93 892 95 1 607 46 i 356 10 13 908 12 946 11 5 919 40 1 048 29 6 962 81 6 81 1 324 52 28 57 1 736 04 16 975 88 2 851 32 6 621 39 555 44 1 836 42 5 043 85 4 40 19 75 1 288 90 784 21 1 193 16 307 78 3 452 29 88 24 196 Oil 78 3 145 45 254 13 2 186 03 Stuffs Cloths Various articles . Class IX. — Linen Goods. Flax and hemp unmanufactured Linen textures, sack cloth, &c Various articles Class X. — Crockery and (/last Earthern ware Porcelain Crystal in forms Black glass bottles. Various articles Class XI.— TT''oo(f. Pipe staves Woods for joiners- Various articles - - Class XII. — ildah. Steel, unmanufactured ' ' manufactured - Copper in bars - Lead " Pewter, manufactured and in bars . Cast-iron Forged iron rods, bars, &c Iron plates and wire Iron goods of different kinds Tin plates Brass (copper) plates and bars ' ' manufactured — Gold, in coin and bars Silver Various articles Class XIII — Minerah. Mineral coal Various articles Class XIV. — Paper. Books Paper Various articles . Class XV.— -f(Wi. Cod-fish Various articles Pounds 60,056 212,281 17,167 Poimds 4,219,702 571,663 4,081 Pounds 119,905 13,668 11,272 743,768 43,663 Number 694, 594 Pounds 813,648 Pounds 600,405 92,371 6,299 1,219,044 26,325 1,822,423 12,809,062 1,558,288 342,443 333,232 205, 642 76,249 Marcos (o) Pounds 59,182 Tons 13, 797 Pounds 832, 230 Pounds 16, 212 78,037 2,825 Pounds 14,054,552 235,637 Class XVI. — Commercial Products. Indigo Linseed oil . Pounds 20,723 133,847 871,490 14 287,713 38 12,831 48 284,178 08 30,690 15 919 64 8.027 12 9,285 86 4,938 02 19,197 81 24,594 53 248,548 78 9,283 68 22,181 44 23,321 70 41,672 78 822 80 36,853 24 5,788 02 13,294 54 299,655 28 41,685 83 29,365 18 22,640 18 53,269 53 36,421 70 1,292,551 53 523 90 9,164 11 40,388 01 12,890 18 9,926 07 16,697 80 1,299 97 445,855 20 24,342 31 17,813 02 12,278 24 (a) The marc is the troy weight for gold and silver in Portngal, and is equivalent to eight ounces. PORTUGAL, STATEMENT— Continued. 225 Merchandise. Quantities. Values, DutieF paid. S809 80 344 59 1 399 11 2 516 89 586 58 2 451 34 2 313 63 14 560 85 5 701 40 963 42 1 354 17 "Wood for dyes - Saltpetre Chemical products and medicines. Paints Dyes and drugs Various articles Pounds CiASS XYIl.—Sak. Handkerchiefs (Foulards) -. Various silk textures Mixed textures Dyed silk, unmanufactured . Various articles Pounds Class XVIII.— &«i. Fruit, plants, &c Class XIX. — Various Articles. Arms, musical instruments, and various articles- Machinery Clocks -- - Pounds 1,252,022 575, 640 404,033 297,032 325,531 2,371,013 2,603 5,271 4,521 19,863 526 62,993 Pounds Number 615,083 1,516 Total - $21,978 24 33,994 54 12,956 51 15,989 10 10,229 33 22,294 47 18,408 67 59,406 47 19.449 98 82,490 66 5,518 46 4,730 41 58,733 65 63,816 25 16,123 88 7,055 123 71 186 66 12,170 94 670 78 1,373 04 1,285,750 34 Vessels entered and cleared at Oporto in the economic year 1854-'55. Years and months. VESSELS ENTERED, National. Foreign Tons. VESSELS CLEARED. National. Foreign, 1854. July August September October November. _ December IMfrS. January February March April May June Total-. r29T 81 98 101 57 72 42 75 1 36 80 104 78 825 36 34 26 19 21 21 32 3 43 51 42 27 10,906 14,045 12,927 8,132 10,272 9,166 11,51S 522 13,303 13,576 16,024 11,002 74 92 89 80 75 .'"ii; 5 40 52 95 88 355 131,483 785 29 31 38 19 14 26 23 3 39 45 42 344 10,656 13,313 15,269 9,442 9,557 9,355 10,338 692 11,950 11,054 10,763 14,449 126, 838 226 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Exportation of wine and brandy in the economic year 1854-'55. Pipes. Alms. Cans.(a) Wine — 1st quality, for ports in Europe . 32,298 1,386 249 1,740 4 15 10 11 15 2 19 11 8 9 7 10 " " " out of Europe " " " out of the Kingdom and islands ' ' 2d quality, for ports out of Europe - Brandy — 1st quality, for ports in Europe " " " out of Europe -- " " " out of the Kingdom and islands. . Total 17 35,697 12 9 Total gallons 3,275,969. Quantity of port wine exported from Opiorto in 1855, and tlie countries to which exported. [Supplied by the United States consul at that port.] Countries. Brazil Bremen Canada Denmarlc _ United States France Great Britain -. Hamburg Spain Morocco , Russia Portugal and possessions Sweden Newfoundland _ Pipes. 3,644 103 605 435 683 27 26,755 1,076 256 317 288 189 12 20 20 12 15 13 11 13 15 3 6 14 19 6 1 9 8 11 10 3 6 8 8 2 9 Total. 34,386 1 12 ! 11 Total gallons. .1,152,906. The restrictive and prohibitory measures which encumber the Portuguese tariff and render it, in the words of Macgregor, a compilation of "complicated vexations, based capriciously on ancient prices," present the principal obstacle to the full development of the industrial resources of that kingdom. The increase in one year, under the equalizing measures already adverted to, in the export of its leading staple from 31,499 to 55,813 pipes, (an increase of three- fourths of the whole, nearly,) shows to what extent the whole export trade, and, by necessary consequence, the entire commerce of Portugal, would be augmented by the application of the same liberal principle to the various descriptions of merchandise which the tariff of that kino-dom («■) 12 canadas^l abnurli5=3.fi4 gaUons. PORTUGAL. 227 comprises, (a) In the year 1853 several modifications were made in the tariff now in force in Portugal — which tariff will be found in its proper place (Part II) ; but these modifications affect but slightly the general features of that tariff, if we except the removal of the prohibition on the importation of tea in foreign bottoms. The substance of these changes is given below. Alterations lately made in the Portuguese tariff. (1853.) Broad cloths have been reduced 12 per cent. Kaw silk now pays only two-fifths of the former duty. On satins, gros-de-Naples, &c., a reduction of nearly 54 per cent, has been made. Flax has been raised to 42 cents per quintal of 128 lbs., being an advance of 200 per cent. In linens, and goods of cotton and linen, as well as woolens, no great alteration has been made. In grey cloths and white shirtings there has been a reduction of about 12 per cent. Ale pays about one-third of the old duties. Wine, which heretofore paid an import duty of about $266 per pipe, has been reduced to about -^ of that amount. The export duty on port has been reduced and equalized to all the world. Pianos, which formerly paid from $48 to |192 each, according to size, now pay $24 each, regardless of size. Formerly, no tea could be imported except in national vessels ; the duty being, from Portu- guese territories, about Is. 9c?. English (42 cents), and from other parts 4s. 3c?. per pound, equal to $1 02. Now, tea may be imported indirectly, in national or foreign bottoms; Portu- guese vessels still enjoying the usual discriminations over foreign vessels engaged in the indi- rect trade. (6) The chief difficulty which foreign merchants have to encounter, in selecting a cargo for the Portuguese market, arises from the complicated, and almost unintelligible, terms in which the tariff of that country estimates the value of merchandise. Cottons, linens, and, in many instances, even fluids, are estimated by the pound ; and, owing to the great variety of specific articles under any particular genus, and the great difference in their respective prices, it were next to impossible to say, even approximately, what duty is assigned to all or any of the descriptions of merchandise which usually make up a mixed cargo. Cotton, for instance, is thus classed in the tariff of 1852 : raw, per 101 pounds, 2^ cents (which is plain enough) ; manufactured, from 6 cents to 70 cents per pound (which is not). Should an American merchant desire to ship to Lisbon or Oporto a cargo of such American produce as would be most likely to find a ready market in exchange for the wines or fruits of Portugal, he would naturally turn to the Portuguese tariff, to ascertain the import duty on such descriptions of merchandise as he could most profitably send. The article of cotton manufac- tures, (c) it has been shown, would, probably, afford some exercise to his skill; but let him select a cargo of tobacco. The Portuguese tariff informs him that it is admitted only when sold to government contractors ; but he is left in the dark with respect to the precise duty to which it is subject. If he has a correspondent at Oporto or Lisbon, he will inform him that the duty on tobacco is arbitrary, and depends on the terms of the particular bargain he may make with the government contractors, after his cargo shall have reached port. (a) The statement of the exports of wine for 1854 was received after the above was written. It exhibits an increase over 1852 of 4,198 pipes ; but a falling off, when compared with 1853, of 20,116 pipes. This may be attributed to the effect of the war on the general commerce of Europe. (5) It is believed that Portugal has no treaty with any nation equalizing foreign vessels to national vessels in the indi- rect trade. If so, all foreign flags are equally subject, with those of the United States, to an additional duty of 20 per cent, when importing goods not the produce of the country to which they belong. (c) By decree of 7th October, 1854, the tariff on cotton goods has been modified, and rendered much more definite than heretofore. 228 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. This complex classification of the Portuguese tariff induced some British merchants, a few- years since, to make the attempt to reduce to a fixed value the actual duties levied on some of the leading imports into Portugal from foreign countries. Below is the result of their calcula- tions, as respects some articles of cotton manufacture. The duties, in Portuguese money, are given in reas, the miJrea heing equal to 1,000 reas or $1 12. Articles. Duties in Por- tuguese money. Rate per cent. 50 80 400 70 200 400 160 200 400 36 47 23 52 92 29 56 88 White cottons with glazed finish, 1.5 threads, &c., per lb Cottons woven -with dyed threads, up to 16, per Ih Cotton dresses, shawls, or handkerchiefs, to 16 threads, per lb.. "in shawls, handkerchiefs, dresses, or other shapes, per lb .. . The duties on the different descriptions of cotton goods vary from 16 (on colored velveteens) to 96 (on striped nankeens plain) per cent. Notwithstanding the enormous duties on cottons, which the above table indicates, the manufactures of Portugal, of this description of merchan- dise, are confined to some coarse and very inferior description of woolens, and a few common cottons and linens. Still, while that scale of duties continues, cotton tissues can never become a profitable medium of exchange between the two countries. There is no reason, however, why the United States could not compete with Brazil in sup plying the markets of Portugal with sugar, rice, rum, timber, and other articles which have been heretofore chiefly imported from that country. The rice of Carolina is far superior to Brazilian, and yet Portugal consumes, annually, of the latter, upwards of 40,000,00(1 pounds. Brazil supplies the Portuguese market, annually, with sugar to the amount of from one and a half to two millions of dollars. Both these articles can now be exported from the United States to Portugal on the same terms as from Brazil. The following tables will show the annual movements of trade between the United States and Portugal, down to 1854: 1848. — Exports from United States to Portugal $558,105 Duties on the same in Portugal 82,215 Imports to United States from Portugal 414,550 Export duties on same in Portugal 4,635 1853. — Exports from United States to Portugal: Domestic produce $223,651 Foreign " 26,552 250,203 Imports into United States from Portugal 411,155 Balance against the United States 160,052 1854. — Exports from United States to Portugal: Domestic produce 127,150 Foreign " 23,715 Total 150,865 Imports into United States from rurtugal 243,5'J2 Ualauir. ag.'iiii.st the Uniled States , '.12,727 PORTUGAL. 229 1855. — Exports from United States to Portugal: Domestic produce $27'0,716 Foreign " ^ 24,867 Total 295,583 Imports into United States from Portugal 186,067 Balance of trade in favor of United States 109 516 The tonnage employed in the above trade was: 1853. — American 8,790 tons. Foreign 14,669 " Total 23,459 a 1854. — American 4,020 tons. Foreign 10,106 " Total 14,126 li 1855. — American 12,082 tons. Foreign 16,373 " Total 28,455 " The exports from the United States to Portugal consist of whale oil, whalebone, sperm candles, staves and headings, beef, pork, rice, tobacco, linseed oil, soap, nails, manufactures of iron, and sundries. The imports, as taken from the United States Treasury returns, are wool, wines, vinegar, dried fruit, salt, corks and cork-tree bark, marble, sheet and bar lead, copper, and sundries. Port dues, &c. Rms. Cents. Sailing in ballast, or not fully laden 250 = 28 per ton. " laden with salt, olive oil, or wine, produce of Portugal 50 = 5-| do. " laden with other produce of Portugal 150 = 164 do. In all cases when re-exporting foreign goods 250 = 28 do. Entering in ballast, and sailing in ballast, (except in cases of distress)... 250 = 28 do. With full cargo of grain, produce of Portugal 250 = 28 do. With wine, salt, or olive oil 250 = 28 do. Witli other Portuguese produce 100 = 1\\ do. Contribution to remove the bar in the port of Oporto 100 = ll-i- do. An additional tax of 15 per cent, on the amount of tonnage and bar-dues is also exacted in Oporto. Under treaty, American vessels are equalized with national vessels as to these duties. Contributions for the exchange building, 5 reas = \ cent, nearly. Steamers pay two-fifths less tonnage dues than sailing vessels. The contribution for the bar is the same for both. Every captain of a merchant-vessel is bound to have two manifests of the same tenor, signed by himself, and certified by the Portuguese consul or vice-consul at the port of departure. Goods omitted in his manifest, or of a different description, have to pay a sum equal to the value of the goods. Goods admissible being omitted, a fine equal to double the amount of the duties, and custom-house charges and imposts. PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. POKTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. AZOKES. The Azores, or Western Islands, consist of three groups of islands, nine in number, lying in the Atlantic, at a distance of 800 miles west from Portugal. These islands produce all kinds of grain and vegetables, the sugar-cane, coffee, tobacco, and the valuable lichen orchella, in the utmost perfection. Although agriculture is yet unim- proved by any of the aids which science has contributed to this branch of industrial pursuits in other countries, such is the extraordinary fertility of the soil, that it not only yields sufficient corn and other productions for the wants of the population, but aifords also considerable quan- tities for exportation to Portugal. The staple exports of these islands are oranges, wine, brandy, orchella, salt meat, &c. The imports consist principally of manufactured goods, pitch and tar, cordage, tea, coffee, sugar, rum, salt, timber, staves, and sundries. The seat of government is at Angra, in Terceira. Ponta Delgada, in St. Michael's, is, how- ever, the chief commercial city. The exports of corn from the Azores from 1835 to 1841, prin- cipally to Portugal, are given in the following table : Years. Quantities. Values. Moios. Quarters. Buslids. Dollars. 1835.... 11,675 = 35, 025 = 280, 200 299,230 1836.... 11,080 = 33,240 = 265,920 272,865 1837.... 5,565 = 16,695 = 133,560 139,710 1838.... 9,580 = 28,740 = 229,920 246,785 1839 4,890 = 14,670 = 117,360 112,625 1840 12,153 = 36,459 = 291,672 311,025 1841.... 9,000 = 27,000 = 216,000 235,000 The oranges exported in 1801 amounted in value to |50,000; in 1820, to $125,000; and in 1840, to |450,000. For five years, ending with 1840, the average annual value of exports to Portugal was $215,645; to foreign countries, $260,815. Average annual value of imports during the same period, from Portugal, $266,600; from foreign countries, $397,110. The movements of trade between the United States and the Azores for 1853, 1854, and 1855 may be gathered from the following summary from the official returns for those years : [30] 234 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Value of imports from tire Azores into the United States in 1853 $10,892 Value of exports from the United States to the Azores in the same year — Domestic produce $21,307 Foreign produce 4,440 25,747 Balance in favor of the United States 14,855 Value of imports from the Azores into the United States in 1854 $21,584 Value of exports from the United States to the Azores in the same year — ■ Domestic produce $10,030 Foreign produce 440 10,470 Balance against the United States 11,114 Value of imports from the Azores into the United States in 1855 $199,111 Value of exports from the United States to the Azores in the same year — Domestic produce $13,972 Foreign produce 593 14,565 Balance against the United States in 1855 184,546 The harbor of Fayal is the best in the Azores, and greater facilities are offered to ships in distress, by affording refuge or supplies. American whalers frequently visit Fayal, and deposit large quantities of oil, to be transhipped to other ports, amounting annually to a value of upwards of $300,000, most of which is forwarded to the markets of the United States. The direct imports from the United Statefs to the Azores consist chiefly of timber, staves, heads for hogsheads, &c. The duties on lumber and staves are moderate. On cut nails they exceed 100 per cent., and on window-glass they rise over 300 per cent. American cotton manu- factures are in good demand, and during the past few years have competed advantageously with those of Great Britain. The commercial regulations differ but little from those of the mother country. Foreign ves- sels, bringing the productions of the country to which they belong, and coming from the ports of the same, are admitted on the same footing as Portuguese vessels. When laden with the produce of other countries, they are subject to a differential duty of 15 per cent. There are no tonnage duties, light, or hospital dues, levied on shipping at the Azores. The entire charges to which a vessel is subject amount to $19 80, wliich is raised to $23 40 if the vessel has crossed the equator. The navigation of these islands employs about 3,000 tons in foreign and coasting trade. The latter is carried on with Lisbon, Madeira, and the different ports of the islands, and is restricted to national vessels. In 1852, seventy-seven vessels, with a tonnage of 8,780 tons, entered these islands; of which number eight were American, with an aggregate tonnage of 1,800 tons. The chief inconvenience to which foreign commerce is subjected in these islands arises from the inconsistent and arbitrary sanitary regulations, which emanate from the home government at Lisbon, and which preclude all discretionary power on the part of the local authorities. For instance, should the Portuguese consul at New Orleans notify his government that the yellow fever prevails in that city, (say in the month of September,) orders are immediately forwarded by the board of health at Lisbon to the authorities of the islands to consider that city as infected. These orders, by the ordinary mode of conveyance, will not reach the islands until the following January; apd notwithstanding it may be notorious that the fever ceased in October or Xovem- PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. 235 ber, a vessel that should arrive at Fayal, having left New Orleans in January, or later, -would not be admitted, even should she be provided with a clean bill of health, certified with all formality, by the very same consul who had reported to his government the existence of the sickness 1 This regulation frequently exposes American captains to great inconvenience and considerable loss. MADEIKA. This island embraces a superficies of about 304 square miles. Nearly all the trees, and other products of the temperate zones, grow on the island ; but culture is limited almost exclusively to the growing of vines. The cereal crops are scarcely equal to one-third the consumption; hence, and owing also to the general poverty of the inhabitants, a decree was passed in 1843 reducing the duties on the leading foreign imports to one-half the duties levied in Portugal. This decree is in force at this time, and, consequently, but half the duties fixed in the tariff of Portugal are now levied on foreign imports into Madeira. In 1843 the imports from the United States amounted to $59,900, and the exports from Madeira to the United States to $2,Y50, employing 38 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 8,533 tons. The commerce of this island with foreign nations, and especially with the United States, is declining, and must continue to decline so long as the vines remain diseased, as wine is the only article of export from Madeira. The following tables will show the value of the commerce between the United States and Madeira in 1853, 1854, and 1855: 1853. — Imports from Madeira to the United States $77,598 Exports from the United States to Madeira 117,098 Excess of exports over imports, in favor of the United States.... 39,500 1854.— Imports from Madeira $30,007 Exports to Madeira 47,708 Excess of exports over imports, in favor of the United States.... 17,701 Total trade in 1853 $194,696 Total trade in 1854 77,715 Falling off in 1854 116,981 1855. — Imports from Madeira to the United States $25,933 Exports from the United States to Madeira 53,763 Excess of exports over imports, in favor of the United States.... 27,830 Total trade in 1854 $77,715 Total trade in 1855 79,696 Increase in 1855 over 1854 1,981 236 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Tonnage employed in the above trade in 1853 6,366 tons. " in 1854 3,913 " Showing a decrease of. 2,453 (( Tonnage employed in 1855 2,Y39 tons. " " in 1854 3,913 " Showing a decrease of. 1,174 i< An export duty of $5 53 per pipe is levied on wine. The duties on the principal imports from the United States are as follows : Flour, per harrel $1 00 Corn, per bushel 6f Eice, per pound 1 Staves, (pipe) per 1,000 1 60 " (hhd.) do 1 30 " (barrel) do Y5 Lumber, per 1,000 feet 1 90 Port charges in Madeira amount to about $18 on a vessel of any tonnage, for health officer, government visits, and custom-house fees. CAPE VEEDE ISLANDS. This group consists of eight islands and several islets. The staple productions are maize, bananas, oranges, melons, pomegranates, and rice. The sugar-cane and the vine are culti- vated, but the manufacture of wine is prohibited. The climate of these islands is much varied by extreme heats and droughts; no rain, falling, during some periods, for three or four years. Hence, the population are frequently subject to distress and suffering. These visitations have, on several occasions, during the past few years, strongly appealed to the sympathies of the civilized nations of the world in behalf of the 87,000 inhabitants of these islands. In 1842 the imports from the United States amounted to .$57,500, employing 16 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 1,010 tons. Of late years the trade between the United States and these islands has considerably declined, and is now too unimportant to demand a more extended notice. 1853. — Imports from the United States |24 879 Exports to the United States 41,053 Total trade in 1853 65 932 1854. — Imports from United States |32,245 Exports to United States 8 985 Total trade in 1854 41 230 1855. — Imports from United States ,^59 qiq Exports to United States 24 300 Total trade in 1855 83 916 PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. 237 MACAO. This is a Portuguese colony, founded in 1586, distant about 70 miles from Canton. It was given to the Portuguese by the Chinese Emperor, in return for assistance against pirates. Macao is a free port, and there are no port or other charges. The government is supported by revenue derived from the mother country, by a direct tax upon real estate, and by the profits accruing from various monopolies. The following summary exhibits the direct trade between the United States and Macao during the years 1854 and 1855 — the latter year up to March 6th: Arrived, 3 barques and 1 ship, measuring 1,828 tons, laden with rice, sundries, salt provi- sions, and miscellaneous goods. The return cargoes were chiefly Coolies. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Portugal and its dependencies, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAOE. Years. VALUE OF IMPORTS. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Total. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. 1845... $237,092 $10,088 $247, 180 $501,734 13,409 12,324 1,804 1,651 1846... 192,581 12,395 204, 976 547, 474 7,907 9,506 2,635 3,050 1847... 242, 474 21,097 263,571 416, 150 7,189 8,791 2,781 3,169 1848... 328,485 17, 240 345,725 235,877 6,093 14,765 2,038 8,900 1849... 364, 450 12,686 377,136 414, 884 9,991 12,579 3,953 11,469 1850... 371,316 16,082 387,398 470,820 5,304 9,902 7,071 9,682 1851... 339, 647 15,654 355,301 504, 698 4,004 8,886 5,990 7,943 1852... 394, 187 22,646 416,833 404, 342 6,343 13,548 6,187 8,767 1853... 369,757 48, 170 417,927 540, 698 7,848 13, 141 7,495 9,044 1854... 214,925 26,363 241,278 304,168 5,946 8,638 5,672 5,843 1855... 389,686 33,841 423,527 435,411 13,046 14, 359 9,427 11,437 BELGIUM. BELGIUM. This kingdom embraces an area of 11,313 square miles, and contains a population of 4,359,090. Politically, it is divided into nine provinces, viz: Antwerp West Flanders - East Flanders- . Hainault Li(5ge Brabant (South) Limburg Luxemburg Namur Total Area in sq. miles. 1,094 1,243 1,154 1,430 1,111 1,260 929 1,695 1,397 11,313 Population. 413,824 711,332 626,847 781,143 723,539 460,663 185,621 187,978 268, 143 4,359,090 Antwerp Bruges . Ghent .. Mons --. Lidge Brussels - Hasselt . Arlon Namur-. From the fifteenth century to the year 1795, Belgium successively formed part of the domin- ions of Austria and Spain. During the latter year it was conquered by the French. From 1815 to 1830 it remained annexed to Holland ; and towards the close of the latter year it acquired its independence, after a revolution which lasted but a few days. The important position which Belgium has occupied in the political, commercial, and agricultural history of Europe, its former celebrity in manufactures and the fine arts, and its present rapid progress in the varied pursuits of industrial and social improvement, give it more importance than its lim- ited territory and comparatively small population would otherwise seem to bestow. At a very early period the provinces of Flanders and Brabant were distinguished throughout Europe for the industry, skill, and opulence of their inhabitants. The oppression of the Span- ish viceroys, the licentiousness of their soldiery, and, finally, the religious persecutions which desolated the country, and reduced its inhabitants to the condition of exiles in foreign lands, completed the downfall of industrial enterprise. Anterior to 1585, Antwerp, the present com- mercial emporium of Belgium, had no rival in wealth nor in the extent of its commercial opera- tions, among all the cities of northern Europe. In that year this city was sacked by the Spanish soldiery, who massacred nearly 3,000 of its inhabitants, drowning 1,500 in the Scheldt, slaughtering or burning as many more, and drove the trade and fishery of that city, and the manufactures of Brabant and Flanders, into England, Holland, and wherever else they could find encouragement or shelter. The woolen manufacturers settled at Leyden; the linen spin- ners and weavers at Harlem and Amsterdam ; and more than one-third of those whose skill [31 ] 242 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. stood unrivalled in tlie manufacture of serges, stockings, flannels, taifetas, silks, and damasks, fled to England. At the period of this barbarous destruction of Antwerp, it contained 13,500 large dwelling-houses, 220 streets, 42 splendid churches, 22 market-places, with 8 large canals for ships, leading into the city, for the sake of convenience in loading or unloading before the warehouses of the merchants. From that day the prosperity of Antwerp declined, its merchants becoming fugitives from their country, and its artisans enriching other nations with the fruits of their industry and skill. The woolen, linen, lace, tapestry, silk, and cutlery manufactures of the Low Countries had attained their greatest perfection, and acquired such an ascendency as to command markets throughout the whole of northern Europe. England, France, Spain, and Germany supplied the raw materials ; and these, when wrought up into the most exquisite fabrics, were again returned to those countries, and secured prices amply remunerating the industry and skill of the ingenious manufacturers. While Belgium was subjected to the French dominion, her foreign trade experienced the eAdl effects produced by the introduction of the "continental system." Her internal trade, however, maintained its wonted prosperity, and her commercial movements with Holland and France, overland, were kept up with as much activity as could be expected amid the irregular-, ities and tumults of war. The incorporation of Belgium with the French republic brought with it, however, many substantial and enduring advantages. It released it from the fetters imposed upon its foreign commerce by the closing of the navigation of the Scheldt ; feudal privileges were suppressed; territorial contributions, oppressive tithes, (which every branch of industry was compelled to pay, for the support of churches and abbeys,) game laws, and other ancient institutions, equally unfavorable to the development of national industry and social progress, were abolished. Lyceums and schools were established throughout the new depart- ments ; an economical system of tax collection was introduced ; legislation became uniform ; codes of laws were adopted; judicial proceedings were made public; and the trial by jury, for the first time, was recognized. Antwerp, in an especial manner, was benefited by this change in the political condition of Holland. Its harbor was improved; capacious docks, basins, and quays were constructed; warehouses erected, and its general trade regained much of its former prosperity. During the fifteen years of the union between Holland and Belgium, the latter country con- stantly complained that its terms were unequal, that they were forced into a measure which they never desired nor sought, and that it was merely a matter of convenience on the part of those(a) by whom it was negotiated. Physically, the arrangement would seem to have been peculiarly adapted to improve and benefit both countries. Holland possessed colonies, sea- ports, and all the requisite facilities for conducting a most extensive foreign commerce. Bel- gium was unrivalled in her manufactures, possessed a well-cultivated soil, valuable coal-mines and a flourishing interior trade ; but there was no congeniality between the people thus brought under one government. They differed in character, religion, and language. A political union between two countries thus differing in the most essential attributes of national character could be neither harmonious nor permanent. History records no example of such a union being attended with happy results. Jealousies, animosities, and insurrections must prevail, until either the weaker party becomes entirely assimilated to the stronger, at least in religion and language, or sinks into a condition of absolute slavery. It is not at all surprising, therefore, that the Belgians availed themselves of the first occasion that offered to separate themselves from Holland. The French revolution, which had then transpired, furnished this occasion; and their predisposition to insurrectionary movements quickly developed itself, first in a declaration, and soon after in the firm establishment of their independence. By the treaty of London, November 17, 1831, between the five great powers — (a) At the rionyress of Vienna, in 1815, Belginm was annexed to Holland. BELGIUM. 243 England, France, Kussia, Austria, and Prussia — the limits of the two kingdoms of Holland and Belgium are defined, and the integrity, independence, and neutrality of the latter are fully guarantied. This treaty stipulates for the free navigation (subject only to moderate pilotage dues) of the Scheldt ; and it also subjects to the provisions of articles cxin to cxvii of the general act of the Congress of Vienna, relative to the free navigation of navigable rivers, those rivers which separate the Belgian and the Dutch territories, or which traverse them both. Among the most important manufactures of Belgium are woolen cloths and cassimeres. In the manufacture of fine cloths, the Belgians are in advance of the French ; and the dyes of Verviers are considered fully equal to those of England or Moravia. The chief seats of the woolen manufactures are Verviers, Liege, Dolheim, Limburg, Hodimont, Stavelot, Thuin, Ypres, and Poperinghe. These manufactures consist of fine cloths, cassimeres, flannels, serges, tick- ings, coverlets, camlets, mousselins de laine, merinos, carpets; the last-named being produced of the most costly and splendid, as well as of the plainest and cheapest qualities. The seats of these manufactures are at Tournay, Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, and Courtray. Belgium produces excellent flax, and in large quantities. The annual value of this article produced in Flanders is estimated at above $8,000,000. The mode of dressing and preparing flax for the loom is deemed superior to that of any other country. In its culture, the order of crops, the preparation of the soil, the system of manuring, and the process of steaming, the inhabitants of Flanders are unrivalled in the world; and hence the linens of Belgium have long been celebrated for their excellence and beauty. Their chief superiority consists in the fineness of their quality and the evenness of their tissue, (a) The most esteemed are those of Ghent, St. Nicholas, Termonde, Alost, and Lockeren. The damask table linens of Courtray are universally acknowledged to be superior to those of every other similar manufactory in Europe. They are also made of great beauty at Brussels, Bruges, and Neuve-Bglise. At Saintes there is a flourishing cambric factory. The quantity of linen annually manufactured is stated to be about 750,000 pieces, worth about $20,000,000. Cotton manufactures represent a fixed capital, in buildings and machinery, of $12,000,000, and employ upwards of 122,000 persons. The cotton factories are principally at Ghent, St. Nicholas, Liege, Antwerp, Turnhout, Malines, and Lierre. The quantity pro- duced is stated at about 1,500,000 pieces of calico, and 400,000 pieces of shirting, or long cloths; the whole valued at $1'7,000,000. The raw material is derived principally from the United States. The "Tableau General," of Belgium, for 1854, gives the importation of cotton into that kingdom as follows: From the United States 15,329,265 lbs. England 14,208,766 " Holland 2,733,259 " ■ France 368,516 " Hanse Towns 79,668 " Hayti 73,055 " Brazil 19,991 " Other countries 20,594 " Total 32,833,114 Of this quantity, 25,783,292 lbs. were consumed; and 7,049,822 lbs. were exported. (a) Some thread made at Hainault and Brabant has 136611 spun by hand of so exquisite a texture as to be sold at the rate of $2,000 the single pound ! 244 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Tlie qiiantity imported by land and rivers was 3,104,851 lbs. ; and by sea, 29,728,264 lbs. Of the quantity exported, 6,959,965 lbs. was by land and rivers; and 134,118 lbs. by sea: Prussia receiving 5,628,186 lbs. France " 842,881 " Holland " 488,898 " And all otlier countries by sea 134,118 " Total 7,094,083(a) The cotton thus exported was imported from— The United States 5,529,537 lbs. England 1,488,582 " Holland 70,965 " France 4,999 " Total 7,094,083 " The annual average amount of duties derived by Belgium on cotton, for the five years ending with 1854, was upwards of 200,000 francs=$40,000; and in the latter year it reached the thir- teenth of imported articles in importance, in this regard. The duty, by the law of January 31, 1852, was 1 franc 70 centimes per 100 kilogrammes. By that of April 12, 1854, cotton became free. In 1854 Belgium exported manufactures of cotton as follows : Value of total exports of cotton manufactures $4,701,572 Value of total exports of Belgian manufactures 2,032,586 Value of total foreign manufactures re-exported 2,068,986 Antwerp is the principal seat of silk manufactures. These consist of fabrics of velvets, and plain and figured silks. There are also silk factories at Lierre, Uceles, Courtray, and Beaumont. The lace of Brussels, Malines (Mechlin), Antwerp, G-hent, Bruges, Ypres, Mons, and Alost, maintains a high reputation in the markets of the world. Tulles and embroidery have at all times given employment to great numbers of females at Brussels, Termonde, Malines, Bouillon, and Luxemburg. About 50,000 persons are constantly emjaloyed in the manufacture of hosiery, principally at Tournay. Besides these, hats, leather, paper, oil-cloth, hair, and caoutchouc articles are extensively manufactured in Belgium. There are 69 smelting furnaces, and 175 iron forges in active operation ; the principal being at Liege, where the royal cannon foundry is one of the best establishments of the kind in Europe. The cutlery manufacture of Belgium is also in high repute, and is considered superior to that of France and G-ermany. Paper, glass, porcelain, beet-root sugar, (6) salt, chemical goods, bronze wares, scientific and musical instruments, hardwares, and jewelry complete the list of Belgian manufactures. The physical resources of Belgium are also a permanent and constantly increasing source of wealth to that kingdom. Coal, zinc, iron, lead, copper, manganese, and pyrites are abundant; but of these, coal is the most important. There are 155 such mines worked, extending under (a) ITiis gives an excess of 44,2G2 lbs. exported from deposit. (6) Of the whole consumption of sugar in Belgium (30,000,000 lbs.), the beet-root sugar produced in the kingdom amounts to upwards of 10,000,000 lbs. BELGIUM. 245 a surface of upwards of 81,000 acres of land. In Namiir and Luxemburg fifty-nine mines are worked, under a surface of about ^5,000 acres. (a) France is tbe principal and natural consumer of Belgian coal; but hitherto, prior to the date of the treaty between the two countries, adopted in 1852, the high duties levied on Belgian coal in France completely paralysed that branch of trade, and, as a conseq[uence, seriously affected the general commerce between the two countries. This treaty grants to Belgium a privilege hitherto denied her. It permits Belgian linens to pass in transit through France, under the bonding system, in the same manner as English yarns, upon condition of re-export- ation. Guarantees have been granted against all advance upon French import duties on Bel- gian coals, cast iron, and forged iron. To this clause Belgium attached the most importance. In the province of Liege, the average annual produce of iron is 150,000 tons, and the annual yield of the coal-mines of Belgium is, at least, one-fourth greater than that of France. In 1845 it is estimated that the quantity raised in Belgium reached 4,960,077 tons. The treaty referred to also guaranties to Belgian lime and building materials admission into France free of duty. The French duties on glass in sheets, plaited straw and common straw hats, are reduced; the abolition of surcharge (extra percentage in favor of Belgian machinery, which is regulated by the treaty of 1845) is confirmed ; and, in lieu of the prohibition on the various kinds of pottery, an ad-valorem duty ranging from 33 francs to 165 francs per cwt. is substituted. On the other hand, France obtains from Belgium, in favor of her wines, silks, and salts, the guarantee of a treatment analogous to that which she grants to Belgian coals and irons. The taxes imposed in 1838 and 1848, by different royal decrees, upon woolens, cash- meres, linen yarns, and ready-made articles, cease to affect products of French manufacture. Most liberal facilities are accorded to French mercantile transit, in favor of which all custom duties are abolished. Finally, by this treaty all discriminating duties on French navigation are abolished, and French shipping is admitted to the advantages conferred on English vessels by the treaty of December 27, 1851. The treaty with England stipulates entire reciprocity and equality between the vessels of both nations and their cargoes, as respects navigation and import duties ; Belgium reserving ■ certain exceptions, similar to those embraced in articles vii and viii of the treaty with the United States, of March 30, 1846. These exceptions apply to certain colonial produce and salt, and are designed to favor the direct importation of those articles, from the places of growth or produc- tion, in Belgian vessels. As respects the latter article, the duty levied on raw salt, imported from the United Kingdom, under the British flag, is reduced by two-thirds, and an exemption from excise duty, in case such salt, so imported, is destined — 1st. To manufactories of chemical productions; 2d. To the manuring of lands ; 3d. To the feeding of cattle ; 4th. To the curing of fish. On compliance with these conditions, British spring salt is admitted free of import duty if imported under the Belgian flag, and at a duty of 1.40 franc per 100 kilogrammes (equal to nearly 26 cents per 220 pounds) if imported under the British flag. Whatever advantages may be secured to the navigation and commerce of France and England by these new treaties, are immediately to become common to the navigation and commerce of the United States, under similar or equal conditions to those on which such favors or advantages have been granted, by virtue of article xv of the treaty with the United States, already cited. The geographical situation of Belgium is not the least among the commercial advantages; enjoyed by that kingdom. It communicates with the sea by Ostend, by Antwerp, by Nieuport,. by the canal of Bruges to Oostburg, by the canal of Dunkirk to Furnes, by the canal of Ghent to Terneusen, by the canal of Termonde to Hulst, by the Scheldt from Flushing to Antwerp, by the Scheldt and the canal of Willebroek from Brussels to Antwerp, and by the canal of Louvain and the Scheldt from Louvain to Antwerp. (a) The extent of the coal areas of Belgium is 250 miles, and the annual produce 5,000,000 tons. — [Annual of Sdmlific, Discovert/, 1855.] 246 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The chief ports are Antwerp and Ostend. Vesst'ls of from 200 to 300 tons can come from the sea hy Ostend to Bruges; and Nieuport will admit small vessels, which may communicate with the interior hy the canals. Those, numerous, and some of them coustrueted on the most costly and improved plan, extend many of the advantages of seaports to the inland towns of Ghent, Brussels, Liege, and most of the manufacturing towns of the kingdom. Indeed, i'rom Louvain, situated in the ver}^ centre of the country, vessels sail with their cargoes direct to England. The port of Antwerp has sufficient depth for the largest vessels, and every convenience for ship-huilding. The tide rises twelve feet in tlie harhor. Ostend has a safe and caiiacious port, but the entrance is intricate. There are always, howevei-, skillful pilots, and the lights are well kept up. Commerce between the United (States and Belgium is regulated by the treaty of March 30, 1846, to which reference has been made. This treaty establishes perfect freedom of commerce and entire reciprocity between the two flags, subject to certain exceptions, which have already been mentioned. The vessels of the two countries in the ports of either, are equalized with national vessels as respects all navigation dues, import and export duties, and all charges, dues, taxes, and tolls, of whatsoever kind or description. Restitution is re(|uired to be made hy Belgium of any duty that may be levied on United States vessels by the government of the Netherlands, on the navigation of the Scheldt. Steam- vessels of both countries, engaged in the regular navigation between the United States and Belgium, are exempted from the payment of the duties of ton- nage, anchorage, buoys, and light-houses. The vessels of the two cormtries are equalized when employed in the direct importation, into the poi-ts of each, of merchandise of every description, whether proceeding from the soil, industry, or warehouses of either. The benefit of this direct importation is not forfeited if the merchandise is put on board at an intermediate port under " uncontrollable circumstances duly proved. "(n) Articles of every descrii)tion imported into either country, by vessels of the other, pay no other or higher duties than if imported under the flag of the most favored nation, other than that of the country i'rom which the importation is made. All drawbacks, or other favors of like nature, allowed in the states of either of the contracting parties, are made common to the flags of both ; each of the two parties reserving to itself the faculty of granting special privileges for the importation of salt and the produce of the national fisheries. All favors, privileges, or immunities relating to duties of customs or navigation, granted by either contracting party to any other state, are stipulated instantly to become common to the other party, on equal conditions. Articles of all kinds, the transit of which is allowed in Bel- gium, coming from or going to the United States, are exempted from all duty when the trans- portation througli the Belgian territory is effected on the railroads of the state. The preceding summary contains all that relates to commerce or navigation in the treaty of 1846. The free transitage by railroad is an important concession in favor of foreign commerce, as vast quantities of colonial and othei' i)roduee are transported through Belgium to the Rhine, and into Switzerland and Germany. Since the re-establishment of Antwerp as a commercial emporium, this course of trade is becoming more important every year, in conse(|uenee of the o-reat advantages which this city possesses over the other cities of the North sea. As a channel to Germany, it is much better and less expensive than the more indirect a-nd circuitous route of Holland, or by the Elbe or the Weser. The following summary embraces the Port Regulations of Antwerp ; a pro-forma account of charges on a vessel measuring 200 Belgian tons, (each, iou equal to 1,000 kilogrammes, or 2,250 American pounds,) and the Rates of Pilotage: Antwerp is about 60 English miles from Flushing. Vessels of any size can come up to Antwerp. Masters of vessels coming to Antwerp have principally to observe the following regulations ; in) See " Commercial Changes, &c.," Ex. Doc. No. 2, House of Rups. .3ltliCong., lat aess., p. 13.'5. BELGIUM, 247 Pilotage. — They may take Belgian or Dutcli pilots, at option, and the charge is the same. The first on board have generally the preference. The opposition between the Belgian and Dutch pilots affords a great advantage to navigation, as the pilots have thereby become more attentive. Flushing is at the mouth of the Scheldt; here the sea pilot leaves the vessel, and the river pilot comes on board. No entry or visit whatsoever is necessary. Quarantine at Dod . (a) — Vessels coming from sickly, or so suspected countries, are subject either to quarantine or to pass a visit ; but vessels coming from other countries are not liable to this formality. Entry at Lillo. (b) — Here the custom-house officers come on board, and the master has to hand them — 1. A manifest of the cargo, with the exact number of boxes, bales, casks, cases, packages, &c., with the marks, numbers, and contents, as exact as possible. 2. A specification of the provisions, such as salt beef, pork, bread, flour, groats, peas, fish, butter, wine, brandy^ gin, beer, coals, firewood, and planks for dunnage, pigs, canvass, new ropes, iron ballast, &c., &c. ; also the number of the crew. The vessel then proceeds to Antwerp, with or without a custom-house officer, as may be prescribed. The custom-house laws being very severe, every master of a vessel is recommended to be most particular in making his entry ; but should a mistake have taken place, or there be goods in dispute, he should inform his broker at Antwerp immediately on his arrival, so as to be enabled to take the needful steps to obtain a rectification, as after the lapse of 14 hours the custom- house admits of no rectification. On the arrival of a vessel before the town, the pilot-boat goes alongside, to ascertain the draught of water in palms or decimetres ; it is therefcre advisable for the master or the mate to be present at the hooking, to convince themselves of the real draught of water, according to which the sea and river pilotage are settled. If there is any gunpowder on board, the pilot must be informed of it; he gets it landed, and deposited in a powder magazine until the vessel is ready for sea ; no vessel being allowed to go into the dock with gunpowder on board, or she is subjected to a heavy fine. The expenses for warehousing and reshipping are from 8 to 15 francs, according to the quantity. On or before entering the docks, all hatches and communications with the hold, as well as all packages on deck or in the cabin, are sealed up by the custom-house officers. The master, mates, and crew must be very particular that none of the seals get broken, or they are subject to heavy fines. Vessels remaining in the river must ride with two anchors, or have a pilot on board, which costs 4 francs 24 centimes per every twenty-four hours. Every vessel must have a Belgian pilot to bring her into the dock, as well as going out of the same. The harbor-master assigns to each vessel her place in the dock, and no movement can be made without his permission. Vessels lying in the docks are prohibited to have fire or light on board, except during the winter season, when a permission is usually given by the police, but not longer than from Y in the morning until 8 in the evening. A list containing the names of the crew, passengers, and their passports, are given to the water bailiff on arrival. Sailors are paid off' and engaged before this officer, as well as put into prison on the master's request in writing. On Sundays and holidays it is customary to have the colors hoisted. While lying alongside the quay, the crew must take care that the place before the vessel be swept every day, and the rubbish put up against the poles, it not being allowed to throw any rubbish into the docks. (a) Doel, Belgian quarantine station. (i) Lillo, the first Belgian custom-house, opposite Poel. 248 COMMEKOIAL DIGESTS. Sand ballast is brouglLt alongside in ligbters, and costs 2 francs 25 centimes per last of about two tons in the dockj and 2 francs 10 centimes in the river. The lighters are discharged by the ship's crew, or by laborers, paid by the master. A tarpaulin or sail must be put between the vessel and the lighter, to prevent the sand from falling into the dock, or the master is liable to a fine of 40 centimes for every last ordered. Before any ballast be taken from a lighter, it will be well to have the lighter pumped out and examined whether it is well down to the water's edge, and the captain can refuse it if not containing the quantity. Discharging ballast into lighters costs in the dock 1 franc 55 centimes, in the river 1 franc 40 centimes per last. Brokerage is fixed by law at 75 centimes per ton measured. Commission on outward cargo 3 per cent, on freight in bulk, or by the lump^ and 4 per cent, if general. Charter-party and stamps 8 francs. Tonnage duty. — One franc 90yV centimes per ton, Belgian measurement, with 16 per cent, additional and stamp ; which is only paid once a year, from the 1st of January up to the 31st of December, whether the vessel makes one or more voyages to any port in Belgium during that time. All vessels pay at the above rate, except G-reek and Mexican vessels, which pay 2 francs 22.22 centimes, with 16 per cent, additional duty and stamp every voyage. Masters must be particular, in mooring their vessels, to have the chains or hawsers well secured with chafing gear, so as not to injure the quays. Dock duty, per ton.' — For vessels of all nations, under 50 tons, free; 50 to 100 tons, 26 cent- imes ; 101 to 150 tons, 34 centimes ; 151 to 200 tons, 43 centimes ; 201 to 250 tons, 51 centimes ; 251, or above, 7'7 centimes. Valid for 3 months. Vessels remaining above that time in dock pay -jL more for each month. Vessels visiting the docks several voyages in the year, pay the two first voyages at the above rates; the 3d, one-fourth; the 4th, one-half; the 5th, and following voyages, three-fourths less than the above rates. CooMng-Jwuse charges, per iveeJc. — For vessels of all nations, under 36 tons, 1 franc ; 36 to 100 tons, 2 francs; 101 to 200 tons, 3 francs; 201 to 300 tons, 4 francs; 301, or above, 5 francs. A part of a week is reckoned as a whole. Vessels laid up in the dock pay, after the first two months, only one-third of the tax until they fit out again. Careening dues. — Vessels of all nations, under 100 tons, 16 francs per day; 100 to 149 tons, 14 centimes per ton a day; 150 to 199 tons, 13 centimes; 200 to 249 tons, 12 centimes; 250 to 299 tons, 11 centimes; 300 to 349 tons, 10 centimes; 350 to 399 tons, 9 centimes; 400, and above, 8 centimes per ton a day. Vessels that want cleaning, or to have the bottom examined, can be keelhauled against the quay, outside the dock, in safety, and at a trifling expense. Survey inwards. — A vessel imder 100 tons, 12 francs; 100 to 199 tons, 20 francs; 200 to 299 tons, 30 francs; 300 to 399 tons, 40 francs; 400, or above, 45 francs. Pro-fonna account of port charges at Antwerp for a vessel measuring 200 tons. Pilotage from sea to Flushing, on 38 palms (summer rate) Frs. 102 00 " " Flushing to Antwerp " " 99 417 " '' Antwerp to Flushing, on 28 palms (a) " 68 00 " " Flushing to sea " " , 33 gg To the pilot, for night on board and gratuity 00 00 Hooking the vessel 3 qq Pilots for moving the vessel in and out the dock 4 24 Sea protest, and extending same at tribunal of commerce 25 00 Tribunal of commerce, for appointing surveyors inwards 15 qO Surveyors' fees inwards 30 qo Quay duty 6 35 Bill of measurement and stamp 18 50 (a) Eifual 12 feet (i im hi-h BELGIUM, 249 Tonnage duty, in and out, on 200 tons 443 48 Dock duty on 200 tons 86 00 Custom-house seals, from 10 to 20 francs 15 00 Cooking-house duty, 2 weeks, at 3 frs. per week 6 00 60 lasts of ballast, at 2^ frs. per last 135 00 Waterschout's, mustering of crew, and certificate 14 00 Clearance passport from the custom-house 20 00 Brokerage on 200 tons, at 75 c. per ton 150 00 To the excise, for town dues on ship's provisions 15 00 Cancelling customs bonds, postage, and petty expenses 15 00 Light dues, at 12f centimes perton 25 50 Bill of health and visa, according to circumstances Consul' s fee Francs 1,330 40 1,330 francs 40 centimes, equal to $259 44 BATES OF PILOTAGE. KATES OF PILOTAGE. SUMMER WAGES WINTER WAGES. SUMMER WAGES WINTER WAGES From 1st April to 1st Oct. From Oct. 1st to April 1st. From 1st April to 1st Oct. From Oct. 1st to April 1st. 4) 1 •a o '5> fc*D a la 3 S o s o .i la =) f If feb a 'a 3 o rt i s Ic = g 3 ^ 5° a § -3 s 1 a be .3° Ic s 2 % s .5 3 a, 1 3 ^ < S 1 o a v> o bX) ■§ 1 J M 1 1 s o c i 1 ■a 1 O a fi s 1 s o s 1 i^ancs. Prancs. JVs. J^aTics. Ernies. Francs. Francs, JVancs. Frs. Francs. Francs. Fn. 15 4.9 19.05 13.76 30 25.40 16.93 36 38 12.6 99.47 .58.20 102 129.10 64.55 110 16 5.2 20.11 14.81 3i 26.45 17.99 38 39 12.9 105.82 61.38 106 137.57 67.72 114 17 5.6 21.16 15.87 34 27.51 19.05 39 40 13.1 114.29 64.55 110 150.26 71.96 123 18 5.9 25.28 16.93 36 29.63 20.11 40 41 13.4 124.87 67.72 114 162.96 76.19 129 19 6.2 25.40 17.99 38 31.75 21.16 44 42 13.8 135.45 70.90 123 175.66 80.42 135 20 6.6 27.51 19.05 40 34.92 22.22 47 43 14.1 146.03 74.07 129 190.48 84.66 142 21 6.9 29.63 20.11 44 38.10 23.28 51 44 14.4 156.61 77.25 135 205.29 91.01 148 22 7.2 31.75 21.16 47 41.27 25.40 55 45 14.8 169.31 84.66 142 220.11 97.35 157 23 7.5 33.86 23.28 51 44.44 27.51 57 46 15.1 182.01 95.24 148 239.15 105.82 163 24 7.9 35.98 25.40 55 47.62 29.63 61 47 15.4 194.71 105.82 157 238.20 118.52 169 25 8.2 39.15 27.51 57 50.79 31.75 64 48 15.7 207.41 118.53 163 279.37 135.45 178 26 8.5 42.33 29.63 61 55.03 33.86 68 49 16.1 228.57 135.45 169 300.53 152.38 186 27 8.9 45.50 31.75 64 59.26 35 98 72 50 16.4 249.74 152.38 178 325.93 169.31 195 28 9.2 48.68 33.86 68 63.49 38.10 75 51 16.7 270.90 169.31 186 351.32 190.48 203 29 9.5 52.91 35.98 72 69.84 40.21 78 52 17.1 292.06 190.48 195 376.72 211.64 212 30 9.8 57.14 38.10 75 76.19 42.33 80 53 17.4 313.23 211.64 203 402.12 2^.80 ^20 31 10.2 62.43 40.21 78 82.54 44.44 85 54 17.7 334.39 252.80 212 431.75 253.97 229 32 10.5 67.72 42.33 80 88.89 46.56 89 55 18.1 355.56 253.97 220 463.49 279.37 237 33 10.8 73.02 44.44 85 95.24 48.68 91 56 18.4 380.95 279.37 ^9 495.24 304.76 246 34 11.2 78.31 46.56 89 101.59 51.85 95 57 18.7 412.70 304.76 237 535.45 330.16 254 35 11.6 83.60 48.68 91 107.94 55.03 98 58 19.0 444.44 330.16 246 577.78 355.56 262 36 11.9 88.89 51.85 95 114.28 58.20 102 59 19.4 486.77 335.56 254 632.80 380.95 271 37 12.2 94.18 55.03 98 120.63 61.38 106 60 19.7 529.10 380.95 262 687.83 406.35 279 There is no difference in the pilotage with regard to nations ; they are all assimilated to the Belgian, and pay the same pilotage. For transit duties and restrictions on American staples destined for Belgium, attention is directed to a statement thereof, annexed to Belgian tariff. [Part II.] [32 ] 250 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The principal exports from the United States to Belgium are rice, tobacco, cotton, pot and pearl ashes, sugar, coffee, oil, hides, &c. The chief imports into the United States from Bel- gium are linens of every description, woolens, camhrics, lawns, laces, carpets, &c. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Belgium, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each co^mtry, and the tonnage of American and Belgian vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. Yeai-s. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OF IMPORTS, AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- Foreign produce. Total. Entered tlie Cleared from Entered the Cleared from duce. United States. United States. United States. United States. 1845... SI, 495, 754 $355,319 $1,851,073 $709,562 11,740 20,289 2,656 4,542 1846... 1,632,607 749,207 2,381,814 836,372 12,714 23,375 5,823 6,527 1847..- 2,874,367 348,190 3,222,557 948,325 28, 307 26,617 20,173 18,752 1848... 1,989,764 200,171 2,189,935 1,325,061 20,256 19,870 11,431 6,267 1849... 2,443,064 288,243 2,781,307 1,844,293 21,158 27,862 9,947 6,196 1850... 2,168,357 375,403 2,543,760 2,404,954 23,033 21,428 5,756 4,068 1851... 2,709,393 142,619 2,852,012 2,377,6.30 16,578 17,654 7,524 3,829 1852... 3,202,767 1,001,003 4,203,770 2,054,043 15,982 34,705 15,538 5,940 1853... 2,301,038 907,495 3,208,533 2,732,168 28,845 25,124 10,931 4,192 1854... 3,848,890 1,158,004 5,006,894 3,462,241 36,480 42,532 13,217 11,171 1855... 2, 376, 354 1,550,886 3,927,240 3,398,690 36,998 37,790 7,048 4,963 Table exhibiting the leading staples of the United States, and their respective values, exported to Belgium in 1854 and 1855. Description of merchandise. HOME VALUE. 1854. 1855. Whale oil $2,151 8,989 14, 686 70,429 121,647 7,301 46,352 916,288 129,664 283, 186 181,462 1,342,962 542, 349 11,360 5,003 82,332 $6,483 7,253 25,253 220,563 138,203 8,569 81,088 Whale-bone .. Wood and himher, including staves and heading, spars, masts, and dye woods ... Naval stores Pot and pearl ashea Beef . . Wheat Flour 24,094 21,450 24, 106 1,042,434 381,723 1,369 6,091 142,561 Bice -- Cotton _-. ----- Tobacco , Do. manufactured .- .- _ Wax Spirits of turpentine BELGIUM. 251 Table exhibiting the foreign navigation of Belgium in 1852 compared with that of 1853 and 1854. Nationality. Russia Sweden Denmark ^i Prussia Mecklenburg Hanse Towns HanoVer and Oldenburg. Netherlands Great Britain France Portugal Spain Sardinia Austria Tuscany Borne Sicily Greece America- Belgium Vegsels. Tonnage. Tons of cargoes Total Total in 1853. Decrease in 1853. Total in 1854. Increase in 1854 over 1853 28 152 82 91 80 37 96 140 804 225 3 27 15 44 1 4 19 3 72 452 2,375 2,345 30 2,393 48 7,256 27,572 7,305 21,581 16,741 5,739 8,759 14,372 131,106 19,055 350 4,345 2,959 13,209 269 682 3,402 850 48,976 78,087 412,615 399,664 12,951 435,415 35,751 7,103 25,718 7,282 21,556 16,693 5,587 8,385 14, 020 89,052 15,970 350 3,607 2,938 13,183 269 682 3,382 850 48,679 67,011 CLEARED. Vessels. Tonnage. Tons of cargoes. 352,317 337,789 14,528 361,770 23,981 36 149 83 90 81 35 107 142 814 235 3 28 16 38 3 4 18 3 69 462 2,416 2,296 8,417 27,608 7,242 21,533 17,111 5,444 9,631 14,131 132,066 20,005 350 4,687 3,093 11,402 907 682 3,166 734 47,423 81,077 416,709 395,569 120 2,446 150 21, 140 432,371 36,802 2,137 4,511 2,831 6,042 3,239 1,844 4,482 9,661 58,470 12,821 123 2,852 2,144 4,593 269 682 1,226 432 16,549 40,764 175,672 168,713 6,959 203,739 35,026 Table exhibiting the annual average value of the commerce of Belgium during three periods, of five years each. YEARS. IMPORTS. EXPORTS. TOTAL. General com- merce. Special com- merce. General com- merce. Special com- merce. General com- merce. Special com- merce. 1836 to 1840 1841 to 1845. Francs. 226,800,000 302,900,000 391,700,000 445,100,000 FVancs. 194,700,000 215,700,000 229,000,000 241,100,000 Francs. 174,600,000 245,700,000 373,800,000 458,700,000 Francs. 141,800,000 162,400,000 213,000,000 253,800,000 Francs. 401,400,000 548,600,000 765,500,000 903,800,000 Francs. 336,500,000 378,100,000 441,000,000 494,900,000 1846 to 1850 1851 Note.—" General commerce" means general importation and csportation. ation of domestic products. ■ Special commerce" means impoitation for consumption and the export- 252 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The year 1848 was one of great commercial prosperity in Belgium ; in 1850 there was a slight falling off in the general returns, as compared with those of the preceding year; and, in 1851, the movements exhibit a diminution of 1 per cent. As in 1850, however, the exports exceeded the imports nearly thirteen millions of francs, or $2,418,000. The total value of Belgian commerce in 1851 (imports and exports united) was 903,800,000 francs, or $168,106,800. This is a diminution, when compared with 1850, of 8,700,000 francs, or $1,618,200; hut if compared with the average yearly amount for the five years preceding (1846-1850), it will he found that there is an augmentation of 138,300,000 francs, or $25,723,800, or 18 per cent. The statement exhibits an augmentation in the foreign trade of Belgium, particularly in the general commerce, which, owing to the progressive movement of transitage, has more than doubled during the first period (1836 to 1840). According to the new system of valuation (valeurs reelles), the general movement in 1851 was but 819,700,000 francs, or $152,464,200. From thus estimating by the actual value, there results a diminution of $15,642,600, or 9 per cent. This diminution applies chiefly to the expiorts. The new system reduces the amount from 459 millions of francs to 401 millions — a difference of 58 millions, or 13 per cent. The difference between the actual and the perma- nent value of imports is only 6 per cent, on the whole. (a) Table exhibiting the value in francs {a) of imports and exports to and from the United States and Belgium during a period of six years, ending with 1852; compiled from Belgian authorities. EXPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES TO BELGIUM. 1847. 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 19,064,000 4,504,000 44,000 21,010,000 2,923,000 27,000 24,990,000 3,629,000 279,000 17,666,000 2,689,000 350,000 16,811,000 1,100,000 54,000 29,050,000 5,167,000 223,000 27,954,000 6,838,000 1,218,000 26,273,000 20,443,000 4,657,000 General merchandise Manufiictured goods 23,612,000 23,960,000 28,898,000 20,605,000 17,965,000 34,440,000 36,010,000 51,373,000 IMPOETS INTO THE UNITED STATES PROM BELGIUM. 1,732,000 170,000 6,919,000 746,000 39,000 6,644,000 1,656,000 288,000 7,535,000 2,625,000 2,274,000 10,363,000 2,710,000 1,785,000 13,121,000 3,590,000 ^6,000 11,261,000 2,674,000 4,858,000 27,586,000 3,516,000 6,970,000 35,980,000 General merchandise Manufactured goods Xotal 8,821,000 7,429,000 9,479,000 15,262,000 17,616,000 15,077,000 35,118,000 46,466,000 (a) Each equal to 18.6 cents. In the foreign trade of Antwerp for 1852, the United States holds the eighth rank as respects the number of vessels, but in respect of tonnage they occupy the first place. The average aggregate tonnage of 906 Belgian, British, French, Dutch, Norwegian, and Prussian vessels, entered Antwerp in 1852, was 150|- tons each; while the average aggregate tonnage of 70 United States vessels was 679 S^f tons each. The number of vessels entered at Ostend in 1852 was 368, measuring 37,338 tons, of which nearly one-half were Belgian. No United States vessels entered this port in 1852. Exchange between the United States and Belgium rules at 5 francs 20 centimes to the dollar ; the true par of exchange is 5 francs 33 centimes to the dollar. The effective merchant marine of Belgium in 1853 was: Steam vessels 4, aggregate tonnage 809 tons. These belong to the port of Antwerji. The port of G-hent has also 1 steamer measuring 1)8 tons. Sailing vessels eu f->' "I'-rci 1 in the foreign trade 154, measuring an aggregate of 33,718 tons. ('() The old permanent, fixed, or official valuesin Belgium are those of 18.S.S, and are retained in tho "Tableau Ci(i,um-d to rcpiesnit, with as much c?i(ietness as emi he attaijicd, the actual cm lent vain.' u\ impoits and cxpoits BELGIUM. 253 NAVIGATION. Number of vessels entered Belgian ports in 1854 2,393; aggregate tonnage 435,415 tons. Number of vessels cleared from Belgian ports 2,446 " 432,371 " Total entered and cleared 4,839 ; total tonnage 867,786 " Aggregate tonnage of freights 565,509 tons. Aggregate tonnage in ballast 302,277 " Increase in 1854 over 1853. — In number of vessels 4 per cent. In aggregate tonnage 9 In freights 12 Number of vessels entered and cleared from and for the United States : 1853. — Vessels entered, 60 ; aggregate tonnage, 29,911 : Vessels cleared 85 ; tonnage, 43,374. 1854.— " 88; " 51,818: " 108; " 60,855. Total entered and cleared from and for the United States : 1854. — Vessels, 196; aggregate tonnage 112,673 tons. 1853.— " 145; " 73,285 " Increase in 1854 over 1853. — Vessels, 51; aggregate tonnage 39,388 " Total number of national vessels entered Belgian ports in 1853 and 1854. 18S3. 1854. Increase in 1854. Number ... 433 73,934 59,445 472 87,236 72,896 9 per cent. 18 25 Tonnage - - - Tonnage of freight . . Total number of foreign vessels entered Belgian ports in 1853 and 1854. 1853. 1854. Increase in 1854. 1,912 325,730 278, 344 1,921 348,179 288,874 7 per cent. 4 Tonnage of freight . - Total number of national vessels cleared from Belgian ports in 1853 and 1854. 1853. 1854. Increase in 1854. Number 463 80,276 43,511 457 84,398 43,004 5 per cent. ■ Tonnage of freight . . 254 COMMEECIAL DIGESTS. Total number of foreign vessels cleared fi^om Belgianports in 1853 and 1854. 1853. 1854. Increase in 1854. 1,833 315,192 125,202 1,989 347,973 160,675 9 per cent. 10 " 28 " Tonnage of freight . . Statement of amount and character of customs duties paid, in francs, at Belgian ports in 1854, compared with the same in 1853. Duties paid. In 1854. In 1853. Decrease in 1854. 10,928,535 33,962 10,910 595,904 11,967,413 245,522 22,987 532,302 - 9 per cent. Total 11,569,311 12,768,224 Additional duties - 16 per cent. 16 per cent. The commerce of Belgium witli foreign nations continues to advance. The results for 1854 exceed those of 1853 within a fraction of 12 per cent., and exhibit an advance over the annual average of five years, from 1849 to 1853 inclusive, as high as 34 per cent. Imports and exports united reach the sum of 1,335,400,000 francs ($240,384,400,) permanent value. They exceed the totals for 1853 hy 141,100,000 francs; and show an advance of 340,900,000 francs upon the annual average for the quintennial period from 1849 to 1853. Estimating the commercial movements of 1854 upon the basis of the new system of actual or real values, the totals amount to 1,354,400 francs ($251,918,400) ; showing a difference between the old and new systems of 19,000,400 francs, or 1 per cent. The following tabular statement will illustrate these facts : Annual average amount, in francs, of imports and exports for the quintennial period from 1849 to 1853, compiared with 1854. tEAREi. IMPORTS. EXPORTS. TOTAL IMPORTS AND EiPORTS. General com- merce. Special coni- ng ei-ce. General com- merce. Special com- merce. General com- merce. Special com- merce. 1R49 To 1853 4S8,100,000 621,900,000 257,400,000 323,000,000 506,400,000 713,500,000 276,600,000 416,500,000 994,500,000 1,335,400,000 534,000,000 739,500,000 1854 Increase in 1854 .... 97 per cent. 25 per cent. 41 per cent. 51 per cent. 34 per cent. 38 per cent. The commercial movements between Belgium and the different countries of the American continent for 1854, show a progressive increase over the preceding five years. The trade between Belgium and the United tStates, more especially, participates in this advance. Thus, the imports from the United States were augmented from 28,000,000 francs (permanent values) — the amount for 1853 — to 36,000,000 francs for 1854, or an increase of 28 BELGIUM. 255 per cent. For the same years, the real values were: for 1853, 26,435,000 francs; and for 1854, 33,000,000 francs. Eesinous substances, cereals, raw tohacco, brown sugar, rice, provisions, and dye-woods were among the augmented importations, while a diminution was perceived in the articles of cotton (a) and coffee. The following tabular statement will show the value, in francs, of the leading imports and exports from and to the United States in the years 1853 and 1854 : Description of merchandise. IMPORTS. Description of merchandise. EXPORTS. 1853. 1854. 1853. 1854. Whalebone 222,000 274, 000 4,027,000 569,000 11,000 10,659,000 1,515,000 50,000 237,000 318,000 409,000 618,000 3,274,000 3,782,000 23,000 447, 000 50, 000 666,000 2,181,000 823,000 40,000 9,198,000 7,363,000 324,000 494, 000 262,000 1,255,000 1,205,000 2,756,000 4,117,000 542,000 1,724,000 White lead -- 410,000 161,000 145,000 2,615,000 1,327,000 223,000 1,116,000 878,000 402,000 48,000 4,132,000 1,428,000 5,821,000 1,626,000 2,816,000 1,474,000 2,975,000 306,000 163,000 393,000 1,652,000 1,139,000 296,000 2,350,000 2,600,000 331,000 151,000 7,438,000 1,390,000 7,843,000 2,731,000 4, 545, 000 2,207,000 3,941,000 "Wood Leather Coffee Tin Pot and. pearl ashes - Iron, and manufactures of Wool- Wax Cotton Hardware Bread biscuit &c ITire-arms Lard tallow &c Lead _-- _- ..-.-- Hare and rabbits' skins Pi tell and tar Manufactured tobacco Kice -- Tobacco _ _ ' ' sillt and other material- Crystal and glassware Zinc . Provisions ' _ ------ Sundries ------ --- Total Total 26,435,000 33,000,000 27,597,000 39,476,000 (a) This fact suggests, that, in the years 1853 and 1854, the quantities of cotton exported from England to Belgium increased over similar exports the two preceding years, in a ratio almost exactly proportional to the diminution of the direct exportation of the article from the United States. HOLLAND. HOLLAND, On the 2Yth August, 1751, William IV, Prince of Orange, presented to the States General of Holland a remarkable memoir on the state of that republic, which is still preserved in a work entitled "ia Bichesse de la Hollande," published in London in 1778. That prince requested the opinions of several leading merchants, and others of large mercan- tile experience, on the following questions, viz: 1st. What is the actual state of commerce? and if the same should be found to be dimin- ished and fallen to decay, then to inquire : 2d. What arrangements and means may support it, and, if possible, restore it to its former prosperity and grandeur? These questions elicited a statement, or, more properly, an elaborate and a lengthy report on the causes by which the trade and navigation of the United Provinces rose and flourished. This report is divided into three heads, viz : Ist. The natural and physical causes; 2d. The moral causes ; and, 3d. The accidental, adventitious, or external causes. Under the first head are classed the advantageous situation of the country, near the sea, and at the mouths of large navigable rivers ; its central situation, which rendered it the general market to which the merchants of northern and southern Europe were accustomed to bring their merchandise, and exchange the same for such goods as they wanted. The sterility of the country, and the consequent want, it is represented, have contributed in animating the spirit, zeal, industry, and genius of the people to seek, in foreign countries, those things which they most need at home; and this could only be effected by means of trade. This they were enabled to do by the great abundance of fish in the neighboring sea, which furnished an equivalent for the exchange of those things which the barrenness of their own country, and their limited extent of arable lands, denied them at home. Among the moral causes, the report cited the invariable maxim and fundamental law of the State, which permits the free exercise of all religions, and regards toleration in this respect as the most effectual means of attracting foreigners from adjacent countries, and, by that means, to augment the population of these provinces. The constant policy, it is remarked, of this republic, has been to make this country a safe asylum for persecuted and oppressed foreigners ; and no alliance, no treaty, no solicitation of any jDotentate in the world, has ever been capable of destroying the protection and security accorded to those who have sought its refuge. This fundamental maxim of the republic has caused many people to flee from the oppressions and persecutions exercised in other countries, and to seek refuge, as well as employment, bringing with them not only their money and their valuable effects, but also their industry. They have established many trades, manufactories, and arts, notwithstanding the first materials for the said manufactures were almost wholly wanting in the Netherlands, and only to be procured, at great expense, from other countries. 260 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The constitution and the form of government, and the civil liberty thus extended, furnish another cause to which the growth of trade and the prosperity of commerce are attributed. The wisdom and prudence of the administration, the courage and firmness of the councils, the fidelity with which contracts and engagements were wont to be fulfilled, are also classed among the moral causes under which their commerce had reached so high a degree of prosperity and splendor. Among the accidental or external causes, are enumerated the civil wars in France, and afterwards in Germany, England, and other countries, which contributed largely to the encour- agement of the manufacturing industry of Holland; while the religious persecutions in Spain, Brabant, Flanders, and other states and empires, also contributed to the advancement of its commerce. After dwelling at length on these three heads, this celebrated report then discusses the actual state of the trade of the country, and shows that the two first — the natural and moral causes — still remained unchanged; while the third — the accidental and external causes — had almost entirely disappeared. Persecutions in other countries had ceased; indolence and contempt for trade had given place to industry and commercial enterprise; their own example had been imitated by England, which, for a century, had been straining legislation to attract the trade so long enjoyed by the republic, and which now prohibited the exportation of the wool which formerly fed the factories of Holland ; while many other countries had successfully introduced those branches of industry which, in former days, had flourished in the Netherlands alone. The great number of shops which had been closed in the principal towns, especially in Amsterdam ; the difficulty of procuring seamen to man the ships ; the flourishing commerce of Hamburg and other towns, which now supplied G-ermany with all kinds of colonial produce, of which Amsterdam was formerly the great emporium ; the extinction of Dutch commercial houses in Spain, and of Dutch trade in the Levant : all these were cited as proofs of the present decline of the trade and commerce of Holland. This report, of which a brief sketch has thus been given, closes with a recommendation to permit all raw materials to be entered free of duty, as well as all foreign goods placed in entrepot, or for transit; basing this recommendation upon the maxim, that the lighter the burdens were, the greater would be the trade. Nearly two hundred years prior to the date of this report, the revolt of the Netherlands against Spain commenced. The Duke of Alva, then the Spanish governor of the Netherlands, was defeated ; all the Spanish ships on the coast of the Netherlands were destroyed ; several Spanish towns were taken, and Spanish troops were expelled from the cities and towns of Hol- land, Zealand, and West Friesland, whose citizens joined in the revolt, and swore allegiance to the Prince of Orange. In 1579 the famous union of the States of Holland, Friesland, Zealand, and Utrecht was formed at the latter place, and a solemn compact entered into to unite as one confederation, and, as such, to advise of peace, war, and taxes, and to maintain personal and religious lib- erty. Overyssel and Groningen soon after joined the union ; and, in a few years, these seven United Provinces became the most powerful republic which the world had seen since the decline of ancient Rome. From this period until the treaty of Westphalia was signed (1648), we find the Dutch grow- ing rapidly in power, commerce, and wealth ; sending their ships to every quarter of the globe; successfully resisting the Spanish and Portuguese flag, on whatever sea they chanced to en- counter them ; capturing their vessels ; expelling them from the Moluccas ; forming trading establishments in the Persian gulf, and thence along the coasts and isles of India to Japan, and especially at Ceylon, Java, and the Moluccas. In one of these naval encounters (1658)^ the Dutch captured a whole fleet of Spanish galleons, bringing home, as the prize of victory, precious metals to the value of 10,000,000 guilders. The vessels and seamen employed in these naval adventures were under the management of HOLLAND. 2G1 the Dutch East India Company, which frequently realized, from the rich captures and costly cargoes — spices, cinnamon, and other East India productions — as high as 62^ per cent, on the capital stock invested. A West India Company was also organized about the year 1621, originally for the purpose of driving the Portuguese out of Brazil, and the Spaniards out of Peru ; in which they were not 80 successful as in their East India adventures. They captured, however, the Spanish fleet in those seas; scoured and plundered the coasts of Cuba; took possession of Pernambuco, and the islands of Cura^oa, St. Eustace, and others, which they still retain. The first check to this extensive and almost undisputed dominion of the sea, wliich the Dutch experienced, was the celebrated navigation act of the Rump Parliament, enforced by Cromwell, and ten years afterwards legalized by Charles II. The Dutch, at this period, enjoyed a profitable carrying trade between England and her American colonies. By this act, it was provided that no merchandise, the produce of Asia, Africa, or America, should be imported into England in any but English-built ships, commanded by an English master, and navigated by a crew three-fourths of whom should be Englishmen ; nor any fish exported from or imported into England or Ireland, except of English taking. As might have been, and confessedly was, expected, a war soon after broke out between Holland and England, exclusively naval, which was carried on with the utmost desperation on both sides. After several fierce and bloody engagements, the Dutch were defeated, and were compelled to sue for peace. A treaty followed, imposing the most humiliating terms upon the hardy republic; among others, that "of striking their flag, and lowering their topsail, whenever the Dutch ships should meet any of the ships of war of the English commonwealth in the Britisli seas." Several other wars occurred between the Dutch and English, and, in 1672, between the former and the English and French combined. Towards the close of the war of the American revolution, hostilities were again declared against Holland by Great Britain, on the pretence that the dockyards and arsenals of France were furnished with munitions of war, and the American troops with supplies, by Dutch vessels. A discovery, accidentally made by the British in the following year, that a secret treaty, recog- nizing the independence of the United States, had been negotiated in 1778, between Holland and the American Congress, inflamed the already excited animosity of England against the Dutch to. so high a pitch, that war was immediately declared. During the existence of these hostilities the Dutch lost their West India possessions ; and, during the subsequent wars of the French revolution, in which the Netherlands were forced to co-operate with the French, the whole of their East India possessions passed into the hands of the British. In 1814, the independence of Holland was restored, and Belgium and Holland vere erected into one kingdom. In the convention of 1815, Java and all the Dutch colonies were ceded to Holland, with the exception of the Cape of Good Hope, and the settlements of Demarara, Essequibo, and Berbice. The British, also, obtained the cession of the settlements of Cochin and its dependencies, on the coast of Malabar. The possessions of the Dutch in the East Indies are now reduced to the island of Java, the Moluccas, Sumatra, (for which they gave Fort Molucca in return,) Macassar, Celebes, Banda, Amboyna, and Ternate. They possess several forts on the coast of Guinea: in the West Indies, Curagoa, St. Eustace, Saba, and part of St. Martin; and in South America, a portion of Surinam, or Dutch Guiana. The revolution in Belgium in 1830 resulted, as already stated in the Digest of that king- dom, after a few days' contest, in the separation of Belgium from Holland, and its erection into an independent kingdom. Since 1830, Holland has uninterruptedly pursued the arts of peaceful commerce, industry, and trade. Her navigation is annually extending; and her great commercial marts, Amster- dam and Rotterdam, bid fair to regain their former prosperity. 262 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. In their commercial relations with the United States, the Netherlands have always manifested a spirit of liberality. Several treaties of amity, navigation, and commerce have been entered into between the two countries— the last bearing date August 26, 1852. This treaty of 18.52 is based upon the principle of entire reciprocity and perfect freedom of commerce, and applies, with all its privileges, to the intercourse between the United States and the colonies and domin- ions of Holland beyond the seas. It reserves to Holland the right to levy discriminating duties of import and export in favor of her direct trade with such colonies and dominions ; but should American vessels engage in such direct trade, they are to enjoy perfect equality with the national flag. The United States is also at liberty to continue to levy the discriminating duty imj^osed by the tariff of 1846 on tea and coifee, in favor of the direct importation of these articles from the places of their growth, but also without discriminating between the flags of the two countries. This treaty is to continue in force two years, commencing six weeks after its ratification, with the usual twelve months' notice by either party wishing to terminate its action. Before the date of this last treaty, the reciprocity and freedom of commerce between the Netherlands and the United States applied only to the direct trade between the two countries. All restrictions, not only as regards entire reciprocity and perfect equality in the indirect trade between the two nations and their flags, respectively, but as it respects our trade with the Dutch colonies, were by this treaty abolished, and the two flags were assimilated (the coasting trade and fisheries excepted), on every sea, and in every port. NAVIGATION LAWS. The laws amending the Netherlands legislation with respect to navigation were prepared in 1848, but not proclaimed as in operation until the year 1850, when the abolition of the British navigation acts rendered necessary the immediate adoption of that step. The new system agreed to by both the chambers of the States G-eneral is contained in a collection of rules embodying the legal dispositions and schedules. These are too numerous and lengthy here to be inserted ; but the following summary will convey a general idea of their purport, and show how beneficially the liberal spirit, which has of late years guided British commercial legisla- tion, enters into and moulds the commercial systems of neighboring countries. Whatever favor the system of "free trade" may hereafter meet with among the commercial nations of the earth, there can be little doubt that the spirit of free navigation has entered upon its beneficent mission, and already shapes the legislation of those nations which have thriven and flourished most by commerce. The countries in Europe which still retain their medieval commercial policy- — and, indeed, those on our own continent which have inherited from their European progenitors similar systems of commercial intercourse with foreign nations — must either abandon their restrictive policy, and adopt, in its widest sense, and with all its privileges and rights, the common-law definition of mare liberum, or find themselves isolated from the rest of the com- mercial world. When this spirit has already burst through the barriers which, from a time "to which the memory of man nmneth not to the contrary," closed China and Japan against every approach of civilized commerce, it cannot be doubted that its influence will soon or late be felt and acknowledged by those nations which would erect financial barricades across the high- way of nations, and interdict the importation of bread to feed, and fabrics to clothe, their desti- tute subjects. The present navigation laws of England are but the commencement of a new era in the commercial legislation of Europe. The example of Holland, of Belgium, of the Hanse Towns, and the ZoUverein, (though, as regards the latter, there is still much to be done,) cannot but hasten this liberal reformation in the navigation laws of neighboring governments. The leading features of the new navigation laws of the Netherlands. may be gathered from the following summary. It embraces the chief bases upon which they rest: HOLLAND. 263 1. Unconditional repeal of discriminating favors granted to the Dutch flag, by suppression of the rules allowing to this flag preference above foreign flags. 2. Conditional similarity of flag in the navigation to and from the Netherlands colonies. 3. Stipulations by law concerning the trade and navigation in the colonies of the realm, carried on by other nations of the world. 4. Eepeal of the interdiction to grant Netherlands registers to foreign-built vessels, by admittance for registry (naturalization) of such vessels at a duty of 4 per cent, of their value. 5. Diminishing of import duties on principal materials for ship-building. 6. Suspension of the shipping duties on the Ehine and Yssel. Y. Total abolition of transit duties. The principal object of all these measures is to promote trade, by relieving navigation, as much as possible, of the impediments against its development which resulted from past legisla- tion. The general system comprehends a plan of establishing, in one general law, instead of by complicated treaties of commerce with the different nations, the principle of immediate and unconditional "free navigation," and, consequently, the general and unconditional assimila- tion of flags, by granting to the vessels of all nations the privileges enjoyed by those of the Neth- erlands; reserving, however, the right of retaliation, should circumstances render its exercise necessary, which, in most cases that can happen, will be limited to an augmentation of shipping taxes, or of import duties; and saving, also, certain restrictions and conditions relative to importations from Netherlands colonies. In fine, the navigation laws of Holland are framed so as to open, as far as possible, all Netherlands ports for ships of all nations; "to proclaim," as announced in the ofiicial exposition, "a renewed adherence to the liberal commercial policy which the Netherlands was the first nation to adopt, in order to stimulate other nations to abandon all systems of protections and prohibitions ; to abolish all exclusive protections of the Netherlands flag, so that our (their) navigation may, with good success, keep peace with that of other nations, and our (their) commerce may not remain behind in the newly-opened compe- tition resulting from the repeal of the navigation laws of England." Under the regulations condensed above, as well as under the treaty with the United States of 1852, the American flag is assimilated to that of the Netherlands in the colonial trade. Indeed, in all respects, without any condition or qualiflcation whatever, the flags of both nations enjoy entire and perfect equality. On the 5th of August, 1844, the then Secretary of the Treasury addressed to collectors and naval officers circular instructions, in which the following paragraphs occurred: "The charge d'affaires of his Majesty the King of the Netherlands has presented a com- plaint that the duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem, levied upon coffee imported from the ports of the Netherlands, is in contravention of the subsisting treaties between the United States and the King of the Netherlands ; seeing that, by the ninth article of the act of 1842, cofiee im- ported in vessels of the United States, from the place of its growth or production, is exempt from duty." "By the first article of the treaty of 1839, between the United States and the United Neth- erlands, it is stipulated that goods and merchandise, whatever their origin may be, imported into or exported from the ports of the United States, from or to the ports of the Netherlands in Europe, in vessels of the Netherlands, shall pay no other or higher duties than shall be levied on the like goods and merchandise imported or exported in national vessels, ' ' &c. ' ' As coff'ee imported in the vessels of the United States is exempt from duty, it follows, from the treaty before recited, that coffee imported in the vessels of the Netherlands, from their ports in Europe, is exempt from duty. Therefore, such duties as have been so levied upon coffee, so as aforesaid imported, in vessels of the Netherlands, from their ports in Europe, must be refunded; and, in future, coffee so imported must be admitted free of duty." From these instructions, it necessarily followed in practice, that while the coffee of Java imported in vessels of the Netherlands, from ports of the Netherlands, has been exempted from 264 COMMEBCIAL DIGESTS. diity on its arrival in the United States, the same artit:]e, when imported in American vessels, from the same ports in the Netherlands, has hcen snbjected, nndcr tlie provisions of tlie tenth section of the tariff act of 30tb of August, LSl'i, to tlie payment of a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem, as a non-ennmerated article. On the 11th of September, 1845, these instructions were countermanded, by Treasury circular of that date, as not warranted by the provisions of the treaty of 1839 ; the word "so," which qualified the importation or exportation, having been overlooked in preparing the circular first referred to. A different construction would give to the vessels of Holland an advantage over American vessels engaged in the same trade, as already intimated, of 20 per cent. ; an advan- tage which could hardly have been intended to be given by any treaty with a foreign power. All ambiguity or doubt on this subject is removed by the tariff act of 1846. Under the pro- visions of that act, however, the Netherlands flag still enjoys an advantaf;c over that of the United States in the coffee carrying trade. Thus, schedule 1 of the act provides that "coffee, the growth or production of the possessions of the Netherlands, imported from the Netherlands in American vessels, or in foreign vessels entitled by reciprocal treaties to be exempt from dis- criminating duties, tonnage, and other charges," shall be free. The export duty on coffee at Java is 12 per cent., half of which is remitted in favor of direct imjjortation to the Nether- lands in national or equalized bottoms. Consequently, a Dutch vessel, carrying Java coffee from Holland into the United States, can undersell the American importer who brings it into port direct from Java, the amount of the differential export duty, or 6 per cent, on the value of his cargo, (a) COMMERCE. The principal articles imported into Holland in 1853, and their proportion to the total amount of importations, were as follows : Tissues of all kinds 12.61 per cent. Kaw sugar 12.03 " Yarns 9.00 " Cofiee 8.41 " Grains 6.40 " Iron 3.68 " Raw cotton 3.49 " Dye stuffs 2.99 " The principal exports, and their proportion to the total amount of exportations, were: Woven fabrics 8.95 per cent. Eefined sugar 7.29 " Yarns I.I5 << Cofiee 6.59 " Grains 4 . 84 " Eaw sugar 4.54 «' Live animals 4.09 " Butter 3 99 << The total general commerce of Holland in 1853, (imports and exports united,) amounted to $237,541,358; showing a diminution, when compared with the preceding year, of $540,319. The diminution in imports fell principally on the following articles: (ff) See coni5iilar retmn from Padang, Part III. HOLLAND. 265 Pot and pearl ashes ■ 7,875,000 lbs. Wheat 993,600 bushels. Rye ' 1,407,600 " Breadstuff's 2,700,000 lbs. Coff"ee... 11,250,000 " Figs, raisins, &c .«. 13,500,000 " Eice 38,250,000 " Tobacco 2,250,000 " Salt 22,500,000 " The diminution in exports fell principally upon alimentary products of the first necessity, and was caused by the general bad crops of the year. The share assigned in the commerce of this year amounted to — Imports by sea: To the Dutch flag $49,391,732 To the foreign flag 42,613,132 Giving to the Dutch flag in the import trade, 53| per cent. ; and to the foreign flag, 46|- per cent. In the export trade: The Dutch flag had $29,626,014 The foreign flag 30,870,144 Giving the Dutch flag 49, and the foreign flag 51 per cent. The total imports of the -Netherlands in 1854, as appears from "the Statistical Tear Book of Holland" for that year, amounted to 356,484,519 florins, or $142,593,807 ; showing an increase over the imports of 1853 of $14,173,116, and over the imports of 1852 of $13,505,984. The total exports the same year, as given by the same authority, amounted to 308,780,801 florins, or $123,512,320; showing an increase over the exports of 1853 of $14,391,654, and over the exports of 1852 of $14,518,466. In 1854, imports from Great Britain into Holland amounted to $39,904,746 Exports from Holland to Great Britain 30,077,711 Total trade between Great Britain and Holland in 1854 69,982,457 In the same year, imports from France into Holland amounted to $4,868,760 Exports from Holland to France 5,229,839 Total trade between Holland and France in 1854 10,098,599 Imports from the Zollverein, the same year, into Holland $27,527,799 Exports from Holland to the Zollverein 46,574,094 Total trade between Holland and the Zollverein in 1854 74,101,893 Imports from the Hanse Towns, in 1854, into Holland $3,204,297 Exports from Holland to the Hanse Towns 4,245,866 Total trade between Holland and the Hanse Towns in 1854 7,450,163 Imports from the United States into Holland in 1854 $3,018,017 Exports from Holland to the United States 2,054,769 Total trade between the United States and Holland in 1854 5,072,786 (a) (a) The value of the total trade between Holland and the United States for 1854, as given in the United States Treasury Eeport on Commerce and Navigation, is $4,138,636, or $934,150 less than that given by the Dutch ofiScial report. [34] 266 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The chief articles exported from the United States to Holland are cotton, tobacco, rice, bread- stufi's, &c. The leading imports into the United States from Holland are spirits, (principally gin,) coffee, madder, spices, pictures, paintings, cigars, tin, &c. There entered in 1853, in Dutch ports, from foreign countries, 6,392 vessels, measuring 1,064,233 tons ; of which number YO, measuring 26,765 tons, bore the flag of the United States ; and 18 vessels, under the Dutch flag, sailed direct from our ports, with American produce. During the same year, there cleared from the Netherlands to foreign countries, 4,413 ships, measuring 7*76,889 tons ; of which there were under the American flag, for United States ports, 22 vessels, measuring 11,333 tons; and for the same destination, 27 vessels belonging to other nations. In 1853 there entered at the different ports of Holland: 1,006 steam vessels, laden, measuring in the aggregate 304,329 tons. 195 " in ballast, " " 72,800 " 1,201 vessels. 377,129 The vessels in ballast were all under the English flag ; those freighted, were distributed as follows : Under the Dutch flag 356 vessels, 89,641 tons. " English flag 636. " 210,516 " " Frenchflag 13 ' " 4,082 " " Swedish flag 1 " 90 " Total 1,006 " 304,329 " Since the new navigation laws of Holland came into operation, (August 8, 1850,) the mari- time commerce of that kingdom has been distributed as shown by the following table: Import af ions by sea. Flags. 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1832. 1853. Dutch.- Foreign 59 per ct. 41 " 59 per ct. 41 " 58 per ct. 42 " 53 per ct. 46 " 53 per ct. 46 " E'xportations by sea. Dutch Koreign 48 per ct. 61 per ct. 53 " 49 " 56 per ct. 44 " 50 per ct. 49 " 49 per ct. 51 " The general navigation and trade of Holland, considering its comparatively limited area, presents a spectacle of commercial greatness imequalled in the world. In 1852, its general iifiports reached $129,087,823, and its exports $108,993,854. In 1853 the imports amounted to 1128,420,691, and the exports to .$109,120,666. This commercial prosperity nearly equals that which the Netherlands attained in its palmiest days, when Beawes said of it in his "Lex Mercatoria:" "It produces hardly any thing, and yet has wlierewith to furnish other people all they can have need of. It is without forests, and almost without wood; and there is not seen anywhere else so many carpenters, which work in naval constructions, either for war or mer- chandise. Its lands are not fit for the culture of vines; and it is the staple or mart of wines •which are gathered in all parts of the world, and of brandies drawn from them. It has no HOLLAND. 267 mines or metals, and yet there is found as much gold or silver as in New Spain or Peru; as much iron as in France; as much tin as in England; and as much copper as in Sweden. The wheat and other grains that are there sowed hardly suffice for nourishment to a part of the inhabitants ; and it is, notwithstanding, from hence that the greatest part of its neighbors receive them, either for their subsistence or trade. In fine, it seems as if the spices grew there; that the oils were gathered there ; that it nourished the precious insects which spin the silk, and that all sorts of drugs, for medicine or dying, were in the number of its products and of its growth ; its warehouses are so full, and its merchants seem to carry so much to strangers, or that strangers come to load in its ports, that there is not a day, and it may be said a moment, that ships do not come in or go out, and frequently entire fleets." Such was the picture drawn of the Netherlands in 16'70. Its present commercial condition, though difi'erent in every other respect from the Netherlands of that period, is quite as prosper- ous, and rests upon a basis more solid and secure. Comparative statement exhibiting the value of imports and exports to and from the United States and Holland during a period of eleven successive years, (a) Years. VALDE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OF IMPORTS. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Total. 1845 $2,753,780 2,097,691 1,885,398 1,596,450 2,155,328 2,188,101 1,911,115 2,292,848 1,983,723 2,299,710 1,920,369 $268,267 199,074 129,936 271,513 242,027 416,564 284,054 204,681 215,773 142,956 208,615 $3,022,047 2,296,765 2,015,334 1,866,963 2,397,355 2,604,665 2,195,169 2,497,529 2,199,496 2,442,666 2,128,984 $954, 344 1,059,597 1,247,209 1,417,908 1,501,643 1,686,967 2,052,706 1,635,561 1,625,170 1,695,970 1,825,700 1846 1847 1848 1849 - 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 Table exhibiting a comparative view of the general trade of Holland from 1846 to 1853. (6) Years. General imports. Imports for con- sumption. General exports. Exports of special commerce. Transit. 1846 $102,217,858 104,288,415 101,711,493 110,135,758 113,766,161 120,807,230 129,087,824 128,420,692 $64,855,924 67,785,987 72,710,926 72,249,660 75,352,228 80,146,599 82,266,568 81,978,055 $84,141,049 83,614,811 77, 114, 674 86,887,624 92,000,827 9.7, 097, 923 108,993,854 109,120,667 $47,303,259 50,518,011 49,924,970 51,043,813 55,099,711 67,772,310 62,820,192 61,857,264 $36,837,795 35,096,800 27,189,691 35,843,811 36,901,110 39,325,660 45,673,662 47,263,353 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1862 1853 (a) U. S. " Commerce and Navigation. ' (A) Dutch oificial authorities. 268 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Table exhibiting the value of the commerce of the Netherlands luith foreign nations in 1853, in florins. (a) Countries whence, and to which. IMPORTS. Australia Belgium Brazil- _ Bromeu California _ ., China _ Cuba , Cura^oa Denmark France Greenland, &c Great Britain Hamliurg Hanover and Oldenburg. Java, &c Canaries, Cape of Good Hope, Brit. East Indies, and west coast of Asia.. Koman States Coast of Guinea Lubeck Mecklenburg The Tivo Sicilies United States Norway Austria _ _ Philipjiino Isles Portugal _ Russia on the Baltic and White sea Eussia on the Black sea.. Sardinia Parts of America not des- ignated Surinam The ZoUverein Tuscany Turkey, (ireiMje, &c Sweden Spain Not known Wrecked Total florins. Do. dollars . General imports. 25, 164, 698 4, 57:j,593 1,138,542 1,411,107 2,317,539 127,081 1,963,865 12,531,116 88, 617 87,896,331 4,919,687 4,125,055 63,729,272 5,356,426 19,302 413,945 79,618 112,771 1,164,146 6,740,680 4,595,903 1,220,681 251,210 511,351 15,226,640 2,643,583 134, 451 686,066 4,439,065 64,130,562 472,066 1,716,438 422,977 6 8 7,. 344 33,551 321,051,729 128,420,691 CO Imports for consump- tion. 20,534,254 2,149,143 760,406 EXPORTS. Geiicial exports. Of special commerce. 898,191 2,017,582 86,408 2,028,602 9,185,854 88,617 44,809,621 1,977,961 3,687,718 52,604,164 2,996,993 18,492 413,495 23,030 215, 331 227,864 4,824,610 3,801,225 621,960 73, 152 407,589 14,628,969 2,774,889 91,508 204, 693 2, 723, 145 27,662,831 302,815 1,563,286 305,152 202,527 510 32,549 204,945,136 81,978,054 40 694, 628 24,112,814 40,366 982,639 129,340 2,502 159,730 3k:2,030 1,007,351 11,687,590 73,968,646 7,314,011 2,389,984 21,809,704 159,724 271,966 260,892 40,007 132,905 2,800,924 5,377,239 681,441 4,473,060 337,676 3,438,248 276,335 1,809,957 573,612 1,262,320 100,146,833 1,693,393 3,419,046 377,669 657,084 272,801,666 109,120,666 40 403,061 19,693,723 26,786 766,286 102,935 1,904 159,269 269,315 796,036 4,754,005 46,493,073 6,174,854 1,625,361 18,482,134 157,313 269,248 65,430 17,034 107,124 2,723,121 3,819,646 528,926 4, 284, 994 220,027 2,170,266 274, 678 1,716,880 404,704 977,579 31,660,595 1, 536, 657 3,379,278 239,352 281, 667 164,643,160 61,857,264 00 Transit. 231,567 4,419,091 13,680 216,363 26,405 598 461 52,716 211,316 6,933,586 27,475,573 1,139,157 764, 623 3,327,570 2,411 2,718 185,462 22,973 25,781 77,803 ,557,693 152,515 188,060 118,158,506 117,649 1,267,982 1,657 . 93,077 168,908 284,741 68,486,238 156,736 39,768 138,317 375,417 47,263,402 40 ('/,) The value of the florin is 40 cents. HOLLAND. 269 TOBACCO. The cultivation of tobacco in the Netherlands is subject to no restrictions, with the exception of the excise duty, to which, like all other products, it is liable. From 1,800 to 1,900 morgens (equal to 3,600 to 3,800 acres) are annually devoted to tobacco. The tobacco land is situated in the provinces of Gruilderland, Overyssel, Utrecht, and Zealand. The average quantity of tobacco produced on each morgen is about 4,500 lbs. The total crop is estimated at from 8,000,000 to 9,000,000 lbs. (a) per annum. The quantity reserved for home consumption is about 2,000,000 lbs., of which — ■ Smoking tobacco, about 900,000 lbs. Snuif 700,000 " Covers for cigars 400,000 " Besides the above, the Netherlands export to foreign countries about 6,000,000 lbs. of tobacco : In the leaf 5,000,000 lbs. Manufactured 1,000,000 " The following table shows the tobacco export trade of Holland : Kilogrammes. The Ehenish provinces 580,000 per annum. Eussia and Great Britain 400,000 Sardinia 250,000 Norway and Denmark „ 80,000 Naples 50,000 Eoman States 50,000 Spain and Portugal 80,000 The total quantity of tobacco grown in the Netherlands is distributed as follows : Tobacco suitable for the manufacture of snuff and chewing tobacco... 1,875,000 kilogrammes. For cigars and cigar covers 1,775,000 " Average price of the former, from 14 to 32 florins for common; 30 to 90 florins for the best, per 100 kilogrammes. Average price of the latter, from 14 to 32 florins for common; 60 to 90 florins for the best, per 100 kilogrammes. The planters of Arnhem, and some other districts, h^-ve, during the past few years, applied themselves to the raising of a very light, clear, yellow tobacco, for cigar covering, Jbr which they obtain a very high price. For this purpose they employ a very active fertilizer, with a view to the large and rapid growth of the plant, which they dry by the sun with great skill and management. The average quantity of foreign tobacco annually imported is from 22,000,000 to 25,000,000 lbs., chiefly from the following places: Maryland 5,600,000 kilogrammes . Kentucky 1,750,000 " Virginia 1,400,000 " Java 800,000 " Porto Eico 360,000 " (a) Annales du Commerce Extfiieiir. No. 540, p. 7. 270 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Cuba 180,000 kilogrammes. St. Domingo 120,000 Varinas 120,000 Manilla 75,000 Colombia 30,000 Brazil 30,000 Havana 60,000 Tobacco stems 145,000 A tbird part of tlie tobacco imported from foreign countries is consumed in the Netherlands, the other two-thirds are exported. Grermany and Belgium receive the larger portion, which consists altogether of Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, and some Java tobacco. Besides the imports above designated, Hamburg supplies Holland annually with large quan- tities of tobacco of American growth. The tobacco manufactories in Holland, of the first class, are numerous. They are chiefly located at Kotterdam and Amsterdam, though many similar factories are scattered throughout ■ the provinces. The-first class factories employ upwards of a million of operatives, (a) The average consumption of tobacco in Holland is about two kilogrammes (4.408 lbs.) for each individual, or 6,000,000 kilogrammes, or upwards of 13,000,000 lbs. for the whole population. Germany offers the principal market for the Dutch tobacco trade, though considerable quan- tities are exported to the Levant, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Surinam, &c. Statement exhibiting the leading staples of the United States, and their resjxctive values, exported to Holland in the years specified. Articles. 1854. 1855. Whale-oil _ $8, 944 6,571 24,476 45,101 15,259 4,635 16,642 47,441 52,289 50,276 22,299 567,482 1,350,336 7,316 4,959 25,619 $4,526 1,305 77,463 80,883 34,064 1,300 29,633 Whalebone Wood, lumber, and timber Naval stores . -- Beef Hams, bacon, and lard Wlieat. Flour ... - 2,662 38,739 23,780 418,433 1,068,782 4, 329 3,278 71,219 Eye and other grains Eice _-__ Cotton -. . Tobacco - - . Do. manufactured Wax Spirits of turpentine The following comparative statement exhibits the effective merchant marine of the Nether- lands on the 31st December, 1852 and 1853, respectively: 1852. — Number of vessels 1,971; measuring 448,864 tons. 1853 " " 2,037 " 479,202 " Increase for 1853 66 30,338 " (a) " Commerce Extei'ieur. " No 540, p. 9. HOLLAND. 271 The following summary shows the classification of the vessels given in the' preceding com- parative statement : - 1852. 1853. Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons. Three-masters Barques 141 296 56 2 134 1,329 13 111,176 164,200 14,412 488 21,554 133,084 3,950 142 334 66 2 168 1,310 15 112,284 186, 182 16,878 488 26,872 132,046 4,452 Brigs , Schooners Other vessels - Total 1,971 448,864 2,037 479,202 JAVA AND MADUKA. In 1853 the commerce of these islands amounted to $17,712,241 for general imports, and to $28,677,183 for exports. The imports and exports during this year exceeded those of the preceding year — the former $1,596,164, or 9.9 per cent.; the latter $6,294,489, or 21.83 percent.; thus exhihiting the most practical illustration of the increasing trade'of these rich and fertile islands. The share assigned to the Netherlands in the general trade of 1853 represented, for imports, 42.23 per cent, of the whole; and for exports, 76.09 per cent. The trade of the United States with these islands, during the same year, was 1.39 of the whole. Port cha7-ges at Java. The harhor dues are one-half a rupee per ton ; but a ship having once paid this charge can touch at either Samarang, Soerahaya, or go to a foreign port and return, if within six months from date of payment, without further expense. Ships can anchor and remain in the roads, and can communicate with the shore, receive pro- visions, water, &c., without charge of anchorage fees. The roads are south of a line drawn from the Ehoneland to the Neptune shoal. All letters must be immediately delivered at tlie custom-house, excej)t consignees' letters, and such as may be intended for the captain or supercargo. There are no pilots for Batavia or Samarang. For Soerayaba pilots can be had at Point Pauka coming from the west, and at Passaroeang coming from the east. Filtered water is sent alongside in government tanks, with a force-pump hose, at a charge of 57 cents per hogshead, and in the outer roads at 66 cents. When a blue flag is flying at the main-mast head of the guard-ship, or at the signal staff of the lookout-house at the head of the canal, it is unsafe to attempt entering the river. The tariff regulations of Java are divided into six different classes, viz: Class 1 relates to duties on wines, spirits, &c. ; class 2 relates to duties on cotton and woolen goods ; class 3 relates to sundry imports from Europe, America, and the Cape of Good Hope ; class 4 prescribes the duties on the products of the Indian archipelago ; class 5 relates to merchandise being the 272 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. produce of countries east of the Cape of Good Hope, not included in any of the foregoing classes; class 6 prescribes the export duties levied on the products of Java. All these classes recognize a discrimination in favor of the Dutch flag ; but, under the treaty of August 26, 1852, between the United States and Holland, these discriminations do not apply to the American flag when importing or exporting from or to the same j^iaces as the national flag. The article, by virtue of which the vessels of the United States are equalized with those of Holland, reads thus : Art. II. "The above reciprocal equality in relation to the flags of the two countries is understood to extend also to the ports of the colonies and dominions of the Netherlands beyond the seas, in which goods and merchandise, whatever their origin may be, imjiorted or exported from and to any other country in vessels of the United States, shall pay no higher or other duties than shall be levied on the like goods and merchandise imported or exported from and to the same places in vessels of the Netherlands. The bounties, drawbacks, or other privileges of similar denomination, which may be there granted on goods and merchandise imported or exported in vessels of the Netherlands, shall also, and in like manner, be granted on goods and merchandise imported or exported in vessels of the United States." Table exTiibiting the navigation of the islands of Java and lladura in the years specified. Nationality. Dutch English -- French Belgian Hamburg - Bremen -- Prussian - Swedish Russian - Danish. American Portuguese Chinese -. Siam Other Asiatic countries - Total VESSELS ENTERED. 1852. 1,853 56 19 10 10 1 12 1 4 7 2 1 19 51 2,046 1853. 1,886 77 14 3 17 9 1 13 1 5 28 3 1 12 100 2,170 VESSELS CLEARED. 1,819 48 16 10 10 3 17 1 5 10 1 2 12 58 2,012 2,038 85 13 3 15 12 1 12 1 2 23 O 1 19 52 2,280 From the preceding table it appears that in 1853 the United States just trebled in one year the number of vessels bearing their flag in that remote corner of the globe. This is to be ascribed to the liberal commercial treaty of 1852, equalizing the United States and the Dutch flags in the colonial trade. The subjoined tariff of duties of the island of Java has been prepared from a copy printed at Batavia in 1844, with modifications and changes down to June, 1855, transmitted from the United States consulate at that port. HOLLAND. 273 TARIFF OF DUTIES FOR THE ISLAND OP JAVA. [By Dutch vessels are meant vessels belonging to Holland, and no others, (a) Under the Dutch flag are comprehended the flags of Asiatic princes which are placed on the same footing as the Dutch flag. The pound in this tariff is the old Amsterdam pound. To the duties in this tariff, 5 per cent, is added for breakwater.] TARIFF No. I. Import duties on wines, spirits, Sfc. Quantity. Rate of duty. Remarks. Beer . Brandy. Brandy fruits Gin, in casks in cases of..., Liqueurs Mineral waters Rum and arraek, foreign Sirups Vinegar, wine . manufactured . Wines, Burgundy and other tine wines, except Cham- pagne and Rhenish Champagne Cape Madeira . Portuguese, not fine , Rhenish, not fine. . . . , ordinary — fine red, ordinary French , Spanish, not fine. Teneriffe , white, ordinary. , Other fluids not specified, as cider, perry, currant juice, &c. Hogshead 100 bottles Pipe 100 bottles Dozenbottles Per aam 15 bottles Dozen 100 bottles or jugs Pipe 100 bottles , Dozen bottles, whole or half. Hogshead 100 bottles Hogshead 100 bottles Hogshead 100 bottles Hogshead 100 bottles Dozen bottles. do Pipe 100 bottles.... Pipe Dozen Pipe Hogshead 100 bottles Dozen ^9 60 4 80 36 00 16 00 2 40 4 80 1 20 2 40 4 80 48 00 16 00 1 60 4 80 4 80 3 60 3 60 2 40 1 60 14 40 12 00 2 00 2 00 20 00 8 on 32 00 2 00 48 00 16 00 8 00 9 DO Hogshead . , 100 bottles. Pipe Pipe 100 bottles. Hogshead . , 100 bottles. 8 00 4 00 48 00 20 00 8 00 8 00 4 00 24 per cent, on invoice value, augmented by 30 per cent. In Dutch vessels, accompanied by certifi- cates of Dutch origin, one-half of these duties. From Holland direct, in Dutch vessels, one- half of these duties. In Dutch vessels, with certificates of Dutch origin, one-half of these duties. From Holland direct, in Dutch vessels, $1 20. 1 Direct fi-om the Cape, in Dutch vessels, one- ) half of these duties. From Holland direct, in Dutch vessels, one- half of these duties. In Dutch vessels, witli certificate of Dutch origin, 10 per cent. From Holland direct, in Dutch vessels, one- half of these duties. With certificate of Dutch origin, in Dutch vessels, 10 per cent. With certificate of Dutch origin, in Dutch vessels, 12 per cent. TAKIFF No. 2. Import duties on cotton and woolen Dutch In Dutch vessels, with certificates of Dutch origin . . . . . European and American, if from countries between which and Holland fii^tidly relations subsist From countries betWL-^i wliich and Holland friendly relations do not subsist 25 per cent. , 12^ do 25 do. 50 do. On appraised value, according to tariff of prices, corrected every three months. (a) In the direct trade between Holland and her colonies beyond the sen, United States vpr<;pIs are, by treaty, equalized with those of Holland. [ S5 ] 274 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. TARIFF No. 2~Coiitinued. From Dutch India and lavored t^tntcs in the Indian archipelago From ditto in Dutch Indian vessels, provided they have not touched at any foreign port All other countries east of the Cape of Good Hope, except Chinese goods in Chinese junks. Uuantity. Kate of duty. 2.5 per cent. 12i do 25 do On appraised value, accordiug to the market price of the day. On invoice value, with addition of 30 per cent., or appraisement according to market prices, TARIFF No. 3. Import (hiticH on Rundrij goods the prodiirU of Knropc^ Aincnca ^ and the Cape of Oood Hope. Ammunition, or fire-arms, prohibited, unless especially permitted. (See Tariff No. 3.) Beef, salted, smoked, &c , Bags. (See Linen.) BookSj music, maps, and charts ... Butter Cheese Candles, wax spermaceti Cotton goods. (See Tariff No. 9.) Clothing, wool and cotton silk and linen Copper and copper wm-c . Copper coi]i, prohibited. Coal Corks 24 pf't" cent., In Dutch vessels, with certificate of Dutch origin, 12 per cent. 1 6 per cent 1 'As above, free 2-1 do I , 24 do ' Pound I ,«0 LO ....do 1 10 j As above, one-half these duties. 95 percent i From Holland diii"tt,in Dutch vessels, 12^ p. c. 12 do In Dutch ves'.;tl^, with certificate of Dutch i origin, 6 per cent. M do As above, 1 2 per cent. Free 12 percent. Carnages i 24 do . Cards, playuig I 24 do. Carpot?. (See Tarifl' \', pearls, and preclou.^ ^tonr-;, set or not, li' rr;i| .| Free. Lumber 12 per crnt. Leather, and ailielrs of leather 94 do Lead 24 do Linen of hemp or flax 24 do..., ... iMu-iical lustrum rills , 6 do Naval striics, except cordage , 12 do Opium, prohibited. | Provisions, other than tlio.se named in thi'^ tarifi'. ...,.., 24 do From Holland direct, in Dutch vessels, fi"ee. In Dutch vessels, %A'ith certificate of origin, 6 per fcnt. As nbovc. 12 per cent- Do. i A>. alin\-c, 12 per cent. Direct fi run Holland, in Dutch vessi4s, 6 p. ct. Dutch flour packed according to the tariff of 1828, 12 percent. In Dutch vp:-sels,\:Jth certificate, &.f., 12 p. ct. In Dutcli vessels, as above, each .^i). In Dutch vosspIs, v.-iih r-fi-tificatc, &c.,.v6. Direct from Holland, in DiUrb vi?s;ml4s, 6 p. ct. In Dutch vessels, with certificate, &c., 19 p. ct. As above, 12 per cent. As aliovc, 12 per cfnt. As above, 12 per cent. From Holland direct, in Dutch vessels, 6 p. ct. In Dutch vessels,with certificate, &c., 12 p. ct. . I From Holland direct, in Dutch vessels, 6 p. ct. I In Dutch vessels, with certificate of Dutch [ origin, 12 per cent. As above, free. Direct from Holland, in Dutch vessels, 6 p. ct. Dnect from Holland, in Dutch vessels, 12 p. ct. HOLLA ND. TARIFF No. 3— Continued. 275 Quantity. Rate of duty. Paper Perfumery PamtSj linseed oil, &.c Pictures, plates, and prints Pork, salt, smoked, &c Steel in bars, &,c Steel ware Stone for building Marble tiles Flints, prohibited, unless especially permitted.. Scgars, Havana All other kinds, European and American Snuffs of all kinds Saddles and harness, (same as leather.) Soap Silver. (See Gold.) Silk and silk goods , Salt, prohibited. TiJi and tin ware Tobacco loaf, manufactured. Tar. (See Naval stores.) Wines, &c. (See TarilTNo. i.) All goods not mentioned in this tariff, the products of Europe, America, and Cape of Good Hope 24 per cent. . 24 do do do do do do do do do Pound . ...do.. ,..do.. $0 80 40 16 12 per cfiil.. 12 per cent. , In Dutch vessels, with certificate, &.C., 12 p.ct. Direct from Holland, in Dutch vessels, 12 p. ct. In Dutch vessels, with certificate, &:c., 6 p. ct. As above, 6 per cent. As above, 12 per cent. Direct from Holland, in Dutch vessels, 6 p. ct. In Dutch vessels, with certificate, &,c.,12 p. ct. In Dutch vessels, with certificate, &c., 6 p. ct. Direct from Holland, in Dutch ^esseb, 6 p. ct. As above, 6 per cent. Direct firom Holland, in Dutch vessels, 40 cts. 1 In Dutch vessels, wiih certificate of origin, J one-half these duties. I Direct from Holland, in Dutch vessels, 6 per 24 do. Per pound . 12 per <: In Dutch vessels, with ceilificate of origin, 12 per cent. Direct from Holland, in Dutch vessels, one- half of this duty. As aljove, 6 per cent. TARIFF No. 4. Import diUieti on the 2->i'oducts of the Indian archipelago. Cotton. (See Tariff No. 2.) Gambier Tobacco, leaf or manufactured Segars Wax and wax candles , Gold and silver not coined, and gold dust Jewels, pearls, and precious stones, if real Horses, cows, sheep, &c All other products of the Indian archipelago, except salt, Picol (a) . $7 20 Picol Pound .... Picol Free . Free. Free, 6 per cent. JWhen imported in Dutch Indian vesselsfrom Dutch Indian possessions or ports placed on the same footing, without having touched at any foreign port, $4 80 per picol. > As aoove, one half these duties. As above, free. TAEIFF No. 6. Impiori duty on sundry goods, being products of countries east of the Cape of Good Hope, not contained in the foregoing tariffs. Chinese goods in Chinese junks from China Large junk from Nympho Small junk from Nympho Large junk from Canton Small junk from Canton Large junk from Emocy Small junk from Emoey ■ Large junk from Tjienglien Small junk from Tjienglien Chinese goods in other vessels, and not separately men- tioned Candles, wax Cotton goods. (See Tariff No. 2.) Clothing, ready made, woolen and cotton silk and linen Copper and copper ware Copper coin, forbidden. Per cargo. ...do ...do ...do ...do ,...do ...do ,...do ,...do $2,400 00 1,600 00 2,000 00 1,200 00 1,600 00 800 00 1,600 00 800 00 12 per cent.. Picol 25 per cent.. 12 do 12 do Provided the cargoconsistsentirely of goods of Chinese origin. Other goods brought by Chinese junks wDI be subject to the highest duties on such goods. Under Dutch flag, direct from place of origin, one-half these duties. (a) The picol equal to 136 lbs. avoidupois. 276 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. TARIFF No. 5— Continued. Coal Carriages Cai-petg. (See TariffNo. 2.) Cattle Drugs and medicines Earthen and china ware Elephant's teeth Furniture Fire-worka Gauze and crape Gold and silver plate, thread, Ste Gold and silver coins Gold and silver bullion Gunny bags Horses Juwihy, pearls, and precious stones, if real.. Lacquered ware Leather Linen, grass Lead and tutenaque Mats and baskets Naval stores Opium, prohibited. Oil, cocoanut Payongs, or paper umbrellas Paints ••• • • Provisions, beef All other provisions Paper, writing, and paper hangings Offering paper Kosin and dammer Rum and arrack, (free Tariff No. 10 Soya, Japan Saltpetre Steel pans - Stone, paving, and marble Sugar Segars, Manilla all other kinds Snuff Silver. (See Gold) Salt, prohibited. Silk and silk goods Tobacco, leaf manufactured . Tea . WIu at Woolen goods. (See Tariff No. 2.) Other goods not mentioned above, being the products of countries east of the Cape of Good Hope, and without thr Eastern archipelago Quantity. ' Rate of duty. 6 per c<'Ht. . 24 do. Free. 12 per cent. 12 do 12 do 24do 12 do 12 do 24 do Free. Free. 24 per cent.. Free. Free. 12 per cent. 12 do 24 do 24 do., 12 do 12 do .Qudcr Dutch flag direct, &c., free. 6 per cent . 12 do 12 do 24 do 12 do 24 do 12 do 6 do 12 per cent. 12 do 12 do , 12 do 12 do Pound ,...do ....do 12 per cent. §0 80 40 16 12 per cent. Pico] Picol 12 per cent. 24 do Under Dutch flag, direct from place of origin, one-half these duties. Under Dutch flag, direct, fee., free. 1 Under Dutch flag, direct from place of ongin ) 6 per cent. 1 As above, one-half these duties. As above, free. 12 per cent. 8 00 8 00 Under Dutch flag, direct from place of origin; one-half these duties. TARIFF No. 6. Ejjiori diif/i:.s. Arrack Birds' nest? (!^amphor, Japan Cotton cood.-, Japanese Coffee Copper, Japan Free. 12 per cent Per tub 4 per cent Per picol of '25 pounds, 12 per milt. Per picol Under Dutch flag, 6 per cent. To Holland, in D ^ -h vessels, $1 40. Under Dutch flag, 2 per cent. To Holland, in Dutch vessels, 6 per cent., giv- ing bond lor till? difference. Under Dutch flag, ,*1 40. HOLLAND, TARIFF No. 6— Continued. 277 Articles. Quantity. Copper coin, Dutch Gold and silver coin, by Chinese, to China In other cases Gold and silver not coined, and Japan cobangs Horses , Hides, cow buffalo Indigo Jewels, pearls, and precious stones Oil, cocoanut Ratans , Rum, Java ..,..,.... Rice Spices, cloves mace nutmegs , wild nutmegs pepper, black , Sugar, Java, 1st and 2d sorts brown, and molasses, if, in tlie opinion of the collector, not suitable for export to Europe or America Salt Tortoise-shell Tobacco, Java Tin Tripang Wax Wood, sandal wood Sapan wood Goods not mentioned above, being the products of the Indian archipelago Goods, the maximum import duty on which is 25 or 24 per cent All other goods ■ Free, 5 per cent. . , 4 do , 4 do Each , Per 100 .,..do Pound .... Free. Picol Picol Legger(a) Picol Picol Picol Picol 4 percent., Picol 6 per cent.. Rate of duty. Picol Free. 4 per cent.. 4 do. ... Picol 4 per cent. 4 do Picol Picol 4 per cent.. $16 00 3 20 2 40 4 1 20 12 4 80 4 7 60 8 00 7 60 In sums less than $900, for owner's use, free, provided permission be obtained. ; Under Dutch flag, one-half these duties. To Holland, in Dutch vessels, one-half these duties. Under Dutch flag, one-half these duties. To Holland, in Dutch vessels, one-half theae duties. As above, free. Under Dutch flag, free. \ Under Dutch flag, 2 per cent. To Holland, in Dutch vessels, 80 cents. \ Under Dutch flag, 2 per cent. Under Dutch flag, one-half this duty. To Holland, in Dutch vessels, one-half this duty. Under Dutch flag, 2 per cent. As above, free. ' As above, 2 per cent. Comparative statement exhibiting the value of imports and exports to and from the United States and the Dutch East Indies, during a period of eleven successive years, [Made up from United States Treasury Eeports on Commerce and Navigation.] Years. VALDE OF EXPORTS. VALUE or IMPORTS. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Total. 1845 3129,151 40,700 91,902 133,905 280,823 180,533 204,430 142,997 202,822 109,203 843,111 $72,007 42,842 108,238 107, 954 54,118 262,952 43, 140 181,185 180,884 75,573 45,353 $201,158 83,542 200, 140 241,859 334, 941 443,485 247, 570 324,182 383,706 184,770 888,464 $538, 608 480, 353 894,982 249,346 354,528 444, 404 410,148 1,015,994 384, 583 1,041,609 225,308 1846 1847 1848 -- - 1849 1850 -- 1851 1852 1853 --- 1854 --- 1855 (a) The Legger or Leaguer, equal to 133j- gallons. 278 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. PADANG. This settlement lies on the west coast of Sumatra, and receives its imjiorts almost exclusively from Java. It has no direct importations from foreign countries. Port, harbor, and other commercial regulations the same as at Java, to the government of which island Padang is sub- ordinate. Under the operation of high tariff duties, especially on American cotton goods, the trade between the United States and Padang is insignificant. DUTCH GUIANA, OE SUEINAM. This colonial territory of Holland comprises an area of 10,400 square miles, and contains a population of nearly 65,000 souls. Its chief products are sugar, coffee, cotton, cocoa, rice, capara, fine woods, gimis, drugs, and timber. The quantity of sugar annually exported is stated at about 25,000,000 pounds, and of coffee at about 4,000,000 pounds. The annual average production of the leading staples of this colony are thus given : Sugar 28,012,103 pounds . Eum 92,183 gallons. Dram (a kind of brandy) 227,965 Molasses 1,210,463 Coffee 1,355,376 pounds. Cocoa 151,250 Cotton 765,323 Annual average value of leading staples ,$1,500,000. The value of imports into Dutch Guiana in 1853 amounted to .$816,474, showing an increase over the imports of the preceding year of ,§71,473. Of the total amount, there were from the Netherlands s4G0,482; from the United States $179,236, and from other countries ,$176,756. The exports amounted to $1,312,118; showing ,$101,253 increase over the exports for 1852. Of this sum, $844,103 were sent to the Netherlands, $201,794 to the United States, and .$266,221 to other countries. The principal articles imported into Surinam from the United States are salted fish, amount- ing in 1853 to §58,892; salted and smoked meat, about $50,000 per annum. The imports into the United States from Surinam are sugar ($131,052 in amount in 1852), molasses (.$53,833), and cocoa ($32,026 in 1853). In 1853, there arrived 201 vessels, measuring 36,858 tons. Of these, 56, of 18,960 tons, were under the Dutch flag; and 21, of 8,196 tons, American. In the same year there cleared 190 vessels, measuring in the aggregate 36,858 tons; of which 55, of 17,847 tons, were Dutch; 31, of 15,150 tons, American; and the others under the English and other flags. An analysis of the trade of Dutch Guiana shows that the United States has about one-fourth of the whole commerce of the colony. C U E A (J A . This island is situated in the Carribean sea, near the coast of Venezuela, and is about 42 miles long, and from 10 to 15 miles broad. The chief staples are tobacco, sugar, indigo, and maize. There are numerous harbors, but that of Santa Anna is considered the best and safest. HOLLAND. 279 The principal merchandise exchanged in the coasting trade of CuraQoa consists of hides, goat- skins, dye-woods, corn, cochineal, sugar, indigo, and hats. The chief article of internal trade is salt, this heing the only article manufactured for export. The following tahle exhibits, in one view, the general commerce of the island with the United States during three years ending with 1853. It will he seen that the export trade to the United States is yearly increasing, and that in 1853 the increase over 1851 is nearly 100 per cent. Tabular statement of shipments from the island of Cura^oa to the United States during the three years ending June 3Qth, 1853. [Made up from consular returns.] Denomination of merchan- dise. 18S1. 1852. 1853. Number, weight, or measui-e. Value. Number, weight, or measure. Value. Number, weight, or measure. Value. Aloes -_ pounds 20,208 .51,429 48 pounds 11,351 2,084 $742 49 197 25 pounds 13, 345 $887 24 pounds 1,710 puncheon 1 320 62 23 20 dozen barrels pounds 6 400 4,352 9,725 14 62 622 50 3,298 37 1,495 61 Barilla Cochineal pounds 9,746 8,801 41 pounds 1, 285 1,324 56 pounds 8, 740 bags 2,231 number 242, 887 982 75 1,706 24 95,169 54 pounds 103 bags 921 number 247, 685 barrels 2 7 dozen 15,912 number 17,521 pounds 9, 200 52,315 10 87 764 62 101,599 80 101 25 107,373 70 39,600 73 28 00 1,181 12 Divi Divi _---__ bags 1,204 number 237, 000 1,545 84 89,934 09 Guano - _- - Hats dozen number 1,723 22,621 11,461 10 39,164 02 dozen number 5,237 20,752 33,928 28 38,894 30 Hides Linseed kegs 3 4 50 logs pounds 161 52,012 375 00 4,722 36 Old copper pounds 34, 110 1,600 6,060 71 150 00 Orange pccI number 9,006 packages 150 barrels 1 1 330 00 11 25 14 25 number 1.292 24 08 Palm leaf bunches 200 112 50 Pea nuts Pimento bags prmch. barrels M. pounds 104 120 11,011 140 243, 856 669 51 2,547 74 3,105 46 562 37 5,606 37 bags 39 212 25 Rum Salt barrels boxes 19,982 232 5,372 05 1,286 12 barrels 43, 434 M. 230 pounds 294, 247 gallons 973 pounds 24,494 114 tons 613 pounds 12, 745 18,185 50 996 74 7,556 99 360 01 1,892 24 513 00 9,846 89 1,034 14 Sea'ars --. .. Susrar pounds 3,127 439 50 Wood -- tons pounds 608 7,429 6,582 74 662 13 tons pounds 757 24,270 9,046 52 1,784 96 Wool- --- 163,668 17 208,866 63 300,136 68 280 COAIMBRCIAL DIGESTS. ST. MARTIN. FoK the general commerce, port regulations, harbor and tonnage dues of the Dutch part of this island, attention is directed to the consular returns. " Neth. St. Martin, 2Yth Dec, 1854." Part III. The following tahle exhibits the trade between the United States and the Dutch West Indies generally, during a period of eleven consecutive years : Comparative statement exhibiting the value of imports and exports to and from the United States and the Dutch West Indies, during a p)eriod of eleven successive years. [Made up from tlie United States Ti-easury Reports on Commerce and Navigation.] Years. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALCE OF IMPORTS. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Total. 1845 $304,080 264, 647 217,214 316,666 317,066 364,335 366,898 299,679 251,258 371,380 232,640 833,708 14, 507 16,355 22,147 50,252 56,683 138,089 17,766 18,789 22,065 7,616 .$337,788 279,154 233,669 338,813 367,318 421,018 504,987 317,445 270,047 393,445 240,266 $363,324 398,056 279, 038 453,615 453,099 530,146 572,470 552,561 409,185 534,978 438,841 1846 1847 1848 - - 1849 1860 1851 1862 1853 1S54 1855 . DENMARK. DENMARK. The customs regulations of Denmark did not assume any fixed or permanent character until towards the close of the last century. No regular system of commercial policy was pursued; and the regulations which, from time to time, were enforced, were issued more with the imme- diate view of recruiting the treasury of the crown, than with any regard to the encouragement of the industrial or commercial enterprise of the country. High and prohibitory duties were imposed ; exclusive privileges were granted by the crown to such companies as were either rich or favored enough to secure them ; competition, so essential to success in every pursuit, was prevented ; and the industrial energies of the nation, the only true basis of individual as well as of national wealth, were crushed by the monopolizing spirit and grasping cupidity of these privileged associations. They enjoyed the exclusive right of trading, even with the colonists; of supplying their wants ; taking in exchange their surplus productions at such valuations and prices as they thought proper to fix and were willing to pay. About the period already referred to, a better system was gradually introduced. Many of the restrictions which had hitherto contributed to fetter and depress the foreign trade of Denmark were taken ofl"; a new tarifl' was adopted ; and the whole system of regulations was consolidated into the "ordinance 31, Christian VII, dated the 1st of February, 1797, relating to the cus- toms;" which, with the various enactments since adopted, constitutes the basis of the present commercial policy of Denmark. Under these regulations, a distinction is drawn between privileged and unprivileged nations. The former are those with which, by treaty, convention, or otherwise, a reciprocity and equality of commerce and navigation have been established — such treaty, convention, &c., prescribing the terms on which reciprocity is granted ; the latter are subject to extra duties, amounting to as high as 50 per cent, above the rates fixed in the general tariff. To the former class the United States belong ; the treaty, by which entire reciprocity and equality of commerce and navigajtjpn are guarantied, dating as far back as April, 1826. The following abstract embraces the principal stipulations of this treaty^ so far as it relates to commerce and navigation : No particular favors in respect of commerce or navigation to be granted to other nations, which shall not become common to the other party, on like or equivalent terms. Commerce and navigation between the two countries to rest on the liberal basis of perfect equality and reciprocity ; and the citizens and subjects of each to enjoy all rights, privileges, and exemptions, in the territories of the other, which native citizens or subjects do or shall enjoy ; Iceland, the Feroe islands, and Greenland, and the places situated beyond the Cape of Grood Hope, and the direct trade between Denmark and the Danish West India colonies, being excepted from the oper- ation of the treaty. Duties to be alike on all manufactures or merchandise of any country that can be lawfully imi^orted into either country, whether such importation be made in the vessels of one nation or the other." Similar equality to exist in respect to exportations or re-exportations from either country, and in the vessels of either. The produce and manufactures of each 284 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. country, when imported into either, to be subject to no other or higher duties than similar produce or manufactures of any other country ; and this equality to extend to exports frorfii either country to the ports of the other. Article 5th stipulates that neither the vessels of the United States nor their cargoes shall, when they pass the Sound or the Belts, pay higher or other duties than those which are or may be paid by the most favored nation. In the intercourse between the United States and the Danish West India colonies, it is agreed that whatever can be lawfully imported into or exported from the said colonies, in vessels of one party, from or to the ports of the United States, or from or to the ports of any other foreign country, may, in like manner, and with the same duties and charges applicable to vessel and cargo, be imported into or exported from the said colonies in vessels of the other party. The treaty to continue in force ten years, with the usual stipulation for twelve months' notice if either party should desire to terminate it after that period. The following table exhibits the general navigation of Denmark, including the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, with foreign countries and the Danish possessions, in 1844 : Countries. EAILIHO VESSELS. STEAM VESSELS. Vessels entered. Vessels cleared. Total tonnage. No. Of vessels. Tonnage of freight. France .. 46 1,099 2,241 1,976 305 584 3,311 3,504 2,227 475 116 175 25 62 104 ) 1 878 43 1,513 2,400 1,897 350 617 3,426 3,230 2,382 437 110 260 15 58 114 365 10,323 245, 248 199,063 174,999 96,531 90,545 90,922 137,976 75,068 17,163 9,436 38,097 7,045 23 11 66 140 27 58 33 360 188 56 1,210 650 340 627 1,510 1,157 290 Sweden Mecklenburg Oldenburg - Heligoland Hamburg 18 326 Holland and Belgium Spain ' Portugal - - Italy _ America and ) Danish West Indies. J Iceland -" Feroe • Greenland , Great Fishei7.... 30,279 22,916 20(806 1 1 Total 16,628 17,21T 1,266,417 962 6,028 DENMARK. 285 From the preceding table, it will be seen that the general foreign navigation of Denmark, in 1844, employed 33,845 vessels, measuring 1,266,417 tons, and, as appears from official returns, floating 765,475 tons of merchandise. It may be interesting to inquire to what extent the national flag of Denmark participated in this general movement. The total number of vessels which entered and cleared on foreign voyages in 1844, was 33,845, with a tonnage of 1,266,417 tons, and conveying 765,475 tons of freight. Of these vessels, there were under the Danish flag 22,275, with a tonnage of 717,891 tons, and conveying 459,079 tons of freight. Thus, Denmark had — 1st. In the number of vessels 65.8 per cent. 2d. In the tonnage 52.7 " 3d. In the cargoes , 60 " Leaving for all other nations : 1st. In the number of vessels 34.2 per cent. 2d. Inthetonnage 47.3 " 3d. In the cargoes 40 " The aggregate tonnage of vessels employed in the trade between the United States and Den- mark in 1844, was 3,448 tons. Tlie value of imports from Denmark to the United States was $6,063 The value of exports to Denmark from the United States was 112,834 Total trade in 1844 118,897 Total trade in 1855 $81,372 From official returns of the foreign trade of Denmark, it appears that in 1847 the imports and exports united amounted to $46,500,000; a sum nearly equally divided between Denmark proper and its dependencies. In estimating the true relative value of this commercial move- ment, we must bear in mind that the kingdom proper contains a population of 1,350,000 inhab- itants, and comprises an area of 683 Danish superficial miles; (a) while the duchies contain a ' population of 842,000 souls, spread over an area of only 318 Danish miles. Thus, the latter, with a territory less than one-half, and a population more than one-third less, contributes more than its proportionate share to the general commerce of the country. Tlie importance which Denmark attaches to the sovereignty of the duchies is thus accounted for. They are not only the granaries from which her cereal supplies are obtained, but they also constitute the commer- cial conduits through which her principal products — live cattle, horses, &c. — pass to a market. The loss of the duchies would, besides, inflict an irreparable injury upon Denmark, by cutting off the enormous revenue which she has so long derived from the Sound dues ; as, in the event of a separation, the Schleswig-Holstein canal would soon become the principal route to tlie Baltic. The description and quantities of merchandise which constitutes the chief basis of the exchanges between Denmark and foreign countries, for any one year of average commercial activity, will furnish the most accurate standard by which to judge of the present or prospect- ive importance of the trade between that kingdom and the United States. Data from which to calculate, even approximately, (h) the value of importations, is not at hand. The value of (a) The Dtttiish miles are given as found in the autiiorities from whicli tiiese facta are rondensed, and because Ihey will BuflBce for the purpose of comp.iriaon. Denmarlt and dependencies in Europe contain an area uf l,0^1.U7d googruphicai miles, and a population of 2,296,687, exclusive of Greenland, Iceland, and tlie Ferue islands. (h) A valuation based tipon such data as is possessed may, hovirevor, be attempted. We find that the duties levied on importations for the year 1847 reached as high as 42,685,654, or, in round numbers, $2,500,OUOi Allowing 12 percent, on tbo impoiW vn th« EtanAmt Of duties, we haVQ aa their vtriiw fbr that y«w ttvtr $20^00,000. 286 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. the exports, ?o8 registered in the Danish custom-houses, is more accessible, and will be found under its proper head in the following tables. Of the $2,685,0r)4 which is found under the column of duties on imports, the portion received in the custom-houses of Denmark proper amounted to §1,806,246, and that which was levied in the duchies reached .$870,408. AVhile this latter sum is less than 50 per cent, of that received in Denmark proper, we must not infer that importation into the duchies was in the same proportion. On the contrary, the table which follows will show that, in general, they import more — in some cases 100 per cent, more — than the kingdom proper. The disj)roportion in the amount of duties results from the operation of different tariffs; that of Denmark proper being much higher than the tariff applicable to the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.(a) General statement of imports into DeuriKirh and dependencies in 1847, loith amount of duties. Description of mercliandise. Cottons Sugar acd sirups - - Woolens Wood Coffee -. Iron, unmanufactured and manufactured Wines - Salt - Brandy and other spirits- - Tobacco Coal Cloths, linen " silks Cotton, raw and spun Tea Measure or qu.-ni-' Imported into ' Imported into tity. Denmark. Duchies. Total. Amounts of duties. Kilogrs. (a) . . ..--do _ ....do Cubic feet . - Kilograms. - do - do Hectolits. (b) Kilograms- - Tons Kilograms . . do do do do Glasswares - do. Pottery - dr.. Hemp and flax. -.i do. Eicc . .QO. Fruits -.| do.. Taper do.. Skins and hides tanned _. do.. Yarn , cotton 1 do. . " ^^o^.^.^l do.. Other articles 41)7,000 9,09ii,000 .339,000 2,149,000 3,309,000 11,489,000 15.000 9,1S5,000 15,000 1,637,000 327,000 324,000 1.5,000 760,000 226,000 754,000 518,000 2,0,j7,000 1,305,000 085,000 172,000 280,000 52,000 17,000 588,000 , 1,085,000 0,078,000 16,074,000 217,000 ' 566,000 1,305,000 j 3,464,000 3,269,000 I 6,578,000 9,073,000 16,000 6,821,000 8,000 2,138,000 287,000 288,000 22,000 614,000 107,000 1,012,000 410,000 498.000 1,057,000 603,000 162,000 400,000 110,000 38,000 20,562,000 31,000 16,006,000 23,000 3,815,000 614,000 012,000 37,000 1,374,000 333.000 1,766,000 958,000 2,55ii, 000 2.362,000 1,288,000 334,000 080,000 162,000 55,000 s325,500 291,090 255,378 208,506 159,588 125, 178 124,4 34 83, 886 83, 880 77,376 61,336 49,476 43, 338 39,060 .34, 596 31,248 28,830 23, 994 18,228 16,740 13,020 9,114 8,184 3,318 580,320 Total duties collected - 2,685,654 The authorities from which the preceding table is compiled omit the countries from which the different articles were exported. The United States Treasury Eeport for 1847, however, (o) Altona, in the duil.y of Holstein, the most important commercial city in Denmark, next to Copenhagen, is a free port ; and all goods may be landed and ht(,rrd witiiout any other charges than poit dues. (4) Kilogramme=2.20 pounds. .. . ,. . (..-j Hectolitro=^20. 4178 gallons. DENMARK. 287 furnishes data to supply the omission as respects this country. From that document the fol- lowing statements are derived : American tonnage : Entered the United States from Denmark none Cleared from the United States for Denmark 216 tons. Foreign tonnage: Entered the United States from Denmark TIT " Cleared from the United States for Denmark 2,274 " Total, entered and cleared 3,207 " Exports from the United States to Denmark in 1847. Deflcription of merchandise. Quantities. Values Tobacco lbs. - Spirits of turpentine galls . . Eice tierces- - Cotton (raw) lbs - . Eye and otber grains. - Flour bbls.. Eosin and turpentine do Wliale and otlier fish oil, galls- - Sundries 2,119 7,756 5, 029 660,732 Total 203,895 00 17 155 33,330 $210 00 2,708 00 115,525 00 62,609 00 6,000 00 131 00 455 00 11,238 00 5,019 00 It appears that the United States supplied Denmark, in 1847, with all the rice imported into that country, and a large share of the raw cotton, spirits of turpentine, fish oil, grains, &c. Wines and spirits are chiefly imported from France, either direct or by way of Hamburg, and cottons almost exclusively from England. The following table exhibits the value of exports from Denmark and the duchies to all for- eign countries, during the years designated. The values are given in francs, each equal to 18.6 cents: Description of merchandise. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. 34,471,000 12, 240, 000 9,152,000 882,000 2,177,000 1,247,000 1,142,000 401,000 350,000 41,885,000 12,498,000 8,800,000 1,522,000 2,710,000 1,168,000 779,000 693,000 350,000 40,818,000 11,730,000 11,708,000 1,802,000 1,720,000 1,095,000 586,000 451,000 263,000 55,714,000 11,656,000 9,956,000 1,670,000 1,815,000 1,225,000 1,672,000 730,000 307,000 Live animals - Butter Bacon, &c - Hides and skins Seeds Wool, raw -. Salted provisions Totals 62,062,000 70,405,000 76,173,000 84,745,000 The following suggestion is found in a commercial report recently issued under the direction of the French government, which may be found useful to others besides the French merchants engaged in the trade with the countries of northern Europe : 288 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. "lu the northern nations, especially Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, there is an active demand for a beverage extensively used in those countries, which our merchants engaged in supplying them with liqueurs might, advantageously, imitate. It is a mixture known among the northern people as gammel Franslc viin, (old French wine,) and composed of white wine, rum, sirup, and spices. This kind of negus is highly esteemed by a people who have no relish for liquors, unless they are highly sweetened." In 1850 there was published, by order of the Danish government, a statistical report of the commerce and navigation of Denmark proper for the year 1848. From this publication, it appears that though Denmark was involved in difficulties with the Germanic Confederation during the year 1848, the general commerce of the kingdom suffered no sensible diminution. This was mainly owing to the geographical position, as well as to the military marine of Den- mark, by means of which she was enabled to blockade most of the German ports, and thus give free scope to her own merchant flag. Cutoff from the German markets, from which she usually draws her supplies of articles of first necessity for her manufactures, she sought for new chan- nels through which to supply her wants ; and, at once, found England already waiting to avail herself of the difficulties in which she was embroiled. Hence, the principal foreign trade of Denmark, during this year, was carried on with England. The number of vessels employed in the foreign trade of Denmark in 1848 was as follows: Entered Vessels 7,003 Tonnage 333,747 Cleared " 7,316 " 358,832 Total 14,319 " 692,579 The tonnage of merchandise was 480,240 tons. From North and South America there entered, during the same year, 61 vessels of 12,820 tons; while there cleared 67 vessels of 15,368 tons, of which there were 18 vessels of 3,736 tons under a foreign flag. The value of the imports and exports from all countries, in 1848, as compared with 1847, was as follows : 1848.— Imports .$13,021,860 Exports 8,076,678 Total trade in 1848 $21,098,538 1847.— Imports $13,597,716 Exports 7,015,362 Total trade in 1847 20,613,078 Increase in 1848 485,460 Of the above figures, the trade of Copenhagen, alone, absorbed: 1848.— Imports $9,808,524 Exports 1,463,262 Total trade of Copenhagen in 1848 $11,271,786 1847.--Imports..... $9,069,360 Exports 1,815,360 Total trade of Copenhagen in 1847 10,884,720 Increase in 1848 387,066 DENMARK. 289 The following table exhibite tbe trade between the United States and Denmark during the year 1848 : Navigation and Commerce. Entered tbe U. 8. from Denmark.. 1,494 tons. Cleared from tbe U. 8. forDenmark 3,438 " Imports from Denmark $19,617 Exports to Denmark 181,913 Principal exports of domestic produce and manufactures from the United States to Denmark in 1848 and 1855, together with the total value of exports of foreign produce and manufactures, compared. Description of merchandise. 1648. 1855. Quantities. Values. (Quantities. Values. Boards, plank, aD^jjjjjfcantling Whale and other fishflPl M. 35 gallons 5, 977 barrels 1,250 tons 39 barrels 56 tierces 7,304 lbs. 69,020 2,814 gallons 2,137 $380 2,018 1,198 3,886 350 147,688 7,944 250 876 40 31 17,864 galls. 1,920 bbls. 4,306 $3,616 18, 845 Ashes pot and pearl Flour trs. 770 lbs. 209, 186 " 11,728 19,263 20,971 1,741 6,560 8,675 Foreign produce and manufac- tures , _ - i Total - 182,525 79,671 Of tbe general exports from Denmark during 1848, England received 50 per cent.; and of grains, as bigb as 65 per cent. ; wbile in 1847 the proportion exported to Great Britain was only 36 per cent, of the whole. The exports to the United States were: Woolen and worsted yarns $856 Hosiery 562 Bristles, 3,138 lbs 1,110 Bags, ^3,290 lbs 1,614 Coal, 96 tons 410 Unenumerated, paying a duty of 5 per cent 9,457 " " " 20 " 2,594 " " " 30 " 241 Sundries 2,773 Total 19,617 Copenhagen, as already remarked, absorbs about 80 per cent, of the entire trade of Denmark. In 1851 there entered at this port 321 steam-vessels, propelled by engines of 44,865 horse-power aggregate, and floating 4,700 tons aggregate of merchandise, viz: From Prussia 520 tons. " England 978 " " Lubeck 1,688 " [37] From Wismar 1,008 tons. " Elsewhere 506 " 290 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, The chief imports into Copenhagen from foreign countries in 1851, were iron, coal, cabinet- makers' and other wood, fire-wood, and heavy merchandise. From the United States and Cuba there entered 15 vessels, of 3,158 tons measurement, and with 2,884 tons merchandise; and from the Danish West Indies, 34 vessels, of 8,670 tons measurement, and with 8,032 tons merchandise. The imj)orts of sugar were as follows : From Danish West Indies 5,500,000 kilogrammes, (a) " Brazil 1,500,000 " " Cuba 2,750,000 " Java 650,000 " " Entrepots of Europe 100,000 " Total 10,500|i00 " Imports of coifee were from Brazil, Hayti, and European entrepots, 5,250,000 kilogrammes; of which there were exported from Copenhagen 500,000 kilogrammes, leaving 4,750,000 kilo- grammes for consumption. The value of the foreign commerce of Denmark for 1852 is exhibited in the subjoined table: Countrieg. IMPORTS. EXPORTS. Values in rixdolls.(6) Values in rixdollars. 6,026,966 11,942,847 4,633,987 3,150,513 4,465,668 2,215,791 1,684,917 1,377,990 2,549,398 1,112,976 1,045,729 282,028 630,575 3,526,174 387,297 1,135,364 505,395 236,782 10,597,712 7,686,092 5,911,413 Sweden and Norway Transit through Kiel _ _ _ United States (c) 171,603 761,943 374,506 695,110 329,368 1,058,236 1,432,369 351,971 177,088 3,590,286 17,980 434,379 45,171 784,119 Lubeck _ Danish West Indies _- . Prussia Belgium and Holland __ _ Mecklenburg _. France AT tons, Ports on the Mediterranean East Indies and China , _ Total in rixdollars 46,810,397 34, 409,. 346 Total in U. States currency.. $24,497,441 10 $18,007,557 74 (a) 2.20 lbs. each. (j) Equal to about 52.33 cents, (c) This must Include the indirect as well as the direct commerce between Denmark and the United States. The 'imports" for 1852, according to United States Treasury Keport, are only $115,652, and the "exports" $16,611. DENMARK. 291 Statement exhibiting the character, quantities, and values of domestic products of the United States, together with the total values of foreign products, imported into Denmark from the United States in 1854 and 1855. Deucription of merchandise. 1854. 1855. duantities. Values. Quantities. Values. Oil, Bpermaceti gallons lbs. 365 4,047 $485 1,416 galls, lbs. 1,920 3,033 358 83,616 1,213 104 297 18,845 Whalebone 191 3,315 67 Rosin and turpentine Flour _-_ bbls. 990 6 bblB. 4,306 bbls. 3 tierces 770 lbs. 209, 186 30 19,263 20,971 tierces lbs. hhds. galls. lbs. 4,324 32,983 13 1,800 1,800 800 74,974 3,346 1,368 938 1,000 166 Cotton Tobacco Spirits from molasses Spirits of turpentine Tobacco, Tnanufactured lbs. pair 11,728 6,000 1,741 4,519 397 604 Total domestic products. Total foreign products 87,870 23,647 70,996 8,675 111,417 79,671 The Danish merchants no longer import tobacco from the countries of its production. In 1848 there were 2,032,387 kilogrammes imported, at a value of about $469,966 20, principally from Holland, Bremen, and Hamburg, -where select cargoes can at all times be purchased. These markets are supplied chiefly from the United States. From Cuba, Denmark imports annually about 12,250 kilogrammes — say 2Y,000 lbs. of cigars. There are no restrictions of any kind on the sale of tobacco in Denmark ; and under the moderate duty, (a) direct import- ations from the United States could not fail to be profitable. In the article of cigars, at least, there is no reason why the United States could not successfully compete with Cuba. The quantities of tobacco exported direct from the United States to Denmark during the four years specified, were as follows: 1852.— Unmanufactured 15 hhds.; value, $1,150 Manufactured 3,085 lbs. " 539 1853. — Unmanufactured none Manufactured 9,248 lbs. " 1,404 1854.— Unmanufactured 13 hhds. " 1,368 Manufactured 800 lbs. " 166 1855 . — Unmanufactured none Manufactured 11,T28 lbs. '' l,U\ (a)U'af 01- unmanufactured, 89| cents per 110^ lbs.; manufaetureU, $3 15 per 110^ IVlB. 292 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. So long, liowever, as any duty is imposed in Denmark higlier than tliat levied on similar merchandise in Hamburg and the other Hanseatic towns, viz : from |- to f of 1 per cent. , they will continue, more especially Hamburg, to be the entrepots from which Denmark will Irave to draw her supplies of such colonial produce as her own islands in the West Indies cannot furnish. Cereal produce constitutes the leading staple of Danish exports, and forms the chief basis of her exchanges with foreign countries. Indeed, Denmark may be considered an exclusively agricultural and maritime country. Such, at least, is the predominant feature of her national character. In 1851 the entire exports of the kingdom amounted to upwards of $7,500,000. Of this sum, cereals appropriated $4,500,000. The commerce of the kingdom and the duchies for the year 1852, iiuports and exports, reached the sum of $42,450,310 90 ; and the proportion of cereals in the export trade was about equal to that of the preceding year. During the past ten or twelve years, however, manufactures have made considerable progress in the kingdom and the duchies ; and, were the obstacles removed, with which this branch of national industry has to contend, the most o[);iressive of which are royal and privileged monop- olies, and heavy consumption duties, that progress would be still more encouraging, and its influence more perceptibly felt in the augmented wealth and increased commercial prosperity of Denmark. The foUo^^ing brief summary of the present state of manufactures in this kingdom is con- densed from recent Danish official publications, and is given for the purpose of showing the extent to which Denmark must rely on the workshops of other nations- for the necessary sup- plies for her 2,500,000 subjects. Woolens. — The woolen manufactures of Denmark are coarse, and of a very inferior quality. The chief factories are those of Neumunster, in the duchy of Holstein. The proportion which these manufactures bear to the quantity annually consumed in the kingdom may be seen from the following statement : Foreign woolens consumed in 1846 95,900 lbs. " " in 184*7 145,000 " Neumunster woolens consumed in 1846 36,700 " " " in 1847 88,000 " Besides these woolen cloths, Denmark consumes large quantities of other manufactures of wool, particularly such as are suitable for women's apparel. These are all imported. During the two years above named, this class of imports reached as high as 320,000 lbs. each year^ yielding a revenue to the government of nearly $10,000. Cottons. — The manufacture of cottons was introduced ia Denmark about forty years back, but its progress was slow and inconsiderable until within the past ten years. At Copenliagen there were manufactured from 1S35 to 1840 about 800,000 Danish ells (a) per annum from cotton twists sup])lied from Englisli markets. Since 18 K) the custom-huuse declarations indi- cate a large augnieutati'Hi in tlie (juautity of .span cutton (twist) imported. In 1844 it reached as high as 911,000 Danish livres. (b) The manufacture of printed cottons has been attempted, but the experiment has but indif- ferently succeeded ; indeed, its present continuance is owing to high protective duties. The chief cotton manufactures may, thercfire, be said to consist of old-fashioned, heavy, coarse pieces, brought tbrougli the biom by a }ir(icess at (ince slow and expensive. There is but one factory {n tlie Iv-ingdom — tliat at Nybavn — where modern improvements are introduced. The success wlrich has so far attended the operations at this factory may eventually create an extensive demand in Denmark for American cotton. (rt) Aliout 2,26 I'cot. (hj'l'ha Danish livic is a fraction onr 1 lb. avoirdupois. DENMARK. 293 How far these factories fall short of the demands for home consumption may be gathered from the following figures : Cotton cloths imported into Denmarle proper from 1846 to 1850. 1846 .'. 1,120,000 lbs. 184*7 1,010,000 " 1848 730,000 " 1849 1,160,000 " 1850 ". 1,220,000 " These importations were destined for the kingdom proper. The quantities imported for con- sumption in the duchies cannot be ascertained ; but their relative consumption of such manufac- tures considerably exceeds that of the kingdom proper. Paper. — At StrandmoUen and Silkberg there are several flourishing paper-mills ; but the prices rule so high, that, despite the protective duties, paper figures largely in the imports from foreign countries. In 1850 there was imported 217,563 kilogrammes, valued at $58,139 88. Sugar. — Sugar refineries have reached a high state of prosperity in Deniuark. Of upwards of 12,000,000 lbs. of refined sugar consumed in tlie kingdom, or exported, but little is imported from foreign countries. Kaw sugars, however, constitute an important item in the import- ations of the country ; indeed, it is known that if we except England, there is more sugar consumed in Denmark, in proportion to its population, than in any otlier country in the world. In 1850 raw sugar imported reached 13,186,233 kilogrammes, valued at $1,615,931 65. _ Of this, there was imported direct from the United States only 77,253 lbs., valued at $3,192. Porcelain. — There is a factory at Copenhagen, under government monopoly, for manufactures of this description. It contributes but little, however, either to the revenues of the country or the wants of the people. The manufactures are of beautiful fabrication and brilliant colors, but they are not considered durable. Notwithstanding a high protective duty, the markets of Denmark are supplied with manufactures of porcelain from France. In 1850 there was about 40,000 lbs. imported. Pisiilleries.— This is the most flourishing branch of manufactures, both in the kingdom and in the duchies. Nearly all the spirits produced in these establishments are from grain. The excise duty, or impost, derived from the distilleries, forms a large item in the revenue of Den- mark. In 1850 they produced 21,262,678 Danish cans(a) of spirituous liquors. During the same year, 2,492 gallons of spirits from molasses were imported direct from the United States, at a value in the home market of $1,009. Breioeries. — The number in Denmark is not known, officially; but they cannot add much to the internal wealth of the kingdom, as their annual consumption of malt does not exceed 700,000 poimds. In 1850 there were imported direct from the United States 14,617 pounds of hops, valued at Glass-ivorks. — There are four establishments in the kingdom, four in Schleswig, and one in Holstein. They are chiefly devoted to the manufacture of bottles, of which they produce, annually, upwards of 3,000,000. Ship-building. — The principal ship-yards in the kingdom are at Copenhagen and Elsinore, and are chiefly used in the repair of vessels. At Apenrade, a capacious port opening into the Little Belt, vessels of the largest class are built. In 1846 twelve vessels, and in 1847 fifteen were built at this place. In the former year, thirty large class vessels, belonging to this port, entered the harbors of Kio de Janeiro and Montevideo. (a) Over one quart each. 294 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Foundries. — Prior to the separation of Norway, Denmark drew all her supplies of iron from that co^^ntry- Since that event, the efforts to ohtain sufficient supplies, even for maritime pur- poses, have not been crowned with success. The geological formation of the country is not such as to furnish minerals; hence, with the exception of building materials, but little is left for the miner to develop. There are, however, foundries at Carlshytte, near Rendsburg, which employ upwards of 250 hands, and produce, annually, 200,000 pounds of iron; one at Copen- hagen, of about equal annual produce, from which considerable quantities of anchors, chains, &c., are obtained; and several others, distributed throughout the duchies, at Altona, Kiel, Flenshurg, and Ottensen. Near Elsinore there is a foundry for the manufacture of fire-arms, which produces, annually, about 2,000 muskets. Besides the manufacturing establishments above enumerated, there are in the kingdom 200 tan-yards, and 60 tan-mills, yielding, annually — the latter, 2,500,000 lbs. of ground tan; and the former, 3,080,000 tanned hides. In addition to these, there are 88 currying establishments, in which 164,000 lbs. of skins are annually prepared for hosiery and other uses. At Altona 600,000 lbs. of candles are manufactured each year; 100,000 lbs. of refined wax are annually produced in the kingdom and duchies; soap, oils, chemicals, gunpowder, &c., but the manu- facture of these last-named articles is so inconsiderable as scarcely to affect importations from foreign countries. The only manufactures in Denmark which yield a supply equal, or nearly equal, to the home consumption, are those of refined sugars and tobacco. The former is fully adequate to meet the demands of the home market ; and the latter, augmented to some extent by imports from the United States and Cuba, equally so. The quantities annually imported from these countries have already been given. Altona counts 28 tobacco factories, employing 488 hands, and pro- ducing, annually, 1,062,068 lbs. of tobacco, 106,487 pounds of snuff, and 12,000,000 cigars. At Copenhagen 425 workmen are employed, and the annual produce reaches 1,000,000 lbs. of tobacco, and 10,000,000 cigars. Besides these, there are other tobacco factories, at Flenshurg in Schleswig, and Kiel in Holstein, which contribute largely towards the national supply. It has been already shown whence Denmark obtains her supplies of unmanufactured tobacco^ and why her manufacturers are forced to purchase it at second hand in the neighboring entrepots, instead of importing direct from the countries of production. It will be easily seen, from the preceding summary, how much Denmark still depends on for- eign countries for the supply other most essential wants. Since she has been induced to profit by the example of England, and other neighboring countries, in abolishing the duty on raw cotton, her spindles have multiplied, and she is now learning to depend on her own capital and industry for the spun cottons which she has heretofore derived, and which, to a great extent, ■still derives, from the English spinning factories. A similar modification in her tariff in respect to unmanufactured tobacco, and other raw material not grown on her soil, would tend not only to augment the importations of such produce from the producing countries, but would eminently contribute to attract investments of her own capitalists, multi})ly her manufactured jiroductions, and enable her to become an exporter of the same descriptions of merchandise which have so long been an annual drain upon the wealth of the kingdom, and a heavy drawback upon the industry of the people. A more apposite illustration of this truth cannot be found than that which the general returns of trade, for any one year, will furnish. He]' average annual imports are about .$15,000,000 in value, a large portion of which sum is absorbed by manufactured articles, or articles half-manufactured, such as cotton twists, &c. ; while her annual exports scarcely cover half that sum, (say f 7, 000, 000,) two-thirds of which are derived from cereals and otlier agricultural produce. Until the manufacturing industry of Denmark recei^^es greater encouragement from the government, the heavy disproportion between imports and exports which theal)(ive figures exijibit, oi', in other words, the ruinous balance of trade against Denmark, in her commercial relations with foreign countries, must continue to exist. DENMARK. 295 Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Denmark, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and Danish vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. YEARS. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OF IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign pro- duce. Total. Entered tlie Qnited States. Cleared from the U. States. Entered tbe United States. Cleared from the U. States. 1845 $124,666 97,746 198,952 164,661 55,138 165,874 92,257 93,009 82,903 87,870 70,996 $20,501 23,496 4,943 17,252 $145, 167 121,242 203,895 181,913 55,138 186,580 111,797 115,652 $22,429 1,313 475 19,617 19,204 527 38,887 16,611 1,040 666 216 763 1,157 281 717 1,115 384 592 544 748 2,116 1,393 2,274 2,675 1,681 3,232 2,086 3,916 2,174 1,894 1,027 1846 1847 1848- 379 522 396 1849 1850 20,706 19,540 22,643 502 199 374 332 714 1,216 1851 1852 1853. 82,903 111,417 350 1854. .. 23,547 8,675 8.097 567 1855 79,671 1 1.701 DANISH WEST INDIA COLONIES. Peioe to the year 1833, the trade between the United States and St. Croix was not regulated by any law or act of the Danish government. The inhabitants were at first allowed, by the local authorities, a limited quantity of sugar or molasses from their estates, to exchange for provisions. Afterwards they were permitted to purchase one-half of their supplies in this way; and, finally, J;he privilege was extended so as to enable them to purchase from foreigners all they needed for the supplies of their plantations. St. Thomas was at the same time opened as a free port for the trade of all countries, and, in consequence, became the emporium of an extensive commerce. The duties upon imports and exports are moderate, not exceeding 1^- per cent, ad valorem ; and port charges do not exceed 19 cents(a) per ton. At St. Croix, however, vessels employed in the foreign trade, even if they do not take a pilot on board, are compelled to pay half-pilotage. The full charge is $1 per foot of the vessel's draught, in and out. In 1832 an ordinance of the King of Denmark, dated at Copenhagen, prescribed regulations for foreign navigation and commerce with St. Croix. This was superseded by an ordinance of June 30th, 1850, published at St. Croix 15th of August of the same year, and which is now in force. Section 1 provides that all vessels, native or foreign, both from national and foreign ports, may trade to St. Croix, and there discharge and load at the two ports of entry, Christiansted and Fredericksted. Section 2. Vessels belonging to the Danish West India islands, trading between Denmark and the colonies, shall enjoy, in future, the same rights and privileges as vessels belonging to the mother country. (a) This does not apply to vessels from European ports, which pay forty-five cents per ton. The distinction is, probably, made to encourage the introduction of provisions, rather than the fancy articles and liquors introduced from Europe. [See Consular Keturn from St. Thomas, May 2, 1854, Part III.] 296 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, Section 3. Every vessel is to pay tonnage dues according to its tonnage, both on entering and leaving, at the following rates: If the vessel discharge or load to the amount of one-half its tonnage, and ahove, \k'v commercial last 30 cents; if it discharge or load from one- _ Portugal France The annexed exhibit will show the number of vessels employed during the two years desig- nated above: In 1847. — Number of vessels 1,752; aggregate tonnage 153,240 tons. In 1848 " " 1,352 " " 128,878 " Decrease in 1848 " 400 24,362 " The following table exhibits the commercial movements at the port of Stockholm during the year 1851, compared with the two preceding years: Years. Vessels entered. Tonnage. Vessels cleared. " Tonnage. Total vessels. Total tonnage. 1849 609 711 851 70,728 71,892 94,218 790 783 905 79,118 77,478 95,236 1,459 1,494 1,756 149,846 149,370 189,454 1850 1851 - The following table shows the countries from which the vessels comprised in the foregoing table for 1851 cleared, and to which they sailed : Finland tireat Britain - Russia _ Prussia France Portugal Derunarli Hanse Towns . Norway Brazil United States. No. of vessels. Tonnage. 572 44, 528 191 36,714 173 19,790 155 12,122 72 11,634 59 10,742 150 9,016 126 8,434 93 8,414 27 6,526 17 5,016 SWEDEN AND NORWAY. 317 The following comparative table shows the values of imports and exports into and from the port of Stockholm during the years designated : Years. Imports. Exports. Total trade. 1849 Francs. 21,578,000 20,462,000 23,809,000 Francs. 17,342,000 14,054,000 14,014,000 Francs. 38,920,000 34,516,000 37,823,000 1850 - 1851 Value and description of merchandise imported into, and exported from, the port of Stockholm in 1851. Articles. Imports. Articles. Exports. Francs. 3,221,000 3,481,000 1,759,000 7,363,000 1,173,000 1,223,000 1,019,000 2,145,000 Francs. 10,450,000 1,824,000 311,000 187,000 Coffee - - Fish Timber and lumber Wines and spirits Tallow Tissues - The following tahle exhibits the countries which participated in the general commercial movements of 1851, and the value of imports and exports assigned to each: Countries. Imports. Exports. Total. Norway . - Francs. 1,097,000 875,000 2,923,000 1,037,000 960,000 6,306,000 2,260,000 586,000 785,000 431,000 4,026,000 302,000 1,434,000 Francs. 31,000 1,538,000 243,000 1,211,000 2,374,000 1,307,000 2,897,000 281,000 747,000 707,000 299,000 1,306,000 100,000 Francs. 1,128,000 2,413,000 3,166,000 2,248,000 3,334,000 7,613,000 5,157,000 867,000 1,532,000 1,138,000 4,325,000 1,608,000 1,534,000 Denmarli- - Russia --- Netherlands Portugal Brazil . ....... _ United States . _ . Besides the countries included in the preceding table, Stockholm extends its commercial transactions to Spain, Italy, Austria, Malta and G-ibraltar, Mecklenburg, Hanover, Oldenburg, Belgium, the Cape of Good Hope, and the Antilles. It may be remarked that during this year the general commerce of Sweden exhibited an ad- vancing tendency. This was owing, in a great measure, to the liberal policy which charac- terized the commercial legislation of England, dating from January 1, 1850 — a policy, the wis- 318 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. dom of wliicli could not be more appositely illustrated than by the fact, that while the total trade of Sweden with all foreign nations, during this year, reached as high as 55,000,000 rix- dalers,(r() the trade with England alone covered 14,543,000 rixdalers, or more than one-fourth of the whole. In 1852, oiScial returns show a slight falling off in the general trade of Stockholm. It will be seen from the annexed table, from Swedish official sources, that the entire trade, imj^orts and ex- ports united, represents in value $6,559,027 03, or about $48*7, 970 less than the total trade of 1851. This diminution affected imports, especially grains, fish, and brandies, to the extent of 1,523,494 francs, while coffee and sugar increased in value 838,816 francs ; and in the export trade it was felt in the falling off from the preceding year of 1,044,770 francs, chiefly on iron, steel, and copper, while the exportation of timber and pitch increased over that of 1851. In 1852 a new article of commerce entered into the export trade of Sweden. The metal «tcZ;eZ figures for the first time in the returns for this year to the amount of 101,520 francs, or $18,882 72, chiefly sent to the Hanse-towns. The navigation of the port of Stockholm during 1852 presented a total tonnage of 167,686 tons, viz : entered 81,874 tons, cleared 85,812 tons. This is a falling off from 1851 of 21,768 tons. The following statement, compiled from Swedish official reports, exhibits, in detail, the value of imports at the port of Stockholm during the year 1852 : Value OAid description of the principal merchandise imported into Stockholm in 1852. Countries whence im- ported. Csffee. Grains. Fish. Raw silk. Sugar. Tallow. Tissues. Winea and spirits. Sundries. $9,259 08 $1,429,829 98 $463,274 29 4,883 61 $325,646 56 64,986 16 $96 72 34 96 $8,297 46 $36 87 $4,656 25 $4,456 93 6,155 11 36 45 74,018 70 4,934 41 57,633 21 446 02 1,147 99 26 41 4,439 82 25,837 63 11,914 04 13 02 96 34 8,9,59 24 France 638 68 19 34 10,854 21 1,160 64 206,736 39 « 6,485 82 10,636 23 93 74 153 63 20,276 60 13,012 62 18 14 10 41 7,973 44 167,995 94 1,147 62 8,069 79 30 50 155 99 11,168 18 343,065 04 63,643 85 30,603 11 1,291 91 160,123 30 47,925 87 7,735 74 20,179 51 402 13 171,015 84 385 39 325,317 14 18,352 62 Total for 1859 507,995 73 542,615 71 190,102 77 180,473 94 540,868 63 215,821 78 340,389 19 198,588 18 Grand total for 1852 $4,145,087 37 Total for 1851 4,428,457 26 Decrease in 1852 283, 369 89 Exports. — It is unnecessary to present a detailed statement of exports, inasmuch as iron, steel, and copper constitute the articles of chief value exported from the port of Stockholm. Other exports consist principally of timber (boards), pitch, and tar. These amounted in value, in 1852, to $107,533 66, to which are to be added for miscellaneous, not enumerated, $230,048 89. The total value of iron, steel, and copper exported in 1852 was: iron and steel, $1,747,545 51 : (a) The rixdaler is equivalent to 30 1 cents. SWEDEN AND NORWAY. 319 copper, |327,213 06. Value of iron and steel exported from Stockholm to the United States in 1852, |8,102 60. Great Britain, the Hanse Towns, and Denmark occupy the first rank in the order in which they are given as exporters from Stockholm. Prussia, Finland, Portugal, France, and the United States come next. Statement exhibiting the general foreign trade of StocJcholm, showing the quantities and values of imports and exports, respectively, during the year 1853. IMPORTS. Deecription of merchandise. Quantities. Values in francs. Countries whence. Values in francs. Coffee kilos, (a) 2, 466, 000 3,083,000 hectol.(5) 76,623 kilos. 6,402,000 litres(c) 637, 000 Idlos. 1,082,000 2,901,000 2,419,000 1,760,000 1,040,000 888,000 1,189,000 1,853,000 862,000 Brazil 1,513,000 1,156,000 1,916,000 464,000 1,634,000 140, 000 899,000 131,000 324,000 162,000 118,000 106,000 1,189,000 1,853,000 799,000 Hanse Tovms 1 East Indies Hussia ..... Cereals _ . Finland. Fish Norway . _ - Finland Wines and spirits Tallow r France . East Indies _ Hanse Towns .Holland. Tissues _ - - Hanse Towns .do Raw silk _ - _ kilos. 15, 273 EXPORTS. Description of merchandise. Quantities. Values in francs. Countries whither. Values in francs. Iron and steel tons((i) 41,537 tons 1, 000 10,403,000 1,840,000 244, 000 314,000 ' Great Britain Hanse Towns - DenTTia.vk 2,850,000 1,496,000 1,198,000 877,000 750,000 979,000 730,000 90,000 60,000 98,000 65,000 47, 000 Portugal Hanse Towns Great Britain ■ France Pitch and tar barrels 26, 819 'Great Britain - Portugal __ Holland .. During this year (1853) there was a great scarcity of vessels to carry off the freights to foreign markets. The number that entered the port of Stockholm was 589, with an aggregate of 76,226 tons ; and the number cleared was 92T, with an aggregate of 81,916 tons. The total number entered and cleared was 1,516 vessels, aggregate tonnage 158,112. The number of vessels was greater, but the tonnage was less by 9,500 tons, than in 1852. (a) Kilogramme=2.20 lbs. each. (6) 2f bushels each. (c) 50 litreB=ll gallons nearly. (d) 2,250 pounds each. 320 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. PORT CHARGES AT STOCKHOLM. The total port charges for a vessel of 500 tons (250 lasts) amount to very nearly §277 50, including all expenses, in and out. For an unprivileged vessel, this amount is nearly doubled. For separate items, and other details, attention is directed to Despatch from [Stockholm, No. 81. Part III. PORT CHARGES AT GOTHENBURG. Tonnage, pilotage, and all other dues and port charges on a vessel of 300 tons, amount at this port to about $167. For separate items, and other details, see consular return, "Gothen- burg, No. 27." Part III. NOKWAY. Norway possesses nearly the same natural advantages as Sweden. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the breeding of horses, sheep, goats, and the reindeer ; cultivating small farms, fishing, mining, and such other occupations as a country rich in its forests and minerals, and enjoying a favorable position for commerce, usually affords. Historians represent the ancient navigation and trade of Norway as being in a highly flourishing condition, especially when its towns, in the twelfth century, joined the Hanseatic League, As early as 1217, Eng- land concluded a treaty (the first she ever made with a foreign power) with Norway, stipulating an entire reciprocity of trade between the two countries. The trade of Norway has always consisted of the interchange of the produce of her forests, of her copper and iron mines, and of her fisheries, for such articles as she required from foreign countries. The principal seaports are Bergen, Trondheim, Christiania, Hammerfest, and its out- port Wardoehuus. Denmark occupies the first rank in the foreign trade of Norway. So much of its trade passes through the ports of this country, particularly Altona, that Denmark may be justly considered the commercial entrepot of Norway. Its commercial relations with nearly all the coimtries of Eiirope are conducted through these ports ; and it was not until during the recent troubles in the duchies of Denmark that Norway manifested any disposition to export direct from the producing country. The maritime industry of the Norwegians constitutes the commercial bond which unites them with Denmark. Sweden, on the other hand, being sepa- rated from the more populous and industrious divisions of Norway, by mountainous and sterile territories, necessarily confines her commercial relations with the sister kingdom to the southern frontier or the coast; and, as their principal productions are generally similar, these relations are not susceptible of any great development. The Hanse-towns have long been the principal entrepots for the commercial movements of the north of Europe. The relations of Hamburg with Norway are, even at this day, considera- ble ; but, for the past few years, they have been stationary, with rather a decreasing tendency. With England, on the other hand, the trade of Norway is becoming more important every year. This is mainly owing to tlic liberal commercial system of the former country, under which Norway is enabled to compete with British colonial possessions, in America, in supplying the British markets with the varied productions of her forests. France and Holland chiefly import into the markets of Norway colonial or raw produce ; but neither of these countries find, in Nor- wegian markets, a profitable exchange for their manufactures : Holland, because she has but few ; and France, for the reason that her works of art and taste are too costly, and, perhaps, not very SWEDEN AND NORWAY. 321 well adapted to meet the wants of a people whose cold and inhospitable climate, as well as their maritime occupations, (a) would seem to demand the coarser qualities of manufactures. "With the United States the trade of Norway is chiefly indirect. Tobacco and cotton are the principal articles of American produce which enter into the consumption and manufactures of the Norwegians. The restrictive character of the tariff of Norway, however, like that of her sister kingdom, and the fallacious principles on which her fiscal and commercial legislation has been so long maintained, must ever prove an insuperable obstacle to the expansion of her foreign trade, and the consequent development of her vast internal resources. So long as Nor- way adheres to the now generally obsolete idea, that the best way to raise revenue and relieve the land-owner is to levy high duties on all goods imported into the country, so long will her relations with foreign countries be limited to the exchange of such articles of necessity as cannot be elsewhere procured. The decline which her iron trade has experienced during the few years past, both in England and the United States, will necessarily compel the government of Sweden and Norway to look for a market in France ; and it is understood that the latter government is not averse to such amelioration of her tariif as will open her markets to this great staple of Sweden and Norway, by a material reduction of her present TO per cent, duty on iron. The only equivalent, however, which could satisfy France for so liberal a concession, would be a total change in the Swedish and Norwegian tariffs, by which her own manufactures could enter the ports of the united kingdom, and fiind a profitable as well as a ready market. Nor could such a change, in any manner, have an injurious effect upon the manufacturing industry of either of these countries, as the great demand would be for such heavy and coarse manufactures as are most needed in so northern a latitude, and which never have been, and perhaps never will be, successfully manufactured in Sweden or Norway — at least, to any extent approximating the great consumption of the kingdom. Such a result would extend its benefits to other countries besides France ; and if, in addition to a remodification of the Swedish and Norwegian tariffs in respect of manufactures, the present exorbitant cent-per-cent. duties on American tobacco were liberally reduced, the trade between the United States and Sweden and Norway would be materially benefited, and exports and imports, direct between the two coun- tries, largely augmented. The Norwegian tariff differs, in many essential particulars, from that of Sweden. Its range is considerably lower, and, owing to this fact, and to the advantages resulting from different weights, it will be found (for instance) that tobacco blades may be imported into Norway at a rate nearly 33.3 per cent, less than into Sweden. The oppressive system of fictitious valuation, in practice in the Swedish custom-houses, is unknown in the sister kingdom; and, besides, greater consideration is shown to the poorer inhabitants of remote provinces. At Brodo and Trounsde, in the northern part of Norway, many articles are admitted at half-rates of duty; and at Hammerfest, and other remote ports, the duty is altogether remitted. This consideration is not shown to the inhabitants of far-off provinces in Sweden ; indeed, in districts no farther off than Dalecarlia many necessaries of life, which the country cannot supply to them, must be purchased, if at all, by the poorer peas- antry, with the additional costs of inland transportation and the coast navigation of the gulf . of Bothnia. The tariff now in operation came in force on January 1, 1855, and will expire on the Slgt of December, 1857. The duties on tobacco have been raised nearly to the level of those of Sweden. The latter, upon tobacco blades, is still one cent per pound higher. The augmentation of the duty on this staple of the United States was, doubtless, designed as an additional argument in (a) From official documents recently published, it appears that in 1848 the population of Norway was 1,200,000 souls; their merchant marine counted 3,400 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 240,000 tons, and employing 16,500 persons as officers and crews. This would give to Norway one vessel for every 352 inhabitants, and make every 73d subject a sailor. At the same period, the total merchant marine of France consisted of 14,235 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 670,000 tons. [41 ] 322 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. any negotiations wliich might be proposed by the government of Sweden and Norway relative to the iron diities of the United States. The following brief summary is presented of the new tariif, which will be found at length in its proper place (Part II). It will show the duties levied on certain American produce by the old and new Norwegian tariffs : Tobacco. — (Stem and blade,) raised' from 5 to 6 skillings(a) per lb. Eice. — Unchanged; namely, 80 skillings per barrel (in husk), or 1^ skilling per lb., without husk or ground. Cotton. — Eaw, unchanged; one-half skilling per lb. Maize, unground. — Lowered from 72 skillings to 16 skillings per toende (barrel of nearly four bushels). Maize, ground. — Lowered from 16 skillings to Y^ skillings per lispund (1Y.6 lbs. avoirdupois). Wheat. — Unchanged; 72 skillings per barrel (toende). Flour. — 16 skillings per lispund. The principal ports of Norway are Christiania, Bergen, and Hammerfest, or Alten Hammer- fest, the chief port of Finmark. Christiania is a deep seaport^ having at all seasons from six to seven fathoms depth of water close to the quay. It is the capital of Norway, and has some few fabrics of woolen, glass, hardware, soap, leather, cordage, tobacco, &c. The deals of this port have ever been celebrated. Its trade has flourished as far back as 1792, in which year the num- ber of ships arrived was 521, of which 518 cleared with cargoes of deals. Bergen has a safe and deep harbor close to the town, but a pilot is necessary for vessels entering or departing, on account of the numerous rocks. It has a few manufactories of tobacco and earthenware, several rope-works and distilleries, shipyards, forges, and other estab- lishments of ordinary handicraft. Its fisheries, however, are its chief resource, and its foreign trade is principally confined to Hamburg. Hammerfest has an extensive trade, chiefly with England, through the port of Hamburg. Its exports are copper, dried stockfish, salted fish, fish-oil, rein-deer skins, buckskins, walrus hides and teeth, feathers, fox and other skins, &c. Finmark has always enjoyed a high degree of commercial prosperity. Its revenues exceed its expenditures by upwards of two millions of dollars. Its chief wealth depends upon its fish- eries, a source of remunerative industry that never fails. For centuries back, observes Mac- gregor, not a single example can be given of a total failure. The value of these fisheries may be estimated from the fact that in five years, ending with 1844, the produce of cod, seth, and halibut was about 500,000 tons, and 20,000 barrels of oil, independently of what was taken by the Kussians. Coarse cottons and woolens are well adapted for the markets of Norway, more especially of Finmark ; but the commercial privileges reserved to Eussia, by treaty, have hitherto secured to that power the monopoly of this trade. Her linens, ravens-duck, and various other manufac- tures, are admitted free into Finmark; while duties, varying from 50 to 100 per cent, on the cost price, are interposed on similar manufactures of other foreign countries. Were cottons and woolens admitted even at a moderate duty, American and British manufac- tures of that description would soon supersede the almost general use of Kussian fabrics. The present condition of the trade of Norway may be gathered from the following summary : Number of vessels from all countries entered in 1850, 8,542, measuring in the aggregate 1,174,501 tons; of these, there were Norwegian, 5,318 vessels, of 881,320 tons. From the United States there arrived but 9 vessels — 7 carrying 2,654 tons of merchandise, and 2 being in ballast — all under the Norwegian flag. The principal countries of departure of nearly all the others were England, Holland, and Prussia. During the same year, there cleared from Norwegian ports 8,479 vessels, measuring 1,182,332 tons. Of these, there were destined for the United States 31 vessels, floating 13,178 tons of {a) The stilling is nearly equivalent to 1 cent. SWEDEN AND NORWAY. 323 merchandise ; 30 being under the Norwegian flag, and one being foreign. From these figures, it will be seen that there arrived from Norway in the United States 31 vessels, carrying 13, 178 tons of Norwegian products, against 9 cleared from the United States for Norway with Amer- ican products to the amount of 2,654 tons ; or a difference of 22 vessels and 10,524 tons of mer- chandise against the United States in the direct trade with Norway. The restrictive tariff regulations of the latter country will readily account for this great inequality. In 1850, Norway imported upwards of 1,700,000 lbs. of cotton. In 1852, the total import- ation of cotton amounted in value to 1,927,560 francs, viz: from Great Britain, 1,071,200 francs; from the United States 650,700 francs; from other places, 205,660 francs; making a total of 1,927, 560 francs, or $266,236 40. In 1850, there were imported into Norway 3,000,000 lbs. tobacco, 8,000,000 lbs. of sugar, 6,500,000 lbs. of coffee. ' During the same year the effective merchant marine of Norway consisted of — Vessels of— No. of vessels. Tons. Crews. Under 28 tons 816 1,301 617 489 475 13, 282 59,292 66,671 128,379 235,677 1,766 4,286 3,475 3,975 6,535 From 28 tons to 71 From 71 tons to 177 From 177 tons to 354 From 354 tons and over.. Total in 1850 Total in 1838 Total in 1835 3,698 503,301 19,037 , 2,427 212,242 12,935 2,272 150,918 11,279 Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Sweden and Norway, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and of Swedish and Norwegian vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. Years. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS VALOEOFIMP0RT8. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- Foreign produce. Total. Entered the Cleared from Entered the Cleared from duce. United States. United States. United States. • United States. 1845... $250,567 $22,761 $273,328 $627,938 2,125 349 13,439 6,248 1846... 362,792 39,545 402,337 724,865 3,502 693 9,938 7,765 1847... 391,847 28,340 420, 187 613,698 1,068 13,121 6,263 1848... 625,972 32,844 658,816 750,817 1,769 2,138 13,261 10,548 1849... 725,281 38,506 763,787 731,846 2,800 1,531 15, 464 14,718 1850... 668,580 51,610 720,190 1,032,117 3,391 649 23,554 9,822 1851... 760,800 21,566 782,366 967, 237 2,669 1,545 25,225 9,098 1852... 732,846 25,322 758,168 775, 448 3,511 3,640 16,854 6,547 1853... 833, 533 18,735 852,268 447, 332 3,563 3,217 13,552 6,153 1854... 1,085,602 39,324 1,124,926 515, 178 4,747 4,731 5,623 4,896 1855... 949,017 28,793 977,810 848,900 9,392 4,601 4,599 4,850 Total American entered and cleared during tlie period designated in the preceding table. Do. foreign do. do. do. do. Average annual American, 5,603 ; foreign, 21,968. 61, 631 tons. 241,538 " 324 COMMEECIAL DIGESTS. THE GOTH A CANAL. The following information relative to the Gotha canal is extracted from Macgregor's Com- mercial Tariffs and Eegulations of Norway and Sweden: "The inlets, lakes, and rivers of Swe- den have always afforded great facilities for the transportation of the produce of her forests and mines. A canal, to avoid the long and tortuous navigation of the Sound and the Sound dues, was projected at an early period by Sweden. The Maeler, a deep inlet, enters Sweden at Stock- holm from the Baltic, and branches north to Upsala, and west YO miles among a multitude of islands, to within a few miles of the lake Hielmar. The Arboga canal, opened during the latter end of the last century, is navigable between the Maeler and that lake ; and it was then considered that it might be continued from the Hielmar to the Wettern lake, but the project was found impracticable; the distance between the Maeler and Sodree Barker, near the confines of Dalecarlia and the mining districts, was opened iat the same period by means of the Stroems- holm canal and the lake Freda, and rivers. "The Gotha river, which runs from the lake Wenern (the largest in Europe except the La- doga) into the sea at Gothenburg, though in many parts deep and navigable, was interrupted by falls and islands. These were finally surmounted, after extraordinary difficulties, (the whole of the gigantic works having all been once swept off by the impetuosity of the water,) by the execution of the Trollhaetta canal in 1800. It is' three miles loiig, and has eight sluices to ascend and descend 112 feet. At one place it was cut 70 feet deep through the rocks. The whole expense was about £80,000. "The lake Wenern was afterwards joined by a canal to the lake Wettern, and finally the canalization of the whole distance to Soderkoping and the Baltic was completed in 1832." Regulations for ships passing through the Gotha canal. Sec. 1. Ships and cargoes from all countries, and coming from or going to whatever place or places, are permitted, without obstruction, to pass through the canal, unless the nation or nations to which the ships or cargoes belong are known to be in open hostility with Sweden; and the canal transit dues, both on vessels and cargoes, shall he equal for all nations. 2. The. canal dues on all shipping are to he paid according to their tonnage, making no dif- ference whatever whether laden or empty. 3. The canal dues on vessels are to be paid at the rate of 12 skillings Swedish banco per last equivalent to 10 skillings Swedish banco per commercial last of 2 English tons. In this charge is not included pilotage on the lakes, nor payment for the trailing by oxen or horses on the Gotha canal, which charges are specially fixed by the directors. 4. In calculating the tonnage of vessels passing through the canal, and also the quantity of merchandise, it is to be observed, with regard to the first named, that such vessels as are pro- vided with Swedish measure bills will pay the dues according to the burden stated in said bills • but such as are without, will be charged pursuant to a table reduced, conformably to usual prac- tice, from the foreign lasts, tons, &c., to Swedish lasts; and, further, as relates to goods, that the weights and measures stated in the tariff of pounds, ship-pounds, barrels, &c., are meant Swedish pounds^ and ship-pounds commercial or victuals weight (excepting iron, and other metals, by which are meant Swedish staple weights), and Swedish barrels containing 32 kapps solid measure ; and further, that such foreign pounds, ship-pounds, barrels, lasts, &c., as may be inserted into the bills of lading and ship's papers, are to be reduced to Swedish weights and measures, in conformity to a fixed table to be made out for that purpose. 5. With respect to tare, or the weight of the case or outer covering, no charge will be made. The canal dues are to be paid, according to the tariff, only on the quantity in weight or meas- ure as inserted in the bill of lading or ship's papers, whether specified in gross or net. A barrel of grain, salt, &c., shipped in bulk, or barrels or bags, are charged alike ; pipe-clay, coals, &c., SWEDEN AND NORWAY. I 325 in bulk or packed in casks, the same ; as also wines and other liquids, whether in larger or smaller casks ; and only in such cases where the last named are in bottles, then the additional duty must be paid for the bottles, according to the tariff, the same as if they were shipped empty, for themselves. 6. If any vessel, entered at the inward custom-houses at Gothenburg or Soderkoping, only to pass through the canal from sea to sea, should discharge any part of her cargo, without the most pressing necessity, either in the river Grotha-Elf, any of the lakes, or on the canal, such vessel to be forfeited, and the master subjected to the penalty of the law for the unlawful importation of goods ; and further, to be fined, according to the circumstances, in the sum of 100 rixdalers to 500 rixdalers banco. The same law will be put into execution against all vessels receiving other cargoes or more goods on boards during the passage to and from one or other of the ports of Grothenburg and Soderkoping. Ships' husbands, or owners of goods, convicted of knowing, abetting, and aiding in the illegal loading or unloading of goods, as aforesaid, will be subjected to the same penalties. The value of the confiscated vessel, which shall be determined by sale by public auction, will be responsi- ble for the full payment of all dues which the vessel and cargo would have been subjected to, according to the tariff, for the whole passage from sea to sea ; and the surplus of the proceeds then remaining to be divided, two-fifths in equal shares to the informer and those who prove the illegal fact, and three-fifths to the canal pension fund and the board of customs, also in equal shares. There are other regulations, exemptions, and privileges applicable to vessels passing through the Gotha canal, between the Baltic and the North Sea, which, as they are given in full in the "Digest of the Existing Commercial Kegulations of Foreign Countries," transmitted to Congress from the Treasury Department in 1833, and have been modified but slightly, if at all, since, are not inserted in this Digest. They may be found in that work, under the caption Sweden. The whole length of the line of this canal is thus estimated : Swedish miles. From Gothenburg to the lake of Wenern, through the river Gotha-Elf and the canal of Trollhaetta 8J ^ Across the lake of Wenern 11 Through the Gotha canal 3^ Through the lakes of Wiken, Bottensjon, and Wettern 5^ ^ From the lake of Wettern to the Baltic, and through the lakes of Boren, Boxen, and Asplangen 4^ 5 Total river and lakes 22^ Total canal line 9^ Together Swedish miles 38f ZOLLVEEEIN. ZOLLVEREIN. The Germanic confederation of States for purposes of coinmerce came into practical operation by the treaty of Marcti 22, 1833. Prior to that period, the states of which the union is com- posed did not allow of the introduction of merchandise across their respective frontiers without the payment of duties ; numerous prohihitions existed, and the commercial relations between sovereignties, whose territories were contiguous, were fettered with 02)pressive and vexatious restrictions. To introduce a better system of commercial policy, and to remove all unnecessary burdens, which only tend to clog commercial enterprise and choke up the natural channels of trade between neighboring powers, these independent sovereignties have become, for commer- cial purposes, a consolidated government; one line of customs on the geographical boundary has been established; one tariff of duties on imports, exports, and transit, is enforced for all ; and the revenue thus derived is distributed among the members of the confederation, in propor- tion to the population of each, (a) The origin of this customs union may be traced to causes, political as well as commercial, having their existence long anterior to the treaty of 1833. Immediately after its organization, with Prussia at its head, had been proclaimed, alarms were spread throughout England, based upon the mistaken idea that the confederation was planned under the influence of Kussia, as a part of her grand political scheme against British prosperity and influence ; a fallacy which, for a time, derived no inconsiderable plausibility from the adoption, by most of the states of the confederation, of the long-existing restrictive tarifl" of Prussia. British merchants became alarmed ; and even the government itself shared, to some extent, in the popular delusion, which imaged forth the ruin of British trade, as the inevitable consequence of the united adoption, by nearly all the states of northern and southwestern Germany, of the commercial policy of the power which it was supposed the secret diplomacy of Eussia had placed at the head of the anii- British league. This delusion, however, was but of short duration ; indeed, the general panic which it excited throughout England was quieted by the more experienced minds of that nation itself, who, viewing the formation of the ZoUverein in a more philosophic light, refuted the erroneous notions which had so generally obtained respecting it, and demonstrated its purely Germanic origin, by their panegyrics on those whose forecast and wisdom had conceived the project, and whose indomitable perseverance had accomplished its fulfilment. Among those whose able writings contributed most to enlighten England, as well as other nations, on the history and objects of the ZoUverein, Macgregor, the British statistician, occu- pies the first rank. Prussia, from her geographical position, was, at that time, more exposed to attack than any other country in Europe. Her Khenish provinces weakened rather than strengthened her (a) For exception to this mode of distributing the revenue, see Frankfort-on-lhe- Maine, posted, [42 ] 330 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. power. Easily accessible from Austria, Eussia, and the Baltic, and, in the event of war, open to immediate attack on the side of France and Belgium, the Prussian cabinet was convinced that in the military strength of the territories possessed by Prussia before the treaty of Vienna consisted her only defensive strength. When the first French revolution broke out, Austria and several G-erman states had to meet the troops of France long before they approached the Prussian frontiers ; now, the latter lay immediately exposed to an army marching in from France and Belgium. Hence, the safety of Prussia depended, in the event of war, upon uniting all Germany by one common bond of mu- tual interest and security. Besides, the sagacity of the Prussian cabinet was doubly (piickened by the French revolution of 1830, which had spread apprehension throughout the whole of Germany, particularly when the republican infection had spread among the students of the German universities, who, under the name of "Young Germany," had excited no little alarm on the part of the several German governments. The Belgian revolution succeeded ; and then Austria shared in the apprehensions and uneasiness which had so long been felt by Prussia. The Polish revolution c^uickly followed ; and now Prussia was ready to make any sacrifices in order to unite Germany under an apparently commercial, but, in reality, a political and na- tional bond. The necessity of such a union was at once promulgated with extraordinary industry. The press and the ablest political economists were enlisted in the general cause. Voluines were scattered among the people. The illiberal commercial systems of England and France; the prohibitory duties which Eussia had just imposed on Poland, virtually closing the best market which Saxony had hitherto found for her fabrics — these considerations were strenuously urged to prove that a general union of fiscal interests was necessary for the present and future pros- perity and protection of the country, and for maintaining Germany among the great powers of Europe. Their governments and people being thus prepared for union, the kingdoms of Prussia, Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and Saxony, with Hesse Cassel, signed the treaty of March 22, 1833, organizing the German Customs Association, or ZoUverein. The Thuringian and other states, Baden, Nassau, and the free city of Frankfort-on-the-Maine, joined at subseq^uent periods ; and on the 1st of January, 1854, («) Brunswick, Hanover, and Oldenburg. A new convention has been concluded, not varying, however, materially, from the one it superseded, but providing that, in January, 1858, commissioners from all the federal states shall ineet at the place of sitting of the Diet, on being summoned by it, in order to bring into operation more extended relaxations than those now proposed; and then, if the now existing impediments (arising from the difierence of circumstances and interests) to a perfect commercial and customs union of the whole of Germany are removed, to effect that union by way of treaty. In the meantime, by a seijarate article, every federal state is required to take care, in conclu- ding or prolonging any treaties of commerce and trafiic, that the same shall not hinder nor embarrass a complete commercial union of Germany, or a further approach thereto, at least not beyond the year 1858. In the annual and triennial congress of delegates from the several states of the union, which the convention provides shall meet for settling the accounts, agreeing to alterations in the tariff, &c., Prussia has only one vote, like each of the other states. This, however, is not the only concession which she has made to the other sovereigns of the league. A reference to the geographical positions of the several states of the ZoUverein will show, that many have no cus- toms frontier to guard against smuggling, or along which to maintain custom-houses ; while all receive an equal share of the revenue collected on goods entering along the general line of the boundary. The consequence is, that Prussia sacrifices about two millions of dollars annually to the revenues of the other states, exclusive of the fiscal loss sustained by the consumption of («) By treaty of Septemlxr 7, ls.51, betwucii Prussia and Hano\cr. ZOLLVEREIN. 331 smuggled goods introduced along the Khine, and along Lake Constance, into Baden, Wuv- teml)urg, and Bavaria. But Prussia was prepared for these, or even greater fiscal sacrifices, to realize the primary object of her policy — that of extending her power, as she may he said to have done, from the frontiers of France and Belgium to those of Austria and Eussia — from the Alps to the Baltic ; while the different states of Germany composing the union, hy the removal of those barricades of national defence and international intercourse, and of the numerous lines of customs and customs officers which previously belted every large and petty state in Ger- many ; — by free trade among themselves, and the free opportunity of interchanging ideas and of receiving intelligence, may be said to have become consolidated and strengthened into one great nation. Among the regulations of the Zollverein, it is provided "that the advantage enjoyed by the inhabitants of the states of the union may be extended in reciprocity, according to circum- stances, to foreign countries ; while, on the contrary, disadvantageoxis restrictions imposed on the commerce of the union by foreign states should be retaliated by judicious measures, to be adopted for that purjjose;" also, that the tariff of the union may be rectified every three years, and pviblished for the next three years, eight weeks before the commencement of the first year — alteration in the rates of certain duties or items in the tariff to be made, if necessary, once a year, and to be published eight weeks before the 1st of January, on which day such alteration to be in force. Article 23 of the convention provides "that a meeting of plenipotentiaries of the respective states shall be convened in June each year, to settle accounts, and agree to any change or modi- fication of duties." By this article, all the provisions for a change in the tariff have been retained. It therefore remains for other countries to reciprocate with the Zollverein for an interchange of their respec- tive productions and fabrics. NATURAL EESOUKCES OF THE PRINCIPAL STATES COMPOSING THE ZOLLVEREIN. The states composing the Zollverein possess the most abundant natural resources. The forests of Germany are extensive and valuable, and her mineral riches are in many parts equal, and in some superior, to those of France. The soil, though in some parts of the north light and rocky, is generally fertile, and produces all kinds of corn and culinary vegetables, besides hemp, flax, tobacco, maize, &c.; while in the Rhenish countries, and in some parts south of Cologne, vineyards are extensively cultivated, which produce those agreeable and cool wines generally called Hock and Moselle, the consumption of which is rapidly increasing in the United States. The physical aspect of the states of the confederacy presents almost every feature of natural or cultivated appearance. "The lowlands, light soils, and alluvions of the north; the hilly country of Nassau ; the undulations of Westphalia, of the Moselle, and west of the Ehine ; the highlands of the Black Forest and the Odenwald, Thuringia, and Suabia, of Darmstadt, Wur- temburg, and Baden, to the south ; the mountains of the Harz and Taunus ; the Erz-gebirge of Saxony; the valleys, plains, and heights of Silesia; the plains and Alps of Bavaria; the Rhine, Danube, Elbe, and numerous other rivers ; rocks, corn-fields, vineyards, and pastures, are the principal aspect of the confederation." In facilities for commercial intercommunication, nature has been equally bountiful to Ger- many. About sixty navigable rivers, or branches of rivers, intersect this country. They are generally connected by means of canals and railroads, some of which are still in progress of construction, (a) (a) Th» commercial activity of the states of Germany cannot be better illustrated than by subjoining the following table, carefully compiled from official returns. With such commercial arteries rxmning through the entire extent of Germany, 332 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The Khine, from its excellent navigation to the ocean, may be considered one vast port, the principal entrei3ots of which are Cologne, diblentz, Mayence, and Frankfort-on-the-Maine. The Danube carries down the produce of Germany to Austria, Hungary, and the Black sea. The Elbe, navigable from Bohemia to Hamburg, and to the sea, waters Bohemia, Saxony, and Prussia, and is connected with the Danube by railroad, at a point where that river is navigable to Lintz, the capital of Upper Austria, from which steamboats ply to Vienna and the Black sea. The Memel, and its numerous branches, bring down the timber and other produce of Poland and Lithuania to the ports of the Baltic; and the Oder and Vistula flow through Prussia, and are navigable to the Baltic. and imparting health, and activity to every member of tliis vast confederation of states, this portion of Europe must neces- sarily acquire a commercial importance equal to that which attaches even to Great Britain herself : Names of railroads. Berlin-Potsdam Berlin- Anhalt Berlin-Hamburg Berlin-Stettin Breslau-Scliwednitz Freiburg. Bonn-Cologne Bergish-Markisehe Dusseldorf-Elberfield Cologne-Minden Magdeburg-Leipsic Magdeburg-Halberstadt Munster-Hamm Magdeburg- Wittenberge Lower Silesia line Lower Silesia branch line . — Neisse-Brieg Upper Silesia line Prince Wilhelm's line Rhenisch line Kuhrort-Crefeld Stargard-Posen Thuringian line Wilhelm's line Emperor Ferdinand's north line. Vienna-Gloggnitz Vienno o nj ■+0 ^ ^ '^ a o o o B o ^ O CO CjD lO O . CTi O ai 00 r?! -r CO o 00 o c( c r-, rn r, ,n o cr. t-j " ■^ O) ■r o CD CO a-. Ol CD "^ m CI s m m '-■ o rH 'J^ 1- 1-1 kO «3 CO ■^ T|5 CD (^ j^ o> CT s '-' „ ^ £; CJJ O CXJ o CI p ^ « 5 n s a c^ C( o 03 00 00 GO COOJCOOCDOtOdOOF— I OtOlO'^^CDCOCDCl od" ocQ-^-^QOintoCT C^ CI O lO 3 s r^ o o> CO I— I o c\ cT Ol CO OJ ■* ^ (71 05 Ol lO t- lO CO I- O O ■* O O t~ CO o Co' CT OT r-T r-T r-T CO CD --1 CO 00 -H in CO oi 1-1 C) .-. CO CO s s ri- 01 ct O CO O to ^ fyi 0=1 ? 03 CO ■-^ ^ " CI (,■) J-~ s fO f!^ c> s o S3 ^ CO o lO t-OOTm — cjioto CD lO CO OS Ol 35 t- O Cf Oi lO CO r~ CO ^ in LO 1(5 "^ cQ O) cx5 oj aS CO oi 00 1—1 O 00 =^ K, a, -4 CI C-1 &t GO CD ■* CD lO CI cn CO -^f 0» CD CI CO H ANSH-TOWNS. 395 The manufacture of cigars is one of tlie most important branches f iron, lead, sulphur, alum, vitriol, and other volcanic products; but, with the exception of the sulphur mines near Eimini, they are un^jroductive. The cjuantity of this article annually manufactured amounts to about 84,000,000 pounds. The manufactures of the Papal States comprise silks, leather, gloves, paper, musical s' rings, iron and glass ware, a few cotton goods (at Rome), crape and sausages (at Bologna), and cordage, soap, cream of tartar, and glue. There is no direct trade between the United States and the Papal States — the latter deriving their supplies of cotton, sugar^ coffee, cocoa, J'um, &c., from the ports of Genoa and Trieste. The foreign commerce of these states is conducted chiefly through the ports of Ancona and Civita Vecchia — the former with the western shores of the Adriatic, and the latter with the Mediterranean ports. The celebrated Roman cement is ex- ported from the port of Civita Vecchia. In 1850, the foreign trade of Ancona represented $4,464,000, viz: Imports, $2,916^000; ex- ports, |1,488,000. This trade was distributed between Austria, England, and its dependencies in Europe — these countries appropriating more than three-fourths of the whole. During the same year, the foreign trade of Civita Vecchia amounted to $3,821,928, viz: imports, $2,929,314; exports, $892,614. The countries participating in this trade were France, Sardinia, England, Holland, and the Two Sicilies. The whole foreign commerce of the Papal States, in 1850, amounted to .$19,208,680, and in 1851, to $20,454,240. All foreign vessels are permitted to engage in the coasting trade of the states, on the payment of the following dues: Anchorage, on French, Austrian, and American vessels, 3 bajocchi pf»r ton — about 3 cents. Foreign vessels putting into harbor, either for anchorage or through stress of weather, pay half of the above-named duty. Clearance duty. — For each vessel of from 1 to 149 tons, 10 bajocchi (10 cents), and for 150 tons and upwards, 20 bajocchi (20 cents). No vessels enjoy an exemption from the custom- house duties on imports and exports. These duties have recently undergone several reductions, applicable chiefly to articles of necessity; on articles of luxury, in which sugar is included, the duties have been proportionably raised. For a scale of such duties, see Comparative Tariffs, Part II — the tariffs of all the Italian states being grouped in one statement. THE TWO SICILIES, The kin L;(lom of the Two Sicilies comprises the ancient realm of Naples, and the island of Sicily. Naples ])roper embraces an area of 31,350 square miles, and, by the census of 1854, contains a population of 6,843,355 inhabitants. Its productions are of the most valuable and O"? ITALIAN STATES. 42 varied kind ; and it only requires good roads to carry the produce of the soil to market, and security and encouragement under the government, to render the Neapolitan dominions among the most profitably productive in Europe. The chief products are corn, wine, olive-oil, cotton, flax, hemp, liquorice-paste, silk, and wool. The annual crop of wheat is between 50 and 80 million bushels, and the yearly consumption is about 40 million bushels. The annual produce of Indian corn is about 40 million bushels. The yearly production of wine is about 400,000 pipes — the greater part of which is consumed at home. About 13,000 pipes are made into brandy, near Naples; and from 250 to 300 tons of argol and cream of tartar are prepared for foreign markets. About 70,000 tons of olive-oil are expressed yearly, half of which is exported to foreign markets. The quantity of cotton raised annually in the continental part of the kingdom amounts to about two million pounds. In Sicily, the cultivation is greater than in Naples, (a) The annual produce of raw silk is about 1,000,000 lbs., of which one-half is consumed in the factories of the kingdom. There are two species of wheat raised in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies — the soft, of which the best quality of bread is made ; and the hard wheat, chiefly em^Dloyed in the jireparation of maccaroni. The principal exports of Naples proper are, olive-oil, silk, hemp, wool, wine, grain, maccaroni, and coral; imports, colonial and manufactured goods, iron, and cutlery. Prior to the ratification of the treaty between the United States and the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, of December 1, 1845, the commerce between the two countries was chiefly indirect. Having no commercial treaty, the United States flag had to contend against high duties, an exemption of 10 per cent, in favor of British and French vessels employed in the direct trade, and the extreme rigor of quarantine regulations. The indirect trade was carried on through Leghorn and the French Mediterranean ports, and was necessarily fettered with the incum- brances and burdens incident to a circuitous route. Neapolitan merchandise was taken on board American ships in these ports ; while colonial goods destined for the markets of the Sicilies were sold to the French and Tuscan merchants, on whose account they were shipped to their destination, or sold direct to Neapolitan traders, by whom they were introduced under the 10 j)er cent, discrimination. The retaliatory duties of import and tonnage levied on the Sicilian flag in the United States virtually excluded their vessels from our ports ; and the conse- quence was, that the trade between the two countries became exceedingly limited. Indeed, in returns of the foreign trade and navigation of the Two Sicilies for a period of three years (1839, 1840, and 1841), but a single American vessel appears to have entered or cleared at the ports of that kingdom. The treaty of 1845, which went into effect July 24, 1846, provides that there shall exist between the two countries reciprocal liberty of commerce and navigation ; that no higher duties shall be imposed on importations into either country, of articles from the other, than from any other country ; that favors granted by either party to other nations shall be common to the other; that there shall be equalization of duties, &c., on imports and exports, on vessels of either country, as also of tonnage, harbor, and light-house duties; that the stipulations of the treaty shall not apply to the coasting trade ; and that no preference shall be given by either party to importations on account of the national character of vessels in which imported. The treaty to be in force ten years, with the usual twelve months' notice for its termination. By a convention ratified July 14, 1855, two principles were recognized between the two coun- tries as permanent and immutable, to wit: 1st. That the effects or goods belonging to citizens or subjects of a power or state at war are free from capture and confiscation when found on board of neutral vessels, except articles con- traband of war; and 2d. That the property of neutrals on board an enemy's vessel is not sub- ject to confiscation, unless contraband of war. (b) (a) Macgregor, on the authority of Mr. Godwin, estimates the entire cotton crop of the Two Sicilies at 22,400,000 lbs. (J) A similar convention was made with Russia and France, and the principles are recognized by the treaty of Paris of March, 1856, 428 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The latest official returns embracing the trade of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies are found in the statistical reports periodically issued by the Department of Agriculture and Oommerce in France. They come down to a period no later than 1841, though the trade of the continental possessions and of the island of Sicily is treated of separately for subsequent periods. The following summary of the foreign trade of the Two Sicilies is thus given for the years designated : 1839. 1840. 1841. Possessions of the continent. - . S18,589,000 9,650,000 S23,399,600 9,992,800 S23,682,800 8,727,800 Total _ 28,239,000 h-:j,392,400 32,410,600 Tlie navigation of the Two Sicilies, for the same years, is shown in the following summary: 1839. 1840. 1841. Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons. Ports of the continent Do. island of Sicily — Total- 4,779 1,950 421,996 319,400 4,682 2,638 407,278 437,300 4,535 2,068 445, 195 369,000 6,729 741,396 7,320 844, 578 6,603 814,195 In the total trade given in the preceding figures for 1841, the United States does not appear in the returns for the island of Sicily. Of the imports into the continental possessions, there appears to have been, from the United States, merchandise imported to the amount, in value, of 1270,600, while no exports are assigned to the United States. Although there appears to have entered one vessel of 285 tons measurement, from the United States in 1841, the imports from this country, amounting, as above stated^ to $270^600, were all borne under the Neapoli- tan flag. Such, however, were the restrictions on the commerce between the two countries at this period, and until they were partially removed by treaty in 1845, that the United States scarcely appears in the commercial returns of the Two Sicilies until after that year. The following table exhibits the proportion, per centum, of each foreign country in the gene- ral commerce of the continental portion of the kingdom during the year 1841 : England - France Austria Sardinia - United States and Brazil Koman States Tuscan y.. Other countries Imports. 40.3 pcrct. 28.9 " 9.0 " 7.5 " 3.2 2.3 " 2 3 " 6.5 " E,v ports. 14.2 perct. 34.9 " 14.3 " 9.4 " 8.2 14.4 4.6 ITALIAN STATES. 429 In 1852 the commerce of the continental part of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies is thus given : Imports , $12,372,363 Exports 10,943,831 Total , 23,316,194 The trade represented by the preceding figures passed exclusively through the custom-houses, and does not comprise the movements at the general entrepot of Brindisi, nor the transhipment in the roads. The principal foreign powers which participated in the commercial movements of 1853 were England, France, Austria, Sardinia, the Papal states, and Tuscany ; and next in the order of importance were Holland, Sweden, Eussia, Spain, Greece, the Ionian Islands, Brazil, and the United States. The value of merchandise imported into the continental part of the kingdom, it is seen above, amounted to $12,372,363. This is the value of maritime commerce with foreign nations only. The coasting trade between the different ports of the kingdom would largely augment this total, but no returns of this trade are accessible. Of the imports, sugar, coffee, and trans- Atlantic' produce are chiefly supplied by England. Marseilles also furnishes small quantities of sugar and coffee from French colonies ; but, owing to their superior quality and high price, they are not much in demand. The sugars from Hol- land, being lower priced, find a readier market. Besides these sources of supply, several Neapol- itan vessels have, for some years past, kept up a direct intercourse between the port of Naples and Brazil. There seems no reason why the United States should not compete with England, Holland, France, and even Genoa, in supplying these trans-Atlantic necessaries to the kingdom of the Two Sicilies ; nor why the carrying trade in these articles from the countries of production, or from the bonded warehouses of the United States, could not be made as profitable to American as to British, Dutch, French, or even to G-enoese vessels, (a) The subjoined statement exhibits the quantities and values of sugar and coffee, respectively, exported from the United States to the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, during a period of five years, from 1851 to 1855, both inclusive, made up from the annual reports of the Secretary of the Treasury on Commerce and Navigation ; followed by a statement exhibiting the quantities and values of the same articles exported to all countries; and a third, exhibiting the quantities and values of cotton and tobacco exported to the Two Sicilies during the same period : Years. SUGAR. COFFEE. Pounds. Values. Pounds. Values. 1851 34,272 60,328 91,327 S3, 345 4,919 7,667 1852 1853 1854 1855 302,990 $4, 542 1,830,564 170,354 (a) Genoa is a free port, and the dues for pilotage, anchorage, and quarantine are light. (See Sardinia, page 419.) 430 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, Statement exhibiting tlie quantities of sugar and coffee exported from the United States to all coun- tries during the years designated. Years. SUGAR. COFFEE. Pounds. Values. Pounds. Values. 1851 3,795,625 8,060,309 18,746,207 54,924,759 33,722,814 $187,651 697,180 793,194 2,162,566 1,390,582 3,513,126 13,167,047 13,349,319 12,005,800 16,315,317 $360,068 1,100,506 1,163,875 1,171,367 1,452,687 1852 1853 1854.- - 1855.- - 119,249,714 5,231,173 58,350,609 5,248,503 23,849,943 1,046,235 11,670,122 1,049,701 Statement shewing the quantities and value of cotton and tobacco exported from the United States to the Tivo Sicilies, from 1851 to 1855, both inclusive. Years. COTTON. TOBACCO. Pounds. Values. Pounds. Values. 1851 92,000 208,000 22,000 1,282,000 (a) 93, 000 $10,302 16,619 2,180 133,582 24,124 1852 1853 - 1,069,095 327,119 1,238,492 $96,219 31,631 109,724 1854 1855 Aeereerate 2,634,706 237,574 1,697,000 186,807 Average (b) 878, 235 (5) 79, 191 339,400 37,361 The following are tlie chief staples which the Two Sicilies draw from the United States : To- bacco, cotton, rum, flour, naval stores, &c. Of these there were exported in 1854 and 1855, in value, as follows: Description of merchandise. 1854. 1855. Whalebone -- SI, 000 11,822 4,895 28,791 31,631 133,582 27,256 Staves and headings -_ - ______ 810,713 14, 449 Masts, spars, and naval stores Flour 109,724 24,124 25,579 Tobacco _- .--. - RuTTi rfrom molasses) (a) And 164 bales. (h) Average for three years. ITALIAN STATES. 431 In exchange for these staples and for miscellaneous cargoes, our ships return home laden with wines, drugs, fruits, feathers, anchovies, oil, sulphur, silks, corks, and rags ; of which latter article were imported in 1854, direct from the Sicilies, 3,140,718 lbs., of the value of $90,424.(a) Under the treaty of 1845, Sicilian and United States vessels are equalized in the ports of the two countries, when laden with the produce and manufactures of the country to which the vessel belongs. The direct trade is, therefore, freed from the restrictions and incumbrances with which it was clogged prior to that period, and the commerce between the two countries has, in conse- quence, largely increased. The exports from the United States, of its staples alone, amount now, annually, to between $250,000 and |300,000, more than one-half of which is shipped under the United States flag. By a royal decree, bearing date 18th December, 1854, the privileges which apply to the direct trade with the Two Sicilies have been equally extended to the indirect trade in favor of those nations which have commercial treaties with the kingdom of the Sicilies, when they shall have granted like favors to the flag of the Two Sicilies. This decree is as follows: Ferdinand II, &c., &c., with the view of favoring and extending the free navigation and commercial relations in our kingdom with other states ; seen the opinion submitted to us by the commission created to supervise all matters relative to treaties of commerce ; on the proposal of our minister of foreign affairs, heard our ordinary Council of State — we have resolved to decree, and do decree, as follows : Art. 1. The advantages on the duties of custom-house and of navigation allowed in the treaties concluded with different states for only direct voyages, shall be extended in our kingdom, for the respective period of said treaties, also to indirect voyages, after the exchange of analogous declarations of perfect reciprocity of other states for all their possessions, none excepted. This enlargement will not produce any change in the exclusive right of national vessels, in the navi- gation and trade reserved to them alone, between one port and another of the royal dominions, commonly called coasting trade. Art. 2. To enjoy the said treatment of assimilation contemplated in the preceding article, the origin of the cargo shall be justified by regular manifests of the custom-houses at the place of embarcation, duly certified by our consuls. The part of merchandise loaded in intermediate ports, the origin of which shall not be justified, in the manner above indicated, to belong to powers with wliich there are treaties, shall not enjoy like treatment. Under the operation of the treaty already referred to, and of the liberal privileges conceded by this decree, the commerce of the United States with the Two Sicilies is increasing. The total value of exports from the Sicilies to the United States in 1845 was $530,000. In 1854 they reached nearly $1,000,000; and in 1855 they ascended to $1,718,949. In 1845 the United States exported to the Sicilies its own staples to the amount of $70,625, against $246,151 in 1854, and $207,790 in 1855. The total trade in 1855 was $2,370,425, against $1,219,351 in 1854, and $934,725 in 1845. (a) Total quantity of rags imported into the United States : In 1852.. 18,288,458 pounds; value, 8626,799 1853 22,766,001 " " 982,837 1854 32,615,753 " " 1,010,443 Of the above quantities Italy furnished as follows : In 1852. 12,220,590 pounds; value, $480,293 1853 14,170,983 " " 714,890 1854 24,240,999 " " 810,327 In England, in 1853, there were 304 paper-mills; in Scotland 48, and in Ireland 28. The annual value of paper man- ufactured is estimated at 817,760,000. France, with a population of 36,000,000, turns into paper, annually, 105,000 tons of rags. Of these, 6,000 tons are imported. Great Britain, with 28,000,000 population, requires yearly 90,000 tons of rags of which 15,000 are imported. The consumption of paper in the United States is faid to be equal to that of England and France united. In the United States there are 6,000 tons of straw annually converted into wrapping-paper iiud paste- boards, and the importation of rags averages 10,000 tons a year. There are in the United States 750 paper-mills in active operation. 432 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The port charges in the Two Sicilies are 31 cents per ton on equalized vessels, and 32 cents per ton on those non-equalized. Besides the tonnage duty, there are sundry minor charges, including custom-house visit, entrance and clearance charges, &c., amounting in the aggregate to $3 75 per vessel on entrance ; and on clearance, including compensation to brokers, $5 10. The quarantine regulations require a payment of $5 for obtaining the requisite pratique. Should the vessel be subject to quarantine, the charges are largely augmented. In order to obtain free entrance, it is necessary to exhibit a clean bill of healthy signed by the Neapolitan consul at the port of clearance. It would seem, however, that vessels laden with cotton or other "susceptible" merchandise have always to undergo quarantine, (a) which is exceedingly strict if, during the voyage, sickness chanced to prevail on board. The following is a condensed summary of the latest quarantine regulations in force at the different ports of the Two Sicilies. These regulations are revised annually, but the general principles on which they are based remain unaltered : "Vessels proceeding from New Orleans, or any port of Louisiana, shall be excluded when- ever they come unprovided with a certificate signed by the royal consul at the port of departure, attesting that the yellow fever did not exist in that State, either at the period of sailing, or twenty days prior to the same. "The places sitpposed to be infected by yellow fever are the Argentine and Paraguaian repub- lics, Demerara, Peru, Costa Firma, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, Great and Little Antilles, and Savannah. " The places suspected of yellow fever are Santa Martha, in Colombia, Chili, Guayana (except Demerara), Ohio and Missouri, Vera Cruz, and ports of the United States, except as above." The certificate of the Sicilian consul is indispensable to be admitted to pratique ; but even with such protection, the qiiarantine regulations are oppressive and uncertain, especially if any sickness has occurred on board during the voyage. Pilotage. — Vessels arriving at Naples are seldom under the necessity of taking f)ilots, and hence there is no fixed regulation respecting them. Should a pilot, however, be required, one can at all times be found among the fishermen on the coast, with whom the captain must make the best bargain he can. The principal ports are Naples, situated on a bay of the same name, having a commodious harbor, and good anchorage for any sized vessels to load and discharge cargoes; and in Sicily proper, Palermo and Messina. The foreign trade of Naples is almost exclusively in possession of English merchants. The returns for 1855 assign two-thirds of this trade to the English flag, and the other third to the Neapolitan and other flags. Some twenty or thirty vessels from the north of Europe arrive annually with stockfish, crushed sugar, &c., from Holland. England employs annually in the trade with Naples about one hundred and thirty vessels of small size, from one to two hundred tons each, besides a line of steamers, which regularly touch at this port, to and from Liverpool. The facilities which these steamers furnish for executing orders suitable for the Neapolitan market present the most serious obstacle to a direct trade with the United States. The privi- lege of the indirect trade, however, lately conceded to the American flag, may tend to increase the commercial intercourse between the two countries. The imports from Great Britain in 1855 amounted in quantity to 34,900 tons, which, at 40s. ($9 60) per ton, gave to British shippers, on freight alone, the sum of $335,040, besides 10 per cent, primage. The value of these imports was estimated at £3,000,000, or §15,000,000. The exports from Naples to Great Britain were estimated at 15,500 tons, and the value at about $"7,500,000. Besides the disadvantage already referred to, under which American vessels would have to (a) Hue Cousuliir KetiirnB, "Naples, No. 30, December 30, 1BC>3." Part III ITALIAN STATES. 433 compete with English in the trade of Naples, the quarantine regulations are such as to render any enterprise in that trade, on the part of American shippers, uncertain and hazardous. These regulations, as already ohserved, are revised annually, and provide that, under the most favor- ahle circumstances, a certificate from the Sicilian consul, at the port of departure, is indispen- sahle to he admitted to free pratique. A few facts relative to currency and exchange at Messina, communicated to the State Depart- ment under date of Octoher 20, 1855, hy the United States consul at that port, are subjoined : "It is customary to draw, for all transactions with the United States, on Paris or London, and, occasionally, on Marseilles, Hamburg, or G-enoa. American coin, gold and silver, is, and has been for some time, at a discount of from 10 to 15 per cent. " The only kind of Spanish dollar current here is the pillar dollar, and is at an advance of about 4 per cent. "Exchanges are very unfavorable, and far below the rates of former years. London, 1,038 grains per £; Paris and Marseilles, 41f grains per franc; Lyons 41|-, and Genoa 42 grains per franc; Leghorn, 35-^ grains per lire; Amsterdam, 88| grains per florin; Hamburg, 78 grains per marc-banco. " The Sicilian ounce is two dollars and a half, or 30 lires, or 600 grains Sicilian currency." ISLAND OF SICILY. This island has an area of 10,556 square miles, and a population of 2,208,392 inhabitants. Since its annexation to the kingdom of Naples, in 1736, it has experienced much of the evils of absenteeism. The revenue, except that portion of it which is paid to the Neapolitan employees who reside on the island, is drained off to be spent in enriching the metropolitan court. In this respect Sicily in some degree resembles Ireland. The resources which might be beneficially expended in making roads and other improvements, indispensable to the proper development of the industry of the island and the growth of its commerce, are squandered in other countries by an absentee nobility, (a) Wheat and barley are exported in small quantities. Other chief crops are beans, pulse, maize, rice, olive-oil, oranges, lemons, almonds, and other fruit; potatoes, tobacco, flax, hemp, sumach, liquorice, and manna. In the northeast part of the island silk is produced, and it is woven at Catania; and in the western part 30,000 pipes of wine are annually made, of which about 20,000 are exported from Marsala. Sulphur is also a leading staple of the island of Sicily. It is found in tertiary formations, and its production is annually increasing. From 1838 to 1842, a monopoly in the export of sulphur was granted by the Neapolitan government to a French mercan- tile firm ; but so vigorous was tlie resistance of the British government, that in 1842 tlie monopoly was suppressed. Since that period the trade in this article has been annually increasing. These sulphur mines have been explored and worked for more than three hundred years, but it was not until chemical science had pointed out the various uses to which sulphur can be applied, that its exportation had risen to any great importance. There are now about 150 mines worked in an area of 2,700 miles, though the most productive mines are confined to Favara, Sommatirio, Gallizzi, and Eiesi. Mr. Macgregor gives some interesting statistics of the sulphur trade of the island of Sicily, from which it appears that in 1838 the amount on hand was 80,000 quintals: on the 1st August, 1840, it had risen to 680,000 quintals; in 1841 it reached 830,000 quintals; and in 1842 it stood as high as 1,100,000 quintals. There entered the ports of the island of Sicily in 1843, 1,435 vessels, of 211,000 tons; of which from the United States there were 9, of 2,500 tons; and during the same year there (o) "Of the whole revenue raised in Sicily (about $10,000,000), half the amount is sent direct to Naples never to return, o o « No country exhibits land so highly taxed, nor one in which so little good is extended to the general community. " — Matgregor. [55 ] 434 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. cleared from Sicilian ports 1,427 vessels, of 256,000 tons ; of which from the United States there were 80 vessels, measuring 22,600 tons. The value of imports and exports during the same year, was : Imports from all foreign countries $4,522,400 Exports to " " 6,594,400 Total trade 11,116,800 Imports from the United States $272,600 Exports to " 651,000 Total trade with the United States 923,600 Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with the Tivo Sicilies, exhibiting the zalue of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and Sicilian vessels employed in the trade of ea,ch year, during a period of eleven consecutive years. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. j Years. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALIJEOFIMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- Foreign produce. Total. Entered the Cleared from Entered the Cleared from duce. United States. United States. United States. United States. 1S45... 870,625 S334, 667 ?405,292 $529,493 22,711 445 0,022 3,628 18d6... 319,441 298,391 617,832 513, 235 21,798 767 3,742 4,318 1847... 66,899 7,218 64,117 550,988 28,911 1,423 1,466 649 1848... 17,754 9,075 26,829 618,029 26,317 924 3,217 399 1849,.. 24, 359 4, 854 29,213 ."-.:; 0,241 28,554 1,853 4,596 232 1S50-.. 50,577 13,024 63, 601 822,629 31,417 3,326 9,511 1,633 j 1851... 41,743 8,193 49,936 825,924 27,178 2,848 16,473 1,916 1852... 56,649 10,890 66,539 606,541 22,990 6,609 12,780 3,427 1853... 130,337 24,818 155,155 863,351 25,545 5,397 19,036 2,777 1854... 246,151 13,900 260,051 969,300 24,190 3,862 15,357 3,713 1855... 207, 790 443,686 651,476 1,718,949 44,335 4,509 20,971 3,444 General Eemarks. Direct trade hetween the United States and Italy is conducted through the ports of Leghorn, Genoa, and Palermo, to which may he added the Austrian port of Trieste. Exports to Sicily, Sardinia, and Tuscany, in 1854, amounted to .$469,143 ; while to Trieste they reached, during the same year, $1,751,766. The value of cotton exported to Sicily, Sardinia, and Tus- cany, during the same year, was .$179,093; to Trieste, it reached $1,370,402. The value of tobacco exported to Sicily, Sardinia, and Tuscany, in 1854, was §144,082 ; to Trieste, it reached the sum of $259,252. A large portion of the exports to Trieste, however, are purchased there for the German markets, that port possessing unusual facilities as a leading entrepot for many of the States of Germany. Many American vessels clear from the ports of the United States with cargoes destined for the markets of "Italy Generally;" at least, such would seem to be their mode of clearance from the custom-house returns ; and the average annual value of cargoes thus destined exceeds the whole amount of cargoes for designated points in the Italian peninsula, except Trieste. ITALIAN STATES. 435 The following table exhibits the value of this triangular trade for a period of eleven succes- sive years : Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Italy generally, exhibiting the value of exports to and imptorts from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign ves- sels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. Years. VALUE Oi E.XPORTS. VALUE 01- IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. | EOREION TONN AG E. 1 Domestic produce. Foreign produce Total. Entered tlie United States. Cleared from United States. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. 1845... 1846... 1847... 1848... 1849... 1850... 1851... 1852... 1853... 1S5J-,. 1855(a). $587,569 942,263 1,056,022 1,101,113 811,450 1,567,166 1,736,834 1,573,852 2.173,7+5 1,586,327 279,740 $230,352 424,652 93,333 159,488 293,419 239,904 127,406 205,342 159,833 165,439 67 S«17,921 1,366,915 1,149,355 1,260,601 1,104,869 1,807,070 1,864,240 1,779,194 2,333,578 1,751,766 279,807 .?1, 301, 577 1,189,786 1,279,936 1,616,100 1,550,896 2,105,077 2,051,897 1,234,905 953,714 971,728 63,984 5,186 335 5, 9S+ 1,196 3,164 914 750 (a) The figures for this year are those given by "Commerce and Navigation" for the Papal States. In former reports the entry is Italy, or Italy generaUy, or Paixlifical Slates. TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. The countries included under the above general designation are Turkey (European and Asiatic), the pachalic or vice-royalty of Egypt, the kingdom of Greece, and the republic of the Ionian Islands — -a group in the Mediterranean, off the west coast of Greece and Epirus, con- sisting of seven principal and several smaller islands. In accordance with the plan adopted in the preparation of these Digests, each country will be treated separately, in the order of its importance. TUKKEY. The Ottoman Empire includes Turkey in Europe, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and the other tributary states in Africa and Asia. Prior to the Greek revolution, Turkey in Europe pos- sessed an extensive maritime frontier (nearly two-thirds of her boundary), having many excel- lent seaports. The dismemberment of Greece, and other subsequent political changes, and the cession of Bessarabia and a part of Moldavia to Eussia, have considerably reduced the limits of the dominions of Turkey in Europe. In Africa^ her power is almost annihilated ; and, even in Asia, her authority is considerably weakened. Algeria has been wrested from her by France; Egypt merely acknowledges her sovereignty by the payment of an annual tribute ; and the Arabians scarcely recognize the Sultan as the head of their religion. The limits and area of the Turkish empire are not exactly defined, and, consequently, very different estimates have been formed of the extent and population both of European and Asiatic Turkey. The most recent authority estimates the area of Turkey in Europe at 210,000 square miles, and its population at about 15,000,000 ; and that of Turkey in Asia, at 437,000 square miles, with a population of about 16,000,000. Turkey in Europe possesses a soil remarkably fertile, and a climate highly favorable to the production of the vine, olive, maize, wheat, and rice, vegetables of every description, fruits, tobacco, hemp, flax, the mulberry, various trees from which the most valuable gums are ex- tracted ; and, in the southern part, the sugar-cane and the cotton-tree. To these, add the rich pasturages for horses, cattle, and sheep, every variety of game and fish, with a great abun- dance of mineral riches, together with the geographical position and excellent harbors of European Turkey, and a general idea may be formed of her great natural resources. The principal species of grain cultivated in European Turkey is Indian corn. Kice is culti- vated along the banks of the Maritza and other marshy tracts in the southern provinces, but not in sufficient quantities for consumption. The deficiency is supplied 'by Egypt and Asia Minor. 440 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Turkey in Asia possesses almost every natural clement of industrial and commercial great- ness ; Lut agriculture is wholly neglected, and productive industry is altogether unknown. About nine-tenths of the extensive surface of Egypt is sterile and unproductive. The remain- ing one-tenth, being irrigated by the overflowings of the Nile, yields the richest and most luxu- riant crops, which, with the various commodities that pass through Egypt from Arabia, India, and Nubia, form the elements of a large export trade. The crops of Egypt are wheat, Indian corn, maize, rice, flax, hemp, clover, cotton, indigo, sugar-cane, tobacco, oranges, and the most delicious fruits. The seaports of Turkey in Europe are as follows : Constantinople, one of the safest ports in the world, and capable of affording shelter to 1,200 of the largest class ships; Salonica, at the bottom of the gulf of that name, an excellent roadstead, and much frequented ; and Enos, the port of Adrianople, on the Maritza. Gallipoli and Eodosto, on the sea of Marmora; Varna, on the Black sea; and Ibrahilow, Taultcha, Galatz, and Jassaktchi, on the Danube, are ports of considerable commercial activity. On the island of Candia there are two ports, Candia and Canea, but tlieir harbors are neither commodious nor safe. Besides these, there are several other ports, which afford excellent shelter ; and, in the possession of a more industrious and commercial people than the Turks, would attract considerable trade. The seaports of Turkey in Asia are Erekli ; Scutari, ojiposite Constantinople ; some indiffer- ent ports on the sea of Marmora ; and Smyrna, the principal port of Asia Minor, and the most important in foreign commerce. In Egypt, the seaports are Alexandria, Kosetta, Damietta, and Cairo, at the mouths of the Nile ; and Suez and Kosseir, on the Eed sea. The principal exports of Turkey are wool, goats* hair, cattle, horses, hides, hare-skins, wheat, raw cotton and silk, tobacco, raisins, figs, almonds, mastic and other gums, gall-nuts, vallonea, leeches, honey, wax, saffron, madder, anise-seed, linseed, turpentine, safilower, orpiment, meerschaum pipes, whetstones, carpets, silk and cotton fabrics, leather, copper, and metallic wares, with Arabian, Persian, Indian, and Chinese goods. Next to Constantinople, Adrianople and Salonica are the chief centres of trade ; the former, being a principal depot for goods brought to Constantinople from England, France, and Italy, supplies all the fairs throughout Eoumelia and Bulgaria. Next to Smyrna, Aleppo is the chief seat of commercial movements in Asia. Caravans bring to this mart pearls, shawls, Indian and Chinese goods, from Bussorah and Bagdad; camels from Arabia; cotton stuffs and thread, morocco leather, goats' hair, and galls, from the pachalics of Mosul, Diarbekir, Orfa, Aintab, &c. ; furs, goats' hair, wax, gum-ammoniac, &c., from Asia Minor; silk, Mocha coffee, soap, scented woods, ambergris, drugs, and pearls, from Syria and Arabia ; rice, coffee, and Egyptian produce, from Latakia ; silk manufactures from Brusa and Damascus ; European and United States cotton stufi's, woolens, printed muslins, hardware, watches, wrought amber, and fur, from Smyrna and Constantinople. The treaty of Adrianople opened the Black sea to the commerce of the world, and the pas- sage of the Bosphorus and Hellespont is free to the flags of all nations. The importation of all articles of foreign commerce is admitted at extremely moderate duties. These, as will be seen by reference to the tariff of Turkey, (a) are only 5 per cent., viz: 3 per cent, on goods when landed, and 2 per cent, on their being admitted to consumption. The duties on exports of native production are 12 per cent., of which 9 per cent, is paid when the goods arrive at the port whence they are to be exported, and 3 per cent, on their being shipped. This is a very liberal tariff ; though a reduction of the export duty, even should the import duty of 5 per cent, be raised to 10 or 12, would result most favorably to the commerce of Turkey with foreign countries. (a) Part II. TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. . 441 CONSTANTINOPLE. The liarbor of Constantinople is deep, well sheltered, and sufficiently capacious to afford safe anchorage for 1,200 of the largest sized ships. Scutari, on the opposite shore of the Bosphorus, one mile distant from Constantinople, is the place of rendezvous for caravans from Persia, Armenia, and other places in Asia that trade with European Turkey. It is also the seat of extensive silk, woolen, and cotton manufactures. The navigation of Constantinople, from 1842 to 1846, is thus given in French statistical reports for those years : Cleared and entered in 1842 10,193 vessels, 1,646,343 tons. " in 1843 12,577 '' 1,681,978 " " " in 1844 15,367 " 2,033,360 " " " in 1845 15,177 " 1,984,000 " " in 1846 15,770 " 2,637,994 '' From the preceding tahle it will be seen that the navigation of this port has largely increased during the period intervening between 1842 and 1846. The great augmentation shown for 1846 over the two preceding years is explained by the great demand for, and exportation of grain, during that year. The flags which participated in the trade of 1846, and the proportion per cent, assigned to each, was as follows: Greek ,, ..,. 36 per cent. English and Ionian 19 " Eussian 13 " Sardinian , ,,...,,.... 11 " Austrian 10 " French 3 " Other flags 8 " The only European countries with which the United States could successfully compete in the trade of this port, are England and Austria. The vessels of the former import iron, colonial produce, cotton and woolen tissues ; and from Trieste, Austria sends also colonial produce, (a) and the various manufactures which are always found in abundance in the extensive warehouses of that port. The number of vessels which entered Constantinople in 1852 were: sailing vessels, 9,220; steam vessels, 599; total, 9,819. Of these, there were from Austria 459 sailing vessels; from Great Britain 584; from France 244; from Brazil 16; and from the United States 5. The share assigned to these countries^ respectively, in the carrying trade of Constantinople during 1852, is thus given : Under the British flag, there entered during the year, 1,687 sailing vessels, and 66 steam vessels ; under the French flag, 236 sailing, and 55 steam-vessels ; and under the Austrian flag, 1,280 sailing, and 213 steam-vessels. Under the flag of the United States, there arrived 5 sailing vessels, and one propelled by steam. It is estimated that Constantinople requires, annually, for consumption alone, about 6,500,000 lbs. of coffee, 1,200,000 lbs. of sugar, 300,000 lbs. of pepper and spice, 2,000 pun- cheons of rum, and large quantities of cheap cotton goods. These are supplied chiefly from the markets of weste-rn Europe, Alexandria, and the two Americas. (a) Suob as cotton, sugar, molasses, rum, rice, tobacco, &c. [ 5«] 442 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. SALONICA. Next to Constantinople, Salonica (situated at the bottom of the gulf of Salonica), the capital of Macedonia, is the most important port of Turkey in Europe. In 1850, its maritime commerce reached upwards of $3,500,000, viz: about ,$2,000,000 for imports, and .$1,500,000 for exports. The foreign trade of this port is chiefly engrossed by the British and French flags. The im- ports consist chiefly of cheap cottons and woolen cloths, and various other manufactures. Its exports are wheat, barley, maize, timber, wool, sponge, raw silk, wine, sesamum seed, tobacco, and staves. Colonial produce and manufactured goods are supplied to this port — the former from second and third hands — by England and Austria. There is nothing to prevent the United States from participating in the trade in this species of merchandise. Neither Austria nor England could compete with this country in supplying the vast quantities of colonial pro- duce, and the cheap white and printed cottons, which are required for consumption in this mar- ket. In addition to the supplies needed to meet the daily wants of its 100,000 inhabitants, Salonica furnishes large quantities of colonial and manufactured goods for the yearly fairs of Parlepi, Lucca, and Seres^ where the sales are always made for cash. The high price of French cotton and woolen cloths will always preclude the merchants of France from successful compe- tition in this branch of trade ; and the heavy expenses attending the circuitous trade through Marseilles, Smyrna, Constantinople, Trieste, and Venice, would necessarily favor direct exporta- tions from the United States. The prices at Salonica are always from 10 to 12 per cent, higher than at Constantinople or Smyrna. The gross returns of trade at the port of Salonica for the year ending December 31, 1854, show a considerable increase in the import trade, viz : Value of imports inl854 13,7*70,235 " " in 1853 2,857, Y65 Increase 912,470 But the returns exhibit a still more considerable increase in the value of the outward trade, viz : Value of exports in 1854 $5,492,980 " in 1853 3,476,050 Increase 2,016,930 This large increase, both in the inward and outward trade with the port of Salonica, may be regarded as an evidence of the improving state of the country. The navigation returns for the same periods exhibit the following results : Inwards. Outwards. 1853 113,498 tons 111,767 tons. 1854 79,845 " 81,192 " Decrease 33,653 " 30,575 This decrease has been principally under Turkish and Greek flags, though there has also been a decrease under British, French, and Sardinian flags, but not in the same proportion. The following statement exhibits the decrease under each flag : British tonnage Decrease 2,696 tons. French " " 8,253 " Sardinian " " 3,023 " Turkish " " 10,328 " Greek " " 15.214 " TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. 448 Britisli manufactures and produce, imported direct $597,375 " " " imported indirect 521,350 Total imports of British manufactures and products 1,118,725 Total exports to Great Britain 27,800 Balance of trade with Salonica in 1854, in favor of British manufactures 1,090,925 A British authority, referring to this trade, says: "A demand for British cotton manufac- tures of all descriptions daily increases, and every year there is some new outlet of sufficient importance for the estahlishment of agencies in the interior, by the importers at Salonica ; hence the prospect of an increase of the import trade in proportion to the increasing value of the export trade. The Austrian and Saxon manufacturers have again turned their attention to this part of Turkey, and are sending larger parcels of low cotton goods." The above extract is worthy the attention of those engaged in trade with Turkish ports. Exports. — Owing mainly to the Hellenic invasion, considerable delay was occasioned in getting in the crops in 1854, and, consequently, the supply of grain at Salonica was not equal to the demand. Little was done in wools and cottons^ the prices having averaged too high a rate for European markets. The trade in silk was considerable; but, owing to the rise in the price for labor and fire-wood, several of the silk factors preferred sending the silk-pods to France and to the Italian ports, to drawing the raw silk at Salonica. SMYRNA. This port, the chief commercial emporium of Turkey in Asia, has an excellent harbor, and ships of large burden can load and discharge close to the quays. Its principal foreign trade is conducted with Great Britain, Austria, France, and the United States. Its exports consist of silk, raw cotton, carpets^ copper, opium, hides, madder^ wool, besides goats' hair and skins, vallonea, olive-oil, drugs, gums, sponge, figs, raisins, and nut-galls. Imports comprise cofi'ee (upwards of 6,000,000 pounds annually) ; woolen, cotton, and silk fabrics ; metals, raw and man" ufactured; sugar; indigo; spirits; cochineal; and spices. The following statement shows the quantities and values of wool imported into the United States from Turkey during the five years ending June 30, 1855, together with the aggregate quantities and values of the same from all countries during the same period : Years. POUNDS AND VALUES OF WOOL IMPORTED FROM— TURKEY. ALL COUNTRIES. Quantities. Values. Quantities. Values. 1851. 5,238,292 3,355,320 4,351,259 4,360,326 4,676,747 $479,355 289,656 372,012 460,285 416,222 32,548,491 18,341,298 21,595,079 20,200,110 18,534,415 $3,833,157 1,930,711 2,669,718 2,822,185 2,072,139 1852.. 1853. 1854. 1865. Aggregate Annual average.. 21,981,944 2,017,530 111,219,393 13,327,910 4,396,389 403,506 22,243,878 2,645,582 444 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. From the Argentine republic tlie United States receives one-third of its raw wool. Next to this country ranks Turkey, in this regard; and the third }>]ace is due to Chili. In 1855, of the entire quantity imported^ amounting to 18,534,415 jiounds, valued at $2,072,139, there came from Turkey 4,676,Y47 pounds, valued at $416,222; of which Turkey in Asia supplied 4,261,250 pounds, valued at §386,305. The principal imports into Smyrna, in vessels of the United States, are coffee, sugar, rum, coarse cottons, spices, and dye-stuffs ; for which they carry home, in return, cargoes of wool, opium, copper, fruit, oil of roses, and wine. The navigation of Smyrna is steadily increasing. In 1840 there entered 969 vessels, of all nations, measuring 107,'" 96 tons; of which number there were 23 American vessels, measuring 4,304 tons. The commerce of this port during the year 1851 amounted to nearly eleven mil- lions of dollars. This trade was thus distributed : Great Britain 31,396,563 francs. Austria 13,856,803 '' France 7,954,177 " United States 6,475,945 " Kussia 2,557,906 " Holland 911,103 " Sardinia 627,596 " Tuscany 466,295 " Belgium...., 184,763 " A selection from the general import trade of Smyrna, of such merchandise as American ves- sels usually import, with the values, in francs, of the quantities imported in American and other foreign bottoms in 1851, affords the subjoined summary: Yarns and Cotton cloths — England 3^371,555 francs. Austria 1,995,000 " UnitedStates ■ 718,660 " France 127,555 " The United States can successfully dispute the monopoly of this trade with Austria and France, and even with England, especially in the coarser kinds of cotton cloths. Coffee — France 1,274,000 francs. United States 510,048 " ii Great Britain 397,817 Sardinia 371,555 " Austria 276,302 " Total 2,829,722 " Hardwakb Goods — Great Britain 536,666 francs . Austria 530,000 " France 392,666 " United States 80,888 " Belgium 36,088 Total 1,576,308 li II TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC, 445 EuM, Wines, and other Liquors — United States 619,444 francs. Belgium 30,022 " Greece 28,555 " Holland '. 25,666 " France 21,644 " Austria 20,288 " Great Britain 15,833 Two Sicilies 2,533 cc Total 763,985 ct Sugar — Holland 233,000 francs. France 168,255 " Great Britain 78,866 " United States 56,666 " Total 536,787 " The exports in which the vessels of the United States shared, during the same year, were : Opium — Great Britain 2,652,533 francs. United States 218,400 " Austria 84,000 " France 9,333 " Total 2,964,266 " Wool — United States , 1,870,333 francs. France 316,000 " Great Britain 118,871 " Austria 68,320 " Total 2,373,524 a Sponges — Great Britain 1,483,333 francs. Austria 331,333 " France 220,000 " United States 186,666 " Holland 19,333 " Total 2,240,665 a Nut-galls — Great Britain 393,100 francs. Austria 200,666 " France 158,666 " United States 125,233 " Total 877,665 (( 446 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. BEIBTJT. Beirut is the seaport of Damascus, and the chief centre of the trade of Syria. Its imports consist of muslins, cottons, tin, hardware, cloths, and various kinds of manufactures. Its ex- ports are silk, galls, madder, gums, wine, and oils. The imports at this port in 1851 amounted to ahout $4,000,000, and its exports to $3,000,000. During the same year there entered and cleared 2,354 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 219, 2n tons. The commercial movements of the port of Beirut and its dependent trading towns^ Tripoli, Caiffa, and Latakia, amounted in 1853 to a total of 45,689,142 francs, or an increase over 1852 of 4,500,000 francs. The following summary, for these years, is taken from French official authorities : Years. Imports. E.xports. Total. 1853 Francs. 23,848,740 20,863,881 Francs. 21,840,402 20,266,860 Francs. 45,689,142 41,130,741 1852 Increase in 1853 2,984,869 1,573,542 4,558,401 The tonnage employed in the trade of Beirut the same years was : 1853 „ ■. 209,861 tons. 1852 241,978 " Decrease in 1853 32,117 " This decrease is owing to a falling off in the coasting trade, especially in cereals, occasioned hy the short crops of 1853. In the general import movement, England holds the first rank ; tissues, cotton yarn, and cotton goods generally, being the chief imports from Great Britain into Syria. France occupies the second rank; the imports from that country into Beirut in 1853 amounting, in value, to 3,674,726 francs. Next to France comes Austria. The returns show a value of 6,714,242 francs assigned to imports under the Austrian flag; but these figures include the value of all the merchandise imported in the Austrian steamers that ply between Constantinople and Smyrna. The actual imports from Austria into Beirut amount to about one-half of this sum. Trieste furnishes but little for the consumption of Syria. The imports into Syria from that entrepot do not exceed 150,000 francs, and consist of colonial wares, and German tissues pur- chased in the warehouses of that city. Egypt supplies Syria, through the port of Beirut, with grains, especially rice, to a value of about 2,467,950 francs. During the past few years, mercantile houses of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia have established direct relations with Syria. The washed and unwashed wool of that country forms the basis of their operations. In 1854 the first cargo of refined sugar from Boston arrived at Beirut. The success which has attended this enterprise will, most probably, lead to an import- ant trade in this description of merchandise, in exchange for wool and other Syrian products. The chief obstacle to an immediate expansion of this trade appears'to be the duty of 30 per cent, with which the raw wool is burdened in the United States, leaving })u,t a small margin for profit on the importation of this leading product. How important this trade with Syria, as well TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. 447 as with Turkey generally, and other wool-producing countries, might become, may oe inferred from the following statement of facts: In 1855 there was imported into the United States, as already stated, 18,534,415 pounds of wool. The annual production of wool in the United States, assuming that the quantity returned for 1850, as per United States census, affords a fair ave- rage — amounts to 52,516,959 Ihs.(a) This, added to the quantity imported, gives 71,051,374 lbs. The quantity annually exported reduces this figure, say, in round numhers, to 70,000^000 pounds for consumption in the different and numerous manufactories in the United States. How much of this is consumed in the manufacture of carpets, there is no means at hand of determin- ing with any accuracy; but it is stated in a publication of high authority — the "Scientific American" — ^that, in the village of Thomsonville, Connecticut, alone, there is used, annually, in the manufacture of Brussels, Axminster, and other costly qualities of carpeting, 10,000,000 pounds of wool, or more than one-half the whole quantity imported, and one-seventh part of the aggregate quantity imported and grown in the United States. The value of the foregoing statement of facts will be better understood when it is added that the United States import, annually — taking the importations of 1855 as an average — woolen manufactures of various descriptions to the value of $27,000,000, of which England furnishes nearly two-thirds. The total number of woolen manufactories in the United States in 1850, was 1,559 ; capital invested, $28,118,650; poundsof wool consumed, 70,862,829; value of raw material, $25,755,991; hands employed, males, 22,678; females, 16,574; value of products, $43,207,545 — in which are included 82,206,652 yards of cloth, and 4,294,336 pounds of yarn, besides blankets, hats, &c. Were the raw material supplied in sufficient quantities, the census of 1860 would, probably, add 100 per cent, to the preceding figures. The foreign trade of Beirut is carried on principally by large class steamers, under the Austrian, (6) French, and British flags, which visit this port regularly, and find always abun- dant freight;, consisting of the products of Syria and the vast region which lies between Skaneroom and the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. The prosperity of Beirut and the surround- ing country is indicated by the fact, that while the population was only 8,000 in the year 1844, it is now estimated at between 50,000 and 60,000. The United States consul at that port, writing under date of October 5, 1855, says: "I learn, upon the best authority, that the people of this country consider the cloth manufactured in the United States superior in quality to that of England ; but since the pieces of American goods do not uniformly contain the same number of yards like the English pieces, they are slow to purchase, owing to the power of old ideas and habits. It would be of great service to the manufacturers if they understood this fact, and would regard it." CANDIA. The commerce of this island is conducted through the ports of Ketino, Canea, and Candia. Its exports consist chiefly of olive-oil, barley, wheat, wine, raisins, cotton, flax-seed, almonds, Indian corn, and soap. The agricultural productions of Candia are estimated at a value of 18,500,000 francs per annum. Its manufactures amount in value to about 6,000,000 francs, of which soap appropriates 4,000,000, and coarse cloths for consumption 2,000,000 francs. There are on the island 47 soap factories, which yield annually about 13,000,000 lbs. of soap ; and 3,000 oil-presses in active operation. About 40,000 lbs. of silk are produced annually on this island, of a quality equal to that of Adrianople. (a) The proportion of wool raised in tlie United States in 1850 to each person, is thus given in the United States census: Non-slaveholding States 3. 07 pounds. Slaveholding " 1.16 (6) The steamers of the Austrian Lloyds Company, in March, 1856, are said to have numbered 59, with 10,000 horse- power, and a measurement of nearly 30,000 tons. 448 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The importations during a period of four consecutive years were : In 1848 : $1,050,195 1849 1,0*78,030 1850 1,154,215 1851 618,680 During the same years the exports amounted to: In 1848 $812,666 1849 1,237,400 1850 2,007,845 1851 879,174 Total number of vessels arriving in the ports of Candia in 1853, 1,173, measuring an aggre- gate of 50,747 tons. The imports during the same year readied $1,028,212, and the exports $1,972,713. The navigation and commerce of Candia for 1855, compared with 1854, is given in the suh- joined statement: Ports. IMPORTATIONS, EXPORTATIONS. No. of vessels. Tons. Dollars. No. ofvessels. Tons. Dollars. 667 135 217 31,429 5,148 10, 924 1,111,756 80 207,448 80 378,480 00 645 139 225 28,417 5,057 10,964 773,580 96 357,655 20 599,280 00 Total for 1855... Total for 1854... Increase 1,019 831 47,501 41,122 1,697,685 60 1,070,971 00 1,009 801 44, 438 40,063 1,730,516 16 1,097,669 00 188 6,379 626,714 60 208 4,375 632,847 16 Summary of the details of the trade for 1855. PRINCIPAL IMPORTS. Butter Dried codfish Hides and leather Hardware Furniture Herrings and sardines. Eice Eum Soda ash Tobacco Cotton yam -. Brown cottons Sundry manufactures - Quantities. Cwt. 1,649 " 4,318 Bbls. 5,870 S31,040 23,320 65, 640 7,600 11,200 27,688 10,040 3,316 48,192 10,800 22,000 9,000 441, 939 TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. 449 PRINCIPAL EXPORTS. Articles. Olive oil Soap Sheep skins Raw silk Cheese Oranges and lemons Chestnuts Quantities. Tons." 1, 269 Cwt. 68, 845 No. 13,352 Pounds 8, 525 Cwt. 362 No. 5,000,000 Cwt. 2,000 Values. $242,261 00 475,525 84 1, 784 48 22,320 00 3,100 00 1,800 00 4,000 00 Candia abounds in produce adapted to the American market ; but the direct trade between the United States and that island is as yet unimportant. So long, indeed, as the present duties of 80 and 40 per cent, are levied on their staple exports of coarse wool, olive-oil, soap, &c., it can scarcely be expected that this trade will increase to any considerable extent. It is stated, in a consular return from Candia, that a reduction of these duties, as well as of the duty on raw silk, would tend to establish a highly respectable and direct American intercourse with the ports of Candia, sufficient, probably, to compete with that of G-reat Britain and France. In conse- quence of the almost nominal duty upon the leading productions of the island in Great Britain, the commercial intercourse with England is fast increasing. GALATZ. This port, situated on the left bank of the Danube, is the outlet for the produce of Wallachia and Moldavia. Its imports in 1850 amounted to $2,175,000, and its exports, consisting of grain, tallow, preserved meat, wine, and linseed, reach, annually, about 13,8*77,660. How far American interests might be promoted in the foreign trade of the Danubian and other ports of the Turkish dominions, may be gathered from the following table, exhibiting the articles of foreign and colonial produce exported to Turkey in the year 1851. The table in- cludes, also, the imports into Wallachia, Moldavia, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt: Description of merchandise. auan titles. Description of merchandise. Quantities. Peruvian bark _ CaBsia lignea Cwts Pounds ...do -. -- 50 17,620 39,108 1,946 2,908 620,502 97 15 5,927 61 $4, 210 76 3,621 5,406 Pounds Cwts Pounds ...do Cwts Pounds Pieces Gallons Cwts Pounds ...do 473,504 720 420 1,236 5,049 1,246 6,978 66,961 5,301 197, 485 159,022 5,785 4, 511 Pimento . - Quicksilver Rhubarb -- Rice . Cochineal . Cwts Pounds - do Cocoa Coffee Silk Cwts ..do ..do Taffeties Gum shellac Iron -.. - ..do-- Tea Cotton manufactures — Logwood - -,-- (Value) .... Tons Pounds ...do Tobacco Wine Gallons .... Pounds .... Wool ,. [57] 450 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Tlie export of grain constitutes the leading commercial movement of the port of Galatz. The following table is derived from the London Merchants' Magazine. It exhibits the grain export trade of the ports of Galatz and Ibraila, during five consecutive years : FROM GALATZ. Grains. 1847. 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. "Wheat . Quartets, (a) 180,860 318,605 26,697 Quartets. 113,605 143,727 28,446 Quarters. 173,797 258,763 60,617 Quarters. 140,652 122,875 52,776 Quarters. 134,474 350, 682 71,024 Eye Total 526,162 285,778 493,177 316,303 556,180 FROM IBRAILA. Wheat 390,818 619,115 300,582 159,484 292,215 193,435 117,436 335,532 72,936 283,290 149,732 44,594 283,106 646,617 105,597 Indian corn Rye Total 1,310,515 645,134 525,904 477,616 1,035,320 The ports to which these vast quantities of grain are shipped, will be seen from the follow- ing return of the export trade during the same years : Years. CONSTANTINOPLE. TRIESTE AND VENICE. MARSEILLES, GENOA, AND LEGHORN. GREAT BRITAIN. No. Of vessels. Quarters. No. of vessels. Quarters. No. of vessels. Quarters. No. of vessels. Quarters. 1848 492 620 329,022 404. 315 187 126 104 275 175,515 130,976 111,026 294,376 160 101 70 70 117,280 71,556 60,006 66,479 230 297 253 606 264,591 389,774 315,019 633,707 1849 1850 447 294, 507 666 465.739 1851 The total number of vessels departing from Galatz and Ibraila in 1851 was 1,668, with an aggregate tonnage of 300,845. Of these, 534 were Greek, with an aggregate tonnage of 112,438; 352 were Turkish, with an aggregate tonnage of 50,234; and 304 vessels were English, with an aggregate tonnage of 55,625. There was one vessel from Buenos Ayres. EGYPT. The superficial extent of Egypt and the limits of the country have never been accurately de- termined. The winding valley and delta of the Nile, however, comprise all its fertility and riches. The same uncertainty exists in regard to the population of Egypt, which, according to the most reliable estimates, may be set down at 2,000,000 inhabitants. These are classi- fied as follows : Arab Egyptians, 1,750,000; Copts, 150,000; Turks, 10,000; Syrians, Greeks, (a) The quartpi- Is equivalent to eight Ijnshels. TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. 451 A.rmeiiians, and Jews, 20,000; tlie remainder consisting of wandering Arabians, white slaves, negro slaves, Nubians, and Franks. Egypt produces rice, tobacco, silk, opium, indigo, flax, sugar, linseed, cotton, and every description of cereals. Eice is grown principally in the lower lands of the delta. Tobacco is grown in Middle Egypt; but the quality is inferior, and it is used only for the consumption of the country — the opulent classes being supplied with a better quality from Syria. Cotton is the most important production. Its introduction is wholly due to the enterprise of Mehemet Ali. The average production of cotton does not exceed two cantars(a) per feddan(6). The general commerce of Egypt in 1851 reached.a total of 144,509,000 francs, or, in round numbers, $28,902,000 ; which shows an increase, when compared with 1841_, of 44^000,000 francs, or nearly $9,000,000. It is difficult to obtain any accurate returns of the commercial movements of Egypt, except such as are prepared by the foreign consuls residing at the different ports of that country, and transmitted to their respective governments. From such sources the following table is com- piled, showing the export trade of Egypt during a period of eleven years, ending with 1851 : Years. Piastres of Alexandria. Dollars. 1841 198,270,150 180,446,600 191,538,400 167,868,430 185,782,200 187,341,080 301,343,500 157,236,546 203,056,232 315,357,800 325, 804, 695 9,913,507 50 9,022,330 00 9,576,920 00 8,393,421 50 9,289,110 00 9,367,054 00 15,067,175 00 7,861,827 30 10,152,811 60 15,767,890 00 16,290,234 75 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851.. The import trade in 1841, the first year given in the table, reached 187,000,000 piastres = $9,350,000, and ascended in 1851, the last year, to 230,000,000 piastres, or about $11,500,000. The articles which diminished in the import returns during the period were sugar, linens, cer- tain kinds of silks, and rum ; and the diminution was about equal to the increased production of those articles in Egypt. The importation increased in woolens, cottons, French silks, and articles of fashion. The maritime inovement from 1841 to 1851 was as follows: Years. Vessels. Years. Vessels. 1841 1842 1,230 1,350 1,370 1,207 1,097 1,221 1847 1,815 1,608 1,609 1,650 1,793 1848 1843 1849 1844 1850 1845 1851 1846 (a) 100 lbs. avoirdupois. (6) Nearly 1 acre . (c) The yalue of the piastre varies. That of Alexandria is reckoned at 5 cents United States currency ; that of Turkey generally, is equivalent to 4 cents. 452 COMMEECIAL DIGESTS, The Englisli flag occupies the first rank in the returns from which the preceding figures are taken, though, since the repeal of the navigation laws of Great Britain in 1850, the importations under the flags of other countries of northern Europe have largely increased. ALEXANDRIA. The trade of this port has increased rapidly since the opening of the canal which commu- nicates between Alexandria and the Nile at Atfeh. This communication has taken away from the ports of Damietta and Rosetta the extensive commerce formerly enjoyed by them, and for which, from their position on the two mouths of the Nile, they possessed great advantages. The total trade of Alexandria in 1840 amounted in value to $11,99*7,145, of which there was for imports |B, 636,980, and for exports $5,360,165. This trade in 1842 reached in value $21,000,000, an increase over 1840 of over .$9,000,000. The treaty of 1838, placing foreign commerce on a more secure basis than had previously existed, and the tranquillity which fol- lowed the settlement of the difficulties of 1840, were the causes of this great augmentation in the trade of 1842. Among the exports of this year, raw cotton reached in value .$1,800,000, of which Austria received upwards of $1,000,000 in value. The trade of 1843 exhibits a falling off from that of the preceding year, aggregating only (imports and exports united) about $19,000,000, of which raw cotton reached in value about $2,000,000. In 1844 the total trade of this port fell again to about $13,000,000; and in 1846 the totals reached nearly ,$18,000,000, of which, for cotton, there was $2,000,000. In 1849 the foreign trade of Alexandria reached $16,000,000, of which, for imports, there was $7,500,000, and for exports, $8,500,000. The raw cotton exported this year reached in quantity 258,000 qirintals,(a) or 25,800,000 lbs., valued at $2,775,000. The tranquillity which prevailed in Egypt during the ten years anterior to 1850 was highly favorable to the development of its foreign commerce. The treaty of 1838, guarantying the unrestricted circulation through Egypt of European merchandise, and its freedom from the vexatious taxes to which it was subjected before that period, contributed in like manner to the prosperity of this port in 1850. The total trade exceeded in value $19,000,000, a figure which it had never before reached, excepting in the year 1842, when the large augmentation was brought about by causes purely accidental. Of this sum, imports reached nearly $8,000,000, and exports about $11,000,000. Of the latter, raw cotton amounted in quantity to 82,084,500 lbs., and in value to $4,200,000. It is worthy of notice, that, in the voluminous reports from which the preceding statements of the trade both of Egypt and its principal port, Alexandria, are extracted, the United States does not once appear. (6) England, France, and Austria seem to have been the principal foreign countries which j^articipated in this trade. The total trade of 1851 reached $29,000,000, and that of 1852 ascended to upwards of $31,000,000, of which a large share is assigned to Turkey and Syria. The quantity of raw cotton exported the latter year was 718,655 quintals, valued at $6,960,249. The whole of this cotton was sent to England, France, and Austria, in the following projoortions : to England, 426,118 quintals; to Austria, 159,300 quintals; and to France, 128,030 quintals. These figures, as well as those employed throughout this Digest, generally, are derived from French official sources, which purport to be based on those of Egyptian authorities. The latter, however, are deemed by no means reliable. The following statement exhibiting the (a) The quintal, or cantar, is estimated at 100 lbs. (i) A despatch to the State Department, dated Alexandria, May 1, 1856, states that "the increase in foreign traders is very perceptible, but there are a few branches of American houses among thcni." TUBKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC, 453 export trade of Alexandria for 1855, transmitted from tlie United States consulate general at that place, is stated to have been drawn from private sources : Countries. Cotton. Wheat. Beans. Flax. Indian com. Wool. Linseed. Great Britain France Cantors, (a) 270,615 108,248 140,412 1,611 Ardebs. (b) 1,114,614 130,441 27,580 402,217 Ardebs. 392,840 700 10,952 40, 754 Cantars. 56,425 1,250 3,416 14,258 Ardebs. 103,737 Cantars. 19,275 1,680 639 1,900 Ardebs. 46,994 1,090 724 3,180 13,035 3,851 Other countries Total 520,886 1,674,852 445, 246 75,349 120, 623 23,494 51,988 During the same year an English house at Alexandria sent two vessels to New York, and an Austrian house two more to the same destination, loaded chiefly with gums, rags, &c. There is no doubt but that a profitable trade might be established between the United States and the port of Alexandria, by sending out such merchandise as usually finds a market in Egypt, and receiving in return the rich and varied exports of that extensive emporium. COTTON. The cotton culture of Egypt commenced in 1818, and exportation to England in 1823. The seed is said to have been imported by the Pacha "^from America, the Mediterranean, and Bra- zil;" and these different kinds of cotton may, therefore, be met in cultivation. The attempt to cultivate the Sea Island cotton is pronounced a failure — the quality deteriorating rapidly after the first crop— although the best Egyptian cotton, called Malio, (c) is ranked next to Sea Island in length of staple. The comparative tabular statement subjoined, made up from consular returns, (the bale being estimated at 300 pounds^,) shows the quantities of cotton exported at the port of Alexandria, and the countries to which exported, respectively, during a period of three years. The quantity exported in 1852 is stated to have been as follows: To G-reat Britain 57,623,400 lbs., to France 12,350,100 lbs., to Austria 11,429,700 lbs., elsewhere 359;,1001bs.; presenting an aggregate of 81,762,300 lbs., and far exceeding that of either of the three ensuing years, as given in the fol- lowing table : Years. POUNDS OF COTTON EXPORTED TO — Great Britain. France. Austria. Elsewhere. All countries. 1853 - 26,439,900 24,938,700 33,980,100 10,726,500 7,454,100 9,451,200 6,321,000 10,165,200 12,774,900 397,800 988,500 668,100 43,885,200 43,546,500 56,874,300 1854 1855 . Aggregate Average 85,358,700 27,631,800 29,261,100 2, 054, 400 144,306,000 28,452,900 9,210,600 9,753,700 684,800 48,102,000 (a) Tlie cantar of Egypt is estimated at 100 pounds. (b) Tlie ardeb equals 5 bushels. (c) So called from Malio Bey, in whose garden, at Cairo, the plant was first discovered, having, probably, been intro- duced from the isle of Bourbon during the French invasion. 454 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. If to tlie aggregate exported be added from five to six million pounds consumed in the country, a liberal estimate of tbe annual amount of cotton produced in Egypt — between fifty and sixty million pounds — will have been made. The factories established by Mehemet Ali are^ it is stated^ going rapidly to ruin. The cotton goods manufactured are coarse "^'captas," or sol- diers' "nizam" uniform. Much cotton is used also in making up divans, the usual furniture in Egypt. General Eemaeks on Turkey. The treaty between the United States and the Ottoman Porte dates as far back as May 7, 1830. Its preamble, however, declares that it is to be "of perpetual duration," and it conse- quently regulates the intercourse between the countries at the present time. Its principal com- mercial features are — that the merchants of either country, in the provinces, ports, &c., of the other, shall pay the same duties and other imposts that are paid by the merchants of the most friendly or favored nation ; and that merchant vessels of the United States shall have liberty to pass the Canal of the Imperial Residence, and go and come in the Black sea, in like manner as vessels of the most favored nation. The tariff of duties, as already stated, is based on an ad-valorem system, viz: Imports 5 per cent., and exports 12 per cent., including, as to both, internal duties. The value of merchandise may be revised every four or five years by commissioners on the part of the different govern- ments, conjointly with agents appointed for that purpose by the Turkish government. The United States has, hitherto, appointed no commissioners for this adjustment of valuation; and it has been represented to the Department that the existing valuation on British merchandise, especially cotton goods and rum, subjects to heavy discriminations similar articles of the United States, owing chiefly to the difference in weight and prices. Since the return of peace, many improvements, tending to facilitate and improve the commer- cial intercourse of Turkey with foreign nations, have been completed or projected. Among others, the light-house system has undergone extensive improvements, and uniform light-dues established for the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, viz : 50 piastres (between $2 00 and $2 50) for every 100 tons each strait, or 100 piastres per 100 tons for both, entering, and the same returning. At Constantinople there are, properly speaking, no port charges ; but a small fee is required on vessels passing through the Golden Gate to discharge their cargoes. The idea of connecting the Mediterranean with the Red sea by means of a ship-canal across the isthmus of Suez has long been entertained. The level of the latter sea is known to be higher than that of the former by thirty-two feet, and the isthmus was at one time submerged. The levellings, with a view to a canal, which were prosecuted with care during the occupation of the French army, have been followed up by the viceroy of Egypt, and a plan of the work has recently been settled by a European commission of engineers assembled in Paris to discuss the details. This commission has rejected all plans involving indirect routes across Egypt, and has adopted the principle of a direct cutting from Suez to the Mediterranean. The entrance into the Mediterranean, to be called Port Said, will have an inner basin, and the channel will be 1 312 ieet in breadth. The entrance at the Eed sea, the port of Suez, will also have an inner basin and the channel will have a breadth of 984 feet. Capital sufficient for the accomplish- ment of this work is said to have been subscribed, and the work actually commenced. Another canal, which has long been contemplated, but opposed by Russia, as menacing the prosperity of Odessa and her trade in the Black sea and the Levant, is now considered in a fair way of accomplishment. This canal will be about fifty miles in length, connecting the Danube with the Black sea, and shortening the distance from Constantinople to Vienna some five hun- dred miles, besides obviating the difficult navigation and the pestilential miasma near the mouths of that river. A charter has been granted, and a company of capitalists organized. TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. 455 GEEECB. The commercial relations of the United States with Greece are regulated hy treaty of Decem- ber 10, 1837. This treaty is based upon principles of entire reciprocity in navigation and com- merce between the two countries. Its principal stipulations are, that the vessels of each nation, whether laden or in ballast, from whatever place they come, shall be treated, in the ports of the other, on their entrance, during their stay, and at their departure, upon the same footing as national vessels coming from the same place, with respect to the duties of tonnage, light- houseSj pilotage, and port charges, as well as to the perquisites of public officers, and all other duties or charges levied in the name or to the profit of the government, the local authorities, or of any private establishment whatever. Whatever merchandise may be lawfully imported into either nation by its own vessels, may also be imported in the vessels of the other, from what- ever place they may come, without paying other or higher duties or charges, of whatever kind or denomination, levied in the name or to the profit of the government, the local authorities, &c., than when imported in national vessels. Similar equality is stipulated with respect to ex- ports. No prohibitions to be established in either nation upon the products of the soil or indus- try of the other, unless such prohibitions shall also apply to similar products, the growth of any other country. All privileges of transit, and all bounties and drawbacks allowed in either nation, shall immediately become common to the other. Duties in each country, on cargoes imported in vessels of the other, shall be charged only on such portions thereof as may be landed, and erased from the manifest of the importing vessel ; but all duties, imposts, or charges whatsoever, which are or may become chargeable upon the vessels themselves, must be paid at the first port where they shall break bulk, or unlade part of their cargoes. It is also stipulated that the vessels of each nation, arriving in the ports of the other, provided with a bill of health, granted by an officer having competent power to that effect, at the port whence such vessels shall have sailed, shall be subjected to no other quaran- tine than such as may be necessary for the visit of the health officer of the port where such ves- sels shall arrive ; after which, said vessels shall be allowed immediately to enter and unload their cargoes, subject only to such casualties as may have occurred during the voyage. The other stipulations relate to consular privileges, &c. The treaty to continue in force ten years, with the usual stipulation respecting its duration after that period. Notwithstanding the liberal stipulations of the treaty, of which the preceding is a sum- mary, the trade between the United States and Greece is very inconsiderable — few American vessels ever making the direct voyage to any port in that country. At the principal port of Greece (Piraeus) no American vessel entered from the commencement of 1851 to the close of 1853. During the year first named, there entered that port from all countries, 355 vessels, measuring 42,159 tons; and there cleared 254 vessels, aggregating 30,148 tons; making a total of 609 vessels, with an aggregate of T2,30Y tons. These vessels were mostly under the Greek, Turkish, English, or French flags — the two latter numbering, together, only 32 vessels, entered and cleared. During the same year, 120 Austrian steam-vessels, measuring an aggregate tonnage of 27,000 tons, entered the port of Piraeus, viz: 72 from Trieste, and 48 from Turkey. The value of imports at the port of Piraeus in 1851 was $924,420 ; that of exports a little over $80,000. In 1852 there entered 322 vessels, measuring 44,166 tons; and cleared, 287 vessels, of 45,008 tons; making a total of 609 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 89,174 tons. These vessels were imder the Greek, Turkish, English, or French flags, ranking in number in the order, re- spectively, in which they are named. The imports, this year, fell short of those for the preceding year, as shown by the following comparative summary: 456 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Imports of all kinds into Pirseus in 1851 |924,420 " " " 1852 "757,020 Decrease in 1852 167,400 The imports into Greece through this port are, grains, sugar, coffee, yarn of cotton and wool, silks, iron and other metals, timher, cod and other salted fish, wines and spirits, paper, &c. The countries usually participating in the foreign trade of the port of Pira3us, are — Turkey (imports from, in 1852) $268,956 Austria " " 170,748 France " " 106,904 England " " , 89,094 Tuscany " " 19,716 Other places " " 101,602 Total imports as shown above 757,020 Though Austria holds but the second rank in the above table, she usually enjoys the largest share of the foreign commerce of this port. An average calculation for a series of five or ten years would give the following result, without much variation : Austria 24.74 per cent, of the whole. Turkey 22.61 " " Prance 19.87 " " England 14.62 " " Tuscany 7.84 " " Other countries 10.32 " " The next port of importance in G-reece, after the port of Athens, is Syra. This port is situ- ated among the Cyclades, on the eastern shore of the G-recian archipelago. Its commerce is rapidly increasing, owing, in a great measure, to its being a principal station of the Mediter- ranean steamers going to and from Constantinople. The imports average annually about |3, 500, 000, and the exports about $1,500,000. The flags participating in the foreign trade of this port are Greek, English, Austrian, Turkish, and French, in the order, as to rank, in which they are named. The chief articles of import are, cottons, woolens, manufactures of iron, grains, cotton yarn, coffee, timber, sugar, hides and skins, provisions. Exports of domestic produce are inconsiderable, though an extensive trade is carried on in re-exporting to other ports of the archipelago the imports of foreign nations. The number of vessels entering and clearing at this port, annually, is about 6,875, measuring 379,000 tons. The merchant marine of G-reece in 1853, was 4,320 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 247,616 tons. Of these there were — Under 30 tons 2,855 vessels, aggregating 19,696 tons. 30 tons and over, ofwhich 550 were from 200 to 500 tons 1,376 " " 227,965 " Total as above 4,230 " " 247,661 " Port charges: In the ports of Syra, Nauplia, Pirteus, Marathonensis, Pylos, Calamatu, Nayarino, and Patras — On vessels under 5 tons free. " of 20 " 9 liptas=l^ cents. above20 " 12 " =2 " TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. 457 In the other ports : On vessels under 5 tons free. " of 20 " 6 1ipta8=l cent. " above 20 " 9 " =1^ " Permit of departure: On vessels of from 5 to 20 tons 50 liptas = Secants. " " 21 to 50 " 1 drachma=16| " 51 to 100 " 2 " =331-" For all other charges, port regulations, &c., see Consular Keturn, " Athens, Greece, Febru- ary 6th, 1855," Part III. IONIAN ISLANDS. These islands, consisting of Corfu, Cephalonia, Zante, Santa Maura, Ithaca, Paxo, and Cer- igo, situated in the Mediterranean, off the west coast of G-reece, constitute a republic with tlie denomination of the United States of the Ionian Islands, under the immediate protection of the Queen of Great Britain. They comprise an area of about 1,092 square miles, and contain a population of 230,000, mostly of Greek descent. For upwards of 400 years these islands re- mained subject to Venice, constituting the Venetian Levant. By the treaty of Paris, 5th Novem- ber, 1815, between England and Eussia, it was agreed that the Ionian Islands should regulate their own internal organization, with the approbation of the protecting power, which should be represented by a lord high commissioner ; that the merchant flag of the new states should be acknowledged as that of a free and independent state, and that Austria should enjoy equal com- mercial privileges with Great Britain in its commerce with the republic. This treaty was acceded to by all the representatives of the allied powers, then negotiating at Paris, and by the Grand Sultan and the King of the Two Sicilies. The ports of the islands are Corfu, Cephalonia, Zante, Santa Maura, Ithaca, Cerigo, and Paxo. These are free ports, at which all kinds of merchandise may be stored in designated warehouses, free of any duties or charges, except rent, porterage, and other minor expenses, which are regulated by special tariffs. There is no treaty between the United States and the Ionian republic, and the commercial intercourse between the two countries is subject to the various restrictions which apply to non- equalized vessels. These restrictions are, higher tonnage duties, light dues, port charges, &c. The following items will illustrate these discriminations : Charges for clearance, including bill of health, muster-roll, anchorage, and light dues, on an Ionian or equalized vessel of from 250 to 300 tons $8 10 Charges, &c., including as above, for a non-equalized vessel of from 250 to 300 tons 10 84 Other restrictions and discriminations exist in favor of equalized flags, especially in the tran- shipment of merchandise from one port to another, which confer such advantages on vessels coming under this category, as to preclude all competition on the part of those belonging to the other class. Merchandise transhipped, as above, in the former, is exempt from every extra charge ; in the latter, three-fourths of the original duty is exacted on all merchandise paying specific duties, and 5 per cent, on such as pay ad-valorem duties. These discriminating duties amount, in the aggregate, to about 14 per cent, against non-privileged vessels. There entered, in the year 1851, into all the Ionian ports, 1,435 vessels, measuring 169,144 tons; and there cleared 1,401 vessels, measuring 164,780 tons; making, in all, 2,836 vessels, measuring 333,924 tons. The flags of these vessels represented fourteen diflerent nations, among which the United States is not included. Indeed, it is but seldom that a United States vessel is found in any oC r 58 1 458 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. the Ionian ports, nnr can we look for any direct trade between the two countries so long as the present restrictions exist. Their removal can be effected by treaty or convention only ; and negotiations to this end, under the constitution of the Ionian republic, must originate at Lon- don, as all diplomatic questions and conventions between these islands and foreign states must be conducted by the government of the j)rotecting power. The exports of these islands are raisins, olives, olive-oil, honey, soap, silks, and wine; and the imports are coffee, sugar, wines, brandy, grain, cured fish, manufactures of wood, wool, cotton, iron, &c. Currants and raisins constitute one of the heaviest of exports from these islands, the annual produce of currants amounting to some 12,000,000 pounds; but of late years the producers have had to contend with a disease called " the blight," for which suljjhur has proved to be the only efficient remedy. Notwithstanding the partial failure of the crops from this cause, for four con- secutive years, the exports of currants in 1855 show an active and remunerating trade. The fol- lowing summary for this year will give some idea of the extent of the currant trade of the republic : Pounds. Pounds. Zante exported to England 701,931 " Trieste 85,36'7 distilled. 1,002,702 Total 1,790,000 Cephalonia exported to England 4,868,400 Trieste 435,486 distilled 576,113 existing in stores 120,000 Total 5,999,999 Ithaca shipped for Trieste 46,000 distilled , 4,000 Total 50,000 Santa Maura about 10,000 Grand total 7,849,999 The average price at which currants are sold is $122 50 per 1,000 pounds; and the average returns, or rather gross receipts, are annually about |700,000. The exportation of olive-oil is another leading source of revenue to the Ionian Islands. The following summary gives a fair average exhibit of exports annually : Barrels. Barrels. Zante exported in 1855 4,311 in stores 62,189 local consumption and soap factories 3,500 Total 70,000 Corfu exported the same year.... 8,900 in stores 188,100 local consumption 3,000 Total 200,000 Santa Maura, Ithaca, Cephalonia, and Paxo 60,000 Total produce of the year 330,000 TURKEY, THE LEVANT, ETC. 459 The average annual price is $9 50 per barrel, which would raise the amount derived from olive-oil, if the whole quantity were sold, to $3,135,000 per annum. G-reat efforts have been made to promote the cultivation of tobacco in these islands, but with very doubtful success, owing to the want of soils adapted to the plant. Corfu, Cephalonia, and Santa Maura are the only islands on which it can be raised ; but the quality is inferior, and even the quantity is so inconsiderable that cargoes of tobacco are regularly iinported to supply the consumption of the islands. Among the articles of import, sugar and coffee are those in which American bottoms could, were the navigation dues equal, successfully compete with the European flag. In 1855 Hol- land alone imported nine hundred tons of sugar into the islands. The coffee is usually im- ported direct from Brazil. In 1855 the quantity imported reached 1,200,000 lbs. The usual exports of the United States, which reach the Ionian republic, are coffee, rosin, cigars, tobacco, and manufactured articles, such as furniture, cottons, &c., the annual value of which cannot be accurately ascertained. In 1852 the value of coffee, rosin, cigars, and furni- ture, exported from the United States to one of the Ionian ports (Zante), was $5,499 32, on which the Ionian treasury received, in duties, $766 84. (a) The exports from the same port to the United States were: 1851.— Currants 8*70,412 lbs. : Value $22,196 : Export duty $3,903 1852.— Do 471,746 " Do 16,076(6) Do 2,721 Under a system of commercial equality with privileged nations, the United States flag could successfully compete with the flags of all other nations in the importation of wheat, flour, Indian corn, rice, sea-bread, salted meat and salted fish, tobacco, sugar, coffee, and timber. As regards the quantities of these staples, respectively, which might find a market in the Ionian ports, there are no data accessible upon which to base any calculation. These staples, however, are always in demand in the different ports of the Ionian republic; and an approximate estimate as to the quantities which might, with safety, be annually exported from the United States to these markets, may be formed from an official return from one port (Zante) in the possession of the Department. This return gives the aggregate value of these staples, annually con- sumed in that consular district, at $1,539,528. Wheat, Indian corn, cured fish, coffee, rice, and timber occupy the first rank in these staples. In 1853 there entered at the different ports of the Ionian Isles 1,380 vessels, measuring, in the aggregate, 153,552 tons; and cleared 1,383 vessels, with an aggregate of 152,768 tons; making a total movement of 2,763 vessels, and 306,320 tons. An analysis of the trade in 1853, as compared with that of the preceding year, will show a decrease of, entered, 160 vessels, mea- suring an aggregate of 25,979 tons; and of cleared, 101 vessels, with an aggregate of 22,750 tons. The number of vessels under the British, Austrian, and Greek flags diminished — the latter showing the greatest diminution. The value of imports in 1853 was as follows : For consumption 17,070,580 francs. Warehoused 6,292,620 '' Total 23,363,200 " (a) From "Commerce and Navigatioa " for 1852, it appears that only one vessel, and that under the Austrian flag, en- tered the United States from the Ionian Islands that year. (b) The prices given, as well as those assigned to this article in "Commerce and Navigation " for 1831, and also for suc- ceeding years, are far below the rates given in the official returns of sale at the islands. The article must be very inferior to bring less, at the port of shipping, than S122 50 per 1,000 lbs. In the United States Treasury returns, they are rated, some years, as low as $20 per 1,000 lbs. 460 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Value of exports : Domestic products 8,316,330 francs. Foreign products 7,365,910 Total 15,682,300 inev.-.s -- Buffalo and cow hides Elephants' bones Tig-er bones Buffalo horns Elephant Li'les Armadillo skins Stick lac Hemp Dried fish, large Do. small Sapan wood Salt meat Mangrove bark Ebony Peacock tails (per 100 1 Birds' nests Kingfishers' feathers (per 1000 Deer hides (per 100 1 Do. common (per 100'. Tiger skins, each , 2 40 60 60 3 00 1-1 15 2 40 60 ■-il i I 1 20 lo 6 00 3 60 i 80 1 80 15 (a) Pecul==133i lbs. (b) 20 per cent, ad valorem. 81AM. 495 II. The undermentioned articles, being subject to the inland transit tax herein named, and which shall not be increased, shall be exompt from export duty: Sugar (white; ! .<50 ao per pecul. " (red) 15 " Pepj)er 60 " Tallow 60 " Cotton 10 per cent, ad valorem. Halt fish 60 per 10,000. liicc 2 40 per koyan. Caj Salt 3 60 Tobacco 90 per 1,000 bdls. Beans and peas /^ in kind. iJiiod prawns ^'^ " Tiii-Hfiod : I- '' Bees-wax j'. " Raw silk ,'-^ " in. All goods or produce uncrmmerated in this iarifF shall be free of export duty, and shall V>e subject to one inland tax, or transit duty, not exceeding those now paid. OENBRAL KEOULATIOXS IN IrOKCE, UNDER WHICH BRITISH TRADE IS TO BE CONDUCTED IN SIAM. lierj. 1. The master of every English ship coming to Bangkok to trade, must, either before or after entering the river, as may be found convenient, report the arrival of his vessel at the custom-house of Paknam, togetlicr with the number of his crew and guns, and the port from whence he comes. Upon anchoring his vessel at Paknam, he will deliver into the custody of the custom-house officers all his guns and ammunition, and a custom-house officer will then be appointed to the vessel, and will proceed in her to Bangkok. * Reg. 2. A vessel passing Paknam without discharging her guns and ammunition as directed in the foregoing regulation, will be sent back to Paknam to comply with its provisions, and will be fined eight hundred ticals (about $500) for having so disobeyed; after delivery of her guns and ammunition, she will be permitted to return to Bangkok to trade. Jlecj. 3. When a British vessel shall have cast anchor at Bangkok, the master, unless a Sunday should intervene, will, within twenty-four hours after arrival, proceed to the British consulate, and deposit there his ship's papers, bills of lading, &c., together with a true mani- fest of his import cargo ; and upon the consul's reporting these particulars to the custom-house, permission will at once be given by. the latter to break bulk. For neglecting so to report his arrival, or for presenting a false manifest, the master will sub- ject himself in each instance to a penalty of four hundred ticals (about .$250j ; but he will be allowed to correct, within twenty-hours after delivery of it to the consul, any mistake he may discover in his manifest, without incurring the above-mentioned penalty. Ite(j. 4. A British vessel breaking bulk, and commencing to discharge before due permis- sion shall be obtained, or smuggling, either within the river, or outside the bar, shall be sub- ject to the penalty of eiglit hundred ticals, and confiscation of the goods so smuggled or dis- charK"d. Itcjj. 5. As soon as a British vessel shall have discharged her cargo, and completed her out- ward lading, paid all her duties, and delivered a true manifest of her outward cargo to the British consul, a Siamese port-clearance shall be granted her on application from the consul, who, in the absence of any legal impediment to her departure, will then return to the master ill.) About 3,400 lbs. 496 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. his sMp's papers, and allow the vessel to leave. A custom-house officer will accompany the vessel to Paknam, and, on arriving there, she will be inspected by the custom-house officers o-f that station, and will receive from them the guns and ammunitiojn previously delivered into their charge. Reg. 6. Her Britannic Majesty's plenipotentiary having no knowledge of the Siamese lan- guage, the Siamese government agrees that the English text of the regulations, together with the treaty of which they form a portion, and a tariff, hereunto annexed, shall he accepted as conveying, in every respect, their true meaning and intention. The treaty, of which the foregoing is a summary, as well as the tariff and regulations, which are given entire, is considered as favorable to the interests of foreign commerce as any that could have been secured; and as it will apply to American as well as to British iiags, under the provisions of the treaty of 1836 with the United States, already noticed, it may be hoped that it will give a fresh impetus to American trade in that fertile portion of Farther India, and open aa estensive and profitable market for American products. Of the general trade and commercial relations of Siam with other nations, but little, com- paratively, is, with certainty, known. The following summary, respecting the principal pro- ducts of that kingdom, and their commerpial importance, is made up, chiefly, from British official returns of recent date : Sugar is looked u]3on as the principal return for British imports. Its cultivation as an ai'ti- cle of commerce originated in the enterprise of Chinese settlers in the year 1810. In 1822, it had reached 60,000 peculs, or 3, TOO tons; in 1835, 135^000 peculs, or 15,295 tons. At this period the trade in sugar received a severe check, in consequence of the King monopolizing the entire trade in his own hands, and fixing his own prices both for the producer and foreign pur- chaser. The present King has discontinued the traffic carried on by his predecessor, and culti- vators are once more free to sell to any customer. The manufacture, however, still remains burdened with various taxes, which keep up the cost of production, and check demand, so that 80,000 peculs (say 5,000 to 6,000. tons) are now spoken of as an average crop. The land-tax on sugar plantations is one tical per square of twenty fathoms, which, under favorable circumstances^ will yield four peculs. This would amount, on production, to one sailing (15 cents) ]3er pecul (133 lbs.); and the duty which is levied on sugar, on its passage to Bangkok, is exactly double the amount of the land-tax, the payment of which, under the new treaty, will free it from any further charge on exportation. Siamese sugar is much esteemed for its whiteness and fine strong grain, and, as the greater portion of the valley of the Menam, the area of which has been estimated at 22,000 square miles, is stated to be well adapted to the growth of the cane^ it is supposed that the annual sugar crop would admit of very material increase. EiCB. — The extreme facility of irrigation, and the periodical inundations of the Menam„ supply, with unusual certainty, the fertility necessary for the growth of this cereal. Hitherto its exportation was forbidden by law ; but, under the new treaty, it is stipulated that this pro- hibition shall only be enforced in times of positive scarcity. The demand for this article, both for home and oriental consumption^ is constantly on the increase ; and there is every prospect that Siam will, in the course of time, rival the British province of Arracan (in the Bengal presidency) in supplying this article for the markets of China^ Australia, and Europe. The annual exportation of rice in this British province is now raised to 120,000 tons — nearly 800 per cent, over the total exportation of rice from the United States in 1S55. The trade with Siam, however, will always have this advantage over that with Arracan — that, in the former, rice and all other products are given in exchange for manufactures and other articles of trade; while, in the latter, the exports are paid for in bullion. Forty times the amount of seed is stated as the average yield ; and the ordinary price is one tical (61 cents) per 133 lbs. SIAM, 497 Salt. — This article is obtained, of excellent quality, from the extensive mud-flats ■which line the head of the G-ulf of Siam, and at so cheap a rate that the cost of production does not exceed from one to two ticals (61 cents to $1 22) per koyan of 25 peculs, or 3,400 lbs. English. Salt is, however, a special object of taxation in Siam ; and the duty of |3 60 per koyan raises the above-mentioned price to seven or eight ticals (|4 27 to $4 88) per koyan, equal to about |2 88 to $3 36 per ton. The British commissioner endeavored, in negotiating the late treaty, but inef- fectually, to obtain a reduction of this high duty. It is, notwithstanding its price in market, in much demand at Singapore ; and the Siamese government have withdrawn all impediments hitherto existing to its shipment. Teak. — The teak forests of SiaA are situated at some considerable distance up the Menam, and the trees, when felled, are floated down in large rafts to Bangkok. There is always a brisk demand for this article, both in the markets of China and Singapore. Sapan-wood. — The annual exportation of this dye-wood reaches from 80,000 to 100^000 peculs (from 5,000 to 6,000 tons). Hitherto, the Siamese government have levied a tax of one tical per pecul on sapan-wood, being from 50 to more than 100 per cent, upon its value; and it was with great difiiculty that the British commissioner persuaded the Siamese authorities to lessen this tax to 2^ salungs per pecul — being a reduction of more than one-third upon the old rate. Rosewood and Ebony. — These woods are abundant in Siam, and are largely shipped to China and Singapore. The export duty has been reduced one-third of former rates. Pepper. — The production of this article had reached, at one time, more than 9,000,000 pounds per annum, when an oppressive tax imposed by the present administration of Siam, of one catty of pepper on every vine, or about 8 per cent, on the produce, in addition to an feport duty of one tical (61 cents) per pecul, amounting to the same per centage, caused such a check to the cultivation, that last year only 20,000 peculs were brought to market. The removal of the first of these taxes, now agreed to, will serve, it is stated, to restore the growth of this useful spice to its former flourishing condition. In 1855, the United States imported from the British and Dutch East Indies 3,304,460 pounds of black pepper, valued at $171,008. Cotton. — Above the line of the inundated tracts, land fit for the cultivation of cotton abounds. The crop has reached as high as 140,000 peculs (8,330 tons) in a year; but, owing to various causes, some of which the British commissioner has succeeded in removing, it is thought that its culture will be again encouraged, and its exportation increased. Silk. — This product has been largely grown in the rich district of Kocat^ and the crop has reached 1,500 peculs per annum — valued at $150^000; but the larger markets of China being so close at hand, the silk of Siam will, probably, never assume much importance in the foreign trade of the kingdom. Hemp. — This article holds out much interest to foreign traders. Its growth in Siam is only just becoming known, and it is particularly recommended on account of its great strength, and its glossy and silky texture, which would allow of its being woven up into silk fabrics. Its moderate price — 10 ticals ($6 10) per pecul — will enable it to compete successfully with that of Manilla. The following list will be found to contain all the manufactures which are most suited to Siamese consumption : White and grey long cloths. " " " madapollans. " " " cambrics. " " " jaconets. Book lappets. Velvets, plain and figured. Checked fancy muslins. American drills. [63] Cotton umbrellas. Figured long cloths. Dyed cambrics. Dyed long cloths. Prints, chintzes, furnitures, and neutrals. Siam chowls, or dresses. Turkey red cloth. Grey cotton twist. 498 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Iron, steel, lead, spelter. Earthenware^ assorted. Glass-ware and lamps, assorted. Muskets, gun-locks. Brimstone, bees-wax. Cowries, flint-stone, musket-flints, &c. Turkey red twist. Imperial red and Hue twist. Long ells. Ladies' clotli. Spanish stripes. Merinos of assorted colors. Canvass. The imports from India and China are even more varied, and consist of almost every article of manufacture, trifling or important, produced in those jountries ; these being required not only to meet the tastes and requirements of the Siamese, but also to supply the wants of the natives of India and China, many of whom are domiciled in Siam. The statistics of the trade of Siam are but meagre. The following table exhibits the num- ber and tonnage of ships which left the port of Bangkok for China and Singapore, from April 1, to August 31, 1855 : Destination. Number. Aggregate tonnage. Average tonnage. To China 11 9 4,850 3,500 4il 389 To Singapore JAPAN. JAPAN. Japan, properly speaking, is a large island-empire in the North Pacific, ofi" the coast of China, consisting of an archipelago, comprising three large, mountainous, and volcanic islands — Niphon, Kiusiu, Sikok — and an immense number of smaller islands. Of these lesser islands, the principal are Sado, Tsousima, Awadsi, Tanegasima, Yki, Yakesima, and Osima, with the groups Okisima, Gotusima, and Kosikisima, forming Japan proper; and the large island of Yesso, north of Niphon, and separated from it by the strait of Tsugar, or Matsmai, with the south half of the island of Tarakai, Krafto, or Saghalin, and the larger and more southern Kurile islands, forming a dependency called the Principality of Matsumae.* The Bonin-Sima and Lew-Chew groups also form dependencies. The following summary gives the extent of the Japanese empire, including all these dependencies: (( Area of Japan proper 116,405 square miles. Area of dependencies 47,312 Total 163,717 The population is variously estimated at from 15,000,000 to 50,000,000 ; the mean of the two estimates being, perhaps, nearer the truth. The pHncipal, or more important towns of the empire, are — On Niphon Yedo (or Jeddo), Mijako (or Kio), &c. On Kiusiu Nangasaki, Saga, Kokura, &c. On Sikok Simoda, Kotsi, Takamutsi, &c. On Yesso Hakodade, Matsumae, &c. The interior of the country is unknown to foreigners ; but it is represented to be, in many parts, sterile — agriculture being compulsory^ and under a system of sumptuary laws long known to exist in Japan. The natural productions of this vast empire are various and valuable. Its mineral riches include gold, silver, and copper. Sulphur and nitre abound; coal is found in the greatest abundance; and precious stones, including agates, sapphires, jasper, carnelians, and even diamonds, are obtained in different parts of Japan. The mulberry-tree grows in the greatest perfection, and dispenses food to myriads of silk- worms. Cloths, stuffs, cordage, &c., are manufactured from the paper-tree (kadsi). The varnish-tree (cenisi) yields a milky juice, employed in varnishing various articles — an art which has attained to such perfection in Japan^ that the English language has adopted the name of the empire itself to signify the highest perfection in the art of varnishing. Besides these, there are numerous other valuable trees indigenous to Japan, among which may be classed the bay-tree, the camphor-tree, the fig-tree, the cypress-tree, all of which are made sub- servient to the wants and luxuries of the Japanese ; and Hhould commercial intercourse ever be •502 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. freely opened with that empire, could be made availahle in supplying most vahiahle export staples. Hemp, cotton, rice, and every variety of cereals, some of them abounding with superior farina, are extensively and successfully cultivated. Rice is the principal food of the natives; and that raised in Japan is said to he the hest grown in all Asia. The silks, muslins, and cotton goods are manufactured with superior skill. Indeed, in seve- ral branches of handicraft the Japanese have no rivals. This is especially true as respects their ingenious and elegant carving in wood, ivory, pearl, and fish-bone. By the laws of Japan, all intercourse is forbidden between the Japanese and foreigners; though, for a long period of time, the Chinese have been permitted to carry on a limited trade (a) at Xangasaki. The trade consists in the exchange of broadcloths and woolen stuffs for lacc[uered wares, copper, and other produce and manufactures. The Dutch have been also permitted to send two vessels annually to this port for jpurposes of trade. The merchandise imported by the Dutch consists, chiefly, of wax, spices, ivory, iron bars, quicksilver, glasswares, musk, sapan-wood, sugar, piece-goods, and woolens, which they exchange for copper, camphor, silk and lacquered goods, wax, pitch, wheat, and Japanese manufactures . (h) At an early period the Portuguese founded a settlement, and established trade with the Japanese, having succeeded in winning the favor of several of the native princes, through the instrumentality mainly of Christian missionaries. In 1542, Fernando Meudez Pinto, a Portuguese, embarked in a junk from Macao to Lew- Chew; but, encountering adverse winds, he was driven to one of the western islands of the Japanese archipelago. About the ■same period, the celebrated Xavier arrived at Goa, and, pro- ceeding soon after to Koyosima, made so favorable an impression on the Prince of Satsuma that an active and profitable intercourse at once sprung up between the western ports of Japan and Macao. This intercourse continued uninterrupted during a period of nearly forty years, when an edict was issued permitting the Portuguese to continue their trade as before, but forbidding them to bring any more missionaries, or even to speak on religious subjects. In 1635, under the reign of Yeye Mitson, a prison was constructed oft' iSTangasaki, and all the Portuguese found in the country were there confined, and the commercial privileges which they had so long enjoyed were transferred to the Dutch, who were generally believed to be the instigators of the severe measures put in force against the Portuguese. A sanguinary battle between the Por- tuguese and native Christians, amounting to 38,000 men, on the one side, and the Dutch, and such of the natives as sympathized with them in their hostility to the Portuguese, on the other, was the result of these rigorous measures. The former fortified themselves in Simabara, and the latter made their attack under the command of the Dutch director Kockebecker. The fortress was soon reduced, and the Portuguese, rather than submit to their rivals, to whom they attributed all the misfortunes that had befallen them, perished to a man. An edict was imme- diately published, forbidding the Portuguese to enter the country. The intelligence of these proceedings soon reached Macao, and four of the most distinguished citizens were sent to conciliate the favor of the government of Japan. They arrived at Nano-a- saki in 1640, and were immediately put under arrest, and condemned to death for entering the country in violation of the edict. The following inscription, written, it is said, by the Dutch director, Kockebecker, was placed on their grave : "So long as the sun shall warm the earth, let no Christians be so bold as to come to Japan; and let all know, that the King of Spain himself, or the Christian God, or the Great Saca, if he violate this command, shall pay for it with his head." The Portuguese have never since been permitted to renew their intercourse with Japan. (a) The number of junks engaged in the trade annually is limited to four. (6) A mew provisional treaty between Holland and Japan was concluded at Xangasaki, on the 9th of Norembor, 18&S, which -will be noticed more fully in a subsequent part of this Digest. JAPAN. 603 Tte first formal edict in favor of the Dutct was issued in 1611. and the privileges of trade which were then conceded have continued, modified at various times, to the present day. (a) In the earlier period of this trade, return cargoes consi-ted chiefly of silver and gold, Japanese copper being then but little known in Europe. This latter article; however, soon became one of the leaiing sta>les of Japanese export trade. In a work, entitled "Xotes of the Voyage of the [Morrison from Cauton to Japan," published in 1S39, the following reference to the Dutch trade at this period is made: " The Dutch were now left in s ; 1 r po-sessi ;n of the trade with Japan ; and, since that time, it is well known, their m^jnopoly has never been disturbed. Their subseq^uent pc>litical interc'rurse has been limited to an occasional mission from Batavia, and the visits of the Dutch chief ot the factory to Tedo, formply made annually, but now once in four years. Charlevoix mentions embassies in 1664, 16.:)6. and 16-59. It was while the second of these missions was at Tc'io. that twi>thirds of that city and one hundred tli ;u~and of its population were destroyed by fire. It remains to trace, briefly, the use the Dutch have made of the monopoly to which they have so long aspired. "Of the assortment and value of their import cargoes, in the ITth century, we have little or no account. Their returns had been in silver, chiefly, until 1641, when the directors of the company suggested returns in g jld. Japanese copper was at tliis time in little estimation in Europe, because little known: but afterward, c^n a rise in value, it became an important return. The first order for twentythousand piculs was sent out in 16.55.'' Various restrictions and prohibitions have been, from time to time, imposed upon Dutch com- merce by the Japanese authorities. The imp 'Its and exports were limited, and the number of vessels was finally restricted to four, three, and two, a? before the late treaty. The profits realized by the Dutch from this trade have never been accurately ascertained. The author already cited, referring to the restrictions imposed by the Japanese government, remarks: -Under these circmnstances. the trade, which had yielded an annual profit of five to six hundred thousand florins for the thirty years previous [to 1714]. would no longer pay the charges." Efforts have been made, at different periods, by the English and French governments, as well as by that of the United States, to open commercial intercourse with Japan ; but. with the exception of the very limited concessions granted by the treaty of 31st March, lS-54, between the United States and Japan, and concessions nearly similar allowed to the British, by treaty, subse- quently ratified, and the privileges granted to the Dutch by the treaty of IS.5.5. witriout success. Sc'me years since, Bussia endeavored to establish commercial relations with Japan : but the proposal was declined, and the envoys were ordered not to return again, on pain of death. In a memorial presented to the United States Senate (January IS. IS.5.5) by Aaron Haight Palmer, (Sen. Miscell. Doc. Xo. 10, 33d Cong.. 2d sess.,) the exclusiveness of the Japanese government is thus accounted for : ••The city of Tedo is situated on a large plain, on the eastern coast of the island of Siphon, in latitude thirty-six degrees thirty-nine minutes north, and longitude one hundred and f;>rty (a) TEe=e feet? of early Enropean inteTConise with Japan are derired from reliable soTiroes : tut det\i!= v^ary ia iii'erent acconnte. Br one, it is stated, that after the Portuguese merchants had established a IncratiTe trade, and erected a fort. Portuguese priests followed, and S'X)n 300,000 of the inhabitants of ^Cangasaki renounced idolatry, and embraceii the Cath- olic religion. The Emperor, alarmed at this, issued an edict banishinr tlie VoiviTuse and deni;i^::::i their leli-rion. The Ticerf'T of yan^rasaki, a convert t.j CLri^tianity, rebelled against the ei::t : but he was defeated, the FortUi-i-rse were ex- pelled, and a s-conJ edict was issued forlddding Christiaiis to ^-^ t f;- 't within Ji^ian. But ihe Imtch. who had carried on a prosj- T' ■^ij trade with the empire, under tu-; ansjiiies of t!ie Portuguese, denied that tL.r were Chrisdaiis, and, after much nejroti.itiOLi. were p> .laitte-l t-j proseonte cummerce. althou-rh on terms the m^Z'St de^xiding ; amoni,' which were t.i spit ou the Bible, trample on iLr cmcilix. confine their residence to a fmall island opj'.i'sice tLe cltr, delirer the keys oi their warehouse^ ni^'litlr t-; the charge ci a maU'larin. and tv pay all customs dues esv ted. at on^:^ on the arrival of their vessel?. tC' native collectcrs 504 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. degrees east. It lies in the form of a crescent, around the bay of the same name, at the mouth of one of the largest rivers of the island. The circumference of the city is said to be over fifty miles, and its population is estimated at upwards of two millions. It contains the residences of the princes and great lords, who are compelled to reside there half the year. None of their mansions are more than tw8 stories high, and most of them only one story, of a simple style of architecture, and generally surrounded by wide enclosed courts and extensive gardens. " The palace, or residence of the Seogoon, is built of freestone, and is encompassed by a wall said to be fifteen miles in circumference, including a wide interior area, occupied by the spa- cious mansions of the princes and other high ministers of his court. The palace contains a great apartment called 'The Hall of Hundred Mati,' brilliantly adorned by pillars of cedar, painted walls, and gilded ceilings. la this hall the presents brought by the Dutch mission for the imperial court are displayed; and it is here the envoy is admitted t(j^a brief audience with the Seogoon and the grand dignitaries of the empire. " After being compelled to make many degrading obeisances, to crawl on his hands and knees to a place shown him between the presents arrayed in due form on one side, and the place where the Seogoon sits on the other, and then kneeling, he bows his forehead to the ground and retires^, crawling backwards, without being permitted to look up or utter a single word. On some occasions, the envoy and his suite have been required to dance, sing, play on musical instruments, and practise buffoonery, for the amusement of the Seogoon and his court. "Such degrading acts of homage and submission, together with the servile obsequiousness of the Dutch residents to the Japanese officials, on all occasions, for upwards of two hundred years, with the object of maintaining their paltry trade at Dezima, have inspired the court of Yedo with a profoftnd contempt for foreigners of the western nations. This will, in a great measure, account for the invariable assumption of its haughty and arrogant bearing towards strangers who have visited the country, as well as for its barbarous treatment of shipwrecked mariners." The treaty, already referred to, between the United States and Japan, which was concluded March 31, 1854, ratified August T, 1854, exchanged February 21, 1855, and proclaimed June 22, 1855, is as follows : "The United States of America and the empire of Japan, desiring to establish firm, lasting, and sincere friendship between the two nations, have resolved to fix, in a manner clear and positive, by means of a treaty or general convention of peace and amity, the rules which shall in future be mutually observed in the intercourse of their respective countries ; for which most desirable object the President of the United States has conferred full powers on his commis- sioner, Matthew Calbraith Perry, special ambassador of the United States to Japan, and the august Sovereign of Japan has given similar full powers to his commissioners, Hayashi, Dai- gaku-no-kami, Ido, prince of Tsus-Sima, Izawa, prince of Mima-saki, and Udono, member- of the board of revenue. And the said commissioners, after having exchanged their said full powers, and duly considered the premises, have agreed to the following articles : "Article i. There shall be a perfect, permanent, and universal peace and a sincere and cor- dial amity between the United States of America on the one part, and the empire of Japan on the other part, and between their people respectively, without exception of persons or places. "Article ii. The port of Simoda, in the principality of Idzu, and the port of Hakodade, in the principality of Matsmai, are granted by the Japanese as ports for the reception of Ameri- can sliips, where they can be supplied with wood, water, provisions, and coal, and other articles their necessities may require, as far as the Japanese have them. The time for opening the first-named port is immediately on signing this treaty ; the last-named port is to be opened immediately after the same day in the ensuing Japanese year. \_Note. — A tariff of prices shall he given by the Japanese officers of the things which they can furnish, payment for which shall be made in gold and silver coin.] JAPAN. 505 "Article hi. Whenever ships of the United States are thrown or wrecked on the coast of Japan, the Japanese vessels will assist them, and carry their crews to Simoda, or Hakodade, and hand them over to their countrymen appointed to receive them ; whatever articles the ship- wrecked men may have preserved shall likewise he restored, and the expenses incurred in the rescue and support of Americans and Japanese who may thus be thrown upon the shores of either nation are not to he refunded. " Aeticle IV. Those shipwrecked persons and other citizeiis of the United States shall he free as in other countries, and not subjected to confinement, but shall be amenable to just laws. " Aeticle v. Shipwrecked men and other citizens of the United States, temporarily living at 'Simoda and Hakodade, shall not be subject to such restrictions and confinement as the Dutch and Chinese are at Nangasaki, but shall be free at Simoda to go where they please within the limits of seven Japanese miles (or ri) from a small island in the harbor of Simoda, marked on the accompanying chart hereto appended ; and shall in like manner be free to go where they please at Hakodade, within limits to be defined after the visit of the United States squadron to that place. " Aeticle VI. If there be any other sort of goods wanted, or any business which shall require to be arranged, there shall be careful deliberation between the parties in order to settle such matters. "■Aeticle VII. It is agreed that ships of the United States resorting to the ports open to them shall be permitted to exchange gold and sil'jer coin and articles of goods for other articles of goods, under such regulations as shall be temporarily established by the Japanese government for that purpose. It is stipulated, however, that the ships of the United States shall be per- mitted to carry away whatever articles they are unwilling to exchange. "Aeticle VIII. Wood, water, provisions, coal, and goods required, shall only be procured through the agency of Japanese officers appointed for that purpose, and in no other manner. "Aeticle ix. It is agreed that if at any future day the government of Japan shall grant to any other nation or nations privileges and advantages which are not herein granted to the United States and the citizens thereof, that these same privileges and advantages shall be granted likewise to the United States and to the citizens thereof, without any consultation or ^elay. "Aeticle x. Ships of the United States shall be permitted to resort to no other ports in Japan but Simoda and Hakodade, unless in distress or forced by stress of weather. ' ' Article xi. There shall be appointed by the government of the United States consuls or agents to reside in Simoda, at any time after the expiration of eighteen months from the date of the signing of this treaty : provided that either of the two governments deem such arrange- ment necessary." The harbor of Simoda is near the southeastern extremity of the peninsula of Idzu, and afi"ords a safe and capacious anchorage. Hakodade lies on a spacious and beautiful bay of that name, and, for accessibility and safety, is one of the finest in the world — capable, says the "Hong Kong Eegister," of holding all the fleets of the Pacific in security. The following are the port regulations of Simoda: "Three natives have been appointed pilots for American vessels entering or departing from the port of Simoda, and the following rates of pilotage have been established by the proper authorities, viz : Vessels drawing over 18 feet, pay $15 00 '< " " 13 " and less than 18 10 00 " " under 13 " .., 5 00 [64] 506 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. " These rates shall be paid in gold or silver coin, or their equivalent in goods; and the same shall be paid for piloting vessels out, as well as into port. " When vessels anchor in the outer roads, and do not enter the inner harbor, only half the above rates of compensation shall be paid to pilots. " A look-out place shall be established at some convenient point, from which vessels appear- ing in the offing can be seen and reported ; and when one is discovered, making apparently for the harbor, a boat shall be sent to her with a pilot. And in order to carry this regulation into full eifect, boats of suitable size and quality shall always be kept in readiness by the har- bor-master, which, if necessary, shall proceed beyond Eock island, to ascertain whether the vessel in sight intends entering the harbor or not. If it may be the desire of the master of the' said vessel to enter the port, the pilot shall conduct her to safe anchorage, and, during her stay, shall render every assistance in his power in facilitating the procurement of all the supplies she may require. " The prices for supplying water to American vessels at Simoda shall be fourteen hundred cash(a) per boat-load (the casks being furnished by the vessel). And for wood delivered on board, about seven thousand two hundred cash per cube of five American feet." The foregoing is a full summary of the concessions granted to American intercourse by the treaty with Japan of March 31st, 1854. As a means of opening commercial relations with that empire, its provisions have proved inefficient ; but, before submitting any notice of facts that have come to the knowledge of the Department relative to this subject, it is deemed appropriate to give the leading provisions of the treaty entered into by Great Britain with Japan. The first article of this treaty opens the ports of Nangasaki and Hakodade to British vessels to repair and obtain supplies only. It opens all parts of these ports; but, as respects anchor- age, vessels must conform to the instructions of the local government. Safe and commodious places are to be designated for the repair of vessels. Workmen, material, and other necessary supplies to be furnished by the local government, in accordance with a tariff to be agreed upon, which shall regulate the manner of payment. All official communications to be conducted in the English language, as soon as the Japanese shall have acquired a knowledge of that lan- guage. A place to be reserved as a burial-ground for the English at Medsuma Sima, which will be enclosed by a stone wall and suitably protected. ^ The second article stipulates, that at each of the ports of Nangasaki and of Hakodade, the regulations of the port shall be observed; but the Japanese government will see that these regu- lations shall be such as to create no difficulties and interpose no obstacle whatever to the gene- ral object of the treaty, which is essentially designed to facilitate amicable relations between Great Britain and Japan. The third article declares that only vessels in distress or dismantled can enter other ports than Nangasaki and Hakodade, withoiit permission of the Japanese government ; but ships of war possess, as a necessary attribute of their public character, the general right to enter all the ports of friendly powers ; while, however, this right shall suffer no prejudice or restriction, the vessels of war of her Britannic Majesty will not enter any other than open ports, without neces- sity, nor without offering proper explanations to the imperial authorities. The fourth article provides that British ships and subjects in Japanese ports shall conform to the laws of Japan ; and that if any subordinate British subjects commit offences against the laws, they shall be delivered to their own officers for punishment ; and that if superior officers, or commanders of ships, shall break the laws, it will lead to the closing of the ports specified : but it is not intended by this article that any acts of individuals, whether high or low, previ- _ ously unauthorized or subsequently disapproved of by her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, (a) 600 copper cash are equal to 43 cents, (arbitrary value). Tlie currency In Japan is similar to that of China, in which 1 tael= 10 mace = 100 candareens = 1000 cash = $1 48 U. S. currency. JAPAN. 507 can set aside the convention entered into with her Majesty alone by his Imperial Highness the Emperor of Japan. The fifth article secures, in the fullest sense, to British ships and subjects, in every port of Japan, either now open or hereafter to be opened, an equality, in point of advantage and ac- commodation, with the ships and subjects or citizens of any other nation, without prejudice, however, to any peculiar privileges hitherto conceded to the Dutch and Chinese in the port of Nangasaki. If, therefore, any other nation or people be now, or hereafter, permitted to enter other ports than Nangasaki and Hakodade, or to appoint consuls, or to open trade, or to enjoy any advantage or privilege whatever, British ships and subjects shall, as of right, enter upon the enjoyment of the same. The sixth article declares that the convention shall be exchanged at Nangasaki, on behalf of her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and on behalf of his Highness the Emperor of Japan, within twelve months from the 14th day of October, 1854. The governor of Nangasaki communicated, in October, 1854, to Sir James Sterling, the fol- lowing standing port regulations : Akticle 1. Ships shall anchor within two sima, and there await the direction of the governor. Art. 2. No fire-arms to be discharged. Art. 3. No person to land on any of the islands. Art. 4. No soundings to be taken, nor boats to be pulling about. Art. 5. Should any communications be desired, a boat of the upper officers shall be called; but no communication shall be held 'with pierchant boats, and no exchange of articles take place, or trading of any sort. The above being according to the law of G-reat Japan, all commanders and other otficers shall obey the same, and orders shall be given to the crew that the aforesaid law shall not be broken. An arrangement, made subsequently to the convention with Great Britain, requires that British ships, intending to visit Japan, shall be provided with a document in proof of their nationality, and as a check upon the conduct of vessels in Japanese ports ; and her Majesty's government has directed a form of certificate of registration to be adopted, which has been accepted as satisfactory by the Japanese authorities ; and merchant ships arriving in Japanese ports are to submit their certificate of registration to the officers to be appointed by the Japanese * authorities, and to permit them to make such extracts from it as may seem good to them, before such ships can be admitted to obtain repairs and supplies. Her Majesty's ships of war are not to be provided with such documents ; but the officers in command, upon proper application, will atford all reasonable information regarding their ships. Holland has also recently formed a provisional treaty with Japan, as already mentioned ; but it is stated that the Dutch government withholds it from publication. The Singapore papers give the following summary of its provisions : " The Dutch are no longer limited to Decima, but may freely resort to Nangasaki and the immediate neighborhood. " The island of Decima is placed at the disposal of the Dutch, and the buildings thereon sold to Holland. " This island will serve as an entrepot for the Dutch, where they can land their goods without payment of duties or search. The keys of the water-gates and of the entrepot warehouses will remain with the Dutch chief factor. " The usual duties will not be exacted until goods are brought to Nangasaki. " The trade Avith tlie Dutch government remains on the former footing. " Free exercise of religion and right of burial is conceded to the Dutch. "There shall exist, henceforward, freedom of communication with other ships entering or departing from the roads. 50S COMMEECIALDIGESTS. ■■ A definitive treaty is to be hereafter coneliided ; but, until that takes place, the present agreement is to be considered in torce." The above is, in substance, all that has been published relative to the convention between Holland and Japan ; but, until the definitive treaty, alluded to in the last paragraph, shall have been entered into, the intercourse between the two countries will be of the same limited character that has hitherto exi-ted. Indeed, the Japanese evince an almost invincible repug- nance to opening their ports to foreign commerce, and, in their interpretation of treaties, con- cede nothing beyond what is specifically granted. Thus, the term ■• temporary residence" iu the treaty with the United States, is so strictly interpreted, that citizens of this country, who desired to land at one of the open ports, were required, before being jiermitted to go ashore, to state how long they intended so to reside; and intimations were given that ••four or five day^" would be sutticient to satisfy the w.^rds of the treaty. In one case, the applicants, whose object appears to have been to re>ide permanently at one of the open ports, for the pur- pose of establishing a depot for the supply of whaleships, were informed that, until they stated t-he exact number of days tliey intended to stay on shore, for •' temporary residence," they would not be permitteil to sleep one night from their vessel. On the 17th August, ISoo, the American schooner "Wilmington, Brown master, of New Loudon, Connecticut, arrived at Simoda from Hong Kong, with a miscellaneous cargo, sup- posed to be suitable for trade at that port. Shortly after casting anchor, some fifteen or twenty officers came on board, and desired to know on what business the vessel came into port. They were informed that she brought a cargo of American commodities, which the captain wished to sell or exchange for grMuJs of Japanese manufacttrre. They then informed the captain tliat they could not trade; that the people at large would be much pleased to do so, but that the Emperor had positively prohibited all commercial intercourse, under penalty of death to the offenders. A letter was addressed to the governor of the city of Simoda, which was returned in the same enveloj'C, with a verbal message to the effect that he would not be permitted to land a single article for trade, nor could he present any article for trade on shipboard. AA'ood and water (the former at five dollars per cord) were offered; but fresh provisions, it is stated by the captain, were refused. The vessel was, night and day, surrounded by guard-boats until she cleared from tiie bay The " Wilmington " then proceeded to Hakodade, where she met with more liberal treatment, but permission to trade was refused, as at Simoda. The only provisions to be pur- cha'-ed consisted of beans, turnips, scallions^ and such vegetables. The cattle the Japanese look upon as sacred, and will neither sell nor kill them. The captain and crew were permitted to gLi ashore and visit wherever they pleased. They were also exempted from the vigilance of guard-boats, as well as from the constant attendance of guards, as at Simoda. («) It seems evident, therefore, so far as appears, that, under the present treaty, the Japanese gov- ernment will not permit any trade to be carried on ; nor is there much probability of the treaty receiving any more liberal interpretation than that given to it by the officials at Simoda. It is, as the Japanese aver, a treaty of peace and amity only, strictly guarded against anv conces- sion or clause under which American citizens could claim the privileges of general trade. L E W - C H E W ISLANDS. The occupation of the inhabitants of these islands is chiefly agriculture, although they have some little commerce with China and Japan, to which they send, annually, a few junks, laden with provi>ii)Us and clothes, and bring, in return, the productions uf those countries. They have no currency of their own, but are familiar with the money, particularly the Chinese copper coin, called cash. (■ri Consular returns. JAl-AS, 509 'i :.':'. t i(is%it>ii>i/:i.i)f'^. t/,u*.\%t (A c/iAtm '-''rt-r, f/mnciofi ttAit, «rj-frit» f.'^/m ri%; cotton and g^ra-^; ',l'/th '/ rtj'i'; V,-z»>if';, l>i//i i':f'-A y/h.r': (mid U) \j': of inf';.'.',f f^tiAlity), y^AVzrr, L^lr-i/mn. jmiks, H.'/ttfMlt.>irAl u>^i\*., ;t,';'J a variety of othfrr sifti<;k« f>/r d*rfi';»t;'; p'jrpv-A-. 'Jh'; |/nf;'.-;f ., and loti'j'.trAf: 127 ' ^5'/ K Trx; \,nT\>',r h w^;ijf<;, and th'; j^/ft in f.<>ir o^^-jt U> A •'ri'-.rlf^Jia remels, for the por- y f-'j-n %\/-/ si'icA .u riii-, f/frivnutU,!, f/iw.iij'U-A July .'l. 1^,51; ar,d pf'claiiia^d iLi.'ch 0, l^'o, 'J'h'; s/oy<.. '.').',', ':,','. of .ih.'.,h.:. itAVitr/ v'lrttinWy 'ii»/;laim«*l anr ' j.'.^'iio'ti'j.'. whatyivir orer t/.e I.';W-''.'(,';ir \'.\>%u'l'.. A *,'-,y-t.rn,U; Xht<-A Ti;t/^ 'rx;tv-%ri t,L«; ('nited Btaten and the UUi'/'i'int ')f l.'-.ft-t'Aif-.w. Jt j« ai. i',lUjwn: with j.';>•. y *if<'l f;i':r,'i>,h!p. '.'-', ■'latev'^ article* th';*': ]><-.o\,h: aiik. for, wheth':.- frorri the '/ffj<^;r« '/f f/<;'/f/)':, *rhK;f< ti,<; ^//Knf.ry f;An fnrri'i'}i, nhnW \xi mM V, tYiem; nor bKaU the authori- t,i'/s/; any j,r')iiihtt',ry t'/^iAnUhun to th/; f^-op]'- gelling; a.-td whaterc-r either party may W(>;h t// bii;/, :•;,;).;( l>o '■.z':\,h,ri'/':'i at r*rbor ifi \.':m-<'AsfiW, i\i<:y n\ia.\\ U; supplied v/ith wood ar( to ?.":• olh';r urttdfn, they j-hall Ia; purcha^bJe only at N'ar/a. If «hif>« of tfc; \'u\u-A Ht;tt/;-, ar': •//,"/:/':') on Of':;tt J.';/.-'';?;';*', or on i^!^fid»nnderth'; jurisdiction of tlx; royal 5(oy';rfifn':r,t of L':y/('Ai(}W, '■}>'-. \'/.h\ authoriti';", -^hall 'lesf/at/;h p';r--.ons to a««i*,t in HHv'iiK/ Jif'; ari'l f/rof/<;rty, ari'J f,r<:i";fr'; what ':iif( hx; hrorjj(}it aishore, till tho «hip« of that nation («hall ':of;]<: t', fal<<; away all that n/ay have ^/,";n have'l : and the expen»'rs ine-iirred in /e-'/.uio;' til';-.'.': i/nfortiinat/; per^onn ^'.hall be refun'le'i by the nation they V^lon;/ to. \V'henever per'.'.ono from tthifiH 'A tlie l.'nito'i Htat/rii eorne a--},ore in Levz-Chev/, they ghall be at liberty to ramble v,'))<-,fe tt.ey pleane, without iiiwU-juri'/-.. or liaying offieial* tpy y/hat th'-y 'io ; but if tfiey violently !.'o into hontu-M, or trifle with women, or for% people to well th'-rn i.\iiu^/i:. or 'Io otf.er #i4eh like illej.oiil ao-t.c, they ."iiall be hirhhU-A by the local officera, bnt not f(/altr,^ pe; tliouwand cattie«; and with water at the rate of hix hundred %pper f;ash for one thoui;!).nd cat.tic/',, or six barrel* full, each corjtaining thirty American gallons," CHINA. CHINA. The Chinese Empire, comprising China proper and several external territories of great extent, forms one of the largest, and, as regards population, civilization, and resources, the most re- markable nation, to which the attention of the statistician could he attracted. Its history, its government, and its manners are peculiar to itself, and date from ages long prior to extant records. The very name which designates this vast empire on modern maps is unknown to the Chinese themselves, and its origin is even now a subject of discussion. It is, most probably, de- rived from the dynasty of Tsin, or Chin, whose chief first ohtained complete sway 250 years before the Christian era. The country was known to the Malays, Hindoos, Persians, Arahians, and other Asiatic nations, by the name of Jin, Chin, Sin, Sinse, &c. ; and it is, perhaps, referred to in Isaiah (xlix: 12) as the land of Sinim. Among the numerous names given to the country by the Chinese themselves, there is one, " Sz'-Hia" (all within), which is sufficiently significant of its "all within," or exclusive policy, in respect to other nations, to mark its entire appro- priateness. The hest authorities place this extensive empire hetween 20° 20' and 56° 12' north latitude, and 70° and 144° east longitude. The area is computed at 5,000,000 square miles, and the population at 420,000,000 souls. For administrative purpcses, the empire is divided into three principal parts, viz: China proper, Manchuria, and the colonial possessions. These include Mongolia, Hi, with Songaria and Eastern Turkestan, Kokonai, Thibet, &c. There is no country in the world better watered than China. The Yang-tse-Kiang, which traverses the country, centrally, west to east, has a course of 2,900 miles. The Hoang-ho, the next river in size, has a course of 2,000 miles, during the larger and lower part of which it gradually approaches the former, and, heing united with it by the Imperial canal, which has a length of 700 miles, furnishes what is said to be the most magnificent system of water commu- nication in the world — a system which brings all the provinces into direct commTinication with each other, and gives an inland navigation, with only one interruption, from Canton to Peking. The Hong-kiang is a river of considerable size, but still more commercial importance, having its embouchure at Canton. The internal trade of China, aided by the unusual facilities derived from its water-communi- cation, ramifies over all the provinces, and is of incalculable magnitude. Junks, barges, and whole fleets of smaller boats, cover its canals and rivers, the tonnage of which is said not to be exaggerated in equalling it with the combined tonnage of all other nations ! The coasting trade is comparatively small, and is much impeded, not only by the dangers of navigation, along a coast frequently visited by storms of terrific violence, but by hordes of pirates, who roam about almost with impunity, and make an easy prey of defenceless traders. Until after the war with England, the trade with foreigners, exclusive of that carried on by the main land (chiefly with Russia, at Kiachta), was restricted to the mouth of Canton river. Four other ports are now open to foreign trade, viz: Amoy, Fu-Chow-Fu, Ningpo, and Shanghai. [65] 614 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. A brief notice of eacli of these ports may not be inappropriate, before entering upon tbe com- mercial relations of China with the United States, and with the other principal commercial nations. Caxtox, or Kwang-chan fu, lies on the left bank of the Choo-Kiang, or Canton river, about 70 miles from its mouth, and is the greatest commercial emporium of the empire. Tbe city is enclosed by brick walls, on a sandstone foundation, six or seven miles in circuit, and entered by 12 gates. The sulrarbs are nearly as large as tbe city itself. On the south, they stretch along the river-side, and at their southwest corner are the "hongs," or foreign quarters — a long range of buildings separated from the river by a quay. There are in all 13 bongs, in- cluding those belonging to the British, American, Dutch, and other merchants. The whole territory, however, allotted to foreigners, is comparatively limited. The population of Canton is about 1,000,000, a large part of which resides on water, so that for four or five miles oppo- site to, and above and below the city, the river is crowded with floating dwellings. Amoy (Hai-mum) is situated on an island of the same name, in a bay of the China sea, oppo- site Formosa, and is an important point for foreign trade. The city is well fortified, and the harbor admits shipping up to the quays. The population numbers about 250,000. Fu-CHOw-FU, on the Min river, 28 miles from its mouth, is surrounded by an amphitheatre of bills, and enclosed by castellated walls 9 or 10 miles in circuit, outside of which are extensive suburbs. This port is situated within 70 miles of the black-tea district; and the city of Fu- chow-fu, besides its large factories for the manufacture of cotton, dyed blue cloths, &c., con- tains 500 ovens for the production of porcelain, which is here brought to a state of great perfec- tion. Tlie foreign trade of this port is extensive, as well as its commerce with all tbe maritime provinces, and the Lew-Chew and Japanese islands. Its population is estimated at 500,000. Ndn^gpo. — This is also a walled city, admirably situated for trade, at the junction of three streams, which, uniting their waters, flow hence in one stream to the ocean, eleven miles dis- tant. Ningpo has large manufactures of silk, and a population of about 300,000 inhabitants. It is stated that about 670 junks visit this port annually from Shantung and Leas-tong, freight- ed with oil, provisions, fruits, caps, cordage, horns, drugs, rice, and silk ; 560 from Fo-kien, and Hai-nan, with sugar, alum, pej^per, black tea, indigo, salt, rice, and dye-woods; from Can- ton and the straits, several vessels; and from the interior, about 4,000 small craft every year; the total imports being estimated at $7,650,000 annually. It is several days nearer to the green-tea districts than Shanghai, and has, consequently, affected to some extent the trade of that port. Shanghai, on the AYoosung river, about 14 miles from the sea, stands on a level and highly cultivated plain, and is enclosed by a wall 5 miles in circuit, outside of which are populous suburbs. There are numerous manufacturing establishments in Shanghai, and the native trade at this port is, perhaps, more extensive than at any other in China. The population is sup- posed to reach about 200,000. Tbe chief manufactures are flowered silk, of beautiful and deli- cate texture; glass, paper, ivory and bone, gold and silver, and iron wares. Shanghai is an important entrepot of the commerce between the northern and southern provinces of China, exporting manufactured goods to Tien-tsin, in the metropolitan province of Chi-li, and in'port- ing large quantities of pulse, flour, meats, rhubarb, and skins, from the shores of the Yellow sea. An extensive internal communication by water facilitates its trade with all the northern half of China, and it is stated to have a direct trade with the countries of Central Asia. Its coasting trade is also very extensive — as many as 3,000 junks being often crowded together in its river — from Hai-nan, Canton, and the Asiatic archipelago. The chief exports of Shanghai to foreign countries are silk, tea, camphor, drugs, cassia, and the best porcelain. The commercial relations of the United States with China are regulated by the stipulations of the treaty of July 3, 1844. A tieaty, similar in all its leading provisions, was negotiated with Great Britain in 1842, and a tariff of duties on imports and exports, and duties on ton- nage, are made a part of both these treaties. Formerly, foreign intercourse, as already re- CHINA. 515 marked, was confined to Canton, and hither were brought, from the distant parts of the empire, teas, silks, and other leading staples of China. Trade was invariably conducted through the intervention of hong merchants, who were licensed agents of the government^ and answerable to it for all duties of import, export, and other charges accruing on the vessel, the affairs of which they managed. This system was adopted as a precautionary measure for securing the duties and other dues levied on foreign vessels ; but the treaties referred to containing ample stipulations respecting this subject, the agency of the hong merchants has been abolished, and their duties transferred to the consuls of the nations to which the vessels respectively belong. The treaty between the United States and China guaranties the same commercial advantages and privileges to the citizens of the United States that are, or shall be, conceded to the citizens of any other foreign power. Fees and charges of every kind, not comprehended in the treaty, are abolished. Trade is permitted to the five ports of Kwang-chow^ Amoy, Fuchow, Ningpo, and Shanghai, and from either of the said ports to any other of them; but it is prohibited to any other ports in the empire, or along the coasts thereof, under a penalty of confiscation of vessel and cargo. Trade is subject to no restrictions as to origin or nature of cargo, or port of departure, with the exception of the article opium^ which is declared contraband. Captains on entering are required to deposite their papers with the consul of their nation, who will notify the proper local authority of the name and tonnage of the vessel, names of the crew, and nature of cargo. Tonnage duty is fixed at .5 maces (equal to 74 cents) per ton, if the vessel is over 150 tons burden; 150 tons or under, 1 mace (equal to 14.8 cents) per ton. Before cargo can be landed, a permit must be obtained from the local authority, under a penalty of 500 dollars, and forfeiture of goods so landed. Standards of weights and measures are to be supplied by the Chinese government to the con- suls of the different nations, to secure uniformity, and prevent confusion in measures and weights of merchandise. The former limitation of foreign trade to hong merchants, appointed by the government, is abolished ; and citizens of the United States are admitted to trade with any and all subjects of China, without distinction. The privilege is conceded of re-exporting into any other port any merchandise imported into any one of the five ports, without being subject to any additional duty, provided the full duty was paid when first imported, and the goods remain with their original marks unchanged ; but this privilege must be specially applied for through the American consul. The other provisions of the treaty apply mostly to the privileges, and duties, and police regu- lations, applicable to the consuls, merchants, and citizens of the United States at the five ports. Shipping dues, formerly charged on the measurement of the ship's length and breadth, at so much per cJiang, and all the old charges of measurement, entrance, and port clearance fees, daily and monthly fees, &c., are also abolished by this treaty; and the tonnage duty on the registered tonnage of the vessel, specified in the preceding synopsis, is substituted in lieu thereof. Commercial relations between the United States and China date from a period as early as 1784. In the month of February of that year^ it appears that the "Empress of China," a ship of 360 tons, sailed from New York for Canton, and returned the following year, with a rich and valuable cargo. The success, as well as the novelty of this adventure, attracted no little attention throughout the country. The ensuing year another voyage was made, in a small ves- sel of only 84 tons burden, with equal success. Merchants were soon induced to engage in an enterprise which promised the most flattering results; and, as early as 1789, five years after the American flag had first entered the Chinese seas, fifteen American ships arrived at Canton. Such was the origin of an extensive and profitable trade between the United States and the Celestial Empire. Trade between the United States and China is of two kinds: direct, carried on generally on American account, and constituting the basis of the Treasury Reports as respects American trade with China ; and indirect, or that carried on by the Americans between China and other 516 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. parts of the world. Of this latter trade, no official accounts can be returned to the Treasury- Department ; a fact that will generally account for the apparent large balances of trade against the United States, given in the annual reports from that Department. THE TEA TRADE. Tea is the chief article imported from China into the United States. The whole imports from China to the United States in 1855 amounted to $11,048,726, of which tea covered $6,806,463. In 1854, the total imports reached .$10,506,329, of which tea amounted to $6,545,115 ; and in 1853, $10,573,710, of which tea covered $8,174,670. The following tables aiford a review of the quantities of tea imported into the United States from China since the commencement of that trade, so far as they can be gathered from various official returns: Years. Quantities, Years. (Quantities. 1790 Pounds. 3,047,242 985,997 2,614,008 2,009,509 2,460,914 2,374,118 2,310,259 1797... Pounds. 2.008,399 1,890,965 4,501,503 3,797,634 1791 1798 1792 1799 1793 1800- . . 1794 Total 1795 28,000,548 1796 Making an average annual importation for the first eleven years of the trade of 2,500,000 pounds. The quantities of teas of all kinds imported into the United States each year from 1801 to 1812, is given as follows: Years. Quantities. Years. Quantities. 1801 Pounds. 4,086,960 4,269,828 6,053,529 3,622,828 5,119,441 6,870,806 1807 Pounds. 8,108,774 4,812,638 1,482,690 7,839,457 3,018,118 3,056,089 1802 1808 1803 1809 1804 1810 - 1805 -- 1811 1806 1812. Deducting the quantities ascertained to have been exported from the United States during the above period, we find the average annual consumption in the country to have been 3,350,000 lbs. From 1813 to 1820, inclusive, the total amount consumed, or on hand, can alone be given. It approximates very closely, however, the total amount imported during that period, and was CHINA, 517 as follows: teas consumed, or on hand, 26,Y1T,917 lbs.; or an average annual quantity of 3,339,740 lbs. The quantities of teas of all kinds imported into and exported from the United States, from 1821 to 1833, inclusive, together with the quantities retained for consumption, are shown as follows : Years. Imported. Exported. Consumed. 1821 Pounds. 4,975,646 6,639,434 8,210,010 8,934,487 10,209,548 10,098,900 5,875,638 7,707,427 6,636,790 8,609,415 5,182,867 9,906,606 14,639,822 Pounds. 531,691 1,333,846 1,735,076 1,148,868 2,035,808 1,998,672 1,626,417 1,417,846 1,018,343 1,736,324 526,186 1,279,262 1,712,779 Pounds. 4,443,955 5,305,588 6,474,934 7,785,619 8,173,740 8,100,228 4,249,221 6,289,581 5,618,447 6,873,091 4,656,681 8,627,344 12,927,043 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 - 1829 1830 1831 1832. 1833 If from the imports are deducted the exports for each year, an average annual consumption, for the entire period, of 7,000,000 pounds will be given. The following statement shows the imports and exports of tea, the quantity remaining on hand, or consumed each year, from 1834 to 1841, exclusive of 601,319 lbs. imported during the entire period from other countries than China : Years. Imported. Exported. Consumed or on hand. 1834 Pounds. 16,282,977 14,415,572 16,382,114 16,982,384 14,418,112 9,349,817 20,006,595 11,560,301 Pounds. 3,081,308 2,082,866 1,896,342 2,508,386 2,435,302 1,592,033 3,123,496 660,832 Pounds. 13,201,669 12,332,706 14,485,772 14,473,998 11,982,810 7,757,784 16,883,099 10,899,469 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 Total 119,397,872 17,380,565 102,017,307 The preceding table will show that the average annual amount consumed, or retained on hand, during this period, was 12,752,163 pounds. The following statement exhibits the values of all imports from China into the United States from 1833 to 1841, inclusive, distinguishing the values of teas ; together with the number of vessels and the tonnage employed in the trade : 518 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Years. No. of vessels. Tonnage. Values of imports. Values of teas. 1833 41 43 36 43 42 29 18 35 28 15, 334 fi7.511.570 $5,484,603 6,217,949 4,522,806 5,312,811 5,903,054 3,497,156 2,428,419 5,427,010 3,466,245 1834 15,550 7. 892.. 327 1835 13,495 16,445 16,100 11,821 7,392 14,771 11,986- 6,987,187 7,324,816 8,965,337 4,764,536 3,678,509 0,640,829 3,095,388 1836 . . 1837_ 1838 1839 1840 1841 Total 315 12 2.954 56,490,499 42,290,053 From the preceding table, it may be seen that the value of teas reached, annually, during the period designated, about $4,698,894, .'likI constituted 7.^ per cent, of tlie value of the entire imports ; while the trade employed annually about .3.5 vessels, averaging '.!>'.)() tons each. The preceding table is continued, as follows, down to IS^.l, and exhibits, generally, the same proportion between the value of total imports from China and the value of teas : Years. Tonn.age. Values of imports. Values of teas. 1842 - 1843 12,488 13,460 15,399 21,682 19,243 17,775 24,383 19,418 29,414 38,914 78, 085 92,864 70,426 70,815 $4,934,045 4,385,560 4,931,255 7,285.911 0, 693, 881 5,583,313 8,083,490 5,513,785 6,593,402 7,065,144 10,593,950 10,537,710 10,506,329 11,048,726 $4,367,101 3,776, 404 1844 4, 075, 191 1845 - 1846 - 5,730,101 5,022.600 1847 -. 4,278,448 [ 1 1848 . 6,217,111 1849 4,071,789 1850 4,585, 720 1851 1852 18,:3 4,633,529 7,114,500 8, 174. 670 18-1 - i 1855 6,. 545, 115 6,806,463 i Statement showing the qvontili.es of tea exported from C'h.ino, to Great Britoin, and the United States, respeciixely, for a period of ten yeors, endi.n/j Juv.e 30, 18.54. [Made up from the " China Mail."] Years. POHNDS OF TEA F-.X^ORTED TO- Grtrit Britain. 1845. 1-4C_ 1847. 1848. 1«49. 53,570,200 57, 5" 4, 600 53,365,000 47, 694, 300 47,242,700 United states. 20.762.558 1^. 502, 2-8 18, 171.025 19,338,640 18,072,300 POC.NDB OF TEA EXPORTED TO- Great Bntam. 18 50. r-51- ]-'52. 1>53. 1854. 53,961,800 61,020,100 65, 137,200 72,900,100 77,217,900 LTnitcd .8i'Jtf;-*. 21,757,800 28,760,800 34,331,000 40,971,500 27,867,500 CHINA, 519 Statement showing the quantities of tea exported from China to Great Britain, France, and the Uwited States, from 1821 to 1840. [From French authorities.] Years. England. France. United States. Total. 1821 Kilos, (a) 13,820,000 12,315,000 13,072,000 14,302,000 13,200,000 Hi, 428, 000 17,886,000 14,706,000 13,745,000 14,354,000 14,242,000 14,209,000 14,427,000 14,413,000 18,72.-1,000 21,800,000 16,426,000 18,187,000 17,172,000 12,010,000 Kilos. 56,000 14,000 15,000 6,000 3,000 151,000 270,000 Kilos. 2,23.8,000 2,987,000 3,694,000 4,010,000 4,581,000 4,533,000 2,041,000 3,460,000 2,968,000 3,863,000 2,330,000 4,452,000 0,587,000 7,319,000 6,482,000 7,361,000 7,028,000 0,485,000 4,184,000 9,003,000 Kilos. 16,114,000 15,316,000 16,781,000 18,318,000 17,790,000 18,112,000 20,803,000 18,100,000 10,834,000 18,220,000 16,809,000 18,768,000 21,400,000 22,380,000 25,253,000 29,277,000 24,089,000 24,796,000 21,419,000 21,937,000 1822 1823 1824 1825 - 1826 1827 1828 1829 121,000 9,000 237,000 47,000 386,000 648,000 46,000 116,000 35,000 124,000 93,000 264, 000 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 -- In addition to the foregoing, large quantities of tea are exported from China to the Nether- lands, Hanse-towns, the Levant, tlie Mediterranean, and Kussia. To tlie last named country- there were exported in IH:!!), 8,442,000 kilos., and in 1840, 3,585,000 kilos. ; which, added io the totals for 1830, will give, for that year, 24,891,000 kilos., and for 1840, 25,522,000 kilos. "In the consumption of tea, the United States rank next to Great Britain. From 1815 to 1834, there were exported to the former, for consumption and re-exportation, 35,805,000 kilos. In 1S32, 4,028,000 kilos., of which 20,000 kilos, were re-exported. In 1833-'34, the Americans exported from Canton for Europe 1,044,000 kilos. Consumption in the United States has largely increased since tea was put on the free list of that country. "(&) Next to tea, raw silk is the principal export from China. The quantities exported to the United States, during a period of six years, ending June 30, 1854, appear from cousular re- turns to have heen as follows — the entire export being from the port of Shanghai : In 1849, 35 bales; 1850, 415 bales; 1851, 250 bales; 1852, 298 bales; 1853, 534 bales; 1854, 1,074 bales. It has been seen that tea constitutes in value about three-fourths of the entire imports into the United States from China. The description and amount of merchandise exported from the United States to China, in the direct trade, in exchange, may be inferred from the subjoined statement for 1842 and 1855 : (a) 2.20 lbs. each. (i) "China Opened,"— a work published in Eussia in 1838. 520 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Principal articles of mercJiandise exported from the United States to Canton in 1842 and in 1855, ivitJi the values, respectively. Articles. Ginseng _ Skins and furs Beef Pork and tacon -- Tobacco Cordage, &c. Copper Cotton manufactures Flour and ship -bread - _., Hats. _ Candles and soap _- Lead Iron manufactures Twist yarn Gold and silver bullion and coin Sundries - Total SC3,000 18,000 2,847 1,789 2,518 1,165 2,730 337,470 6,766 2,830 4,476 163,642 12,924 18,255 606,714 81,330 1,326,456 1855. $19,445 6,415 13,058 2,731 2,480 6,319 588,521 5,988 ..(a).... 1,888 54,412 40,013 -{*) 674,965 380,876 1,797,111 The subjoined statements, derived from French and British ofScial returns, ■will be found generally to correspond, with some variations and discrepancies^ with those already given from official authorities of the United States : Vahie of commerce between the United States and China, the years specified. Years. From China to the United States. From the U. States to China. 1834 Francs. 42,092,000 31,932,000 39,066,000 47,815,000 25,410,000 19,619,000 35,397,000 21,519,000 Francs. 5,389,000 9,966,000 6,369,000 3,363,000 8,089,000 8,179,000 5,389,000 6,485,000 1835 1836 .-- 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 - Eeturns from China to the United States are, in general, direct. This may account for the excess of imports over exports. The latter frequently consist of English and Dutch merchandise laden on freight at Bengal and Batavia. Thus, in 1836-'3'7, merchandise of foreign produce, amounting to 13,390,000 francs, including rice taken in at Batavia, Penang, or Manilla, to the amount of 4,635,000 francs, was imported into China in American bottoms. Of the 6,485,000 francs shown for the direct exports in 1841, domestic produce and manufactures covered 3,863^000 francs, and foreign merchandise 2,622,000 francs. (a) Included in sundries. ( h) Included in cotton manufactures. CHIN A. 521 The following tables exhibit the description of merchandise, with the quantities and values, which entered into the direct trade between the United States and China, the years designated : Quantities and values of imports from China into the United States, from 1834 to 1841. [Made up from British returns.] Denomination of merchandise. 1834. Quantities. Values. 1835. (Quantities . 1836. (Quantities. Values. 1837. Quantities. Tea Tissues of cotton Do sill!.{a) Silli, sewing Do. raw Eaw sugar — brown Cassia lignea Porcelain Metals, copper and tin . Camphor Wooden wares Indigo Sundries Pounds. 16,268,000 753,000 1,328,000 4,000 2,000 Dollars. 6,211,000 56,000 996,000 14, 000 79,000 46,000 104,000 14,000 19,000 1,000 5,000 1,000 346, 000 Pounds, 14,403,000 596,000 1,032,000 21,000 Dollars. 4,518,000 6,000 888,000 39,000 4,000 29,000 77,000 17,000 22,000 4,000 H,000 Pounds. 16,347,000 Dollars. Pounds. 5,331,00016,942,000 28,000 1,214,000 84,000 2,959,000 1,127,000 2,119,000 1,188,000 39,000 9,000 369,000 9,000 121,000 89,000 27,000 19,000 10,000 10,000 6,000! 4,000 377,000: 338,000 Dollars. 5,893,000 37,000 1,851,000 253,000 99,000 120,000 88,000 29,000 19,000 90,000 18,000 3,000 465,000 Total. 7,892,000 5,987,000 7,325,000;. 8,965,000 QUANTITIES AND VALUES OF IMPORTS— Continued. Denomination of merctiandise. Tea -.. Tissues of cotton Do. sillc (a) Silli, sewing Do. raw Eaw sugar — brown Cassia lignea Porcelain Metals, copper and tin. . Camphor Wooden wares Indigo Sundries Total. 1838. 14,411,000 528,000 461,000 39,000 3,494,000 27,000 935,000 31,000 16,000 20,000 36,000 10,000 1,000 8,000 23,000 164,000 4,765,000 1839. 9,297,000 439,000 2,413,000 4,000 928,000 1840. 19,966,000 336,000 32,000 647,000 4,000 67,000 103,000 6,000 225,000 3,679,000 55,000 5,415,000 2,000 760,000 20,000 142,000 11.000 49,000 4,000 1841. 11,164,000 91,000 564,000 8,000 20,000 5,000 40,000 166,000 I 40,000 3,000 I 6,642,000!. 3,343,000 286,000 1,000 166,000 7,000 46,000 1,000 9,000 1,000 125,000 3,985,000 (a) Piece goods. [ ee ] 522 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Quantities and values of exports from the United States to China, from 1834 to 1841. [JIadc up from British returns.] Denomination of merchandise. 1834. 1835. 1836. 18 37. Quantities. Values. Quantities. Values. \ Quantities. Values. Quantities. Values. Domesiic produce. Cotton goods Pounch. Dollars. 152,000 18,000 Pounds. Dollars. 175,000 61,000 Pounds. Dollars. 86,000 36,000 Pounds. Dollars. 204,000 Skins and furs Pig lead Ginseng 178,000 brls. 1,100 17,000 69,000 5,000 1,000 289,000 brls. 1,200 16,000 86,000 6,000 2,000 51,000 10,000 55,000 32,000 10,000 1,381,000 456,000 brls. 1,100 4,000 206,000 7,000 1,000 118,000 32,000 96,000 198,000 213,000 109,000 Cereals Tobacco manufactured . . Foreign produce. Opium 52,000 42,000 27,000 42,000 7,000 148,000 Metals, crude and manu- factured (lead) Cloths of all kinds 359,000 25,000 194,000 167,000 52,000 327,000 145,000 584,000 27,000 Sundries Specie — Gold Silver 414,000 Total 1,010,000 \ 1,869,000 1,194,000 led. 631,000 QUANTITIES AND VALUES OF EXPOKTS—Contiui Denomination of merchandise. 1838. 1839. 1840. 1841. Domestic produce. Cotton goods 532,000 56,000 11,000 36,000 262,000 19,000 376,000 27,000 25,000 17,000 13,000 3,000 1 188,000 10,000 66,000 436,000 1,000 2,000 Skins and furs Pig lead 227,000 67,000 574,000 34,000 brls. 3, 000 30,000 1,510,000 638,000 320.000 brls. 1,500 31,000 119.000 10,000 4,000 Cereals Tobacco manufactured . . Foreign prodif.e. Opium 23,000 3, 000 17,000 Metals, crude and manu- factured (lead) Cloths of all kinds 315,000 30,000 31,000 89,000 171,000 16,000 699,000 38,000 7,000 27,000 60,000 2, 000 2,000 67,000 Sundries -- 117,000 10,000 977,000 Silver 729,000 477,000 427,000 Total 1,. 317, 000 1,534,000 1,010,000 1 201 000 i The value of domestic produce exported from the United States to China, in direct trade, as appears from United States Treasury Reports, was in 1831, $244,790; in 1841, $715,000; showing an increase in ten years of $470,210. CHINA. 523 The tonnage employed in the direct trade hetween England, France, and the United States, respectively, and China, from 1837 to 1840, was as follows : Countries. 1837. 1838. 1839. 1840. Vessels. Tonnage. Vtssels. Tonnage. Vessels. Tonnage. Vessels. Tonnage. Englatd 88 49,906 89 6 47 48,508 1,858 19,133 66 2 33 36,665 516 13,811 44 6 42 22,998 1,854 18,531 France ._ United States 51 19,953 THE OPIUM TRADE. This drug is chiefly grown in British India, where it has long been a strict monopoly of the government, and also in Persia and Turkey. It was first imported into China by the Portu- guese; but up, to the year 1768, the whole quantity imported did not exceed from 100 to 200 chests, annually. The East India Company commenced its importation in 17'73-'4; and, in 1780, small depots for its sale were established a little south of Macao. The trade continued to increase rapidly from India, until 1794, when large English ships found it profitable to anchor near Whampoa, for fifteen months at a time, selling opium. In 1800, its sale had risen to about 2,000 chests ; but, this year, its further importation into China was prohibited. Since that period, the smuggler succeeds the legal importer ; and, although the importation is no longer conducted in the vessels of the East India Company, it is extensively cultivated under their monopoly, and sold by them to private traders, by whom it is introduced into the prohib- ited markets of China. It is computed that, had China no silk nor teas to give in part payment for the opium con- sumed in the Celestial Empire, the drain of specie during the last thirty years would have amounted to $600,000,000. It is stated in a memorial presented to the Emperor, on the subject of the opium trade, that the drain from the imperial treasury, to supply this destructive luxury, was — From 1829 to 1831 , $24,000,000 " 1831 to 1834 28,000,000 " 1834 to 1838 40,000,000 The latter sum, it is stated, is about the average annual outlay at the present time ; and it is considered by an intelligent commercial correspondent at Macao quite problematical whether the Chinese would have taken more cotton goods and other imports from the United States and England, had they not expended so much for opium. The profits of the East India Company, who are entitled to whatever of credit or discredit may attach to keeping up this lucrative trade in opium, are stated at $18,000,000 per annum. If the company succeed in opening new markets for the drug (and it is represented that they are establishing retail shops all over the Indian empire), they will be amply reim- bursed for their diminished importations into China, since the importation of Turkish opium in American bottoms has so considerably interfered with their previously almost exclusive monop- oly of this trade. It should be added, that the importation of opium into China, though ille- gal, is openly tolerated by th^ Chinese ofiicials, and no difficulty is experienced in finding cash customers for any quantity imported. From 200 chests in 1756, when the trade was legal, the importation has risen to from 70,000 to 80,000 chests per annum in 1856, when its introduc- tion is prohibited by law. The value of opium imported in 1756 was about $1,000,000; the value at the present day has risen to $40,000,000. The basis of foreign exchange with China is as follows : — General imports, opium (which makes about 30 per cent, of the whole), bullion and specie, or drafts on London. 524 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. CANTON. Pkeviouslt to the treaty of Great Britain with China (June 26, 1843), Canton was the only- port of that empire open to foreign trade. Although the participation of four other ports in this trade has not detracted from the commercial movement at Canton, yet one of the ports opened by the treaties with Great Britain, France, and the United States (Shanghai) has already surpassed Canton in commercial importance, and another (Foo-Chow) is rapidly becom- ing a rival. " Since the year 1848," writes the United States consul at Shanghai, " the ports of Canton and Shangliai have changed commercial positions; the latter having exported more tea in 1855 to the United States than the whole trade amounted to when Canton was the only port open." The commercial intercourse of Canton with foreign countries may be gathered from the fol- lowing statement of the number and tonnage of vessels arrived at and departed from that port during the year 1854, distinguishing the countries to which they belong : Under what colors. ARRIVED, DEPARTED. No. of ships. Tonnage. No. of ships. Tonnage. British 137 65 5 3 4 11 23 3 15 2 1 1 18 6 1 68,795 45,690 1,934 1,483 1,753 2,589 10,427 866 3,274 328 672 144 6,268 1,925 650 136 60 5 3 4 11 23 2 15 2 1 1 11 5 1 1 21 4 69,050 43, 137 1,934 1,483 1,753 2,661 10, 687 526 3,396 328 672 144 3,538 1,677 650 1,000 6,120 1,015 American Danish Dutch French Hamburg _ Mexican New Granadian Peruvian - Portuguese ^ ._._ 21 4 6, 344 1,015 Total - 320 154,157 306 149,771 The number of American vessels which entered the port of Canton in 1855 was 84, aggre- gating 63,839 tons, against — In 1854 No. of vessels, 65 : aggregating 45,690 tons. 1853 " 72 " 43,000 " 1852 " 15 '' 57,228 " 1851 " TO " 44,535 " 1850 " TO " 35,160 " The value of imports at Canton from Great Britain in 1854 was $8,348,444 ; exports to Great Britain, .$G,0'J8,4T7 ; tonnage dues and import and export duties paid by British vessels, $589,182. CHINA. 525 The description and amount of merchandise imported into the port of Canton from the United States during the years 1854 and 1855 were as follows : Articles. Drills pieces- - Jeans do Sheetings do Lead pounds.. Ginseng do Cochineal do Quicksilver do Sherry wine gallons . Skins packages. Flour -harrels- Ship-bread pounds. Pork barrels - Beef tierces- Beef barrels. Spars number- Eaisins hhds. Tobacco boxes. 1854. 143, 680 11,785 22,465 140,062 114,795 635 1,607 2,400 12,693 80 150 1855. 53,850 17,120 169,372 177,454 7,980 157,500 555 46 160 15 119 Cigars number.. Coal tons.. Cannon number. . Water casks do Timber feet.. Plank and board do Oakum pounds.. Turpentine gallons. . Tar barrels. . Eosin do Pitch - do.... Ship-chandlery stores. dollars.. Cordage pounds. . Clocks number-. Sheathing metal cases-. Mexican and Spanish dollars.. Gold bars value.. 1854. 20,000 150 $36,000 353, 000 1855. 201 25,217 52,700 4,000 493 50 25 25 869 7,550 108 24 $99,300 195,700 The following is a detailed the 1st day of July, 1855, to G-reen teas Black teas Pongees Pongee handkerchiefs Sarsnets Sensha ws Satins Satin damask Crapes , Crape shawls and scarfs Levantines Levantine handkerchiefs Sewing silk Kaw silk Cassia Camphor Grass cloth list of exports from the port of Canton to the United States, from the 31st day of December, 1855, inclusive: 591,540 Ihs. 2,063,048 lbs. 29,531 pieces. 1,185 " 11,572 " 1,352 " 495 " 118 508 T0,873 53 " 1,650 " 633 lbs. 115,287 " 753,300 " 46,700 " 350 pieces. Matting 24,194 rolls. Nankeens 266 boxes. Fans, &c 2,583 " Khubarb 71 Sweetmeats 2,982 Vermillion 71 China ware 370 Fire-crackers 63,720 Cassia oil 29 Anise oil 26 Cassia buds 124 Star aniseed 10 Lacquered ware 94 Split ratan 3,803 Tin slabs 1,000 Soy 20 barrels tc (I IC l( li li II AMOY. Teas and other articles are shipped from this port to Hong Kong, and thence to foreign countries. A direct trade with the United States might, it is thought, he built up here by the presence and enterprise of American merchants. (a) 9-pounders, with ammunition. 526 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. A statement of the number of American vessels arrived and cleared at the port of Amoy from 1847 to 1852, inclusive, with their tonnage, and duties paid to the Chinese government, so far as can be ascertained, derived from consular returns, is subjoined : Years. No. Tonnage. Cargo. 1 Duties paid. 1847 6 None. 5 3 2 6 1,630 General cargo $5, 500 1848 1849 1,580 1,342 1,049 2,131 Yarn and shirting 5, 750 do ! 3,300 Cotton - 6,040 Cotton yarn and piece gcods--' 7.570 1850 1851 1852 Total 22 7,732 28,100 Exports. 1850. — In three vessels, duties paid $4,735 1852. — In six vessels, duties paid 3,700 8,435 Amoy returns of trade for 1855 show the arrivals and departures of merchant vessels during that year to have been 312 in number, with a tonnage of 87,000 tons; the value of imports being $993,930, and of exports, $802,440. FOO-CHOW; This port has no direct trade with foreign countries. Vessels enter at other ports, pay duties, and receive a permit to land goods at Foo-Chow. The arrivals and departures of foreign ves- sels durino- the year 1855 were about one hundred, showing a large increase over the year im- mediately preceding — including, however, coasting vessels in the opium trade, all of which were under the British flag. The trade of the port is said to be rapidly increasing, bidding fair to render it the second port in China as regards foreign trade, Shanghai being the first. It already surpasses Canton in commerce with the United States. The number of American vessels arriving at Foo-Chow during the last six months of 1855 was 13 with an aggregate tonnage of 10,540 tons; clearances 20, with a tonnage of 18,026 tons, and with 15,106,070 lbs of tea: of which, 7,674,300 lbs. were for New York, 523,200 lbs. for Boston, and 6,908,570 lbs. for London. SHANGHAI. The geoo'raphical position, excellent shipping facilities, and proximity to the fertile valley of Yanc-tse-Kianc, would seem to point to Shanghai as a port possessing pre-eminent advantages, which when fully developed, must make it a flourishing and primary station. The following extract in relation to the trade of Shanghai is from an official communication addressed to the Department of State, dated Shanghai, August 7, 1855 : CHINA. 527 " It will be observed that the export trade for this period [first six months of 1855] has more than doubled any previous one ; and, inasmuch as the business season is just opening, it may safely be inferred that the value of exports for this year will be about double that of any previ- ous one. The disorganized state of the rest of the empire, the equal and regular levy duties at this port, and its superior geographical position, are the main causes of the concentration of trade at this point. The imports have been small, because it has required some time to dispose of the enormous quantities which had collected at this port during the period the city was in possession of the rebels. That important branch of our trade will now, I believe, revive ; and if our government will but vigorously and prudently nourish the facilities now enjoyed at this port, a commerce may be developed, rivalling Calcutta in importance, and superior to any other port in the east. The great valley of the Tang-tse-Kiang is the commercial field, and this port is the entrepot. The greatest privileges conceivable might be obtained at all the other ports, and yet one-half of such facilities at this port would be productive of more advantage than could, by any possibility, be derived from all the other ports combined. Foo-chow will, in time, be a port of some importance for the purchase of a few black teas, but no more. Amoy and Ningpo never have furnished anything worthy of notice ; and Canton was only a port of trade, because the Chinese had been in the habit of going there to trade with foreigners when there were no other ports open. But the difficulty created by the rebellion has diverted the great mass of the trade from its ancient and out-of-the-way channel, and concentrated it here. And now that the Chinese find Shanghai to be nearer to their tea and silk districts than Canton, and that they can often get better prices, and always as good as at Canton, they will abandon their old and long route to a port of sale, and will continue to concentrate at Shanghai. This they have done last year, as well as the present; and already they have made contracts on next year's produce, deliverable at this port." In another and later official communication, it is stated that property, in houses and lands, to the value of a million of dollars, is owned by American citizens in Shanghai. NAVIGATION AND TRADE. The number and tonnage of American vessels, inward and outward, at the port of Shanghai, for the years designated, were as follows : 1849. — Inward 24 vessels: Tonnage 9,826 1850. " 37 " " 13,308 1851. " 54 " " 27,634 1852. " 66 " " 38,760 1849. — Outward 24 vessels: Tonnage 9,877 1850. " 34 " " 14,464 1851. " 53 " " 26,697 1852. " 70 '' " 40,592 The number and tonnage of American vessels entered and cleared at Shanghai, during the first six months of 1855, were as follows : Entered vessels 28: Aggregate tonnage 27,480 Cleared " 28 " " 27,480 The cargoes inward consisted of stone coal, sugar, drills, general merchandise, and assorted cargoes, suitable for the Chinese markets, valued at $266,997. The cargoes outward were, chiefly, silk and tea, valued at |4,480,193. Of the vessels inward, there were, from the Atlantic ports, direct, 2, with an aggregate of 1,235 tons; and from the Pacific ports 13, with an aggregate of 13,839 tons. The following is a summary of the navigation and trade of the port of Shanghai with the United States during the last six months of 1855 : (a) (a) This statement is derived from French, authorities, as are those for the same period which follow. 528 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Number of American vessels entered, 57 ; measuring 27,262 tons. NumlDer of American vessels entered from Atlantic ports, 4 ; measuring 1,589 tons. Number of American vessels entered from Pacific ports, 10 ; measuring 10.632 tons. Number of American vessels entered from foreign ports, 36 ; measuring 13,000 tons. The returns do not give the ports of departure of seven of the American vessels entered. The number of American vessels cleared from the port of Shanghai, during the same period, was 5Y ; aggregate tonnage 30,542 tons. Of these, 13 vessels, all freighted with tea and silk, proceeded direct to New York, and the remainder to foreign ports. During the same period, the duties paid by the American flag to the authorities at Shanghai were: (a)Taels. Mace. C. C. Imports 19,224 6 9 5 = in U. S. currency (omitting fractions) $28,452 Exports 456,048 7 7 1 " " " " 674,952 Tonnage dues. 13,539 8 " "• " " 20,038 Total duties of import, export, and tonnage 723,442 The following statement exhibits the total tonnage of vessels at the port of Shanghai, during the last six months of 1855 : British 42,365 tons. United States 27,262 Danish 1,395 Hamburg 1,828 Dutch 3,827 Bremen 554 Swedish 833 Spanish 1^163 Portuguese 1,126 Siamese 1 , 345 Peruvian 764 Total 82,462 The following is a summary statement showing the quantity of teas exported from Shanghai to the United States, during the last six months of 1855 : Black tea 289,442 pounds. Green tea 14,511,354 " Total 14,800,796 All exported in 16 American vessels. The following is a summary statement showing the quantities of teas exported from Shanghai to all countries, during the last six months of 1855 : To Great Britain, in 31 vessels 21,513,927 pounds. To United States, " 16 " 14,800,796 " To Australia, " 7 " 1,639,674 To Hamburg, " 1 " 323,536 Grand total 38,277,933 (a) Tael = 10 mace = 100 candareens = 1, 000 cash = SI 48 U. S. currency. CHINA, 529 Summary statement showing the quantities of raw silk, silk piece-goods, &c., exported from Shang- hai to the United States {Neiu York) during the last six montlis of 1855. Raw silk. Silk piece goods. Nankeens. Straw braid. Rhubarb. Fans. Cases. 720 Beads. 526 CaUies. 92 Cases. 1,286 Cases, 40 Cases. 25 Gases. 629 Beculs. 379 CaUies. 57 Cases. 10 Summary statement showing the quantities of raw silk exported from the port of Shanghai during the last six montJis of 1855. Raw. Thrown. Coarse. Total. Bales. 20,332 1,376 3,278 Bales. 1,848 333 2,495 Bales. 519 3 Bales. 22,699 1.712 23 5,796 Total 24,986 4,676 545 30.207 1 The total trade of Shanghai during the period designated in the foregoing statements was thus distributed: British... American Bremen . . Danish... Dutch ... Hamburg Peruvian . Imports. E.^cports. 141 132 51 55 2 1 6 7 8 11 11 11 3 3 Vessels. Portuguese Siamese ■ Spanish Swedish .. Total.. Imports. Exports. 245 243 Total value of the trade of Shanghai during the last six months of 1855 : Imports, 12,812,019 90 ; exports, $501,185 98. Total trade, $3,313,805 88. During the last six months of 1855, great improvements were made in the navigation of the river Woosung, on which the port of Shanghai is situated, and, from having been one of the most dangerous of access in the Pacific, it has been made one of the safest and easiest. The expense of the work ($20,000) was defrayed by the Chinese authorities. A system of pilot regulations, agreed upon by the consuls of the United States, Great Britain, and France, was ratified by the superintendent of customs, and is as follows; PILOT REGULATIONS. The following rules and regulations for the government of pilots, native and foreign, at the port of Shanghai, are hereby issued and made binding by his excellency Chaou, superintend- ent of customs, in communication with the consuls of the three treaty powers: 1st. A board shall be appointed by the three consuls, sanctioned by his excellency Chaou, [ 67 ] 530 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. consisting of not less than three, nor more than five shipmasters, with whom a naval officer shall be associated, if required, before whom all persons wishing to become pilots shall appear for examination. 2d. A certificate of competency from a majority of said board being deposited at his consu- late, shall entitle the person therein named to a license as a pilot. In all cases where the na- tionality of the applicant is other than one of those nations in treaty with China, his certificate from the board of examiners must be deposited with the senior consul, who will obtain for him the necessary license. 3d. Every pilot-boat is to hoist a red and white flag horizontal, on which the number of his boat shall a]3pear in black. 4th. The rates of pilotage shall be by the water the ship draws, viz: from GrutzlafF, $5 per foot ; from beacon-ship, $4 per foot ; from any point outside Woosung, but inside beacon-ship, $3 50 per foot ; from Woosung to Shanghai, .$3 per foot. TTie same rates of pilotage are al- lowed for vessels outward bound. 5th. Every pilot, on boarding a ship, shall produce, for the insjDection of the master, his license as a pilot. 6th. All persons acting as pilots without a license, as hereinbefore prescribed, shall have no claim for services rendered, and shall be dealt with by their own consuls, according to law, for violating these regulations; and all such cases not coming within the jurisdiction of the three treaty consuls, are to be referred to the local Chinese authorities. Tth. Pilots shall be responsible for the faithful and complete discharge of their duty ; and any misconduct, either from ignorance, incapacity, wilful neglect, or otherwise, being known, shall entail a forfeiture of the offender's license, in addition to any other liability he may have incurred by the laws of his own country. 8th. The foregoing regulations to take effect on and after the 10th day of December, 1855. General Eegulations. The general regulations under which foreign trade is conducted at the five ports of Canton, Amoy, Foo-chow-foo, Ningpo, and Shanghai, are such as are usually prescribed in all well-regu- lated ports, and are subject to such modifications, under the treaties, as the consuls of the three treaty nations, viz: England, France, and the United States, may, from time to time, fix and determine. These regulations provide amply for all the wants of foreign commerce^ and guard against extortion, unnecessary delay, or capricious embarrassments, either on the part of Chi- nese officials^ or the captains or other officers of vessels trading at any of the five ports. To give proper sanction to, and enforce, the due observance of these regulations, the consuls of the three nations, in Chinese ports, are invested with judicial as well as with the ordinary consular powers, by virtue of which they are enabled to exact strict conformity to such provisions and regulations as they may deem necessary in the maintenance of ^ood order and the faithful ful- filment of treaty obligations. Prior to 1843, as before noted, it was the custom, when foreign vessels entered the port of Canton, that a Chinese hong merchant stood security for her, and that all duties and charges were paid through such security merchant. But the several treaties having provided for the abolition of this security system, the consuls of the different treaty nations are now substituted as security for the vessels of their respective nations entering any of the five ports. Hence, one of the reasons why the powers of consuls in China should be ample, and these officers invested with full powers to control the shipping of their respective nations. During the recent troubles in China, foreign commerce at the port of Shanghai was consider- CHINA. 531 ably interrupted, and tlie custom-liouse at this port was abandoned by the Chinese officials, who organized, in lieu thereof, two other custom-houses in the interior. An arrangement was subsequently entered into between the consuls of the three treaty powers and the Chinese authorities, by virtue of which these custom-houses were suppressed, and foreign commerce was again conducted under the usual regulations. It maybe here observed, that the five ports pertain to different provincial jurisdictions, having different local administrations, and, not unfrequently, different commercial regulations. It is by no means rare to see, notwithstanding the treaties apply to all in common, privileges enjoyed at one which are strictly interdicted at another — perhaps at the other four. Thus, in 1855, it is stated that rice was exported to the amount of 30,000 peculs (each 133| lbs.) to a vessel, free, too, of all export or other duty, save a douceur of 200 or 300 dollars to some subordinate; while the exportation of this article is not only forbidden at Shanghai, but the death-penalty is inflicted on such of the Chinese as are detected in violating the prohibition. The same obser- vation applies to the emigration of Coolies, which is tolerated at Amoy, but strictly forbidden at the other ports. So, the importation of opium, as already stated, though illegal, is openly tolerated by Chinese officials. EMIGRATION. Within a few years a new branch of commerce has sprung up between China and Cuba, Sid- ney, Demerara, Callao, Honolulu, and California. This consists in the exportation of Chinese emigrants, chiefly to the places designated above. The total number of emigrants shipped from Amoy and Namas, from 1847 to 1853, was 11,881. Official returns give the details of this emigration for the period specified, as follows : 1847.— To Havana 640 1848.— To Sidney 120 1849.— To Sidney 150 1850.— To Sidney 406 1851.— To Sidney 1,478 To Honolulu 199 1852.— To Havana 2,442 To Sidney 1,077 To Honolulu 101 To Callao 404 To Demerara 1,257 To California , 410 1853.— To Havana 2,123 To Sidney 254 To Callao 500 To Demerara 320 Total 11,881 The emigration of Chinese laborers to Havana, from 1847 to 1853, is thus given by French authorities : Under the Spanish flag No. of vessels, 4 No. of laborers, 1,343. Under the British flag " 11 " 3,862. Nine of these vessels cleared from Amoy, and six from Namas. Emigration of Chinese laborers to Sidney, from 1848 to 1853 : Under the British flag No. of vessels, 15 No. of laborers, 3,685. Fourteen of these vessels cleared from Amoy, and one from Namas. 532 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Emigration of Chinese laborers to Honolulu, from 1851 to 1852: Under the British flag. No. of vessels, 2 No. of laborers, 300. Both of these vessels cleared from Amoy. Emigration of Chinese laborers to Peru, from 1852 to 1853: Under the Peruvian flag No. of vessels, 1 No. of laborers, 404. Under the British flag " 1 " 500. One of these vessels cleared from Amoy, the other from Namas. Emigration of Chinese laborers to the British West Indies, from 1852 to 1853: Under the British flag No. of vessels, 5 No. of laborers, 1,5YY. Three of these vessels cleared from Amoy, and two from Namas. Emigration of contract laborers to California in 1852 and 1853: Under the American flag No. of vessels, 1 No. of laborers, 410. Cleared from the port of Amoy. The emigration of Chinese laborers from Canton is estimated as follows: In 1849, at 900 ; in 1850, at 3,118 ; in 1851, at 3,502 ; and the first six months of 1852, at 15,000 to California. The emigration of Chinese to the United States (California) during the years 1854 and 1855, as given in the Eeports on Emigration prejjared at the Department of State, and transmitted annually to Congress, was as follows : 1854. — For the 1st quarter, "no official returns." 2d 3d 4th Males. Females. 5,048 497 6,475 151 904 25 Total 12,427 673 Total males and females 13,100 Males. Females. 1855.— For the 1st quarter 802 " 2d " 1,927 " 3d " 719 2 " 4th " 76 Total 3,524 Total males and females 3,526 Total number of Chinese emigrants to California in the year 1854 and the first three quarters of 1855 16,626 Among the Chinese emigrants in California, there are several who have engaged extensively in commercial operations. There are in that State Chinese firms, in which more than $500,000 are invested ; and it is stated that more than two millions of dollars capital is invested in the trade between San Francisco and China, owned and controlled by Chinamen residing in that city. The British government has evinced much interest in the mode in which this emigration has been conducted; and instructions were issued from the Foreign Ofiice, early in 1855, that no British vessel should be permitted to depart with Chinese emigrants to any foreign country CHINA, 533 until she should have proceeded to Hong Kong, where the emigration officer was charged to ascertain that the conditions of the Chinese passenger act had been fulfilled. The total of Chinese passengers cleared outwards from Hong Kong during 1855 is given by British authorities at 14,683. CURRENCY The only legal coin of China is the copper cash, worth the fifteenth part of a cent ; though by stipulations of the treaty of 1844, the sycee is received in payment of duties. The sycee fluctuates in price with the value of silver. The shee is worth about seventy dollars. In 1853, the American merchants residing at Shanghai addressed a memorial to the United States com- missioner in China, setting forth the great inconvenience to which mercantile interests in China were subjected by the absence of an adequate circulating medium between the two extremes above named, and invoking the commissioner's aid in establishing a national mint in that em- pire. To the success of such a measure, the sanction and co-operation of the Chinese govern- ment are indispensable. The treaty of 1844 provides that, should experience show that any modifications hereafter become requisite in those parts which relate to commerce and navigation, the two governments will, at the expiration of twelve years from the date thereof, treat amicably concerning the same, by the means of suitable persons appointed to conduct such negotiation. The time desig- nated will soon arrive ; and should such modifications as the treaty contemplates become a sub- ject of negotiation, the question of a national mint, and of the currency generally, will, doubtless, demand the attention of the United States commissioner. At Shanghai an attempt has been made by the foreign consuls to cause an official substitution of the Mexican for the Carolus dollar, as the money of account. Comparative statement of the commerce between the United States and China, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arri- ving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. YEARS. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. AMERICAN TONNa'GE. FOAEIQN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign pro- duce. Total. VALUE OF IMPORTS. Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. 1845 $2,079,341 1,178,188 1,708,655 2,063,625 1,460,945 1,485,961 2,155,945 2,480,066 3,212,574 1,293,925 1,533,057 $196,654 153,553 124,229 126,388 122,279 119,256 329,342 183,111 524,418 104, 163 186,372 $2,275,995 1,331,741 1,832,884 2,190,013 1,583,224 1,605,217 $7,285,914 6,593,881 5,583,343 8,083,496 5,513,785 6. 593. 462 21,204 18,937 16,601 23,719 19,418 21,969 27,587 52,076 65,899 51,196 55,048 17,477 13, 697 12,334 17,150 11,740 17,830 46,317 67,264 66,041 68,658 101,660 478 306 1,174 664 1846. 1847 1848.. 1849 ■ 1850 7,445 11,327 26,009 26,965 19,230 15,767 3,106 10,198 21,507 24,808 18,547 15,768 1851 2,485,287 1 7,065,144 2,663,177 10,593,950 3,736,992 10,573,710 1,398,088 10,506,329 1,719,429 11.048.726 1852 1853 1854 1855 SANDWICH ISLANDS. SANDWICH ISLANDS. The Hawaiian group, situated in the North Pacific ocean, between 18° 55' and 22° 20' N. latitude, and 154° 50' and 160° 40' W. longitude, consists of thirteen islands; eight of which are of considerable size and inhabited, the remaining five being mere islets. The following table exhibits the population of the principal islands, according to the census of December, 1853: Islands. Natives. Foreigners. Total. Hawaii Maui 24,193 17,420 3,565 599 17,815 6,726 790 259 244 42 24,452 17,664 3,607 599 19,126 6,990 790 Oahu .. 1,311 264 Kaua^ --- .- N hau — Total i 71,108 2,120 73,228 The staple exports of the islands are : Sugar, molasses, sirup, coffee, goat-skins, sweet potatoes, wool, hides, salt, tallow, beef, pulu,(a) and arrow-root. Agriculture has made but little progress, and will never, probably, occupy the natives to any great extent. There are many excellent tracts suitable for the production of coifee^ wheat, vines, &c., but the means of subsistence are so easily procured, that the inhabitants have but few inducements, even did they not lack the industry and enterprise, to become extensive agriculturists. There are large tracts of good grazing land scattered throughout the island, and the growth of cattle is a leading, perhaps the most profitable, branch of agricultural industry. There are, also, numerous sheep ranges, on which are tended about 12,000 sheep; but the business is not encouraging. The eminently advantageous position of the Sandwich Islands, lying on the great route be- tween America and China, invited, at an early period, the enterprise and capital of several European and American settlers, and led to the establishment of a somewhat active trade. They constitute a common centre between the three principal whaling-grounds of the Northern Pacific — one on the equator, the other near Japan, and the third towards the Behring Sea. Thexommercial relations between the United States and the Sandwich Islands are regulated by treaty of December 20, 1849. The first article establishes between the two countries peace (a) A native production used for beds and pillows. [68] 538 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. and amity ; and reciprocal freedom of trade, on the principle of the most favored nation, is guarantied: Articles, the produce or manufacture of either country, which can legally he im- ported into each, to be subject to the same duties, whether imported in the vessels of the one country or the other : Tonnage and other navigation duties, including pilotage and quarantine dues, to be equal in either country, in respect of voyages between the United States and the Hawaiian Islands, if laden, or, in respect of any voyage, if in ballast: The coasting trade to be reserved by each country to its own flag : Steam vessels of the United States, employed by the government of the United States in carrying their public mails across the Pacific ocean, or from one port in that ocean to another, to have free access to the ports of the Sandwich Islands, with the privilege of stopping thereat to refit, refresh, land passengers and their baggage, and for the transaction of any business pertaining to the public mail service of the United States, and to be exempt in such ports from duties of tonnage, harbor, light-houses, quarantine, or other similar duties, of whatever nature, or under whatever denomination : Whale ships of the United States to have access to the ports of Hilo, Kealakeakua, and Hanalei, for the purpose of refitment and refreshment, as well as to the ports of Honolulu and Lahaina, which only are ports of entry for all merchant vessels ; and in all of the above-named ports to be permitted to trade or barter their supplies or goods, excepting spirituous liquors, to the amount of two hun- dred dollars ad valorem for each vessel, without paying any charge for tonnage or harbor dues, or any duties or imposts whatever upon goods so traded or bartered; likewise to be permitted, with the same exemption from tonnage and harbor dues, further to trade or barter, with the same exception as to spirituous liquors, to the additional amount of one thousand dollars ad valorem for each vessel; paying upon the additional goods and articles so traded and bartered, no other or higher duties than are payable on like goods and articles when imported in vessels and by citizens or subjects of the most favored foreign nation; also to be permitted to pass from port to port of the Sandwich Islands, for the purpose of procuring refreshments, but not to discharge their seamen or land their passengers in the said islands, except at Lahaina and Honolulu; and, in all the ports named, the whale ships of the United States to enjoy, in all respects, all the rights and privileges enjoyed by, or granted to, the whale ships of the most favored foreign nation : The like privilege of frequenting the three ports of the Sandwich Islands named above, not being ports of entry for merchant vessels, is also guarantied to all the public armed vessels of the United States; but vessels of the United States having on board any disease usually re- garded as requiring quarantine, are not authorized to enter, during the continuance of such disease on board, any port of the Sandwich Islands, other than Lahaina or Honolulu : Citizens of each nation to be permitted to travel, reside, and trade in the territories of the other, subject only to the police regulations applicable to the citizens of the most favored nation ; and to be permitted to occupy dwellings and warehouses, and to dispose of their personal property, of every kind and description, by sale, gift, exchange, will, or otherwise, without hindrance or obstacle; and their heirs or representatives, being subjects or citizens of either of the contracting parties, shall succeed to their personal goods, whether by testament or ab intestaio, and may take pos- session thereof, either personally or by agent, and dispose of the same at will, paying only such dues as the citizens of such country are subject to in like cases ; should such heirs or represent- atives be absent, the same care to be taken of such goods as would be taken of the goods of a citizen in like cases; all disputes or questions involving title or ownership to be settled by the laws and judges where the goods shall be ; and where, on the decease of any person holding real estate within the territories of one of the high contracting parties, such real estate would, by the laws of the land, descend on a citizen or subject of the other party were he not disquali- fied by alienage, such citizen or subject to be allowed a reasonable time to sell the same, and to withdraw the proceeds without molestation and exempt from all duties of detraction on the part of the government of the respective States: Taxes and impositions of every descriptio»' upon citizens or subjects of either nation residing in the territories of the other, to be the same as are applicable to the citizens or subjects of the most favored nation; they being exempt from mill- SANDWICH ISLANDS. 539 tary service, — their dwellings, warehouses, and all premises appertaining thereto, destined for the purposes of commerce or residence, to be respected, — no arbitrary search of, or visit to, their houses being suffered, — no arbitrary examination or inspection of the books, papers, or accounts of their trade to be made, — but such measures to be proceeded in only in conformity to the legal sentence of a competent tribunal ; and each of the two contracting parties engages that the citizens or subjects of the other residing in their respective States shall enjoy their property and personal security in as full and ample manner as their own citizens or subjects, or the subjects or citizens of the most favored nation, but subject always to the laws and statutes of the two countries respectively : the citizens or subjects of either party to be free, in the territories of the other, to manage their own affairs themselves, or to appoint their brokers, factors, or agents, without any restraint in the choice of such persons, and also to be exempt from the involuntary payment of any salary or remuneration to any person whom they shall not choose to employ: Absolute freedom of barter and trade guarantied according to the laws of each country respect- ively; but the sale of spirituous liquors to the natives of the Sandwich Islands forbidden, further than such sale may be allowed by the Hawaiian laws. The usual consular privileges are granted, and the powers of consuls, vice-consuls, and com- mercial agents of the one nation in the territories of the other, are such as are granted to simi- lar officers and agents of the most favored nations ; the usual authority and assistance respecting deserters from vessels are guarantied ; liberty of conscience is secured to the citizens and sub- jects of either country in the territories of the other ; the usual stipulations respecting wrecks and vessels driven into port by stress of weather are included, and a clause is added granting and regulating the extradition of criminals. Liberal postal arrangements are stipulated, and the duration of the treaty is fixed at ten years from its date, with the usual twelve months' no- tice after that period. Commercial relations between the United States and the Sandwich Islands had existed for many years before the treaty of 1849. As far back as 1832, when the native population of the islands amounted to 130,315 (nearly double its present number), it appears that the United States imported thence produce to the value of |920. In 1833, it amounted to $1,094 ; in 183Y, to $6,601 ; in 1840, to $16,293 ; and in 1841, to $47,630. The tonnage employed was, in 1835, 682 tons ; in 1836, 1,418 tons ; in 1837, 1,574 tons ; in 1841, 1,943 tons; in 1842, 1,309 tons ; in 1843, 1,813 tons; and in 1844, 3,217 tons— all American. The comparative statement, at page 546 of this Digest, will show the course of trade and navi- gation since 1844. It is only within a few years, however, that the trade of the Sandwich Islands with the United States has assumed any considerable importance. The great wealth and rapidly in- creasing trade of California, together with the facilities which this group, from its geographi- cal position, has always, as already intimated, been enabled to afford to whaling ships, both as a recruiting station and as regards the general supplies which such vessels require, during their long cruises in distant latitudes, have recently given to these islands a commercial im- portance which, under other circumstances, might not have been reached for a century to come. The staples of the island have now a market in California, close at hand, and the communica- tions with the Atlantic coast have become regular and frequent. The character, extent, and increase of the commerce of the Sandwich Islands, for a period of six years, from 1836 to 1841, both inclusive, may be inferred from the subjoined tabular com- parative statements, designed to show the values of the imports into, and the exports of native produce from, the port of Honolulu, during the years designated, to each country, respectively, specifying the principal articles imported from each country, as, also, those exported, with the current prices of the same, made up from a late publication : 540 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Imports into, and domestic exports from, the port of Honolulu, during the years designated. IMPORTS. Whence imported. 1836. 1837. 1838. 1839, 1840. (a) 1841.(6) United States $151,000 73,900 29,000 36,600 70,000 21,500 21,000 10,000 S170,000 49,500 23,000 29,000 47,000 10,800 8,000 8,000 5,000 $73,000 61,900 10,000 20,000 30,000 1,500 5,000 5,600 $231,000 26,500 31,000 42,000 31,000 $117,000 17,000 28,000 20,000 15,000 S193,000 42,700 39,000 20,000 40,000 6,500 12,000 92,000 California and islands adjacent. . . Chili Mexico China Ascension and Tahiti, and other southern islands. Norfolk Sound, Columbia river, and N. "W. coast. 5,000 10,000 2,000 4,000 2,000 Prussia Manilla ' 15,000 New South Wales - 10,000 Total 413,000 350,300 207,000 378,500 218,000 4.5.5,200 The imports from each country consist, principally, of the several articles designated, viz : From the United Stales, — Cottons, bleached, unbleached, and blueprints; chintz, hardware, copper, cordage, canvass, naval stores, flour, bread, wines and Fpirits, furniture, soap, iron, paints, &c. California and islands adjacent, — Sea and land-otter skins, furs, hides, tallow, wines, horses, &c. ; but principally otter skins and bullock hides. Chili, — Almonds, nuts, and same articles as those from the United States. Mexico, — Specie and bullion, principally. China, — Blue nankeens, blue cottons, teas, silks, and some British good=. Ascension, S(c, — Turtle shell, oil, pearls and pearl shell, sugar, &c. Norfolk Sound, Sfc, — Lumber, spars, salmon, &c. Great Britain, S;c. — Long cloths, prints and chintz, hardware, glassware, woolens, hosiery, spirits, &c. Prussia. — Cotton goods, broadcloths, gin, glassware, &c. Manilla, — Chinese, British, and American goods ; cigars, rope, coffee, hats, mats, &c. EXPORTS. 1836. 1837. Sandalwood, at S7 per pecul i S26,000 Bullock hides, at S2 each.. Goat skins, at 23 cents each Salt, at $1 25 per barrel. Leaf tobacco, at 15 cents per pound Sugar, at 5, 6, and 7 cents per pound Molasses and sirup, at 23, 25, 30, and 37 cents per gallon Kukui oil, made from the candle nut, and used for paint Sperm oil, taken by a Oahu vessel Arrow-root, at 5 cents per pound — Provisions, salt and fresh, vegetables, &c. , sold to ships of war, and to whaling and merchant vessels - 12,000 4,600 4,400 500 400 $12,000 13,000 4,500 2,700 300 300 1,000 600 1838. S6,000 10,000 3,000 1,400 6,200 3,450 500 300 200 25,000 45,000 300 35,000 Total. 73,200 79,600 ' 65,850 1839. $21,000 6,000 1,000 2,900 6,000 3,000 500 4,000 50,000 1840 (a) $18,000 10,000 2,250 300 18,000 7,300 500 1,700 16,000 94,400 74,050 1841.(6) $10,000 4,140 2,250 3,000 1,390 (0)2,090 9,900 3,320 69,200 105,290 (a) Up to August 17. (6) From August 17, 1840, to August 17, 1841. (c) Kukui oil, tobacco, &c. SANDWICH ISLANDS. 541 The following summary of the recent commerce of the Sandwich Islands has been compiled from the latest and most authentic sources : Owing to the prevalence of the smallpox, which first made its appearance in the month of May, 1853, and spread with such fatal malignity throughout the group as to carry off nearly 8,000 victims, the trade of that year was languid ; the markets were overstocked, and prices were, consequently, low and unremunerative. The retail trade, especially, shared in this general stagnation. The whaling fleet of 1853 was about equal to that of 1852, though, generally, the results of the latter year were not equal to those of the former. The average catch of the Ochotsk fleet was over 1,600 barrels, while in the Arctic seas the yield did not average more than 580 barrels. Freights, also, ruled low, and the demands for the productions of the islands for the markets of California were small, owing chiefly to the fact that the almost nominal difference in prices between the two places precluded all hope of realizing any profits after the payment of duties. The total amount of imports for 1853 exceeded those of 1852 by $522^082 64. From the United States they amounted to $954,919 93, being more than three-fourths of the whole amount imported. The imports for four years, from 1850 to 1853, both inclusive, were as follows : 1850 $1,035,058 YO 1851 1,823,821 68 1852 $759,868 54 1853 1,281,951 18 Giving an average, for the four years, of $1,225,1*75 02. The amoimt of imports for 1853 exceeded the average of the past four years by $56,776 16. COJIPARISON FOE FOUR YEARS. Foreign exports. Domestic exports. 1850 $596,522 63 1851 309,828 94 1852 257,251 69 1853 275,374 17 1850 $46,529 72 1851 381,402 55 1852 381,143 51 1853 191,397 66 The revenue derived from imports was as follows : In 1850 $121,506 73 1851 160,602 19 1852 113,091 93 1853 155,640 17 The arrivals were as follows : In 1850.— Merchant vessels, 469 : Whale-ships, 237 1851. " 446 " 135 1852. " 235 " 519 1853. " 194 " 535 In reference to the foregoing statistics, the "Polynesian," a government paper published at Honolulu, observes: " The great lack of a domestic export, to anything like the amount of our imports, is glaringly conspicuous, and will call for some renewed efforts, we trust, to create or increase it." The values of goods imported into the Sandwich Islands, during the year 1853, were as follows : Total dutiable $1,160,355 13 Free of duty 79,402 80 Entered in bond 16,284 35 Withdrawn for consumption 25,908 90 Total 1,281,951 18 642 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Of the dutiable goods^ $58*7,770 29 were from the Atlantic side of the United States, and $367,149 64 from the Pacific side : making a total of $954,919 93 from the United States. The country from which the next largest amount of goods was imported was China, from which the amount in value was $42,056 36. From Chili, $38,099 30 ; G-reat Britain, $20,471 74 ; Bremen, $12,225 91 ; Philippine Islands, $12,038 57 ; while from France a value of hut $30 was imported. The receipts from customs, in 1853, were as follows : Total duties received at Honolulu $146,964 52 " " atLahaina 8,138 27 " " at all other ports 537 38 Total in the kingdom 155,640 17 Of the total receipts, $58,114 86 were for duties on goods and wares generally ; $70,209 68 on spirits, and $8,261 75 for harbor dues. The total value of exports of domestic produce, in 1853, was $281,599 17. The principal exports consisted of — Sugar 634,955 lbs. Molasses 58,448 galls. Salt 3,509 bbls. Hogs 3,724 Goat-skins 5,600 Sweet potatoes 8,979 bbls. Cocoanuts 2,000 Wool 10,824 lbs. Sirup 18,244 galls. Coffee 50,506 lbs. Irish potatoes 15,464 bbls. Sheep 733 Hides 1,741 Tallow 16,452 lbs. Melons 2,500 Salt beef 13,260 lbs. Freshbeef. 38,000 " Of the total amount given above ($281,599 17), but $154,674 17 was really exported, the remainder ($126,925) having been furnished as supplies to the 154 merchant vessels and 246 whalers that stopped at the island during the year. Statement shoivi/ig the quantities of oil and hone transhipped from the Sandwich Islands, free of duty, in 1853. To what countries. United States Havre United States Bremen - Havre Cowes, England. Total. Spring . ....do.. Fall. ..do. .do. .do. Sperm oil. Gallons. 132,251 476 42,669 175,396 Gallons. 1,897,116 37,038 1,853,194 3,787,348 Whale bone. Pounds. 435,846 22,000 1,520,559 14,819 6,000 21,040 2,020,264 The number of merchant vessels arriving, with the ports of entrance, the same year, was as follows : Arrived at Honolulu 154 " " Lahaina 29 " " Waimea 8 Arrived at Kawaihae 10 " " Kealakeakua 9 " " Hilo SANDWICH ISLANDS. 543 Of these vessels, 131 were American, with a total tonnage of 45,234 ; 17 Hawaiian, tonnage 2,0*72; 32 British, tonnage 6,185 ; 5 Danish, tonnage 866 ; 5 French, tonnage 1,034; 3 Russian, tonnage 1,223. During the same year there arrived 535 whalers, as follows : At Honolulu 246 At Lahaina 177 AtHilo 66 At Kealakeakua 12 At Kawaihae 20 At Waimea 12 Of the total, 500 were American, 19 French, 12 Bremen, and 4 Russian. The total numher of vessels engaged in coasting among the islands the same year was 32, with a tonnage of 1,338. The following summary exhibits the general commerce of the Sandwich Islands during the year 1854, as condensed from the report of the collector general of customs : Total value of imports $1,396,786 24 " " exports 585,122 67 Excess of imports over exports 811,663 57 Of the imports, there were from — The United States, Atlantic side |503,506 39 Pacific side 348,915 55 Germany 198,488 57 Great Britain 68,578 73 Australia 56,635 19 China 53,412 11 Sea 22,659 07 Vancouver's Island 8,167 50 Tahiti 4,467 60 Callao 192 00 1,265,022 71 Imported free of duty 55,938 69 Goods entered in bond $219,740 03 " withdrawn from bond for consumption 25,688 56 Imports at Lahaina $42,277 79 " " Hilo 6,258 49 " "Kawaihae 912 16 " Kealakeakua 687 84 (( 50,136 28 Total 1,396,786 24 ANALYSIS OF EXPORTS. Value of foreign goods exported $311,092 '97 " " domestic products $121,054 70 " furnished as supplies 152,975 00 274,029 70 585,122 67 544 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Statement showing the principal exports in 1854 compared with those of 1853. Exports. 1854. 1853. Increase. Decrease. Sugar pounds. . Sirup gallons.. Molasses do Salt barrels.. Coffee pounds.. Hides pieces- - Goat skins do Tallow. pounds. - Arrow-root do 581,777 28,513 41,879 5,041 91,090 3,006 16,890 15,405 6,166 634,955 18,244 58,448 3,509 50,506 1,741 5,600 16,452 53,178 10,269 16,569 1,532 40,584 1,265 11,290 1,047 6,166 Statement of the quantities of oil and hone transhipped in 1854. To what country. Season. Sperm oil. Whale oil. Bone. United States Spring Fall ..do do Gallons. 49,361 60,449 46,674 Gallons. 257,380 1,268,365 104,760 10,244 25,172 Pounds. 28,765 752,339 654,241 26,288 46,810 Do. Do. Bremen Havre _ do Total.-. 156,484 1,665,921 1,508,443 The total number of vessels of war at Honolulu during 1854 was 25, carrying an aggregate of 675 guns ; of which number 6 were American, 9 British, and 7 French. Of merchant vessels at the Hawaiian Islands during the year 1854, the total number was 148, measuring in the aggregate 47,288 tons; of which there were — American, 103; measuring 33,442 tons. British, 17; " 4,788 " The total number of whaling vessels at the ports of the Hawaiian Islands during 1854 was 565 ; of which there were American 534, Bremen 8, and French 22. The returns from the port of Hilo for the year 1854 exhibit the following commercial move- ment: Total value of imports $11,491 53 Value of exports — domestic produce .$3,823 31 Furnished as supplies to 82 whalers at an overcharge of $2 25 each 18,450 00 22,273 31 The transhipments from the port of Hilo during the year were as follows : Sperm oil 20,806 gallons. Whale oil 114,263 " Whalebone 92,974 lbs. SANDWICH ISLANDS. Whaling vessels at the port of Hilo in 1854 : American, 80 vessels; measuring 29,898 tons. French, 2 " " 1,014 '' Total 82 " " 30,912 " 545 The following condensed tabular statement, made up from reliable sources, exhibits the general trade of the Sandwich Islands from 1852 to 1855, distinguishing imports from the United States from those from other countries : Years. VALDE OF IMPORTS. Value of exports. From all countries. From U. States. 1852 $759,869 1,281,951 1,396,787 1,306,356 $411,488 954,919 1,023,851 799,574 $638,395 466,772 585,123 572,602 1853 1854 1855 Annual average.. 1,186,241 797,458 565,723 According to the returns made to the United States Treasury Department, the total value of exports to the Sandwich Islands for the year ending June 30, 1855, was $1,125,622, of which $929,671 was for domestic products, and only $195,951 for foreign products. From the same authority it appears that the imports into the United States from the Sandwich Islands for the same year amounted to $442,899. The carrying trade between the two countries is almost exclusively in the hands of American shippers. Of the total exports of domestic produce as given above ($929,6*71), there was borne in United States bottoms $928,458, while there was only $1,213 carried under all foreign flags. Of the total tonnage that entered the United States from these islands in 1855 (25,009 tons), 24,807 were under the flag of the United States. More than three-fourths of the exports of the Sandwich Islands go to the United States, either on the Atlantic or Pacific side, and the statements already given show the proportion of the imports into the islands from the United States. Of the 468 whalers that touched at the islands in 1855, 436 bore the flag of the United States, 20 were French, and 3 Hawaiian. Of the 158 merchant vessels that entered the Hawaiian ports the same year, 129 were Ameri- can, while there were only eight under the British, and one under the French flag. Among the latest acts passed by the Hawaiian legislature relating to commerce, which has been published in the official organ of that government, is one prohibiting the importation and sale of opium. A considerable trade has sprung up between Washington Territory and the Sandwich Islands. Four vessels have been for some time regularly and constantly engaged in this trade, carrying (especially from Oahu) sugar, coflee, molasses, salt products of the islands, as well as foreign merchandise from the diiferent warehouses ; and bringing back, in return, lumber, shingles, ship-timber, spars, salmon, coals, &c. This trade has had the effect of entirely driving from the market the trafiic previously carried on by the Hudson Bay Company between Honolulu and Vancouver's Island; "for, although," says a recent British official report on the Sandwich Islands, "Vancouver's Island possesses superior natural advantages over Washington Territory, [69 ] 546 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. with respect to her ports and several of her productions, on the other liand, the American set- tlers, not being bound by any conditions that cannot be easily fulfilled, their energy and private enterprise are unshackled." A steam-mill, having two engines, one of eighty and the other of forty horse-power, has been erected at the mouth of Hood's canal, and head of the Straits of Fuca, opposite Vancou- ver's Island, for manufacturing lumber, shingles, laths, and planed, grooved, and tongued boards. This mill supplies the Honolulu and the San Francisco markets. Other similar mills have been put up ; and the business continues profitable, though competition is becoming more brisk. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with the Sandioich Islands, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each countr-y, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. YEARS. COMMEKCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALCE OF IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign pro- duce. Toteil. Entered the United States. Cleared from tlie U. States. Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. 1845 $1,566 243,034 21,039 6,508 43,875 64,474 16,852 5,988 16,575 119,130 442,899 1846 606 760 1,428 3,221 9,267 18,992 12,814 18,111 22,287 24,807 1,377 1,978 470 3,066 31,623 36,390 18,624 20,260 19,835 19,311 231 1847 1848 1S49 1850 4,195 3,215 5,047 3,914 1,451 202 11,970 12, 008 6,673 4,118 1,417 2,200 1851 1858 $381 S381 1853 29,406 55.891 195,951 29,406 55,891 1,125,622 1854 1865 $929,671 TARIFF OF DUTIES. The rates of duties on merchandise landed in the kingdom of the Sandwich Islands are as follows ; Merchandise. Rates of duty. On brandy, gin, arrack, wines, ale, porter, and all other distilled or fermented spirituous liquors, of any description, not exceeding 55 per cent, nor less than 27 percent, of alcohol-. Do. exceeding 55 per cent, of alcohol Do. exceeding 18 per cent, and not exceeding 27 per cent of alcohol Do. not exceeding 18 per cent, of alcoliol Sugar, molasses, sirup of sugars, and coffee, the produce of any country witli which this gov- ernment has no existing treaty, as follows : Sugar - -. Molasses and sirups of sugars Coffee - All otlier merchandise - From and after the 28th day of November, 1853, all merchandise, the growth or manufacture of China or the Philippine Islands, excepting sugars, coffee, molasses, sirups of sugar, rice, and spirituous liquors .- $5 00 per gallon. 10 00 1 00 5 per ct. ad valorem. 2 cents per pound. 10 cents per gallon. 3 cents per pound. 5 per ct. ad valorem. 15 per ct. ad valorem. SANDWICH ISLANDS. 547 On mercliandise (otlier than the products of the whale fisheries) transhipped from one vessel to another, a transit duty of 1 per cent, ad valorem is charged. Products of the whale fishery may he transhipped free of any charge, except for entry and j^ermit. There is no export duty. NEW TARIFF. A new tariff act was passed hy the House of Kepresentatives and Nohles of the Sandwich Islands in May, 1855, and approved hy the King on the 14th of the same month. Its main features, compared with the former tariff, are as follows: 1st. It reduces the duty on liquor from $5 to $3 per gallon ; 2d. It imposes a duty of |1 per gallon on wines of a strength hetween 18 and 30 per cent, of alcohol, which now pay a duty of five per cent, ad valorem ; 3d. Instead of a uniform duty of five per cent, ad valorem on all other merchandise, this act admits a class of free goods, and three other classes at five, ten, and fifteen per cent, ad valorem. The best feature in the hill, and the only desirable one, in itself considered, is, in the lan- guage of the Minister of Finance, "to facilitate the negotiation of new treaty stipulations, by which our legislation can be free and national ; until which, we are not a free and indeisendent government." Section 7 provides that the act shall take effect in twelve months after its publication in the Polynesian newspaper, " provided that it is not in violation of any treaty existing at the time." "The 6th article of the treaty of 1846 with France," says the minister, "is the only treaty stipulation which prevents this government from enacting this or any other legislative measure it may choose, for the regulation of the internal affairs of the kingdom ; and we are happy to believe that the commissioner of France stands ready to negotiate a new treaty, by which the restrictions now imposed shall be removed, and the government left, as hy the English, Ameri- can, and other treaties, free in the exercise of all its sovereign rights." The effect of these changes upon the revenue were estimated by the Minister of Finance, in 1854, as follows, taking the revenue of 1853 as a basis of calculation: By existing laws, there was collected on spirits, wines, &c.,for the year 1853 $72,631 00 By the bill proposed, there would be collected on thesame quantity 43,946 69 Making a difference of. 28,684 31 On other goods, wares, and merchandise, by existing laws, there was collected $57,379 72 By the proposed law, there would be collected on the same value 116,091 98 Making a difference of 58,712 26 Less difference on spirits and wines, &c 28,684 31 30,027 95 So that the proposed bill, it was estimated, would produce more revenue than the then exist- ing laws by $30,027 95. This tariff is to take effect on the 6th day of May, 1856, provided it is not in violation of any treaty existing at that time, or in twelve months from and after the day of its publication in the Polynesian newspaper, as already stated. In the meantime, the former tariff^ continues in operation. 548 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The new tariff is as follows : AN ACT to provide revenue from imports, and to change and modify existing laws imposing duties on imports. Be it enacted by the King, the Nobles, and Representatives of the Hawaiian Islands, in legislative council assembled: Sec. 1. That in lieu of the duties imposed by law on the articles hereinafter mentioned, and on such as may now be exempt from duty, there shall be levied, collected, and paid on the goods, wares, and merchandise herein enumerated and provided for^ imported from foreign countries, the following rates of duty, that is to say : On spirits, liquors, cordials, &c., mentioned in schedule A, of the strength of proof, three dollars per gallon, and so in proportion for any greater or less strength. On wines mentioned in schedule B, a duty of one dollar per gallon. On goods, wares, and merchandise mentioned in schedule C, a duty of fifteen per centum ad valorem. On goods, wares, and merchandise mentioned in schedule D, a duty of ten per centum ad valorem. On goods, wares, and merchandise mentioned in schedule E, a duty of five per centum ad valorem. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted. That the goods, wares, and merchandise mentioned in schedule F shall be exempt from duty. Sec, 3. And be it further enacted. That there shall belevied, collected, and paid on all goods, wares, and merchandise imported from foreign countries, and not especially provided for in this act, a duty of ten per cent, ad valorem. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted. That in all cases in which the invoice or entry shall not contain the weight, quantity, or measure of goods, wares, or merchandise, now weighed, meas- ured, or gauged, the same shall be weighed, gauged, or measured at the expense of the owner or consignee. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the owner, consignee, or agent of imports which have been actually purchased, on entry of the same, to make such addition, in the entry, to the cost or value given in the invoice, as in his opinion may raise the same to the true market value of such imports in the principal markets of the country whence the importation shall have been made, or in which the goods imported shall have been originally manufactured or procured, as the case may be, and to add thereto all costs and charges which, under existing laws would form part of the true value at the port where the same may be entered, on which the duties should be assessed. And it shall be the duty of the collector, within whose district the same may be imported or entered, to cause the dutiable value of such imports to be appraised, estimated, and ascertained in accordance with the provisions of existing laws ; and if the appraised value thereof shall exceed, by ten per centum or more, the value so declared on the entry, then, in addition to the duties imposed by law on the same, there shall be levied, collected, and paid a duty of twenty per centum ad valorem on such appraised value : Frovided, nevertheless, That under no circumstances shall the duty be assessed upon an amount less than the invoice value. Sec. 6. All laws, or parts of laws, inconsistent with this act, shall be, and the same are, hereby repealed. Sec. 7. This act shall take effect in twelve months from and after the day of its publication in the Polynesian newspaper : provided, that it is not in violation of any treaty existing at that time. Schedule A. Spirits or strong waters, of strength of proof by Guy-Lussac's alcometer, and so on in pro- portion for any greater or less strength — viz: brandy, gin, rum, whiskey, alcohol, and all other SANDWICH ISLANDS. 549 spirits, $3 per gallon ; and all spirits, liqueurs, cordials, brandied fruits, or strong water re- spectively, sweetened or mixed with any other articles, of the strength of proof hy Gruy-Lussac's alcometer, and so in proportion for any greater or less strength, $3 per gallon. Schedule B. Port, sherry, Madeira, and other wines, containing over 18 per centum and under 30 per centum alcohol, $1 per gallon. Schedule 0. Fire-arms and side-arms of every description, laces, braids, and insertings of cotton or silk ; manufactures of goats' hair or mohair not otherwise provided for ; lasting, cambric, damask, drapery, moreen, paramattas, silk velvet, silks and satins, and manufactures of silk, or of which silk shall be a component part ; grass-cloth, pina goods, corn, wheat, rye, barley and other grain, and the manufactures thereof; bread, beans, peas, musical instruments of all kinds, crockery, billiard-tables, fruits and vegetables of all kinds not otherwise provided for ; carpets, oil and floor-cloth, gloves, lacquered, plated, silver and glass-ware, manufactures of papier mache, to- bacco, and manufactures of tobacco, comfits, sweetmeats or fruits preserved in sugar or sirup, and confectionary of all kinds ; powder, shot, percussion caps, saltpetre, soda^ essences not otherwise provided for ; regalia, gold leaf, haircloth, ten-pin balls, cassia^ cloves, nutmegs, and spices of all kinds, card-cases, pocket-books, shell boxes and souvenirs, and all similar articles of whatever material composed; combs of all kinds, coral manufactures, crayons, dolls and toys of all kinds, fans and feathers, artificial flowers of whatever material ; manufactures of ebony, mahogany, rosewood, satin or camphor- wood ; manufactures of pearl, bone, horn, ivory, and all other kinds of fancy articles of a similar kind; daguerreotype stock, arrow-root, sago, tapioca, perfumes, tinctures, pastes^ extracts and cosmetics used for the toilet, bay rum, tea, cof- fee, chocolate, cocoa, crackers^ salt, sugar of all kinds, and sirups of sugar, sardines and all fish in oils, molasses, starch, gros de Naples, velvetine, jewellery of all kinds, bracelets, guards and chains, beads of all kinds, ornaments, watches and parts of watches, circus and theatrical wardrobes, and all articles used for scenic representations or public exhibition, lacquered furni- ture, walking-sticks or canes, paintings and engravings, whether framed or otherwise ; claret, hock, champagne, and all other light wines containing not over 18 per cent, of alcohol; cider, champagne cider, perry, ale^ beer, porter, and all other beverages containing alcohol. Schedule D. Iron or steel, axes, hatchets, ballast, buoys^ windlass-nipjiers, trypots, whale and seal irons anchors, stoves, lances and bomb-lances, handcufi"s, tacks, trace-chains, iron pipe, wire-cloth • manufactures of wool, linen, and cotton, not otherwise provided for; beef and pork tongues hams, lard, game and vegetables inclosed in sealed cans or otherwise ; butter, cheese, leather and manufactures of leather, hides, fish (fresh, salted, dried, smoked or pickled) ; doors and sashes, house-frames, bunting; Britannia, hard, hollow, tin, zinc, and wooden ware not other- wise provided for ; clothing (ready-made) and wearing apparel of every description ; hats, caps, bonnets, hose, not otherwise provided for; blacking, corks; composition, copper, tin, zinc, and yellow metal not otherwise provided for, and nails of the same; cordage, cambooses, chronom- eters, davits, ship's tackle and stores not otherwise provided for; oars, twine, tarred paper, candles, camphene and burning fluids of every description not otherwise provided for; pitch, tar, rosin, lamps, lanterns, scales, pumps, carriages and parts of carriages^ wagons, carts, whips, wheels, spurs^ yokes, safes, vaults, trunks, not otherwise provided for; vinegar, wax- sperm, whale, seal, porpoise, and black-fish oil, neatsfoot and cocoanut oils, marbles sheet- lead, lead pipe, lines, nets, grindstones, glass, hops, live stock not otherwise enumerated ; slates 550 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. solder, sand-paper, spy-glasses and telescopes, cutlery of all kinds ; Orleans, alpacca, alepine, Parage, talzarine, manufacture of worsted or Cashmere, or of wliicli there shall be a component part, not otherwise provided for ; brooms and brushes of all kinds ; furniture and upholstery not otherwise provided for ; clocks and parts of clocks ; belts, shawls, not otherwise provided for; paper-hangings, matting, soda-fountains, honey, medicinal drugs, roots and leaves for medicinal preparations, not otherwise provided for ; surgical instruments. Schedule E . Blacksmiths', caulkers', coopers', carpenters,' shoemakers', machinists', and turners' tools; chain-cable, nails, rivets, and spikes of iron, of all kinds; iron hooj^s; manufactures of cotton, not otherwise provided for ; flannel, of whatever material ; blankets of all kinds ; coburgs, crash, duck and canvass ; osnaburgs ; boats ; lumber, hewed, sawed, and rough ; casks and barrels ; staves; books, printed and blank; stationery and paper, of all kinds, not otherwise provided for ; brick, cement, and building materials, of all kinds; bags and bagging ; furnaces; monu- ments ; ; spars ; walrus teeth ; paints of all kinds ; turpentine, linseed and other oils used in painting; varnish, putty, soap, rice, and paddy; thread, not otherwise provided for ; hydraulic rams ; wood ; coal ; ice ; alcohol, when introduced for medicinal or mechanical purposes, in accordance with the act passed August 16, 1854. Schedule P. Trees, shrubs, bulbs, plants, roots, and seeds, for planting and sowing, not otherwise pro- vided for; machinery of all kinds ; steam-engines, mills, coffee-cleaners, rice-hullers, ploughs? hoes, and other instruments of husbandry, imported by any agriculturist or body of agriculturists, and not intended for sale; animals for improving the breed in this kingdom; all produce of Hawaiian fisheries ; professional books, instruments, implements, and tools of trade, and in use of persons from abroad, and not intended for any other person, or for sale ; goods, wares, and merchandise exported to a foreign country, and brought back in the same condition as when exported, upon which no drawback has been allowed ; household effects, wearing apparel, and other personal effects in use, not merchandise ; also, all goods imjiorted free by Christian mis- sionaries and foreign missionaries and whale ships, under the present laws. PORTS OF ENTRY. The following are the only ports of entry in the Sandwich Islands, viz : for vessels of all de- scriptions, Honolulu, (Oahu,) Lahaina, (Maui,) Hilo, Kealakeakua, and Kawaihae, (Hawaii,) and Waimea, (Kauai ;) and for whalers, and vessels of war only, Hanalei, (Kauai.) PORT CHARGES ON MERCHANT VESSELS. At Honolulu. — Tonnage dues, fifteen cents per ton register ; pilotage, one dollar per foot, each way ; or half-pilotage if no pilot is employed ; health certificate, one dollar ; buoys, two dollars ; harbor-master, three dollars ; clearance, one dollar ; pilot for anchoring a vessel outside, which does not enter the harbor, ten dollars. At Lahaina. — Tonnage dues the same as at Honolulu ; boarding officers, five dollars ; lights, one dollar ; canal, if used, two dollars; clearance, one dollar. At Hilo. — Tonnage dues, pilotage, health certificate, and clearance, the same as at Hono- lulu. At Kealal-eahta. — Tonnage dues the same as at Honolulu ; boarding oificer, five dollars ; clearance, one dollar. SANDWICH ISLANDS. 551 At Kawaihae, (Hawaii,) and Waimea, (Kauai,) the same as at Kealakeakua. Any vessel, having paid the tonnage dues at one port, complied with all the port regulations, and obtained a clearance from the collector, may go to either or all of the other ports of entry, without paying any additional tonnage dues during the same voyage. PRIVILEGES TO WHALE SHIPS. Whale ships are allowed to land goods, to the value of $200, free of duty, and $1,000 worth additional, subject to a duty of five per cent, ad valorem, without being liable to pay any ton- nage dues; but, if they land more than $1,200 worth (including the |200 free of duty), they are subject to the same charges and liabilities as merchant vessels. PENALTIES, BBSTEICTIONS, ETC. Any master of a whale ship, who shall fail to produce his permit when called for, is liable to a fine of not less than $10, or more than $50, to be imposed by the collector. Any vessel having cargo on board intended for a foreign port, or spirits in cargo or stores, and touching at a place not a port of entry, without a permit from a collector, is liable to pay double tonnage dues. Oil, whalebone, or any other article of merchandise, landed or transhipped without a permit, is liable to seizure or confiscation. Seamen are not allowed to be discharged at any of the ports of these islands, except Honolulu and Lahaina. It is not lawful to discharge seamen at any of the ports of the islands, without the written consent of the governor. Honolulu and Lahaina are the only ports at which native seamen are allowed to be shipped, and, at these places, only with the consent of the governor. FEEJEE ISLANDS. [70] FEEJEE ISLANDS. These islands constitute a group in the South Pacific ocean, favorably situated for the whaling interests of the United States, if the hahits of the natives did not render it unsafe for whale-ships to enter any of their ports, unless under the protection of a man-of-war. The group consists of 154 islands in all, 65 of which are inhabited, and contain a population estimated at about 134,000 souls. The principal islands are Viti Levu and Paou, or Sandal-wood Island; others are Vuna, Kandaboo, Ovolau, Bau, Mathuatu, andGoro; each of the islands containing from 5,000 to 13,000 inhabitants. Sandal-wood was formerly a leading production of this group, but it has now entirely dis- appeared. The great fertility of the soil, however, and the low price at which vessels could recruit their stores, and obtain supplies of fresh provisions, excellent water, &c., taken in connexion with the fact that the whaling interests of citizens of the United States in that quarter involve annually from seven to eight millions of dollars, show how important this group might become to American whalers, if they were only strong enough to prevent or resent acts of piracy and plunder. An official communication to the State Department, under date of January 1, 1854, says: "The chief and inhabitants of Bau (at present the controllers of this group), causing the destruction of property at Lavuka, live by the fruits of begging, theft, and robbing — one unbroken series of robberies and butcheries. In default of justice, these men escape. "(a) When our whalers are fortunate enough to escape from the atrocities above described, they can obtain a full supply of all descriptions of vegetables, pork, poultry, &c., for an entire crew, for about $56, in trade. The same communication further informs the Department that American vessels are actually driven away from this archipelago, the natives being emboldened in the perpetration of these acts by the absence of American vessels of war in any of their ports. During the past year (1855) an American ship of war, the John Adams, visited the Feejee Islands for the purpose of inquiring into, and demanding reparation for, the cruelties and acts of plunder and piracy committed by the natives upon American ships trading and fishing in the Feejean archipelago. The result of this visit, it is believed, will put an end to the atrocities of these savages, and secure safe and commodious retreats for American whalers in those dis- tant seas. It is understood that this security is guarantied by a convention or treaty agreed to by Tui Viti, the king of the islands. There are no quarantine regulations observed at any of these islands, and consequently no bills of health are required. Passengers are subjected to no port or landing requirements, and are at liberty to go ashore when and as they jjlease. (ffl) Part III. 556 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Tliere are no customs duties, nor are there any light, hospital, or other dues or taxes exacted. For pilots^ the charges are such as can be agreed upon. It has been already stated that this group of islands affords a convenient and excellent stop- ping-place for our whale-ships engaged in their hazardous and laborious toil in the South Pacific seas. It should be added, that our trading ships generally, in that quarter of the globe, could beneficially call at these islands, particularly if freighted with miscellaneous cargoes of cotton goods, weapons of war, cutlery^ and other similar wares suited to the barbarous and semi-civilized natives, could they but be taught to pay proper respect to the American flag. During the three years ending with 1853, the exports from the United States to the Feejee Islands amounted, in the aggregate, to |136,000, viz: in 1851, to $32,000; in 1852, to |54,000; in 1853, to |50,000. The merchandise received in barter for American imports consist of biche-de-mer, tortoise- shell, gums, arrow-root, and cocoanut-oil. The exports from the United States consist of assorted cargoes, and the annual value may be estimated from the preceding figures, as the trade is almost exclusively one of barter, in which American shippers usually realize 250 per cent, profit on their merchandise. During the last six months of 1855, there arrived at the port of Lanthala five American vessels, including two ships of war, (the John Adams and the St. Mary's,) measuring, exclusive of the two latter, an aggregate of 1,124 tons. Three whale-ships also touched at the islands during the same period. The inward cargoes of two of the merchant vessels referred to, amounting in value to $4,000, consisted of general cargoes, of which was landed, in value, |3,000. The remaining vessel was laden with outfits, stones, and whaling lines, valued at |30,000, none of which was landed at the islands. The outward cargoes consisted of biche-de-mer, 1,500 peculs, and shells 1,000 pouds, valued at $41,000. One of these vessels made a voyage to Sydney with yams, cocoanut-oil, and live stock, while the natives were collecting her cargo of biche-de-mer. WEST INDIAN STATES. WEST INDIAN STATES. The Empire of Hayti and the Eepublic of Dominica are included under the general appella- tion of West Indian States. Both of these states are on the island of St. Domingo, memorable as having been the seat of the first European settlement in America. It was discovered by Columbus in 1492, and settled immediately afterward. After various and sanguinary revolutions, a military republic was formed on the French side of the island, under the title of the Eepublic of Hayti, to which, subsequently, and for a length of time, the whole island became subjected. In 1844 the political connexion between the French and Spanish divisions of the island was dissolved ; and, since that period, the two states — the Empire of Hayti and the Eepublic of Dominica — have maintained separate political organizations. EMPIEE OF HAYTI. The name of Hayti is now applied to that portion of the island under the jurisdiction of the Emperor, viz : the western part, extending from Lasabon, on the Massacre river, in the north, to the Rio Padernales, on the south. The territory of the empire is estimated to embrace about 10,000 square miles ; and the popu- lation is approximately stated at 700, 000, (a) composed chiefly of blacks, mulattoes, and other mixed races. There being no treaty between the United States and Hayti, the commerce between the two countries is governed by such local laws and regulations as may from time to time be enacted. These are always subject to changes and alterations, sometimes so sudden — decrees of to-day superseding the laws in force but yesterday — that commercial interests, especially those of the United States, have been, in many instances, most seriously aifected. The United States commercial agent, in a despatch to the Department of State, written in December, 1849, thus refers to this ruinous uncertainty of Haytien commercial legislation : " There is one subject to which I beg, for a moment, to draw your attention ; that is, the sudden changes in the laws aifecting commercial interests. Within the last six months we have had the closing of the ports of Aquire, St. Marc, Miragoane, Port de Paix, and I'Ansed Hainault. 2d. An additional duty of 5 per cent, on coffee, and of T per cent, on logwood ; and, lastly, we have had those modifications in the monopoly law. * * * * Almost all these measures were enforced on the day of their publication, merchants only being apprized of the intentions of the government by a vague rumor. With such hasty legislation, the jp^t careful and discreet are entrapped, and thus all calculation defeated, and frequently heavy loss entailed." (a) A French official report, recently published, states the population of Hayti to be o-ilj 400,000. 560 COMMERCIAL- DIGESTS. Advices more recently received represent but little amelioration in this unsettled state of commercial legislation. It is true, American commerce has been placed on a much better foot- ing than it enjoyed at that period. Up to June 25, 1850, a law was in force subjecting the vessels of all nations that had not acknowledged the independence of Hayti to an additional duty of 10 per cent. The independence of the empire not having been formally recognized by the United States, American vessels were brought within the operation of this law, and could not, in consequence, compete with the vessels of such nations as had satisfied its requirements, even in exporting to Hayti our own staples. In January, 1850, the State Department was officially informed that this reciprocity duty of ten per cent, additional was, by a law then lately published, applied to American merchandise brought in vessels of any nation whatever. This was an advantage to our ship-owners, as one or two vessels, under foreign flags, were then running as packets from the United States to Hayti, and also from the adjacent islands, bringing American goods under the preference of 10 per cent, over American bottoms. It placed the American flag on an equality with that of other nations in the carrying-trade of our staples exported to Hayti ; and an increased American ton- nage engaged in the trade, and a general activity in the commercial movements between the two countries were immediately perceived. Still, American commerce in this quarter had to encounter a difficulty no less, if not even more, formidable than the discrimination just abolished. This was a decree and accompanying tariff, which took effect January 1, 1850, the 3d article of which was in these words : "The articles designated in the tariff annexed to the present decree cannot be sold above the prices fixed by said tariff." Articles 4, 6, and 8 run thus : "There shall be established in each of the ports of Port-au-Prince, Aux Cayes, Cape Haytien, Jacmel, G-onaives, and Jeremie, ware- houses, into which shall be put in depot, after having regularly passed through the custom- houses, such articles of merchandise as are designated in the tariff annexed to the present decree." * * * " Coffee shall only be divided among importers of articles included in the tariff, which division shall be made pro rata, according to the acquired rights of each." * * * ' '' The government reserves to itself the right of retaining, out of the quantity of coffee declared for division, a certain portion, to be disposed of according to the necessities of the moment ; such portion shall not, however, exceed one-fifth of the existing quantity." The low tariff prices fixed upon most American goods, and those to the Haytiens of the first necessity, when contrasted with the more liberal prices assigned to the merchandise of other nations, almost paralyzed for a time American trade. A despatch from Aux Cayes, written at that period to the Department of State, says : "While the citizens of France are scarcely affected in their importations to Hayti, the Americans here import, and our merchants at home export, scarcely any article that is free." Still, in the face of these annoyances, and despite the embarrassments which they must have occasioned, one-half at least of the foreign trade of Hayti is in the hands of American merchants. Naturally indolent, and unhappily deprived of all legislative stimulus to industry and labor, the natives have lost that spirit of emulation and agricultural enterprise which conducted them to a comparatively high state of prosperity under the administration of earlier rulers. The degree of this prosperity, thus attained, may be inferred from the following statement, exhibiting the quantities and values of the produce exported from St. Domingo to France, from January 1 to December 31, 1790. The figures and other data are derived from a rare statisti- cal chart, published in France, by the government, that year, entitled "Tableau des Douanes et du Commerce de lapartie Fran^owe de St. Domingue." WEST INDIAN STATES. 561 Quantities and values of produce exported frmn St. Domingo {cMefly from the portion now com- prised within the limits of Hayti), from January 1 to Decemher 31, 1790, while a colony of France. Sugar, white .pounds. " brown do Coffee do Cotton do Indigo do Cocoa do Sirup jars Tafia kegs Hides, tanned sides " raw number. Tortoise-shell. pounds. Mahogany and Campeche -do Value in colonial currency (livres). Value in British money Value in dollars - Quantities, 70,227,708 93,177,512 68,151,180 6,286,126 930,016 150,000 29,502 303 7,887 5,186 5,000 1,500,000 Values in livres. 67,670,781 49,041,567 51,890,748 17,572,252 10,875,120 120,000 1,947,132 21,816 78,870 93, 348 50,000 40,000 199,401,634 £5,565,600 $27,828,000 The free population of this portion of the island in 1790 was : whites, 38,360 ; blacks, 8,370. The number of negroes employed in labor was 455,000. The navigation returns show the number of vessels entered to have been 763, with an aggregate measurement of 55,748 tons ; and the number cleared 721, measuring 53,321 tons. The total value of agricultural property, including negroes, stock, &c., in the French division, in 1790, is stated at about $208,297,600. The number of coffee plantations was 2,810 ; of cotton, 705; of indigo, 3,097; and of cocoa, 69. The following table exhibits the general decline in the productions of sugar, coffee, cotton, and indigo, between the years 1789 and 1826: Years. SUGAR. Coffee. Cotton. Indigo. White. Brown. 1789 Pounds. 47,516,531 16,540 198 157 2,787 Pounds. 93,573,300 18,518,572 5,443,567 3,790,143 2,514,502 600,934 200,454 14, 920 5,106 2,020 32,864 Pounds. 76,835,219 43,420,270 26,065,200 29,240,919 35,137,759 29,925,951 24,235,372 33,802,837 44,269,084 36,034,300 32,189,784 Pounds. 7,004,274 2,480,340 474, 118 216,103 346, 839 820,563 592,368 332,256 1,028,045 815,697 620,972 Pounds. 758,628 804 1801 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 ^ 1824 1,240 1825 1826 In 1789 Hayti was a colonial possession of France; in 1801 it was under the government of [71 ] 562 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Toussaint; in 1818 and 1819 it was under tliat of Christoplie; and during the residue of the years designated in the statement, it was under that of President Beyer. The following statement exhibits the quantities of coffee, cotton, cocoa, logwood, and tobacco exported from Hayti from 1835 to 1849 (1842 excepted), both inclusive: Years. Coflee. Cotton. Cocoa. ' Logwood. Tobacco. 1835 Pounds. 48,352,371 37,622,674 30,845,400 49,820,241 37,889,092 46,126,272 34, 114, 117 44,900,554 45,884,908 41,002,571 33,508,179 48,388,699 37,630,435 30,608,343 Pounds. 1,649,717 1,072,555 1,013,171 1,170,175 1,635,420 922,575 1,591,454 448,422 914,835 557,480 570,061 525,083 411,463 544,126 Pounds. j Pounds. 397,321 i 13,293,737 550,484 1 6,767,902 266,024 i 6,036,238 453,418 7.887.936 Pounds. 2,086,606 1,222,716 890,569 1,995,049 2,102,791 1,725,389 3,219,690 1,715,816 171,535 5,609 576 1836 1837 --- - 1838 - 1839 477,414 442,365 640,616 708,827 513,448 836,004 630, 102 1,171,520 905,895 664,516 25,946,068 39,283,205 65,071,391 23,563,904 47,405,120 68,181,588 59,933,868 • 32,795,670 36,340,072 86,232,580 1840 1841- 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847- --- 1848 1849 Total .. -- 566,693,856 13,026,547 8,657,954 498,740,279 14,336,346 The total quantity of acajou — a species of mahogany — exported during eleven of the years desig- nated was 48,143,272 lbs. The exportation of pitre — a species of aloes, which furnishes a sub- stitute for hemp and flax— appears to have commenced in 1846, and, in the four ensuing years, had amounted to an aggregate of 412,874 lbs. In 1835, 8,500 cigars; 1,097 lbs. of sugar; 24,951 hides; 31,192 lbs. of rags; 10,993 lbs. of wax; and 8,769 lbs. of ginger were exported; while the ensuing year, the figures were, respectively, 33,000, 16,891, 14,891, 275, and 15^509 ;— sufficiently indicative of the great fluctuations to which the foreign trade of Hayti was subject. A glance at the statements presented will show that a great change took place in the charac- ter of the exportation from Hayti during the sixty years between 1789 and 1849. Sugar, indigo, and tobacco, which were staples of export in 1789, had entirely disappeared from the table in 1849 ; the exportation of coffee and cocoa had (if we except two years) remained nearly stationary, while the exportation of logwood had vastly augmented, and that of cotton had greatly diminished. The quantities of the article last named, imported from Hayti into the United States during the five years ending June, 1855, was as follows: 1851 12,000 lbs. 1852 None. 1853 215,799 " 1854 196,127 " 1855 „ 189,214 " Exhibiting an aggregate of 613,140 lbs., and an average, each year, of 122,628 lbs. The quantity of coffee exported in 1850 was about 45,000,000 lbs., while in 1851 it exceeded 50,000,000 lbs.; and in 1852 the quantity produced must have reached 56,000,000 lbs., as the fifth part thereof, claimed by the government, amounted to 11,200,000 lbs. As regards to- bacco, since the political division of the island, its culture and its trade are in the hands of WEST INDIAN STATES. 563 the Dominicans. There is, however, considerable traffic in this article at some of the ports of Hayti ; but it is imported by the coasters from the ports of the republic. In view of the statistics of Hayti, thus presented, it is evident that the movement of the country has been vastly retrograde since it was a possession of France. In 1789 it exported, as we have seen^ 150,000,000 lbs. of sugar, and nearly 1,000,000 lbs. of indigo ; in 1849 it exported none; in the former year it exported '77,000,000 lbs. of coffee, and more than 7,000,000 lbs. of cotton ; in 1849 the exportation of the former amounted to less than 31,000,000 lbs., and of the latter to little more than 500,000 lbs.; while the total value of exportations from Hayti, which, in 1789, are given at 205,000,000 francs, forty years later were but 3,500,000 francs! A foreign resident at the capital of Hayti, in view of these facts, writes as follows, under recent date: " This country has made, since its emancipation, no progress whatever. The population par- tially live upon the produce of the grown-wild coffee plantations, remnants of the French dominion. Properly speaking, plantations after the model of the English in Jamaica, or the Spanish in Cuba, do not exist here. Hayti is the most beautiful and the most fertile of the Antilles. It has more mountains than Cuba, and more space than Jamaica. Nowhere the coffee-tree could better thrive than here, as it especially likes a mountainous soil. But the indolence of the negroes has brought the once splendid plantations to decay. They now gather the coffee only from the grown-wild trees. The cultivation of the sugar-cane has entirely dis- appeared ; and the island that once supplied one- half of Europe with sugar, now supplies its own wants from Jamaica and the United States." The following statement exhibits the general navigation and trade of the port of Cape Hay- tien during the year 1841, and the share thereof assigned to the United States: Nations. No. of vessels. Value of cargoes inward. No. of vessels. Value of cargoes outward. 40 19 3 11 11 $283,990 145,480 5,145 135,410 112,545 42 16 1 9 10 $211,620 161,935 1,120 182,780 256,395 British . . Haytien French Total 84 682,570 78 813,850 The trade of the port of Gonaives, during the same year, is given as follows ; Nations. No. of vessels. Value of cargoes inward. No. of vessels. Value ofcargoes outward. British 13 10 1 1 30 $6,995 17,525 Ballast. 1,420 49,850 12 10 1 2 27 $91,765 73,270 48,420 18, 935 161,930 French Total 55 75,790 52 394,320 The British vessels engaged in this trade came from Turk's Island, Nassau, St. Thomas, Trinidad, Barbadoes, and Demerara, and were freighted with dry-goods, hardware, crockery, beer, bricks, and provisions ; but, as these islands are supplied chiefly with the articles last 664 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. named from the United States, it is evident that, unless, under positive prohibitions, or under restrictions equivalent thereto, the United States can, at all times, control the foreign trade of Hayti in this species of merchandise, which the natural indolence or general aversion to agri- cultural labor of the Haytiens necessitates them to seek from other nations, and renders as in- dispensable to their comforts, if not to their very existence, in 1855 as in 1841. The following table exhibits the foreign navigation of Hayti for a period of six years, from 1847 to 1852, both inclusive : Years. Vessels. Tons. Years. Vessels. Tons. 1847 830 678 1,065 150,478 98,376 155,220 1850 1,160 897 995 162,238 117,817 139,829 1848 1851 1849 . 1852 Table exhibiting the nations to which belonged the vessels employed in the trade of 1849 and 1850. Nations. 1849. 1850. Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons. United States 486 19 144 114 253 10 28 11 65, 554 4,348 23,707 22,591 31,756 580 5,036 1,648 610 13 162 84 204 37 31 19 81,054 2,478 21,409 15,797 30,756 1,688 6,322 2,734 Belgium Franco Great Britain _ - Holland Other countries Total 1,065 155,220 1,160 162,238 The navigation of 1851, compared with that given above for 1850, shows a falling off in num- ber of vessels of 263, measuring 44,421 tons ; and the returns for 1852 show a like decrease over those of 1850 of 165 vessels, of 22,409 tons, but an increase over those of 1851 of 98 ves- sels and 22,012 tons. POET-AU-PBINCE. This city, the capital of the empire, centralizes the large bulk of Haytien foreign commerce. It is true that less than a third of the vessels engaged in this foreign commerce depart from its ports with full cargoes ; but this is owing to the fact that it is unable to supply sufficient ex- ports, and the laws of Hayti permit foreign vessels, after unloading at the first port^ to proceed to others to make up their cargoes. The general navigation from 1846 to 1850 comprised arrivals and departures, 1,448 vessels, with an aggregate of 219,810 tons, or an annual aver- age of 290 vessels of 43,962 tons. The flags which enter into the foreign trade of this port are, the United States, French, English, Danish, Belgian, Hamburgian, and Bremen. Notwithstanding the great efforts made by Great Britain and France in 184Y and 1848 to ameliorate the commercial and agricultural condition of Hayti, its general commerce during the five years ending with 1850, declined at least thirty-three per cent, when compared with the preceding five years. Its European commerce, more especially, is yearly declining, while its general trade with the United States has largely increased. This is especially the case at this port. WEST INDIAN STATES. 566 The following is a eummary of the navigation and trade between the United States and Port- au-Prince, during the last six months of 1854, from official returns: Number of American vessels entered and cleared, 122, with an average of 200 tons each. Total value of cargoes inward, $488,530, consisting chiefly of provisions, lumber, and dry goods. Cargoes homeward consisted of logwood, coffee, and hemp, the value of which is omitted in the official returns. Assuming the navigation between the United States and this port to have been as active the first six months of 1854 (for which there are no official returns at hand) as the last, the figures for the whole year would stand thus : Total number of American vessels entered and cleared at Port-au-Prince in 1854, 244. Official returns give as the total for 1852, 210 ; 1851, 189 ; which shows an increase for each successive year. CAPE HAYTIEN. This port has not yet entirely recovered from the effects of the earthquake of 1842, nor has its general commerce regained the high rank which it held prior to that period. Still, its navi- gation is not unimportant. In 1850 there entered and cleared 55 vessels, with an aggregate of 8,509 tons more than in 1849. In 1829 the imports at this port amounted to 2,500,000 francs, and in 1850 to 3,343,168 francs. The large bulk of this trade is in the hands of Ameri- can merchants. A French statistical work, referring to this fact, offers two explanations of the great preponderance of American trade^ not only at this port, but in Hayti generally, as fol- lows: "The United States conducts about one-half of the foreign navigation of Hayti. In 1850 their progress was accelerated beyond all precedent, showing an augmentation over 1849 of 124 vessels, with an aggregate of 15,000 tons. The facility with which they open with their neighbors a credit which is often refused them in Europe, together with the efforts of their propa- gandists of different sects scattered over the island, is eminently favorable to the increase of American influence." If there were even any plausibility in this suggession, it would prove, perhaps, more than the author intended ; for, ambitious as France confessedly is, and has ever been, to extend her commerce and foster her mercantile interests, even by restrictions and discriminations, which are now almost universally discarded, the assertion of her statistician, above quoted, would imply that this source of American commercial preponderance in Hayti was not available to her ; but some other cause must be looked for, in view of the fact, that, while American mer- chants do sometimes — nay, very frequently — "give credit" to their consignees and purchasers in Hayti, they invariably pay cash, or its equivalent, for all their exports. For such articles as are monopolized by the government, the Haytien law is peremptory as to that mode of pay- ment. The other explanation assigned is more reasonable. It is in these words : "Always on the lookout for new sources of trade, the Americans purchase at Cape Haytien red-peppers, and orange and lemon peel. This new branch of trade, as well as the purchase of rags, has succeeded beyond expectation. Many houses at New York receive full cargoes of these descriptions of merchandise, actuaWj priceless in Hayti, on which they realize large profits." This is, at least, a more commercial explanation ; and, taking it to be true, as there is no evidence to the con- trary, it shows that our merchants are determined to maintain their present relations with Hayti, even if they must take in part, in exchange for their provisions, their lumber, their hard- ware, their cotton goods^ and their French wines and haberdashery, such valueless goods as the raw material for the consumption of their 750 paper-mills, at any one of which their rags will always command a ready sale at four cents per pound, (a) and raw material for the manufacture of bergamot and various useful and costly essences. (a) These 750 luills, the number in the United States in 1852, manufacture 270,000,000 pounds of paper annually, valued at $27,000,000, and consume each year 405,000,000 pounds of rags, for which our seamen have to scour every quarter of the globe. (See Digest of Italian States.) 666 OOMMBECIAL DIGESTS. The following tabular statement exhibits the foreign trade, import and export, of this port (Cape Haytien) for the year ending with December 31, 1852 : Statement of imports at Cape Haytien, from January 1 to December 31, 1852, Flag. American -. English Hanover Oldenburg, . Oldenburg . Danish Hamburg.. Do Danish French. Do.- French English . . Danish Haytien.. Prussian . . Hamburg. English . Belgian . English . English . . Total . Where from. United States - K do Bremen . . 1 Hamburg, i do... Coastwise ....do France Coastwise St. Thomas. ...do -do. .do. .do. .do. Liverpool ...do Coastwise Turk's Island 32 27 18 No. of vessels. 37 1 1 1 40 18 Tons. 83 4,360 122 152 250 420 109 387 : 130 127 1,173 796 610 1,406 2,079 209 193 49 287 233 3,050 133 141 317 591 165 11,269 Amount in- voices, Spanish curreney. $211,691 50 8,308 89 40,910 04 52,056 20 $220,000 39 92,966 24 9,838 58 2,527 00 22,404 52 4,000 00 13,786 00 20,666 15 Total invoices, Spanish cur- rency. 55,598 88 38,770 10 34,452 15 246 00 Duties paid, Spanish curren- cy. 442,033 76 $46,826 80 r 10, 435 94 [ 13, 148 45 10,907 16 11,368 50 8,623 37 216 95 101,527 17 WEST INDIAN STATES. 567 CO 2 S 5 5J S £ § g !$ S ^ C O Oi 00 C4 ^^ r- o> ,_, (?] 00 — O) '9* 00 to £ § a tc <0 03 CO CO i^ r- CO .-J -3 a) T* O) 00 1^ sf r^ ^ (O CO -tf r-1 s •aieddad paiiBg 1 ^ : s • o o .a • . o o •aoinf araiT ^ i • c* en O (T r^ ^ «B S S g g2 ^ •ooOTqoi ^ ; w of pH CD r^ 1 to : CCI II CO •bSbji i 5 : T II CO II '"' sa => u- TT c: S2 ■ o ■* •XauoH u 2 a o. g 9 ! OS s Jfl O) rjJ" 8 t^ * ^ . o CQ CO •xiBMsaaB a^ ! 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H 02 S : 3 'A 4 s 9 ■ 1 ( 3 1 a c c -. t 1 "i , 1 III " t? 3 rt c! ffl H ■ C =s QJ a } Mexican vessels in the coasting trade pay 6} cents per ton, as water tax, but arc exempt from tonnage duty. 590 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. of the northern frontier. — (For regulations, see Comparative Tariffs, part II.) — Boots, shoes, slippers of leather with soles ; rein-bitts and spurs of Mexican fashion ; books prohibited by com- petent autliority; lard, subject to the same exceptions (omitting Acapulco) as flour; saddles, and appurtenances of Mexican fashion; playing cards of Mexican fashion^ scarfs (Mexican fashion) of all kinds ; speckled or printed textures imitating the same ; wheat and all kinds of grain and seeds ; blankets, woollen or cotton or mixed, excepting coverlets and bed-coverings of pique, without seams. List of goods which pay a fixed rate of duties. Description of merchandise. Rates of duty. Per quin. 51 50 Per vara 5 " 20 If 30 f f 45 (( 14 Per pound 7 20 " 2 00 Per dozen 45 " 30 it 45 it 30 (t 48 i{ 35 Each 25 (C 30 Per pound 40 Per vara 5 (1 45 Per quintal 2 40 (( 5 00 Per pound 50 " 30 Each 30 (( 50 Per pound CO 11 36 Per quin. 12 00 Per dozen 80 " 80 Per pound 2 00 Per dozen 45 (1 45 11 45 11 90 It 1 80 <> 45 11 6^. K 9 Per pound 30 Per quin. 20 00 12 50 11 30 11 3 00 Per pound 36 Per quintal 3 00 Eaw cotton, sole duty, (gross weight) Carpets of hemp, per square vara ' ' woolen (plaid flannel) plain " "not cut ' ' velvet, cut Brim (Russian sheeting) of linen or hemp Sillc lace net weight . China crape and crape scarfs net . Men' s cotton soclis Children's " Men' s linen soclss Cliildren' s " Men' s woolen socks Children's " " Undershirts and drawers, cotton ,. " " woolen Cotton or linen tape, white and colored, plain and twilled, paying net weight Coverlets, woolen, cotton, or mixed Cassimere (twilled woolens) Cocoa, Guayama, Para, and of the islands . net- " Maracaibo, Carraccas, and others : do. Cinnamon and cassia pal hy the subscribei- for , Captain , to the consignment of of the port of Vera Cruz^ [Mexico,) whither this vessel is bound. , merchants Marks. Numbers. Number of packages. Gross weight of each. Description of packages. Total net weight of each which pay by weight. Total measurement by length of goods which pay by meas- urement. Width of goods exceed- ing one vara. («) Cla>s of goods specified. Value. P.M. R. 1 to 10. 10 (ten). 1 (one) quin- tal. Bales of common size. 100,000 (one hundred thousand) yards. 1 (one) yard. White ordinary cotton. New York, (date). Signature. In this manner all invoices are to be made out, specifying every one of its packages. The total number of packages to be specified in words also. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States loith Ilexico, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels employed in the trade of each year, during a period of eleven consecutive years. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. Years. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OFIMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- Foreign produce. Total. Entered the Cleared from Entered the Cleared from duce. United States. United States. United States. United States. 1845..- $784, 164 $368,177 $1,152,331 $1,702,936 16,157 16.962 3,023 4,540 1846... 901,333 629,847 1,531,180 1,836,621 22,410 14,224 4, 639 3,964 1847... 636,641 155,787 692,428 746,818 6,497 10,716 2,903 2,155 1848... 2,095,495 1,962,951 4,058,446 1,581,247 21,796 62,083 2,916 4,526 1849... 1,047,999 1,042,869 2,090,868 2,216,719 47,807 29,820 7,881 10, 140 1850... 1,498,791 514,036 2,012,827 2,135,366 22,685 518 36,039 30,104 1851... 1,014,690 567,093 1,581,783 1,804,779 29,407 31,019 12,701 20, 145 1852... 1,406,372 878,557 2,284,929 1,649,206 27,046 29,719 12,780 17,974 1863... 2,629,770 1,029,054 3,558,824 2,167,985 23,046 30,810 26,255 15,804 1854... 2,091,870 1, 043, 616 3,135,486 3,463,190 37,569 29,758 8,605 15,173 1856... 2,253,368 669,436 2,922,804 2,822,830 39,117 41,458 6,123 10,423 (a) 100 yards Englieh are equal to 109TV[r Mexican. CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES. [75] CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES. Though Central America, properly, comprises tlie whole peninsula extending between the Isthmus of Darien and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the ahove caption is used in its more limited and popular signification, as embracing that portion of the peninsula formerly constituting the captaincy- general of Guatemala, and, more recently, the United States of Central America — namely: Guatemala, Nicaragua, San Salvador, Honduras, Costa Eica, and the Mosquito Coast. These States, including the Mosquito Coast, embrace an area of about 149,750 square miles, containing a population of nearly two millions of inhabitants. The following table exhibits the name, area, population, and capital of each of the States of Central America, derived from the latest geographical authority : (a) States. Area, square miles. Population. Capitals. Guatemala - - --- 28,000 13,000 72,000 48, 000 16,000 23,000 972, 000 363,000 308,000 247, 000 138,000 6,000 Nueva Guatemala San Salvador Comayagua -- Guatemala is estimated to embrace in its population some 750,000 Indians, 150,000 mestizos, and between 7,000 and 8,000 whites; Nicaragua, 80,000 Indians, 15,000 negroes, 20,000 whites, and more than 100,000 of mixed races. "When these countries were under the dominion of Spain," says a late publication, (6) "the whole was included in the captaincy-general of Guatemala, and Guatemala has ever since been held in the first rank of the several States which were formerly constituent parts of the old government. On the 21st September, 1821, the country was proclaimed an independent State, and united itself with the republic of Mexico; but, on the 1st July, 1823, again became a sepa- rate government, and eventually a confederation of the five States above enumerated. "Mosquito, of course, was always dejure part of Honduras and Nicaragua, having, under the Spanish regime, been considered as integral portions of the departments so called. In 1846, the confederation was dissolved, and each State became independent of the other. Of late years, however, attempts have been made to renew the confederation, but without any definite results, owing to political jealousies, and, perhaps, to the intermeddling of foreigners in aflairs which belong purely to the parties themselves. The country has thus been kept in a state of constant agitation; industry has been neglected ; civil wars have been rife; and every effort to improve (a) Of the five or six authorities consulted in preparing this table, each varies materially from the other. The figures adopted, therefore, though taken from the latest and most reliable publication, would seem, after all, to present but an approximation lo exact facts. (i) "American Statistical Annual." 596 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. the condition of the inhabitants has been frustrated. Such has been the painful evidence of reliable witnesses. The day, however, is now at hand when these States must awake from their more than tropical indolence ; and, with prudence on the part of the several governments, the country, in union, will rise into incalculable importance and dignity. It possesses all the ele- ments of prosperity; and, sooner or later, the pressure of coming events will force the inhabit- ants to seek their safety in realizing the resources and advantages with which nature has so bountifully invested the country." GUATEMALA, Since 1847, Guatemala has been an independent republic, and in 1851 a new constitution was adopted, by virtue of which the President is elected every four years ; to whom, in con- junction with an Assembly General, composed of fifty-nine members^ the powers of the govern- ment are confided. It is divided into seventeen departments, and its capital is Nueva Guate- mala. The soil of Guatemala is, generally, very fertile, and produces maize and wheat of superior quality, as well as rice, legumes, vegetables, and every species of tropical fruit. The great commercial staple of the republic is cochineal, of which upwards of 20,000 bales are annually produced. In addition to these articles, considerable attention has been given of late to the cultivation of tobacco, sugar, coff'ee, cotton, vanilla, and indigo. Gold, silver, and other min- erals have been found in several sections of the State. The exports consist of cochineal, indigo, cigars, sarsaparilla, mahogany, cocoa, hides, dye-woods, and some silver. The total value of exports amounts, annually, to about |1, 880, 000, and the imports to about $2,000,000. The commercial relations between the United States and Guatemala are regulated by the treaty of March 3, 1849, and by the local legislation of that republic. The treaty is one of peace, amity, commerce, and navigation, and stipulates for perfect equality and entire reci- procity of commerce and navigation . Each nation extends the same privileges to the vessels of the other that are applicable to its own. The right of residence, commerce, and trade, is ex- tended to the citizens of each in the territories of the other, with the same rights, privileges, exemptions, and restrictions, which apply to native citizens — the coasting trade excepted, which is reserved to the parties, respectively, according to their own separate laws. The high con- tractin g parties moreover adopt, with respect to each other, the principle that free ships make free goods. The treaty is to continue in force during twelve years, and contains the usual pro- vision of one year's notice after the expiration of that period. The local regulations of Guatemala are altered from time to time by decree, sanctioned by the executive officers, and promulgated under authority of the President of the republic. The latest decree of this character, of which the Department is in possession, modifies the tariff of 1837, so far as it relates to tonnage duties. It bears date May 6, 1852, and subjoined is a translation of its provisions : Article 1. Every vessel which shall anchor in the ports of the republic, no matter whence it may come, shall pay a tonnage duty of two reals (twenty-five cents) for each ton of measurement. This measurement shall be ascertained from the register, the certificate of nationality, the patent or clearance under which it sails. Art. 2. Shall be free of tonnage duty — 1st. Small vessels engaged in transporting merchan- dise from one port to another of the republic : 2d. Vessels which anchor in ballast to take in water, provisions, or fruits of the country, provided they discharge no cargoes: 3d. Vessels of war, and regular mail or steam-packets, provided they do not discharge merchandise over twenty tons : 4th. Merchant vessels which, exceeding 150 tons of registered measurement, discharge CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES. 597 not exceeding twenty tons of mercliandise : 5tli. Vessels wliich receive on board, for exportation, produce of tlie country, excepting cochineal, as provided for in decree of March 31, 1849. Art. 3. This decree shall take effect from and after the 1st day of July, ensuing. SAN SALVADOE. This is the smallest of the Central American States, embracing hut 7,500 square 'miles, and is separated from Nicaragua by the bay of Oonchagua. The soil is, in many places, exceed- ingly fertile, but the country is generally hilly and mountainous. Indian corn, cotton, coffee, and various kinds, of vegetable produce are cultivated to some extent. The most important article of cultivation, and, indeed, the chief staple of San Salva- dor, is indigo, which grows in great perfection and abundance. Near the coast, the lands of Acajutla and Libertad produce the article known in commerce as the balsam of Peru, of which about 20,000 lbs. is the annual yield. The inhabitants display much ingenuity in the manu- facture of an article of female dress, called by the natives rehosas, which is much used in Cen- tral America and Mexico. San Salvador has a coast-line along the Pacific of about 150 miles with the ports of Acajutla and Libertad; and, within the bay of Conchagua, the excellent harbor of La Union, Commercial relations between the United States and San Salvador are regulated by treaty of January 2, 1850. This treaty is based upon the principle of the most favored nation, and stipulates for reciprocity of commerce, and equality of flag, without any discrimination as respects the origin of cargoes. The tariff of San Salvador, compared with that of the United States, will be found in its proper place. Part II. HONDUKAS. Honduras, the largest of the Central American republics, is situated on the northeastern frontier, along the Carribean sea. Its capital is Comayagua. Its foreign commerce consists mainly of the interchange of its two leading staples, logwood and mahogany, for provisions, coarse cottons, and miscellaneous imports. The mineral wealth of this State is very consider- able, and comprises gold, silver, lead, and copper. The principal productions are maize, beans, rice, and wheat ; but not in sufficient quantities for the consumption of the population. The exports of Honduras are but few, and consist of gold, silver, copper, acajou, cedar and Brazil woods, sarsaparilla, tortoise-shell, and tobacco ; and amount, annually, to about 1745,000. During the past few years, the great bulk of its foreign commerce has been conducted with Great Britain; but American cottonades, and salted as well as farinaceous provisions, now supply the heaviest demands of its markets. Its general trade with the United States, like that of all the other States of Central America, is not sufficiently important to occupy a separate place in the United States Treasury Beports on Commerce and Navigation. Its foreign trade, imports and exports, amounts to about |ljY50, 000 annually; most of which passes through the ports of the United States, or of British Gruiana. Depending almost exclusively on foreign markets for the great staples of subsistence, its com- mercial legislation is characterized by a spirit of commendable liberality. The principal ports of Honduras are Truxillo, on the Carribean sea, and Port San Lorenzo, on the bay of Conchagua, on the Pacific. 598 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. NICARAGUA. This State, more generally known than either of the others, in consequence of recent diplo- matic and political events, and of its being traversed by the river San Juan^ and the Lakes Nicaragua and Leon, which have of late been used as one of the routes from the Atlantic to the Pacific, extends from latitude 11° to 13° 45' north, from the bay of Conchagua, on the Pacific, southward, and from longitude 83° 40' to 81° 40' west. It has Honduras and San Sal- vador on the north, and Costa Eica on the south; the Pacific ocean on the west, and on the east the Carribean sea. It is divided into five departments. The capital is Leon, though not invariably the seat of government. The larger portion of Nicaragua consists of plains and gentle slopes, eminently favorable to agriculture, but only very jjartially cultivated: The chief exports are indigo, (of which about 1,200 seroons, valued at 1175,000, are ex- ported annually,) sugar, coffee, cocoa, and cotton. The total value of exports is about $900,000 annually. The food of the inhabitants consists principally of Indian corn, rice, beans, and plantains, which are all raised in great abundance. The staj)le products are indigo, cotton, tobacco, sugar, Nicaraguan wood, and hides. On the 19th day of April, 1850, a treaty was concluded between the United States and Great Britain, in respect to a proposed ship-canal between the Atlantic and the Pacific, by which both governments stipulate and declare that ''' neither the one nor the other will ever obtain or maintain for itself any exclusive control over the said ship-canal." The 8th article further stipulates that the two governments shall " extend their protection, by treaty stipulations, to any other practicable communications, whether by canal or railway, across the isthmus which connects North and South America, and especially to the inter-oceanic communications, should the same prove to be practicable, whether by canal or railway, which are now proposed to be established by the way of Tehuantepec or Panama. ' ' This treaty contains other stipulations relative to the Mosquito Coast, Central America Gene- rally, &c. , but nothing of commercial interest. General information respecting the Central American States is exceedingly limited; though, both for its productions and its geographical position, the country is one of great interest and importance. It abounds in all the precious and useful minerals, and produces almost sponta- neously the varied and luxuriant staples of the tropics. It has been termed the portage or stepping-stone between the commerce of Europe and eastern Asia, and between the Atlantic and the Pacific possessions of the United States ; and, on this account, is now the scene of active operations for facilitating its transit. Of the many routes by which the passage is deemed practicable, that by tire way of the Rio San Juan and Lakes Nicaragua and Leon is said to be the most so ; and here, therefore, the great interoceanic canal may, it is thought, be eventually constructed. The routes vary in length from 133 to 279 miles. By these routes, in compari- son with the older ones, the distance from New York to Canton will be reduced from 17,100 to 12,600 miles; to Calcutta, from 15,000 to 14,000; and to Singapore, from 15,800 to 13,000; while, from England to those places, the distance will be materially increased. "In a com- mercial point of view, therefore," says a late statistical publication, from which these facts are gleaned, " England can care but little about the canal as proposed, since, without it, her ad- vantages are much superior to those of the United States in respect to Asiatic trade." The commercial legislation of Nicaragua has, for some time, been so variable, and the condition of the country is, at present, so uncertain, as to render it, perhaps, unadvisable, even were reli- able data at hand, to attempt to follow it through its various phases. Among the later decrees relative to commerce, is one issued December 22, 1855, by President Rivas, regulating customs duties on foreign liquors, leaf tobacco, &c.; but, as these pages go to press, this decree, to- gether with all previous laws and dispositions regulating the administration of the maritime CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES. 699 custom-houses of the repuhlic, is abrogated by a decree given by President Walker, at Granada, under date July 21, 1856, a translation of which is subjoined: The Supreme Executive Power has been pleased to dictate the following decree : The President of the republic of Nicaragua to its inhabitants : Having taken into consideration the anterior dispositions which regulate the tariffs of the maritime custom-houses, and finding that they do not produce the desired results, not only in the benefits derived from them by commerce, but also in their influence upon the public treasury, in virtue of the authority vested in me, I do decree : Art. 1. Declared open ports of the republic of Nicaragua, for importation, exportation, and coasting trade, on the Pacific coast, the cities of Eealejo and San Juan del Sur ; and on the Atlantic coast, San Juan del Norte ; the registers of the southern ports shall be kept at the custom-houses there established, and that of San Juan del Norte shall be kept at the custom- house established in this city of Granada, by which an inspector shall be appointed for Castillo Viejo, who shall take account of all packages or merchandise arriving at or passing through that place, taking note of all consignees, marks, and numbers, and forwarding said notes and accounts semi-weekly to the custom-house at Granada. He shall, also, be particularly careful to keep account of all collectors to whom merchandise may be forwarded. ' Merchandise destined for the district of Eivas shall be examined at Castillo by the inspector, who shall require of .the importer payment of the duties or security for the same. The examination in Castillo of goods destined for Chontales is dispensed with for the present. IMPORTATIONS. Aet. 2. All foreign merchandise imported into the ports of the republic (with the exception of such as may be hereinafter desigaated) shall pay a duty of 20 per cent, upon the manufac- turer's price, or their cost in the markets from whence they proceed, discounting all expenses of cooperage, packing, freights, insurance, commissions^ &c:, so that the duty shall be paid without any discount. Art. 3. All spirituous liquors of good quality, without regard to the place from whence imported, shall pay one dollar per gallon, of twenty-four degrees ; and all liquors which exceed this strength shall pay, in proportion to the augmentation, the duties which correspond to them. Art. 4. All ordinary liquors, without regard to the place from whence imported, shall pay three dollars per gallon, of twenty-four degrees ; and all which exceed this strength shall pay, in proportion to the augmentation, the duties which correspond to them. Alcohol shall pay four dollars per gallon. Art. 5. All wines, without regard to the place from whence imported, sweet liquors, beers, &c., are included in the valuation of twenty per cent, established in article 2, upon the same bases and conditions as therein named. Art. 6. All leaf tobacco, without regard to the place from whence imported, shall pay seventy- five cents per pound. Art. 7. All chewing tobacco shall pay fifty per cent, upon its original cost. Art. 8. All manufactured tobacco, without regard to the place from whence imported, shall pay one dollar per pound. Art. 9. All snufis^ without regard to the place from whence imported, shall pay fifty cents per pound. Art. 10. All gunpowder, projectiles, and equipments of war, imported for mercantile pur- poses, are subjected to a duty of twenty per cent., upon the same bases and conditions estab- lished in article 2 of this decree ; but, at the present time, all combustibles, armaments, pro- jectiles, and equipments of war, may be introduced into the republic, subject to the immediate inspection of the government, in the understanding that merchants may sell to private individ- uals with the express permission of the local authority. This class of military equipments 600 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. shall be understood to consist of gunpowder, lead (in bars or manufactured), muskets, rifles, pistols, revolvers, swords, tools for the manufacture of arms, &c. Gunpowder shall remain in the depots established by the government, but always subject to the inspection and responsibility of the collector, and registered by him in order to avoid all accidents or explosions, and also for the payment of storage, which shall be the same as that imposed upon all other articles deposited in the custom-house. FREE OF DUTY. Akt. 11. All flours, meats, pork, lard, crackers^ potatoes, and all kinds of agricultural hard- ware ; machinery for the improvement of industry in the republic; printed books; bells, and church organs ; stoves, pitch, and tar, imported by the owners of vessels for the express purpose of using them on their own ships; baggage and furniture belonging to families or emigrants established in the republic, provided they are destined for their own personal use ; seeds ; plants ; flocks ; cattle, and all other animals destined to improve the breeds of the republic. Art. 12. The amount of duties shall be paid in the custom-houses of the republic, in dollars of one hundred cents ; but admitting the coins which at the present time are received at this valuation in the oflices of the government^ and in commercial transactions. Art. 13. The payment of duties shall be made in cash when the amount does not exceed three hundred dollars ; in ten days when the amount reaches six hundred dollars ; in thirty when it amounts to one thousand dollars ; and in from thirty to sixty days, payable in instal- ments, when the amount exceeds one thousand dollars, dating from the day when the register was made. Art. 14. The collectors of the custom-houses of the republic shall exact satisfactory security from merchants for the payment of duties, and for the additional security of the government. Art. 15. There shall be depots established in the custom-houses of the republic for deposit- ing the merchandise consumed by the same, or such goods as pass in transit to another State ; and the merchants who enter their goods in the custom-houses of the republic may do so in small lots, or rj^uantities, at their own convenience, and upon payment, at the expiration of one month, of the customary dues, at 1 per cent, for the following five months, and 2 per cent.' on all goods deposited for twelve months, chargeable upon the original amount of the invoice, with- out additional expenses. It is understood that for the first month's storage no charge shall be made. Groods in transit to another State shall pay 1 per cent, for six months, and 2 per cent, for twelve months, upon the original amount of the invoice. Art. 16. To liquidate the securities given by merchants who conduct their goods in transit, said securities shall be contracted in such manner as not to prejudice the revenue of the govern- ment, and at the same time at an equitable rate for the merchant, according to the distance of the State for which said goods are intended. The liquidation shall be made upon presentation by the merchant of a return permit, signed by the consignee by whom the goods are directed; certified also by the consul of this republic ; and if there be none, by the consul of some friendly nation, or, in default of this, by two merchants of known probity. Art. 1*7. The spirituous liquors, of which mention has been made in articles 3 and 4, both fine and ordinary, which were ordered previous to the publication of this tariff, shall pay one dollar and twenty-five cents per gallon, without classification of any kind, being the duty payable when said liquors were ordered ; providing always that the merchant takes oath of the truth of what he manifests. Art. 18. The payment of the duties on invoices ordered before the authorization of this tariff shall be in conformity with what has already been set forth in article 2, in reference to the cargoes which are ordered subsequent to the publication of this decree. Art. 19. All merchants shall present to the collectors the original invoices sworn to by the forwarders of the goods, certified by the consul of the republic; or, if there be none, by the consul of some friendly nation ; or, in default of this, by two merchants. And that the dispo- CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES. 601 sitions of this article may have their proper effect, four months are allowed for all invoices coming from America, and six months for all invoices coming from Europe, fixed from the date of the publication of this decree. Art. 20. In all cases of doubt which may arise in the custom-houses between the collectors and the merchants, it is ordered, as a general rule, that all differences shall be settled according to justice — conciliating equitably the interests of the government and of commerce ; and for their settlement, three merchants, including the importer, shall be associated with the collector. When the difficulty arises from damages received by merchandise, two impartial merchants shall be associated with the collector, and, under oath, shall appraise said damages; so that, upon the real value of said goods, the duties may be collected. Art. 21. The collectors, and their subordinates or employes, are strictly forbidden to show or communicate to any person the invoice of any importing merchant, except in the cases already provided for in article 20 of this decree. Art. 22. The merchant who shall defraud the revenues of the government, upon proof of his dishonesty, shall be punished, in proportion to the extent of the fraud, by confiscation, fine, or imprisonment. Art. 23. The administrators of the custom-houses of the republic, or, in default of them, the commanders of posts or frontiers, where merchandise may pass in transit from one State to another, are obliged, under their own responsibility, to demand the custom-house permit given by the collector of the customs from whence the goods were forwarded, (and which, in all cases, must be presented,) ascertaining whether the permit, and goods correspond, and also entering in a book the name of the merchant, the number of packages, marks, numbers, and destination ; at the same time giving immediate notice to the collector who furnished the permit, so to avoid all frauds, and have the assurance that the goods are forwarded in accordance to their place of destination ; and also noticing that said goods bear the custom-house stamp. Art. 24. The collectors of every custom-house are authorized to open any number of packages which they may judge proper in every invoice. Art. 25. The principal sums of all invoices shall be reduced to dollars of one hundred cents, in all cases where this currency has not been expressed. Art. 26. All previous laws and dispositions regulating the administration of the maritime custom-houses of the republic are abrogated. Art. 27. The Minister of Hacienda, General Manuel Carrascosa, is charged with the fulfil- ment of this decree, and its publication and communication to whom it may concern. COSTA EICA, The upper part of the narrow peninsula separating the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is occu- pied by the republic of Costa Kica, the most southern of the States of Central America. It is divided, politically, into eight districts. The commercial relations between the United States and Costa Rica are regulated by the treaty of July 10, 1851, and by the local legislation of the country. The treaty guaranties reciprocal freedom of commerce, and places the two countries, with respect to each other, on the footing of the most favored nations. The local commercial legislation of Costa Eica was completely remodelled and materially modified in the year 1854. The decree by which this was efi'ected bears date August 31, 1854. The 1st article grants liberty of commerce to the vessels of all nations — specifying certain descriptions of merchandise monopolized by the government, and others prohibited ; which are detailed in the tariff of Costa Eica, and preliminary remarks, Part II. [76] 602 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The 2d article provides that, at the minor ports, the export of productions of the country only can be permitted, under proper regulations. Art. 3. At the inland or frontier ports, custom-houses shall be established, under such regu- lations as the government may deem fit to adopt. Art. i. At such ports, inland and export commerce only shall be allowed, except in respect of such merchandise as shall be monopolized by the government or prohibited. The second chapter of the law contains a specification of free goods, together with a list of prohibited articles ; among the former being the personal effects of, or merchandise exported for the use of, diplomatic agents or their suite, but not those of consuls ; and in the latter are included rum, fire-arms, and munitions of war, which can be imjDorted only under special authority. The monopolized articles are tobacco, (in leaf or manufactured,) powder, and salt- petre ; which can be admitted only on government account. This law extends to sixteen chapters ; and such parts as apply to navigation and commerce would be translated and inserted at length, were it not understood to have been materially modi- fied by a recent decree, of which a summary is given^ with the tariif of Costa Eica, Part II. The two principal ports of Costa Rica are Punta Arenas, on the Grulf of Nicoya, and Mattina, on the Carribean sea. The chief staple is coffee, of which, though its cultivation was not in- troduced until about the year 1830, from 3,000 to 4,000 tons are annually exported. Tobacco is a government monopoly. The other exports are gold, sugar, Brazil wood, mother-of-pearl, and hides, amounting in all to an annual value of about $1,350,000. The imports into Costa Rica consist chiefly of manufactured goods_, chiefly American and British, amounting annually to about .$1,250,000. The values of imports and exports between the United States and Costa Rica cannot be dis- tinguished from those given in the Annual Report on Commerce and Navigation for Central America Generally, a statement of which will be found at the end of the Digest. The follow- ing statement, exhibiting the general foreign navigation and trade of the principal port of the republic, (Punta Arenas,) furnishes a fair average annual statement. It may be observed, that the values are given from ships' registers, or invoices, and are, consequently, considerably below the market values : Statement exhibiting the general foreign navigation and trade of the port of Punta Arenas, dur- ing the year ending December 31, 1855. Nationality. United States British Frencli Spanisli Hamburg Hanoverian Sardinian Chilian Peruvian . New Granadian . . Central American Costa Eican Total No. of vessels. 12 5 2 2 3 1 10 7 7 15 4 15 83 2,204 1,445 648 560 626 160 1,391 889 1,124 679 52 1,249 11,027 Invoice value of cargoes. $101,808 265,650 17,500 8,000 25,170 67,659 40,906 38,406 15,756 49,026 4,719 64,711 699,311 DEPARTED. No. Of vessels. No. of tons. I Invoice value of cargoes. 12 5 2 2 3 1 10 7 7 15 4 15 83 2.204 1,445 648 560 626 160 1,391 889 1,124 679 52 1,249 $86,650 330,950 37,953 82,211 (a)06,510 109,378 8,832 {a)18,709 (a) 1,910 (a)22, 633 11,027 765,736 (a) Coasting. CENTRAL AMERICAN STATES. 603 MOSQUITO COAST— (MOSQUITIA). The limits of this pseudo Central American State, Mosquitia or the Mosquito Coast, are so indefinite, and its extent inland so imperfectly ascertained, that scarcely more of a reliable character can be said respecting it physically, than politically or commercially. It is supposed to extend from Cape Honduras to the mouth of the river San Juan, having west the States of Honduras and Nicaragua, and north and east the Carribean sea, and to embrace about 26,000 square miles. The Mosquito Indians, its native and almost only inhabitants, are represented as an active and daring race, never brought under submission by the Spaniards. The San Juan river is claimed as its south boundary. Its capital is Blewfields, and it contains several other small villages, inhabited chiefly by native Indians and some few British colonists. The country is fertile, and, under proper cultivation^ would produce cocoa, cotton, sugar, indigo, vanilla, and logwood; but, until some change takes place either in the mode of cultivation, or the form of government, its resources have but small chance for development. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Central America, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. ye:ars. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALOE or EXPORTS. VALUE OF IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Total. Entered the United States, Cleared from United States. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. 1845 $41,548 $26,101 $67,649 $65,269 1,690 1,049 528 187 1846 75,136 45,117 120,253 116,733 2,423 957 107 214 1847 --. 73,322 23,246 96,568 80,581 1,822 1,345 1848 34, 940 15,438 60,378 18,272 3,831 308 166 700 1849 112,480 23,739 136,219 56,017 1,226 5,303 393 78 1850 57,225 12,967 70,192 261,459 3,549 290 653 1,722 1851 223,302 39,089 262,391 149,856 8,550 27,565 209 4,406 1852 380,136 87,382 473,518 368,355 51, 139 54, 5S(i 1, :^^.^ 5,888 1853 22.1, .S56 120,474 346,330 590, u:i7 68,302 80, 737 2,54 3 3,172 1854 250. 539 58,345 308,884 2,300,422 84,197 85.314 1,467 3,499 1855 1,210,584 51.586 1,262.170 286,409 90,958 90,943 2 8 9 1,111 SOUTH AMERICAN STATES. SOUTH AMERICAN STATES. The southern portion of the American continent extends from Point Gallenas, in latitude 12° 30/ to Cape Horn, in latitude 56° 30'. The extent of coast that it offers to the Carribean sea and the Atlantic is estimated at 11,000 miles; and the coast washed by the Pacific, it is stated by the latest geographical authority, has an approximate continuity of 5,800 miles. At the southern extremity there is a group of mountainous islands separated from the main land by the straits of Magellan, and forming the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, or "land of fire," so called from the number of fires which its discoverer, Magellan, saw along its coast at night, supposed to have been volcanic. This archipelago, with its barren islands and rocks, must, however, be considered as the termination of the continent. Immediately north lies the vast and almost uninhabited country of Patagonia; while on the east, at a distance of from three to four hun- dred miles in the south Atlantic, lie the Falkland group of islands, which have already been considered in the Digest of the British Colonial Possessions. The vast region known geographically as Patagonia, extends from the river Negro, latitude 39°, to the straits of Magellan, in latitude 53° south, a distance of about 970 miles in length, with a breadth varying from 200 to 420 miles. It comprises two distinct physical regions, dif- fering in surface and climate — the one lying on the west side of the Andes, the other on the east, and called, respectively. Eastern and "Western Patagonia. The former is claimed by the Argentine Kepublic to the straits of Magellan, and the latter by Chili, down to Cape Horn. Both sections are as yet, however, inhabited by aboriginal races, with the exception of a Chilian settlement at Port Famine, on the straits of Magellan. This division of Patagonia is comprised in the Chilian province of Chiloe, which is composed of the archipelago of that name ; that of Chonos, of the most southern islands, and that part of the continent which extends from Kio Negro, and as far south as Cape Horn. On the eastern division there are several ports, among which are, Gallegos, in 51° 38'; Santa Cruz, in 50° 1'; San Julian, in 49° 12'; Desire, in 4T° 5'; Nuevo Golfo, in 43°, and San Antonio in 41° south. The few tribes of aboriginal Indians that inhabit this inhospitable region subsist upon the products of their fishery. The principal object of Chili in colonizing Port Famine, on the straits, was to keep in check these nomadic tribes, though the colony has also been used for penal purposes. Cape Horn is uninhabited. The South American continent has, on its Pacific coast, no large rivers. On the Atlantic, however, are the Amazon, the Orinoco, and the Plata, and a number of others, which, thougn not so large as those named, are equal in size, if not superior, to even the largest rivers in Europe. •The Amazon is the largest river on the globe. Its principal tributaries vary in length from 1,000 to 1,800 miles, while the central stream is 4,000 miles long, and is navigable 2,200 miles from the sea. Peru, Bolivia, and Chili are the great mineral sites of South America^ and produce, chiefly, silver, but also some gold and other metals, especially copper, which is very abundant in Chili. The most distinguishing feature in the vegetation of South America is the prodigious iorests, which cover about two-thirds of the whole surface. Fruits of almost every variety abound, and indigo, coffee, sugar-cane, maize, and the cocoa-tree are among the chief products. The culti- vation of the tea-tree has been attempted in Brazil, though it is believed without success; but yerha matte, from which is prepared the customary beverage of one-half of the peninsula, grows in the greatest abundance in Paraguay. Spain and Portugal were, severally, the original colonists of South America — the former founding the States of Venezuela, New Granada, Bolivia, Peru, Chili, the Argentine Eepublic, Uruguay, and Paraguay ; and the latter, the vast euipire of Brazil. 608 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The South American States all achieved their independence between the years 1810 and 1825. These States, together witli the colonies and other regions comprised in South America, -with their respective areas, population, capitals, &c. , are exhibited in the following table, derived from the latest geographical authority; though, as regards the strict accuracy of the figures given, the same remark applies that is made with reference to similar tables respecting Mexico and the Central American States : states, &c Kew Granada Venezuela Equador Guiana — British Dutch" French Brazil. Peru . — Bolivia Chili Argentine Eepublic Paraguay Uruguay -- Patagonia, east of Andes . . Falkland Islands Area sq. miles. 521,948 426,712 287,638 96,000 59,765 27,560 2,973,400 498,726 473,298 . 249,952 786,000 72,106 73,538 210,000 6,297 Total 6,762,940 Population. 2,343,054 1,149,336 665,000 127,695 61,080 22,010 6,065,000 2,115,493 1,447,000 1,133,862 764,000 300,000 120,000 300 BOO 16,314,390 Population to sq. mile. Capitals. Population. 4.29 2.69 2.32 1.33 1.02 0.83 2.04 4.24 3.06 4.53 0.97 4.16 1.63 0.09 Bogota Caraccas Quito ... Georgetown . Paramaraibo . Cayenne Eio Janeiro.-, Lima _ Chuquisaca Santiago Buenos Ayres . Asuncion Montevideo... Port Stanley. 45,000 53,800 65,000 25,500 18,000 5,000 266,000 100,000 26,000 78,000 100,000 12,000 16,000 2.41 300 In the population given in the third column, no account is taken of the uncivilized Indian races, which, probably, number between 1,000,000 and 1,200,000 souls. These are found chiefly in the great plains of the Orinoco, Amazon, and Parana. The relative rank of the South American States^ as regards their commercial intercourse with the United States, may be inferred from the subjoined comparative statement, exhibiting the values of exports to each country from the United States, and of imports from each country into the United States, during a period of four years, from 1852 to 1855, inclusive; made up from U. S. Treasury reports for said years: S. American States. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1855. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. Brazil Chili Venezuela Argentine Eep. Peru Dollars. 3,021,042 2,339,133 793,413 799,117 355,842 193,073 Dollars. 12,230,289 2,062,160 2,121,864 2,091,097 694,892 49,707 70,585 Dollars. 3,994,444 2,326,437 844,527 881,466 697,577 308,446 Dollars. 14,817,961 2,214,252 2,613,780 2,186,631 173.441 302,980 12, 600 Dollars. 4,239,241 2,193,259 1,200,883 761,725 685,155 512,957 Dollars. 14,110,387 3,332,167 3,072,649 2,144,971 1,005,406 457, 179 57,534 Dollars. 4,261,273 3,426,257 1,223,449 969,427 870,546 422,172 66,092 Dollars. 15,218,935 3,518,896 3,616,869 2,545,087 597,618 242,709 12,553 Uruguay Equador Bolivia Paraguay 210,705 41,572 1 NEW GKANADA. [77] NEW GRANADA, If we except the Argentine Kepublic, this is the most extensive of all the republics of South America, while its population of upwards of two millions more than thrice exceeds that of the former State. The northern sliores of New Granada are washed by the Carribean sea, and the western by the Pacific ocean. It has Costa Rica as its northwestern boundary; on the east, Venezuela and Brazil ; and on the south, the republic of Equador. The republic is politically divided into seven provinces — namely: 1. Isthmo — in the Isthmus of Panama. 2. Cauca — in the south, between the Central Cordillera and the Pacific. 3. Antioquia — in the west, between the Magdalena, the Pacific, and the Gulf of Darien. 4. Cundinamarca — in the central part of the republic, extending east to Venezuela. 5. Boyaca — in the northeast, to Venezuela. 6. Guanenta — in the north, to Venezuela. 7. Magdalena — on the Atlantic. Commercial relations between the United States and New Granada are regulated by treaty of December 12, 1846, proclaimed June 12, 1848. The following summary presents the prin- cipal commercial features of this treaty : There shall be a perfect, firm, and inviolable peace and friendship between the two republics: No favors to be granted by either party to other nations, which shall not become common to the other: Mutual benefits in trade and residence to be equally enjoyed: The coasting trade reserved by each country to its own fiag: Equalization of duties granted by each country on vessels and their cargoes : The privileges respecting drawbacks equalized to the flag of each in the ports of either : Importations and exportations of articles, the produce or manufacture of either country, into or from the other, equalized as to duties with similar importations and ex- portations of any other foreign country: All prohibitions as to articles of import or export to be equal in each country as respects the flag of the other: the three preceding stipulations to apply, whether the vessels proceed from their own ports or from foreign ports, respectively: The citizens of either country to be free to manage their own business, as well with respect to shipping and its incidents, as to purchases, sales, &c. , in the country of the other ; and this priv- ilege to be enjoyed personally or by agents — they being in all these cases treated as citizens or subjects of the most favored nation: In case of embargoes, detention of vessels, &c., for public or private uses, full indemnity to be allowed: The vessels of either party seeking refuge in the ports of the other to be protected: Vessels captured by pirates to be delivered up to the owners: Assistance to be given in cases of shipwreck, &c., in the ports of each to the vessels of the other, in the same manner as to the national flag: Citizens of either country authorized to dispose of their personal goods and real estate within the jurisdiction of the other, by sale, donation, testa- ment, or otherwise ; and their representatives, being citizens of the other country, to succeed to C12 COMMEKCIAL DIGESTS. their said personal goods or real estate, whether by testament or ah intestato, and to take jdos- session thereof, either by themselves or others acting for them, and to dispose of the same at their will, paying only such dues as the inhabitants of the country are subject to in like cases: Protection to persons and property formally guarantied, whether such persons are transient or dwellers in the territories under the jurisdiction of either party, respectively; and access to the legal tribunals of each country, free and unrestricted, granted to the citizens of the other, on the same terms as to the native or other citizens of such country: Liberty of conscience and the free and unrestricted rites of burial guarantied : Both parties at liberty to trade with those at enmity with the other: Free ships to make free goods, contraband of war excepted: Enemy's property, to be protected by a neutral flag, must be shipped within two months after declaration of war : Articles contraband of war specified : Blockade defined to be the besieging or blockading of those places only which are actually attacked by a belligerent force capable of preventing the entry of the neutral: All contraband articles liable to confiscation : In case of blockade, vessels to be turned away, but not detained: Vessels entering before blockade may quit unmolested: During a visit at sea, armed vessels to remain out of cannon-shot: In case of war, sea-letters, certificates of cargo, &c., to be furnished, showing to whom the property belongs : In case of war between the two nations, merchants allowed time (six months to those residing in ports, and twelve months to those residing in the interior) to arrange their business, transport their effects, &c.: Citizens of other occupations, who may be established in tlie terri- tories of the United States or of New G-ranada, to be respected and maintained in the full enjoy- ment of their personal liberty and property, this protection being dependent on their conduct: No confiscation of debts, &c., in the event of war: Citizens of the United States, their vessels and merchandise, placed on the same footing as those of New Granada in the ports of Panama: Eight of transit across the Isthmus of Panama guarantied to citizens of the United States, and no other or higher tolls to be exacted from them than from citizens of New Granada : The United States guaranties to New Granada the perfect neutrality of the Isthmus : Citizens to be held personally responsible for infringing any articles of the treaty; but reprisals not to be authorized nor war declared until justice has been demanded and refused. An additional article provides that the two republics will hold and admit as national ships, of one or the other, all those that shall be provided by their respective governments with a patent issued according to its laws. The treaty to continue in force twenty years from the date of its ratification, and after that period the usual twelve months' notice required. The navigation and tariff regulations of New Granada are marked by a spirit of liberality, though the foreign commerce of the republic has not, as yet, attained any considerable import- ance. The commerce of the United States, however, with that republic, is thought to labor un- der some disadvantages, as appears from the following extract from a late consular return : " Our commerce, by treaty, is put on the footing of the most favored nations. But this is nominal only; for, in the list of dutiable articles, those supplied by the United States are taxed at a higher rate than such as come from England, France, and Germany. I cannot now give you many instances; but my recollection is, that flour, bacon, and provisions generally, as well as common hats, boots, and shoes, may be enumerated. The articles mainly produced by the United States being taxed at a higher rate than articles produced by England, &c., &c. cre- ating a practical discrimination against us, necessarily operates as a double injury in the ex- change for the products of this country. * * * These matters should be corrected, and there should be a stipulation inserted in the treaty [should a new treaty be entered into] pro- hibiting the provinces from adding any tax, direct or indirect — except, perhaps, to enforce lona- fide inspection." The principal commercial ports of New Granada are : Santa Martha, Cartagena, Savanilla, and Eio Hacha ; the aggregate trade of which ports, for the year 1848, is given in the following statement : NEW GRANADA. 613 Ports. Imports. Exports. Total. $2,263,970 319,200 $859,370 1,028,470 213,560 128,820 $3,113,340 1,347,670 213,560 229,320 Cartagena .- Savanilla Eio Hacha. 100,500 Total 2,673,670 2,230,220 4,903,890 The subjoined analysis of this statement will show the distribution of the commerce of New Granada, for the year specified : England and her colonies 80.83 per cent. France 7.42 United States 4.28 Curapoa 2.54 St. Thomas 2.31 Sardinia 0.63 Cuba 0.50 percent. Holland '. 0.49 Hanse-towns 0.40 Mexico 0.27 Spain 0.23 Nicaragua 0.10 The imports, during the same year, consisted of printed, dyed, and white cottons, calicoes, and other similar tissues ; silks^ linens, woolens, hardware, furniture, manufactures of metals, medicinal drugs, wines, spirits, flour, and provisions generally. The chief article of export was gold, of which the amount for this year was about $1,000,000. A comparison of exports for a number of years exhibits 'the fact, that the quantity of gold exported has either remained stationary or slightly diminished. The cause is not found in any deficiency in the auriferous resources of the country, as the mines of Antioquia, and those in the country along the Pacific, on the Rio Zulia and Eio Hacha, contain large quantities of the pre- cious metals ; but the difiiculties attending the transportation of heavy machinery, indispensable in working the mines of Antioquia, seem to be insuperable, beyond a certain weight. Until good roads shall have been established, and the mines thereby rendered more accessible, but little im- provement in the mining industry of tliis region (the richest in New Granada) can be expected. Large quantities of gold, in ingots and dust, enter into the clandestine trade of the republic, of which no account can be taken in the official returns. Next to gold, tobacco is the most important article in the export trade of New Granada, and its most productive staple. The soil, in many parts of the republic, is peculiarly adapted to the growth of tobacco, and its production might be made a source of the principal agricultural wealth of the State, under a dilFerent system of properly regulated industry. The quantity exported in 1848 exceeded that of the preceding year by 35 per cent.; and the returns for several preceding years exhibit a regular, though not so large, augmentation. Cabinet-maker's wood and dye-stuffs rank next in the exports of the country. In 1848, they amounted in value to $161,500. The large bulk of these products is sent to the United States, in part exchange for provisions, cotton-goods, furniture, medicinal drugs, and sundries. Excel- lent coffee and cocoa are raised, chiefly in the valley of Cucuta ; whence transported to Maracaibo, in Venezuela, they enter into the returns of Venezuelan exports. In addition to these products of New Granada, a new species of bark has recently been dis- covered, which promises to become a valuable article of commerce. A letter from a mercantile house in London to a correspondent in New Granada, written in 1845^ says: "We imported last year 17,000 seroons (hampers or baskets) of New Granada and 500 seroons of Bolivian, bark. The New Granada all sold; but the Bolivian, being held for a monopoly price, is still in the market — proving that this kind has very little demand." Delondre, in his new work on quinine barks, gives an analysis of a New Granada bark con- 614 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, taining quite as much quinine as Bolivian calisaya. If tlie calisaya of Santa Fe, or fusagasuga and pitaya barks of New Granada, had been introduced into the market before the Bolivian, there would be no question about the quality of the alkaloids they yield. "(a) There seems a ]3robability that this New Granadian bark will soon enter largely into the export trade of that country. The chemical test to which it has been subjected in England, has already stamped it as a valuable acquisition to the materia medica; and the periodical scar- city of quinine, which sometimes raises that article to a most exorbitant price, will render it still more popular. In reference to this bark, and other valuable products of New Granada, a report submitted, in July, 1856, to the French government, relative to the commercial move- ments of France in New Granada, says: "Formerly, that republic had no other equivalent to offer, in exchange for foreign merchandise, than the gold of its mines." The abolition, in 1853, of the monopoly of tobacco, however, has given a new stimulus to agricultural industry, and attracted numbers to the cultivation of that article. This agricultural movement is not the only benefit accruing to New Granada from the supj)ression of this monojJoly. In bringing the capitalists of the country in contact with foreign merchants, it has taught them to appreciate better than formerly the immense wealth to be found in the soil of the republic. Thus, quin- quina, which has remained almost unknown since the departure of the Spaniards, has been a second time discovered in 1853, and has already entered into their exports, and will soon become a considerable article among the staples of New Granada. The cultivation of cocoa, formerly limited to the consumption of the country, has also been largely extended, and is now become an article of export. The navigation laws of New Granada, by a decree of the Senate and Chamber of Eepresenta- tives of that republic, bearing date May 27, 1853, a translation of which is subjoined, undergo some modifications in favor of foreign commerce, as follows : Article 1. The following ports and territories of the province of Choco shall be free for all nations in the world, from January 1, 1854, for twenty years: 1. The ports of the Atlantic and the territory watered by the river Atrato, from its mouth to its confluence with the river Guito, comprehended between the western chain of the Andes and that branch of it toward the eastward which separates said province from that of Antrio-Chin. 2. The ports of the Pacific and the territory watered by the river San Juan, from its embou- chure, as far as the city of Navita, contained between the above-mentioned chain of the Andes and that branch of it which separates it toward the southward from the province of Buenaventura. Akt. 2. Consequently, no custom-houses can be established in said ports and territories within the time specified; nor can any duties be levied, save those of toll, passage, and excise, corres- ponding to the municipal revenues, and in conformity with the existing laws. Art. 3. In order to recover the duties on importation of foreign merchandise which may be introduced for the consumption of the interior of the rest of the province, and other provinces of the republic, there shall be established two custom-houses, one in the city of Quibdo, and the other in the city of Navita, with necessary officers, &c., &c. Art. 4. The executive poweris authorized, when it deems it indispensable for weighty mo- tives of public convenience, to assign other ports for custom-houses than those expressed in this law ; in which case, the maritime ports expressed in article 1, and the territory comprised between the coasts and the spot on which such custom-houses shall be fixed, alone can enjoy freedom. Another decree of similar importance to the interests of foreign commerce was published in the official paper of the New Granadian government of the 20th July, 1856, in virtue of legislative authority, declaring Cartagena a free port for the commerce of all nations, from the 1st of September ensuing. By this decree, however, vessels will continue to pay tonnage duty conformable to the law of the 25th of June last in relation to that subject. The exemption from import duties is circumscribed to the walled portion of the city, and hence does not apply to goods carried to the outside villages of Cabrero, Bocagrande, Espinal, and Manga i Pie de la Popa. Counterfeit money, and Spanish, Colombian, and Granadian money, under the (a) Pharmaceutical Journal. NEW aRANADA. 615 standard of 0.900, as well as copper not sold for the use of the repuhlic, are prohibited; also, rum, and its compounds, so long as the legislature shall not decree the free manufacture and sale of that article. Vessels must exhibit the usual papers on entering the port; and when a vessel is only going to leave a part of her cargo, the captain must, within twenty-four hours, present a manifest of what he intends to land, and what to leave on board. If the vessel come in search of a market, and not for the determined purpose of landing her goods, the captain will be allowed forty-eight hours to present a manifest of what he intends to land and what to retain on board. If the vessel come in ballast, a manifest will not be required, but the visiting officer will satisfy himself that such is the state of the vessel. A vessel from another port of the republic, or from a port of a nation in which, by virtue of stipulations entered into with this repiiblic, by treaty or convention, merchandise put on board in the ports of such nation must be accompanied by bills of lading, will be required to produce bills of lading for articles which may have been shipped in said ports, and a general manifest for the remainder of the cargo not embraced in such bill. The captain or supercargo not fulfilling these regulations must leave port immediately, first paying tonnage duty, unless exempted from such payment by the law of the 25th of June, before cited. Vessels carrying a mail, and steam or sailing packets, shall be visited at any hour of the day or night, and in like manner their goods and the baggage of their passengers may be landed. A custom-house officer will board vessels at Bocachica. When the vessel contains goods subject to import duties, the hatchways, &c., shall be closed and sealed by the commanding revenue officer, packets being excepted from this regulation; after which formality, the custom-house officers will retire, leaving a suitable guard, which shall be relieved daily. The seals on the hatches, &c., are not to be broken, except by the commanding officer who placed them there, or by his deputy. The decree em- braces a number of additional provisions in relation to the discharge of cargo, custom-house in- spection, re-exportation, &c., &c., and is accompanied by an explanatory note from the Secre- tary of the Treasury of New Granada. The coasting trade of New Granada is open to all foreign vessels, but only foreign steamers are permitted to navigate the rivers of the republic. This is an important privilege to foreign ves- sels, and one which is destingd to stimulate American enterprise in this neighboring republic. When the repairs of the canal connecting the harbor of Cartagena with the Magdalena, now in progress, under the superintendence of an American engineer, shall have been completed, the internal trade of New Granada will be the means of developing more fully its great resources, and bringing to market the tobacco. India-rubber, quinia, hides, corn, cocoa, coffee, sugar, &c. — the production of which can be increased to an incredible extent. When this canal shall have been completed, Cartagena will become the great emporium of New Granada — at least of twenty of the principal agricultural provinces, containing a population of 1,628,471 inhabi- tants. The present tariff regulations of New Granada, to be found in Part II, have been in force since May 1, 1855 ; but, by a late act of Congress, the manumission duty of 20 per cent, is to be suppressed, and, in lieu, the additional duty of 25 per cent, on the total amount of the im- port duty is to be increased to 50 per cent. The port regulations of New Granada are such as are deemed necessary, as well in view of the general convenience and safety of vessels, as to answer proper police and harbor discipline. Places are pointed out into which all rubbish, &c., is to be thrown. Ballast is to be taken in and thrown out under written authority of proper officers. Cannon are not to be fired without per- mission of the captain of the port. At Cartagena, it is forbidden to sound the upper or inte- rior channels of the port, or to have any communication with the shore between 8 o'clock at night and 5 o'clock in the morning. It is also forbidden to disembark any individual before the visits of the officers of customs and the captain of the port. For the violation of any of these regulations, fines are imposed, varying from 10 to 40 dollars, according to the nature of the case. There are no quarantine regulations at any of the ports of New Granada, and consequently no bills of health are required. No light or hospital money is levied. No local impost is 616 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. charged. At the port of Savanilla there is a water-tax upon all vessels arriving there of $4 each, imposed by the provincial legislature. Pilots are employed and paid hy government. Their duty is to visit all vessels requiring their assistance ; and all vessels coming from a for- eign port are required to pay the full fees, whether they take on hoard a pilot or not. The fee is -fll, in and out. There is also a fee of $6 40 to be paid to the captain of the port on visit- ing the vessel, and |1 60 for the interpreter. With the exception of the interpreter's fee, this amount is also levied on New Granadian vessels. By a decree of the Congress of New Granada, bearing date June 19, 1856, which, like that of July 20, already given, comes to hand as these sheets go to press, new regulations respecting tonnage dues are established, of which a translation is given as follows : '^' Tonnage dues, port dues, pilotage, and visit fees, shall be the same in all the ports of the republic, including the free ports of the Isthmus of Panama, Cartagena, Choco, Buenaventura, and Tumaco, and the following sums shall be collected : "1. Every vessel under 100 tons shall pay 40 cents per Granadian ton for her capacity. "2. Every vessel exceeding 100 tons shall jiay 40 cents per ton for the first 100 tons, and 20 cents per ton for each ton over the same. "3. Tonnage dues shall only be paid at the first port at which a vessel touches, proceeding from foreign countries ; vessels proceeding from one port to another in the republic shall not pay tonnage dues. "4. War vessels of the country, or of friendly nations, and transports assimilated to them, which may touch at the ports of the republic, shall not pay tonnage dues. "5. The Executive may exempt from tonnage dues, and permit to coast, sail or steam vessels that agree to convey the mails between ports of the republic, and carry such correspondence gratis as may be intrusted to them. Those that do not agree to this, shall pay tonnage dues, cash, in hard dollars of the country. "6. Vessels arriving in ballast, or which load in New Granada, shall not pay tonnage dues; neither shall those chartered to bring immigrants to the republic, when the number of the same exceeds fifty. "Tonnage dues shall he charged at the Isthmus ports from Isi^eptember next; the product shall be divided equally between the State and general government." Since January 1, 1850, Panama, and all the other ports on the Isthmus, have been free — As- pinwall, of course, included. The only duties levied at these free ports are navigation dues, as above given ; from which, however, the vessels in the service of the Panama railroad at Aspin- wall are exempt by charter. In February, 1855, Panama was erected into an independent State, with the power vested in the legislature to establish custom-houses, or, in other words, to abolish the existing freedom of its ports. It is not very likely, however, that the new State will be disposed to take any legis- lative action by which the existing franchise of Aspinwall would be abolished, or even abridged. This new State has now become the principal centre of commercial interest in this republic. In 1852 there entered and cleared at its Pacific port (the port of Panama) 609 vessels measur- ing an aggregate of 2'7'7,Y35 tons, of which 312 entered, floating cargoes, including specie, to the value of $60,413,000 ; and there cleared 29*7 vessels, with cargoes valued at nearly $500,000,, In this movement, the number of vessels under the American flag was 159, measuring an aggre- gate of 163,113 tons; under the British flag, 138 vessels, measuring in all 83,070 tons; and under the French flag, 20 vessels, with an aggregate of 5,836 tons. The freights under the United States flag were valued at $51,935,000; those under the British, at $8,000,000- and the remainder of the total given above was distributed between the South American French and other European flags. The American and British freights included the gold dust brought down from California by the steamers for the former, and the silver brought up the coast for the latter, in neither case including the large amounts in the hands of passengers. The total amount of gold and silver which passed through Panama in transit in 1853 was NEW GRANADA. 617 $52, 03*7, 785. The countries whence this sum was exported, and the amounts from each, are given as follows: California $42,627,352 Mexico 2,765,000 Peru and Chili 6,584,876 Australia 60,557 Total 52,037,785 The total numher of passengers who crossed the isthmus the same year was 23,690, of whom 13,937 came from California, and 9,753 were proceeding to that country. In 1855 the total numher of passengers that crossed the isthmus was 28,704. Of tliis numher there came from California 10,015, and there proceeded to that State 16,289, all in American steamers; by the British steamers there came from Europe 1,300 passengers, and there proceeded to Europe 1,100. The transit of gold and silver the same year amounted to $40,407,907. This amount was brought from the following points : San Francisco $31,671,815 Chili and Peru 6,854,573 Mexico 1,367,961 Panama 513,558 Total 40,407,907 The total exports of New Granada, during the year ending December 31, 1853, amounted to $30,849,595 65. Of this aggregate amount, Cartagena exported $17,913,146; Cucuta $4,153,898; Guanapalo, $14,312; Eio Hacha, $628,069 40; Savanilla, $8,105,728 25; Tu- maco, $34,442. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with New Granada, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated, (a) TBARB. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALDE OF EXPORTS. VALDE OF IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign pro- duce. Total. Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. Entered the United States. Cleared frBm the U. States. 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852.- 1853 1854 1855 548,717 51,849 53,655 79,165 244,460 970,619 2,507,701 1,298,236 753,391 855, 254 892,245 830,260 24,095 19,405 45,438 53,324 285, 600 533,121 217,558 103,079 82,052 . 169,800 878,977 75,944 73,060 124,603 297,784 1,256,219 3,040,822 1,515,794 856,470 937,306 1,062,045 $171,921 67,043 156, 654 213,296 158.960 591,992 695,606 750,527 453,528 1,478,520 1,799,672 3,569 1,699 822 2,577 16,413 104, 176 166,375 191,401 199,599 160,967 131,891 1,562 1,069 565 733 25,094 121,753 205,390 183,375 205, 602 170,460 121,563 180 1,708 777 755 5,295 9,960 4, 633 5,095 1,950 105 293 734 1,567 1,354 6,237 12,585 5,158 3,840 1,164 1,668 (a) This does not include the transit trade across the Isthmus, the details of which for the years 1852, 1853, and 1855 have already been given. [78 ] YENEZIJELA. VENEZUELA. The chief wealtli of Venezuela consists in its rich and extensive pastures, its mines of the precious metals, and of lead, iron, copper, &c., and its valuable forest timber. The agricultu- ral and other products of the country which enter into its foreign commerce as articles of ex- port, are coffee, cocoa, cured hides, indigo, fustic, tobacco, cotton, cattle, mules and horses, and specie. These form the basis of the foreign commerce of Venezuela, and are exchanged for tissues of cotton^ thread, silk, and -wool; flour, provisions, hardware, soap, furniture, glassware, brandies, wines, &c. Conformably to the law of May 5, 1849, the ports open to foreign commerce are divided into three classes, namely : ports open for importation and exportation ; ports open for importation for local consumption only, and for exportation ; ports open for exportation only. This organi- zation was simplified by a decree of April 15th, 1854, of which the following is a translation: "Art. 1. Are declared ports open to commerce, both for importation and exportation, without any restriction: Cludad Bolivar, in the province of G-uiana; La Gruayra, in that of Caraccas; Puerto Cabello, in that of Carabobo ; La Vela, in that of Coro ; Maracaibo and Barcelona, in the two provinces bearing those names. "Aet. 2. Are declared ports open to commerce for importation for local consumption only, and for exportation: Cumana, Carupano, Cariaquito, and Barrancas, in the province of Cumana; Pampatar and Juan Griego, in the province of Marguerita ; Soledad, in the province of Barce- lona; and Cumarebo, in that of Coro. ***** "Art. 3. The custom-houses of the ports open for importation for local consumption only, cannot clear, under a certificate, foreign produce for other ports^ open or not to commerce, except the custom-houses of Cumana, Carupano, and Cariaquito, which are allowed to deliver cockets (certificates of cargo), the two former for the ports of Cariaco and Eio Caribe^ the others for the ports of Irapa and Yaguarapara." Art. 4 relates to the landing of cattle on the banks of the Orinoco ; and by article 5 the law of May 5, 1849, is repealed. In the year 1803, the exports of Venezuela were estimated at a valueof nearly |T, 000, 000 ;(a) of this amount, La G-uayra exported |2, 500, 000; Cumana and Barcelona, |1, 500^000 ; Mara- caibo and Angostura, $1,000,000; Carupano and the smaller ports, the remainder. As in most of the Spanish- American republics, a liberal spirit of commercial legislation is almost unknown in Venezuela; and the natural consequence has been, that, with the exception of the first twelve or fourteen years of its political existence (from 1830 to 1842), its general foreign commerce has made but little progress. Among the exports, coffee, tobacco, indigo, cotton, and specie have considerably decreased. Of coffee, the exports in 1841 amounted, in value, to $2,511,000 ; in 1842, they had fallen to $1,881,000; and, in 1843, they had reached as low as $1,654,100. The quantity exported this latter year was 13,244,000 kilogrammes, each kilogramme being equal to 2.04 lbs. This quantity was distributed as follows; the United States receiving, as it usually did, and still does, about one-half of the entire crop : To the United States 6,694,000 kilos. Hanse-towns 2,984,000 " (o) Venezuelan currency — in wMch all values, derived from Venezuelan official sources, are generally stated in this Digest. The dollar of the United States is equivalent in value to $1 34| in the present currency of Venezuela. The dollar of Mexico, Paru, Chili, Central America, and of Cuba, is that of the United States. 622 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. England 1,196,000 kilos. France 899,000 " Denmark 715,000 " The navigation of Venezuela employed in 1841, including the coasting trade, 815 vessels, measuring, in the aggregate, Y3, 974 tons entered, and 1,907 vessels, measuring 96,227 tons, cleared. Of these, 354, measuring 15,186 tons, were under the Venezuelan flag; the remainder represented the different foreign nations engaged in the Venezuelan trade. The following table exhibits a condensed view of the general navigation and commerce of Venezuela from 1835 to 1841 — the commercial year ending June 30: Years. DNDER VENEZUELAN FLAO. UNDER FOREIGN FLAGS. Vessels. Tonnage. Value. Vessels. Tonnage. Valne. Total. 1835-'6 546 890 1,423 1,270 1,477 1,070 20,080 36,432 40,168 40,724 42,565 73,974 Francs. 8,285,250 12,140,782 10,753,689 11,418,804 15,523,629 13,131,496 421 638 605 731 890 1,052 45, 250 68,589 70,004 93,185 109,456 96,227 Francs. 27,841,673 28,748,707 20,466,838 29,779,346 33,097,312 41,107,536 Francs. 36,126,923 40,889,489 31,220,527 41,198,150 48,620,941 54,239,032 1836-'" 1837-8 1838-'9 1839-'40.. 1840-1 Total 7,276 253, 943 71,253,650 4,337 482,710 181,041,412 252,295,062 ' ' The following summary, exhibiting the share assigned to each nation in the import and ex- port trade of Venezuela during the year 1841 — the only year for which data so complete are at hand — is given to illustrate more fully the progress which the United States has made since that period in augmenting its trade and extending its relations with the republic, while most of the other nations included in the preceding table have either remained stationary or have di- rected their enterprise and capital to other markets. This applies more particularly to the im- port trade of Venezuela, in which the American merchants have, since 1841, made wonderful progress, when we consider that the highest scale of duties applies to the class of merchandise which they usually import. The summary is as follows : Total value of imports into Venezuela in 1841, from all nations, 29,599,690 francs; or, $5,623,941 United States currency. Under the British flag : Francs. Francs. Liverpool 7,814,718 Trinidad 995,940 Other West Indies 180,116 8,990,774 Under the Danish flag: St. Thomas , 5,030,471 Altona 767,482 5,797,953 Under the Spanish flag: Malaga 353,048 Cadiz 104,108 Barcelona 40,520 Havana 519,609 Canaries 50,799 1,068,084 VENEZUELA. 623 Under the United States flag : Francs. Francs. Philadelphia 1,629,978 New York 1,32^,040 Baltimore 987,309 Boston 699,795 New Orleans 119,631 4,763,753 Under the French flag: Bordeaux 1,437,730 Marseilles 248,720 Havre 99,719 Nantes 86,842 Guadeloupe and Martinique 20,438 1,893,449 Under the Dutch flag: Amsterdam 101,008 Curapoa 1,478,047 1,579,055 Under the Hanseatic flag : Hamburg 3,135,068 Bremen 2,255,422 5,390,490 Under flags of other countries 116,132 Total 25,599,690 Or, in United States currency $4,761,542 ===== To complete the foregoing summary, a similar analysis of the exports from Venezuela, du- ring the same year, is subjoined: Under the British flag: Francs. Francs. XJape of Good Hope 1,398,581 Liverpool 1,029,668 Other ports of England 154,034 Trinidad 1,510,139 Other West Indies 511,996 4,604,418 Under the Danish flag : St. Thomas 2,343,075 Altona 420,780 2,763,855 Under the Spanish flag : Santander 1,259,364 Malaga 234,335 Cadiz 142,832 Barcelona 49,460 Havana and Porto Rico 1,302,085 The Canaries 163,571 3,151,647 Under the United States flag : Philadelphia 2,228,139 New York 2,029,661 Baltimore 1,217,904 Boston 983,289 New Orleans 519,662 6,978,655 624 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Under the Frencli flag: Fmncs. Francs. Bordeaux 1,994,890 Marseilles 427,610 Havre 387,042 Nantes 8,261 Guadeloupe and Martinique 148,691 2,966,494 Under the Dutch flag : Amsterdam 23,748 Curagao 990,099 1,013,847 Under the Hanseatic flag : Hamburg 1,329,929 Bremen 986,978 2,316,908 Under flags of other countries 784,506 Total 24,580,330 Or, in United States currency $4,571,943 =^ =^ The following table exhibits the general import trade of Venezuela in 1845, designating in separate columns the amounts charged with specific and ad-valorem duties, respectively ; the amount exempt from duty; and the amount of ordinary and extraordinary duties levied on the imports from each nation. The official returns, from which the subjoined table is compiled, come down only to 30th June; but the total trade, down to 31st December, will be found on a subsequent page : Value of general import trade of Venezuela (in Venezvelan currency) in 1845. Amount charged with ppecific duties. Cliaiged with duty 'ad valorem. Duty free. Great Britain and her colonies $1,354,171 S43,330 Denmark and St. Thomas United States Germany, Bremen, and Hamliurg j France and French W. Indian colonies! j Holland and Curayoa Spain and her colonies. Mexico New Granada and Goajira Sardinia Countries not named in ofiScial returns Amount of coutiscatione 643,828 682,264 595,113 256,394 229,517 199,627 75 29,502 485 3,767 32,878 35,797 59,016 32,926 13,698 3,886 40 3,299 2 170 Total 3,804,748 225,042 3 132, ,329 196,475 345,660 6,894 67,469 87,172 30,279 AMOUNT OF DUTIES.. Ordinary. Extra- ' Grand total, ordinary. 3,590 2 170 860,042 81,529,830 873,181 963,721 641,028 346,789 330,387 233,792 42 75 36,391 2,439 4,052 4,961,727 $398,371 210,363 289,740 172,348 82,691 83,726 72,852 12 71 11,547 217 1,508 1,323,446 S39,837 21,034 28,974 17,235 8,269 8,373 7,285 1 7 1,155 21 151 $438,208 231,397 318,714 189,583 90,960 92,099 80, 137 13 78 12,702 238 1, 659 132,342 [1,455,788 The countries which participate most prominently in the trade of Venezuela are the United States, England, the Hanse-towns, Denmark, France, Spain, and Holland, as appears from the subjoined summary for the year 1845, made up from French official sources : 1. The United States. — The imports and exports of the United States, in 1845, reached, in VENBZUEL A, 625 the aggregate, 9,361,000 francs, or $1,178,590. Ainericaa merchants supply, almost exclu- sively, flour, provisions, soap, and cheap cottons to the Venezuelan markets; and compete with the producing countries in furnishing general cargoes of European merchandise ; while Ameri- can furniture is preferred to that of any other country, and always finds a good market. Ameri- can cottons are more eagerly sought than those of English manufacture ; and our merchants are able, not only better to suit the tastes of the Venezuelans, but to offer their different cotton fabrics at a lower figure than their European competitors^ by whom this branch of Venezuelan trade was, but a few years since, entirely monopolized. ' ' Despite the duties which bear upon the commerce [merchandise] of the United States more heavily than upon that of any other nation," observes a French statistician, "the United States is, every day, maintaining a firmer position in the mercantile transactions of Venezuela ;" and this is the case in 1856, even more than it was at the time the above paragraph was written. The cause of our pre-eminence in the markets of Venezuela has already been adverted to ; though a glance at the map of the United States and the northern States of South America would, of itself, exhibit one of the principal causes. 2. Great Britain. — The total trade of Great Britain, including her American colonies, with Venezuela, in 1845, amounted in value to 10,746,000 francs ($2, 141, '740); being an advance on the returns for the preceding year, but considerably below the total trade of 1841. So dis- couraging, however, were British prospects in Venezuela in 1845, that several of the largest mercantile houses of that nation in Caraccas and La Guayra suspended operations, and retired their capital, for more profitable employment, to other countries. The imports from Great Britain and her colonies, in 1845, consisted of. textiles of cotton and linen, (which had always been in high repute in the Venezuelan market, and constituted the great bulk of British trade until they encountered American competition,) earthenware, hardware, agricultural imple- ments, (manufactured from Venezuelan models,) and military arms, with which, exclusively, the militia of Venezuela were at this period supplied. 3. Hanse-towns . — The commerce of the Hanse-towns during this year (1845) reached, in imports and exports, a value of 5,371,000 francs ($1,010,490), a figure somewhat below the total returns of the preceding year. The commerce of the Hanse-towns with Venezuela has, however, been gradually advancing since the latter country assumed its rank in the family of nations ; and the enterprising merchants of these great European entrepots still seek a profita- ble market for their various merchandise, and especially for their hardwares, glasswares, woolen cloths, cheap velvets, silks, and cottons of German manufacture. To these may be added jew- elry (imitation and real), of which the French merchants had, in the earlier days of the repub- lic, the entire monopoly. 4. Denmark. — The commercial relations of this kingdom with Venezuela are conducted almost exclusively through its colonial possession of St. Thomas. In 1831-'32, the total value of this trade was 7,876,000 francs ($1,776,000). In 1841-'42, it reached a maximum of $1,700,000; and in 1843-'44, it again fell as low as $750,000. During 1845 it again ascended as high as $1,000,000. This fluctuation and gradual decrease of the commerce of Denmark with Venezuela, through the island of St. Thomas, is accounted for, according to French commercial authorities, by the fact that this island, long renowned as the great en- trepot of European commerce with the closed ]ports of this coast, must necessarily decline in trade, in proportion as the intercourse with this portion of America becomes more unrestricted and direct. This is true to a great extent; but the competition of American merchants in sup- plying the Venezuelan markets, not only with the leading staples of the United States which are in demand there, but with most of the European merchandise heretofore supplied from the warehouses of St. Thomas, has contributed in no small degree to this result. This has also been the course of trade with respect to the island of Curacoa, the exchanges of which island with Venezuela have been carried to the account of the Netherlands. This trade has, of late years, equally declined, owing to the same causes as set forth above. [79] 626 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. 5. Spain. — The treaty concluded between Spain and her ancient colony, in 1845, has greatly enlarged the circle of exchanges between the two countries. The great bulk of the cocoa pro- duced in the repiiblic is taken by the Spaniards, and their produce always finds, in return, a ready market. This commerce amounted in 1845 to 4,986,000 francs ($94Y,340). 6. France. — The imports and exports of France at the different ports of Venezuela during this year amounted to 3,297,000 francs ($626,430). In 1854 it reached 3,284,000 francs, show- ing an increase of 13,000 francs. A French oiScial publication, referring to these returns, says: "This difference is not very great, and shows that France maintains her position in the markets of Venezuela. We may add, that if French commerce has not made much progress in this country during the past few years, it is owing to the extreme caution of our merchants, who, in view of the unsettled condition of that country, prefer awaiting some more favorable change." French merchandise, however, is always eagerly sought after by the Venezuelans, especially their finest qualities of silks, woolens, cottons, hats, haberdashery, perfumery, &c. These articles have also entered largely into imports of the United States into Venezuela. 1. Holland. — The trade of Holland with Venezuela in 1845, imports and exports included, amounted to 2,394,000 francs. This trade is conducted almost entirely through the port of Cura9oa, and consists in furnishing the ports lying east of La G-uayra with gin, beer, butter, and cheese, for consumption. These articles Holland exchanges, generally to the extent of their value, for coffee and dye-stuffs. The preceding summary for 1845 — the latest period for which returns so complete are availa- ble — exhibits, with general accuracy, the state of Venezuelan commerce at the present date. The chief, indeed, the only real, obstacle to the more rapid development of the abundant resources of this neighboring republic, appears to be the absence of that spirit of industrious enterprise by which some other commercial nations are characterized. The river Orinoco is now navigated as high up as Nutrias, in the province of Varinas ; and the productions of the fertile countries watered by this magnificent river are thus added to the commercial wealth of the republic, (a) The provinces of Varinas, Apure, and the two Guyanas, are now brought into direct commu- nication with the sea ; and by the establishment, in 1845, of a line of steamers under the auspices of a company from the United States, specially chartered by the Venezuelan government, and by means of the 240 sailing vessels, with a capacity of 36,000 tons, which annually ascend as high as Angostura, (Ciudad Bolivar,) some 250 miles from the sea, there is but little room to doubt that Venezuela is about to enter upon a career of commercial prosperity. At present, the annual exports from Apure and Varinas consist of dry hides, (about 100,000,) buck- skins, coffee, cotton, indigo, cocoa ; and from the latter province between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 pounds of tobacco. The value of this trade to the United States will be perceived, when it is known that nearly all the hides offered in the Venezuelan markets are taken by this country. The value of the total trade of Venezuela for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1845, has already been given. For the year ending December 31, 1845, it reached a total of $8,021,040, and the navigation employed 3,209 vessels, measuring in the aggregate 190,732 tons. (a) A recent communication from Puerto Cabello affords the following facts : "Several mercantile firms of Puerto Cabello have applied for and obtained from the Congress of Venezuela a charter for a railroad to run nearly west from that city 54 miles — to San Felipe, in the province of Barquisinieto. The estimated cost is $1,400,000 (United States currency), exclusive of land, which, for the most part, will be afforded free of expense. The government gives all the public land and timber which may be required, either for the road or buildings, and admits the tools, iron, &c free of duty ; subscribes for $186,916 of the stock (8250,000, in Venezuelan currency). The provinces of Barquisimeto and Corabobo together take SC7,290 of the stock. Of the grades, 70 per cent, will be below 30 feet to the mile, and only 5 per cent, above 50 feet. There will be 15 bridges, estimated to cost 8104,590. The charter is to continue 40 years as an exclusive privilege, and 40 years more the right of property in the road is guarantied to the company ; after which it reverts to the govern- ment. The road must be commenced within two years from 1st July, 1855, and be completed within four years from the date of its commencement. John Dougherty, of New York, chief engineer of the road, estimates the annual net income at $242,222. San Felipe is situated on the Yariciu river, and is a commanding point for the collection of the products of the interior. Puerto Cabello is the best harbor in Venezuela." VENEZUELA. 627 The total trade of 1846 was 50,226,145 francs ($9,542,997), of which was assigned to the United States — exports to Venezuela $835,240, exports from Venezuela $1,251,720, making a total of $2,086,960. This gives to the United States, out of eleven nations whose vessels par- ticipated in the trade of 1846, 21.08 per cent, on the whole amount. The navigation of 1846 employed 3,123 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 211,825 tons. Of these, there were under the United States flag, entered and cleared, 282 vessels, with an aggregate of 49,488 tons. The annual returns exhibit but little variation in the commercial movements of Venezuela from 1846 to 1851. For the latter year, the official statement gives the total of imports and exports at 47,667,000 francs = $9,533,400. The revenue realized from the import duties on this total was, including the additional duty of 10 per cent., 8,137,866 francs. The exports consisted of articles as follows : Coffee (in 1851) 37,965,081 pounds. Cocoa " 8,159,965 " " Hides " 1,150,055 pieces. " Indigo " 247,593 pounds. " In 1851 the total trade was distributed as follows: United States 14,985,000 francs; England 7,371,000 " In 1850 30,977,944 pounds. " 7,346,919 " " 867,464 pieces. " 175,374 pounds. Hanse-towns 6,630,000 Spain 4,759,000 France 5,161,000 Holland 4,324,000 Denmark 3,279,000 Other countries 1,158,000 or $2,997,000 1,474,200 1,326,000 951,800 1,032,200 864,800 655,800 231,600 Total 9,533,400 The total value of Venezuelan trade during the year ending June 30, 1851, was, as thus shown, $9,533,400. The following statement will show the progress of commercial movements at the different ports of the republic for subsequent years : 1852, $9,468,155 ; 1853, $8,112,566 ; 1854, $9,752,465. [United States currency.] Tabular statement exhibiting the value, in Venezuelan currency, of the foreign trade of Venezuela; the nations participating therein; the share assigned to each, and the amount of duties paid by each flag during the year 1854. United States Hanse-towns England France Denmark Spain Holland Mexico Sardinia Other countries .- Total in Venezuelan currency. Total in U. States currency Imports. $1,180,445 783,005 1,649,813 632,712 873,580 253,673 261,559 2,682 27,710 27,209 5,692,388 4,248,500 Exports. $2,420,936 1,197,035 273,212 1,077,592 498,416 1,078,272 449,524 106,006 38,811 7,139,804 5,328,200 $3,601,381 1,980,040 1,923,025 1,710,304 1,371,996 1,331,945 711,083 108,688 66,521 27,209 , 12,832,192 9,576,700 Import duties. $313,679 295,917 712,870 221,954 201,630 95,278 76,253 9 11, 340 8,013 1,936,943 1,445,479 628 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. During the same year there entered the different ports of Venezuela 262 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 11,608 tons; and there cleared 392 vessels, with an aggregate of 17,645 tons — all under the national flag. Of foreign vessels there entered 494 vessels, measuring in all 16,760 tons; and there cleared 743 vessels, with an aggregate of 98,152 tons — making a total of 1,237 vessels, and an aggregate of 174,912 tons, under foreign flags. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States tvith Venezuela, exhibiting the value of exports to and imp)orts from, each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALDE OF EXPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. years. VALUE OF IMPORTS. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Total. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. 1845... $535,545 $189,585 8725,130 81,268,275 12,394 10,733 1,768 1,117 1846... 584,069 197,478 781,547 1,509,000 13,370 11,126 1,219 1,244 1847... 571,474 43,739 615,213 1,322,496 13,185 10,800 728 630 1848... 400,230 62,798 463,028 1,225,611 12,347 7,361 1,018 1,505 1849... 431,421 106,213 537, 634 1,413,096 11,749 8,420 1,350 1,157 1850... 678,462 340,008 1,018,470 1,920,247 11,636 8,509 2.708 2,697 1851... 854,779 189,746 1,044,525 2,380,295 17,103 11,761 2,738 2,891 1852... 726,024 67,389 793,413 2,121,864 16,361 11,244 3,311 3,109 1853... 749, 859 94,668 844,527 2,613,780 17,142 12,001 4,795 1,789 1864... 1,131,604 69,279 1,200,883 3,072,649 16,616 12,263 3,893 4,074 1855... 1,152,604 70,845 1,223,449 3,616,869 19,968 15,057 4,596 4,369 THE CULTURE AND EXPORTATION OF COTTON. Notwithstanding many portions of the republic of Venezuela are well adapted to the culti- vation of the cotton-plant, this branch of industry has been gradually declining during the past ten years. This has been attributed principally to two causes: 1st. The want of roads, or other artificial means of transportation, which reduces the planters to the necessity of employing mules to convey their produce to market; thus absorbino- all the profit which this branch of industry might otherwise realize. 2d. The superior inducements which the cultivation of coffee, cocoa, and other tropical pro- duce offer, as respects the amount of labor bestowed on their production, the expense of trans- portation to market, and the price which such produce usually commands. To these may be added the superior quality of these latter products, for which Venezuela has acquired a high reputation in the markets of the world. The relative importance of Venezuela as a cotton-exporting country may be seen from the following tabular statements compiled from "Tableau General du Commerce de la France:" VENEZUELA. 629 Tabular comparative statement showing the quantities of cotton imported into France, and the countries whence imported, for a period of three years, from 1852 to 1854, both inclusive. Countries whence imported. United States Egypt , Turkey England Belgium Brazil .... Peru. , Venezuela Hayti East Indies -- Elsewhere . Aggregate. 1852. Kilogrammes, (a) 76,104,454 4,382,575 1,027,837 938,907 231,074 413,563 158,716 315,953 75,697 47, 955 393,091 83,989,822 1853. Kilogrammes. 79,381,735 4,831,872 1,371,239 890,322 603,449 280,813 233,838 169,686 104,510 6,674 191,029 88,065,167 1854. Kihgrammes. 77,746,470 3,601,327 375,834 1,547,994 375,350 127,912 239,688 68,064 77,165 188, 649 206,569 84,555,022 Comparative tabular statement showing the quantities of cotton consumed in France, and tht countries whence imported, for a period of three years, from 1852 to 1854, both inclusive. Countries whence imported. United States Egypt Turkey England Belgium Brazil Peru Venezuela Hayti East Indies... Elsewhere Aggregate. 1852. Kilogrammes. 66,740,104 2,754,662 979,313 3,966 231,074 432,899 144, 134 206,538 47,860 296,953 231,448 72,068,951 1853. Kilogrammes. 70,220,752 2,401,497 744, 331 8,442 561,066 265,450 219,077 161,502 70,530 263,374 175, 237 1854. Kilogrammes. 67,452,503 2,318,665 571,511 170,664 395,176 105,861 254,414 55,263 57,290 71,517 141,131 75,091,258 71,593,995 The preceding tables show that the importation of cotton from Venezuela, as well as its con- sumption in the factories of France, has diminished during the period designated 400 per cent. The general exportation of cotton from this republic will, it is believed, exhibit a similar diminution. All cotton textiles which are consumed in the republic are imported from foreign countries. From the 1st of July, 1849, to the 30th June, 1850, the total value of cottons imported amounted to $253,586, namely: in national vessels $26,464, and in foreign vessels $22Y,122. During the same period, the exports of raw cotton reached 660,117 lbs., valued at $44,248, viz: (a) The kilogramme is equal to aljout 2J pounds. 630 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. in national vessels 95,200 ILs., valued at |5,810; and in foreign vessels 564,917 lbs., valued at 138,438. The ports from which raw cotton was exported, in 1849-'50, together with the quantities ex- ported during that period, were as follows: Puerto Cabello 461,924 lbs. Maturin 98,200 " La Guayra 90,693 " LaVela 4,500 " Ciudad Bolivar 2,800 " KioCoribe 2,000 " From the above it will be perceived that, out of the fifteen ports of Venezuela, no cotton was exported from nine; among them being two of the most important — Cumana and Maracaibo — although the provinces of Cumana and Maracaibo are not only very extensive, but eminently adapted to the cultivation of this article. The species of cotton cultivated in Venezuela is what is denominated the long staple (black seed) of Louisiana and Georgia, and was introduced from the United States. COMMERCIAL E E GTJL AT 10 N S.(o) All foreign nations enjoy equal commercial privileges in Venezuela. Treaties exist between the republic and most of the governments of Europe and America. That with the United States was ratified May 31, 1836, and was to continue in force twelve years, with the usual twelve months' notice after Ihat period. Such notice not having been given by either party, its provisions still continue in force. This treaty guaranties entire reciprocity and perfect liberty of trade, direct and indirect, between the two republics; and stipulates that all favors to other nations in respect of commerce and navigation, granted by either party, sliall immediately become common to the other. Under the provisions of this treaty, and the commercial legisla- tion of Venezuela, United States vessels enjoy the same privileges, and are subject to the same restrictions, as those of all other nations. American trade, however, would, it is thought, rest upon a firmer basis, and might be greatly extended, by a new treaty with that republic, better adapted to the exigencies of present commercial relations than that of 1836, entered into in the very infancy, political as well as commercial, of Venezuela. In 1840, four years after the ratification of this treaty, the United States exported to that country 20,034 barrels of flour, valued at §147,304. In 1854 our exports of that article reached 40,097 barrels, valued at .$318,732; showing an increase in the quantity and value of that one article, which we exchanged for the hides, coffee, and indigo of Venezuela, of 100 per cent. The hides imported into the United States in 1840 amounted in value to §288,372. In 1854 they reached as high as $1,623,695; showing an increase, in that single article of our imports, of over 400 per cent. A more liberal tariff of duties on our flour and cotton goods in the ports of Venezuela would continue to augment still more largely this growing trade. The justice of such a measure will be obvious when it is considered that the principal article which the United States imports from Venezuela (hides) is subject in our ports to a duty of five per cent, only; v/hile the principal article which we furnish in exchange (flour) is taxed in its ports with a duty of ,s4 per barrel, which, at a value of from .$12 to .$16 per barrel (its average price in the Venezuelan markets), is equal to 25 a 33vi- per cent., besides sundry other duties (a) Alter this Digest liad goue to press, t-no new laws were received, one dated April 27, 1856, relating to extraordinary and export duties ; Che other of date April 20, 1856, relating to new port dues. VENEZUELA. 631 which are superadded before the article can get into market. These facts are sufficiently sug- gestive without further comment. Duties are levied on a valuation basis, though many articles in the tariff are liable to specific duties. Instead of specifying each extra charge separately, these heavy imposts can be best illustrated by an actual case: Custom duties on 100 barrels American flour landed at the port^of La Q-uayra, at |4 per barrel import duty $400 00 10 per cent, on amount of duties on account of late internal war 40 GO 2 per cent, on amount of duties for wharfage , 8 80 2 per cent, road tax 8 80 457 60 20 per cent, on aggregate amount ; contribution extraordinary 91 52 549 12 ^ per cent, for the new church on $457 60 2 29 Total duties, extras, &c 551 41 Articles noted free in the tariff', pay in lieu of all extras 15 per cent. One of the greatest impediments heretofore existing to the increase of American trade with Venezuela was the restriction imposed on the transitage of American merchandise imported expressly for the markets of New Granada. Some years since, Maracaibo was declared a place of deposit for such merchandise — a measure of the greatest importance to commerce, as nearly half the imports at that port are destined for San Jose de Cucuta, in New G-ranada. The privilege thus granted was subsequently rendered nugatory by severe restrictions and onerous duties. A more liberal decree, however, has very lately been promulgated (August 10, 1855), which must necessarily largely augment the imports into Venezuela, and thus promote the general commerce of the republic. Navigation Dues. Tonnage duties 37^ cents per ton = $0 26 (U. S. currency.) Anchorage 18 " " 12 Water 12 " " 9 Light-house 6 " " ^ Entrance i^ « u 5 Clearance $2 00 " " 1 54 In addition — To captain of the port 3 00 " " 2 25 Health officer 3 00 " " 2 25 Interpreter 3 00 " " 2 25 The ton is Venezuelan measurement, generally 12J per cent, more than that of the United States. The value of Venezuelan money differs considerably, as already noted, from that of the other South American States, though of the same denomination. The following are the legal values of some of the foreign coins in circulation in Venezuela, as fixed by the law of May 30, 1848: One dollar of the United States equal to $1 34| Do. Peru " 1 34f Do. Mexico " 1 34f Five-franc piece of France " 1 25 One shilling of Great Britain " 31J One guinea of " " 6 50 632 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Quarantine Regulations. Some alterations have lately teen made in the quarantine regulations of this republic. By decree of Tth January, 1856, the following official announcement was made: "The board of health of this port (La G-uayra), in its session of the 2d inst., took into con- sideration the different modes of certifying to the bills of health issued at foreign ports ; and the general practice being at variance with the provisions of the first article of the executive decree of the 11th August, 184Y, relating to the matter, resolved that, for the future, bills of health would be considered clean only when coming legalized by the authorities to which this branch belongs, whose signatures must then be certified to by the respective consuls, granting a period of one month after which this decision shall take effect, passing an official notice to the foreign consuls in this port to whom it may be considered requisite to give notice of this decision, and also to the governor of the province." A practice has heretofore existed, on the part of ship-masters, of obtaining bills of health simply from the Venezuelan consul at the port of departure in the United States. Under the new regulations, such bills of health will not be recognised as valid by the Venezuelan authori- ties after the Tth February, 1856. The law cited in the circular (that of 11 th August, 1847) says that "bills of health shall be granted by some competent authorities of the place, and must be legalized by a Vene- zuelan consul, if there is one at the port from which the vessel may sail ; if not, by a consul of any other nation on terms of amity with Venezuela ; which bill of health must be certified to or legalized by the Venezuelan consul, or some other consul, at each and every port the vessel may touch at before her arrival at a Venezuelan port." It has been decided, recently, that in cases where there is no Venezuelan consul, nor the con- sul of any other nation, as above prescribed, at the port of departure, bills of health, properly executed by the custom-house officer to whom that duty belongs, will be sufficient. In the case which elicited this decision, the penalty had been imposed by a subordinate officer, but was subsequently refunded. EQUADOE. [SO] EQUADOR. The foreign commerce of Equador is chiefly carried on at the port of Guayaquil, which, with the ports of Manta and San Lorenzo, is open for general importation and the exportation of national produce. The ports open for exportation only are Santa Elena, Callao, Bahia de Caraocas, Loja, and Ibarra. Guayaquil is the only port of general deposit for re-exportation to foreign ports. The principal articles of export of this republic are cocoa, hides, cattle, tobacco, wool, straw- hats, coffee, orchilla, bark. India-rubber, and an inferior description of cotton. Cocoa is the leading staple, the quantity annually exported reaching over 15,000,000 pounds. The total value of the foreign trade of Equador may be stated at $4,000,000. The countries which participate in this trade are the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Chili, and Peru, in America; and England, Spain, France, and Hamburg, in Europe. The commercial relations of the United States with Equador are regulated by treaty and the local legislation of that republic. The treaty with the United States was ratified April 9, 1842, and stipulates for perfect equality and entire reciprocity of navigation and commerce, both in the direct and indirect trade. The third article has this stipulation: " That whereas, by a law of Equador, March 21, 1837, vessels built in the dock-yard of Guayaquil shall be exempted from various charges ; therefore, vessels of the United States cannot claim this privilege, but shall enjoy it if it should be granted to vessels belonging to Spain or Mexico, and to the other Hispano-American republics.'.' The following translation of the decree conferring special privi- leges on vessels constructed at Guayaquil, bearing date August 23, 1845, is made from "El Comercio de Lima," October 6, 1846: "The provisional government considering that the ship-yards of Guayaquil, by reason of its favorable position, and in view of the interests of commerce and of the republic, merit special attention ; therefore, in order to advance these interests, and* to encourage the construction of ships, it is decreed: "Art. 1. Vessels constructed at Guayaquil, and retaining the national flag, shall be exempt from tonnage, anchorage, and other port dues. "Art. 2. Such vessels shall be entitled to a reduction of three per cent, on all produce, mer- chandise, &c., imported into any of the ports of the republic for consumption." The commerce between the United States and Equador is very limited, owing mainly to the fact that the two great staples of the latter country, cocoa and straw hats, find but little demand in the United States — the former being of limited consumption, and the latter subject to a duty of 30 per cent. Before the treaty between Spain and Equador, in 1843, United States vessels carried flour and domestic manufactures direct to the port of Guayaquil, and were gen- erally chartered to transport cargoes of cocoa to Spain. Since that period, however, the high duties on cocoa in Spain, when imported in foreign vessels, have been equivalent to a prohibi- tion. This, together with the annually increasing importation of flour from Chili, has produced a depressing eff'ect on American trade with that republic. The table appended to this Digest will exhibit the condition of this trade during a period of eleven successive years. But little 636 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. improvement can be expected, it is thought, so long as the present tariff regulations of the United States continue in force. The duties on navigation in the ports of Equador are — tonnage duties, 25 cents per ton ; light dues, 6|- cents per ton. When pilots are employed, the fees are $2 50 per foot of the ves- sel's depth. The following summary statements of the commerce of Guayaq^uil, condensed from the official reports for the years designated, will convey a general idea of the foreign commerce of Ec[uador, the port of Guayaquil being the principal commercial port of that republic: Trade of Guayaquil foi^ 1845. Countries. Peru Chili Spain Hamburg France^ Mexico Central America New Granada England Total. Imports. $605,140 143,930 37,620 24,320 5,130 816,140 Exports. $110,770 170,810 190,000 177,270 99,750 75,620 35,910 14,630 6,270 881,030 Total. $715,910 314,740 227,620 177,270 124,070 75,620 35,910 19,760 6,270 1,697,170 The United States does not appear in the list of countries for 1845. Indeed, the foreign trade of Equador is conducted chiefly with the ports of Lima and Valparaiso, the two principal entre- pots for the trade of South America. The following statement affords a description of the mer- chandise, with its values, imported in 1845, and the countries of origin: Description of mercliandise. Values. Countries of origin. Description of merchandise. Values. Countries of origin. Textiles of cotton $146,300 94,430 33,120 31,540 79,420 76,760 42, 180 31,710 j Provisions 531,710 (-Peru ....do ....do f Peru Chili flax silk Hardware Paper 38,760 21,280 j. 18,050 16,720 - France Peru Wme ' Chili Peru France r Peru ... ' Chili Chili Musical instruments and furniture. Pottery and glasswares.. . Chili Flour . - _ _ France Peru Peru f Chili 1 Chili - Peru Haberda sbery France I Chili EQUADOR. 637 EXPORTS. Description of merchandise. Values. Whither. $566,580 79,990 22,230 19,380 r Spain ■ France Chili Peru Peru Cotton Chili The following tabular statement exhibits the description of merchandise exported from the port of Guayaquil in the year 1855, with the quantity of each article, respectively: Description of mercllandise. (Quantities. DeBcription of merchandise. Quantities. Cocoa pounds. . Straw hats dozen.. Tanned hides sides. . Tobacco quintals . . Sarsaparilla do Tamarinds do CoSee do 15,089,753 38,778 26,246 3,659 657 699 776 Orchilla quintals.. Bark do Timber logs.. Canes pieces. . Manyles do India-rubber quintals . . 4,000 7,739 9,368 73,551 5,660 765 The countries to which the cocoa specified in the above statement was sent, together with the quantity to each, is exhibited as follows: Cargas. (a) lbs. Spain 80,351 23 Hamburg 36,182 26 France 17,214 62 Peru 14,696 13 Chili 14,507 30 United States : 7,544 04 Central America 5,463 69 Mexico 5,410 39 Panama 4,922 78 Total 186,293 20 The following table exhibits the quantities, in pounds, of cocoa exported from G-uayaquil during a period of ten years, from 1846 to 1855, both years inclusive: 1846 11,202,008 1847 12,073,615 1848 21,007,395 1849 14,234,734 1850.. 11,066,056 1851 9,567,680 1852 13,956,548 1853 13,243,024 1854 10,992,151 1855 15,089,753 (o) Each carga equals 81 lbs. 638 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The navigation returns of Guayaquil for 1849, the latest period for which they are at hand, complete, exhibit a total of 169 vessels entered and cleared, with an aggregate tonnage of 46,838 tons, distributed as follows : Countries. ENTERED. CLEARED. Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons. 26 5 4 5 9 35 14,310 935 1,054 1,543 1,697 5,266 23 5 4 6 8 39 12,305 935 1,054 1,903 1,567 4,269 South American republics Total . 84 24,805 85 22,033 The tariff of Equador will he found in its proper place, Part II. It is officially published as "the tariff of Malecon, of the year 1849, ordered to be observed by the legislature of 1855." The only commercial legislation in this republic, of recent date, of which the Department has reliable information, is embodied in a decree given at the capital, Quito, August 15, 1855, by the President, Jose Maria Urbina, imposing an export duty on bark and India-rubber. The United States consul at G-uayaquil, in communicating this decree, under date of September 30, 1855, says: "Against this injudicious measure of the executive, strong representations will be made to the present Congress by the commercial and industrial classes, as unlawful, and inju- rious to the present increasing commercial prosperity of the country ; and it is probable that it will be modified into renting or selling the lands, or done away with altogether." A translation of this decree is subjoined : ' ' Considering that the natural productions met with in the uncultivated lands of the repub- lic make part of the national riches, and that the India-rubber and bark discovered and extracted from said lands are becoming objects of speculation to many persons, and should be made to yield a revenue to the country; therefore, be it decreed: "Art. 1. In the ports of the republic where custom-houses are established, there shall be exacted a duty of two dollars on ordinary, and three dollars on refined India-rubber, on every 100 lbs. exported to foreign markets, "Art. 2. The bark taken from government lands, and exported to foreign countries, shall pay a duty of two dollars for every 100 lbs. on yellow, three on Callessaya, and eight on red. "Art. 3. Those persons who export India-rubber and bark without presenting the same at the custom-house, or place appointed for the collection of the duties specified in the previous articles, with the intent of avoiding the payment of said duties, shall be judged according to the process detailed in the law of the 21st November, 1853. "Art. 4. Every citizen who proposes extracting India-rubber or bark from national lands, shall present himself to the respective governor, who, after hearing his proposal, and satisfying himself that the land is actually government property, shall give to the parties applying the required permission in writing. " Art. 5. Those engaged in the collection of India-rubber must not cut down the tree; but, to obtain their object, should bore a small hole in the trunk, at the height of about half a yard from the ground, penetrating the greater part of the thickness of the tree, taking care not to bore through it. "Art. 6. Those who are found taking India-rubber or bark from national lands without BQUADOR. 689 having complied with the conditions prescrihed in articles 4 and 5, shall he treated as smug- glers, and the substances collected taken from them and confiscated. "Art. *J. The governors of provinces in the lands under their jurisdiction will take all pos- sible measures to discover and apprehend all parties who endeavor to infringe the preceding dispositions. "Art. 8. Article 6 applies, also, to those individuals who do not comply with the dispositions of articles 4 and 5, under the pretext that they are collecting the aforesaid substances from their own lands, should it be discovered that the said lands are national property. "Art. 9. Those persons who collect India-rubber and bark from their own property, are not subject to any of the duties imposed in the present decree. "Art. 10. The Secretary of the Treasury is charged with the due execution of this present decree, of which it is his duty to inform the Congress next ensuing." Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Equador, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels ar- riving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. TEARS. COMMERCE. NAVIGATLON. VALOE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OF IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign pro- duce. Total. Entered the United States. Cleared from theU. States. Entered the United States. Cleared from the V. Sutes. 1845 1846 $1,130 571 $1,130 27, 824 614 168 1847 $27,253 1848 1849 1850 24,414 10,511 34, 925 $4,618 76,692 70, 585 12, 600 57,534 12,553 331 586 585 503 1,981 277 299 219 828 410 1,185 568 760 249 192 1851 1852 1853 226 1854 1855 66,092 66,092 1,011 BRAZIL. [81] BEAZIL. This vast empire compreliends the great eastern section of South America. Its length from north to south is computed at about 2,600 miles, and its greatest breadth at 2,540 miles. The entire area comprises about 2,973,400 square miles, or over ten times the area of Texas, and about seventy times that of Portugal. The climate is generally favorable to agricultural pur- suits, the soil being fertile, and in many parts of the empire, particularly in the interior prov- inces, abounding with valuable mineral resources. The staple productions of Brazil are such as must necessarily attract an extensive foreign trade; though it is stated that, anterior to 1809, she had no direct intercourse with other nations — the mother country, under the policy which dictated her colonial system, excluding from the ports of her extensive colony all foreign flags. The dangers which menaced, and the domestic troubles which agitated Portugal at this period, resulted in the flight of the royal family to Brazil. With the court were introduced new tastes, new ideas, and a more liberal policy in regard to foreign intercourse. The ports of Brazil were at once opened to foreign commerce, and since that period the culture of the staple productions has kept pace with the increased demands of foreign markets. The great staple of Brazil is coffee, though vegetables, fruits, wheat, barley, rice, maize, and tobacco are extensively produced in the southern or temperate provinces; while, within the tropics, the chief productions are mandioca, rice, bananas, plantains, beans, sweet potatoes, coffee, sugar, cotton, and cocoa — the last four for exportation. The forests supply the very best timber for ship-building, and almost every variety of wood for cabinet-work and dyeing pur- poses ; among the latter, Brazil wood, rosewood, and campeche wood are important articles of commerce. Travellers who have minutely explored the interior of Brazil describe no less than 219 varieties of timber, and many of them largely enter into the commercial resources and domestic wealth of that empire. Since the acknowledgment of its independence, the commercial regulations of Brazil have been marked by a spirit of liberality and of freedom from unnecessary and exclusive restrictions. The duties on imports and exports are based upon the valuation principle, and are designed solely with a view to supply the necessary revenues for the support of the government ; and the port, pilot, and other navigation charges, seldom exceed the actual requirements of a just and liberal intercourse with foreign nations. Indeed, the commercial policy of Brazil seems eminently adapted to a country of such boundless extent and so sparsely populated, (a) as labor is sure to find a remunerative reward, in whatever mode it may seek to develop the exhaustless resources of the empire, in the free competition to which it invites the enterprise and exchanges of foreign nations. The commercial treaties negotiated by the government of Brazil with foreign countries are, generally, based upon the principle of reciprocity. That with the United States was concluded (a) The entire population amounts to about six millions — being two persons to the square mile ; of which at least three- fifths are blacks. 644 COMMEEOIAL DIGESTS. December 12, 1828, and established between the two countries freedom of commerce and entire reciprocity of trade and navigation — certain special favors being reserved to Portugal, owing to the former relations between that country and Brazil. This treaty contained the usual stip- ulation requiring twelve months' notice to be given by either party desiring to terminate the same ; and such notice having been given by the government of Brazil, and the twelve months having expired, the treaty is no longer of force. The commercial relations between the two countries were, however, placed upon a footing of similar reciprocity to that guarantied by the treaty, by virtue of the proclamation of the President of the United States^ bearing date Novem- ber 4, 1847, issued conformably to the provisions of an act of Congress passed on the 24th day of May, 1828. The declaration of this paper, after reciting the act, is as follows : " And whereas satisfactory evidence has lately been received by me from his Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, through an official communication of Mr. Felipe Jose Pereira Leal, his charge d'aifaires in the United States, under date of the 25th of October, 1847', that no other or higher duties of tonnage and impost are imposed or levied in the ports of Brazil upon ves- sels wholly belonging to citizens of the United States, and upon the produce, manufactures, or merchandise imported in the same from the United States and from any foreign country whatever, than are levied on Brazilian ships and their cargoes in the same ports and under like circum- stances : Now, therefore, I, James K. Polk, President of the United States of America, do hereby declare and proclaim, that so much of the several acts imposing discriminating duties of ton- nage and impost within the United States are, and shall be suspended and discontinued, so far as respects the vessels of Brazil, and the produce, manufactures, and merchandise imported into the United States in the same, from Brazil, or from any other foreign country whatever ; the said suspension to take effect from the day above mentioned, and to continue thenceforward, so long as the reciprocal exemption of the vessels of the United States, and the produce, manu- factures, and merchandise imported into Brazil in the same, as aforesaid, shall be continued on the part of the government of Brazil." As the trade between the two countries is placed, by virtue of the preceding proclamation, much on the same footing of reciprocity as that guarantied by the treaty, it is deemed not irrele- vant to present a synopsis of the provisions of that treaty, so far as they relate to commerce. The high contracting parties are placed on the footing of the most favored nation in respect to commerce and navigation, the relations between Portugal and Brazil excepted: Free corcr mercial intercourse, on the basis of perfect equality and reciprocity between the citizens and subjects of the two countries is established, the coasting trade being reserved by each govern- ment to its own flag : The vessels of both countries are placed on the same footing in the ports of each, as to the importation, exportation, or re-exportation of foreign goods, from or to any foreign country; the United States agreeing to consider a vessel as Brazilian when the proprietor and captain are subjects of Brazil and the papers are in legal form: The contracting parties ao-ree that no higher or other duties shall be imposed on the importation of any articles, the produce or manufactures of either country, into the ports of the other, than are or shall be payable on the like articles, being the produce or manufactures of any other foreign country ; and export duties shall be the same in each to the ports of the other as when the articles are exported to any other foreign country : It is agreed that it shall be wholly free for all merchants, com- manders of ships, and other citizens or subjects of both countries, to manage, themselves, their own business, in all the ports and places subject to the jurisdiction of each other, as well with respect to the consignment and sale of tlicir goods and merchandise by wholesale or retail as with respect to the loading, unloading, and sending off their ships; they being in all these cases to be treated as citizens or subjects of the country in which they reside, or at least to be placed on a footing with the subjects or citizens of the most favored nation : Vessels in distress, pursued by pirates or enemies, &c., belonging to either of the contracting parties, to be received and protected in the ports, rivers, bays, &c., of the other. The eleventh article of this treaty grants to the citizens or subjects of each of the contracting parties power to dispose of their BRAZIL. 645 personal goods within tlie jurisdiction of tlie other, by sale, donation, testament, or otherwise; and their representatives, being citizens or subjects of the other party, shall succeed to the said personal goods, whether by testament or db intestato, and they may take possession thereof, either by themselves or others acting for tbem, and dispose of the same at their will, paying such dues only as the inhabitants of the country wherein said goods are shall be subject to pay in like cases ; and if, in the case of real estate, the said heirs would be prevented from entering into the possession of the inheritance, on account of their character of aliens, there shall be granted to them the term of three years to dispose of the same as they may think proper, and to withdraw the proceeds without molestation or any other charges than those which are im- posed by the laws of the country. The twelfth article grants special protection to the persons and property of the citizens and subjects of each other, of all occupations, who may be in their territories, subject to the jurisdiction of the one or the other, transient or dwelling therein, opening to them the tribunals of justice, &c., on the same terms with the natives or citizens and subjects of the country in which they may be : Security of conscience is guarantied, and the principle that free ships make free goods mutually recognized and adopted, with the usual limitations as to goods contraband of war, and the additional stipulation that it shall apply to those powers only who recognize the same principle. To define more fully the commercial relations between Brazil and foreign nations, decrees are,, from time to time, issued by that government, regulating commerce in the different ports of the empire. A decree of this kind was promulgated October 24, 1849, exposing American shipping to great inconvenience and expense, unless necessary measures are taken at the port of departure to enable captains to comply with its requirements. By the 1st article, it is decreed that there shall be a custom-house in the town of San Jos6 do Norte, province of San Pedro, independent of the one in the city of Rio Grande. The 3d declares that vessels arriving from foreign ports and coastwise, having on board goods of foreign production, bound for the port of San Jose do Norte, Rio Grande, or Porto Alegre, or generally to the port of Rio Grande do Sul, are required to enter at the custom-house of San Jose do Norte, presenting the respective manifests, the list of provisions and stores, and make declaration as to the in- crease or decrease of the cargo, in conformity with article 145, sections 4, 5, and 6, of the regu- lations of June, 1836, decree of 1842, and No. 633, of 1849: the vessels referred to, to be per- mitted to discharge in the custom-house of San Jose, or in that of the city of Eio Grande, and Porto Alegre, as may be most convenient for them. Having commenced discharging in one custom-house, they cannot change for another, unless they are provided with particular mani- fests of the cargo for each custom-house. Article 7 declares that no vessel, having entered into the custom-house of San Jose do Norte, can proceed to Rio Grande do Sul, or Porto Alegre, without being provided with one set of manifests, with the declarations of increase or decrease of stores and baggage of passengers, properly signed by the respective inspector, and by him forwarded in a sealed letter to the custom-house to which it is bound. Article 8 is par- ticularly oppressive to vessels of the United States, as the principal part of their cargoes consists of produce which must come to this port for a market ; while manufactured goods, which com- prise the principal part of the cargo of vessels of other nations, find a market in the interior, and are despatched from the custom-house of San Jose do Norte from motives of convenience. The American consul at Rio Grande informs the Department that the ship-canal connecting that port with San Jose do Norte is one mile and a half in length, and is only navigable for vessels drawing nine or ten feet of water. American vessels frequenting the port of Rio Grande generally draw ten and a half to thirteen feet of water, and had, theretofore, been permitted to lighten at the entrance of the canal, or at San Jose do Norte; but, according to the regulations now in force, after commencing to discharge at San Jose do Norte, which they are compelled to do in order to pass through the canal, they are not permitted to proceed to Rio Grande with any part of the cargo, unless originally destined for both ports. The consul further adds, that the expense of lighterage between the two ports is excessively heavy — so heavy, indeed, that launch- 646 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. hire to convey an entire cargo from the anchorage at San Jose do Norte to the port of Kio G-rande, distant ahout four miles, would, in many cases, amount to as much as the interest of the voyage. It is recommended, as a partial remedy, that vessels of the United States, clearing for the port of Rio G-rande, be provided with a set of manifests for that portion of the cargo which it may he necessary to discharge at San Jose do Norte in order to pass through the canal, and another set, including the remainder of the cargo, for the former port. Special decrees regulating navigation are, in like manner, sometimes arbitrary, and frequently capricious ; but, so long as they do not infringe the terms or spirit of treaty stipulations, or other existing agreements — that is, so long as they are equally applicable to national as to foreign bottoms — no nation having a reciprocity treaty or agreement with Brazil has any just cause for remonstrance. The latest decree of this kind, in the possession of the Department, bears date the 19th December, 1855, and relates to the navigation dues chargeable on entering and clearing the bar and bay of San Marcos, in the province of Maranham. The dues prescribed by this decree are : Eeas. Clearance, three masted vessels 46||400 = |25 00 " two masted " 401|000 = 2160 Entrance 2T||200 = 14 80 Additional for anchorage 6||400 = 3 68 Pilotage to docks lor repairs 8||000 = 4 32 " to Madre de Dios 12|1000 = 6 48 For pilot from the mouth of the harbor to the shoals, inclusive 120||000 = 64 80 For pilot within the shoals 60||000 = 32 40 Within the shoals, near Guimaraez, Perijuba, and Coron Grande 240||000 = 129 60 And the same amount when the vessel is piloted through the bay of San Jose, Eio Mosquito, and Itaqui, to reach the bar. Vessels not taking a pilot pay half the above rates. SUMMARY VIEW OF THE FOEEIGN COMMEEGE OF BRAZIL. From official documents, it appears that of the whole commerce of Brazil, Eio de Janeiro holds 56 per cent.; Bahia 12 per cent.; Pernambuco 12 per cent.; Alagoas, Santo Paulo, and Santo Pedro do Sul, 8 per cent. ; Para, Maranham, and Santa Catarina, each 4 per cent. The species of merchandise which constitutes the leading imports into Brazil, are cottons ; of which Eio de Janeiro, Bahia, and Pernambuco usually receive in value about $47,000,000 ■ woolens, about $10,000,000 ; silks, $8,000,000. After these, rank next in commercial import- ance, provisions, flour (the great bulk of which comes from the United States); wines, and other liquors; metals, crude and manufactured; watches, jewelry, arms, ammunition, &c. &c. The principal exports are coffee (which is shipped from Eio), and sugar (principally from Bahia and Pernambuco). Full a moiety of the former goes to the United States, and the latter chiefly to England, Trieste, and the Hanse-towns. The precious metals next follow in the rank of exports; then diamonds, skins (otter), hides, cotton, and tobacco. The two last, as well as sugar, though not to so great an extent, are either stationary or declining, as respects the quan- tities annually exported. The proportions in which the commerce of Brazil is distributed among foreign countries are shown in the following table, condensed from the returns for one year (1841): England 140,000,000 francs, or 36.8 per cent Imports 100,000,000 francs. Exports 40,000,000 " United States 48,000,000 francs, or 12.6 percent Imports 20,000,000 " Exports 28,000,000 " BEAZIL. 647 France 36,000,000 francs, or 9.4 per cent Imports 26,000,000 francs. Exports 10,000,000 Hanse-towns 35,000,000 francs, or 9 per cent Imports 14,000,000 Exports 21,000,000 Portugal 2*7,000,000 francs, or T.l per cent Imports 14,000,000 Exports 13,000,000 Austria 18,000,000 francs, or 4.6 per cent Imports 3,000,000 Exports 15,000,000 Total number of vessels and tonnage employed in 1841 : Vessels 3,480, carrying YTOjOOO tons. These were distributed among tbe principal foreign nations as follows: England, 145,000 tons; the United States, 110,000 tons; Portugal, 92,000 tons; Uruguay, 70,000 tons; Hanse-towns, 55,000 tons; France, 37,000 tons; coast of Africa, 29,000 tons, &c. Oommerce of Brazil with foreign nations in 1846. The commerce of Brazil during this year exhibits a general increase, both in capital and mercantile operations, owing in a great measure to the re-establishment of tranquillity in the interior provinces. Brazil was also materially benefited in 1846 by the troubles whiqh existed along La Plata, in Buenos Ayres and Montevideo. The supplies usually furnished by these neighboring countries having failed, Brazil was thrown upon her own resources to make up the deficiency; thus developing, to an increased extent^ her abundant agricultural riches, and multiplying the productions of her own soil. Another cause contributed no little to the general prosperity which marks the commercial movements of 1846. After the termination of the treaty of 1826 between England and Brazil, which had lapsed by its own limitation, the slave-trade became, as it were, reanimated, and con- tributed, no doubt by the impulse which it imparted to capital and commercial movements gen- erally, to the prosperity and increased trade of this year. The following table exhibits the value of imports and exports to and from Brazil in 1846 (from all countries): Imports 194,861,000 francs (a)=$36,244,146 Exports 177,662,000 " = 33,045,132 Total 372,523,000 " = 69,289,278 To this is to be added $10,691,000, a sum which approximates the values of imports and exports at Maranham, and other secondary ports, for which full returns cannot be reached, making the total trade of the empire 430,000,000 francs = |79, 980,000. The following exhibit shows the returns for 1846 compared with those for 1841 : 1841.— Total trade of Brazil with foreign nations $70,680,000 1846.— Total " " " 79,980,000 Increase since 1841 , 9,300,000 For the distribution of the trade of 1841 and 1846 among foreign nations, and specific details in relation thereto, see "Eio de Janeiro," posted. The receipts at the different custom-houses of Brazil, in 1852, reached 14,000 contos,(6) giving a total, in United States currency, of about $7,700,000. This shows a considerable increase (a) The franc equals 18.6 cents. (J>) The coato equals 1, 000 milreas. 648 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. over the receipts of 1851 ; tut it was owing, not so mucli to an augmentation in the imports and exports, as to a more rigid enforcement of custom-house regulations. Still, while the exports of 1852 scarcely maintained the figure of the preceding year, there was a perceptible increase in the imports. The following comparative statements give the figures for these two years : 1851. 1852. $32,300,000 31,920,000 $34,200,000 82,680,000 Total 64,220,000 ^ J 66,880,000 Analysis of imports, {by merchandise.) 1851. 1852. Tissues. Cotton . Wool.. Linen. . Silk ... do.... do.... ....do.... Jewelry, &o do Hardware, cutlery, &c do "Wines - - pipes.. Coal .tons. . Butter tons- . Beer barrels . . Eaisins boxes. - Sweet-oU pipes. . Cod-fish boxes. . 42,000 6,200 5,000 1,000 5,000 5,000 30,000 42,000 25,000 23,000 19,000 1,700 5,000 45,000 10,000 2,900 2,400 5,000 8,000 31,000 42,000 24, 000 19,000 17,000 13,000 20,000 Analysis of imports, (by countries.) 1 1851. 1852. Francs. 60,000,000 29,000,000 27,000,000 8,000,000 5,000,000 6,000,000 4,000,000 Frana. 74,000,000 33,000,000 24,000,000 12,000,000 6,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 France United States Hanse-towns. ...... Switzerland . BRAZIL. 649 Analysis of exports, (by merchandise.) 1851. 1852. Francs. Francs. 132,000,000 140,000,000 3,000,000 5,000,000 3,000,000 1,000,000 3,000,000 1,000,000 Coffee. Sugar. Hides. Woods Analysis of exports, {by countries.) 1851. 1852. XJnited States _ - - . Francs. 68,000,000 25,000,000 12,000,000 11,000,000 7,000,000 8,000,000 Francs. 71,000,000 23,000,000 3,000,000 12,000,000 8,000,000 7,000,000 EnQrland - - . Hanse-towns France . The French official report, from which the preceding summary is derived, states that there were received from the United States 230,000 (a) harrels of flour, and from Europe 30,000 barrels; of which 15,000 barrels were shipped from Marseilles, and the remainder from Trieste and Antwerp. Butter, salt, dried beef from the Plata, gin, dried and preserved fruits, fish-oil, linseed-oil, &c., maintained the figures of the preceding year; but, in the articles of beer, soap, wax and other candles, tea, and cod-fish, there was a diminution. The following statement shows the relative share assigned to each country in the general importation of 1852 : Great Britain i^ France xV United States xV Germany, Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland x\" Portugal, Spain, and Italy -^\ In the export trade of Kio de Janeiro for 1852, the share assigned to each country is as sub- joined : United States | Germany and Northern Europe f Great Britain ^ France and Belgium ^ Portugal, Spain, and Italy ^ (a) "Commerce and Navigation" (U. 8. Report) gives, for 1852, 345,249 barrels. [ 82 ] 650 COMMEECIAL DIGESTS. The following tabular statement will be interesting as exhibiting the custom-bouse revenues of Brazil for tbe periods designated, and tbe sources whence derived: Fiscal years. DUTIES OF — Import, 1849-50 1850-'51 1851-'52... Increase in 1852 over 1851 . At the port of Rio Janeiro [ in 1851-52 I 14- I^ms. [a) 17,830,0291J000 20,471,2C2|000 24,793,04C]|000 4,321,784|i000 , 906ji000 Export. lieas. 3,780,453||000 4,706,696|1000 4,527,77211000 2,555,648||000 Total. Navigation. Internal & extraordi'y. Seas. 345,580|]000 515,5S1]|000 546,94411000 Sl,363||000 282,843||000 Reas. 2,126,81711000 Eeas. 24,081,87911000 2,237,12511000 1 27, 930, 664|1000 j 32,233,57211000 i 4,302,90811000 I 18,666,744||000 2,365,81011000 128,68511000 1,733,347|1000 The Minister of the Interior of Brazil, in his last annual report (for 1855) to the Legislative Assembly, presents much interesting information relative to the general progress of manufac- tures and agricultural industry throughout the empire. From this document, it appears that only two of the manufacturing establishments in the capital which have received the support of the government have succeeded — namely, a glass manufactory and a manufactory of lace. The finest productions of the former do not, however, compare with the glass-wares imported from toreign factories. A manufactory of tissues has also been established in the environs of Rio, which promises to succeed. Beyond the limits of the capital, there is a large establish- ment at Ponte-da-Arca for casting iron and brass, building steam-engines and machinery, and for ship-building. This is in a highly flourishing condition. During the year 1854, there were constructed at this place four steamboats, and in 1856 (at the date of the report) there were in course- of construction two steamships and one sailing ship. The force employed at this establishment consists of 411 workmen, of whom 117 are Brazilians, 164 foreigners, and 130 slaves. Workmen are now engaged in erecting a sugar refinery, a distillery, and an estab- lishment for manufacturing animal carbon. A tannery, located at Mahury, prepares, annually, about 5,000 hides. In the province of Bahia, there are several cotton factories, one of which, in the city of Valenza, is on the largest scale. The tissues manufactured in this establishment largely exceed the wants of the province; the surplus is exported to other parts of the empire. There are, also, in the province of Bahia, three iron-foundries — one at the city of Bahia, another at Santo Anaro, and the third at Valenza. Those at Bahia and Santo Anara are in a flourishing con- dition. In the province of Minas Geraes, there are several other foundries which give employment to about 2,000 operatives, and produce annually about 5,000,000 pounds of iron. There is also a cotton factory, which the minister's report represents to be in a flourishing condition. In the province of Pernambuco, there is a foundry represented to be prosperous. In the prov- ince of Amazon, (Alto-Amazonas,) there is an establishment for the manufacture of straw or chip hats, called Chilian hats ; but, owing to the scarcity of workmen, the annual produce is, as yet, limited. In the province of San Pedro, merino sheep were introduced by the president or governor of the province from Germany, in 1854, and, since that time, their number has doubled. The report adds, that every effort is made by the government to introduce this breed into every province favorable to the rearing and improving of sheep. Silk, of the very finest quality, is produced in the colony of San Leopoldo, in the province of San Pedro^ equal, it is represented, to the silk of Lombardy, Persia, and China; and, in the province of Rio^e Janeiro, the finest marble is found, and in places of easy access. (a) The present value of the rea in United States currency is 1,000 reas or 1 milrea=56 cents. BRAZIL, 651 Coffee. — Coffee is the leading staple of Brazil. Formerly, and for many years, St. Domingo was the source from which Europe derived its supplies of this article — the quantity exported from that island, at one time, having reached as high as Y7, 000, 000 pounds; and had not the revolution hroken out in 1T92, it was estimated that there would have been exported that year ahout 84,000,000 pounds. That event, combined with other obvious causes, produced a total cessation in the supplies from this source. Being driven from St. Domingo, the culture of coffee at once became a leading branch of industry in Cuba, Jamaica, Surinam, and Java, and was, at a subsequent period, introduced with much success into Brazil. After the flight of John VI from Portugal to Brazil, in 1808-'9, the port of Bio de Janeiro was opened to foreign trade, and coffee soon became one of the leading staples of export. At that period the annual crop did not exceed 30,000 bags, or 4,800,000 pounds. In 1820, it reached as high as 100,000 bags, or 16,000,000 pounds. In 181T and 1821 the supply was so small, that in the market of London it rose as high as 37^^ cents per pound. This, of course, stimulated its cultivation in Brazil. The ruin of St. Domingo transferred, also, the culture of indigo to British India, and its culture was, at the same period, abandoned in Brazil. Previously to the revolution in Hayti, there was exported from that island "76, 835, 219 pounds ; in 1818 the exports fell to about 26,000,000 pounds; and now they do not exceed thirty-five to forty millions. In 1834, the year in which the emancipation act went into effect, Jamaica exported to England 18,268,888 pounds of coffee; five years later, the quantity had fallen to 9,423,197 pounds. The decline in the cultivation of coffee in this island, and the unrestricted supply of African slave labor in Brazil, combined to give a powerful impulse to its culture in that empire. Hence, in 1830, the crop reached as high as 400,000 bags, or 64,000,000 pounds; and in 1840, to 1,060,898 bags, or 169,743,680 pounds. The increase since 1840 has been very rapid, the crop of 1854 having reached the unprecedentedly high figure of 400,000,000 pounds. The coffee-growing districts in Brazil are divided into Serra Abaxo (below the mountains) and Serra Acima (above the mountains). The cost of transporting the coffee from the planta- tion to market is about 2 cents per pound ; and the actual cost of production is stated to be about 4^ cents per pound. Comparative statement exhibiting the quantities of coffee produced in the world at different periods. 1848. Brazil Java St. Domingo Cuoa and Porto Eico British West Indies - Sumatra Mocha, &c Ceylon, India Venezu^■la Costa Klca Total Founds. 270,000,000 110,000,000 40,000,000 40, 000, 000 10,000,000 10,000,000 5,000,000 25,000,000 20,000,000 5,000,000 535,000,000 1850. 1854. 1855. Pounds. 280,000,000 115,000,000 45,000,000 30,000,000 5,000,000 15,000,000 5,000,000 35,000,000 25,000,000 7,000,000 562,000,000 Pounds. 400,000,000 140,000,000 40,000,000 25,000,000 5,000,000 15,000,000 5,000,000 40,000,000 25,000,000 8,000,000 Pounds. 320,000,000 120,000,000 35,000,000 20,000,000 5,000,000 15,000,000 5,000,000 50,000,000 20,000,000 9,000,000 703,000,000 I 599,000,000 The quantity produced in the empire, year by year, is not officially ascertained ; but it has been cipproximated with sufficient exactness for practical purposes. Thus, estimating the popula- tion, as already stated, at about six millions, and allowing, as in the Antilles, 4^ pounds for 652 COMMEKCIAL DIGESTS. each inhabitant, we shall have, for home consumption, 2*7,000,000 pounds. This added to the amount annually exported— say 240,000,000 pounds — gives, as the whole quantity now year by year produced, 267,000,000 pounds. The average quantities exported in 1844, 1845, and 1846, were, for each year, 210,000,000 pounds. In 1846 this amount ascended to about 240,000,000 pounds. The quantity exported in 1836 was 120,000,000 pounds, giving, in a period of ten years, an increase of 100 per cent. Of the whole quantity exported, about 50 per cent, goes to the United States; the remainder is distributed, chiefly, hetween the Hanse-towns, England, Trieste, and France. The following statement, in pounds, affords an estimate of the annual consumption of coffee in the world: United States and British provinces , 210,000,000 German Zollvereiu 110,000,000 Austria and other German States 75,000,000 Holland and Belgium 90,000,000 France, Switzerland, and Southern Europe 125,000,000 ■ Great Britain 40,000,000 Denmark, Sweden, and Norway 30,000,000 Eussia .' 15,000,000 Cape of Good Hope, Australia, and California 15,000,000 Total - 710,000,000 The preceding estimate, it will be observed, is considerably above the figures showing the production for any one of the years given ; but the quantity of chicory used instead of coffee will more than supply the apparent deficiency. Coffee was first imported into the United States from Brazil in 1809, the first importation consisting of 1,809 bags. From 1809 to 1849 the imports of coffee into the United States had increased from 1,809 bags to over 100,000,000 pounds; and in 1855 it reached as high as 135,369,383 pounds. The following tabular statement presents an exhibit of the quantities of coffee imported from Brazil into the United States, and of flour exported from the United States to Brazil, during the years designated — these being the staple articles of exchange between the two countries ; the course of trade during eight decennial periods, commencing with 1838 and ending with 1855, being indicated by comparison : % Years. Coffee imported. Fears. Coffee imported. Years. Fiour e.xported. V^ears. Flour exported. Toinuh, Founds. Barreh. Barrels. 1838 27,411,98(3 1848 110,927,284 1838 125,275 1848 294,816 1 1839. - 48,094,294 1849- 122,581,183 1839 -. 177, 337 1849. 314,808 1840 47,412,750 1850 90,319,511 1840 197,823 1850 292,464 1841 09,557,964 1851 107,578,257 1841- 282,400 1851 369,975 1342 --- 01,248,742 1852- 138,150,506 1842 198,317 1852.- 345,025 1843 - 88,777,782 1853 153,338,464 1843- 192,454 1853. 433,843 ■ 1844 95,291,484 1854- 116,794,773 1844 288,181 1854 315,319 \ 1845. 78,553,616 1855-- 135,309,383 1845-. 209,845 1855 258,757 The following comparative tabular statement shows the quantities of coffee imported into the United States from Brazil, and the quantities of flour exported from the United States to Brazil, BEAZIL. 653 with the total annual values of each, respectively; and the current price of flour per barrel, and of coffee per pound, for each year, for a period of eleven years — from 1844 to 1854, both inclusive. Yeara. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. I 1852. ■ 1853. 1854. Coffee to V. States from Brazil. Pounds. 95,291,484 78,553,616 97,535,697 94,916,629 110,927,284 122,581,183 90,319,511 107,578,257 138,156,506 153,338,464 116,794,773 Values. Dollars. 5,802,901 4,401,269 5,964,513 5,673,690 5,969,993 6,776,727 7,422,608 8,881,105 10,064,740 11,844,414 10,329,992 Flour from IT. S to Brazil. Barrels. 288,181 209,845 296,460 254,300 294,816 314,808 292,464 369,975 345, 025 433,843 315,319 Values. I Dollars.- 1,493,413 1,083,318 1,675,756 1,562,979 1,952,212 1,885,293 1,649,696 2,021,631 1,639,285 2,434,187 2,417,685 Value of cof- fee, per lb. (a) Cents. 5? 5} 8} 8f Value of flour, per bbl. DoU. cts. 5 18^ 5 16J 5 65i 6 14J 6 62J. 5 98f 5 64 5 46} 4 72J 5 61tV 7 66| Sugar. — A glance at the preceding tables will show that coffee is the great staple export of Brazil to the United States, the produce of which is most steadily and rapidly advancing. The supply will, doubtless, always be equal to the demand, owing, in a great measure, to the facility and comparatively small expense attending its production ; while the culture of sugar and cotton depends on contingencies, both temporary and permanent, which must materially affect 1he quantities annually prodiiced. These contingencies may be briefly stated. The culture of sugar depends as much on the science of the manufacturer as on the capital and labor of the planter. Before it can reach the market of Eio, or of any of the other ports of the empire, it requires a vast expenditure of labor, the most assiduous attention, and an outlay of capital that absorb^ fully one-half, if not more, of the gross yield. Besides, the abolition of the slave trade, and the severity with which the present laws of Brazil punish those detected in that traffic, must pro- duce decided effects upon the production of those staples in the culture of which slave labor is indispensable. Macgregor, in his "Commercial Tariffs and Kegulations," says: "If there were not a con- stant supply from the coast of Africa, the slave population (of Brazil) would rapidly diminish, and many sugar engenhos (estates), in a very few years, would be unable to continue their operations." To show more fully the effect, upon the cultivation of cotton and sugar, of the abolition of the slave trade, and of the rigorous measures lately adopted by the Brazilian government to. enforce its laws relative to their clandestine introduction from the coast of Africa, further quota- tions from Macgregor (parts 20, 21, pp. 89, 90) may prove interesting: ' ' The number of slaves is various on different engenhos, -but the average may be taken at thirty for field blacks, and ten for house and other blacks; and the average number of blacks belong- ing to the lavrodores (cane-planters who superintend the estates and receive from the proprietor a share of the produce) about twelve; making fifty-two the average number on each engenho, or 31,200 for the entire black population in the sugar district (of Pernambuco). * * * * "The greater number of engenhos are very deficient in slaves^ and the consequence is, that much work, not of immediate necessity for the production of a large quantity of sugar, is left undone, or very badly done, or else the slaves are very much overworked. There is a spirit of (a) In ciilculating the value of coffee per pound, and of flour per barrel, the fractional parts between a unit and J, i and J, J and \, and J and a unit, are generally omitted. These fractions would give no additional perceptible value to the barrel or the pound, though they wuuld considerably affect the aggregate value of the whole. C54 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. emulation among the senhores d'engenho to make a large quantity of sugar with a small num- ber of blacks ; but instead of accomplishing this by the economization of labor and good manage- ment, it is generally done by driving the slaves at their work to the very extent of their strength and even beyond it. This forced work they cannot resist many years ; they become thin and languid; their skin dry and scurvy, and of a dark-slate color, instead of the polished black of a healthy negro. ***** During the seasons of the crop, which last from September to February or March, besides their usual day labor from six in the morning until six in the eve- ning, they are divided into two gangs to work in the mill during the night; one gang working from six until midnight, and the other from midnight until six in the morning. * * * * Their work at this season is very hard, and it is common to see them alternately sleeping and waking without interfering with their occupations." A French work on statistics, recently published, furnishes the following data relative to the present number of slaves in Brazil: "From a publication made in 1843 by Mr. Saturnino de Souza e Oliveira, chief officer of the customs in Brazil, the number of slaves has been com- puted at three millions, who are thus divided as to employment: Slaves in Brazil. Employed on the estates 2,500,000 Domestics 100,000 Without any special employment 200,000 Hired out, and others 200,000 Total 3,000,000" The operation of the present rigid measures in force in Brazil, in respect to the slave trade, is seen in the following table, compiled from an American authority: Slaves imported into Brazil from Africa. 1847 50,172 1842 17,435 1843 19,095 1844 22,849 1845 19,453 1846 50,324 1848 60,000 1849 54,000 1850 23,000 1851 3,287 The figures for 1851 evidence the vigilance of the government in the detection of those en- gaged in this traffic. It may be remarked, that of the 3,287 given for 1851, 1,006 were recap- tured by the Brazilian cruisers and declared free. How long, under these circumstances, sugar and cotton shall continue to be classed among the staples of Brazil, is scarcely left to conjecture. Statement showing the quantities and values of sugar imported into the United States from Brazil during the''years designated. years. 1844 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 Values. 6, 258 288 $293, 009 10 100 618 418, 998 15 043 677 518 401 19 738 093 639 700 28 094 205 968 911 11 118 228 390 942 8 579 707 296 664 BRAZIL. 655 Cotton. — As regards the cultivation of cotton, it is well known that several insuperable draw- hacks to its extension exist in Brazil. Among these, may he named the ravages of insects, the peculiarities of the climate, and the expense and difficulties attendant upon its transportation from the interior to the coast. Many years ago, it was ascertained in Brazil that the cotton- plant will not flourish near to the sea, and the plantations have, in consequence, receded further inland, as well to avoid this difficulty, as to seek new and fresher lands. Tabular statement showing the quantities of cotton exported from Brazil to Great Britain, from the year 1840 to 1855, and also to France, Spain, Portugal, and Belgium, for such portions of that period as can be supplied from official data — blanks indicating the absence of said data. Years. Great Britain. France. Spain. Portugal. Belgium. 1840 Us. 14,779,171 16,671,348 15,222,828 18,675,123 21,084,744 20,157,633 14,746,321 19,966,.922 19,971,378 30,738,133 30,299,982 19,339,104 26,506,144 24,190,628 19,703,600 24,577,952 Us. Us. Us. Us. 1841 1842 1843 1844.. 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 832,604 14, 690 None. None. None. None. 19,991 1850 1851 (a)l,232,000 930,517 631,829 287,802 (a)400, 000 1852 2,291,578 2,351,279 1,896,286 1853 1854... 2,673,766 1,767,445 1855 Aggregate Annual average . 336,631,011 21,039,438 i i i The exportations of cotton from Brazil in 1843-'44 and 1853-'54 are stated, by Brazilian official authorities, as follows : In 1853-'54 28,420,320 pounds. In 1843-'44 26,056,160 Increase in ten years 2,364,160 " In 1851-'52, the exportation amounted to 31,983,050 pounds; of which quantity Great Brit- ain received 26,881,201 pounds, Spain 2,291,578 pounds, Portugal 1,896,286 pounds, and France 889,048 pounds. Of the total exportations in 1852-'53, Great Britain received as appears from the same authorities, 22,575,122 pounds, Spain 2,351,279 pounds, Portugal 2,673,766 pounds, and France 543,611 pounds. The exports to Great Britain from Brazil (a) The figures for these years are derived from the Havre Commercial " Kevue" for 1855. Most of the remaining figures are taken from official returns of the respective countries, which will account for discrepancies exhibited by a comparison with the summary which follows, compiled from Brazilian authorities. 656 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, began in 1781 ; and from that period to the present time, the large bulk — at least four-fifths — of Brazilian-grown cotton goes to that kingdom. Next to the United States, Brazil is the greatest producer of cotton in the western world ; but to show how wide the interval between the two, the following statements, derived from foreign official publications, may not prove inappropriate or uninteresting : Statement exhibiting the importation of cotton from the United States into France and other coun- tries druing the years designated. Vears. France. Great Britain. North of Europe. Other countries. Total. 1845 Bales. 359,357 359,703 241,486 279,172 368,259 289, 627 301,358 421,375 426,728 374,058 Bales. 1,439,306 1,102,369 830,909 1,324,265 1,537,«01 1,106,771 1,418,265 1,668,749 1,736,860 1,603,750 Bales. 134, 501 86,692 75,689 120,348 165,458 72,156 129,492 168,875 171,176 165,172 Bales. 150,592 118,028 93,138 134,476 156,226 121,601 139,595 184,647 193,636 176,168 Bales. 2,083,756 1,666,792 1,241,222 1,858,261 2,227,844 1,590,155 1,988,710 2,443,646 2,528,400 2,319,148 2,244,209 1846 1847 1848 1849 . . 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 The following table designates the ports in the United States from which the exportations given above took place, with the quantities from each port, respectively, to each country speci- fied: Ports from which exported. COUNTRIES TO WHICH EXPORTED. Total. France. Great Britain. N. of Europe. Other countries. New Orleans... - . .. Bales. 193,571 76,752 41,245 6,487 1,965 4,275 49,763 Bales. 813,736 231,230 162,970 92,363 43,086 6,191 245,746 2,279 3,490 Bales. 93,375 14,466 12,641 2,921 2,429 8,001 29,845 1,295 Bales. 135,971 14,515 18,901 670 1,710 Bales. 1,236,653 336,963 235,757 102,441 49,190 18,467 328, 106 3,709 4,962 Florida New York 2,752 135 1,472 Philadelphia --.. BRAZIL. 657 Tabular comparative statement exhibiting the quantities of cotton imported into France from the United States, and from other countries, including Bra&il, with the aggregates, from 1820 to 1855. Years. 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827, 1828. 1829. 1830. 1831. 1832. 1833. 1834. 1835. 1836. 1837. From United Slates. Kilos. 11,630,000 10,155,000 9,500,000 12,196,000 15,749,000 13, 454, 000 21,921,000 21,880,000 21,617,000 25,844,000 23,150,000 22,778,000 27,383,000 28,819,000 31,587,000 32,323,000 36,368,000 36,469,000 From other places. Kihs. 8,573,000 12,432,000 12,072,000 8,158,000 12,281,000 11,213,000 9,993,000 7,804,000 5,758,000 5,995,000 6,110,000 5,451,000 5,253,000 6,791,000 5,348,000 6,437,000 7, 964, 000 7,361,000 Aggregate. Kilos. 20,203,000 22,587,000 21,572,000 20,354,000 28,030,000 24,667,000 31,914,000 29,684,000 27,375,000 31,839,000 29,260,000 28,229,000 32,636,000 35,610,000 36,935,000 38,760,000 44, 332, 000 43,830,000 Years. 1838. 1839. 1840. 1841. 1842. 1843. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1855.. From United States. From other places. Aggregate. Kilos. 43,780,000 34,832,000 48,581,000 50,350,000 52,332,000 56,135,000 54,249,000 56,642,000 60,760,000 42,225,000 43,249,000 60,931,000 54,919,000 53,914,000 66,740,000 70,221,000 67,453,000 71,897,000 Kilos. 7,479,000 5,702,000 4,361,000 5,520,000 4,995,000 3,865,000 4,643,000 4,116,000 3,467,000 3,297,000 1,660,000 3,233,000 4,547,000 4,570,000 5,329.000 4,870,000 4,141,000 4,241,000 Kilos. 51,259,000 40,534,000 62,942,000 55,870,000 57,327,000 60,000,000 58,892,000 60,758,000 64,227,000 45,522,000 44,909,000 64, 164, 000 59,466,000 58,484,000 72,069,000 75,091,000 71,594,000 76,138,000 From the foregoing table it will be seen that the importation of cotton into France, from other countries than the United States, including Brazil, from 1820 to 1855, has fallen off more than 50 per cent.; while from the United States it has increased more than 600 per cent. From the subjoined table, showing the quantities of cotton received by the United States in the course of trade, during a period of five years, from other countries, it will be perceived that none is imported from Brazil : Tabular statement showing the quantities of cotton imported into the United States, in pounds, and countries whence imported, for a period of five years, from 1851 to 1855, both inclusive. Years. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1855. Dutch West Indies. 22,474 130 1,002 Aggregate. Average . - 23,606 4,721 British West Indies. 29,353 6,766 252,892 159,381 1,880,217 2,328,599 465,720 Hayti. 12,000 215,799 196, 127 189,214 613, 140 122,628 New Granada. 110,190 69,838 192,267 185,928 44, 359 Venezuela. 6,010 61,310 415 602,582 120,616 67,735 13,647 Elsewhere. 9,204 145,480 360 3,644 160 158,848 31,769 All countries. 166,757 244, 548 722,628 546,210 2,115,367 3,794,510 758,902 It may be remarked that, with the exception of 42,522 pounds exported to England in 1853 no cotton imported into the United States was exported during the years designated. [83] 658 OOMMEKCIAL DIGESTS. The following statement shows the quantities of cotton produced and consumed in the United States, and the current prices per pound of the same, during a period of eleven years, from 1845 to 1855, both inclusive: [Made up from United States authorities.] Years. BALES OF COTTON— Prices, per lb. Produced. Consumed. 1845 2,394,000 2,100,000 1,779,000 2,348,000 2,729,000 2,097,000 2,355,000 3,015,000 3,263,000 2,928,000 2,847,000 389,000 422,000 421,000 534,000 518,000 406,000 508,000 691,000 671,000 669,000 593,000 Centi. 5.92 7.81 10.34 7.61 6.40 11.30 12.11 8.05 9.85 9.47 8.74 1846 1847 1848 1849 - . 1850 1851 1852 - 1853 1854 -.. 1855 . - Aggregate ^\.vcra^"c 27,855,000 2,632,000 5,822,000 529,000 8.87 RIO DE JANEIRO. The character and extent of the general trade between the United States and Brazil having thus been considered, it is now proposed to consider, separately^ the provinces of leading commercial interest, and to show the movements of foreign trade, in ports which have become depots for the reception .and exportation of their various productions. First in the rank of commercial importance is the province and city of Rio de Janeiro. This province is supposed to be 60 leagues in length, and about 23 leagues in average breadth. It is generally mountainous ; contains many lakes and rivers, none of which, however, are (for any commercial purposes) navigable ; and has several excellent harbors, at one of which, Uha Grande, whale-ships frequently call for the purpose of recruiting their stock of wood, water, and fresh provisions. The comarcas, or districts, into which this province is politically divided, produce sugar, cof- fee, cotton, &c., which are conveyed to Eio by land, or, where there is a communication by water, in lanchas or flat-boats. The city of Rio de Janeiro, the emporium of Brazil, stands on the western shore of the Bahia de Rio de Janeiro^ one of the most magnificent inlets of the ocean in the South Atlantic. The entrance is between two large granite mountains, and is so entirely free from dangers and shoals, that foreign vessels entering do not require the services of a pilot. On entering the bay from the ocean, the More do Castello first presents itself in view, with its tall signal-staff and telegraph, which announces to the custom-house officers in the city the flag, class, and place of each vessel that appears in the ofiing. The anchorage-ground is soon reached, and the officers are immediately in waiting to point out the position assigned to each vessel as she arrives. At all seasons of the year, the flags of the merchant and war vessels of every mari- time power may be seen at this anchorage. Those of the United States, Spain, Portugal, Sar- BRAZIL. 659 dinia, Tuscany, Naples, France, Belgium, Bremen, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, England, the South American republics, and Brazil, are often seen at the same time floating over this mag- nificent harbor. The port regulations require that all vessels shall anchor at sufficient distance apart to swing clear of each other, in all the different positions in which the ebbing and flowing tide may place them. About 56 per cent, of the entire commerce of Brazil passes through the port of Rio de Janeiro. Hither is conveyed^ from all the ports on the coast, from Bahia almost to the frontiers of the Argentine republic, all the produce intended for exportation or home consumption. Farina, beans, bacon, dried and salt meat, hides, horns, tallow, rice, tobacco, sugar, coffee, cotton — in a word, all the produce and manufactures of the different provinces are made tributary, either by land or water conveyance, to the wealth and commercial greatness of the Brazilian metropolis. A numerous fleet of vessels is employed in the coasting trade, in supplying the different ports along the coast with the various productions of the soil and industry of America and Europe. The chief foreign exports from Rio de Janeiro are — coffee (more than half of the whole going to the United States)^ sugar, cotton, hides, tobacco, otter skins, &c. The following tables exhibit the general trade of Rio during several successive periods, made Tip from French official sources : Commercial movement of Bio Janeiro in 1841. Countries. England United States Hanse-to wns France Portugal Austria Uruguay Belgium Denmark Sweden __ Italy, Two Sicilies, and Sardinia Spain Buenos Ayres Netherlands Chili , Other countrieB.- Total in 1841 , Total in 1840 Imports. Exports. Francs. 47,060,000 14,800,000 9,240,000 15,090,000 6,790,000 1,460,000 6,450,000 1,350,000 700,000 1,700,000 2,270,000 2,580,000 2,640,000 540,000 765,000 5,565,000 119,000,000 94,950,000 Francs. 17,850,000 24,210,000 15,890,000 6,510,000 6,440,000 6,250,000 6.50, 000 4,100,000 4,560,000 2,410,000 1,750,000 1,100,000 1,900,000 560,000 800,000 94,980,000 95,440,000 Total. Francs. 64,910,000 39,010,000 25, 130, 000 21,600,000 13,230,000 7,710,000 7,100,000 5,450,000 5,260,000 4,110,000 4,020,000 3,680,000 4,540,000 1,100,000 765,000 6,365,000 213,980,000 190,390,000 Increase in total amount over 1840 = francs 23,590, 000, equal to S4, 387, 740. Tonnage employed in the trade of 1841 : Total vessels, 1,705, of 416,000 tons — of which, from and to the United States, there were 289 vessels, of 77,000 tons. Tonnage, &c., of 1841, compared with that of 1840; 1841 1,705 vessels : 416,000 tonnage. 1840 1,640 " 399,200 " Excess over 1840 65 " 16,800 " 660 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The rapid and steady increase of the fpreign commerce of Rio de Janeiro is better illustrated by the following returns: Commercial movement of Bio de Janeiro in 1846. Countries. Imports. England and possessions United States.- -. France Hanse towns Portugal , Spain . , Switzerland Belgium Uruguay and La Plata.. Sardinia Sweden and Norway Francs. 52,960,000 20,440,000 20,720,000 5,020,000 8,920,000 4,710,000 4,490,000 2, 670, 000 2,180,000 2,050,000 1,740,000 Exports. Franca. 24, 230, 000 38,750,000 9,800,000 13,330,000 6,950,000 1,630,000 4,320,000 1,580,000 2,000,000 2,710,000 Francs. 77,190,000 59,190,000 30,520,000 18,350,000 15,870,000 6,340,000 4,490,000 6,990,000 3,760,000 4,050,000 4,450,000 Africa, Austria, Denmark, Turkey, Russia, the Two Sicilies, Prussia, Netherlands, Chili, and other countries participate in this foreign trade to an extent ranging in value from 6,000,000 francs to 4,000,000 each, roaking the total trade for — 1846 256,640,000 francs = 47,735,040 dollars. 1845 236,800,000 " =44,044,800 " Increase over 1845 19,840,000 " = 3,690,240 " All foreign nations shared equally in the large augmentation which the returns of 1846 ex- hibit over those of 1845. Some of the causes that contributed to this increase have been already adverted to. The true cause, however, to which all others are but auxiliary, is the admitted capacity of Brazil to multiply her staple productions, particularly coffee, to the fullest extent of the foreign demand, if she will only avail herself of the abundant resources with which nature has so bountifully supplied her. The quantity of coffee exported increased 23^764,000 kilogrammes (a). Sugar, on the other hand, diminished 3,096,000 kilogrammes. The exports of coffee, during this year, (1846) were — To England 39,000,000 kilos. United States 38,000,000 " Hanse-towns 10,000,000 " Austria 5,000,000 " France 4,000,000 " Belgium 3,000,000 " Sweden and Norway 2,500,000 " Denmark 2,400,000 " Portugal 1,500,000 " Russia 1,000,000 " Other ports 1,600,000 " 108,000,000 " Value 81,000,000 francs. [a) Each weighing about 2.20 Ihs. avoirdupois. BRAZIL. 661 The course of exchange, whicli varied from 313 to 374 reas per franc, ruled in 1846 at 335 reas per franc, or 18.6 cents — equal to 55 cents per 1,000 reas. The following table gives the number of vessels, and their tonnage, engaged in the trade of 1846, with the countries whence they came: Countries whence. Brazilian ports United States England and possessions. La Plata and Uruguay . Portugal Africa Hanse-towns Spain Franca Austria Belgium Sardinia. Chili Denmark Sweden and Norway Other countries Total in 1846 Do. 1845 , Increase over 1845 . . No. of vessels. 72 366 415 197 218 146 97 102 95 46 39 33 28 22 21 80 1,977 1,762 215 Tonnage. 15, 600 95,600 89,700 45,500 44, 500 28,800 23,800 20,400 19,080 9,300 8,000 6,700 5,850 5,550 4,200 17,460 440, 040 389,070 50,970 Tonnage to and from the United States in 1846: Vessels 366, of 95,600 tons. Tonnage in 1843: Vessels 328, of 76,900 tons. Increase in 1846 over 1843, vessels 38, tonnage 18,700. Summary of the trade of Rio de Janeiro in 1848. Total imports 134,500,000 francs. Total exports 134,080,000 " Total imports and exports 268,580,000 " Tonnage, &c. — Entered 213,900 tons; cleared 191,200 tons: total 405,100 tons; of which, from and to — The United States 89,000 tons. Great Britain 65,000 " Portugal 47,000 " France 18,400 " Other countries 185,700 " Total 405,100 " Course of exchange at Eio de Janeiro in 1848: — 359 reas per franc, or 56 cents (nearlv) per milrea. 662 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The navigation of the port of Kio de Janeiro in 1851 is exhibited in the following table: AERIVALS. Arrivals from foreign porta. Vessels. Tons. With, cars'o for Dort 947 51 28 167 17 237,567 16,158 10,428 49,715 3,479 Other destinations In ballast for foreign countries. Tn ballast for borne Dorts Total in 1851 1,210 1,020 317,347 264,616 Total in 1850 190 52,731 DEPARTURES. Clearances to foreign ports. Vessels. Tons. With products of country 05 i71 285,238 87.427 6 ' 2,488 76 33,490 80 26,053 1 In ballast for foreign countries Total in 1851 1,138 1 434,696 1,080 : 380,671 Total ia 1850 58 1 54, 025 The leading articles imported in 1851 were as follows: Cottons 42,560, woolens 5,488, linens 5,695, silks 1,088, and mixed goods 1,263 packages; codfish 54,602 quintals; coals 42,007 tons; ale and porter 23,704 barrels; flour 283,893 barrels; candles, sperm 90, composition 6,052, and tallow 25,561 boxes; wines, Portugal 14,033, Mediterranean 7,644, and Bordeaux 4,421 pipes; butter 25,561 firkins; cordage 5,480 coils, &c. The produce of the country exported in the same year consisted of: Coffee 2,033,743 bags; hides 147,296; sugar 7,824 cases; rum 3,892 pipes; rice 8,229 bags; horns 256,949; tobacco 28,755 rolls ;(a) rose-wood 36,547 pieces; half-tanned hides 12,744; tapioca 17,737 barrels, &c. The arrivals coastwise in 1851 were 1,935 sail vessels, and 359 steamers, with an aggregate of 221,647 tons; and the departures were 1,863 sail vessels, and 380 steamers, with an aggregate of 225,002 tons. The total imports and exports of the empire in 1851 exhibit an increase of 33 per cent, over the average of the four preceding years. Could Brazil be induced to abolish the heavy export duties which she levies on her staple productions, the increase would largely exceed this figure. The article of coffee alone would, in a short period, fully make up for any deficiency in her revenue caused by the abolition of these duties, in the increased demand for that article for foreign markets. Besides, the stimulus which would in consequence be imparted to that branch of agricultural labor, would present an incidental benefit which could hardly escape the obser- vation of a sagacious legislator. 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This is tlie chief port in Peru for foreign commerce. The aggregate tonnage of Peruvian vessels, belonging to and employed in foreign trade at Callao, in 1852, was 67 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 15,031 tons; in the coasting trade the number of vessels was 181, with a ton- nage of 1*7, 705 tons ; making a total of 248 vessels, and 32,736 tons. Besides the above, there were employed, during the same year, at the port of Pisco, 6 vessels of 1,200 tons aggregate; and at the port of Huacho, (both ports being in the consular district of Callao,) 8 vessels, with an aggregate of 400 tons ; making a total in both ports of 1,600 tons. The total number of Peruvian vessels which entered at Callao (in foreign trade), in 1852, was 150;, with a tonnage of 19,478 tons ; and the number cleared, 157 vessels, with a tonnage of 19,326 tons. The number and tonnage of United States vessels which entered Callao during the same year was: vessels, 69; tonnage, 27,360 tons; and the number and tonnage of those cleared was: vessels, 56 ; tonnage, 23,660 tons. The following comparative table shows the rank which the United States held, relatively with other foreign nations, in the navigation of this port in 1852: Nationality. United States English Frencli Spanish Italian German Chilian Others ENTERED. 69 (a) 2 10 42 9 17 35 40 20 27,360 108,000 16,000 3,500 6,500 13,800 4,400 4,000 CLEARED. 56 260 39 11 20 30 40 20 23,600 151,000 16,200 4,000 8,100 12,400 4,400 600 The following statement exhibits the number and tonnage of United States vessels which entered at Callao during the years specified: Years. Vessels. Tons. 1852 - 2 2 27,360 150,321 168,538 1853 . - - 1854 The general features of commercial transactions Callao, and at the ports of Peru generally, are set forth in a communication of late date from the consul of the United States at that port, as follows: " The most valuable of the articles imported into this consulate are assorted merchandises from England, France, Italy, the United States, Chili, Spain, and Ecuador, viz: Cottons, linens, silks, wines, hardware, &c. From the United States, domestic cottons, furniture, lumber, provisions, &c. " The export trade of Peru consists chiefly of guano, which is sent to England, the United States, France, and Spain, and in smaller q^uantities to Italy, India, and the West Indies. The export was forced during the revolution, and a diminution has taken place under the present (a) Tliis includes the mail steamships. PERU. 695 government, owing to over-supplies in Europe and the United States, and a wish on the part of Peru to raise the price of this article abroad to its consumers. It is valued on board the ships at the islands where laden, at $5 per ton — that is, at the cost attending its shipment. The average rate of freights to the United States during the year past (1855) has been $22 per ton of 2,240 lbs. This much of the product of guano goes into the hands of our ship-owners, who carry nearly all of it to the United States, and part of it to other places, from Callao and the Ohincha Islands. ' ' No prohibitions exist, in fact, upon imports ; but arms and munitions of war are diflficult of introduction during revolutions. Powder is strictly prohibited. The general trade regulations are liberal. Goods lie in bond, at the option of the merchant; paying only, after the first month, storage and labor, until entered for consumption, or else exported abroad, and then no charges further. There are at present no differential or discriminating duties on any foreign vessels or goods. " A quarantine exists in the case of coolies from China, who usually arrive sick; and this district, during the last three years^ has become subject to fatal epidemic fevers, &c. " United States capital is employed in the ice trade, and in repairing ships; in the humbler trades, and in commerce, and upon the public works. The English at present enjoy the largest share of the import and export trade ; but the activity and intelligence of all commercial na- tions are occupied in seeking a share, and the tendency is gradually towards a more equal par- ticipation. " Crude wools are largely exported; but the high duty on them in the United States throws nearly all that trade into Europe, mostly to England, (a) where they pay a nominal duty only. Of late they have been paying good profits. This remark applies, also, to the barks of Peru, and to copper. The bar silver exported all goes to England, because there is no direct steam communication with the United States. " Some supplies of wheat, flour, and other agricultural products, begin to be imported into this consular district from California, such as barley, potatoes, &c. ; and about 2,500 flasks of quicksilver, valued at nearly |100,000, have been imported during this last quarter. Whale- ships, while cruising, call at times for refreshment, and to change their crews. The agricul- tural industry of the country has been obstructed by the liberation of the slaves in 1855, to replace whom Chinese coolies are being imported. Such laborers are also now being emjployed by the government at the Chincha guano islands, near Pisco. The army of Peru employs about 7,000 Cholo half-breed Indian soldiers, the tendency of which polity is to hinder population. There is a perceptible increase in the number of Americans in this consulate — seamen, artisans, and tradesmen, who come to reside. ' ' Nitrate of soda is largely exported — at least a million and a half of quintals annually, valued at |2 per 100 lbs. ; a considerable part of which goes to the United States. Dry and salted hides, and straw hats, are exported in small quantities. " The circulating currency of Peru, representing silver, and now the only money in common use, is below the nominal standard about three-eighths, or 37^ per cent. The rate of exchange fluctuates from five to fifteen per cent, on the dollar. The dollar of Peru, in invoices of export to the United States, is now usually valued at from 80 to 85 cents of United States currency. The Peruvian dollar, of pure silver, not in circulation, is worth about 87^ cents of United States currency. Gold coins of Peru are not now seen in common use. Patriot doubloons pass current at |17, and of late are worth 3 per cent, premium, and but few to be obtained." PAITA. The chief staples of export from the port of Paita are straw (Panama) hats and Peruvian bark. The following summary exhibits the total value of exports from the United States (a) Wool is &ee under the British tariff. 696 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. direct to Paita during the years 1851 to 1853, inclusive, derived from Peruvian official au- thorities : Years. Values. Duties paid thereon to Peru- vian government. 1851 - .- $44,716 C8J- 103,777 82 64,029 22^ $12,622 50i 21,915 88 9,768 27 Per ct. on wJtoh ami. 28 21 15 1852 1853 . . The exports represented hy the preceding figures consisted chiefly of cotton manufactures, manufactures of iron, and assorted sundries. Tlie official navigation returns for this port, for a period later than 1852, are not at hand. There entered from all foreign nations in tliat year 185 vessels, with an aggregate of 61,624 tons; of which tliere were from the United States 42 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 10,256 tons. Tlae direct trade between the United States and this jDort is limited, owing to the facil- ities afforded in the coasting trade between this point and Callao. AEICA. The staple exports from the port of Arica are tin, copper ore, Peruvian bark, and alpaca wool. With the exception of the latter, all these exports are of Bolivian produce. Indeed, the port of Arica is merely a transit port for Bolivian produce and trade. Owing, however, to some misunderstanding between the governments of Peru and Bolivia, which resulted in the imposition by the former, in 1853, of 40 per cent, duty on the produce of the latter passing through tliis port, this transit trade is now conducted through the port of Cobija (Port La Mar), the only port open for foreign commerce in Bolivia. The imports from the United States are cotton domestics, blue drills, chairs, and shoes, on which last-named article a duty of 40 per cent, is levied. IQUIQUE. This port possesses a harbor safe and commodious, and is well protected by the island of Iquiq^ue from the heavy swells which, in the winter season, set in from the southwest. With the exception of a few months during the late revolution in Peru, up to the month of July, 1855, when it was declared a "puerto mayor," Iquique ranked as a "puerto menor," with some extra privileges. The province of Iquique is the great centre of the nitrate of soda trade; and to this article alone it owes it present position. Out of a population of about 15,000, four-fifths are more or less interested in this trade. At the works, the nitrate of soda varies in value from 81J cents to %1 0G:|- per quintal. The rate of carriage to the coast varies from 68J cents to 93;^ cents per quintal. The average rate paid for the article placed on the beach is .$1 Y5 per quintal ; and this price gives the makers a profit of 9|- cents per quintal. Nitrate of soda is always sold deliverable alongside the ship's launch, outside the surf. The merchant has to bag and embark it, which costs him about 21f cents per quintal. Selling it, therefore, at $1 87^, would yield him a profit of 15f cents per quintal. Nitrate of soda is used in the manufacture of sulphuric and nitric acids, and as a fertilizer. Between 1820 and 1830, attempts were made to export it to the United States and England, but the cargoes were unsaleable. Soon afterwards, however, its value became known, and, at this time, the quantity annually exported reaches nearly 4,000,000 quintals. PERU. 697 The following statement will show the total amount of nitrate of soda exported since 1830, when the trade hegan : 1830 to 1834, inclusive 361,385 quintals. (a) 1835 to 1839, " 761,349 " 1840 to 1844, " 1,592,306 " 1845 to 1849, " 2,060,595 " 1850 to 1854, " 3,260,4Y3 Total 8,036,108 Tabular statement exhibiting the quantities of nitrate of soda, in quintals, exported from 1850 to 1854, both inclusive, and the countries to which exported. Countries. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. Australia 7,000 Belgmm 6,447 California 5,242 14,085 96,446 89,609 431,635 14,691 Chili 4,995 87,827 33,630 304,459 40,642 10,654 3,180 154,331 44,671 271,137 26,912 7,399 8,346 60,561 44, 627 360,703 7,879 12,000 150,423 188,258 406,391 10,200 16,138 Germany _ _ _ Holland Italy Sweden _.,_ __.». 4,700 38,436 2,287 6,090 29,647 United States - - 25,130 33,136 9,709 3,178 39,807 58,562 48,555 West Indies . . Peru(North) 3,542 1,495 23,065 1,198 11,418 For orders Total 510,879 599,907 563,276 866,532 719,879 Before Iquique was constituted a puerto mayor, foreign vessels, from any foreign port, could call and anchor, provided their cargoes consisted of nothing hut the following articles: peas, beans, lentils, Indian corn, wheat, barley, nuts, raisins, almonds, cocoanuts, flour, bran, bis- cuit, maccaroni, frangallo, chococa, dried potatoes, fat, butter, tallow, lard, jerked beef, cheese, live and dead stock, salted meats, and all kinds of vegetables and roots, candles and soap, fire- wood, timber for building, coals, bricks, iron, steel, nails^ tools for mines, empty sacks, twine, machines for making nitrate or distilling water. It is now open to general commerce, and will, necessarily, become a port of much importance. Being the most windward of the Peru- vian ports, vessels proceeding from the south, having other goods on board than those above specified, were obliged to go to Arica, the first puerto mayor, and, after despatching at the custom-house there, beat back again to Iquique, at a cost of from five to fifteen days' sailing. The consequence of this restriction was^ that but few vessels entered this port with cargoes di- rect from foreign countries. Another advantage to be derived from making Iquique a puerto mayor is, that it will open a transit trade into Bolivia, and thus render this port an entrepot for an extensive trade with that republic. The distance to Potosi is much less — less, it is [88 ] (a) The quintal equals 100 lbs. Spanish, or 101.44 lbs. avoirdupois. 698 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. stated, by three or four days' journey, tlian by the way of Cobija. The mules would only have to travel 15 leagues without water, and the pass in the Cordillera is equally as I'avorable as by the latter route. TUMBEZ. No vessels except whale-ships are allowed to enter at this port. The privileges to which American whalers are entitled by the 12th article of the treaty of Peru with the United States, have already been stated. The market of Tumbez is supplied chiefly by American whale-ships, which usually import small quantities of American manufactured goods, flour, &c. Other foreign whale-ships must conform to the general regulations of commerce, which allow them to anchor, provided they have on board only the products of the fishery, provisions and supplies necessary for the use of the vessel and crew, and to sell oil and candles to any amount, in ex- change for provisions, free of import duty. The following summary exhibits the number and tonnage of American whaling-vessels which arrived at the port of Tumbez, from August, 1852, to June 30th, 1855: Years. No. of vessels. Tons. 1862 28 57 64 32 7,717 17,379 19,042 9,740 1853 - 1854 1855 (first 6 months) Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Peru, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels ar- riving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. TEARS. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OF IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign pro- duce. Total. Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. 1845 $33,424 833,424 S336. 112 735 496 919 998 5,701 5,100 20,102 29,014 14, 965 158,400 157,232 330 1846 252,599 291 1,208 2,732 5,611 10,332 18,920 5,179 63,246 121,825 85,151 1847 192,978 124,618 93, 195 258,939 249,760 333,794 657,316 651,707 756,323 $34,559 16,731 18,041 16,789 22,338 22,048 40,261 33, 448 114,223 227,537 141,349 111,236 396,223 317,759 446. 953 562 1,419 2,291 7,340 13,519 11,331 37,410 36,685 25,377 1848 1,085 1,293 1,808 5,751 18,075 17,558 21,322 11,977 1849 - 1850 275,728 170,753 272,098 94,733 355,842 694,892 697,577 1 173,441 685,155 1,005,406 870,546 597.618 1851 - - 1852 1853 1854 1855 PERU. 699 aUANO. The vast deposits of guano (a) on the Chincha Islands, alluded to in the commencement of this Digest, form the chief basis of the foreign trade of Peru, especiallj with the United States. It has been deemed not inappropriate, therefore, to append, in detail, such official and other reliable information on this subject as is in the possession of the Department. According to a report made by a commission specially deputed by the Peruvian government in 1853 to survey the Chincha Islands, the quantity of guano in the deposits at these islands was 12,376,100 Peruvian tons, equal to 11,050^068 tons English; the northern island contain- ing 4,189,4'7'7 tons, the middle island 2,505,948 tons, and the southern island 5,680,675 tons. This estimate, if correct, would, at the present rate of exportation — say about 300,000 tons per annum — afford to the markets of the world a supply of guano from the Chinchas for about forty years ; after which period, recourse might be had to the Lobos and other islands. In view of the fact now generally conceded, that land which has been once manured with Peruvian guano, will always require that stimulant, it may be interesting to ascertain what prospect there would be of procuring a permanent supply, sufficient to meet the agricultural wants of the world, at other deposits^ or in other countries, supposing that the efforts of science may not succeed in discovering a substitute for that popular fertilizer. The facts bearing upon this in- quiry are copied or condensed from official reports of the Peruvian government, or from official communications to the Department of State of the United States, and may, therefore, be viewed as generally correct: ABSTRACTS OF EEPOETS AND DESPATCHES, Guano has been found along the coasts of Peru, Bolivia, and Chili ; but the principal deposits are upon the three islands of Chincha, near Pisco, and the Lobos Islands, between Lambayeque and Paita, in Peru. The supply of guano at the Chincha Islands, alone, from whence only the exportation is permitted, cannot be exhausted during the present century at least. The quantity existing at the Lobos is estimated, from a recent survey made by an American engineer, to be not less than 2,000,000 of tons, and of a quality equal to that of the Chincha Islands. Guano is also found in many spots along the coast of Bolivia. Pacquica, in the desert of Atacama, is the principal Bolivian port for shipping it. The guano is, however, so mixed with sand, or so buried and inaccessible, as to be nearly valueless. It is like mining to get it from under the sand, and costs from $11 to $12 per ton to put it on board. The first cargoes sent from there cost about $7 per ton; and only 24,794 tons have been shipped during the last five years, of which 5,916 tons was the quantity exported in 1847. It is becoming daily more scarce and expensive, and may be set down as of little importance, and not likely to interfere with the guano of Peru. The present British contractors with the Peruvian government have also an unexpired contract with Bolivia, under which they hold an exclusive privilege for the further shipment of about 10,000 tons. They pretend that, if the contract were completed, there would be none left. The late Bolivian government, however, endeavored to obtain a small loan on its guano, but no offer was made, upon any terms ; thus showing the little esteem in which the article is held, and how little danger there is, for the moment, of competition with that of Peru, Guano, it may be said, does not exist in Chili ; the small quantity of inferior quality that was found there, on the borders of the desert of Atacama, being exhausted. Concerning the situation and character of the deposits of guano {huaneras) in the republic of Peru: nearly the whole coast of Peru, from the 6th to the 21st degree of south latitude — ^the point at which the river Loa empties its waters into the Pacific — affords deposits of guano of (a) Called himno — a term of Indian origin — by the Peruviana. 700 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. excellent quality, in prodigious abundance, and promising immense revenue. The formation of the islands and cliffs on which the guano is accumulated is generally primitive rocks, composed of granite, hornblende, gneiss, quartz, and feldspar. The guano is found in layers or strata, more or less thick, and in a horizontal direction, though sometimes they are so inclined as to become nearly vertical — a phenomenon which, as in the undulating layers, induces the belief that the foundation has undergone subterranean changes subsequent to the formation of the deposits. As it is observable in some of the deposits, that the guano lies under masses of allu- via from two to three yards in de]3th, containing impressions of marine shells, which, in their turn, are beneath superposed guano, also covered with sand, it is probable that they are of a date anterior to the deluge, or to the partial cataclysms and commotions that the globe has since experienced. The deposits are, for the most part, covered with a top-crust from four to six inches thick, though, occasionally, it is even three or four feet deep — called by naturalists "caKcAe," composed of salt and sand. No experiments have been made to try the effect of this substance upon vegetation, but it probably contains a great proportion of ammonia, and is so intimately connected with the guano, that, although this manure is found in the deposits without the crust, yet the oaliche is invariably an indication of the existence of guano. The color of guano in the deposits varies from white to bright red, passing through the intermediate shades of light grey, dark grey, and brown; the last of which is mixed with excrement of the sea-lion, and is of little use to the agriculturist. The specific gravity of guano seems to be in direct proportion with its color and quality, as the dark grey and reddish are the heaviest. For this reason, it is diffi- cult to ascertain exactly the weight of a cubic vara(a) of guano of different colors. The varia- tion in the experiments having been from twelve to sixteen hundred pounds, it was determined to assign the weight of half a ton to the cubic vara of guano. To facilitate the examination of the guano deposits, it is proper to divide them into three grand sections : the southern, embra- cing the coast from the boundary of Bolivia to Arica ; the central, comprising those between Arica and Callao ; and, finally, the northern, including the remainder between Callao and Paita. SOUTHERN DEPOSIT. Chipana. — The deposit bearing this name is situated in 21° 22' south latitude, and consists of a table rock between 25 and 30 varas above the level of the sea. Its greatest length is 357 varas, by 131 varas in breadth, making a superficies of 46, 767 square varas. HuANiLLAs. — This deposit lies in 21° 18' south latitude. It contains four valleys, or quebradas, in which the guano is accumulated; the superficies is 158,242 square varas, or 3,825,010 cubic varas of guano. PuNTA DE LoBOS. — A Salient point in latitude 21° 6' south is called by this name. It is com- posed of mica and granite. The guano lies in the valleys, or quebradas, in layers, whose mean height is from 15 to 20 varas. The length of the deposit is about fifteen hundred feet. The superficies is equal to 138,579 square varas, or 2,921,580 cubic v^iras of guano. Pabellon be Pica. — The tent-shaped appearance and proximity of this hill to the village of Pica have given it this name. It is situated in 20° 57' south latitude. The guano of this deposit is found in crevices of different depths, the superficies being 240,801 square varas, or 5,950,000 cubic varas. PuEKTO Ingles (English Port) is at a little upwards of a quarter of a mile from the Pabellon, on a small peninsula, the form of which indicates that it was an island in remote ages. The guano in this deposit forms an eminence upwards of 500 varas long, by 250 to 300 varas in breadth, giving a superficies of 159,251 varas. Taking these data together, with the mean height of the bank, the quantity may be estimated at 2,585,020 cubic varas of guano. Islands of Iquique and Patillos. — To the north of the Pabellon and Puerto Ingles, in latitude 20° 46' south, lie the islands of Patillos and Iquique — the latter in the bay of that name. Both (a) The vara equals 38.38i English inches. PERU. ■701 were important deposits in bygone ages, but tbey are now exhausted, and, as they contain only the small quantity daily left by the birds, it is all new. Notwithstanding the scarcity of the accumulation, the farmers of the neighborhood take all the guano away periodically ; and, as the regeneration of the deposits, which, for more than two centuries, supplied the wants of a great part of the country, is thus prevented, it would be well to prohibit all access to these islands, and other islets similarly situated on the coast, so that the birds may resort to them without disturbance, and reserves of manure be created in time of need. PuNTA GrRANDE. — The promontory situated in latitude 20° 23' south, at four leagues' distance from Iquique, is called "Punta Grande," and the guano in this deposit is found in several valleys facing the sea. The nucleus of the locality is composed of quartz, intersected by veins of feldspar, more or less compact, with a calcareous superficies. Punta Grande, being in prox- imity to the Morro of Tarapaca, which is a kind of sandy mountain, the guano in the deposit is covered with heavy layers of sand, so that it would require considerable excavations to obtain it. For this reason, these are called "subterranean deposits;" and it is difficult, on that account, to estimate the quantity they contain. Nevertheless, in the opinion of experienced persons, the amount must be immense. There are many reasons, also, for believing that these deposits were used in the time of the Incas ; and, notwithstanding the extensive excavations made up to the present time, there are many deposits still untouched. The quality of this guano is very fair — the dominant colors being reddish and ashy. Otheb, Deposits. — Besides those already described, there are smaller deposits of white, fresh guano, upon different rocks and points between Iquique and Punta Grande; and at Pisagua, a small landing-place to the north of the Punta, from which the manure is taken for the use of the coast. There are, also, localities belonging to individuals; but the quantity in them is so inconsiderable as not to merit particular mention. The total quantity of guano in the Southern Deposits, or huaneras, mentioned above, may be estimated at 15,842,814 cubic varas, or 7, 921, 407 tons of guano, as exhibited in the following table : Deposits. Cubic varas. Tons. Chipana 561,204 3,825,010 2,921,580 5,950,000 2,585,020 280,602 1,912,505 1,460,790 2,975,000 1,292,510 Huanillas Punta de Lobos Pabellon de Pica Puerto Inglds Total 15,842,814 7,921,407 CENTRAL DEPOSIT. The three magnificent deposits formed on the islands of Chincha, at 13° 32' south latitude — that is to say, at the distance of twelve miles from Pisco — constitute in themselves the middle huaneras; for, although some manure is found on the cliffs of Corredas and Viejos, and on the small island of Ballesta, it is found upon points visibly inaccessible, and the entire quantity does not amount to thirty thousand tons weight. As no one is ignorant that the islands of Chincha form the chief riches of Peru, and that the guano sent to foreign markets is extracted from them, and that the quantity accumulated there is greater than in all the huaneras collect- ively, it is deemed admissible to enlarge somewhat upon the produce of these islands. The Chincha Islands, when compared one with another, differ very little in their general character. They rise gradually from the sea to a point or ridge which is about one hundred varas (or three hundred feet) above the level of the ocean. Their geological structure consists 702 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. of well characterized granite, and the guano is found deposited in parallel layers or strata, varying at times to undulating. The predominant colors are dark grey, light grey, ash colored, dirty white, and reddish brown. The color, however^ does not appear to be indicative of the quality of the guano, as the same fecundating principle exists, whatever may be the color of the coating. Nevertheless, the lighter-colored guano contains the greater (juantity of ammonia. Pure ammonia has been found at the Chinchas, which substance is nearly white. Notwithstanding that nearly all the huaneras are covered with a mechanical crust called ^'cali- che" (calculus), those at the Chinchas are an exception to the general rule, as the guano is pure, even at the superficies ; and the thousands of birds which produced these veins of wealth built their nests in excavations made by them in the deposits. The deposits in question were measured in 1842, by Don Jose Villa, and also by Senor Kivero four years later. The former calculated the quantity at fifty millions of tons ; the latter reduced this estimate by two-thirds ; and to explain the cause of the enormous difference between their calculations, he says : " The mean height of the salient points of the island is ten varas, and of the parts at the greatest distance from the shore, twenty varas; and it is only in the central parts that the depth of the guano is forty vai-as. Senor Villa believed that the amount of the successive cuttings, up to the principal one, was forty varas, whereas it did not exceed fifteen ; and to this he added forty more, for the principal cuttings. A grand mistake; for, admitting it as a probable term on which to base a calculation, it were required that this central cutting should extend in a uniform layer to the very shore, present- ing a depth of eighty varas. And, not content with his hyperbole, he added, that there were points still higher, where, according to his o]3inion, the guano must be 100 varas deep, or more, when the islands themselves are scarcely as high above the level of the ocean!" After making these observations, and adding that he had excavated at the bottom of the deepest cutting only three varas before coming to the rock, Mr. Eivero gives the following as an approximate estimate of the quantity of guano contained in the three islands of Chincha : Northern island 15,200,000 cubic varas = 7,600,000 tons. Middle " 12,900,000 " = 6,450,000 " Southern " 8,400,000 " = 4,200,000 " Total 36,500,000 '' =18,250,000 " This statement, therefore, shows that the islands of Chincha contain, upon a reasonable ad- measurement, at least 18,250,000 tons of guano. NOKTHEBN DEPOSITS. These are, without doubt, inferior to those already described, as they are, for the most part upon small islands, very low, and constantly beaten by the winds from every quarter ; and the layers of guano are usually not very deep, and are frequently mixed with sand. In their pres- ent state, the Northern Deposits would yield barely sufiicient guano to supply the foreio-n demand for a very few years ; but the quality is good, and they have become the resort of the innu- merable clouds of birds which, frightened from the south and centre by the increased commerce along the coast, have taken refuge in those solitary places. This part of the coast is destined to renew the sources of public wealth, when the springs which are used to-day shall be dried up and exhausted. The islands to the north may be divided into four heads, and the Lobos de Sierra are first in importance. The Lobos de Tierea lie 25 miles SW. of Lambayeque, in latitude 5° 6' 30" south. The group consists of one large island, and three (rocky) small islets adjacent to it. The principal island is an immense oval, narrowing towards the centre and north. The rocks are only partially and very unequally covered with guano; the deposits being interrupted by points of rock and ravines. Estimating together all the manure found in different parts of the island, on the point called " Punta Corcobada," and the point opposite the islet "Felix Gonzales," the quantity PERU. Y03 is about 150,900 cubic varas, or 75,450 tons. A higb promontory upon the island is called the "Punta Corcobada," from its peculiar shape. The superficies is extremely irregular, and con- tains a large quantity of whitish guano, apparently of recent formation ; the stratum is not deep, but is of very fine quality. The structure of this locality is very favorable for the accumulation of guano; and as, in addition to this, it is protected from the winds, and as, moreover, the birds congregate to it in greater numbers than to any other place in the section now being described, there is every reason to hope that it will become, in time, a vein of great importance. The superficial extent of the Punta Corcobada is 113,940 square varas, or 224,760 cubic varas, equal to about 112,380 tons of guano. Island oe Bermeja. — At the distance of three hundred yards to the west of the main island, and connected by reefs of rocks which are under water at high-tide, lies the islet of Bermeja, in the form of a spatula. Its length is 495 varas ; breadth, 220 ; height, 30 to 35 varas. It is covered with an abundant deposit of guano, of excellent quality, and has the crust of salpetre, so common in the southern huaneras. The area of the Bermeja is 52,926 square varas ; its greatest depth, 36 feet; and the quantity of guano found therein is about 317,556 cubic varas : equal to 158,778 tons. The Islet of Felix Gonzales is one mile distant from the Punta Corcobada, to the southwest. It is 90 varas long, 70 broad, and 15 varas above the level of the ocean. The guano found on it is of the best quality, from 4 to 5 varas in depth. The area is 6,550 square varas, or 26,200 cubic varas, equal to 13,000 tons of guano. Colorado Islet. — This islet is situated to the southeast of the main island, and is 336 varas long, 180 broad, and 25 to 30 varas above the level of the ocean. The rock is entirely covered with guano, to the depth of 39 feet. The color of the guano, as the name of the island indicates, is reddish ; but towards the centre of it the layers are grey and ash-colored, with a strong odor of ammonia. Immense flocks of birds congregate at the island, to build their nests in the guano and in the caverns. The superficial measure of the guano is 31,510 square varas, or 236,300 cubic varas, equal to 118,115 tons. The result of the admeasurement of the principal island, and the rocky islets lying near it, gives the following as the quantity of guano at the Lobos de Sierra : Principal island 150,900 cubic varas, or 75,450 tons. Punta Corcobada 224,760 " " 112,380 " Isla Bermeja 317,556 " " 158,778 Felix Gonzales 26,200 " " 13,100 Islet Colorado 236,300 " " 118,150 tt Total 955,716 " " 477,858 LoBOS DE FuERA. — Two islands, lying in 7° 3' south latitude, are known by the name of Lobos de Fuera. They are separated from each other by a channel not more than 130 feet in breadth, running NE. and SW. The formation is slate; superficies very irregular. There is an abun- dance of guano, to all appearance mixed with the excrement of sea-lions, (lobos,) which are very numerous. Immense flocks of birds (chiefly divers) frequent the islands. As the northern island is not easily accessible, the public engineer could only survey the southern one. Accord- ing to his estimate, the latter has an area of 292,380 square varas, and the body of guano it contains is 531,486 cubic varas, or 265,743 tons. Islands oe GuaStapb. — These two islands are situated in 8° 36' south latitude, at about five miles from the coast. They are of granite, and rise out of the ocean to the height of 500 feet. The northern island contains guano ; but, being pyramidal in form, great quantities are blown off by the winds. Notwithstanding the periodical loss, there are still about 159,600 cubic varas of guano remaining, or an estimated quantity of 79,800 tons. 704 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Island of Santa. — The island of Santa lies in 9° 11' 5" S., and contains only a few tons of guano of recent formation. Although it may not be interesting at present, it is probably des- tined to become of great importance. According to the reports made by the fishermen who visit this island, the superficies of the island was a bare rock, unfrequented by birds some 15 or 20 years ago. The aspect is different at present. The guano begins to accumulate ; clouds of birds resort to the island ; and its vast area, not long since silent and deserted, will, without doubt, become the centre of new deposits, prepared by Providence for future generations. Island of Fbrrol: Situated in latitude 9° 7' S., of a triangular form, and contains an area of 61,400 cubic varas. In addition to the deposits above enumerated, guano is also found in small quantities on the islands of Malabrigo, in latitude 1° 49' S.; San Martin, or Dona Maria, 11° 4' ; Mazorque, 11° 25'; Pescadores, 11° 46'; LasHormigas, 11° 56'; El Pelade, 11° 35'. The quantities of guano contained in the Northern Deposits is shown by the following table; Deposits. Cubic varas. Tons. Lobos de Tierra - - 955,716 531,486 159,600 61,400 477,858 265,743 79,800 30,700 Lobos de Fuera, or de Afuera.- Guaiiape - Total 1,708,202 854, 101 General table of the deposits of guano. Sections. Deposits. Tons. Total. Soutliem Cbipana 280,602 1,912,505 1,460,790 2,975,000 1,292,510 7,921,407 18,250,000 854, 101 Central, (or on the islands of Chincha).. Northern --.- _--__ Huanillas __ Pnnta de Lobos Pabellon de Pica Puerto Ingles Nortb island 7,600,000 6,450,000 4,200,000 Lobos de Tierra Lobos de Fuera Guaiiape - 477,858 265, 743 79,800 30,700 Total Ferrol 27,025,508 It may be added to the foregoing, that, according to the report of a new commission ap- pointed to examine, survey, and report upon the guano deposits, it appears that there were not more than 8,000,000 tons of guano remaining at the Chinchas in 1854. (a) The Peruvian gov- ernment has not yet officially published this report, but the information has been given in the (a) This estimate, it has been stated, was underrated designedly. PERU. 705 Peruvian newspapers. If the statement be correct, the quantity accumulated at those islands would be only sufficient to supply the demands of the markets of the United States and England for about 20 years, at the present rate of exportation. The following passage, translated from an article in the " Mensag^ro," a newspaper published in Lima, affords interesting information on the subject of guano deposits, of later date : "Mr. Kivero examined, scientifically, the principal deposits of guano known on the coast at that time; and his statements in other researches in which he has been engaged having proved correct, reliance may be placed on his report. Since then, other deposits of importance have been discovered, especially in 'Independence bay,' beyond Pisco, where the quantity is said to equal that of the Ohincha Islands. No regular survey has been made of this deposit, and it is surprising that the government should be so dilatory in obtaining minute information in a matter of such vital importance to its credit, and, it may be said, to its very existence. Making allowance for any exaggerations in the reports, it can be safely asserted that the quantity of guano existing in the deposits on the coasts of Peru is sufficient to supply the demands of foreign markets for a century to come, particularly as it is probable that the day is not distant when the researches of science may discover in other substances a fructifying principle, which will serve as a substitute for this singular product." The guano from the islands of Lobos has been recently analysed by Mr. Eaymondi, an Italian chemist employed by the Peruvian government for the purpose. Annexed is a statement show- ing ibs composition as compared with that from the islands of Chincha, from Patagonia, and from Saldanha bay. The strength and value of guano are estimated by the proportion of am- monia and phosphates it contains. That from the Lobos Islands, therefore, according to the analyses of the three samples, is more valuable for agricultural purposes than that of Patagonia or that from Saldanha bay. It is the policy of the Peruvian government to discredit the Lobos guano, so that it may be kept out of the market until the deposits on the Chincha Islands shall have been exhausted. The samples employed for the analyses were, consequently, taken from neai: the top of the Lobos deposits, and are not a fair specimen of the product of the islands. The lower layers are, undoubtedly, of better quality ; and although, doubtless, inferior to the best from the islands of Chincha, it is still more valuable than any other manure that can be furnished at the same price : Analyses of guano. FROM THE CIIINCHA8. FROM THE LOBOS. FROM PATAGONIA. FROM SALDANUA BAY. By Anderson . (a) By the Kensing- ton Laboratories. By Baymon(li.(t) By Anderson. By the Kensington Laboratories. ■ Water _ 13.73 53.16 23.48 7.97 1.66 9.30 57.30 23.05 9.60 0.75 12.50 22.00 36.90 12.25 12.35 16.50 23.50 41.23 16.27 2.50 13.35 36.65 11.76 36.74 1.50 24.36 18.86 41. .37 2.70 7.56 2.94 2.21 2.69 14.47 7.85 29.54 33.67 14.47 Organic matter and am- moniacal salts - Phosnliates Alkaline salts . , - . Sand ..«! Proportion of ammonia. . 17.00 18.87 4.26 4.35 6.42 0.47 (a) Chemist of the Royal Agricultural Society of Scotland. [89 ] (6) Chemist of Lima. 706 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The following table exhibits the number of tons of Peruvian guano exported to and sold in the United States and Great Britain during the years 1851 and 1852, together with the expenses of agency, freight, &c., and the net proceeds to the Peruvian treasury: Sales of Peruvian guano during the years 1851 and 1852. IN 1851. Tons. Gross proceeds. Expenses. Net proceeds. United States 22,023 88,368 $1,015,485 3,974,590 $472,019 2,126,685 $543, 466 1,847,905 Total 110,391 4,990,075 2,598,704 2,391,371 IN 1852. United States 47, 629 141,966 $2,152,961 6,315,135 $945,918 3,339,995 $1,207,043 2,975,140 Great Britain - Total 189,495 8,468,096 4.285,913 4,182,183 The total importation of guano into the United States during the eight years ending June 30, 1855, was 496,047 tons. The largest importations were fr,om Peru, and the smallest from Africa. In 1854, the importations of guano nearly quadrupled those of any preceding year, and exceeded those of 1855 by 1,88§ tons. The number of American vessels and their tonnage despatched from the Chincha Islands each month in 1853, and each of the first six months of 1854, is stated as follows: IN 1853. Months. No. of vessels. January- - February_ March April May June 5 4 8 18 16 18 Total in six months July- August September - October November December Total in six months Total for the year . . . 19 17 19 30 28 26 Tonnage. 2,265 2,005 4,040 10,878 11,144 10,850 14, 424 10,596 12,825 22,681 15,474 19,953 69 139 208 41,182 95,953 137,135 PEEU. FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1854. 707 Months. January. February- March .. April May June Total No. of vessels. 28 22 11 11 10 9 91 Tonnage. 15,967 16,156 66,471 10,004 7,563 4,552 120,713 The number and tonnage of foreign vessels from the Chinclia Islands to the United States during the same periods, and the countries to which they belonged, is given as follows: IN 1853. Countrieg. No. of vessels. Tonnage. British 25 4 2 1 1 12,934 1,013 1,003 245 400 Dutch Hamburg-..--- _ ... _ Total 33 15,595 IN 1854. ( a) British . 6 1 1 2 1 3,416 262 379 840 545 Swedish . .- Norwegian __.-_-- Peruvian Dutch Total - 11 5,442 SALE, EXPOETATION, ETC., OF GUANO. As the system of exportation and sale of guano is complicated, and not generally understood in the United States, it has been thought proper to condense, from reliable sources, chiefly offi- cial, all the facts relating to the subject which are in possession of the Department. The expense of loading guano at the Chincha Islands is about two dollars per ton, including the' cost of bags for a ground tier in every vessel ; but this cost may increase to a maximum of three dollars, perhaps, as the distance from the place of deposit to the vessel increases. The freights have been as high as thirty dollars per ton ; but the increased navigation in the Pacific, consequent upon the acquisition of California by the United States, has reduced this sum to twenty and fifteen dollars, and even to as low as twelve dollars. The exportation of the article to England first commenced in 1826, but was tried merely as (a) Six months. 708 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. an experiment. It was not until more than thirteen years subsequently that guano was con- sidered an article of commerce ; indeed, it would seem, that even at that period the great import- ance and value of this fertilizer were not well understood by the Peruvian government ; for it appears that the Chincha Islands, and all the guano found upon them, were then sold for the sum of $60,000 — a sale which, had it not been subsequently annulled by judicial proceedings, (a) would have placed the agriculturists of the Avorld at the mercy of an irresponsible monopoly of individual stock-jobbers. The first guano contract was then made with the Peruvian government by the same parties whose purchase of the islands had just been cancelled ; and in less than a year this contract was merged in another made in February, 1842, providing for a loan of $525,000, in consideration of the excMsive privilege of shipping 126,000 tons within five years. In July, 1847', (after the expiration of the first contract,) another was made by the same parties, providing for a loan of $600,000 in cash and $100,000 in scrip (equal to $615,000 in cash)— in all, $700,000 good money — in consideration of the privilege of exporting only to Europe 40,000 tons within six months. In December, of the same year, a third contract was entered into with the same parties who had negotiated the two former, by which, in consideration of the privilege of shipping 100,000 tons of guano, a new loan was effected of $850,000. The principal stipulations of this contract were as follows: The loan was to be paid — $400,000 in cash, and the balance in monthly pay- ments of $50,000 ; the contractors were to enjoy the exclusive privilege of exporting to any or all parts of the world 100,000 tons, register measurement — equal to nearly 140,000 actual measurement. The time allowed for the shipment of the 100,000 tons was limited to eighteen months from June, 1848, allowing an extension of the time (without exclusive privilege) in case a sufficient n.umber of vessels could not be chartered to convey the whole quantity within that period. The guano was to be consigned directly to the contractors in England, or to their agents elsewhere. The guano was to be sold for account of the Peruvian government, the con- tractors being authorized to charge the usual commission and guaranty (about 4 per cent, on gross sales), and an interest of 5 per cent, upon all expenses, including freights advanced in England or elsewhere. The payment of the loan of $850,000, (the pound sterling being com- puted at $5,) with interest at the rate of 1 per cent, per month, is provided for: first, from the balances of account existing in favor of the Peruvian government on the books of the con- tractors, (that is, balances arising from the former contracts;) and second, from the net jDro- ceeds of the sales of guano shipped under the contract; one-fourth part of the net proceeds to be accounted for in the scrip of the government, at par value, with the interest added. This scrip, with the accruing interest added, cost the contractors, it is stated, about 10 cents to the dollar. How much the contractors realized from this contract of December, 1847, cannot well be known. The following estimate, however, has been made : Gross sales of 130,000 tons of guano, at $50 per ton, ($6,500,000,) on which the commission, at 4 per cent., was $260,000 Estimated net proceeds, at $20 per ton, of which one-fourth part was ac- counted for to the government in its own scrip, costing the contractors (with interest added) about 10 cents per dollar, leaving a profit of 90 per cent, on the whole amount — say $650,000 585,000 Probable gain in exchange (at $5 per pound sterling) at least 10 per cent. on total net proceeds — say on $2,600,000 260,000 Total estimated profit $1,105,000 («) The contract was annulled by the supreme court of the republic, under the provisions of an old Spanish law, which gives the power of rescinding a contract to any seller, who, through ignorance or error, has sold his property at less than half its value. PERU. 709 It appears, then, that the total loans on guano, and the numher of tons contracted for, up to the year 1848, were : February, 1842 $525,000, with privilege of 126,000tons. July, 184'7 TOOjOOO " " 40,000 Decemher, 1847 850,000 " " 100,000 (C Total loans 2,075,000 Total guano 266,000 Subsequently to the contract of December, 1847, another was made, by which the consign- ment of all guano shipped to England and the continent of Europe from December 18, 1849, to December 18, 1851^ was conceded to the same parties; and a still later contract was entered into by the Peruvian minister in England, on behalf of his government, guarantying to the London house of Gibbs & Co. the consignments of all guano shipped to Great Britain and the continent of Europe, with the exception of France and Spain, from December 18, 1851, to December 18, 1855. By these latter contracts, loans were made, at different times, amounting, in the aggre- gate, to about two millions of dollars; the last loan of $1,200,000 being at a reduced interest of 5 per cent. In both the last contracts, the London house of Gibbs & Co. were made the agents for the payment of the Peruvian bonds held in England, amounting in 1850, back interest &c., to about |20, 000,000. For the payment of this debt, one-half the proceeds of the guano sold there is now appropriated. The consumption of guano in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe is estimated at about 90,000 tons annually. The first shipment of guano to the United States was made, it is stated, in 1845. In 1846, the Peruvian government contracted for the building of a war steamer, and appropriated the proceeds of 5,000 tons to the payment thereof. In the contract with Gibbs & Co. , of December 22, 1847, it will be remembered that the exclusive privilege of shipping guano to all parts of the world w-as conceded to that firm. This was the first contract by virtue of which guano was shipped to the United States. Upon its expiration (Dec. 18, 1849,) the Peruvian Congress, by an act of January 25, 1850, authorized the Executive to contract for a loan of $384,000, to be paid from the sales made in the United States, and the Minister of Finance advertised for pro- posals. Bids were immediately sent in from five American houses of undoubted responsibility. One of these bids proposed the purchase of 50,000 register tons of guano at the Chincha Islands, at $20 per ton, to be shipped within five years; advancing the loan of $384,000 at 6 per cent, interest, with the usual articles regulating the commissions, exclusive privilege, chartering ves- sels, &c. This proposal, guarantying to the Peruvian government $20 per ton, (all previous contracts not yielding to the government more than $15 net,) was the most advantageous that had been made so far ; yet it was rejected, through the influenee of European competitors, and the loan was advanced by the house of Gibbs & Co., at 6 per cent, interest, to be repaid out of the proceeds of sales in Great Britain. There had been no formal cession, since the termination (December 18, 1849,) of the contract of December 22, 1847, of the right of the market in the United States, until the contract made with Barreda and others. Special licenses have been, from time to time, granted by the Execu- tive to Gibbs & Co. ; and this firm have therefore continued, through their agents, to control the consignments as much as ever. The Peruvian government seems unwilling to enter into any arrangements either to sell at a fixed price at the islands, or that the article should be sold in the United States at a fixed price, and that a sufiicient supply should be always in the market. The countries to which guano is exported from the islands, by virtue of these several con- tracts, are: the United States, Great Britain, France, Spain, the Mauritius, China, the West Indies, and Venezuela. In the United States, the agents are Barreda & Brother in Balti- more, and J. W. Kiley in New York; Great Britain, Messrs. Gibbs & Co.^ who also have the agency in Belgium and Sardinia; for the Mauritius, Kendall & Co. ; for Spain, Murrieta & Co. 710 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. of London ; for China, Sevilla & Co., of Lima. The agency of the West Indies is intrusted to Barreda & Brother ; and that of Venezuela, under a recent contract, to Don Leocadio Guzman, the envoy of that repuhlic in Lima. All these agents are paid commissions, varying from 6 to 7i per cent., for selling guano, freighting vessels, &c. They are also allowed interest, at the rate of 6 per cent., upon all sums of money advanced to the government. These contracts claim a general interest in the United States, as throwing light upon the complicated system which regulates the exportation and sale of guano ; but the contract for supplying the United States themselves, possesses more immediate interest to the consumers in this country, and demands a brief additional notice — the facts and statements being copied or condensed from reliable sources. The contract between the Peruvian government and Messrs. Barreda & Brothers, for the exclusive export and sale of guano in the United States during five years, was concluded on the 22d of August, 1851. According to its stipulations, the agents are entitled to charge six and one-half per cent, commission upon the gross product of the sales, in full for all their services as agents in selling the substance, chartering vessels, guarantees, &c. They are allowed six months to render an account of the different sales made by them ; which term is absolute^ unless good cause can be shown for delay. They are also authorized to charge six per cent, upon all money advanced to the government. The consumers in the United States have complained that the enormous profits which accrue to those interested in the contracts with the Peruvian government for the sale of guano, have combined with other causes in keeping up the high price of the article. The chief ground of these complaints seems to be, that large profits beyond those legitimately incident to these con- tracts are realized in the shape of interest, premiums, &c., which are paid in the first instance by the Peruvian government, but finally fall upon the consumer of guano. These extra com- missions amount annually to a heavy charge upon American shipping, and must necessarily tend to keep up the cost of guano to the consumer. In 1853, for instance, the amount of Peruvian guano exported to the United States, as stated from Peruvian returns, (a) was 137,135 tons register, or about 164,562 tons weight. The freight on this, at $17 per ton, amounted to $2,797,554. Five per cent, on this would be $139,877 70. This added to about $16,000 com- missions, or port agency in Peru, would make a total of $155,887 70 levied as extra commis- sions, not authorized by the contract, as is complained. These facts bear materially upon the consumption and sale of this useful fertilizer in the United States. The interest felt upon the subject has been evinced, as is well known, by large and respectable conventions of citizens concerned in agriculture, which have been held in various sections of the country, and by propositions introduced into Congress, having for their object such legislation as would lead to special negotiations with the government of Peru respecting the mode of exportation and sale of her great staple. (&) No deposits of guano, which will at all compare with those of Peru, seem as yet to have been discovered, although most extensive explorations have been prosecuted; nor does science seem yet to have succeeded, though inventive skill has been tasked to the utmost, in manufacturing a substitute which would supersede the use or lower the price of the Peruvian fertilizer. Indeed, the very latest reports exhibit rather an appreciation in its price, and a large increase in its consumption. (a) The United States Treasury Eeport on Commerce and Navigation for 1853, gives only 25,852 tons; but for 1854, makes the number of tons 1G3,662. (b) As one of the results of these movements, may be named an act of Congress, approved August 18, 1856, "to author- ize protection to be given to citizens of the United States who may discover deposits of guano." BOLIVIA. BOLIVIA. BoLiATiA has an extreme length of about 1,000 miles, and an extreme width of 800, with a short coast-line on the Pacific, at its southwestern corner. Its population is estimated at about 1,500,000, including Indians. It is divided into seven departments and two provinces. Its capital is Chuquisaca. The foreign commerce of this republic is conducted through the port of Cobija, on the Pacific, (the only accessible port in Bolivia,) and the ports of Peru, and amounts annually to about $4,000,000. By virtue of the treaty of June 14, 1856, between Brazil and Paraguay, Bolivia is now opened to an Atlantic market. This treaty grants to the commerce of the world the unre- stricted navigation of the Upper Paraguay. In 1853 a decree was promulgated by the supreme authority of the Bolivian government, declaring free to the commerce of all nations the naviga- ble rivers of the republic, and established as free ports the points which, on their shores, have appeared most advantageous. This decree anticipated the treaty by some three years ; but, as it now becomes operative, as respects the opening of Bolivia to the Atlantic by the waters of the Paraguay, it is given entire, as officially promulgated by President Belzu, at the palace of the supreme government, January 27, 1853: Whereas, 1st. The eastern and western parts of the republic, enclosing vast territories of extraordinary fertility, intersected by navigable rivers flowing to the Amazon and to the Plata, offer the most natural channels for the commerce, population, and civilization of these dis- tricts; and, Whereas, 2d. The navigation of these rivers is the most efficacious and certain means of developing the riches of this territory, by placing it in communication with the exterior, and applying to its waters the fruitful principle of free navigation, as useful to the interests of the republic as to those of the world ; and, Whereas, 3d. By the law of nature and of nations, confirmed by the conventions of modern Europe, and applied in the New World to the navigation of the Mississippi, Bolivia — as owner of the Pilcomayo ; of the tributaries and the greater part of the Madeira ; of the left shore of the Itenes, from its junction with the Sarave to its emptying into the Mamore ; of the western bank of the Paraguay to the Marco del Janree, as far as 26° 64' of south latitude, and 'of the greater part and the left shore of the Vermejo — has the right to navigate these rivers from the point in her territory in which they may be susceptible of it, to Ihe sea, without any power being able to arrogate to itself the exclusive sovereignty over the Amazon and La Plata ; and. Whereas, 4th. This navigation cannot be effected unless the necessary ports are afforded for trade: Therefore, be it decreed — Art. 1. The Bolivian government declares free to the commerce and mercantile navigation of all the nations of the globe the waters of the navigable rivers, which, flowing through the territories of this nation, empty into the Amazon and Paraguay. Art. 2. The following are declared free ports, open to the traffic and navigation of all vessels of commerce, whatever may be their flag, destination, or tonnage. In the river Mamore, Exal- tacion, Trinidad, and Loretto; in the Beni, Eenenavaque, Muchanis, and Magdalena; in the [90] 714 COMMRRCIAL DIGESTS. Piray, Cuatro Ojos ; in Chapare, Coni and Chimore, tributaries of the Mamore, the points of Asunta, Coni, and Chimore; in the rivers Mapiri and Coroico, tributaries of the Beni, the points of Gruanay and Coroico; in tlie Pilcomayo, the port of Magriiios, on the east coast of the Paraguay, La Bahia Negra, and the point of Borhon ; in the Vermejo, the point situated in 21° 30' south latitude, at which embarked, in 1846, the national engineers Ondarza and Mujia. Art. 3. The vessels of war of friendly nations will also be permitted to visit these ports. Art. 4. The government of Bolivia, availing itself of the unquestionable right which the nation has to navigate these rivers as far as the Atlantic, invites all the nations of the earth to navigate them, and promises — 1st. To donate in the Bolivian territory, for the purposes which the law allows, tracts of land, from one league to twelve leagues square, to the individuals or companies who, sailing from the Atlantic, shall arrive at any one of the points declared to be ports of entry, and may wish to found near them agricultural or industrial establishments. 2d. To guaranty the reward of ten thousand dollars to the first steamer which, through the Plata or Amazon, may arrive at either of the above-mentioned points. 3d. To declare free the river-exportation of the products of the earth, and of the national industry. 4th. In due time there will be established and regulated at the above-mentioned points, where it may be necessary, custom-houses for the loading and unloading of merchandise, the govern- ment seeing that the charges for the use of these custom-houses may be as moderate as possible. 5th. This decree will be submitted for the examination and approval of Congress on their next meeting. 6tli. The Minister of State, in the office of Foreign Relations, is charged with its fulfilment, by circulating it, and communicating it to all whom it may concern. A general convention of peace, friendship, commerce, and navigation, between the United States and the "Peru-Bolivian Confederation," was negotiated at Lima, November 30, 1836. Eatifications were exchanged May 28, 1838, and the convention took effect in the United States October 3d of the same year, by virtue of the President's proclamation. Among the stipula- tions, it is provided that favors granted to other nations shall become comrnon ; that commerce and navigation shall be on the footing of perfect equality with the most favored nation, the coasting trade being reserved ; that merchants and others shall be free to manage their own business ; that free ships make free goods, contraband of war excepted ; and that the treaty shall continue in force for twelve years, and further, until the end of one year after either party shall have given notice of its intention to terminate the same. On the 23d November, 1839, after the expulsion of Gen. Santa Cruz from Peru, the Congress of that republic passed an act disavowing this treaty of November 30, 1836, between the United States and the " Peru-Bolivian Confederation." This measure led to much diplomatic correspondence between the two governments; resulting in a new treaty with Peru, of July 26, 1851, super- seding, as to Peru, that of 1836. No new treaty having been negotiated with Bolivia, the obligations of that of 1836 upon the government of that republic will continue for twelve years from the date of the exchange of its ratification, and until the expiration of twelve months after either government has given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the same, pursuant to its thirtieth article. The provisions of this treaty are, therefore, now in force be- tween the United States and Bolivia. The commerce of Bolivia with other nations is not extensive, and the data from which to make up a digest of its character and condition, past and present, are by no means abundant or satisfactory. The subjoined "Statement," communicated to the Department by the minister of the United States to that country, under date October 4, 1854, is, therefore, presented entire, as containing more reliable information upon the resources, trade, and commercial regulations of the republic, than could be elsewhere procured: BOLIVIA. 715 A STATEMENT RELATIVE TO THE CURRENCY, COINAGE, COMMERCE, AND PRODUCTIONS OF BOLIVIA. Currency, and Coinage. — The annual coinage is about $3,000,000, the largest part silver. Gold ounces and silver dollars are the only coinage of full value ; the remainder is in halves, quarters, eighths, and sixteenths of dollars, with alloy, and short weight ; intrinsic value, ahout 65 per cent. This small coin forms the chief currency of the country, and circulates largely in Peru, where it was freely sent and received in payment for goods previous to the interdiction of traffic and transit, resulting from the declaration of war by Peru. The government pro- hibits the exportation of uncoined gold and silver, and purchases it from the mint, paying, previous to the interdiction, one-half in ounces and dollars, and the other half in small coin; but now paying all in small coin. Previous to the interdiction, it imposed an export duty on ounces and dollars of 6 per cent.; email coin, free ; a mint duty of 12 per cent, on ounces and dollars, and they are but rarely issued at that rate. The exportation of all coin is now pro- hibited to Peru. No prohibition by Cobija ; but the coin of full value cannot be obtained for ex- portation, and the small coin is worthless for that purpose, except for Peru. Much of the gold produced is smuggled out of the country uncoined. No paper-money is issued or circulated in Bolivia. There is no copper coinage ; the smallest coin being silver — one-sixteenth of a dollar. Imports. — The foreign goods consumed and used in Bolivia are all imported by the Bolivian port Cobija, and the Peruvian port Arica, (a) both upon the Pacific, and their principal points of reception, for sale and distribution, are Potosi, Sucre, Cochabamba, La Paz, and Oruro. To these points the distances in leagues, from the two ports, Cobija and Arica, are as follows: Ports. Potosi. Sucre. Cochabamba. La Paz. Oruro. Cobija . 170 180 200 192 210 154 220 95 170 114 Cochabamba, La Paz, and Oruro receive all their goods from Arica, except unbleached shirt- ings, wines, and liquors; these come by Cobija, on account of the higher duties by Arica. Potosi and Sucre receive seven-eighths of their goods from Cobija. The whole annual imports are about |4, 000, 000 value on the coast, excluding duties and in- ternal freights, viz : English goods $2,250,000 French goods 800,000 United States goods 750,000 German and Belgian goods 200,000 Total 4,000,000 This amount is supposed to be received for sale, at the various points, as follows: Potosi $750,000 Sucre 750,000 Cochabamba 1,000,000 La Paz 1,300,000 Oruro 100,000 Santa Cruz 100,000 Total 4,000,000 (a) The port of Iquique, being now declared by the Peruvian government a puerto major, will attract a large share of commerce destined for Bolivia j the route opened by this port being shorter by from five to fifteen days' travel. 716 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The importations from the United States are put down at $750,000, but have been estimated, by many intelligent merchants, as high as $1,000,000. They consist chiefly of coarse cottons, such as grey domestics; plain and twilled drillings; blue and white denims; mixed, blue and white, and bleached shirtings, called here "'tocuyos," as also are the grey domestics. Duties on imports introduced by Arica. Clothing, and men's boots and shoes, 30 per cent.; perfumery, clocks, playing cards, cigars, women's shoes, caps, and bonnets of all classes^ iron and brass bedsteads, sofas, mirrors, lamps, candlesticks, chandeliers, gold and silver lace^ and all kinds of haberdashery, and all other articles not enumerated in this class, 20 per cent.; woolens, silks, and linens, 15 per cent.; all cotton goods, except tocuyos or cotton shirtings, VA per cent.; tocuyos 40 per cent.; earthen- ware, glassware, glass, and writing-paper, 8 per cent.; silver and gold plate, jewelry, and watches, 6 per cent.; books, 2 per cent.; quicksilver, musical instruments, (except guitars,) agricultural implements, and for the arts and trades, free. Liquors, wines, &c., pay duty to Peru, as if intended for consumption there. Duties on imports introduced by Cobija. Men's shoes and boots, clothing, saddles, hats, tocuyos or cotton shirtings, 20 per cent.; all kinds of liquors, wines, &c. 18 per cent.; perfumery, clocks, playing cards, cigars, women's shoes, caps and bonnets, iron and brass bedsteads, sofas, mirrors, lamps, candlesticks, chande- liers, gold and silver lace, all kinds of haberdashery, and all other articles not enumerated in this class, 10 per cent.; woolens, silks, and linens, 8 per cent.; cotton goods, except tocuyos, 5 per cent. ; earthenware, glassware, writing paper, silver or gold plate, jewelry, and watches, 3 per cent.; quicksilver, iron not manufactured or wrought for manufactures, musical instru- ments, (except guitars,) implements of agriculture, the arts, and trades, carriages, printing- presses, types, &c., printed books, (except the 2 per cent, for the library,) free. Specific duties on imports, both by Arica and Cobija. Description of merchandise. Celforjas, (saddle-bags) . Sugar- Boots Bootees, for raen for women Trunks Nails - - Locks and keys Cigar^ Wax Sperm candles Bridles or bitts Matches Saddle frames Quantities. pair ... arroba . dozen.. -do. ...do... pair ... pound . dozen.. 1,000.. airoba . dozen.. ...do... gross . each - . $2 50 50 6 00 4 00 1 50 5 00 1 50 2 00 1 00 2 00 1 50 2 00 2 00 Description of merchandise. 'Galoona Caps of fur. of silk or straw for children . Horse-shces Toys of all kinds Picklocks Pataeas, (trunks of hide) . Gunpowder Saddles Hats Hat-bodies Shoes for women, for men ounce . . each .do.... ..do.... dozen., box ... dozen., pair ... pound . each. . . ...do.. -do. dozen. ...do.. SO 50 1 00 1 50 60 4 00 15 00 1 50 2 00 50 6 00 2 50 2 00 1 50 3 00 These specific duties are added for the declared purpose of protecting similar articles produced in the country. The high duty on tocuyos is for the same purpose. No transit duty through Peru ; the custom-house charges amounting to about 2 per cent. The higher duties, by Arica, are for the purpose of encouraging commerce through the Bolivian port Cobija. All the fore- going rates of duties took effect in November, 1849. On the 26th of June, 1854, 5 per cent. BOLIVIA. 717 ad valorem was added to the rates by Cobija, to meet the present wants of the government ; but it is thought they will be continued. All the ad-valorem duties are upon the value of the goods at the Pacific ports, thus excluding internal freights. The duties on all goods by Cobija are adjusted and paid there, for which bonds are received, payable one-half in thirty, and the other half in one hundred and twenty days. Payment may be made, two-thirds in the small coin, and the other third in government scrip, issued for a contingent reserve from salaries, worth from 25 to 50 per cent. The duties on goods by Arica, for La Paz, are adjusted and paid at La Paz; and on those for all other points at Oruro. During the last year (1853-54) transit and commerce through Peru has been entirely interrupted by the interdiction; and, conse- quently, the rates of duties and regulations for the introduction of goods by Arica are at present but nominal. Port Charges. — At the port of Cobija, there are no pilots or wharves, and consequently no pilotage or wharfage is required ; but it is necessary to pay a mole due and tonnage duties — the rates or amounts not ascertained. Passports. — Before entering the interior of Bolivia, passports from the government are required, and are frequently refused. The regulations relative to landing at the port are not known. Exports. — It is with great difficulty that an opinion is formed, or estimate made, of the exports of the country; the amount of the imports has, therefore, been taken as the value of the exports. It is safe to estimate that, for a series of years, the whole annual coinage ($3,000,000) is exported, as there is no perceptible increase of the currency; and that amount^ added to the value of other articles known to be exported, is a strong evidence that the imports are not overrated: Coin, silver dollars, and gold $1,400,000 Peruvian bark 700,000 Copper (from Conocono) 300,000 Gold, in dust, (contraband) 300,000 Tin (from Oruro and Potosi) 30,000 Cheese, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, and wheat, (for Peruvian consumption) 70,000 Small coin (to Peru) 1,200,000 Total 4,000,000 Since the interdiction, exports have been almost entirely interrupted — the coinage of gold and dollars having been, in a great measure, discontinued; the small coin being of no value for exportation, except to Peru, where it is now prohibited ; and the Peruvian bark and copper being produced too far from Cobija for transportation to that point. With the exception of gold and silver, there are no duties on exports. The government purchases from the producer, and sells the Peruvian bark, making to itself an entire monopoly in that article. Vegetable Productions. — Bolivia lies entirely within the tropics, and its variation of climate arises, chiefly, from the great elevation or depression of various portions of the country. The leading characteristic of the Andes range, extending from north to south through Bolivia, is that of a vast elevated plain from eleven to twelve thousand feet high, from which, as their base, arise mountains, at some points isolated masses, and at others assuming the form, more or less distinct, of mountain ranges, especially upon the eastern and western exterior of the plain. The western frontier of Bolivia is upon this elevated region, except where a narrow strip extends to the Pacific between Peru and Chili. The eastern line of the Andes is exceed- ingly irregular and indistinctly mai'ked; at some points, spurs extending far into the river- basins, and at others, valleys following up the courses of the streams, make deep indentures. The high, cold portion of Bolivia is supposed to be at least one-third of its territory. 718 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. All tlie minerals of the country, except the gold, are found in these elevated regions ; and many of the gold deposits are in the streams in their immediate vicinity. There, too, is a large proportion of the population of foreign origin — the mines having heen the chief inducement to the early settlement of the country. Agricultural improvement and culture have always heen a secondary ohject, and have only been induced by the demand created in the mining districts. The vast plain of the Andes, before referred to, is too cold to bring to perfection any of the ordinary vegetable productions, exce23t potatoes. Barley is grown, but the seed does not mature, and it is used in the straw as food for animals. The sheep (llamas and alpaca) are found there in great numbers, (the latter avoiding a warm climate;) some horses and cattle of an inferior quality and size, and mules and asses wherever they are required for transportation. Conse- quently, the agricultural wants of the high country are supplied from the warmest valleys, which induct themselves within the line of the mountain range. These are frequently found furnishing all the tropical productions, within sight and within a few leagues of perpetual snow. It results, therefore, that a large proportion of the population which may be regarded as civil- ized, or of foreign and mixed descent, occupy the Andes plain, extending themselves only so far into the adjacent valleys as the agricultural wants of that plain require. To this general rule of settlement and occupation, there are some exceptions. Sa,nta Cruz, in the eastern half of Bolivia, near the Eio G-rande, is a town of some importance, in the heart of a vast, rich, agri- cultural region. This town was originally settled as a penal colony of Spain; but it flourishes •now, from its favorable location furnishing to western Bolivia sugar, rice, tobacco, cotton, coffee, chocolate, &c. Other, and perhaps frequent, exceptions exist, where towns were built up beyond the described region of ordinary settlement, by the Jesuits, in the early days of Spanish occupation, and, since their expulsion, have continued as ports of traffic with the Indians. But, with these exceptions, the vast river-basins of Bolivia — nearly two-thirds of its territory — are still unoccupied and uncultivated, except by Indians ; and many tribes of them are not subject to its civil or ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Semi-civilization, or the jurisdiction of civilization, is supposed to have receded since the expulsion of the Jesuits. The agricultural capacity of this region may be judged from the following list of products found upon the borders of the Bolivian rivers supposed to be navigable — viz: the Beni, Guapore or Itnes, Magdalena, Piray, Eio G-rande, Mamore, Sicure, Chapare, and Chimore: Cocoa is produced by cultivation, 1,000 arrobas (25 pounds each) for home consumption, and may be increased at will. In a wild state it grows in the greatest abundance, and may be gathered at little expense. It is considered of very good quality, especially in Yaracaras. Its ]3rice on the borders of the rivers is $1 50 an arroba. Coffee, very much appreciated for its qual- ity, is but little cultivated ; grows wild in abundance ; any quantity may be gathered. It is exported to the Peruvian coast in small quantities, where it is preferred to the Mocha. Cotton^ white and yellow, (the latter of a very rich shade and beautiful lustre,) very little cultivated; both abundant in the wild state, and of good quality. The Indians use both in manufacturing their dresses of many colors, which they produce by using rich dyes found in the country. The cotton is worth, with the seed in, from 50 cents to |1 an arroba. There are no machines for separating the seed. Tamarinds, very abundant, worth from fifty cents to a dollar per arroba. Eice, very abundant, worth from eighteen cents to twenty-five cents per arroba. Sugar-cane, cultivated on a small scale ; it is very sweet, and any quantity may be produced. There is no machinery for manufacturing sugar. Ginger may be cultivated to any extent. Tobacco — of the best quality — perhaps, not inferior to the Havana, when cultivated; wild, very abundant, — but inferior, may be produced to any extent by cultivation. The foregoing productions were introduced into the country, and very generally cultivated by the Jesuits ; when they were expelled, their cultivation was in a great measure abandoned, and they have since grown in a wild state. Spontaneous productions. — Indigo is not cultivated, but is found wild in great abundance; earsaparilla, sassafras, and ipecacuanha exceedingly abundant. BOLIVIA. 719 Borders of the Beni. — Copaiva and other balsams, abundant; India-rubber exceedingly abundant, and no value attached to it; raisins of all kinds very abundant; also gum-lac; timber of various descriptions (some varieties said to be of good quality for ship-building); cabinet-woods abundant, and beautiful; dye-woods, gums, and drugs, of great variety; nutmegs, different in form from the common article, being oblong; almonds of large size, and very agreeable; cin- namon very abundant ; Peruvian bark, very abundant, can oe delivered on the borders of the rivers for $15 per cwt,, exclusive of the duty to the gove nment, which is now |20 per cwt.; sucupira, a febrifuge, regarded in Bolivia as better than Peruvian bark, very abundant ; tar very abundant, as also vanilla ; a material for cables, ropes, and cordage, (the bark of a tree, and described by some naturalists as being as durable and strong as the Eussian hemp ;) cocoa- nuts very abundant; straw, for hats, resembling the Tuscany; tropical fruits in great variety. In addition to these vegetable productions, are gold, wax, honey, tortoise, cattle, horses, hides and horns, and skins of wild animals (tigers, wolves, &c.); and there may be added, also, as productions of the high regions, skins of the chinchilla, and wool of the llama sheep and alpaca. The foregoing statement of the currency and coinage, commerce, and productions of Bolivia, is made from facts and data obtained from the best informed and most reliable persons in the country ; the estimates and statements from the various sources having been compared, and carefully corrected when varying. It may, therefore, be regarded as approximating to the truth, though, perhaps, not in every instance fully accurate. No statistical tables or documents can be obtained. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Bolivia, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. YEARS. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OF IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Total. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. Entered tlie United States. Cleared from United States. 1845 1846 1847 • 1848 209 1,041 846 383 209 189 887 189 646 277 170 487 1,280 254 169 125 370 129 1849 1850 1851 1852.... 1853 1854 $210,705 41,572 $210,705 41,572 225 1855 657 CHILI. [91 ] CHILI. The Kepublic of Cbili(a) is divided, politically, into provinces, departments, sub-delegations, and districts, and comprises an area of 249,952 square miles. The following tabular statement, exbibiting the names of the provinces, the number of de- partments, sub-delegations, and districts, and that of the inhabitants in each, is compiled from a "Memoir" recently prepared and published by Senor Doi; Manuel Carvallo, Chilian minister at Washington : Names of provinces. No. of de- partments. No of sub- delegations. No. of districts. No. of inhabitants. Ataca>iiiai .. 3 5 6 4 3 3 2 6 8 3 10 25 58 41 46 19 23 19 36 61 14 24 82 227 242 235 111 90 46 154 301 48 110 35, 000 98,000 110,000 227,000 90,000 175, 000 81,000 170,000 190,000 33,000 60,000 Aconcagua - Talca Chiloe Total 62 366 1,646 1,269,000 From the same "Memoir" is chiefly derived the following description of the physical geogra- phy and resources of Chili : The Central or Andine valley constitutes the most fertile portion of the republic, and re- quires only good roads and thoroughfares to enable its products to reach a market and defy competition with those of any other soil. Wheat yields sometimes 100 percent., but ordinarily from 50 to 70; maize, generally, more than wheat ; and so with every kind of grain . Hemp is not inferior to the best European ; linseed grows wild, especially in the province of Valdivia. The vine, as abundant and as excellent as the European, is found from the northern province of Copiapo, as far south as that of Concepcion, and will produce all the varieties of the foreign wines when the Chilians give due attention to the manufacture. Vegetables of all kinds^ and especially the succulent bean, the varieties of which are numberless, furnish the laboring cla.sses with a wholesome, cheap food, preferred by them to beef; while it has been fully demonstrated by the naturalist Gay that Chili is the country of the potato. The fruits and plants of all re- (a) The name Chili is the Bound uttered by a small bird very common in the country, and was probably given to it by the earliest tribes dwelling there. 724 COMMEKCIAL DIGESTS. gions grow abundantly iu Chili in the open air ; but the culture of some, as the cotton-plant and the sugar-cane, has been abandoned because of their unproductiveness. Nature has been equally prodigal in the mineral kingdom of Chili. Gold is found in its mountains, as well as in the plains and valleys, and is mingled with the sands of many rivers and torrents ; and the silver ore of Chanarcillo and Tres-Puntas has dimmed the reputation, of the mines of Potosi. In copper. Chili has no competitor in the world, and its abundant ore is not sel- dom enriched by having in its composition nearly one-third of gold. To these three metals, and to the lead and tin, sufficient for home consumption, the mining industry of Chili is, at present, directed ; but the investigation of naturalists has sufficiently demonstrated that quicksilver and iron, rich marble, jasper, alabaster, agate, jet, sapphire, porphyry, loadstone, rock-crystal, Dulphur, coal, and slate might be made inexhaustible sources of wealth to the country. Chili, during the last twenty-five years, has been rapidly advancing in commercial import- ance. Prom an insignificant village, Valparaiso, her chief seaport, has risen to the importance of a great commercial city, which, notwithstanding its constantly increasing improvements, is almost too small, at the present day, for the accommodation of its crowded population. Its imports in 1838 amounted, in value, to about |8, 000, 000 ; in 1840, to about $13,000,000; and in 1843, to about $18,000,000. In its export trade, its progress has been no less striking. Less than twenty-five years ago, five vessels exported, each year, the whole produce of the coast. In 1844, the number reached nearly 400 ; while the ofiicial Balanza for 1850 exhibits a total of 391 vessels, measuring an aggregate of 108,140 tons, employed in the export trade of Valpa- raiso during the first three months of that year. During the same period, there cleared from the other open ports of the republic 115 vessels, with an aggregate of 36,217 tons. During the year ending the 30th April, 1853, the number of vessels entered and cleared at this port was 2,2Y4, with an aggregate of 708,566 tons; of which number of vessels, there entered 1,161, measuring in all 384,197 tons, and cleared 1,113, with an aggregate of 324,369 tons. The commercial expansion of Chili would, no doubt, exhibit still more remarkable results, could that republic remain unaffected by the civil disturbances and commercial changes which have so often convulsed the political, and crippled the commercial, condition of Peru. Of late years, however, these have become less frequent; and the happy effects are already visible in the augmented prosperity of both these neighboring republics. The revenues of Chili have augmented in a ratio equal to the increase of its commercial pros- perity. Its foreign debt is yearly curtailed, and the interest on it paid with such punctuality as to have raised the 6 per cent, stock in London to 108. This debt, contracted during the war of Independence, consisted, originally, of a loan raised in England of £1^000,000. Owing to civil wars, and the generally unsettled state of the country, the debt, with the accruing interest, soon doubled itself. Under the administration of Secretary Rengifo, (in 1830,) a compromise was effected with the English creditors, and its terms have since been faithfully adhered to. In 1852, this debt was reduced to $7,104,000 — one-half at 6 per cent., and the remainder at 3. The home debt has been reduced to less than $1,500,000, bearing 3 per cent, interest. The merchant marine of Chili has also shared in the general prosperity of the republic. Steam-vessels can at all times obtain coal in the greatest abundance, and of an excellent quality, from the mines of Talcahuano, and at many points along the coast. With such ad- vantages for the active development of her physical and commercial resources. Chili has long since drawn to her ports the merchants of the great industrial and commercial nations of the world. Among these, England, France, Germany, and the United States are the chief com- petitors for her foreign trade, (a) England.— The general commerce of England with Chili, imports as well as exports, repre- (a) As these sheets go to press, it is announced that the Congress of Chili has approved a contract for establishing a railroad from Concupcion to Talcahuano ; and that the Admiral of Chili is superintending thr construction of a number of steamers at London for his government, intended to ply between London and Valparaiso and the ports of Chili and Peru ■ the first steamer of the line, measuring 1,000 tons, being nearly ready to start. CHILI. 725 gents an annual value of about $9,000,000. This figure has varied but slightly during a num- ber of years, owing, in a great measure, to the brisk competition of Germany, France, and Switzerland, especially in the importation of such description of merchandise as had been ex- clusively supplied by England, in the earlier period of Chilian foreign comnjerce. Cotton and woolen textiles, and cheap silks, constitute the chief imports in which England has long main- tained a first rank. In the various descriptions of pure silks, England has been forced to yield to Germany, Switzerland, and France. Germany and Switzerland. — The exports of these countries are cleared from the port of Ham- burg. They have augmented largely during the past ten years, owing mainly to the improved system and the great progress of manufacturing industry in the States of the ZoUverein, which enable them to supply textiles of wool and silk at low prices. They have, besides^ succeeded in the manufacture of imitations of the costly patterns of Lyons and Mulhouse, which they send to Valparaiso, as well as to the other leading ports of South America. Swiss silk manufactures are likewise in high repute in the market of Valparaiso, both for home supply and for transit trade. Naples satins of every description, velvets, plain and figured, serge, taifetas, fine stuffs for under-garments, silks and brocades, silk handkerchiefs, bonnets, buttons, textiles of common and merino wool, and coarse cotton stuffs, are the usual German manufactures which are exported to Chili, to the amount, annually, of between two and three million francs. France. — The commerce of France with Chili consists chiefly in the exportation of textiles of cotton, wool, silk, and sundries. Of the latter, paper, particularly ornamental paper of various patterns, is an article in great demand, not only in Chili, but in South America generally. In other descriptions of merchandise, such as playing cards, finely finished skins, mirrors, and jewelry, French commerce has had to contend with similar low-priced articles from the German States. French glasswares, however, still maintain their superiority in the Chilian markets, and are in higher repute than those of Germany or Belgium. The earthenware of Bordeaux is considered equal to that of England ; but France does not compete with England and Belgium in that article, owing to its large bulk and small freight. French porcelain is, however, in brisk demand. Spain. — Immediately after the acknowledgment by Spain of the independence of her ancient colony, the ports of the republic were thrown open to her fiag, and their ancient commercial re- lations were at once renewed. This has opened a considerable competition with the other Eu- ropean nations in supplying the Chilian markets with liquors, wines, table oils, dried fruits, silks, iron, mercury, and other Spanish productions. This competition has been felt- more especially by France, under whose flag these productions of Spain had been previously imported. Besides the preference given to the national flag, in the exportation of Spanish produce to Chili, it is stated that Spain receives the largest bulk of cocoa produced in Equador. Her vessels em- ployed in this trade take out freight to Valparaiso and other South American ports, and then call at Guayaquil for homeward cargoes. Peru. — The navigation and trade of Valparaiso with Peru are at all times active. The vessels of both countries transport to Peru flour, charqui,(a) and other products of the country; and carry back, chiefly, rice and raw sugar. Foreign vessels also touch at the Peruvian ports, deposit such portions of their cargoes as remain from the Chilian markets, and take in return cargoes, chiefly of cotton, saltpetre, and guano. Bolivia. — This republic, possessing but one seaport (Cobija), which is not very favorably situated for the introduction of foreign merchandise into the interior, conducts such of its foreign commerce as is destined to supply that portion of the republic which comprehends its capital (Chuquisaca) and Potosi, through the port of Valparaiso. The foreign trade of La Paz, in the northern part of the republic, is supplied, to some extent, from Valparaiso ; but the port of Arica, in Peru, is the great depot of transitage for that part of Bolivia. French silks and cali- coes, representing in value nearly 2,000,000 francs, are annually forwarded to this republic through Valparaiso. (a) Beef cut into small pieces and dried in the sun. 726 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. United States. — The United States has ranked next after England and France in the foreign trade of Chili; but, since the incorporation of California as a State of the American Union, the first rank in this trade is now assigned to the United States flag. This trade consists in the exportation of cotton textiles, flour, salted provisions, and miscellaneous cargoes. The article of cotton manufacture called tocuyos is much demanded in Chili, and, until lately, imported from the manufactories of England exclusively_, is now supplied by the United States, and con- stitutes a leading article of trade. Besides the countries whose commerce with Chili has been thus sketched — the facts having been derived from French authorities(a) — this republic has also considerable trade with several other European and South American nations. From Belgium she receives cigars, refined sugar, woolens, window-glass, gin, cheese, paper, and books; from Central America, bastard pearls, hides, indigo, cochineal, sugar, sarsapiarilla, dye-woods, cotton, and cofi^ee; for which she sends, in return, from the warehouses of Valparaiso, textiles of cotton calicoes. Brazil sends no vessels to the ports of Chili ; but there is some trade carried on between the two countries under the Chilian and foreign flags. Neither has Mexico any direct trade with Chili; but Hamburgian and English vessels annually supi^ly the port of Mazatlan with valuable cargoes of European merchandise taken on board at Valparaiso. Owing to the restrictive character of Mexican commercial regulations, this trade is mostly contraband. From the summary thus given of the foreign trade of Chili, it will be j^erceived that Valpa- raiso is the chief port of transit for the commerce of all the republics of South America. The manufacturing industry of the southern provinces of Chili has made but little progress. There is but one establishment worthy of being specially noticed — namely, a copper foundry, which at the commencement of 1846 was in active operation ; and from which, that year, were exported to foreign countries 4,000 quintals of its productions. The ore was supplied from the ports in the northern parts of the republic, and even from the Bolivian port of Cobija. Chili is, however, essentially an agricultural country. Independently of the working of the mines of gold, silver, and copper, and the casting of these metals, almost all the mechanical industry of the republic is to be found in the flour-mills, the tanneries and currying establishments, and the tailoring shops, where the ponchos or mangosih) are made. There are, besides these, some establishments for the manufacture of candles and common soap. Still, there is but little probability that the manufacturing industry of Chili, at least for a great many years to come, will present any com- petition with the manufactured productions imported from Europe and the United States. The following statement exhibits the general commerce between Chili and foreign nations from 1844 to 1847, both inclusive: Tears. Imports for con- sumption. Exports. Total. 1844 1845 1846 1847 Annual average $8,596,674 9,104,764 10,149,136 10,068,849 $6,087,023 7,601,152 8,115,288 8, 442, 085 $14,683,697 16,705,916 18,264,424 18,510,934 9,479,856 7,561,387 17,041,243 The total value of Chilian commerce for 1847^ based upon valuations which are considerably above the true market price, amounted to §18,510,934^ of which $10,068^849 was for imports, and $8,442,085 for exports, exhibiting an increase over 1844 of nearly 25 per cent. Looking at the population of Chili, which is estimated at from 1,100,000 to 1,300,000, its commercial prosperity is, says a French statis'tical writer, proportionally greater than that of (o) Annales du Ck)mmerce Ext^rieur. (b) A short circular cloak, having a hole in the centre to admit the head. CHILI, 727 many of -the old commercial countries of Europe, and almost equal to that of some of the first rank. The foreign commerce of France, in 1847, was equal to 75 francs per head of its popu- lation ; while that of Chili, the same year, gave over 71 francs per head. The duties levied on imports in the ports of Chili, on the total given for 1847, represented 11 per cent, on the whole amount. At Valparaiso, about i^ of these duties were collected ; this being the most important port of the republic. The following statement exhibits, the principal countries which participated' in the foreign commerce of Chili in 1847 — for which year full returns are at hand — and the share assigned to each: Countries. Imports. Exports. Total. England and colonies United States $3,486,728 819,445 1,173,302 1,122,089 918,021 954,699 338, 953 372,000 199,985 12 130,543 $3,905,950 1,596,154 904,079 764,546 424,673 132,168 85,969 14, 309 101,221 258, 192 20,612 $7,392,678 2,415,599 2,077,381 1,886,635 1,342,694 i, 086, 867 424,922 386,309 301,206 258,204 151,155 Peru France and colonies Germany Bolivia Brazil Spain and colonies Uruguay , Belgium The surplus was divided between the other South American states and the Polynesian islands. The leading article of the Chilian import trade (for consumption) is cotton textiles. Thus, in 1847, among the imports we find as follows : Articles. Quantities. Values. Textiles of cotton — calico (tocuyos) yards.. chintzes do handkerchiefs dozen.. unenumerated yards.. 9,080,015 197,259 119,825 10,981,569 $645,873 447,089 111,780 864,805 From this table it will be seen that these textiles of cotton (in the importation of which the United States need fear no competition), exclusive of various other descriptions of cottonades, amount to a value of |2, 069, 607, or i of the whole importation. As a matter of some interest to merchants engaged in trade with Chili, other descriptions of textiles, that- are always saleable, and frequently in great demand, in the Chilian markets, are given in the following table : Articles. Quantities. Values. Handkerchiefs miired (not all cotton) dozen.. Textiles of wool — flannels yards.. cloths do... cassimeres do — Textiles not particularly described, of wool, silk, flax, mixed stuffs, &c., &c yards.. 19,670 263,287 109,886 132,980 887,964 $388, 650 213,676 168,885 131,471 311,554 This second class of textiles, giving an aggregate of |1, 214,136, brings the value of textiles imported to nearly ^ of the value of the total imports of Chili. 728 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Among the other imports, tobacco, for the mo8t j)art from Pentvian ports, rei^resents a general value, in round numbers, of about $800,000, sugar $800,000, and .specie $1,500,000. This analysis of the imports of Chili will be more complete by presenting a similar summary of the exports of domestic produce of that repablic. The returns for 1841 exhibit the following results : Precious metals: Gold $1, 037, 774 Silver 1,817,375 $2,855,149 Copper: In bars $1,899,253 In other forms 473,477 2,372,730 Cheese, wheat, and breadstuffs 996,820 T-his gives a total of 6,224,699 out of $8,442,085, which represents the entire exports of Chili in 1847. The other exports consisted of timber and raw hides, wool, salted meats, and sundry provisions. Ee-exports con- sisted principally of specie, in the form of silver dollars. The navigation during the same year was as subjoined: Entered 1,434 vessels of 360,097 tons. Cleared 1,411 " 352,010 " Total 2,845 " 712,107 " The total value of the commerce of Chili with foreign nations in 1848 was $16,954,000; of which, the value of imports (for consumption) was $8,601,000 ; that of exports of domestic pro- duce $7,238,000; and that of exports of foreign produce $1,115,000. Assuming the population of the republic to be 1,400,000, the share of this general commerce assigned to each inhabitant would be $12.11. This proportional value, or ratio of commerce to the population, is much larger than that presented by many of the states of Europe. The ratio of commerce to the population of the United States in 1850 is stated thus : proportion of retained imports and exports of domestic produce to each person $12.86; in 1853 it is given at $18.36. The following analysis of the commercial movements of Chili in 1848 exhibits the countries which participate in it; the amount assigned to each, respectively, in round numbers; dis- tinguishing the countries whose commerce had increased, and those whose commerce had diminished that year : Countries whose commerce with Chili had increased in 1848. Imports. Exports. Total. U. States, including California. SI, 124, 000 i Peru Equador Central America , Belgium Sardinia Holland- -. Denmark Sweden 1,327,000 151,000 121,000 112,000 49,000 31,000 13,000 ■ 12,000 81,635,000 82,759,000 789,000 30,000 21,000 86,000 3,000 200 6,000 2,116,000 181,000 142,000 198,000 52,000 31,200 19,000 12,000 Total - 2,940,000 ' 2,570,200 ! 5,510,200 CHILI. 729 Countries ivhose commerce with Chili had diminished in 1848. Countries. England and colonies - France and colonies Germany Bolivia . Russia Spain China Mexico Uruguay Other places. Total- Imports. S3, 158,000 832,000 669,000 420,000 131,000 112,000 130,000 68,000 2,000 5,522,000 Exports. $3,872,000 982,000 280,000 141,000 160,000 10,000 160,000 29,000 177,000 5,811,000 $7,030,000 1,814,000 949,000 561,000 291,000 122,000 290,000 97,000 179,000 111,752 11,444,752 The amount of revenue realized from imports in 1848 was $1,941,532, of which there was collected at the custom-house of Valparaiso $1,692,000. The numher of vessels employed in the commerce of 1848 was: Entered 1,397 vessels; tons 343,456 Cleared 1,367 " " 334,602 Total 2,764 678,058 Of these were : British vessels entered ." 110; cleared. United States " 54 " . French " 21 " . Chilian " 827 " . 46 17- 12 866 The navigation returns for the first six months of 1850, as given in the official Balanza of Chili, exhibit the following results : Entered 1,071 vessels; tons 297,801 Cleared 1,002 " " 273,786 Total . 2,073 571,587 Of these were: Vessels entered and cleared. • DNITED STATES. ENGLISH. FRENCH. Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons. 329 325 113,225 103,069 249 219 86,657 76,583 44 66 13,690 13,335 Total 654 216,294 468 163,240 110 27,025 The following summary exhibits the value of imports from, and exports to, the United States, England and her colonies, France and her colonies, and Chili, respectively, during the first quarter of 1850: [92] 730 COMMEECIAL DIGESTS. Imports from United States • $686,328 Exports to " 941,681 Total 1,628,009 Imports from England and her colonies $860,130 Exports to " " 748,884 Total 1,609,014 Imports from France and her colonies $225,915 Exports to " " 540,712 Total 766,627 Recapitulation. Trade of the United States -, $1,628,009 " England and colonies 1,609,014 " " France and colonies... 766,627 Excess of United States trade over that of England and colonies $18,995 Excess of United States trade over that of France and colonies $861,382 Price per yd. Imports of cotton, including tocuyos, from the United States to Chili, during the first quarter of 1850 702,625 $59,941 8^ cents. Imports of cotton, including tocuyos, from England and her colonies into Chili, during the first quarter of 1850 421,744 28,120 %\ " Excess of cottons imported into Chili from the United States over similar imports from England and her colonies during the first quarter of 1850 280,881 31,821 The following statement exhibits the quantities of tocuyos imported into Chili from the United States and England and her possessions, respectively, during the first quarter of 1850: Yards. Value. Price per yd. From United States 682,835 $57,377 8| cents. From England and possessions 404,145 25,808 6|- " Excess from United States 278,690 31,509 2i 4 The preceding analyses show that, notwithstanding the English cottons are cheaper by two cents the yard than those of the United States, the consumption of the latter in the Chilian markets largely exceeds that of the former. The preference must, of course, be ascribed to the superior quality of the United States fabrics. How far the manufacture in the United States of similar inferior and cheap cottons for the Chilian markets might afford a profitable competition with those of England, there are no data at hand to ascertain. The very fact, however, of the excess of consumption of United States over British goods of the same description, against an excess in price of two cents the yard, would seem to indicate an appreciative taste, at least in the consumers, and that they are no longer to be satisfied with the inferior cottons with which England has for so many years, and so profitably to her merchants, stocked their market. The following statement exhibits the general commerce of Chili with all foreign nations du- ring the years 1850 and 1851: CHILI. 731 Countries. United States England and colonies . France and colonies . . . Germany Holland Peru Belgium Spain and colonies Portugal Sardinia China Central America New Granada Brazil Other countries 1850. 1851. 81,911,479 4,169.160 1,342,733 976,069 347,025 936,125 166,837 114,909 19,188 59,811 236,223 121,737 6,071 288, 141 1,092,685 Total j 11,788,193 $4,594,211 4,319,864 1,705,929 1,089,853 402,059 1,616,644 195,372 145,510 18,168 74,410 229,348 42,241 1850. 624,877 826,486 15,884,972 $4,012,612 4,129,201 1,098,580 883,604 72,783 1,022,638 27,295 155,720 338 33, 694 207,958 75,676 97,525 184,651 424,014 1851. 83,515,235 4,643,290 851,113 469,155 65,739 1,179,347 2,495 74,582 12,426,269 21,309 42,547 103,513 225,483 513,898 438,685 12,146,391 The above table exhibits an increase of $3,816,901 in the foreign commerce of Chili in 1851 over that of 1850. In addition, however, to the figures thus given, Chili receives, chiefly at the port of Valparaiso, merchandise in transit for other countries, exceeding the amount im- ported for home consumption. In 1851, the quantity and value of merchandise thus received were as follows : By sea 2,236,705 packages; value, $25,467,578 By land 24,109 " " 214,249 Total 2,260,814 " " 25,681,827 The following table exhibits the values of the different minerals (copper ore excepted) ex- ported from Chili, each year, from 1844 to 1851, both inclusive: Veara. Bars of gold. Plata piila and bar silver. Ores not reduci- ble by amalga- mation. Wrought sil- ver. Cobalt. Regulus. Copper ores. Sheet cop- per. Copper utensils. 1844.-.. 1845 1846.... 1847.... 1848 1849..-. 1850 1851.... $116,367 218,875 217,984 301,415 296,440 263,070 35,343 299,753 $1,230,456 1,655,698 1,773,949 1,798,083 2,239,644 3,215,572 3,914,148 3,277,319 $3,507 8,714 2,803 9,628 22,520 3,938 39, 675 205,962 $2,875 37,040 2,590 19,292 13,957 4.023 3,816 800 $87 416 4,654 23,058 10,709 360 8437,352 330,531 345,504 298,667 275,804 204,160 333,534 216,539 $374,620 267,533 378,796 166,485 175,290 118,492 90,211 106,195 82,730 31,584 6,804 1,620 ■2,540 2,670 5,050 15,488 $7,175 14, 484 24,932 6,705 5,564 9,239 5,342 1,973 1,749,247 19,104,869 296,747 84,393 39,284 2,442,091 1,677,622 68,486 75, 114 732 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, The revenues derived from import duties in 1851 amounted to $2,724,718, of which there was collected at the port of Valparaiso $2,426,631. The total amount in 1852 was $3,465,038 77. The following table exhibits the quantities and values of copper, in bars, exported from Chili to all nations, and the values of the portion thereof exported to the United States, from 1841 to 1855, both inclusive: Years. COPPER BARS EXPORTED, To all countries. : To United States. 1841 Quiniajo. 95,331 76,437 73,898 88,225 100,994 130,570 140,893 150,445 178,716 No data.. do. Values. 1 Tables. SI, 334, 034 1 S712, 967 1842 1, 070, 118 i 624, 749 1843 1,034,572 131,768 1,236,747 355,842 1.313,687 797,507 1,778,525 705,702 1,899,253 383,153 2,081,547 495,022 2,445,768 779,376 2,653,979 1 («)1,008,044 1,749,780 1 (a.)l,367,191 No data. | (ajl, 294,481 do (ff)l,247,311 do (?,)1,367,206 >V> (a)l,883,431 1844 1845 1846 -- 1847 1848 - 1849 1850 1851 1852 do 1853 1854.... 1855 do ....do.... do In 1852, imporis into Chili reached, in value, $15,347,332; and the exports from Chili amounted to $14,087,556. Compared with the preceding year, imports fell off $537,640, while the exports of 1852 show an increase over those of 1851 of $1,941,227. This perceptible advance in the export trade of Chili in 1852 is attributed to the increased activity in working the cop- per mines of Coquimbo, and the silver mines of Copiapo, as also to several heavy shipments of flour and other products to California. The countries to which is assigned the largest share in the foreign trade of Chili, in 1852, are — In America: the United States, (including Califor- nia, Mexico, the Central American States, Equador, Peru, Bolivia, the Argentine Kepublic, and Brazil. In Europe: England, France^ Belgium, and Germany. The following tabular statement exhibits the number of foreign vessels and their tonnage, and the number of national vessels, that entered Chilian ports from 1844 to 1851, both inclusive: Ycp.i^. For^'i'in vessels. Tonnage, Chilian vessels. 1844 1, }.87 ; 1,452 : 1 ■'"' "^ 3 1,434 1, 777 2,599 2,351 374,028 359,859 388,557 3fi0, 097 313,456 503, 269 740,425 686,185 1 429 1845 1 486 1846 -. 1 529 1S47 1 521 1,^18 1 523 1,S49 1 541 l.JoO . 1 784 l."51 899 (7) Embracing, iil-'o, the value of copnor in pigs, and old copper. CHILI. 733 The number of vessels that cleared in 1850 was 2,49V, making an aggregate of (entered and cleared) 5,096 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 1,442,425 tons. The number cleared in 1851 was 2,205, which, with the 2,351 given in the table, makes a total of 4,556 vessels, measuring, in all, 1,233,9T8 tons. This shows a falling off, in 1851, of 540 vessels, and 208,447 tons. It will be perceived that the number of national vessels that entered Chilian ports in 1851 is put down in the table at 899. It must not, however, be inferred, from this, that the merchant marine of Chili actually counts that number of vessels. The figures merely indicate the number of times the national merchant flag entered Chilian ports during the year. Still, within the past few years, the merchant marine of Chili has largely increased. Starting from 1848, this in- crease is found to be — of vessels, 100 per cent., and of tonnage, over 300 per cent. This is shown by the following statement: 1848. — Number of vessels 105 1849.— " " 119 1850.— " " 153 1851.— " " 182 1852.— " " 215 aggregate tonnage 12,628 " " 20,022 " 27,601 " 34,517 " " 41,509 An official despatch to the British government from Chili, under date of September 13, 1855, states that the returns of Chilian trade for 1853 and 1854 show a great increase in both branches of import and export; but that the markets were considerably affected by the high price of pro- visions, which commenced in 1854, and continued up to the date of the despatch; owing, mainly, to the large exportation of wheat to Australia, where it brought as high as $36 per quarter of eight bushels. Wool may be said to be, after copper, the chief article of import into the United States from Chili. The following tabular statement exhibits the quantities and values of wool imported into the United States from Chili, during the five years ending with June 30, 1855, together with the aggregate quantities and values of the same imported from all other countries for the same period — as given by United States authorities : Years. Quantities from all countries. Values. Quantities from Chili. Values. 1851 Pounds. 32,548,491 18,341,298 21,595,079 20,200,110 18,534,415 $3,833,157 1,930,711 2,669,718 2,882,185 2,072,139 Pounds. 2,109,846 1,863,189 2,664,300 1,857,447 2,846,902 S125,650 169,616 255,196 161,066 j 317,564 1852 1853 1854 1855 In 1843, a decree was passed by the Chilian government providing for the establishment of a statistical board. Since that period, full commercial returns have been regularly published, under the title oi Estadistica Comercial de la BepuUica de Chile. From these publications, the following tables, exhibiting the general foreign commercial movements of Chili, from 1844 to 1851, have been compiled: 734 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Tabular comparative statement exhibiting the foreign import and export trade of Chili, the prin- cipal countries participating therein, and the share assigned to each, from 1844 to 1851, both inclusive. Countries. France and colonies Belgium Holland Germany England and colonies Denmark Sweden and Norway Spain and colonies Portugal Sardinia China United States . . Mexico Central America Equador Brazil Peru Bolivia Uruguay Argentine Confederation. Polynesia New Granada Other countries Imports. $985,815 29,971 348 631,1.55 3.210,676 259 9,573 329,557 2,301 51,533 215,196 667,205 153,057 166,571 176,658 197,878 929,263 735.548 91,377 9,045 8,596,674 E.xports. $323,333 3,388 Imports. Exports. $799,787 11,975 1.35, 8.T2 3,135,935 7,209 1,559 38,381 28, 542 459,141 956,053 1,455 98,839 24,648 12,967 633,028 102,727 8,239 99,668 6,087,023 7.35,981 3,219,523 89 3,992 273,066 3,682 47,585 172,208 674,246 257,233 77.682 65,069 241,568 1,474,889 933,442 46,215 11,391 9,754 48,297 9,104,764 $1,144,971 7,333 477,141 3,168,753 3,175 318 38,091 51,tS3 297,328 1,280,042 7,644 87,086 80,416 67,351 674,552 114,775 50,476 6,627 44,661 7,601,1.52 Imports. Exports. Imports. $830, 035 27,049 63,719 862,585 3,465,546 3,860 243,300 2,914 27,414 288,455 932,716 203,242 95,751 129,444 599,047 1,204,161 1,032,917 85,174 32, 103 9.700 459,500 3,830,705 6,941 1,635 19,914 .■50,453 159,725 1,453,278 7,203 92,324 29,404 227,720 754,699 81,905 135,893 1,439 121,741 100 2,758 8,116,288 $1,122,089 130,543 4,949 918,021 3,486,723 3,999 1,225 372,000 23,900 36,088 199,985 819,445 84,181 74,220 107,019 338,953 1,173.302 954,699 12 132,646 8,603 100 76,192 10,068,849 Exports. $764,546 20,612 615 424,673 3,905,960 8,103 14,309 6,668 101,221 1,596,154 29,937 32,608 21,698 85,969 904,079 132,168 258, 192 750 133,825 8,442,085 TABULAR COMPARATIVE STATEMENT— Continued. France and colonies Belgium Holland Germany England and colonies.. .. Denmark Sweden and Norway Spain and colonies Portugal Sardinia China United States Mexico Central America Equador Brazil Peru Bolivia Uruguay Argentine Confederation. Polynesia New Granada Other countries Imports. $831,650 112,153 30,750 6Ce,765 3,157,791 13,500 11,941 111,768 4,045 49,356 130,537 1,124,171 68,466 121,494 160,638 236,382 1,326,663 419,959 1,878 16,627 4,369 Exports. $981,639 85,570 200 290,404 3,871,581 6,113 10,205 764 2,528 160,248 1,634,749 28,963 21,479 30,338 38,955 7SS,.548 140, 936 177,a57 9,466 73,440 100 896 1849. Imports. $1,079,942 222,190 57,971 846,448 4,431,075 622 49 151,199 12,346 98, 872 226,773 1,100,345 128, 053 118,834 140,620 198,957 1,286,172 446,^5 1,478 171,753 3.665 8,363,595 10,722,840 Exports. $676,755 27,495 677,798 4,275,359 18,451 606 2,241 33,830 64,. 597 3,589,888 4,407 13, 407 44,608 8,964 839, 748 128,877 69,907 37,886 63,976 23,ffi7 920 1850. 1851. Imports. $1,342,733 166, 837 347,025 976,069 4,169,160 1,940 11,941 114,909 19,1.SS 59,811 236,223 1,911,479 113,041 121,737 213,859 288, 141 936, 125 477,609 49,565 219,077 4,472 6,071 607 Exports. Imports. 10,603,447 $1,098,580 27,295 72,783 883,604 4,129,201 3,208 731 1.55,720 338 33,694 207,938 4,019,612 384 75,676 42,671 1H4,651 1,022,638 166, 127 96,358 112,214 1,080 97,525 1.241 $1,703,929 195,372 402,069 1,089,863 4, .319, 864 5,081 145,510 18, 168 74,410 229,348 4,594,211 23, 837 42,241 120,733 624,877 1,616,644 436, 988 10,352 170,586 58,910 Export'. $851,113 2,495 65,739 469, 155 4,643,290 1,390 2,194 74,582 12,426,269 15,884,972 21,309 42,547 3,515,235 7,532 103,513 42,774 513,898 1,179,247 209,902 61,215 46,624 59, 352 225,483 7,802 12,148,391 CHILI. 735 Tabular comparative statement exhibiting particular descriptions of the principal articles of mer- chandise, and the respective values thereof, imported into the ports of Chili, from 1844 to 1851, both inclusive. Articles. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. 1848. 1849. 1850. 1851. Ale and porter Bedsteads, brass Books, printed Buttons, assorted. Calicoes Candles, sperm and com position Canvass Carpets, Brussels Kidderminster . . Carriages Cassimeres Chairs _ - Clotii Clothing - Coal. ■. Coffee Copper, sheet — Cottons, cambric checks damask — and wool damask drillings.. handkerchiefs — laces — linings . .♦. colored shawls and wool shawls silk and wool stockings tapes tickings thread unbleached vestiugs white and wool Crape shawls Drugs and medicines Earthenware Fire-bricks Flannel Flat irons Glassware $13,109 13,556 49,818 15,715 394,974 6,316 23,706 16,404 20,057 19,880 88,198 34,118 208,571 19,920 5,200 17,376 27,712 8,678 4, 244 800 8,932 16,823 61,448 4,382 4,675 42,116 40,560 53,829 11,893 79,914 8,738 7,360 48,173 332,349 8,243 547, 045 103, 138 85,963 16,836 60,024 36,283 11,509 14,205 29,578 $13,759 16,598 84,797 10,655 403,927 \ 9,735 38,466 10,435 25,180 14,481 88,878 23,630 179,240 21,384 15,925 15,835 66,947 11,929 8,455 531 6,333 11,659 89,692 7,592 8,511 41,651 33,405 104,248 17,920 63,263 20,006 29,296 50,309 402,060 15,324 620,315 83,132 66,178 16,212 34,830 8,808 9,036 4,552 33,241 $17,613 10,570 52,971 11,203 509,750 20,222 37,900 21,202 21,589 12,903 129,719 31,779 184,395 16,089 41,310 15,492 11,929 4,430 15,402 128 11,183 13,841 109,795 9,376 12,749 75,466 56,514 109,985 19,583 87,265 21,204 20,016 51,509 459,028 24,799 798,941 96,398 120, 146 26,086 33,001 20,777 6,090 2,246 34, 144 $14,667 13,572 70,333 14,740 447,089 10,897 27,308 23,532 31,564 11,347 131,471 26,627 168,885 26,088 68,356 7,484 13,461 3,722 3,889 280 8,107 29,891 111,780 8,287 22,278 60,755 47,880 74, 446 31,370 62,315 12,852 7,128 46,040 698,091 19,730 781,750 95,337 80,575 35, 180 52,721 21,291 9,097 667 36,932 $5,333 ,112 67 431 38 16: 35: 1 114 23; 133 20; 119, 16: 32 6 11 6 14 76, 8, 15 38 32 70 24 31 12 24 42 670 20 774; 93 52 37 47; 28 5 019 808 070 575 904 226 381 180 230 515 811 037 273 465 629 465 317 244 608 975 737 204 030 723 422 186 295 768 947 173 262 302 043 025 478 870 580 721 578 684 135 16,635 $10 13 22 12 656 27 21 29, 24: 223; 35; 170; 43 346; 9: 56; 10; 1*: c 26; 102; 10; 24; 56 75 71 49 56 10 27 59 681 16 1,039 166 102 36 71 27; 3 2; 44 607 490 334 280 512 781 577 405 455 030 459 846 561 629 500 825 475 683 628 881 080 445 950 193 466 287 289 627 966 678 814 196 511 201 632 338 849 849 581 292 990 162 720 425 $16 7 26 22 486 18 44 34 37 11 235 32 171 18 253 18 14 10 15 4 12 43 92 22; 22; 56; 82 101 43 52 14; 21 67 475 18 748 160 120 29 77 32 3 7; 64, 033 095 320 788 527 366 788 368 512 060 714 656 217 406 246 042 889 138 166 248 261 276 559 403 339 666 323 931 204 423 858 450 025 504 624 951 534 281 054 865 433 957 146 199 $18 17 35 16 516 35 35 28 23 23 236; 29 154 19 236 12 9, 11 17: 15; 20; 28; 66 20 24; 9: 56 118 42 66; 23; 38 47 615 13 800 159 98 29 34; 16 3 7 60 053 785 490 919 148 039 438 719 084 418 574 873 572 477 473 705 017 012 506 920 123 693 542 127 801 077 257 737 337 390 226 498 638 825 921 872 453 273 084 929 444 893 387 221 736 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. TABULAR COMPARATIVE STATEMENT— Continued. Glass, window Gloves, assorted Gold, bar doubloons and silver coin Household furniture Iron, assorted chains - _ miners' hammers nails - sheet shovels and spades.. Jewelry Knives and forks LastingB Leather, ordinary morocco calf-skin . - Linen Linen drilling Liquors, assorted Machinery Matches, phosphorus... Mate Mercery, assorted Merchandise, various kinds Mousselines Molasses - Muskets and fowling-pieces Oil, linseed - olive whale Paints - Paper, cigarito letter foolscap & printing Pianos Pickles .- Powder - Quicksilver - Ribbons Rice Sacks, empty Saddles - Sateen Satin - Satin and silk shawls Segars 1814. 1845. $10,664 ■ 9,705 ' 72,890 207,424 4,000 18,122 I 113,728 7,620 68,929 4,496 6, 034 34, 894 13,572 49,436 17,558 15,945 13, 187 24,678 23,928 6,225 3,850 5,428 56,351 171,678 321,646 76,440 13,453 23,427 3,390 10,511 2,803 23,831 3,976 4,788 41,103 29,769 1,905 24,889 36,205 4,995 46,344 3,929 8,872 33,063 42,025 96,217 23, 142 S13,650 7,124 42,458 263,407 3,574 13,986 134,528 11,720 3,643 22,982 11,892 16,537 30,115 11,412 34,719 2,937 12,389 19,927 19,912 24,017 6,829 583 8,258 50,701 95,060 263,341 80,388 , 32,312 26,631 1,395 15,757 12,340 20,245 3,402 5,528 40, 542 49,707 6,249 24, 447 36,280 41,741 94,594 2,360 9,017 21,495 49,740 81,046 27,432 1846. 1847. S7,265 7,845 33,328 166,187 16,793 50,702 38,405 1,540 2,775 28, 125 9,120 10,683 40,140 8,733 38,697 708 13,210 24,660 39, 135 33,509 11,012 23,195 4,137 164,220 79,829 275,696 87,790 22,328 13,112 9,417 23,625 13,962 18,500 5,457 4,985 38,400 37,386 8,471 20,006 57,724 52,881 47,960 6,120 6,400 37,442 53,838 80,679 26,268 S14, 198 10,415 36,184 115,830 493 18,668 26,281 5,666 7,935 21,161 11,206 8,451 67,403 12,412 46,883 1,157 13,594 .34, 238 22,158 30, 5«9 15,928 54,343 12,804 95,014 76,036 367,168 80,748 12,530 3,386 13,217 23,923 9,623 32,189 4,642 2,620 27,576 38,414 6,741 9,103 57,857 52,595 31,658 4,248 15,115 20,241 33,407 47,023 37,868 1848. 1849. $19,067 12,947 21,969 16,491 653,587 27,630 65,982 7,462 7,800 13,584 8,931 9,061 36,368 9,517 34,802 1,347 3,788 • 25,159 22,527 23,191 11,503 20,114 8,540 71,525 103,635 277,429 69,119 29,903 1,687 3,861 15, 343 6,776 35,521 3,857 4,757 33,103 37,568 9,448 18,340 75,458 39,750 25,765 2,621 16,101 23,447 26,421 23,245 40,818 $9,154 8,742 68,781 39,814 896,388 22,870 77,335 9,642 9,338 14,759 11,530 •' 3,707 38,503 18,435 36,115 802 7,009 46,375 18,405 25,357 13,973 14,969 8,610 161,968 140,761 249,070 111,222 11,233 1,779 4,066 9,754 18,371 17,465 3,432 12,305 77,094 43,728 7,746 30,038 239,557 39,094 70,840 8,720 17,578 12,078 23,910 82,250 39,500 1850. 815,963 13,590 895,725 26,324 717,400 .46, 689 130,737 41,450 16,359 54,511 26,689 13,033 31,758 24,500 12,815 S3 8,361 48,657 22,323 15,536 10,469 4,000 40,785 96,993 186,121 360,178 110,587 14, 777 '4, 748 6,075 45,693 32,208 19,905 8,734 16,715 74,105 23,680 14,639 35,586 58,684 45,606 56,693 946 15,886 19,642 23,617 60,664 47,651 1851. $7,975 22,008 3,378,134 60,204 850,908 52,621 85,802 29,852 4,379 56,813 1,467 14,345 109,983 21,153 15,665 2,890 15,641 42,973 19,986 18,630 15,434 39,150 27,958 127,174 220,918 381,427 118,866 17,658 3, 058 4,723 36,281 13,756 13,547 16,974 13,940 . 86,448 ■ 25,390 32,084 29,797 227,752 58,826 68,218. 20,982 19,152 7,125 14,722 30,024 79.539 CHILI. TABULAR COMPARATIVE STATEMENT— Continued. 737 Articles. 1844. 1845. 1846. 1847. 1848. 1849. 1860. 1851. Shoes and boots Silk, assorted serge sewing shawls and hand'kfs Silver, dollars. bar and plata pi&a. Soap Steel Sugar, refined crushed Tea - Tobacco Umbrellas and parasols - . Velvets Woolen goods shawls $26,062 26,594 32,963 14,796 256,505 943,439 7,216 20,588 13,493 47,557 356, 035 25,157 528,050 11,243 33,865 35,260 60,221 $22, 365 53, 050 20,780 21,220 142, 874 1,527,504 1,020 38,822 14,020 51,809 393,989 26,882 473,023 16,025 33,010 27,629 32,761 $47,139 36,987 24, 155 34, 788 207,856 1,31*, 525 6,239 32,867 12,903 164,338 729,809 18,910 788,104 18,792 33, 904 72, 640 24,507 $33,750 57,382 8,922 43, 119 179,983 1,042,140 2,466 67,800 13,838 215,671 578,271 20,352 796,619 26,619 35, 270 95,158 102,302 $25,182 23,319 8,819 27, 133 107, 725 145, 434 9,010 15,269 2,813 318,909 368,403 31,816 537,598 14,030 31,344 63,566 69,963 $35,857 80,671 11,006 28, 353 159,948 95, 421 12, 408 73,227 11,712 95, 423 226,499 31,873 661,760 21,254 25,794 92, 949 87,421 $21, 253 82, 594 21,444 23,296 322,517 72,772 61,856 69,224 17,360 400,969 336, 634 21,912 337, 240 52, 507 24,977 62,714 115,073 $43, 778 161,850 17,348 45, 964 162,567 44, 580 23,479 66,427 21, 149 663, 129 800, 141 49, 675 659,085 18,261 47, 177 77,013 143,801 Tabular comparative statement exhibiting the principal articles of domestic produce, and the respective values thereof, exported from the ports of Chili, from 1844 to 1851, both inclusive the produce of the mines excepted. Wheat . Flour.. Biscuit . Barley . Potatoes Kuts Dried fruits Salt beef Charqui (dried beef) . , Cheese Tallow, &o Hides Goat, sheep, and chinchil- la skins Wool Hams Assorted provisions Cords and rope Rigging for ships Planks and lumber Coal.- Guano 1844. $179,374 352, 109 79,864 53, 245 24,672 10, 168 29,728 8,788 28,803 14, 872 10,327 25,698 104,689 7,141 40, 509 6, 558 93,214 7,884 11,200 42, 037 39,327 12,536 1846. $136,389 207,741 87,519 37,357 18,526 10,623 25, 056 6,864 29,159 23,818 14, 603 19,632 136, 825 5,125 158,409 5,926 157,081 2,326 7,938 37,701 10,312 ■ 93,663 1846. $256,219 320,371 62,372 29,971 64,201 9,404 9,569 5,179 15,371 22,590 6,630 12,001 101,716 6,967 171,161 3,583 10, 529 7,516 6,782 59,166 2,401 24,637 1847. $356,376 480,391 160, 053 41,069 90, 394 18,501 33, 178 21,475 43, 829 38, 484 18,543 23,857 117,029 1,638 85, 345 1,980 26,347 14, 938 6,818 49,445 783 2,35« 1848. $190,480 472,833 106, 832 34,979 53, 267 13, 356 43, 745 35, 173 39,076 21,618 7,256 21,129 144, 196 7,953 93,324 6,702 21,822 26,824 4,719 61,254 483 10,379 1849. $316, 190 803, 798 114,007 76,910 48, 563 14,514 55, 152 72, 147 26,230 74, 398 18, 156 39,043 166, 942 17, 764 64, 303 3,007 60, 454 26,614 988 310,914 4,933 13,645 1850. $353, 670 1,899,606 74, 962 216, 388 136, 737 43, 806 40, 039 79,911 16,960 26,643 11,746 31,046 143, 395 81,201 83, 333 3,594 30,571 7,278 4,510 106,372 7,590 87,708 1861 $228,750 1,544,215 120, 199 567, 406 167, 055 52, 722 78, 425 24,643 21,839 34, 854 7,551 ■47,554 99, 795 31, 307 104,301 800 18,290 4,850 3,825 29,795 2,540 55, 392 [93 ] 738 COMMEEOIAL DIGESTS. The principal ports of Chili open to general foreign trade are Valparaiso, Coquimbo, Hu- asco, Copiabo, Talcahuano, Constitucion, Valdivia, and Ancud. Vessels from abroad, entering any other than open ports, are liable to seizure. Under the Chilian commercial regulations, the coasting trade is prohibited to foreign vessels; but they may discharge portions of their original cargoes in one or more ports, and load Chilian produce for a foreign port. The port charges are as follows: Tonnage dues, 25 cents per ton; light dues, (where light- houses exist,) 3-^ cents per ton; roll, and captain of the port's fees, |4; harbor-master's fees, $8. National or foreign vessels of war, national or foreign steamers, whale-ships, vessels in distress, or in ballast, or discharging under twenty packages, are exempt from tonnage and light dues. When tonnage dues have been paid at one port^ they are not levied in another. Commercial relations between the United States and Chili are regulated by the treaty of May 16, 1832 — ratifications having been exchanged and proclamation made April 29, 1834. This treaty establishes the principle of "the most favored nation," and contains, besides, a stipula- tion providing that "free ships make free goods/' and the usual guaranties for commercial reciprocity. The duration of the treaty was limited to twelve years ; but, by virtue of the twelve months' notice clause, it is still in force. Subsequent and recent commercial legislation of Idae Chilian government has modified and enlarged the provisions of the treaty of 1834. The principle of "the most favored nation" is but another name for differential duties between the national flag and that of the country with which such treaty is negotiated. These differential duties have been defined by Chili in a law bearing date January 8, 1834, and by various sub- sequent enactments. Such duties, however, have been suppressed,. under certain limitations, chiefly by a law of July 16, 1850. The following is a translation of this law, so far as it relates to this subject: Article 1. Are suppressed and of no force articles 15, 16, 17, and 18 of the law of importa- tion of the 8th January, 1834. (a) Is also suppressed that section of the law of August 7, 1834, by virtue of which national vessels were exempted from tonnage duties, such vessels here- after being subjected to the same duties as foreign vessels. Art. 2. The products of the soil and industry, and, in general, articles of commerce imported into Chili for consumption, in bottoms under a foreign flag, shall pay only the same duties as if imported under the national flag. Art. 3. Articles of commerce imported into the republic in vessels of any nation that shall not have accepted the conditions of reciprocity established by the present law, will be subject to a surcharge, or extra duty, equal to that imposed by such nation on merchandise brought into its ports in Chilian vessels. Art. 4. To give effect to the foregoing article, the President of the republic shall fix the amount of differential duties authorized by the foregoing article. Several decrees have been since issued regulating the amount of these differential or counter- vailing duties. Their principal points are: 1. Vessels of nations that have not accepted the reciprocity law of July 16, 1850, shall pay, instead of 25 cents per ton of the vessels' measurement, 75 cents per ton. 2. Merchandise imported in such vessels shall pay, in addition to existing duties^ an addi- tional duty of 6 per cent, ad valorem. The President of the United States, by his proclamation bearing date November 1, 1850, accepted the reciprocity granted in the above-recited law and decrees, and all restrictions and discriminations in the commercial relations of the two countries have ceased since that period. The customs rates of the tariff of Chili are ad valorem on a fixed valuation of the articles of merchandise. By the 8th chapter, articles 2, 3, and 4, of the Chilian custom-house ordinance, it is provided that the tariff of values shall be adjusted by a commission of from five to nine merchants and custom-house officials at Valparaiso, subject to the approval of the government, (a) The law defining differential duties. CHILI. 789 and that the values thus fixed shall be in force one year without change, force will be found in its proper place, Part II of this Eeport. The latest tariff in Oomparative statement of tJie commerce of the United States vnih Chili, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country^ and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated, (a) YSARB. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALUE or lUPOHTB. AMEEICAM T0N3IAOE. PORBION TOBtNAOE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign pro- duce. Total, Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. Entered the United States. Cleared from the U. States. 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 $1,247,360 1,539,136 1,461,347 1,703,625 1,722,457 1,297,133 1,608,877 2,043,836 2,157,320 1,942,330 2,994,231 $300,831 229,434 210,263 220,886 294, 643 125,588 286,428 295,297 169,117 250,929 432,026 $1,548,191 1,768,570 1,671,610 1,924,511 2,017,100 1,422,721 1,895,305 2,339,133 2,326,437 2,193,259 3,426,257 $1,123,690 1,275,960 1,716,903 1,310,451 1,817,723 1,796,877 2,734,746 2,062,160 2,214,252 3,332,167 3,518,896 4,872 6,560 7,208 5,422 7,284^ 14,510 30,068 23, 165 13,641 19,403 15,565 8,273 8,649 7,185 10,465 25,936 41,279 48, 140 21,386 23,488 22,371 21,667 2,281 1,300 591 517 18,369 23,396 25,386 38,511 22,316 4,592 1,452 1,077 366 1,351 25,383 41,657 23, 402 38,655 22,403 10,109 (a) Heference to the totals in the tabular Btatement of exports and imports of Chili, *3 regards the United States, al- ready given, derived from Chilian official authorities, compared with the figures for any of the years included in this Btatement, derived from United States Treasury Eeports on Commerce and Navigation, will afford striking instances of the discrepancies between official reports of the United States and those of foreign governments, for the same periods, which have more than once already been referred to in this work. ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. The Argentine Kepublic, or "La Confederacion Argentina," comprises the provinces which, with Paraguay and Uruguay, now independent states, constituted, under Spanish rule, the vice-royalty of Bueuos Ayres. Its area is the largest of the South American republics, and its population to the square mile the smallest. It consists of 13 provinces, (a) comprises an area estimated at 786,000 square miles, and contains a population of about 764,000 souls. Other estimates reduce this number to 596,000, while the "Almanach de Grotha" for 1855 gives a total of about 2,000,000, of whom 1,200,000 are Creoles, Spaniards, and mestizos, 200,000 sub- jugated Indians, and 25,000 negroes. With the exception of a portion of the extensive plains, called pampas, watered by the rivers Eio Negro, Colorado, and Desaguadero, nearly all the country belongs to the basin of the La Plata, the great estuary of which is between the state of Buenos Ayres and the Uruguayan port of Montevideo. The most important product of the republic is cattle. Immense droves of oxen roam at large over the pampas, and vast herds are scattered throughout the extensive breeding estates of pri- vate individuals. Horses and mules constitute a prominent article of commerce with the Peru- vian and other traders; and sheep and hogs, and the small quadrupeds which furnish the nu- tria and chinchilla skins, are among the valuable native animals. Cotton, tobacco, rice, cocoa, sugar-cane, indigo, maize, wheat, and other grains, constitute leading productions; bift the staples of export are hides, skins, horns, bones, horse-hair, wool, tallow, ostrich feathers, salted meats, crude saltpetre, and cocoa. The export trade reaches, annually, a value of about $10,000,000. Commercial relations between the United States and the Argentine Eepublic are regulated by treaties of July 10th and 2'7th, 1853. The former treaty relates chiefly to the navigation of the rivers Parana and Uruguay : that of July 27th was designed to acknowledge and confirm the relations subsisting between the two governments by the signing of a treaty of friendship, com- merce, and navigation, as well for the good security as for the encouragement of the commercial intercourse already subsisting between them. This latter treaty stipulates that perpetual amity shall exist between the two countries and their respective citizens ; that there shall be re- ciprocal freedom of commerce; that the citizens, ships, &c., of each shall be protected in the territories of the other, to which other foreigners, or the ships or cargoes of any other foreign nation or state are, or may be, permitted to come ; that the respective ships of war, and post office or passenger packets of the two countries shall have liberty freely and securely to come to all harbors, rivers, and places to which other foreign ships of war and packets are, or may be, permitted to come ; to enter into the same ; to anchor and remain there, and refit, subject always to the laws and usages of the two countries respectively ; that any favor, exemption, privilege, or immunity whatever, in matters of commerce or navigation, which either of the two nations (a) Within a few years, Buenos Ayres has withdrawn from the c mfederaey. 744 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. has actually granted, or may hereafter grant, to the citizens or subjects of any other govern- ment, nation, or state, shall extend, in like cases and circumstances, to the citizens of the other; that no higher or discriminatiag duties shall be imposed, in the territories of either of the con- tracting parties, on any article of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the territories of the other, than are, or shall be, payable on the like article of any other foreign country ; that export duties on all articles exported from the territories of either party to those of the other, shall be the same as when the exportation is made to any other foreign country; and that all prohibi- tions as to imports and exports, into or from either country, shall be such as extend to the like articles of any other foreign country. The treaty further provides that no other or higher du- ties or charges, on account of tonnage, light or harbor dues, pilotage, salvage in case of average or shipwreck, or any other local charges, shall be imposed in the ports of either of the two con- tracting parties, on the vessels of the other, than those payable in the same ports on its own vessels; that the vessels of each shall enjoy entire equality with national vessels in the ports of the other, both as respects imports and exports; that a regular passport, or sea-letter, furnished by competent authority, shall be sufficient evidence of the nationality of the vessel ; that the merchants, commanders of ships, and all other citizens of either of the contracting parties, shall enjoy, in the management of their affairs in the territories of the other, the same privileges and rights, in all respects, that belong to its own citizens under the laws and established customs of the country ; that, in case of the death, without will or testament, of any citizen of either of the contracting parties, in the territories of the other, the consul-general or consul of the nation to which the deceased belonged^ or the representative of such consul-general or consul in his ab- sence, shall have the right to intervene in the possession, administration, and judicial liquida- tion of the estate of the deceased, conformably with the laws of the country, for the benefit of creditors and legal heirs. The treaty concludes with placing the diplomatic agents and consuls of the United States on the same footing as similar representatives of the most favored nation, and makes ample provision respecting religious privileges, rites of burial, &c. This treaty contains no limitation as to its duration, but provides that the amity which it es- tablishes between the citizens of the two republics shall be perpetual. The foreign trade of the Argentine Republic was formerly monopolized by Buenos Ayres ; but, in 1852, new channels of commerce were opened, the Parana and Uruguay rivers being declared free Vo the commercial traffic and navigation of all nations, by a decree officially promulgated October 30, of which a translation is subjoined: Article 1. The navigation of the rivers Parana and Uruguay is allowed to every description of merchant vessels, whatever may be their nation, place of departure, or tonnage. Art. 2. All merchant vessels may enter the ports established on the rivers Parana and Uru- guay. Art. 3. The established ports are : 1. In the province of Entre Rios, that of the city of Parana, the capital of said province, and those of Diamanti, Victoria, Gualeguai, and La Paz, on the river Parana; and those of G-ualeguaichu, Concepcion del Uruguay, Concordia, and Federacion, on the river Uruguay. 2. In the province of Santa Fe, that of the capital of the province and that of Eosario. 3. In Corrientes, the capital of the same, Bella Vista, and G-orga. Art. 4. All those ports designated in the foregoing article shall have custom-houses for for- eign trade ; and those established in the provinces of Jujui, Salta, San Juan, and Mendoza shall have custom-houses for inland trade. Art. 5. Until the national tariffs be fully arranged, the custom-houses for foreign trade on the river shall continue to collect duties, according to existing regulations. Art. 6. Seven per cent, upon the valuation of the articles imported for consumption into the literal provinces shall be collected as the sole national tax. Art. 7. In the custom-houses for inland trade, six per cent, upon the valuation shall be col lected on all articles introduced, as a national tax. Art. 8. All the custom-houses for foreign trade, as well on the rivers as in the interior, shall AEGENTINE REPUBLIC. 745 permit the transit of foreign merchandise for the provinces of the confederation; hut the custom- house despatching them shall collect and retain five per cent, upon the valuation of the goods, as the whole of the national tax. Art. 9. All goods and merchandise of foreign production, or shipped from foreign places, and all the productions of the manufactures or industry of Buenos Ayres, which are introduced hy land into any of the provinces of the interior, shall pay, for the present, the same duties as are collected in the custom-house of Kosario. Art. 10. In the same custom-'house, the same duties on exportation as on importation shall be paid on whatever articles interior provinces may introduce into the province of Buenos Ayres. Art. 11. In all the custom-houses in which deposit is allowed, the same shall he continued, subject to the existing regulations. Art. 12. Within the territories of the thirteen confederated provinces, the passage of their own product or manufacture shall be free of all duties of transit or on consumption. Art. 13. The present decree shall have eifect only until the national congress shall establish permanent regulations on the subject it embraces. The above decree, published by the provisional Director of the republic, was followed by the publication, on the 18th of the same month, of the following resolution of the representatives of the province of Buenos Ayres : "The province of Buenos Ayres, recognising as a principle of general convenience the opening of the river Parana to the traffic and navigation of all nations, from this present date declares and authorizes the same on its part." Buenos Ayres must always be a point of great commercial importance, as it is the principal outlet through which the produce and industry of the immense regions lying behind can have an egress to a foreign market ; and it is only through this port and Montevideo that those countries can receive, by the La Plata and its tributaries, unless in the direct trade, their sup- plies of foreign merchandise. Indeed, these two ports form the only channels through which the productions of the countries lying between the Cordilleras and the La Plata will find their way to foreign markets, (a) The, navigation of the La Plata and its tributaries is represented to be at this time active, employing a heavy tonnage both of steamers and sailing vessels. The trade between Buenos Ayres and Montevideo consists in the transhipment to and from either port of articles the growth or manufacture of Europe and the United States, and the conveyance of passengers. From Buenos Ayres to the interior, the trade consists in the interchange of foreign merchandise for the various productions of the La Plata provinces. South of Buenos Ayres, and from Pata- gonia, in exchange for dry goods, spirits, wines, and sundries, are imported hides, skins, tallow, hair, and, occasionally, wheat and salt, especially from Patagonia. The principal ports in the provinces open to this trade are San Fernando, San Pedro, and San Nicolas, in the province of Buenos Ayres ; Kosario and Santa Fe, in Santa Fe ; Gualeguaigchu, Parana, and Concordia, in Entre Eios ; Grorga, Bella Vista, and Corrientes, in the province of Corrientes. From all these ports, as well as from those in Paraguay and Uruguay, the imports consist, chiefly, of yerba mate (Paraguay, tea), and tobacco, hides, lumber, nutria, wool, candles, soap, ashes, peanuts, and various manufactures of wood. The steam-vessels, exclusive of those of the British Eoyal Mail Steam-packet Company, regu- (a) As these sheets go to press, notice is received of a, law whicli passed both houses of the Argentine legislature, and ■was approved by the President July 19, 1856, establishing differential duties on all foreign merchandise introduced into the ports of the confederation, in the indirect trade, from Buenos Ayres. These duties are almost equivalent to prohibition, and will divert from the port of Buenos Ayres that portion of the foreign trade destined for the fluvial provinces. The chief reason assigned for the adoption of this measure, as announced during the debate which it elicited in both branches of the legislature, was, that it would te the most effective means that could be adopted to force Buenos Ayres from its secession movements, and thus restore tranquillity to the republic. Already the government budget of Buenos Ayres shows a deficiency of $9,000,000. This act of the confederation, in driving from its ports the foreign trade of the other ^provinces hitherto a source of immense profit to its treasury— may lead to a commercial, perhaps a political, crisis. [ H 746 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. larly employed, at a late date, in the navigation of the Plata, are: five steamers^ under the Oriental flag — one of them constructed in the United States, — and one under the Buenos Ayres flag, also of United States origin. According to the navigation returns of the Argentine Repuhlic for 1852, the steamers engaged in the regular trade between Buenos Ayres and Montevideo, with the number of round trips made by each, were as follows: 1 American, 44 round trips; 1 British, IT; 2 Oriental, 38; and 2 Brazilian, 14. The sailing-vessels engaged in the same trade were 2 schooners, under the Oriental flag, which made 42 round trips; and 2 schooners and 2 brigantines^ under the flag of Buenos Ayres, which made 40 round trips. Statement exhibiting the number of foreign merchant vessels which arrived at the port of Buenos Ayres, from 1821 to 1854, distinguishing those under the United States flag. Years. From all nations. From United States. Years. From all nations. From United States. 1821 202 252 240 312 275 106 382 257 207 213 294 42 75 80 143 102 73 143 83 77 55 91 .Jan. 1 to Marcli 28, 1838 March 28, 1838, to Nov. 1, 1840. Nov. 1, 1840, to Dec, 31, 1841. '1842 70 No data. 662 406 575 513 316 192 314 526 440 20 No data. 106 62 75 88 42 27 42 86 87 80 57 Unknown. 28 1822.. . 1823 1824 1825 1843 Jan. 1, 1826, to Sept. 30, 1828. Oct. 1, 1828, to Deo. 31, 1829. 1830 .. 1844 Jan. 1 to Sept. 24, 1845 Sept. 25, 1845, to June 17, 1848. June 19 to Dec. 31, 1848 1849 1831 1832 1833 1850 1834 261 67 213 1 51 200 37 1851 471 1835 .. 1852 489 1836 1S53 344 334 1837 228 40 1854 Statement exhibiting the quantities of domestic produce exported from the port of Buenos Ayres, from 1849 to 1853, distinguishing those exported to the United States. Bones No. . Hair Bales, &c.. Hides, 01 and cow, salted... .No. . dry No. . horse, dry No.. salted No. . Sheep skins Bales.. Do Dozens. . Wool Bales.. Wool Seroons(a) Horns, ox and cow No , . All U. States countries. 1,563 327, 002 774,091 22,969 39. 814 1,384 13,405 304,398 201 15,286 115,353 3, .545 469 850 30,000 All countries. 3, 100, 730 5,059 720,040 1,704,211 50,223 136,884 3,568 U. States. 800,000 2,126 137,184 603,929 13,474 7,576 2,020 X7,74Jj: 12,549 3,356 , 2,666 1,917,150 'l, 165,012 All U. Slates. All U. States countries. | countries. 3,110,730 4,082 912,135 1,689,005 47,005 93,672 4,320 1,603 124,471 572, 109 14,037 20,363 1,371 3,520,072 3,765 416,742 1,256,580 14,529 119,141 3,477 19,060 2,914 2,365,720 15,794 2,499 1,1.58,648 22,249 1,390 1,369,270 620,000 3,519 106,640 397,433 255 25,107 685 7,847 677 376,904 All countries. U. States. 1,983,267 2,058 2,216 788,510 14,529 7,196 3,477 281 22,249 1,390 1,369,276 90,000 763 550 259,164 1,265 3,477 198 192 8,016 .124 230,545 {a, A tale or package made of skins or leather, varying in c;ipacity from eighty to four hundred pounds, according to contents. ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 747 Comparative statement exhibiting the exportation of staple products of the State of Btienos Ayres to all countries, from 1849 to 1854, both inclusive. [Made up from "Eejistro Estadistico del Estado de Buenos Aires."] Exported to. In the years Ox and cow. Horse. DRY HIDES. Ox & cow. Horse. SALTED BIDES. Bales. Ser.& Bales, Ser.& TALLOW AND HORSE OfeEASE. Pipes. Bxs & cks Great Britain, France . Continent . United States. Ital7.. Spain., Brazil . Havana.. Grand totals. 1$49.. 1850.. 1851., 1852., 1853., 1854., 1849., 1850., 1851 , 1852. 1853. 1854. 1849. 1850 , 1851 1852. 1853. 1854. 1849. 1850., 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1849. 1860. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1849. 1850. 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. 1849. 1850. 1851., 1852. 1853. 1854. 33,494 25,843 48,686 11,503 33,209 2,290 244,808 237,732 189,360 126,lffi 62,972 90,455 613,416 535,353 529,639 374,394 248,440 295,026 784,701 603,^9 572, 109 393,433 259,164 312,265 11,252 131,123 135,280 175,274 82,357 76,605 262,463 158,863 208,416 168,828 98,888 211,215 32,798 7,746 1,506 2,752 2,176 1,818 6,684 3,522 4,069 2,069 1,623 1,928 2,111,083 1,704,211 1,689,005 1,256,580 788,510 9,982 3,660 4,564 1,220 6,927 727 7,927 3,191 9,325 1,869 1,461 1,060 750 941 2,051 3,041 690 3,090 8,009 13,474 14,037 255 1,265 6,072 18,380 2,630 13,787 1,600 9,311 10,577 14,338 1,043 3,856 15,785 (a) (o) (a) (a) (a) (a) 40,863 50,223 47,005 21,430 14,529 29,973 517,386 357,988 547,840 363, 114 285,577 233,281 79,758 85,208 90,344 87,892 44,863 48,279 81,678 67,195 85,545 96,552 34,078 52,541 122,734 137, 184 124,471 106,640 25,230 55,645 4,949 66,648 58,024 74,417 23,113 13,763 9,389 5,817 5,911 9,002 2,881 5,891 195,045 102,855 57,203 53,005 106,656 139,294 114 7,254 10,416 3,713 2,497 21,768 224 107 580 1,554 4,298 7,575 20,363 25,107 7,196 44,419 4,898 1,321 999 3,966 5,834 5,120 3,337 2,035 871 3,639 4,638 3,829 1,119 ],495i 760 2,874 3,176 3,011 13,008 12,549 15,794 7,847 8,016 9,606 1,070 K6 270 372 1,196 235 7 63 164 143 3 427 16,638 791 1,245 2,462 2,327 5,503 1,212 447 5,276 683 585 480 1,955 2,666 2,499 677 124 362 23 158 304 74 11 1,339 960 1,171 897 914 1,122 696 298 897 451 237 329 341 341 479 366 102 132 800i 909 726 1,020 763 1,101 425 673 354 209 738 299 96 257 279 150 503 62 77 25 6 19 10 529 1,217 336 1,303 550 1,174 145 41 U 192 263 221 426 35 11 850,259 720,040 912,313 737,616 416,742 409,430 197,651 136,884 93,672 84,617 119,141 216,300 4 285 28 17,130 11,055 19,265 23,950 16,978 20,951 812 394 380 268 563 144 182} 395 105J 380 162 263 199J 9 1,061J. 1,435 46 37 2 44 152J 137 23 30 457 7J 2Si 479i 993 1,797 37 23,329 17,744i 19,050 19,018 22,249 22,442 3,379 3,356 2,914 1,554 1,390 601 3,235 2,659 3,356 2,745 2,058 2,709 1,217 2,400 1,267 1,902 2,216 1,601 18,624 12,090 19,946 26,222 20,563 23,379 37,050 17,337 4,095 7,609 3,644 8,929 6,449 2,745 755 319 646 1,608 962 975 40 334 4 371 69 34 1,994 249 678 573 1,350 175 402 54 29 402 150 238 260 449 1,831 1,757 2,168 2,101 642 . 911 54,824 25,360 13,534 19,350^ 9,497 15,589 (a) These are embraced under ox and cow* 748 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The aggregate value of cargoes from tlie United States imported into the port of Buenos Ayres during the year 1851, was $600,181; 1852, $659,915; 1853, $4'9'7,836. The aggregate values of exports from the port of Buenos Ayres to all countries, in 1854, is stated, by French authorities, as follows: To Great Britain 10,060,558 francs. United States 9,168,799 Spain 11,255,339 Hanse- towns 5,186,907 France 5,356,352 Sardinia 3,796,605 Brazil 1,785,272 Belgium . Denmark Sweden.... Norway .., Hanover . . 388,183 947,840 927,604 95,450 204,332 Holland 1,329,547 Portugal Argentine Republic. Uruguay Prussia Two Sicilies 125,599 366,061 212,038 49,853 30,733 Total in francs 51,287,072 Total in dollars $9,744,543 From statements published by the minister of finance of the State of Buenos Ayres to the legislative chambers, on the revenues of the customs, it appears that there was imported, in 1854, of merchandise of every description, in value, as follows: Sundry articles, paying 5 per cent, duty 16,677,540 paper piastres. Sundry articles, paying 10 per cent, duty 1,437,987 Silks, paying 12 per cent, duty 5,811,241 Sundry articles, paying 15 percent, duty 134,494,833 Articles made up, and provisions, paying 20 per cent. duty.. 44,800,330 Liquors, paying 25 per cent, duty 39,424,824 Articles free of duty, or entered in contraband 57,353,245 Total 300,000,000 Value in U. S. currency. 115,000,000 Total exports of Buenos Ayres in 1854 $9,744,543 Total imports of Buenos Ayres in 1854 15,000,000 Balance of trade against Buenos Ayres in 1854 5,255,457 The large balance of trade, however, which appears against this port, (as is the case also with the port of Montevideo,) is accounted for by the fact that the wants of the interior provinces of Paraguay, and even of many places in Bolivia, are supplied from these two points. ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 749 Wool constitutes upwards of twenty-five per cent, in value of all the imports into the United States from the Argentine Republic. This is shown by the following tabular statement made lip from annual Eeports of the Treasury Department on Commerce and Navigation for the years named, exhibiting the total values of imports into the United States from the Argentine Republic, from 1851 to 1S55, together with the values of wool imported from the same country during the same period : Years. Total values of imports. Values of wool. 1851 $3,265,382 2,091,097 2,186,641 2,144,971 2,545,087 $1,328,337 704,084 588,653 854,232 627,718 1852 1853 1854 1855 Of the total quantity of wool imported into the United States from all countries, about one- third, or nearly so, is received from the Argentine Republic. This is shown by the following tabular statement, derived from the same sources as the former, exhibiting the quantities of wool imported into the United States from all countries, from 1851 to 1855, together with the quantities imported from the Argentine Republic during the same period: Years. All countries. Argentine Kepublic. 1851 32,548,491 18,341,298 21,595,079 20,200,110 18,534,415 12,106,536 7, 084, 742 5,745,857 ! 6,255,698' 5,966,969 1852 1853., 1854- 1855 The preceding table exhibits an aggregate of 111,219,393 pounds of wool imported from all countries^ and of 37,159,802 pounds from the Argentine Republic, or an annual average of 22,243,878 of the former, and of 7,431,960 of the latter; being a fraction over one-third of the whole. KEGULATIONS OF THE POET OP BUENOS AYBES. Article 1. All vessels at anchor in the port, whether national or foreign, shall render every assistance in case of a vessel breaking adrift, or of any other accident; or, in default, shall suffer the penalties established by law, and in proportion to the gravity of the case. Art. 2. All vessels at anchor in the roads must have their anchors buoyed, on account of the shallow water ; or pay all damages which may occur to any vessel or boat, from this pre- caution having been neglected. Art. 3. Any vessel losing a buoy from her anchorsshall report it immediately to the captain of the port, who will send off a pilot to replace it. No anchor can be weighed without permis- sion of the captain of the port. Art. 4. Pilots on bringing vessels up in the roads are to inform the captain what articles are necessary for their perfect safety, and, in case there being any wanting, report it to the captain of the port. Pilots neglecting to do so will be punished with the rigor of the law. V50 COMMEKCIAL DIGESTS. Art. 5. If in a gale the anchor of any vessel should happen to drag, or" the cable part, either on account of said cable not corresponding with the size of the vessel or the anchor, or from rottenness, said vessel will be responsible for all the damages occasioned thereby. Art. 6. Any vessel from sea, that may anchor in this port without applying to a pilot, will be liable to pay all damages that may occur, and cannot claim redress if she, in any way, sustains damage. Art. 7. Any vessel at anchor with her boats astern, and not hauling them alongside upon seeing another under sail, so as to give a free passage, cannot claim for the damages she may suffer, and shall be obliged to pay for those occasioned. Art. 8. No vessel at anchor in the roads can heave ballast, or anything that does not float, overboard ; and if such be proved to have been done, the act will be punished according to law. Art. 9. No vessel, excepting on her arrival, can salute in the inner roads without obtaining permission of the captain of the port. Those which do so will suffer the penalties the govern- ment may determine on. Art. 10. All boats, belonging to merchant vessels at anchor in either roads, shall put off from shore one hour after sunset. Art. 11. All boats that may be found on the beach, from the time of firing the evening gun until daybreak, will be seized, and the crew punished according to the gravity of the case. Pilot dues of the port of Buenos Ayres. All vessels drawing 10 feet, pay 40 silver dollars. tc il t( ii li 11 13 14 15 17 " 19 20 21 50 70 90 110 150 210 240 260 All vessels, excepting packets, requiring a pilot to enter the inner roads, pay 200 dollars currency, (equal to $10 U. S. coin — the currency dollar being, at present, equal to five cents, U. S.) When leaving port, whether taking a pilot or not, they pay 200 dollars currency, ($10, U. S.) Any vessel that may enter the inner roads without a pilot, wishing to be moored or to change anchorage, pays 100 dollars currency ($5 U. S.) Port charges. For entering. — Tonnage dues, per ton (currency) $ ^\= " Visit and regulation " 7 = " Stamps for opening register, &c. " 169 = For clearing. — Tonnagedues " 14= " Crew list " 12 = Bill of health " 6 = ^0 07^ cents, U. S. 35 8 45 n 60 30 By the following law, passed by the Senate and Chamber of Representatives of Buenos Ayres, and officially announced under date of September 6, 1854, it will be seen that vessels of friendly nations enjoy the same privileges, and are subject to the same restrictions, as national vessels : "From the date of the present law, there will not be charged in the ports of the state of Buenos Ayres, to the vessels of friendly nations of more than 120 tons, for tonnage dues, port dues, pilotage, salvage in case of damage or shipwreck, more than will be charged to Argentine vessels." ARaENTINE REPUBLIC. T51 This law places tlie vessels of tlie Xlnited States on an equality witli those of Buenos Ayres ; while, under an old law, the ship's register is taken as evidence of her measurement. By a recent treaty with Brazil, the free navigation of the Parana and Paraguay is secured. The tariff of import duties adopted by the Argentine Eepuhlic is based on the per cent, ad valorem principle, breadstuffs excepted ; while export duties are chiefly specific. Both tariffs will be found in Part II of this work. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with the Argentine Repuhlic, exhibit- ing the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. Years. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALDE OF EXPORTS. VALUE OF lUFORTS. AMEEIOAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic produce. Foreign produce. Total. Entered the United States. Cleared from United States. Entered tbe United States. Cleared from United States. 1845... 1846... 1847... 1848... 1849... 1850... 1851... 1852... 1853... 1854... 1855... $342,575 147,307 123,954 208,703 595,518 718,331 659,852 518,007 618,855 658,720 810,756 $160,431 38,118 52,135 25,225 172,076 346,311 414,916 281,110 262,611 103,005 158,671 $503,006 185,425 176,089 233,928 767,594 1, 064, 642 1,074,768 799,117 881,466 761,725 969,427 $1,750,698 799,213 241, 209 1,026,097 1,709,827 2,653,877 3,265,382 2,091,097 2,186,641 2,144,971 2,545,087 11, 653 5,988 693 695 11,929 13,930 13,382 13,453 11,337 11,245 12,583 10,667 4,134 2,237 536 9,397 16,107 11,661 13,711 10, 749 8,526 18, 584 1,889 987 843 714 7,282 13,081 11,005 4,872 4,741 1,669 707 1,450 5,492 9,260 5,185 4,381 4,639 1,830 2,315 PARAGUAY. [96] PAKAGUAY. This is the smallest of the South American republics, embracing an area of but 72,000 square miles, although its population, composed chiefly of civilized Indians, and estimated at 300,000, is more than twice that of Uruguay, with an area of more than 73,000 square miles. Paraguay possesses unrivalled natural advantages as an agricultural country, in its fertile soil, genial climate, and abundance of water. The republic lies between the Parana and the Paraguay rivers — the former running along its entire eastern and southern borders, and the latter along its western border. These two rivers constitute the leading thoroughfares of com- merce between the republic and foreign countries; and, as early as 1842, Paraguay opened the navigation of both to foreign commerce. It was not, however, until 1852, when the La Plata was thrown open to the commerce of the world, that this concession became of any actual value. In the forests of Paraguay almost every variety of valuable timber abounds ; dye-woods, gums, drugs, perfumes, vegetable oils, fruits, and yerha mate, or Paraguay tea, are among the staple natural productions ; immense herds of cattle roam over the plains, supplying hides, tallow, hair, horns, bones, &c.; and, on the alluvial tracts, the sugar-cane, rice, tobacco, cotton, and Indian corn, with all the products of the tropical and temperate zones, are extensively culti- vated. The commercial policy of Paraguay, however, is not of that liberal character to attract foreign merchants to its ports. In addition to the expense of purchasing stamped paper, by means of which every oflScial transaction in the republic is conducted, and without which foreign mer- chants cannot enter the markets, the internal taxes are such as to discourage efforts to develop the resources of the country, and, as a consequence, to oppress its commercial industry. The aggregate of these taxes bearing specially upon commerce is stated to amount to 26 per cent, on the value of every article sent to market. They consist of diezmos (tithes), 10 per cent.; export duty, 10 per cent.; and on rent of lands (almost wholly owned by the State, and fixed at a high valuation) 6 per cent. If to this be added an import duty of 20 per cent, on almost every article which the United States could send to the markets of Paraguay, it can be readily comprehended why the name of this republic does not appear among those of other foreign nations, the details of whose commerce are minutely set forth in the iannual Keport on Commerce and Navigation, prepared by the Department of the Treasury of the United States. The "stamps," to which allusion has been made, are divided into eight classes: those of the 1st class cost 25 cents; of the 2d, 37^ cents; of the 3d, $1; of the 4th, $2; of the 5th, $6; of the 6th, $8 ; of the 7th, |16 ; and of the 8th, $26. Permission to discharge or to load a vessel of 21 tons or 2,000 tons, can only be obtained on a stamp of this last description; so that to un- load a cargo valued at $100 will cost $26— all the same as if it were worth $100,000; and in like manner as to taking cargo on board. The foreign trade of Paraguay is conducted chiefly through the ports of the Argentine Con- federation, especially that of Buenos Ayres, and those of the republic of Uruguay. The exports consist of yerba mate, (with which the hills of the country are literally covered,) tobacco, cigars, woods, hides, hair, leather, molasses, rum, white starch, mandioca, peanuts, beans, and oranges; of which latter article not less than 30,000 bushels are said to be exported per month. 756 COMMEKOIAL DIGESTS. The exports from the United States which would most readily find a market in Paraguay are cotton domestics, calicoes, plain cloths, clocks, boots and shoes, gunpowder and shot, saddlery, and agricultural implements. If the navigation of the river Vermejo, an affluent of the Paraguay, were opened to foreign commerce, or were even permitted to the Argentine flag, the United States would, it is believed, soon enjoy the entire foreign trade of the upper provinces of the Argentine Confederation. This privilege, however, is refused by the government of Paraguay, notwithstanding the river Ver- mejo, in its entire course, lies within the territories of the sister republic. A similarly selfish and illiberal policy excludes foreign vessels from the port of Albuquerque, a place 1,600 miles above Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, in the Brazilian province of Matto Grosso, which the government of that empire has declared open to the commerce of the world. Brazilian vessels are not permitted to descend the river Paraguay, which takes its rise in this province, nor are foreign vessels allowed to ascend higher than the city of Asuncion ; thus cutting off all trade with the richest portions of Bolivia and the fertile province of Matto G-rosso, in Brazil. The claim of Paraguay to exercise jurisdiction over both banks of this river, by prohibiting its navigation above Asuncion, and by closing the navigation of the Vermejo, both to the citizens of the Argentine Eepublic and to foreigners, has never been admitted. A settlement of the ques- tion on principles of right and justice would largely augment the commerce of the United States on the Plata and its affluents, (a) In 1853, the United States steamer Water Witch, of 400 tons burden, and 9 feet draught, was despatched, under the command of Lieutenant Thomas J. Page, to make an exploration and survey of the tributaries of the river La Plata. The results of this expedition will, doubtless, contribute, in an eminent degree, to the advancement of commerce, and the promotion of science. The navigation of the Paraguay river, which empties into the Parana at the distance from Buenos Ayres of 800 miles, was extended to the parallel of 18° south latitude ; making the entire distance of the rivers Parana and Paraguay, through which this small sea-steamer had passed from Buenos Ayres to Corumba, (an interior military post of Brazil,) equal to about 1,700 miles. There is no doubt that the navigation of the Paraguay, during the season of high water, could have been carried by the Water Witch to a still greater extent; but, at the time of this exploration, any farther ascent was prohibited by Brazil. Permission was, however, subse- quently granted by the imperial government, but refused by that of Paraguay. The expedition was thus restricted to a more limited exploration of the upper waters of this river than had been anticipated. It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when all such prohibitions will be removed, and this interesting region of unknown country brought to the knowledge of the world. The navigation of the Paraguay has thus been extended beyond Asuncion, to the distance of (o) Information is received, as these pages go to press, that a treaty between Paraguay and Brazil was duly signed and ratified June 14, 1856, by which it is stipulated that the waters of the upper Paraguay shall henceforth be open to gene- ral navigation and commerce. This will bring, not only the produce of the Brazilian province of Matto Grosso, but also the agricultural and mineral wealth of Bolivia, to an Atlantic market. The value of these mineral resources may be inferred from the fact, that there are stated to exist in this region upwards of a thousand valuable mines unworked, it having been found impossible, hitherto, to convey machinery thither, across the mountains, from the Pacific coast. A highway to the spot is now opened from the Atlantic, as broad as the Mississippi, a,nd equally accessible. The rich province of Matto Grosso, with its diamonds, gold, silver, and copper, is also brought in connexion with the good and contiguous seaports, Buenos Ayres and Montevideo, by the Paraguay river ; and Cujaba, its capital, in the centre of the mining dis ■ tricts, can easily be reached from Asuncion. Dianantino, about 200 miles from Cujaba, sends its produce to Santarem, on the Amazon, and thence to Para. This tedious and circuitous route is now superseded, as the Paraguay connects these markets with the estuary of the Plata. A Paraguayan journal "La Kacional," of August 11, 1856, publishes the subjoined regulations ; "All vessels from foreign ports to the Brazilian ports above shall take pilots at Asuncion, Concepcion, the junction of the Apa, and Olimpo. The vessels that descend that river from the upper Paraguay are obliged to take pilots from Olimpo, the junction of the Apa, and Concepcion ; and the wages, of the said pilots are to be agreed upon at the captain of the port's bureau in Asuncion." PARAGUAY. 757 650 miles. This fact has induced the Brazilian government to avail itself of this important channel of communication, by steam^ with her northwestern province, Matto Grosso, in which is found the most valuable diamond region of the empire. Notwithstanding the progress of the expedition on the waters of Paraguay was arrested be- fore it had achieved the interesting task of developing that entire region of country, enough has been done to demonstrate the fact that an extended field for commerce has been opened; and already do we find our commercial community alive to its importance, ere the results of the work have become fully known. In the exploration of the waters of the Argentine Confederation, by the discovery of the navigability of the river Salado — which takes its rise in the Cordilleras of Salta, and empties into the Parana river at Santa Fe — a water-communication of 800 miles in extent has been pointed out. Heretofore, all the products and merchandise conveyed from and to the northwestern provinces of the confederation were transported by means of ox- wagons. For these the steamer will be substituted, and the Salado will become the medium of transportation. To accomplish this, the enterprise of the North Americans is looked to with the hope that the developments, when made, will induce the establishment of steam communication between the eastern and western portions of the confederation. In the construction of steam- ers for the tributaries of the Plata, the people of the country would naturally look to the United States, where there are rivers of the same character, for whose rapid navigation the ingenuity of builders has ever been alive to the most improved plans of both hull and engine. In 1854, a small steamer was constructed at Asuncion, under the direction of the officers of the Water Witch, about ninety feet long, and propelled by two high-pressure engines. She was called the "Pilcomayo," and was the first steamer constructed on the Plata or its tributa- ries. Three or four other small steamers have since been launched on those waters. (a) An expedition was despatched by the French government, a few years since, for the explora- tion of the Parana and Paraguay rivers ; and the following passage is translated from a report made in March, 1855, by Captain Picard, to whose charge it had been committed: "When we consider the excellent means of communication which nature has opened to the provinces of the Argentine Confederation and the Republic of Paraguay, we cannot but regret to see them unemployed and deserted. The absence of population, continual civil war, and the administrative policy of Paraguay, have, so far, been the chief obstacles to progress. "Let us indulge the hope that the day is not distant when the aspect of things will change, and these magnificent countries will fiourish under the blessings of a more advanced civili- zation." Paraguay can hardly be said to possess a merchant marine. In 1851, there were distributed between the two ports of Asuncion and Villa del Pilar 12 vessels, averaging each about 42 tons. In 1852, there were 11 of the same description, and in 1853 only 9. , Besides these, there is one brig belonging to the government, which is said to monopolize almost exclusively the commerce of the state. The foreign vessels engaged in the trade of Paraguay in 1852 were 81, with an aggregate of 4,582 tons, from the Argentine provinces south, below the Paraguay river, and 3 American vessels, tonnage not known. All these vessels trade with the ports of Asuncion and "Villa del Pilar, which, with the port of EQCarnacion, on the Parana, are alone open to foreign commerce. There is no treaty between the United States and Paraguay. With England a treaty was ratified November 2, 1853, by the second article of which the republic of Paraguay concedes to the merchant flag of Great Britain the free navigation of the river Paraguay as far as Asuncion, the capital of the republic, and of the right side of the Parana, from where it belongs to her, as far as the city of Encarnacion. It stipulates, also, that British subjects shall be at liberty, (a) On the 2lBt of July, 1856, the Ypora, or Water Witch, was launched at Asuncion with great ceremony. At the same date the Paraguay Bteam-propeller "Rio Blanco," of 600 tons hurden, was completing her cargo of tohacco and ship- timher for England ; heing the first vessel to attempt a direct voyage from Asuncion to Europe. 758 COMMBECIAL DIGESTS. with their shijjs and cargoes, freely and securely to come to^ and to leave, all the places and ports of the said territories ; hire houses and warehouses ; and trade in all kinds of produce, manufactures, and merchandise of lawful commerce, subject to the usages and established cus- toms of the country: also, that they may discharge the whole or part of their cargo at the ports of Pilar and where commerce with other nations may be permitted, or proceed with the whole or part of their cargo to the port of Asuncion, according as the captain, owner, or other duly authorized person shall deem expedient ; and that, in the same manner, shall be treated and considered such Paraguayan citizens as shall arrive at the ports of Great Britain with car- goes in Paraguayan or British vessels. There is an American company established in Paraguay, under a charter from the State of Rhode Island, which has been engaged in commercial operations for some time, under the title of ' ' The United States and Paraguay Navigation Company. ' ' The chief object of this company is to introduce steam navigation on the rivers of Paraguay ; but how far it has progressed in the accomplishment of this object, information is not at hand. The only direct trade, however, yet opened between the United States and this republic, consists of some shipments of cigars and samples of wood made by this company. All other articles of Paraguayan produce which reach the United States come through the ports of Buenos Ayres or Montevideo, and are included in the custom-house returns to the Treasury Department of exports from the republics to which these places respectively belong. The government of Paraguay puts forth no statistics relative to the commercial movements of the republic, and it is said to be quite impossible to obtain information on the subject from its administrative officials. Complete commercial statistics, which may be viewed as strictly accu- rate, cannot, therefore, be looked for in this Digest; but the subjoined statements, derived from a Memoir prepared in 1853 by M. L. Geofroy, an attache of the mission extraordinary sent by France to the Plata and Paraguay, are, no doubt, reliable, so far as they extend; Exports of Asuncion from July, 1851, to December 31, 1852. Tobacco — 229,000 arrobas, at 12 reals per arroba(a) ., |343,500 Yerba mat6 — 1*75,000 arrobas, at 20 reals per arroba 437,500 Hides— Dry, 100,000, at 10 reals each 125,000 Tanned, 35,000, at $3 each 105,000 Wood — Cedar, 3 inches thick by 18 inches in breadth, 50,000 yards, at 4 reals per yard 25,000 Cabinet, a sloop-load of 7,000 to 8,000 arrobas 6,000 Hair — 600 quintals, at |8 per quintal 4,800 Sweetmeats — 20,000 ajrobas, at 6 reals per arroba 15,000 Cigars— 2,000,000, at $2 per 1,000 4,000 250,000, at $5 per 1,000 (in boxes of 100) 1,250 Total value 1,067,050 Sundry products — White wax, rum, molasses (several cargoes), common wood (Urunday and Lapacho), several cargoes of oranges, maize, pulse, &c.; cotton, 1,500 arrobas; tiger skins, 500, at $2 each; Indian rub- ber; otter-skins; hammocks; baskets, &c.; fringed napkins; lace, &c. 27,800 Total 1,094,850 It is believed that the above total might be increased at least one-third, could exact state- ments be obtained. If we add the export duties of 10 and 6 per cent, on the articles exported — yerba and wood, which are government monopolies, and are exempt from duty, being excepted, (a) The arroba equals 25 lbs.; the real 12i cents. PAEAGUAY. 759 and whicli would- amount to about $T0,000 — and $20,000 in silver, exported in contraband, and $10,000 for sundry charges — we have $1,500,000, or an amount equal to the value of imports during the same period. Indeed, such is the scarcity of money in circulation, that the trade is, necessarily, one of barter ; so that the figures which represent the value of imports may, also, generally^ give the value of exports. The following statements are derived from sources believed to represent the commercial move- ments of Paraguay more accurately than the summary made up from M. Geofroy's Memoir: Statement exhibiting the values of articles of merchandise imported, and the quantities and values of articles exported, at the port of Asuncion, in 1854. IMPORTED. EXPORTED, Grey shirtinge and drills Bleached ..do Prints and muslins Shawls and handkerchiefs Ticking and cotton pantaloon stuff. Twill Thread Bobbins Book muslin Socks and stockings Woolen goods Silk goods Eibbons Hats Ladies' dresses Umbrellas Boots and shoes Hardware Wines and spirits Books Chairs Salt - Sugar Flour -. Medicines Glass Fire-works Bed beads Unenumerated articles Total --• Articles. $112,559 41,645 i03,878 51,740 12,794 585 14,799 1,559 4,543 400 68,697 13,922 4,012 10,282 3,096 330 2,498 32,470 7,295 2,034 360 12,437 1,521 1,235 1,125 539 703 1,232 77, 233 585,523 Yerba , Tobacco Cigars Timber Eaw hides Tanned hides . Horse hair Tan bark Starch Oranges Sweetmeats Sugar Sugar-cane Bum or cafia Indian coin Rice Beans Meal (mandioca) - Ground-nuts Algersobilla Padoles Bamboos Lime Earthenware Number, weight, or measure. (a) Total . Arrobas ....do M Varas Pesadas Number Arrobas ....do ....do Almudes Arrobas Asumbres .. Arrobas Canes Frascos Almudes . - Arrobas ,...do .-..do ....do .-..do Dozens Number Fanegas Quantities. 85,676 103,868 5,264 80,313 38,957 15,556 3,205 15,920 23,325 266,893 29,588 30,668 7 35,600 ' 12,534 29,992 54 3,394 706 6,264 775 196 3,724 200 $282,489 148, 164 12,568 49,050 156,287 66,650 9,833 2,719 10,596 11,288 19,086 1,279 20 53 3,068 597 17 984 179 1,164 96 472 235 500 63 777,457 (a) The arroba equals 25 lbs. ; the cubic vara about 20^ cubic feet ; the pesada 36 lbs. ; the almude about three-fourths of a bushel ; the asumbre about one quart ; the frasco about half a gallon ; the fanega about four bushels. It may be observed that these denominations of weight and measure represent different quantities in different countries, and even in the same countries, as regards different articles. 760 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. The imports given in the above statement were all introduced into Paraguay through the ports of Montevideo and Buenos Ayres. Nearly one-third came from France; the remaining two-thirds from Great Britain, the United States, and Germany. The import duties, which are 20 per cent, on articles of necessity, and 25 per cent, on articles of luxury, are levied on a lower valuation than the actual worth of the goods, so that the total amount of importations for 1854 may be considered to represent at least $700,000. The export duty is 10 per cent, on most articles ; starch being among the exceptions, which pays but 6 per cent. Of the exports of 1854, 82,882 arrobas of yerba, 2,074 pesadas of raw hides, 52,670 varas of timber, and 311 arrobas of horse-hair, paid no duty ; these articles having been exported and sold by the government. The aggregate value of the articles is about $300,000, leaving about $477,500 worth of produce exported by the trade, and a balance of $222,500 against the market, assuming $700,000 as the actual value of the imports. Statement exhibiting the values of imports and exports at Asuncion from, 1851 to 1854, inclusive. Yeara. Imports. Exports. Total. Duties paid. 1851 No data $540, 150 406, 688 585,523 S341,380 474,499 691,932 777,457 No data. 31,014,649 1,098,620 1,362,980 Ko data. 5123,276 56,564 123,289 1852 . - . 1853 1854 Among the importations of 1854^ tissues and wines hold the first rank ; or, rather, they con- stitute four-fifths of the total value of imports. NAVIGATION. Transportation by land being extremely difficult, the commercial movements already analysed were efiected by water — by the Paraguay, an afiiuent of the Parana. From the opening of the port of Asuncion in July, 1851, to December 1852, there arrived about 120 sloops, of 6,000 ar- robas, on an average, for each. A cargo of 7,000 arrobas equals 60 tons, which would give an average of from 40 to 80 tons for each vessel. From January 1, to February 28, 1853, there arrived at Asuncion 30 Sardinian vessels. These vessels, the owners of which, or the greater part of them, were Sardinians, sailed under the Uruguayan or Paraguayan flag. There arrived, also, up to March 10, 1853, at this port, 19 sloops. In 1854 there arrived 160 merchant vessels, averaging each 50 tons burden. Of these, 2 were British, 31 were under the flag of the republic, 116 belonged to the Argentine Confedera- tion, and 11 to Uruguay. STAMPS. It has already been observed that every branch and variety of business, civil as well as com- mercial, in Paraguay, is burdened with onerous taxes for the purchase of stamps, which are classified according to a regular system. The following is a summary of the latest decree, covering twenty-three articles, regulating this classification: Stamps of the 1st class are required to legalize commercial passports, or passports for the interior, and must be procured .by natives as well as by foreigners ; the cost of stamps of this class is two reals each. Stamps of the 2d class are substituted by those of the 1st class as regards passports for the interior, but for all other purposes remain as before this decree ; cost three reals. Stamps of the 3d class remain unclianged, as fixed by the decree of January, 1842; cost $1. Contracts, receipts, promissory notes, and bills of exchange to the amount of PARAGUAY. 761 ), may be written on common paper; to that of $50 to $100, under the 1st stamp; to that of $100 to $200, under the 2d stamp ; to that of $200 to $300, under the 3d stamp. Natives desi- ring passports to foreign parts must procure a stamp of the 4th class ; cost $2. This stamp also legalizes the sale of slaves and that of real estate from $300 to $800 in value ; hut for a value of from $800 to $2,000, the stamp must be of the 5th class, cost $6 ; from $2,000 to $3,000, of the 6th class, cost $8; from $3,000 to $6,000, of the 7th class, cost $16 ; and from $6,000 up- wards, of the 8th class, cost $26. The sale of vessels is effected as follows: Values from $50 to $100, under the 4th stamp; from $100 to $400, under the 5th stamp ; from $400 to $1,000, under the 6th stamp; from $1,000 to $2,000, under the 7th stamp ; and from $2,000 up, under the 8th stamp. Foreigners desiring passports for the exterior must procure a stamp of the 5th class, but, for commercial passports, the 3d class will suffice. Special powers of attorney must be under the 4th class, but general powers of attorney under the 5th class. Endorsed bills, and the first sheet of depositions, or of public instruments of whatever class or nature, also require this class of stamp; but, after the first sheet, all others may be under the 3d stamp. Licenses for tav- erns kept by foreigners, married and not naturalized in the republic, must be under the 6th stamp — the 5th stamp (to be renewed after the first six months) being sufficient for natives. The 6th stamp is required also for patents for lotteries, bowling-alleys, and cock-pits, to be good for the whole year. The 7th stamp is required for dry-goods shops (wholesale or retail) kept by natives or naturalized foreigners, to be renewed with every new assortment. The 8th stamp must be procured by foreigners who are married, but not naturalized, or who have re- sided in the republic six years, for retail dry-goods stores, subject io the preceding condition respecting new assortments. Under the same stamp such persons can obtain patents for each wholesale transaction. Importers of merchandise, import duties being paid, do not, however, require any patents for their wholesale transactions. The 8th stamp, renewable every four months, is required also for auction shops, whether conducted by natives or foreigners. The same, renewable every six months, must be procured for billiard-rooms, tanneries, and silver- smith's stores. For all other trades and workshops, the 6th stamp is required for natives, and the 7th stamp for foreigners ; both good for the whole year. Other articles of this decree relate to the dispositions necessary to protect the revenue derived from stamps, and to give it effect. TARIFF. The customs tariff of Paraguay, now in force in that republic, is that promulgated by a decree given at Asuncion, January 2, 1846, by the President, Carlos Antonio Lopez, of which the subjoined is a translation : Experience having shown that some of the custom-house regulations of January 13, 1842, and of the decree of January 3, 1845, do not answer the end for which they were promulgated; and it being the desire of the supreme government of the republic to promote the progress and development of its industrial and commercial resources, it has resolved : Chapter I. — Importation duties. Article 1. All machines, industrial and agricultural, and all nautical, artistic, and scien- tific instruments, which are not made here, nor are in general use in the republic, shall be free from duties ; also, gold and silver, coined or in bullion. ^ Art. 2. The different kinds of import duties are abolished. The goods mentioned in table No. 1, will pay 25 per cent.; and those in table No. 2, 20' per cent. Chap. II.— Exportation duties. Art. 3. Those goods which are mentioned in table No. 2, shall pay 6 per cent, export duties. [9« ] 762 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Aet. 4. Export of gold or silver, coined or in bullion, is allowed by payment of 10 per cent., the same as any kind of dry goods. Any attempt to defraud the custom-house shall be fined, by confiscation of the amount of money which was intended to be taken away, and, moreover, by the payment of 50 per cent. Chap. III. — Duties of storage. Art. 5. Imported dry goods will be stored in the custom-house until they are despatched. If they are not deposited longer than thirty days, they shall pay 1 per cent, storage; but, if longer, they shall pay \\ per cent, for every additional month, whether the month shall have expired or not. Chap. IV. — Duties of re-exportation and transhipment. Abx. 6. Foreign goods, which are re-exported, or, having been introduced for ocmmerce in this republic, transhipped, shall pay only 2 per cent. Chap. V. — Custom-house duties. Art. 7. Foreign goods, which have been transhipped from other custom-houses of the republic, shall be accompanied by a way-letter, which will show that the import duties have been already paid, and shall pay in the custom-house where they arrive not more than 2 per cent. This shall be adjusted in a convenient way, and there shall be no storage paid. Chap. VI. — Anchorage duties. Art. 8. Foreign vessels, which come to trade in this republic, and are of more than 20 tons burden, shall pay 1 real for each 20 tons for 50 days from their arriving at, or passing up- wards from, the port of Pilar ; after which, the duty will cease, whatever be their stay. If they come in ballast, or with less than the third of a cargo, they will pay only half the duty. Art. 9. If any of the fluvial powers of the Plata, Parana, or Paraguay, do not exact the same, or exact higher or less anchorage duties from vessels of this republic, entire reciprocity will be observed in this respect. Chap. VII. — Appraising of goods for recovering duties. Art. 10. Goods for import, export, re-export, or transhipment, will be regulated according to the market price of this place, until a specific tariff is published. Art. 11. The collectors of the custom-houses shall propose, monthly, to the supreme govern- ment the names of six merchants, who may serve for appraisers for one month. In the list pro- posed can also be included three foreign merchants of well-known probity and intelligence. Art. 12. To proceed to the appraisement and despatch of goods, the collector will draw, by lot, in the presence of the interested party, the names of two merchants from among the six names approved of by the supreme government, which shall be in an urn, that they may serve as arbitrators. Art. 13. The arbitrators being united, the collector shall verify, with them, the appraisement which, being signed, will be remitted to the supreme government; and, in the mean time, the appraised goods can be desj)atched. Art. 14. In case the arbitrators cannot agree, or the collector dissents from their decision, or the interested party reclaims, on account of#a difference which is more than 5 per cent, proved by the price-current of the market, two other arbitrators shall he appointed by lot, and what the majority (including the vote of the collector) decides, shall be observed; the goods being despatched accordingly, unless reclamation be made to the supreme government. Art. 15. All transactions shall be public, and bills and proper certificates shall be given to the interested parties, if required. PAEAGUAY. 763 Chap. VIII. — Becovery of duties. Art. 16. The custom of receiving the duties in goods shall cease; the whole import duties shall be paid in current money. Akt. I'T. If the consignee has no cash to pay the duties, he may pass notes for one, two, or three months, to the amount of said duties, having deposited in the custom-house goods exceed- ing one-third the value of the duties. Art. 18. The notes being due and paid, the deposited goods will be delivered. On the con- trary, the notes not being paid when due, the goods will be sold at auction, at the door of the custom-house, and the money paid to the debtor, after deducting the amount of the duties. If the auction should not bring the full amount of the duties, the debtor shall pay the difference. Chap. IX. — Interest on custom-house notes. Art. 19. The notes mentioned in the foregoing article will pay ^ per cent, interest per month. The interest and the storage of the pledged goods shall be recovered at the same time with the payment of the notes. Chap. X. — Passports for shipping. Art. 20. All vessels, native and foreign, which leave the ports of the republic for foreign ports, must take passports for each voyage, and pay one real for each four tons of burden. Art. 21. The principle of reciprocity, established in article 9, shall be' observed in regard to the above-mentioned regulations. Chap. XI. — Miscellaneous. Art. 22. The six per cent, duties, which were collected on goods or invoices brought in dif- ferent ports of this republic, and transhipped here or at other ports of the country, are hence- forth abolished. Art. 23. No other duties shall be recovered on imports or exports, of whatever description or nature, than those established by this decree. Art. 24. Dispositions contrary to this decree are annulled. Table No. 1. — Merchandise which pays 25 per cent, import. Silk, raw or spun ; silk or woolen cloths, or mixed silk and woolen cloths ; ribbons ; clocks and watches; woo'den furniture ; looking-glasses; carriages and saddlery ; ready-made clothes; boots of all descriptions ; ponchos, saddle-cloths, and caparisons of leather ; wines ; cordials ; rums; vinegars; beer; cider; chewing tobacco ; salt; butter; perfumery. Table No. 2. — Merchandise tvhichpays ^ per cent, export. Indigo; chewing tobacco, and snuff; oils; wheat, or mandioca flour; wine; whiskeys; vine- gars, and all classes of liquors in this country; sugar; rice; soap; raw purple dye; white wax and honey. Under date of August 6, 1853, a decree was given at Asuncion, by the President of Paraguay, establishing a government monopoly of certain staple products, of which decree a translation is subjoined : The President of the republic considering: 1st. That, as yet, no answer has been received to the communication which the government of the republic directed, on the 28th May last, to his excellency the provisional Director of the Argentine Confederation, and to the ministers of Eng- land France', Sardinia, and the United States, concerning the protest of the 26th of said month 764 OOMMKRCIAL DiaESTS. against the impost of 5 per cent, whicli is levied in Corrientes upon the fruits and productions exported from the republic ; and, 2d. That this impost has caused a remarkable falling off in the price of the fruits and productions of the republic, and might occasion a panic in the agri- cultural districts; and, 3d. That the good condition of the national treasury can protect laborers with the security of a less serioiis sacrifice of their goods and fruits, ■while the impost continues, or its results upon the prosperity of our commerce are uncertain: It is accorded and decreed: Akticle 1. The general collectorship, procuring the necessary information regarding the prices current of the fruits and productions of the republic, will buy the articles of molasses, cotton, flour of mandioca, farina, and tobacco, and grains, at an advance on the market prices, during the continuance of the impost of 5 per cent., levied in Corrientes upon the fruits and pro- ductions of the republic. Aet. 2. The general collectorship shall empower its commissioners in the towns, counties, and departments, to pay cash, and establish depots with proper skill and care for the preserva- tion of the fruits which they buy on governmental account. Art. 3. The ministry of war will regulate, with reference to the two preceding articles, the remissions which he makes of these articles for the ordinary consumption of the national army, the encampments and frontier guards, and iron foundry. COJIPARATIVB STATEMENT OF THE COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES WITH PARAOUAY. The name of Paraguay, as has already been intimated in this Digest, has never appeared in the annual Eeports of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States on Commerce and Navigation. The "Comparative Statement," therefore, with which each of the other Digests has been concluded, cannot be supplied to this, owing to the absence of the indispensable data. URUGUAY. URUGUAY. This little republic, known also as the Banda Oriental, or the Cisplatine Kepublic, lies on the north coast of the estuary of the Rio de la Plata, and contains a population estimated at .120,000 — the least of any of the South American States — of which, about 16,000 reside at the capital, Montevideo. The soil of Uruguay is fertile, well watered by large rivers, and is peculiarly adapted to grazing and agriculture. Animal products are the staple domestic exports, and these consist principally of hides of horned cattle and horses, dry or salted, tallow, grease, bones, animal carbon, horns, horse-hair, cow-tails, sheep-skins, and wool. The character of the imports, especially from the United States, together with the average market prices of the articles at Montevideo, duties paid, may be gathered from the following table, made up from a late price- current of that port : Articles. Starch per quintal . . Spirits of turpentine per gallon.. Kum per 128 gallons.. Eice .... per arroba. . Sugar, refined do loaf do brown do Flour do Soap, yellow do Hams per poxind. . Westphalia do English do Cordage, United States per quintal.. Eussian do Lumber, pine. United States M. feet.. Dolls. Reas. 11 000 1 160 66 122 200 450 600 600 11 000 6 to 7 000 125 160 130 10 000 13 000 68 000 Lumber, Prussian M. feet Butter, United States per pound.. French do Dutch do Candle-wick, United States ...per arroba.. English do Brazilian do Cheese per pound.. pine-apple per dozen . . Tobacco, leaf, Virginia per quintal.. chewing do Bacon per arroba. . Caudles, sperm (4' s to 6's) per pound.. composite (stearine) do Wheat per Price. Dolls. Bean 90 COO 200 240 260 6 000 9 000 5 000 200 8 400 8 000 20 000 2a2 200 400 255 10 000 Note The dollar of Uruguay is computed at 800 reas. The United States dollar is current at only the same value, though intrinsically equal to the Spanish dollar, which is current at 1,000 reas. The five-franc piece is valued at 900 reas. The above list comprises the chief exports from the United States to Uruguay, and the prices seldom range lower than those given in the table. Miscellaneous cargoes, and cargoes of coals, are frequently despatched to the market of Montevideo. The latter article usually commands from $14 to $20 per ton, according to the wants of the market. The late civil war in this country, continuing during a period of nine years, has materially affected the foreign commerce of Uruguay. The great staple of the interior is the produce of cattle; but, in consequence of the immense slaughter of these animals, for their hides alone, by the troops of the hostile forces during the war, but little of this description of produce now comes in. The consequence is, that United States vessels, after discharging at Montevideo, usually proceed to Buenos Ayres, where they easily obtain homeward cargoes. This deficiency of their leading staple has directed the attention of capitalists and others to 768 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. agricultural pursuits ; and, possessing a soil highly favorahle to the cultivation of cereals, especially wheat and Indian corn, there is little douht that, if their agricultural industry is properly directed, and Uruguayans can be induced or permitted to substitute the ploughshare for the sword, they will, in a few years, oifer a formidable competition to the United States in sup- plying the markets of Brazil with fiour, in exchange for its coffee, sugar, and other produce. The political condition of the country during the past twenty years presents, however, but a feeble guaranty that such a result will be soon accomplished. Should it be otherwise, Uru- guay will open an ample field for the mechanical genius of the citizens of the United States, in the introduction of steam-mills for grinding wheat and corn — wind-mills, and those propelledby horse-power, having, as yet, alone been used in Uruguay, although few countries possess better facilities, in large rivers and numerous streams, for the application of water-power to industrial purposes. The government holds out every encouragement to foreign mechanics, by allowing them to exercise their trade as they may choose, and by admitting, free of duty, any machinery, or improvement in machinery, for agricultural and industrial purposes. Though there is no treaty existing between the United States and Uruguay, our commercial intercourse is on a footing of equality with that of other countries ; being favored by no privi- leges, and being subjected to no restrictions, not common to all other foreign nations. This intercourse is regulated by the legislation of the republic; and, during the past few years, has undergone several liberal and important modifications. Prior to 1849, an exorbitant impost of $15 per barrel was levied on the article of flour. By decree dated April 6th of that year, this duty was reduced to $2 50 per barrel, with a provision that " this impost shall last no longer than necessary to pay the debt incurred on the article of flour, the liquidation of which shall commence immediately." By subsequent decrees, bearing date, respectively, the 1st and 2d of April, 1852, the export duty on horse-hides, dry or salted, and the transit duties upon all merchandise, were abolished ; and the former duty of 20 cents per hide on ox and cow-hides, dry or salted, was reduced to 7^ cents per hide. By the new tariff, however, of October 11, 1853, now in force, the duty on flour is fixed at 35 per cent. ; and all products of the country, and all foreign merchandise free of import duty, or that has paid such duty on importation, are free of duty on being exported. The transit duty is also abolished. (a) The port regulations are liberal — vessels being allowed to remain in port 12 days without entering at the custom-house, and to land samples, so as to dispose of a part or the whole of their cargoes. Should they leave within that period without effecting a sale, they are subject only to pilotage, health-visit, bill of health, and stamps. The following statement exhibits the port charges on foreign vessels in the ports of Uruguay, in currency of 800 reas to the Montevidean dollar : noiia. Reas. Pilotage inward 10 000 Mooring 4 000 Tonnage duty 300 reas per ton (say on about 150 tons) 43 600 Fee of entry, if to discharge, $8 ; stamps for do. $12 20 000 Custom-house $1 per day while discharging (say 30 days) 30 000 Stamps in case of loading, and on being despatched 25 400 Hospital fees from $4 to $6, according to number of hands on board the vessel 5 000 Pilotage to Franquia 4 000 Bill of health 4 400 "Escribanos" (notary) fees, if for balance of cargo $8, or if the vessel load at Montevideo 12 000 Total in Montevidean currency 158 600 Total in Spanish currency $127 00 (a) This tariff has been superseded by another, bearing date July 19, 1856, which will be appended to this Digest. The provisions referred to in the text remain, however, quite the same. URUGUAY. 769 Vessels bearing the flag of the Uruguayan Republic pay only 200 reas per ton, 'as tonnage duty, and $2 for the health visit. The discrimination iu favor of the national flag is, therefore, on tonnage duty, 100 reas per ton, and for the health visit, upwards of 100 per cent, (a) A treaty of commerce and navigation, &c., was ratified between England and Uruguay, July It, 1843, which expired towards the close of 1853, and was not renewed at the latest dates from Montevideo. With France a preliminary treaty was concluded April 8, 1836, to continue in force until another treaty should be agreed upon ; or, should none such be subsequently en- tered into, then to continue fifteen years. The treaty with England, now lapsed, was based upon a principle of reciprocity ; and that with France, is upon the principle of the most favored nation. The merchant marine of Uruguay, it is believed, comprises but few, if any, vessels of more than 60 tons burden. It consists of about 300 vessels of between 20 and 50 tons each, averaging each about 6 men, or from 1,800 to 2,000 men in all. These are mostly engaged in the inter- nal and coasting trade, the latter chiefly with Brazil ; which trade is also open to foreign ves- sels, on the payment of the discriminating tonnage. Besides the above, there are five vessels, all of foreign construction, under the Uruguayan flag, measuring in the aggregate about 1,500 tons, which make voyages north of the equator. Statement exhibiting the number and tonnage of foreign vessels, distinguishing their nationality, entered and cleared at Montevideo, during the years 1852 and 1854, respectively — United States vessels excepted. Nationality. English Brazilian Danish Frencli Prussian Spanish Sardinian .. Hanse-towns, Swedish Norwegian . Portuguese .. Total 1852. ENTERED. 132 67 29 69 1 60 95 26 11 6 502 Tons. 28,393 11,206 3.927 16,216 225 11,692 13,510 4,316 2,200 1,450 1,293 94, 428 126 73 33 77 1 56 101 27 11 6 6 517 26,428 12,323 4,912 19,405 225 10,115 19,018 2,200 1,450 1,293 1854. Vessels, 97,369 83 79 49 69 5 182 55 43 16 7 4 592 19,313 15,177 7,702 19,384 1,210 36,335 10,218 8,935 3,549 1,598 759 124,180 54 70 37 49 3 135 52 31 14 5 5 455 Tons. 12,815 13,462 5,657 13,619 748 26,661 9,972 6,199 3,135 930 1,121 94,319 The following comparative statement, exhibiting a summary of the exportation of domestic produce from Montevideo during a period of four years, from 1852 to 1855, both inclusive, is derived from commercial authorities of that city : (o) Kemoved by later regulations. 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Tons. Cleared for — | Vessels. Tons. 5 3 6 4 1 1 1 2 1 1 1,863 1,582 1,638 741 244 253 296 440 201 276 3 2 597 602 ■ 378 665 1,521 2,202 1,697 470 621 183 201 Boston - - Boston 2 Salem Westlndies ' 2 Buenos Ayres _ --_.-■ 6 Lisbon _,-__ -... ._ Charleston, S. C. Bangor . ^ .... Rio de Janeiro 1 San Francisco 7 3 Elo Grande, Brazil 1 2 Buenos Ayres. ____.. Eio Grande, Brazil Savannah Total 1 1 Total 25 7,534 30 9,037 In 1854, the number of vessels under the United States flag which entered the port of Monte- video was 70, with an aggregate tonnage of 22,043 tons ; and the number cleared was 39, with an aggregate tonnage of 12,701 tons; Imports from the United States in 1854, according to official returns of Uruguay, consisted of rum, 453 barrels; spirits of turpentine, 262 barrels; starch, 2,556 casks and boxes ; rice, 2,169 casks; refined sugar, 1,797 casks; codfish, 312 boxes; tubs and buckets, 529 dozen ; bitumen, 133 barrels; cinnamon, 150 boxes; Chinese crackers, 998J packages; brooms, 1,474 dozen; flour, 19,993 barrels; (a) hams, 2,300; gin in bottles, 34,438 dozen; gin in demijohns, 31,748; gin in pipes, 200 ; lumber, 3,662,881 feet ; chairs 1,655 cases; tobacco (chewing), 1,142 boxes; stearine candles, 1,070 boxes. Subsequently to the completion of this Digest, information of important modifications in the commercial legislation of Uruguay came to hand, a summary of which, so far as applicable to foreign commerce, is subjoined : In accordance with a decree issued by the government of Uruguay, at Montevideo, September 1, 1854, vessels which have cleared for Buenos Ayres are allowed to call at any ports of the republic for purposes of commerce, on payment of the same consular duties which they would have paid had they been cleared at the ports of departure directly for Uruguay by the consuls of the republic. Vessels having cleared for Uruguayan ports, the papers of which shall not have been vised by the consuls of Uruguay, are required to pay double rates of consular duties : in the former case, the whole amount of duties to be applied to the "consular fund;" and in the latter, one-half the amount (of the double duties) to go to the public treasury. Mules to be observed by the captains of merchant vessels entering at the port of Montevideo. Article 33. Captains of merchant vessels must declare what port they cleared from ; what ports they called at; the ports at which they took in cargo ;-and the name of their consignor. Art. 34. Captains must present general and special manifests of cargoes, including stores on board, signed by themselves, or, in their default, by the supercargoes of the respective vessels. Art. 35. Manifests must describe all the packages on board, specifying their marks and num- (a) The number of barrel's was 27,236, at a value of Sl«5,174, according to the United States Treasury report for 1864, 772 - COMMERCIAL DIGKSTS. bers, as well as the names of those to whom they are consigned, according to the bills of lading. Every package not so described will be liable to seizure. Art. 36. Captains are notified that the manifest must agree exactly with the goods found on board, or with the bill of lading. Should any difference he detected, the captain will be liable to a fine of one thousand dollars, chargeable, upon the merchandise on board^ to the captain's account. Art. 37. As every pactage or bundle, whether belonging to the crew or otherwise, must be entered on the manifest, captains are notified that they must demand an accurate declaration from the crew, as well as from passengers, in order that the innocent may not suffer for the guilty. Art. 38. Captains cannot land until they have first delivered their manifest to the custom- house official. Such official will sign it, noting the day and hour of its delivery, and then transmit it to an inspector of the customs, who, after attaching his name to each sheet, forwards it to the collector general. Art. 39. Cajitains, if on board, or their representative, if on shore, will particularly take care that nothing shall be taken from the vessel, or received on board, without the written authority of the collector, under a penalty, for a violation of this article, of a fine of one thousand dollars, to be paid by the consignor, and applied to the state and to the informers. Art. 40. Captains, as soon as they go ashore, will present themselves at once before the col- lector, with a statement of cargo, or bills of lading, with a view to the verification of their manifest. Art. 41. Captains will be informed, in order to guard against involuntary errors, that they have twenty-four hours, counting from the time of delivering their manifests, for the correction of mistakes. Art. 42. Captains must certify at the bottom of their manifests that they are fully informed as to the penalties incurred by a violation of any of the preceding articles. Art. 43. Captains shall receive, on their arrival in port, a copy of these articles in English, Spanish, and French, from a custom-house official. Art. 60. Articles of apparel or of furniture, which are new, shall not be considered as bag- gage. The officers of the customs will, therefore, take care that neither sailors nor passengers who go ashore shall introduce into the stores of the city articles made up, hats, boots^ or other such new goods; all of which, if discovered, shall be immediately confiscated. Art. 103. All persons in easy circumstances, detected in aiding or abetting contraband movements, shall, besides the seizure of the goods, as hereinbefore provided, be amerced in a sum equal to ten per centum on the value of the goods so seized, to be estimated by the officers of the customs. In addition to the foregoing, it is also prescribed (articles 23 and 4*7) that no packages, no matter what their size or value, shall be forwarded to the interior without the written authority of the collector general, or his legal representative ; and that the hatches shall not be opened, nor shall any landing take place, or any articles be received on board, without such permission. Captains contravening these regulations are made liable to the penalties set forth in article 39. By a decree of October 11, 1853, the government of Uruguay opened to all flags the naviga- tion of the rivers and streams of the republic, on a footing of equality with the national flag; which decree was superseded by a brief enactment of June 17, 1854, as follows : Article 1. The navigable rivers and streams of the republic are open to the navigation and commerce of all nations. Art. 2. In the navigation of the rivers and streams, foreign vessels are subjected to the same regulations of police and of custom-houses with national vessels. The precise meaning of this act was, at flrst, in some doubt. It did not expressly declare whether or not it was applicable to the port of Montevideo. Upon reference to the government of Uruguay, however, by the agents of foreign governments resident at that port, it was an- nounced that the law applies to the port of Montevideo. URUGUAY. 773 Tariff of fees for the government of pilots, styled Baqueanos,{a) who navigate the rivers Uruguay and Parana. For vessels drawing in feet of Burgos. (6) PILOTAGE TO — Landa and Gualeguaycbu. Concepcion and ray Sandu. Las Higueri- Us. Soriano. 8 feet $40 50 60 70 75 80 85 90 100 $50 60 70 75 80 85 90 95 120 $30 35 40 45 50 55 60 70 80 $40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 90 From 8 to 9 feet... 9 to 10 feet... 10 to 11 feet... 11 to 12 feet... 12 to 13 feet... 13 to 14 feet... 14 to 15 feet... 15 to 16 feet... Vessels drawing a greater depth of water than is indicated in the table pay a proportional price, to be agreed upon between the captain and the pilot, in the presence of the captain of the port. The fees for descending and ascending the rivers are the same. Should the captain, on ascending the river, desire to retain the pilot on board for the return trip, he is to be supplied with board, and to be paid, in addition to the regular fees, a Spanish dollar per day, counting from the day of his going on board to the day of his leaving the vessel. Vessels which ascend the Parana as high as Gualeguay, pay the same price as those which ascend the Uruguay as high as Gualeguaycbu ; those going to Eosario pay as those going to Concepcion and Pay- Sandu ; and, as respects other ports of Parana, fees are regulated between the captain and the pilot, always in presence of the captain of the port. Other decrees respecting pilots, pilotage, light-houses, &c. were promulgated in 1855, and may be found in the annual report from the Department of State for that year, on " Commer- cial Changes, &c." (Ex. Doc. No. 2, 34th Cong., 1st session, to which reference is made.) Experience having shown that the societies of pilots, for the service of the navigation from Montevideo to Buenos Ayres, had not proved advantageous to consignees and captains of vessels compelled to receive a pilot at a great distance from port, without guarantee for the interests placed under his control, the President of the republic, under date of June 19th, 1856, issued a decree abolishing all societies of pilots created in consequence of the decree of 27th March, 1854, and declaring that in future the captain of the port should allow captains and consignees of vessels full liberty of selecting the pilot they might think best, to conduct their vessels to their destination: vessels from foreign ports, whose destinations are further up the river, having no consignee at Montevideo, and the captain not coming on shore, but from on board signifying that he requires a pilot, the captain of the port to furnish him with one that is licensed, and a resident in the republic : the captain of the port to have a list of the names of all the pilots licensed for the service of the river, to the end that those interested may choose therefrom the pilot they think proper, to conduct their vessels : the captain of the port to exact from each pilot ouepatacon (currency dollar), established for the passport, necessary on their embarking; the amount of the same, at the end of each month, to be placed in his account of entries, and passed to the treasury general. The latest tariff of Uruguay will be found, in tabular form, in its proper place, Part II of this Eeport. Subjoined is a translation of a law promulgated July 19, 1856; (a) A society of pilots approyed by the government. (b) The Burgos foot equals 11.128 English inches. 774 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. CUSTOM-HOUSE TxVKIFF. Im]3orts. Art. 1. Free. — All machinery applicable to agriculture and industry, excepting coffee- mills, freezers, &c.; printing machines and requisites, with the exception of paper; printed books, maps, geographical globes, instruments of science, coals, bark for tanning, staves and hoops of wood, green hides (dry or salted); ox, cow, sheep, and all descriptions of skins unpre- pared ; tallow, grease, wool, hair, horns, and all animal products, called produce of the country ; common salt; gold and silver, coined or in specie; live animals for the promotion of industry, or improvement of the country. Art. 2. Duty 6 pe7' cent. — Iron in bars, sheets, or wire; tools, tin or zinc in sheets, saltpetre, whiting, Kornan cement, rope and cordage exceeding one-half inch in diameter, jewelry of gold or silver, watches, spades without handles, hatchets; copper, bronze, or steel unmanufactured; hoes without handles. Art. 3. Duty ?> per cent. — All timber or lumber unmanufactured. Art. 4. DiUy 10 per cent. — Pitch, tar, rosins in general, turpentine, sulphuric acid, vitriol, and all similar articles ; tiles, ilates, bricks, fire-crackers, and watches. Art. 5. Duty 7 per cent. — Linen-cambric, silk (raw or twisted), cloth of p)ure silk, linen edging, embroidery of gold and silver (with or without brilliants), ornaments of gold Or silver, silk gloves or stockings. Art. 6. Duty 15 pier cent. — All articles, raw or manufactured, not specified in this tariff. Art. 7. Duty 20 per cent. — Sugar, tea, cocoa, cinnamon, coffee, sweet oil, spices, drugs, pro- visions in general, boards and timber planed or fashioned in pieces; hats, unshaped; leaf tobacco, clothing, boots, shoes (those of India-rubber excepted). Art. 8. Duty 25 per cent. — Liquors, brandy, wines, vinegar, beer, cider, and in general all spirituous or fermented liquors, snuff. Art. 9. Duty 30 per cent. — Furniture, chewing tobacco, wheat, corn, biscuit, starch, cheese, butter, beef and pork (salted or dried), trunks (empty or otherwise), looking-glasses, doors and windows, saddlery, whij)s, wheelbarrows, hats ready for use, all tinwork, lamp-oil, rings of iron, bronze and composition railings and balconies, ploughshares, horse-shoes, false jewelry, perfumery, caps and bonnets, combs, feathers, artificial flowers, head ornaments, vases and porcelain, crystal plain and gilded, tallow candles, coaches and harness. Art. 10. Duty 35 per cent. — Cigars and playing cards. Flour pays a duty in proportion to the value of the article as follows : When the flour of the country does not exceed in value $8 per barrel 30 per cent. When it exceeds |8, and does not exceed $10 25 " When it exceeds $10, and does not exceed $12 20 " When it exceeds $12 15 " Exports. Art. 11. The exportation, from any port of the republic, of goods of foreign manufacture that have paid duties on their importation, is permitted free of duty ; as, also, produce of the country exported from the port of Montevideo. Produce exported from any other port of the republic to a foreign port shall pay as follows: ox, cow, or bull's hides (dry or salted), 2 reals each; horse and mare hides (dry or salted), 2 reals each. And all other productions of the country, not mentioned above, shall pay 4 per cent, on their market value. Transhipment and Beshipment. Art. 12. The transhipment or reshipment of all merchandise to foreign ports is permitted free of duty. URUGUAY. 775 Open and, Warehouse Ports. Art. 13. By the present law, the ports of Montevideo and Salto remain open. Art. 14. Deposits are permitted only at the custom-house at Montevideo, and at the ware- house at Salto. Art. 15. The President is authorized to determine the roads and channels by which goods leaving the receptory of Salto, for reshipment or transit, shall he conveyed. Art. 16. The time of deposit is indefinite, so long as the goods do not indicate damage. Warehouse rent shall be liquidated and paid annually. Art. 17. The authorities are responsible for the value of goods deposited, loss by fire excepted, their freedom from blame being proved. Art. 18. Goods comprehended in articles 3 and 4 are not admitted in deposit. Art. 19. Goods deposited are always at the disposition of the interested, during the hours that the custom-house is open; and it is the obligation of the "alcalde" to order the deposits to be opened, on the solicitation of the interested, during seasonable hours. Art. 20. Importers can sell by package, or in any mode convenient, without despatching from warehouse the goods deposited, if intended for reshipment. Art. 21. The President is authorized to suppress or to establish warehouses in localities he may consider most convenient. Art. 22. Vessels conveying goods from foreign ports will not be admitted in warehouses and sub-warehouses unqualified, unless previously despatched from Montevideo or Salto. Storage and Cranage. Art. 23. At the time oF despatching goods deposited for consumption or reshipment, storage shall be charged as follows, viz: On dry (not liquid) goods, \ per cent, on their value; on liquids, 3 reals the pipe of six barrels'; on flour, f of a real per barrel. Every six boxes of one dozen bottles each, of any liquid, and every eight arrobas of tobacco, herbs, sugar, and all articles of weighty excepting minerals, shall pay ^ of a real. In case of doubt on the liquida- tion of storage, it shall be regulated at the rate of |- of a real for every eight arrobas, or by bulk equivalent to one barrel, of flour. Art. 24. In the liquidation of storage, the month commenced shall be considered as con- cluded. Art. 25. One-half of one month's storage shall be charged for cranage on goods despatched from deposit. Equal charges shall be made on goods introduced for consumption or exporta- tion. Art. 26. All packages containing more or other goods than specified in the manifest will be confiscated. Art. 27. All confiscations will be judged according to the law of July 14, 1855. General Dispositions. Art. 28. The duties will be charged on the market value of goods at the time of depositing, less 10 per cent. Art. 29. In case of difference between persons interested and the landing-inspectors, said difference being more than 10 per cent., it shall be decided by two merchants chosen from twelve, which the Tribune of Commerce shall name every six months ; and in any case of fur- ther dispute, it shall be decided by a third party, named by the same. Art. 30. The arbitrators having reassembled, and the third party named by them being present, they shall, in every case, come to a decision ; which decision shall effectually settle the case without further appeal. 776 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Art. 31. The operations of the landing-inspectors shall be public, and it is their obligation to give any explanation required by those interested. Art. 32. The executive powers are authorized, at the request of the curates of the church, to permit the introduction, free of duty, of such articles as, in their judgment, shall be for the exclusive purpose of divine service. Art. 33. The contents of every package must be verified by invoice at the time of getting permit for deposit. Art. 34. The present tariff shall be in force from the day of its promulgation. Comparative statement of the commerce of the United States with Uruguay, exhibiting the value of exports to and imports from each country, and the tonnage of American and foreign vessels arriving from and departing to each country, during the years designated. YEARS. COMMERCE. NAVIGATION. VALUE OF EXPORTS. VALOEOF IMPORTS. AMERICAN TONNAGE. FOREIGN TONNAGE. Domestic pro- duce. Foreign pro- duce. Total. Entered the Qnited States. Cleared ftom the U. States. Entered the United States. Cleared from the IJ. States. 1845 $140,986 210,406 180,535 339,859 134, 638 60,024 32,711 181J56 296,088 450,855 394,607 $16,150 15,498 56,303 43,869 13,089 1,518 13,078 11,917 12,358 62,102 27,515 $157,136 225,904 236,839 383,728 147,727 61,542 45, 789 193,073 308,446 512,957 422, 172 $20,573 26,472 112,810 523,064 79,924 369 1,214 3,259 10,495 483 90 154 790 2,319 3,449 5,929 3,252 5,599 3,536 11,949 2,345 867 1,320 2,906 8,700 17,892 16,556 614 303 786 4,413 2,635 1,167 947 3,537 1,356 1,751 3,165 1846 -.. - 1847 1,119 3,070 1,126 1,185 1,992 1,718 1,341 531 388 1848 1849.. 1850 1851 19,114 49,707 302,980 457,179 242,709 1852 1858 1854 1855 SUMMARY STATEMENT COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES, FROM 1821 TO 185 5. 778 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. Summary statement of the commerce of the United States tvith the principal commercial period of thirty-five consecutive years. VALUES OF IMPORTS FROM— Years. Great Britain France Spain Netherlands Sweden , Denmark Portugal China. Hanse- towns. \ and and and and and and and dependencies. dependencies. dependencies. iependencies. dependencies. dependencies. dependencies. 1821 $29,277,938 $5,900,581 $9,653,728 $2,934,272 $1,369,869 $1,999,730 $748,423 $3,111,951 $990,166 1822 39,537,829 7,059,342 12,376,841 2,708,162 1,544,907 2,535,406 881,290 5,242,536 1,578,757 1823 34,072,578 6,605,343 14,233,590 2,125,587 1,503,050 1,324,532 533,635 6,511,425 1,981,026 1824 32,750,340 9,907,412 15,857,007 2,355,525 1,101,750 2,110,666 601,722 5,618,502 2,527,830 1825 42,394,812 11,835,581 9,566,237 2,265,378 1,417,598 1,539,592 733,443 7,533,115 2,739,526 182C 32,212,356 9,588,896 9,623,420 2,174,181 1,292,182 2,117,164 765,203 7,422,180 2,816,545 1827 33,056,374 9,448,562 9,100,369 1,722,070 1,225,042 2,340,171 659,001 3,617,183 1,638,558 1828 35,591,484 10,287,505 8,167,546 1,990,431 1,946,783 2,374,069 433,555 5,339,108 2,644,392 1829 27,582,082 9,616,970 6,801,374 1,617,334 1,303,959 2,086,177 687,869 4,680,847 2,274,275 1830 26,804,984 8,240,885 8,373,681 1,356,765 1,398,640 1,671,218 471,643 3,878,141 1,873,278 1831 47,956,717 14,737,585 11,701,201 1,653,031 1,120,730 1,652,216 397,550 3,083,205 3,493,301 1832 42,406,924 12,754,615 10,863,290 2,358,474 1,150,804 1,182,708 485,264 5,344,907 2,865,096 1833 43,085,865 13,962,913 13,431,207 2,347,343 1,200,899 1,166,872 555,137 7,541,570 2,227,726 1834 52,679,298 17,557,245 13,527,464 2,127,886 1,126,541 1,684,368 699,122 7,892,327 3,355,856 1835 65,949,307 23,362,584 15,617,140 2,903,718 1,316,508 1,403,902 1,125,713 5,987,187 3,841,943 1836 86,022,915 37,036,235 19,345.690 3,861,514 1,299,603 1,874,340 672,670 7,324,816 4,994,820 1837 52,289,557 22-,497,817 18,927,871 3,370,828 1,408,878 1,266,906 928,291 8,965,337 5,642,221 1838 49,051,181 18,087,149 15,971,394 2,194,238 900,790 1,644,865 725,058 4,764,536 2,847,358 1839 71,600,351 33,234,119 19,276,795 3,473,220 1,566,142 1,546,758 1,182,323 3,678,509 4,849,150 1840 39,130,921 17,908,127 14,019,647 2,326,890 1,275,458 976,678 5 9,894 6,640,829 2,521,493 1841 51,099,638 24,187,444 16,316,303 2,440,437 1,229,641 1,084,321 574,841 3,985,388 2,449,904 1842 38,613,043 17,223,390 12,176,588 2,214,520 914,176 584,321 347,684 4,934,645 2,274,019 1843 28,978,582 7,836,137 6,980,504 815,541 27.s,674 485,285 71,369 4,385,566 920,865 1844 45,459,122 17,952,412 13,775,451 2,136,386 445,553 630,510 257,015 4,931,255 2,136,386 1845 49,903,725 22,069,914 10,590,544 1,897,623 , 640,057 783,238 501,734 7,285,914 2,912,537 184li 49,666,422 24,330,882 12,376,482 1,971,680 730,150 753,927 547,474 6,593,881 3,149,864 1847 72,715,311 25,100,417 16,383,975 2,480,584 613,698 847,223 416,150 5,583,-343 3,622,185 184S 68,995,979 28,287,791 17,388,307 1 2,172,166 764,602 555,355 235,877 8,083,496 6,293,280 1849 67,387,983 24,458,669 15,110,027 2,367,551 757,828 358,345 414,884 5,513,785 7,742,864 1850 85,117,507 27,636,265 15,864,748 2,732,560 1,035,310 267,986 470,820 6,593,462 8,787,874 1851 105,323,079 31,767,410 22,972,239 3,121,997 ' 996,238 274,781 504,698 7,065,144 10,008,364 1852 102,710,820 25,969,499 24,223,283 3,290,854 i 779,732 208,356 404,342 110,593,950 8,171,411 1853 143,219,260 33,523,999 26,030,320 2,549,019 454,208 184,497 540,698 10,573,710 13,843,455 1854 163,018,095 1 35,972,096 25,401,338 3,376,793 ; 537,768 294,141 304,168 110,506,329 16,966,898 1855 129,874,434 31,801,965 26,467,445 3,503,444 881,129 227,009 435,411 11,048,726 12,990,110 (a) The figures for 1855 are the aggregate of those given in "Commerce and Navigation" for Russia on the Baltic and North seas, on the Black sea, and in American and Asiatic Russia, all embraced in prior reports under the single title Russia. (b) Italy, subsequently to 1844, is made to embrace all the Italian States- Sicily,. Sardinia, Tuscany, Trieste, &c. ; but, in 1855, it embraces Sardinia, Tuscany, Papal States, and Two Sicilies, only. SUMMARY STATEMENT OF IMPORTS. 779 countries^ exhihiting the aggregate value of imports from each country, each year, during a from 1821 to lc55, both inclusive. , VALUES OF IMPORTS FROM— Years. Russia. Ita1y.(6) Hayti. Brazil. Mexico. Venezuela, N. Granada, and Equador. Central i AnTcrica. Argentine Re- public and Uruguay. Chili. Belgium.' 1821 1 1,852,199 3,307,328 2 258 777 $973,463 s 1,562,033 1,369,440 1,029,439 1,454,022 1,120,749 1,013,126 1,607,417 1,409,588 940,254 2,246,257 2,341,817 2,352,733 2,247,235 2^,065,329 1,511,836 1,781,309 2,163,585 1,799,809 1,597,140 $605,126 1,486,567 1,214,810 2,074,119 2,156,707 2,156,678 2,060,971 3,097,752 9. 'i'i'; 467 1822 1823 1824 2,209,663 2,067,110 2,617,169 2,086,077 2,788,362 2,218,995 1,621,899 1 1825 $4,044,647 3,916,198 5,231,867 4,814,258 5,026,761 5,235,241 61,837,050 2,079,724 1 550 24,9 $56,789 204,270 251,342 204,770 311,931 302,833 $749,771 522 769 $229,609 1826 629,949 1827 %J U JJ J t \J \r 80,065 317,466 915 190 184,693 1828 1,484,856 1,255,310 1,120,095 781,863 1829 416,118 182,685 1830 2,491,460 V X V f A. t/ u 1,431,883 1831 1,608,328 3,251,852 2,772,550 1,704,264 1 619 79') 1,580,578 2,058,386 1,740,058 2 S75 829 5,166,745 4,293,954 5,452,818 1,207,154 1,439,182 1,524,622 198 504 928,103 413,758 1832 3,890,845 5,089,693 .M. %/ i^ ^%J\J JL 288,316 267,740 1,560,171 1,377,117 504,623 1833 JL a U X l7 , 1 tJ\J 999,134 334,130 $139,628 1834 2,595,840 1,422,063 2,113,717 4,729,969 8,066,068 1,727,188 170,968 1,430,118 787,409 185,679 1835 2,395,245 1,457,977 2,347,556 5,574,466 9,490,446 1,662,764 215,450 878,618 917,095 341,967 1836 2,778,554 1,970,246 1,828,019 7,210,190 5,615,819 1,696,650 195,304 1,053,503 811,497 480,009 1837 2,816,116 1,827,181 1,440,856 4,991,893 5,654,002 1,567,345 163,402 1,000,002 1,180,156 549,009 1838 1,898,396 944,238 1,275,762 3,191,238 3,500,709 1,615,249 155,614 1,029,539 942,095 239,928 1839 2,393,&94 1,182,297 1,377,989 5,292,955 3,127,153 2,073,216 192,845 1,150,546 1,186,641 465,701 1840 2,572,427 1,157,200 1,252,824 4,927,296 ,4,175,001 1,572,548 189,021 787,964 1,616,859 274,867 1841 2,817,448 1,151,236 1,809,684 6,302,653 3,284,957 2,156,121 186,911 1,967,747 1,230,980 374,853 1842 1,350,106 987,528 1,266,997 5,948,814 1,995,696 1,720,558 124,994 2,417,541 831,039 619,588 1843 742,803 394,564 898,447 3,947,658 2,782,406 1,307,013 132,167 915,241 867,556 171,695 1844 1,059,419 1,096,926 1,441,244 6,883,806 2,387,002 1,625,095 189,616 1,565,965 750,370 634,777 1845 1,492,262 2,172,479 1,386,367 6,084,599 1,702,936 1,440,196 65,269 1,771,271 1,123,690 709,562 1846 1,570,054 2,082,740 1,542,962 7,441,803 1,856,621 1,576,043 116,733 825,685 1,275,960 836,372 1847 924,673 2,018,552 1,391,580 7,096,160 746,818 1,479,150 80,581 354,019 1,716,903 948,325 1848 1,319,084 2,234,^129 1,367,174 7,992,648 1,581,247 1,438,907 18,272 1,549,161 1,310,461 1,325,061 1849 840,238 2,123,678 901,724 8,494,368 2,216,719 1,572,056 - 56,017 1,789,751 1,817,723 1,844,293 1850 1,511,572 2,927,911 1,544,771 9,324,429 2,135,366 2,512,239 261,459 2,663,877 1,796,877 2,404,954 1851 1,392,782 2,880,623 1,889,968 11,525,304 1,804,779 3,152,593 149,856 3,284,496 2,734,746 2,377,630 1852 1,581,620 2,226,936 1,870,672 12,230,289 1,649,206 2,872,391 368,355 2,141,389 2,062,160 2,054,043 1853 1,278,501 2,845,265 1,985,624 14,817,961 2,167,985 3,189,308 590,937 2,489,621 2,214,252 2,732,168 1854 1,544,235 3,169,421 2,357,262 14,110,387 3,463,190 4,608,703 2,360,422 2,602,150 3,332,167 3,462,241 1855 296,113 (a) 3,709,869 2,615,525 15,218,935 2,882,830 5,429,094 286,409 2,787,896 3,518,896 15,218,935 (c) Hayti for 1855 embraces the totals given In "Commerce and Navigation' public,) which were embodied in former reports under the single title — Hayti. for Hayti and San Domingo, (Dominican Re- 780 COMMEECIAL DIGESTS. Summary statement of the commerce of the United States with the principal commercial each year, during a period of thirty-Jive consecutive VALUES OF EXPORTS TO— Great Britain and dependencies. France and dependencies. Spain and dependencies. Netherlands and dependencies. Sweden and dependencies, Denmarlc Portugal and and dependencies, dependencies. Hanse -towns 1821 1822. 1823, 1824. 1825. 1826. 1827. 1828. 1829. 1830. isai. 1832. 1833. 1834. 1835. 183U. 1837. 1838. 1839. 1840. 1841. 1842. 1843. 1844. 1845. 1846- 1847. 1848. 1849., 1850., 1851.. 1852.. 1853., 1854.. 1855.. 826,622,572 30,041,337 27,671,060 28,027,845 44,217,625 28,980,019 32,870,465 27,020,209 28,071,084 31,647,881 39,901,379 37,268,556 39,881,486 50,797,650 60,107,134 64,487,550 61,218,813 58,843,392 68,169,082 70,420,846 62,376,402 62,306,650 46,901,835 61,721,876 61,044,635 61,686,446 98,218,157 91,592,904 93,172,339 88,388,675 136,022,774 132,254,251 145,553,624 180,297,258 178,789,640 $6,474,718 7,075,332 9,568,924 10,552,304 11,891,326 12,106,429 13,665,356 12,098,341 12,832,304 11,806,238 9,882,679 13,244,698 14,424,533 16,111,442 20,336,066 21,441,200 20,255,346 16,252,413 18,924,413 22,349,164 22,235,575 18,738,860 12,472,453 16,133,436 16,143,994 15,826,851 19,819,107 20,413,360 15,781,585 20,183,094 28,635,214 24,512,114 27,044,479 32,860,841 33,563,972 S7, 209, 275 8,438,212 10,963,398 15,367,278 5,921,549 6,687,361 7,321,991 7,204,627 6,888,094 6,049,051 6,661,420 6,399,183 6,606,041 6,296,556 7,069,279 8,081,668 7,604,002 7,684,006 7,724,429 7,617,347 7,181,409 6,323,295 3,953,694 6,751,811 7,790,442 6,792,228 9,939,424 10,143,235 7,870,570 9,931,240 13,249,056 11,170,153 11,847,101 14,332,310 14,311,974 $6,092,061 6,801,639 7,767,076 3,617,389 5,895,499 4,794,070 3,826,674 3,083,369 4,622,120 4,562,437 3,096,609 6,035,466 3,566,361 4,678,739 4,411,053 4,799,167 4,285,767 3,772,206 2,871,239 4,646,085 3,288,741 4,270,770 2,370,884 3,453,385 3,610,602 2,727,445 2,493,271 2,664,653 3,203,679 3,571,607 1,039,889 3,230,390 2,979,332 3,082,310 2,959,669 $777,407 921,434 558,291 569,428 569,550 368,380 850,877 1,106,954 957,948 961,729 540,078 616,140 420,069 494,741 602,593 700,386 507,623 355,862 470,914 652,546 771,210 477,965 67,762 296,346 363,667 730,160 533,908 745,112 869,662 819,532 868,268 850,963 884,483 1,137,667 1,047,067 $2,327,882 2,434,046 1,956,071 2,183,252 2,701,088 2,412,876 2,404,822 3,348,167 2,311,174 2,014,085 2,000,793 2,207,661 1,839,834 1,867,114 1,780,496 2,122,469 1,640,173 1,299,927 1,406,346 1,193,600 987,283 1,047,673 827,865 983,156 1,139,596 753,927 1,193,198 1,136,756 836,484 1,168,538 1,140,086 1,046,788 1,037,544 1,074,367 968,135 $435,700 427,491 246,648 618,836 408,160 '313,663 357,270 291,614 322,911 279,799 296,383 294,218 442,561 322,496 621,413 191,007 423,705 232,131 244,364 321,256 349,113 302,964 168,634 252,170 247,180 204,976 263,671 345,725 377,13*6 387,398 355,301 416,833 417,927 241,278 423,527 34,290,560 5,935,368 4,636,061 6,301,171 6,570,515 2,666,644 3,864,406 1,482,802 1,354,862 742,193 1,290,835 1,260,522 1,433,759 1,010,483 1,868,580 1,194,264 630,591 1,516,602 1,633,601 1,009,966 1,200,816 1,444,397 2,418,958 1,756,941 2,275,995 1,331,741 1,832,884 2,190,013 1,583,224 1,605,217 2,485,287 2,663,177 3,736,992 1,398,088 1,719,429 §2,132,544 2,505,015 3,169,439 1,863,273 3,121,033 2,116,697 3,013,185 2,995,251 3,277,160 2,274,880 2,592,172 4,088,212 2,903,296 4,659,674 3,528,276 4,363,882 3,754,949 3,291,645 2,801,067 4,198,459 4,560,716 4,564,513 3,291,932 3,566,687 4,945,020 4,608,620 4,334,638 4,321,785 3,314,930 5,206,622 6,047,447 6,876,967 8,020,053 12,086,258 10,163,851 (a) The figures for 1855 are the aggregate of those given in " Commerce and Navigation" for Russia on the Baltic and North seas, on the Black sea, and in American and Asiatic Russia, all emhraced in prior reports under the single title— Russia. (6) Italy, subsequently to 1844, is made to embrace all the Italian States— Sicily, Sardinii, Tuscany, Trieste, &c. ; but in 1855 it embraces Sardinia, Tuscany, Papal Slates, and Two yidlie,^, only. SUMMARY STATEMENT OF EXPORTS. 781 countries, exMhiting the aggregate value of exports from the United States to each country, years, from 1821 to 1855, hoth inclusive. VALUES OF EXPORTS TO- 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 Russia. $628,894 529,081 648,734 231,981 287,401 174,648 382,244 450,495 386,226 416,575 462,766 582,682 703,805 330,694 585,447 911,013 1,306,732 1,048,289 1,239,246 1,169,481 1,025,729 836,593 386,793 555,414 727,337 632,467 750,450 1,156,010 1,135,504 864,941 1,611,691 1,200,480 2,456,653 480,616 123,445 M Italy. (6) $1,099,667 1,450,184 1,067,905 664,348 645,039 530,221 610,221 920,750 901,012 740,360 694,525 687,563 372,186 493,557 285,941 664,059 623,677 459,893 438,152 1,473,185 912,318 820,517 728,221 576,823 1,419,010 2,269,006 3,109,297 3,295,821 3,053,387 3,688,707 4,740,932 5,408,344 19,784,140 4,154,518 3,182,899 Hayti. $2,270,601 2,119,811 2,378,782 2,365,155 2,054,615 1,414,494 1,331,909 1,332,711 975,158 823,178 1,318,375 1,669,003 1,427,963 1,436,952 1,815,812 1,240,039 1,011,981 910,255 1,122,559 1,027,214 1,155,557 899,966 653, .370 1,128,356 1,405,740 1,157,142 1,298,773 1,093,815 602,592 1,350,188 1,847,290 1,718,903 1,998,933 2,209,725 2,245,052 $1,381,760 1,463,929 1,341,390 2,301,904 2,393,754 2,200,349 1,863,806 1,988,705 1,929,927 1,843,^38 2,076,095 2,054,794 3,272,101 2,059,351 2,608,656 3,094,936 1,743,209 2,657,194 2,637,485 2,506,574 2,517,273 2,601,502 1,792,288 2,818,252 2,837,950 7,441,803 2,943,778 3,372,434 3,102,977 3,197,114 3,752,916 3,021,042 3,994,444 4,239,241 4,261,273 Mexico. Venezuela, N. Granada, and Equador. $6,470,144 6,281,050 4,173,257 2,886,484 2,331,151 4,837,458 6,178,218 3,467,541 5,408,091 5,265,053 9,029,221 6,041,635 3,880,323 2,164,097 2,787,362 2,515,341 2,036,620 1,534,233 1,471,937 1,794,833 1,152,331 1,531,180 692,428 4,068,436 2,090,868 2,012,827 1,581,783 2,284,929 3,558,824 3,135,486 2,922,804 $2,239,255 1,952,672 944,534 884,524 767,348 496,990 658,149 1,117,024 957,543 795,567 1,064,016 829,255 1,080,109 724,739 750,785 919,123 872,937 769,936 745,455 656,078 804,107 1,576,043 716,097 587,631 835,418 2,309,614 4,085,347 2,309,207 700,997 2,138,189 2,351,586 Central America. Argentine Re. public and Uruguay. $99,522 119,774 224,772 159,272 239,854 250,118 306,497 335,307 575,016 184,149 183,793 189,518 157,663 243,040 216,242 217,946 149,913 69,466 52,966 150,276 67,649 120,253 96,568 50,378 136,219 70,192 262,391 473,518 346,330 308,884 1,262,170 $573,520 379,340 151,204 154,228 626,052 629,887 659,779 926,365 699,728 971,837 708,918 384,933 273,872 296,994 465,363 519,006 818,170 681,228 557,234 966,465 660,142 411,329 412,928 617,656 915,321 1,126,184 1,120,557 992,190 1,189,912 1,274,682 1,391,599 Chili. $921,438 1,447,498 1,702,601 2,629,402 ,a,421,134 1,536,114 1,368,155 1,221,119 1,463,940 1,476,355 941,884 937,917 1,487,799 1,370,264 1,794,553 1,728,829 1,102,988 1,639,676 1,049,463 1,105,221 1,548,191 1,768,570 1,671,610 1,924,511 2,017,100 1,422,721 1,895,305 2,339,133 2,326,437 2,193,259 3,426,257 Belgium. $1,005,611 1,458,642 748,222 2,284,060 1,110,587 1,614,951 607,910 2,320,655 1,823,882 1,610,684 1,970,709 2,003,801 1,851,073 2,381,814 3,222,557 2,189,935 2,731,307 2,543,760 2,852,012 4,203,770 3,208,533 5,006,894 3,927,240 (c) Hayti for 1855 embraces the totals given in "Commerce and Navigation' public,) which were embodied in former reports under the single title— Hayti. for Hayti and San Domingo, (Dominican Ee. SUMMARY OF TREATIES. SUMMAEY OF TEEATIES OOMMEEOE AND NAVIGATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND FOBEIGN NATIONS. The United States has treaties, conventions, or reciprocal regulations of commerce and navi- gation witli thirty-eiglit foreign nations, all of wliich are in force, either in pursuance of the stipulations and terms expressed therein, respectively, or by virtue of decrees, royal orders, or other local regulations on the part of foreign governments, on the one side, and of proclama- tions by the President of the United States, on the other. These treaties have been already examined, and their leading provisions embodied in the different Commercial Digests to which this volume is devoted. In such form, however, the difficulty of referring to any particular treaty, ob of ascertaining, at a glance, the precise character of the commercial regulations of any particular country, is obvious. With a view, chiefly, to remedy this inconvenience, the follow- ing Summary of these Treaties, in a tabular form, has been prepared; and it will enable all in- terested in the foreign trade of the United States readily to ascertain the iboting on which our commerce and navigation are placed in foreign countries with which treaties exist, and the treatment to which the commerce and navigation of such foreign countries, respectively, are en- titled in the ports of the United States. The following are the foreign countries, arranged i4i alphabetical order, between which and the United States commercial treaties are now in force, with the dates of such treaties, respect- ively : Argentine Confederation July 10 and 27, 1853. Austria August 27, 1819. Belgium '-.. November 10, 1845. Bolivia November 30, 1836. Borneo June 23, 1850. Chili May 16, 1832. China -. July 3, 18U. CostaRica July 10,1851. Denmark{a) April 26, 1826. Equador - June 13, 1839. France - - June 24, 1822. Great Britain July 3, 1815> Guatemala , March 3,1849. Hanover , June 10,1846. Holland August 26, 1852. Hanse-towns December 20,1827. Japan March 31, 1854. MechlenbUrg-SchwBiijj - December 9, 1847. Mexico •-■. April 6, IS^, and February 2, 1848. « (o)By virtue of titjifce from the United States, tiiia treaty with Denmark "ceased and determined," in accordance with the 11th article of the same-, April 14, 1856. [99] Morocco September 16, 1836. Muscat September 21, 1833. New Granada December 12,1846. Oldenburg March 10, 1847. Peru July 26, 1851. Portugal April 23,1841. Prussia May 1, 1828. Russia October 6,1832. San Salvador July 2, 1850. Sandwich Islands December 20, 1849. Sardinia November 26,1838. Siam April 14, 1836. Sweden and Norway July 4, 1827. Switzerland November 9, 1855. Tripoli June 4, 1805. Tunis February 24,1824. Turkey May 7, 1830. Two Sicilies December 1, 1845. Venezuela - January 20, 1836. 780 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. On the 24th of May, 1828, an act was passed hy the Congress of the United States, respect- ing commerce and navigation with foreign nations, in the following words: " Be it enacted, &c., That, upon satisfactory evidence being given to the President of the United States, by the government of any foreign nation, that no discriminating duties of ton- nage or impost are imposed or levied in the ports of the said nation, upon vessels wholly be- longing to citizens of the United States, or upon the j)roduce, manufactures, or merchandise, imported in the same from the United States, or from any foreign country, the President is hereby authorized to issue his proclamation, declaring that the foreign discriminating duties of tonnage and impost, within the United States, are, and shall be, suspended and discontinued, so far as respects the vessels of the said foreign nation, and the produce, manufactures, or mer- chandise imported into the United States in the same, from the said foreign nation, or from any other foreign country ; the said suspension to take effect from the time of such notification being given to the President of the United States, and to continue so long as the reciprocal exemption of vessels, belonging to citizens of the United States, and their cargoes, as aforesaid, shall be continued, and no longer." By virtue of proclamations issued by the President of the United States, in accordance with the provisions of the law above recited, vessels belonging to Tuscany, Brazil, and Chili, are ad- mitted into the ports of the United States on the same terms as American vessels, with the pro- duce or manufactures of their own, or any other country ; similar reciprocity being granted in those countries^ respectively, to vessels and cargoes of the United States. The dates of the proclamations of the President respecting these countries are as follows: Tuscany, September 1, 1836 ; Brazil, November 4, 1847; Chili, November 1, 1850. By the President's proclamation of June T, 182T, vessels of the Pontifical States are admitted into the ports of the United States on the same terms as American vessels, only when laden with the j)roduce and manufactures of said Pontifical States ; and by similar proclamation of April 20, 1847, French vessels in ballast, or laden with the produce of St. Pierre and Miquelon, and coming directly from those islands, are treated in ports of the United States as national vessels. Like favors and privileges are, of course, conceded to vessels of the United States in the Pontifical States, and at the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, respectively. SUMMARY or TREATIES. ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION. Date and duration. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Treaties of July 10 and 27, 1853, both proclaimed April 9, 1855. The former relates to the naviga- tion of the rivers Parana and Uru- guay, and the latter establishes and regulates friendship, commerce, and navigation between the Argen- tine Confederation and the United States. Duration of both unde- fined. United States vessels enter all the places and ports on the rivers Parana and Uruguay which belong to the Ar- gentine Confederacy, and which are open to commerce, on the payment of the same custom-house duties, harbor, light, police, and pilotage dues that are paid by the vessels of the most favored nation. This restriction to equality with the vessels of the most favored nation is qualified and enlarged by the treaty of July 27, 1853, which equalizes the vessels of the United States in all the places, ports, rivers, and territories of the confederation, with the national flag, as to tonnage, light or harbor dues, pilotage, salvage in ease of ship- wreck, or any other local charges what- ever. Merchandise introduced into any part of the territories, ports, or places of the Ar- gentine Confederation, in vessels of the United States, is treated, in respect of du- ties and all other charges, as if imported in national vessels ; and if such merchan- dise be of the growth, produce, or manu- facture of the United States, it is subject to no other or higher duties than similar merchandise, the growth, produce, or ma- nufacture of any other country. In re- gard to exports, United States vessels en- joy equality, as to drawbacks and boun- ties, with the national flag. Rbuares The province of Buenos Ayres having seceded from the other provinces of the Confederation, decrees have been issued by the federal power which affect, in some respects, the commercial regulations of the Republic. The latest decree of this kind is one imposing heavy differential duties on foreign merchandise introduced into the other, or fluvial provinces, through the port of Buenos Ayres. This decree, should it be carried into effect, will divert from this port, heretofore the general depot for the trade of the other provinces, such foreign merchandise ag is destined for the different points on the Parana and the Uruguay rivers. AUSTRIA. Treaty of August 27, 1829, to continue in force ten years from February 10, 1831, with the twelve months' notice stipulation. United States vessels are treated as national vessels, coming from the same places, in Austrian ports, whether in the direct or indirect trade. The same duties are charged on importa- tions into Austrian ports, whether of mer- chandise the growth, produce, or manufac- ture of the United States, or of any other country ; and these duties are no higher than on similar merchandise from any other country. Any favors hereafter granted by either party to the commerce or navigation of another country, to be- come common to the other party on like conditions. Eeharkb.— The treaty establishes perfect equality between the flags of the two parties in the ports of each. 788 COMMERCIAL DIGEST. BELGIUM. Date and duration. flTIPDI,ATI0N8. Navigation. Commerce. Treaty of November 10, 1845, to continue in force ten years from the 30th March, 1846 ; each party re- serving the right to renounce the treaty after the expiration of that period, on giving to the other 12 months' notice of its intention to do so. United States vessels pay the same duties of tonnage, pilotage, anchorage, buoys, light-liouses, clearance, broker- age, and all other charges, as Belgian vessels. This equality applies, no mat- ter vrhence the vessel comes. The Belgian government guaranties restitution for any duties levied by Holland on United States vessels navi- gating the Scheldt. Steam-vessels of the United States, engaged in regular navigation between the United States and Belgium, are ex- empt from the payment of duties of tonnage, anchorage, buovs, and light- houses. Vessels of both parties enjoy, as to coasting tiaiiv, equal privilege with the most lavored nation. The treaty restricts the equality of flags, as to duties, to the direct trade, but con- tains a clause providing that "it is well understood, 1st. That the goods shall have been really put on board in the ports from •which they are declared to have come ; 2d. That putting in at an intermediate port by uncontrollable circumstances, duly proved, does not occasion the forfeiture of the advantage allowed to direct import- ation.'' In the indirect trade, the flag of the United States is placed on an equality with the flag of the most favored nation — except the nation of production — as to im- port duties. The importations of salt, and of the produce of the national fisheries, are excepted from this equality. Remarks. — A law of the Belgian govei i,.,,._ni, of June 8, 1853, provides that "the government is empowered to allow vesseli proceeding from trans- Atlantic countries, or from a port beyond the Straits of Gibraltar, to touch at an intermediate port, whether for the purpose of receiving orders or carrying on commercial transactions, by discharging or receiving cargoes." This law, while it remains in force, suspends the practical operation of that article of the treaty restricting the equality of flags to the direct trad" , under us operation, the flag of the United States is equal- ized with the Belgian flag, whether the vessel proceeds from a port u aie United States or not. (See Report from Department of State, Ex. Doc. No. 9, 34th Congress, 1st session, page 135.) BOLIVIA. Treaty, or general convention of peace, friendship, commerce, i" ' navigation, of November 13, *od6. Etitiflcations exchanged May 28, 1838, and proclamation of the Pre- sident of the United States issued October 3 of the same year. To continue in force 12 years from date of ratification, and further, for one year after either party gives the other notice of its intention to re- nounce it. The vessels of the United States visit- ing the ' 'coasts or countries of Bolivia' ' (the port of Cobija) are placed, as to all charges and privileges, on a footing of equality with the vessels of the most favored nation. Should United States vessels, either of war, (public &^: pri- vate,) of trade, or employed in the fish- eries, whether through stress of weath- er, want of water or provisions, pursuit of pirates or enemies, be forced into the rivers, bays, or ports of Bolivia, they shall be received and treated with humanity, and all favor and protection shall be given to them suitable to their respective exigencies. Merchandise and articles of commerce, of every kind and description, the unporta- tion of which is not prohibited to all other nations, imported in vessels of the United States into Bolivia, are subject to the same duties as similar merchandise and articles imported in the vessels of the most favored nation. The merchants and citizens of the Uni- ted States are allovred to manage for them- selves all their Commercial transactions, whether of consignment and sale of their goods, or with respect to the purchase of their return cargoes, or loading and send- ing oft" their vessels. Kemakks.— This convention Is styled the " Peru-Bolivian," and was ne-otiated when these two republics were »nfederated under one govern- ment. Peru having, at a subsequent period, re-established its independence of Bolivia, disavowed the convention, and a new treaty was entered into with that republic. It is still in force, however, as regards Bolivia. By a decree of January 27, 185S, the Bolivian government declared free to the commerce and mercantile navigation of all the nations of the globe the waters of tlie navigable rivers, which, flowing tlirough the ten-itories of Bolivia, empty into the Amazon and Paraguay ; and, by virtue of a treaty of June 14, 1856, between Brazil and Paraguay, the navigation of the Upper Paraguay river was made free, and Bolivia opened to an Atlantic market. SUMMARY OP TREATIES. 789 BOKNEO. Date and duration. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Convention of June 23, 1850, rat- ified July 11, 1853 — eBtablishes per- petual peace, friendship, and good understanding between the citizens and subjects of the two contracting parties. No higher duty than one dollar per registered ton to be levied on American vessels entering the ports of the Suttan of Borneo; and this fixed duty to be in lieu of all other charges or duties what- ever. Importations in United States vessels subject only to the same duties as apply to similar importations in vessels of the most favored nation ; and no prohibitions exist, either as respects importations or ex- portations; the latter of which, if the pro- duce or manufacture of the Sultan's domi- nions, to be always exempt from duty. Remarks Citizens of tile United States are permitted to enter, pass througli, and trade in, all parts of the Sultan's dominions, and to enjoy all the privileges granted to the citizens of the most favored nations. They may, also, purchase, rent, occupy, and acquire, in a legal manner, ajl kinds of property within the dominions of the Sultan. CHINA. Treaty concluded July 3, 1844, and proclamatian made by the Pre- sident of the United States April 18, 1846. Not limited as to duration ; the United States, however, reserving the right, after the expiration of twelve years from the date of the convention, to open negotiations, should it be deemed necessary to do so, for such modifications in the articles relating to commerce and navigation as may be requisite. Vessels of the United States may en- ter any of the five ports open tb foreign commerce, viz : Canton, Amoy, Fu- Ghow-Fu, Ningpo, and Shanghai, but no other ports, under penalty of con- fiscation of vessel and cargo. When American vessels shall have entered port, officers may be sent on board as a gijard, at the expense of the custom-house ; and within 48 hours after a vessel shall have east anchor, the proper officer must de- posit the ship's papers in the hands of the American consul, who will forthwith communicate to the super- intendent of customs the name and tonnage of such vessel, the names of her men, and the character of the cargo ; after which the superintend- ent will give a permit for discharg- ing ; or, if the master su desire, he may, within 24 hours, depart, with- out breaking bulk, for another port; in which case he will not be liable to pay tonnage or other duties until he proceeds to discharge at such other port. Tonnage duties to be, on vessels of over 150 tons, 6 mace (74 cents) per ton ; 150 tons or under, 1 mace (14J cents), paid only at one port. United States vessels may import and export all kinds of merchandise not pro- hibited in the tariff. No new restrictions or monopolies to be created. Duties to be paid in Sycee silver or in foreign money. Discharging cargo without «, permit sub- jects the captain to a fine of $500, and the confiscation of the goods so landed ; but if part of cargo only is landed, duties to be paid on'such part only. Goods are not to be transhipped from on board one vessel to another,unless there be some particular oo- easion for doing so, which occasion shall be certified by the consul to the superintend- ent of customs. Imported goods, having paid duties, on their resale or transit in any part of the empire, are subject to the imposition of no other duty than they were accustomed to pay at the date of the treaty. It is also provided that vessels forced in any way to take refuge In any port other than one of the free ports, shall receive friendly treatment and the means of safety and security. Remarks. — The Importation of opium is prohibited, but a large contraband trade is regularly carried on in this article through the connivance of Chinese officials. Saltpetre and spelter are government monopolies, and can be sold only to the government merchants. Rice and other grains are free of duty. Should a dilferense arise as to the value of clocks, watches, jewelry, or of other merchandise on which there is an ad valorem duty and the parties cannot agree, the question may, within twenty-four hours, but not afterwards, be referred to the consul of the party interested to be adjusted by him and the superintendent of customs. 790 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. CHILI. Date and duration. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Convention of amity, peace, com- merce, and navigation of May 16, 1832 ; ratifications exclianged, and proclamation made April 29, 1834. To continue in force twelve years from date of exchange of ratifica- tions, with the us-Tial stipulation providing for 12 months' notice af- ter that period. Vessels of the United States are placed on an equal footing in respect of charges and privileges ^^•ith those of the most favored nation. Vessels driv- en into Chilian ports hy stress of weatli- er, or other compulsory causes, to be protected, and favored in every respect, until they are placed in a condition to continue their voyage. Imports, the produce or manufacture of any country, not prohibited to be import- ed, subject to the same duties, charges, and fees under the United States flag as when imported in vessels of the most fa- vored nation. Citizens and merchants of the United States are allowed to manage for themselves their own commercial ope- rations. All favors granted to the citizens or flag of any other nation, to become common, on similar conditions, to the citizens and vessels of the United States ; exceptions being reserved by Chili in favor of Bolivia, the Central American States, Mexico, Peru, and the Argentine Confede- ration. Remarks.— The government of the republic of Chili notified that of the United States, under date of October 31, 1850, that no other or higher duties of tonnage or impost would be imposed on vessels of the United States, no matter whence they came, or of what origin might be their car- goes, than were levied on national vessels under like circumstances ; consequently, the United States flag is now placed on a footing of equality, both in the direct and indirect trade, with that of Ohili. COSTA EICA. Treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, July 10, 1851. Perpe- tual amity established, and the sti- pulations relating to navigation and commerce may be abrogated at the expiration, of seven years, after the lapse of twelve months from the time that notice to that effect shall have been given by either party to the other. Vessels of the United States are placed on an equal footing with na- tional vessels in the ports of Costa Eica as to tonnage duties, light or harbor dues, pilotage, salvage in case of damage or shipwreck, or any other local charges. Mail-packets of the United States have liberty, freely and securely, to come to all harbors, rivers, and places to which other foreign ships of the same description are, or may be permitted to come ; to enter, anchor, and remain there, and refit, subject to the laws and statutes of the country. The coasting trade reserved by each party, respectively, to its own flag; and all favors hereafter granted to other nations by either of the two parties, to become common to the other. Imports in United States vessels of arti- cles the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, to be subject to the same duties as if imported in national ves- sels ; and these duties to be no higher, nor other than are charged on similar im- ports the growth, produce, or manufac- ture of any other foreign country ; simi- lar equality of flag as to exports. Kemarks.— By a decree of August 81, 1854, the local commercial legislation of Costa Rica was completely remodelled and materially modified. Liberty of commerce to the vessels of all nations is granted ; certain descriptions of merchandise monopolized by the government and other de- scriptions which are prohibited, being specified ; among the latter being included rum, fire-arms, and munitions of war, which can be imported only upon special permission ; and the former consisting of tobacco, gunpowder, and saltpetre, wliich can be admitted only on government account. SUMMARY OP TEEATIES. 791 DENMARK. Date and duration. STIPULATIONS, Navigation. Commerce. Convention of friendship, com- merce, and navigation of April 26, 182(i; ratified August 10, 1826; pro- clamation made October 14 of the same year. Vessels of the United States permit- ted to frequent all the coasts and coun- tries of Denmark, no matter whence they may come, or how they are laden, on terms of the most perfect equality as to tonnage and other charges, with the national flag, the coasting trade excepted, which is reserved by each contracting party to its own flag. This equality of flags not to apply to the northern possessions of Denmark, viz : Iceland, the Feroe Islands, and Green- land, nor to the direct navigation be- tween Denmark and the West India colonies of his Danish majesty. In passing the Sound or the Belts, United States vessels to pay the same dues as the most favored nation. United States vessels permitted to im- port Into any part of his Danish majesty's dominions merchandise, whether of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, or of any foreign country, on the same terms, and with the same privileges as to duties, charges, and fees of every description whatever, as apply to similar imports under the national flag ; and should the merchandise be of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, to be subject to no other or higher duties than similar mer- chandise of any other foreign country. This equality, however, not to apply to the Danish possessions of Iceland, the Feroe Islands, nor to Greenland ; nor the flags to he equal in the direct trade be- tween Denmark and her West India colo- nies. Merchandise in, United States hot- j toms to pay at the Sound and Belts the same duties as similar merchandise in ves- sels of the most favored nation. Remarks In consequence of the onerous, and, as the United States thinlES, the illegal taxes upon the navigation and commerce of the United States at the Sound, notice was given April 14, 1855, in accordance witli the provisions of article 11 of the treaty, of the desire of the United States to terminate tlie same at the expiration of twelve months from that date. The treaty accordingly " ceased and determined " April 14, 1856, and the commerce of the United States with Denmark is mow unprotected by any treaty stipulations. EQUADOR, Treaty of June 13, 1839; ratifica- tions exchanged April 9, 1842; pro- clamation made by President of the United States September 23, of the same year. To continue in force 12 years from the date of ratifications, and after the expiration of that pe- riod until the end of one year after cu cr of the parties shall have giv- en notice to the other of its inten- tion to renounce it. Vessels of the United States placed on a footing of equality in the ports of Bquador with the national flag, no mat- ter whence they come, certain privi- leges in favor of vessels built in the dock-yard of Guayaquil being reserved; but these privileges also to be accord- ed to vessels of the United States, should they ever be granted to Spain, or to Mexico, or the other Hispano-Amer- ican republics. Any favors hereafter granted to the commerce or navigation of other countries, to become common to those of the United States. Imports in vessels of the United States, whether of the growth, produce, or manu- facture of the United States or of any other country, subject to the same duties and charges as if imported in national ves- sels ; and merchandise, the growth, pro- duce, «r manufacture of the United States, admitted on the same terms as similar merchandise of any other foreign country. United States commerce entitled to any privileges hereafter granted to the com- merce of any other foreign nation. Eemarks In all lawful commerce, whether as respects imports, exports, duties, drawbacks, &c., the United States flag enjoys an equality with the flag of Equador; the coasting trade and the reservation in favor of vessels built at GuayaquU excepted. Such vessels, when under the national flag are, by decree of August 23, 1845, exempt from tonnage, anchorage, and other port dues, and are entitled to a reduction of 3 per cent, on all produce' inerchandise, &c., imported by them, for consumption, into any of the ports of Uie rcpubUc. 792 OaMMERCIAL DIGESTS. FRANCE. Date and duration. BTIPDLATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Convention of June 22, 1822, to be in force for two years from Octo- ber 1, 1822 ; and after the expira- tion of that time, until one of the parties shall have declaied its in- tention to renounce it ; which decla- ration shall be made at least six months before it can talie effect. Equality of treatment. Tonnage and other navigation dues in French ports upon American vessels, five francs per ton ; in tJ. States ports upon French vessels, 84 cents per ton. The naviga- tion duty of 94 cents per ton is pay- able by American vessels, no matter from what port they may have last proceeded ; but the equality of treat- ment as to cargoes with the French flag is applicable only wlien the voy- age has been direct, and the origin of the merchandise is attested by certifi- cate from the custom-house at the port of departure, vis6d by the French con- sul at such port. In French ports an extra duty on articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, imported in American vessels, at 20 francs per ton of merchan- dise ; in United States ports, upon similar products of France, imported in French vessels, an extra duty at S3 75 per ton of merchandise ; these extra duties not appli- cable in either country to merchandise of the other destined for transit or re-expor- tation. Should this convention be con- tinued in force after two years, the ad- ditional duties, at the expiration of that period, to be reduced one-fourth of their amount, and successively from year to year, so long as neither nation shall give the six months' notice of its intention to renounce it. Neither party having given the notice, the additional duties ceased to exist by the annual reduction of one-fourth, from Octo- ber 1, 1827. Remarks By virtue of a ministerial decree of December 17, 1S51, American vessels, laden with cotton for France, may touch at English porta without losing the benefit of direct importation, provided bulk be not broken, and no operation of commerce be transacted. Navigation and com- merce between the United States and French colonial possessions are regulated by the laws and decrees of the French government. American ves- sels proceeding direct from the United States in ballast, or laden with articles the growth or manufacture of their own country, to the islands St. Pierre and Miquelon, are treated on the same footing as national vessels. aUATEMALA, Convention of peace, amity, com- merce, and navigation concluded March 3, 1849, and proclaimed by the President of the United States July 28, 1852. To continue in force twelve years from the date of the exchange of ratifications, and after that period, for 12 months after either party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to re- nounce it. Vessels of the United States are ad- mitted into the ports of Guatemala, no matter whence they may have sailed, on the Same terms, as to tonnage and all other navigation dues, as national vessels. Any favors granted to the navigation of other foreign nations are to become common to that of the Uni- ted States, on equal conditions. The coasting trade reserved by each nation to its own flag. Imports into the ports of Guatemala, in vessels of the United States, whether of ar- ticles the produce, growth, or manufacture of the United States, or of any other coun- try, placed on the same footing, as to du- ties and all other dues and charges, as simi- lar imports under the national flag; and if the articles so imported are of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, they are subject to no higher or other duties than similar articles, the growth, produce, or manufacture of ar other foreign country. Remarks — By decree of May 6, 1852, every vessel which shall anchor in the ports of Guatemala, no matter whence it may come, is required to pay a tonnage duty of twenty-five cents per ton of measurement ascertained from her papers. Among the vessels ftee of this duty are— vessels in bairait anchormg for supplies, and discharging no cargo ; vessels of war and regular mail or steam packets not discharging over twenty tons of cargo ; and vessels receiving on board, for exportation, produce of the country, excepting cochineal. SUMMAET OF TBEATIES. 793 GEEAT BKITAIN. Date and duration. Treaty of July 3, 1815, to conti- nue in force four years. Continued in force ten years by the 4th article of the convention of London, Oc- tober 20, 1818, and renewed indefi- nitely April 2, 1828, with an addi- tional article containing the usual stipulation as to twelve months' no- tice. " Reciprocity treaty" concluded June 6, ratified June 9, and pro- claimed by President of the United States September 11, 1854. To continue in force ten years from the date at which it went into ope- ration, (1855) with the usual stipula- tion as to 12 months' notice after that period. It secures reciprocal freedom of fishery on the coasts of the United States and the British provinces in America, and of trade in raw products. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. United States vessels admitted into British ports in Europe on the same footing as national vessels. The ves- sels must be built and owned in the United States, and navigated by a mas- ter and a crew three-fourths of which are citizens of the United States. Vessels of the United States permit- ted to touch for refreshment, but not for commerce, in the course of their voyage to or from the British territory in India, or to or from the dominions of the Emperor of China, at the Cape of Good Hope, the island of St. Helena, or such other places as may be in the possession of Great Britain, in the Af- rican or Indian s;as — such vessels be- ing subject, in all that regards this article, to the laws and regulations of the British government from time to time established. Merchandise imported into British ports in United States bottoms, must consist of articles the growtli, produce, or manufac- ture of the United States; and the same du- ties are charged, whether imported in Uni- ted States or British vessels, as on similar produce of any other foreign country. The importation, in American vessels, of the productions of any comitry but the United States, is prohibited. The intercourse be- tween the United States and the British West Indies is not affected by the treaty. The vessels of the United States are ad- mitted into the British East India posses- sions on the footing of those of the most favored nation ; that is, they pay the same tonnage and import duties and other charges as the vessels of such nations; hut, when laden, they must proceed direct to the United States. With the British West Indies, the trade was regulated, prior to 1850, by diplomatic agreement. By reci- procity treaty of 1854, a free trade in the raw staples of the United States and Cana- da, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward's Island, re- spectiyely, is established. Remarks By the act 19 and 13 Victoria, chapter ^9, which went into force January 1, 1850, the comprehensive principle was adopted of admit- ting into the ports of Great Britain, and of British possessions, goods of any sort, in a ship of any country, from any part of the world ; certain re- strictions, deemed necessary either for the safety' of the state, or for the protection of the revenue, still remaining in force. American vessels in British ports are, therefore, equalized with British vessels as to tonnage and import duties, and al! other charges whatever. By circular of the Treasury Department of the United Slates, October 15, 1 849, instructions were issued to custom-house otficers and others interested, as follows : "1. In consequence of tlie alteratSon of the British navigation laws, British vessels from British or other foreign ports will, (under our existing laws.) after the 15rsl day of January next, be allowed to enter in our ports with cargoes of the growth, production, or manufacture of any part of the world. 2. Such vessels and their cargoes will be admitted, from and after the date before mentioned, on the same terms as to duties, imposts and charges, as vessels of the United States and their cargoes. By the act 17 Victoria, chapter 5, the coasting trade of GreA Britain is opened to foreign flags, sub- ject only to Uie same regulations as apply to British vessels engaged in the same trade. HANOVEK. Treaty of June 10, 1846, to con- tinue in force 12 years from date ; andfurthec, until either party gives to the other 12 months' notice of its intention to renounce it at the expiration of the period. Vessels of the United States received in Hanoverian ports on the same terms as to navigation dues of every descrip- tion as national vessels ; and, in the navigation of the river Elbe, are equal- ized with Hanoverian vessels as to the tolls collected at Brunshausen or Stade. Whatever merchandise or produce may be imported in Hanoverian vessels may also be imported in United States vessels, on terms of perfect equality as to duties, irrespective of the country of origin, or whence imported. Remarks The equality guarantied by the treaty extends only to such vessels of the high contracting parties as are built within their respective territories, or lawfully condemned as prizes of war, or adjudged to be forfeited. It is also stipulated that vessels of the kingdom of Hanover may select their crews from any of the States of the Germanic Confederation, provided that the master of each be a subject of the kingdom of Hanover. ■""■■" [100] '~. '"'""^'^'^ 794 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. HANSE-TOWNS. Date and duration. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Treaty of Decemter 20, 1827, to continue in force twelve years from date ; either party reserving the right, after the expiration of that period, to renounce the treaty at the end of twelve months, after having given notice of its intention to do so. Navigation duties of every descrip- tion whatever, the same on United States vessels as on national, whether in the direct or indirect trade ; and perfect equality in all other respects. Imports into the ports of the Hanse- towns in vessels of the United States, subject to the same duties, charges, &c., as similar imports under the flag of the Hanse-towns. Remarks. — Each one of the three Hanseatic towns, Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck, agrees separately, and each for itself, to the stipulations of the treaty. Hanseatic vessels are entitled to equality in the ports of the United States with the national flag, if owned exclusively by a citizen or citi- zens of any or either of the Hanse-towns, and ol which the master shall also be a citizen of any or either of them, and provided that three-fourths of the crew shall be citizens or subjects of any or either of the said republics or towns, or of any or either of the States of the Germanic Confedera- tion. This npvilege secures to the flag of the Hanse-towns a large share of the carrying trade between the United States and the German States. (See Digest, Hanse-towns, page 385.) HOLLAND. Treaty of August 26, 1852, addi- tional to that of January 19, 1839, and substituting for articles 1 and 2 of the latter treaty, other articles ; and providing that the duration of the new treaty shall he limited to the term of two years from the date of ratification (February 25, 1853), with the usual 12 months' notice. Vessels of the United States, whence- soever coming, are treated in Dutch ports, including also the foreign pos- sessions of Holland, as national vessels, with respect to duties of tonnage, har- bor dues, light-house, pilotage, quaran- tine, or other port charges of any kind whatever — the coasting-trade and na- tional fisheries being reserved. Entire reciprocity guarantied to the flag of the United States, and perfect equality with the national flag, as to duties of im- port and export, both in Dutch ports in Kurope, and in those of Dutch possessions abroad. All differential and discrimina- ting duties as respects the flag are abol- ished. Remarks. — The equality as to export duties, stipulated in the troety of 1852, applies only when the vessels of the United States clear for the same ports as national vessels. Thus, the export duty on cofl'ee in Java is the same when exported in United States bottoms as when exported in Dutch vessels, when both have the same destination ; but if the Dutch vessel proceeds to Amsterdam, and the United States vessel clears for Boston, the former enjoys a discriminating privilege in respect of the amount of duty. JAPAN. Treaty concluded Mar. 31, 1854; ratifications exchanged Feb'ry 21, 1855 ; and proclamation made by the President of the United States June 22 of the same year. American vessels permitted to enter the ports of Hakodade and Simoda, and no other ports of the Japanese em- pire, unless in distress, or forced by stres.s of weather. The only charge for entering is for pilotage ; the rates of which, for the port of Simoda, are as follows : vessels drawing over 18 feet pay S15 ; over 13, and less than 18, $10; under 13, $5. Vessels of the United States are permit- ted to exchange only gold and silver coin, and articles of goods for other articles of goods, under such regulations as shall be temporarily established by the Japanese government. Wood, water, provisions, coal, and goods required, can only be pro- cured through the agency of Japanese of- ficers, appointed for that purpose. Remarks.— As a means of opening the commerce of Japan, or even of the ports opened to American vessels— viz; Simoda and Hakodade— the treaty has proved totally ineflicient. The treaty grants the ptivilege to shipwrecked persons and other citizens of the United States, living tempo- rarily at Simoda, to go where they please within the limits of seven Japanese miles from a small island in the harbor, and at Hakodade within limits liereafter to be defined. " Living temporarily" has been defined by the Japanese authorities to mean " a sojourn of four oi five days on shore."' Wood and water, and such supplies as could be had, have been freely sold at pretty good prices ; but pennission to trade, in a mercantile sense, has been absolutely refused. The privileges of this treaty are said to have been recently extended to all nations. SUMMARY OF TREATIES. 705 MECKLENBUEa-SOHWEEIN. Date and duration. STIPOLATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Declaration of accession to treaty ■with Hanover, December 9, 1847, to continue in force until June 10, 1858, with the usual 12 months' notice stipulation after that period, and a conditional 6 months' notice by the United States, if a contin- gency should occur rendering it expedient, in the opinion of that government, to renounce the treaty. Vessels of the United States siftject to the same duties in the ports of the grand duchy of Merklenburg-Schwerin as national vessels ; the coasting trade being reserved. This er[uality applies only to vessels built within the respec- tive territories of each party, or law- fully condemned as prizes of war, or adjudged to be forfeited, &c., and be- longing wholly to citizens of each. Importations of articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, subject to no higher duties than similar articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of any other foreign coun- try ; such duties to be the same, whether imported in vessels of the United States or in national vessels. This equality is applicable to the in'direct as well as to the direct trade. Remarks — Besides tile stipulations contained in the treaty witli Hanover, otiier articles are added. Import duty on raw cotton and paddy, the produce of the United States, is abolished by the treaty ; and maximum rates of import duty on tobacco, rice, and whale-oil, and for transit on the Berlin-Haml)urg railroad, arc prescribed. MEXICO. Treaty of April 5, 1831, revived, as to general stipulations relating to commerce and navigation, by ar- ticle 17 of the treaty of February 2, 1848, and to continue in force from date of ratification of said treaty (May 30, 1848), for a period of 8 years, with the usual stipulation providing for 12 months' notice after that period by either party wishing to renoimce it. Vessels of the United States m^y en- ter all the open ports of the Mexican republic on the same terms, as to ton- nage duties, light or harbor dues, pilot- age, salvage, and all other local charges, as apply to national vessels. The coasting trade is reserved by each country, respectively, to its own flag. United States vessels may import into Mexican ports merchandise, the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, on the same terms as if the said merchandise were imported under the na- tional flag ; the duties of import to be no higher or other than levied on similar mer- chandise, the growth, produce, or manufac- ture of the most favored nation. MOEOCCO. Treaty concluded September Iff, 1836, and proclamation thereof made by the President of the Uni- ted States January 30, 1837 ; to continue in force 50 years, with the usual stipulation requiring twelve months' notice after that period by either party wishing to renounce it. United States vessels permitted to put into any ports in the dominions of the Emperor of Morocco for provisions or other supplies, without any inter- ruption or molestation, and to put in for repairs, and t& land and reload their cargoes, without paying any duty whatever. Should American vessels be cast ashore on any part of the coasts of Morocco, either by stress of weather or other cause, to be permitted to remain undisturbed until the commander may think proper to proceed on his voyage. Importations from the United States, aond American commerce generally, to be on the same footing as those from Spain, or from the most favored nation for the time being. Masters forbidden to trans- port their cargoes on board other vessels. Merchants of the United States allowed to employ such interpreters and other agents as they shall think proper ; and American citizens permitted to pass and repass the country and^seaports whenever they please, without molestation. Remarks The tariff of duties is often arbitrarily raised in Morocco. The general rate is 10 per cent, on imports, excepting certain specified articles, on which specific duties are levied. (Tobacco is a monopoly of the government, and the trade is usually rented out at rates reaching as high as $100,000 per annum. Were the trade in this article freed from the pressure of this monopoly, its importation from the United States would be largely increased.) 790 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS, MUSCAT. Date and daration. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Ti-eaty of September 21, 1833; President's procliimation issued June 24, 1837. Establishes perpe- tual peace between the United States and his majesty the Sultan of Muscat and his dominions. Vessels of the United States pay 5 per cent, duties on tlie cargoes landed, to be in full of all duties of import and export, tonnage, license to trade, pilotage, anchorage, or of any other charge whatever. No charge to be paid by American vessels entering any of the Sultan's ports for the purpose of refitting, or refreshments, or to in- quire the state of the market. The duties and other charges on com- merce in the dominions of the Sultan are given under the head of Navigation. The articles of muskets, powder, and balls can be sold only to the government, in the island of Zanzibar ; but in other ports of the Sultan's dominions said munitions of war may be sold to the highest bidder, without restriction. Duties of tonnage, import and export, license to trade, &c. , to be the same for American citizens as for citizens of the most favored nation. Remarks Thp trade between the United States and the dominions of the Sultan of IWuscat, especially the island of Zanzibar, is yearly in- creasing. It reaches, annually, in value, about $1,000,000, and is carried on chiefly from Salem, Massachusetts. Articles of American manufac- ture most in demand in the market of Zanzibar are the various descriptions of cotton goods, the annual exportation amounting to about 6, 000 bales. Evcrv facility for commercial operations is extended to American vessels and mercantile houses, and the duties or other charges never exceed those stipulated in the treaty. NEW GEANADA. Treaty of December 12, 1846, to continue in force 20 years, unless eitherparty should notify the other, twelve months before the expira- tion of that period, of its intention to reform any or all of its stipula- tions ; and beyond that period, for twelve months after either shall have given notice of its intention to propose such modifications. Vessels of the United States to enter all the ports of New Granada on a foot- ing of entire equality with the vessels of that republic, without regard to the port or country whence they may have sailed. Should such vessels be driven into the ports of the republic by pirates, enemies, or from stress of weather, to be protected, and all facilities, &c., af- forded them ; and, unless they remain in port over 48 hours, to be exempt from all port or harbor charges, pilotage ex- cepted. The coasting trade reserved by each of the contracting parties to its own flag. Duties on imports and exports under the United States flag the same as under the national flag; and on articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, these duties not to be higher or other than are levied upon similar articles, the growth, produce, or manufacture of any other foreign country. Merchandise belonging to citizens of the United States, in transit across the Isthrnus of Panama, to be free from import duties, and subject only to the same tolls that are levied in like cases on merchandise belonging to citi- zens of New Granada. Remarks For the privileges granted on the Isthmus of Panama, the United States guaranties to New Granada the perfect neutrality of that ter- ritory, and her sovereignty and rights of property over the same. The stipulations of the treaty respecting commerce have been modified by subse- quent decrees of the govermnent of New Granada. Those of chief interest provide that the coasting trade shall be thrown open to all flags, and payment of navigation duties shall be demanded only at one port. Panama, Cartagena, Choco, Buenaventura, and Yumaco, are free ports — no other than navigation duties being charged. More recent enactments, however, impose a tonnage duty of 40 cents per ton on all vessels entering port ; and a tax of $'3 per pound on all mail matter crossing the Isthmus. OLDENBUEG. Declaration of accession of the Grand Duke of Oldenburg to treaty with Hanover, March 10, 1847. The same stipulations and privileges as are granted under the treaty with Hanover of June 10, 1846. The same privileges, as respects the com- merce of the United States, as are extended to said commerce in Hanoverian ports. Kemarks.— The stipulations relative to the Stade and Weser tolls, contained in the treaty between the United States and Hanover, are omitted in the declaration of accession by Oldenburg ; this government having no control over, or interest in, said tolls. SUMMARY OP TREATIES. 79 PERU. Bate and duration. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Treaty of July 26, 1851; ratifica- tions exchanged the 16th, and pro- clamation made by President of the United States the 19th July, 1852. To continue in force 10 years from date of ratification, and beyond that period, until 12 months shall have elapsed after either party shall have given the other notice of its inten- tion to renounce it. No higher or other duties or charges on account of tonnage, light-hAises, or harbor dues, pilotage, quarantine, sal- vage, &c., to be levied ou United States vessels of 200 tons or upwards, than are payable in the same ports on na- tional vessels of the same tonnage. The coasting trade is reserved by each country, respectively, to its own flag. Imports in vessels of the United States to be subject to the same duties as similar imports in national vessels; anjl, if of the growth or manufacture of the United States, the duties to be no higher or other than on similar merchandise the growth or manufacture of any other nation. Like equality of flags as to exports. Should the tariff of Peru be changed so as to augment the duties of import or export, such change not to apply to United States commerce until the expiration of 8 calendar months thereafter. Steam-vessels of the United States, if belonging to a regular line owned by citizens of the United States, to be per- mitted to navigate the ports of entry of Peru with the same privilege as any asso- ciation or company whatsoever. Remarks. — Tlie treaty provides that whaleships of the United States shall have access to the port of Tumbez, as well as to the ports of entry of Peru, and may sail from one port to another for the purposes of refreshment and refitting ; and shall be permitted to sell or barter their supplies or goods, including oil, to the amount of $200 ad valorem for each vessel, without paying any tonnage or harbor dues, or any duties or imposts upon the articles so sold or bartered. They shall be permitted, with like exemption from tonnage and harbor dues, to sell or barter supplies or goods, in- cluding oil, to the additional amount of $1,000 ad valorem for each vessel, upon payment, on said additional articles, of the same duties as are pay- able upon like supplies or goods and oil when imported in the vessels and by the citizens of the most favored nation. A decree of the Peruvian gov- ernment restricts the terras " supplies or goods, including oil," to articles the produce of the fisheries, and withholds the privileges of the stipulations of the treaty, above condensed, from all other descriptions of " goods" or merchandise. POETUaAL. Treaty of August 26, 1840 ; rati- fications exchanged AprO 23, 1841 ; and proclamation made April 24 of the same year ; to continue in force six years from date of ratifications ; and further, until the end of one year after either of the contracting parties shall have given notice to the other of its intention to re- nounce it. Vessels of the United States arriv- ing, either laden or in ballast, in the ports of Portugal (including Portu- guese possessions), to be treated on an equal footing with national vessels coming from the same place, with re- spect to the duties of tonnage, light- house dues, pilotage, port charges, and all other charges whatever. Each party reserves to its own flag, respectively, the coasting trade. On the importation into the kingdom of Portugil and its possessions, where for- eign commerce is allowed, in vessels of the United States, of aify articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of the U. States, no other or higher duties to be levied than on similar articles the growth, pro- duce, or manufacture of any other foreign country ; and, in all cases of direct im- portation, the vessels of each country to be equalized in the ports of the other. Should the indirect trade of any other foreign country be placed upon the same footing as the direct trade, similar privi- leges to be accorded to the United States on equal conditions. Remarks Any favor granted since the date of the treaty, or which may hereafter be granted by either of the high contracting parties, as respects commerce and navigation, is to apply to the other party, freely if it has been freely granted, and on similar equivalents where it has been condi- tional. By virtue of the reciprocity^ as it respects navigation, Portuguese vessels are exempt from tonnage duty in the ports of the United States. In the indirect trade with Portugal, imports under the United States flag are subject to difi'erential duties. 798 OOMMEECIAL DIGESTS. PRUSSIA. Date and duration. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Treaty of May 1, 1828, to con- tinue in force twelve years, with the usual stipulation requiring 12 months' notice after that period by either party desiring to re- nounce it. United States vessels to be treated in Prussian ports, as to the duties of tonnage, liglit-houses, pilotage, sal- vage, and port-charges, as well as to all other duties, fees, or charges what- soever, as national vessels. The coast- ing trade reserved to each country. Cargoes under the United States flag, whatever the origin, or whencesoever im- ported, to he subject to the same duties and charges only as if imported under the national flag. Like equality as to export- ations. Articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, to he subject to the same duties as like articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of any other foreign country. Remarks. — Two treaties of amity and commerce were entered into between the United States and Prussia prior to that condensed in the text— one of July, August, and September, 1785, and the other of July 11, 1T99. By article 12 of the treaty of May 1, 1828, the 12th article of the former treaty, and from the 13th article to the 24th, inclusive, of the latter, with the exception of the last paragraph in article 19, are revived, in so far as they do not affect treaties or conventions concluded, by either party, with other powers, during the interval between the expiration of the treaty of 1799 and the commencement of the treaty of 1828. Articles 12 of the treaties of 1785 and 1799, respectively, relate to the principle of free ships making free goods. In reference to this point, article 12 of the treaty of 1S2S provides that, the parties being still desirous to establish between themselves, or in concert with other maritime powers, further provisions to insure just protection and freedom to neutral navigation and commerce, and which may, at the same time, advance the cause of civilization and humanity, engage again to treat on this subject, at some future and convenient period. RUSSIA. Treaty of December 6, [18,] 1832, to continue in force until January 1, 1839, with the usual stipulation for twelve months' notice to re- nounce it by either party desiring to do so. No such notice having been given, the treaty continues in force. United States vessels arriving in Russian porta, either laden or in bal- last, to be treated on the same footing as national vessels, coming from the same place, with respect to duties of tonnage. In regard to light-house duties, pilotage, and port charges, as well as to the fees and perquisites of public officers, and all other duties and charges levied upon vessels of com- merce, the United States flag is placed upon the footing of the most favored nation with which Eussia has no spe- cial treaty stipulating for entire reci- procity. Any favors hereafter granted to the navigation of any other foreign nation, to become common to the Uni- ted States on similar or equal condi- tions. All kinds of merchandise and articles of commerce, being the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, may be imported into Russian ports on the same terms as apply to similar articles the produce or manufacture of any other for- eign country ; and, whether the imports be of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, or of any other for- eign country, perfect equality is granted with the national flag. Any favor here- after granted to the commerce of other foreign nations to become common to the commerce of the United States. Certain special privileges to be retained by Eussia in reference to commerce with Prussia, and Sweden and Norway ; hut they do not affect the general reciprocity stipula- ted in the treaty. Remarks.— Tlie treaty establishes entire reciprocity between the flags of the two countries. July 22, 1854, a treaty was concluded between Eussia and the United States, establishing the principle that " free ships make free goods," and containing a stipulation to the effect that other nations may, by a formal declaration of a desire to accept and be governed by the principle, become entitled to all the rights and privileges resulting from this treaty. As these pages go to press, the Russian government, under date November 28, IS.'jO, officially signifies to the government of the United States its adhesion to the principles announced in the reply of the latter government to the declarations of the Congress at Paris, April IG, 1856, in reference to privateering. The communication of the representative of the Russian government at Washington thus conveys the concuiTence of the Emperor: " His Majesty entirely concurs in the views of the government of the United States which the Hon. Mr. Marcy has laid down in his equally lucid as temperate note of the 28th of July. The proposition of the federal government, in the opinion of his Imperial Majesty^ deserves so much the more to be taken into consideration that the honorable Secretary of Stale argues not for the exclusive interest of the United States, but for those of the whole of mankind. The undersigned is accordingly instructed to notify the Hon. Mr. Marcy that his Majesty the Emperor accepts, for his part, the condition under which the United States consent to the abolition of privateering— namely, that the private property of the subjects and citizens of the contract- ing parties shall in times of war be respected by their respective naval forces, as well as by those of all the powers which may join in this declaration." SUMMARY OF TREATIES. 799 SAN SALVADOE. Date and duration. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce, Conveution concluded January 2, 1850. To continue in force twenty years, if neither party notify the otUer 12 months before the expira- tion of that period of its desire to reform any of its stipuIatiOD.s ; and beyond twenty years, until twelve months shall have elapsed after such notice shall have been given by either party. Vessels of the United States, no mat- ter whence they may have come, or how laden, to be treated in the ports of San Salvador, as to all duties of ton- nage, light-house, or any other charges of whatsoever denomination or charac- ter, as national vessels. From this equality the coasting trade is excepted, which is reserved to the national flag; but should any favors of navigation be granted hereafter to any other foreign nation, it will immediately apply to the flag of the United States. Imports into San Salvador in vessels of the United States, no matter whence im- ported or of what origin, to be subject to the same duties, charges, and fees of every description, as similar imports in vessels of the United States ; and if these imports consist of articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, to be subject to no higher or other duties than similar imports, the growth, produce, or manufacture of any other foreign nation. SANDWICH ISLANDS. Treaty concluded December 20, 1849 ; ratifications exchanged Au- gust 24, 1850, and proclamation made by the President of the United States November 9, 1850. Establishes perpetual peace and amity between the United States and the Hawaiian Islands, and pro- vides that the treaty shall continue in force ten years, with the usual stipulation providing for 12 months' notice by either party wishing to renounce it after that period. United States vessels in direct voy- ages, if laden, or in respect of any voy- age, if in ballast, to pay the same du- ties of tonnage, harbor, light-houses, pilotage, quarantine, or other naviga- tion charges of whatever kind, that are paid by national vessels. Steam ves- sels employed in carrying the public mails of the United States across the Pacific, or from one port to another therein, to have free access to the ports of the Sandwich Islands, to refit, re- fresh, land passengers and their bag- gage, or for any purpose pertaining 1o the mail service of the United States, without being subject to any of the du- ties above specified. Whale-ships of the United States may enter the ports of Hilo, Kealakeakua, and Hanalei, and also the open ports of Honolulu and Lahaina.exempt from tonnage or harbor dues of any description, with certain privileges of trade, as set forth under the head of Commerce. They may also pass from port to port of the islands for the purpose of procuring refresh- ments, but may not land their seamen or passengers, except at Honolulu or Lahaina. The privilege of the same ports is also granted to armed vessels of the United States. Imports of merchandise, the growtli, produce, or manufacture of the United States, to be subject to the same duties, whether imported in vessels of the one country or of the other; and these duties to be the same as are levied upon similar mer- chandise, the growth, produce, or manu- facture of, or imported from, any other country. Absolute liberty of trade allow- ed between the citizens of the two coun- tries, without restriction, unless in articles prohibited. Whaling vessels of the United States may trade or barter their supplies or goods, except spirituous liquors, to the amount of S200 ad valorem for each ves- sel, without being liable to pay duties therefor; and the further privilege is grant- ed to such vessels at the ports designated under the head of Navigation, and exempt, as therein stated, from tonnage and har- bor dues, to trade or barter, except in spi- rituous liquors, to the further amount of SI, 000 ad valorem, by paying on the ad- ditional goods so traded or bartered the usual duties levied on similar merchandise imported under the flag of the most favor- ed nation. 800 COMMERCIAL DIGESTS. SAKDINIA. Date and duration. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Treaty of November 26, 1838, to continue in force ten years from March 13, 1839— the date of ex- change of ratifications ; and, after the expiration of that period, until twelve months shall have elapsed after either party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to renounce it. Vessels of the United States arriv- ing in Sardinian ports, either laden or in ballast, to be treated, as to the duties of tonnage, light-houses, pilot- age, and port charges, as well as to all foes and charges of whatever kind or denomination, as national vessels com- ing from the same place. All imports in United States vessels into Sardinian ports to pay the same duties and charges only as if brought in Sardinian vessels. Imports, the growj,h or manufacture of the United States, to pay the same duties only as like produce of the most favored nation. The "Sepa- rate Article" of the treaty, respecting "differential duties," ceased to have ef- fect, by virtue of a law of Sardinia, July 6, 1850. Remarks Freedom of transitage, from and to the port of Genoa, through the territories of Sardinia, is stipulated by the treaty, with speciBed exceptions. SWEDEN AND NORWAY. Treaty of July 4, 1827, reviving certain articles of the treaty of April 3, 1783, together with the 1st, 2d, 4th, and 5th separate articles of the said treaty, and containing addi- tional commercial stipulations ; to continue in force 10 years, with the usual stipulation requiring twelve months' notice to be given by either party desiring to renounce it, after tlie expiration of that period. Vessels of the United States proceed- ing from any port to the ports of Swe- den and Norway, including those of the island of St. Bartholomew, laden or in ballast, are treated as national vessels coming from the same port, as to all duties of navigation and ton- nage. Entire reciprocity and perfect equality, as to import duties and all other charges, between the flag of the United States and tliat of Sweden and Norway ; and this re- ciprocity and equality applies, whether the voyage be direct from the ports of the United States, or indirect from any other foreign port. SWITZERLAND. Convention signed November 25, 1850 ; ratifications exchanged Nov. 8, 1855 ; and proclamation made November 9 of the same year. To continue in force ten years from date of ratification, if neither party gives notice to the other one year before the expiration of that period ; and so on, from year to year, until the expiration of twelve months after such notice shall have been given. Imports and exports to and from Switzerland take place through the ports and territories of France and other adjacent countries ; and the charges of transitage, in consequence, are a heavy drawback upon the indus- try txnd commerce of the confederation. This remark applies, especially, to the restrictions on transitage through France. In all that relates to the importation, exportation, and transit of their respec- tive products, the United States and the Swiss Confederation to treat each other reciprocally as the most favored nation, union of nations, &c. All future com- mercial privileges granted by either party to any nation, union of nations, &c. , im- mediati;ly to become common to the other party on equal conditions. Should differ- ential duties be established in the Swiss Coufecl.oracy upon the products of any nation, the United States to be at liberty to determine the manner of establishing the origin of its own products destined to enter that confederacy. Rem.vrks. — The frontier territory of Switzerland is divided into six departments for the collection of customs duties. The central points of these, respectively, are at Basle, Schaff-hausen, Coire, Lugano, Lausanne, and Geneva. No merchandise can be imported or exported, unless by special license, except through one or other of these frontier custom-houses. SUMMARY OF TREATIES. 801 SIAM. Date and duration. STIFDLATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. : Treaty of amity and commerce of March 20, 1833; ratifications ex- changed April 14, 1836 ; and pro- clamation made by the President of the United States June 24, 1837. Estahlishes perpetual peace between the United States and Siam. Vessels of the United States enter- ing any port of the Siamese domin- ions, and selling or purchasing car- goes of merchandise, to pay, in lieu of all import and export duties, tonnage, license to trade, or any other charges whatsoever, a measurement duty of 1,700 ticals or bats (equal to SI, 037), for every fathom of 78 English inches in breadth upon vessels selling mer- chandise ; and of 1,500 ticals (equal to $915) per fathom, similar mea- surement, upon vessels purchasing car- goes with specie. It is prohibited to sell munitions of war to any person except the king, and also to export rice i or import opium ; the latter being contra- band. It is stipulated that if, hereafter, | the duties payable by foreign vessels be j diminished in favor of any other nation, ] the vessels of the United States shall be entitled to like diminution ; and should any foreign nation, other than Portugal, be hereafter permitted to have consuls in Siam, the same privilege shall be accorded to the United States. United States mer- chants, desirous of bringing their goods on shore for trade, must deposit them in the king's factories, paying the customary rent of the country therefor. Remarks The treaty of 1833 completely suspended all commercial operations between the United States and Siam. On a vessel, say of 25 feet beam, the duty, at 1,700 ticals per 78 inches, would amount to $3,988 46! In 1855 (April) a new treaty was negotiated between Great Britain and Siam, to the privileges of which American commerce is entitled by article 4 of the treaty of 1833 between the United States and Siam. This new treaty with Great Britain authorizes that nation to have a resident consul at Bangkolt, after April 6, 1656, and after the same;date the measurement duty is to be abolished, and a general import duty of 3 per cent, to be paid in money or Icind, at the option of the importer. Disputes as to the value of goods are to be settled by arbitrators. Opium may be unported free, but can be sold only to the opium farmer or his agent. Export duty specific . (See Digest, p. 494.) TRIPOLI. Treaty of peace and-amity of June 4, 1805, not limited as to duration. Establishes a firm, inviolable, and universal peace, and a sincere friendship ' ' on the terms of the most favored nation," and guaran- ties to t*ie United States like favors with those hereafter granted to any other nation. Vessels of the United States in the ports of Tripoli to be subject to the same duties, charges, and privileges as the vessels of the most favored nation. United States vessels destined for Tripolitan ports must be provided with proper passports; to examine which, not more than two persons, besides the rowers, are allowed to proceed from any Tripolitan man- of-war, or to go on board, unless permitted so to do by the American captain. In case of distress, United States vessels may put in, land and re-embark cargo, and repair, with- out the payment of duties. The commerce between the United States and Tripoli — the protection to be given to American merchants, masters of vessels, and seamen — the right of establishing consuls in the regency of Tripoli, and the privileges, im- munities, and jurisdictions enjoyed by such consuls, to be on the same footing vrith those of the most favored nation. [ 101 ] 802 COMMEECIAL DIGESTS, TWO SICILIES. Date and duratian. STIPULATIONS. Navigation. Commerce. Treaty of December 1, 1845, to be in force ten years from date, eith«r party reserving the right to terminate it after that period, on giving twelve months' notice of its Intention to do so. When importing articles of the growth or the manufacture of the United States, American vessels to be on tlie same footing as to duties, charges, &c. , with national vessels. This equality as to navigation dues applies only in respect of direct voyages if laden, or of any voyage If in ballast. Merchant vessels of the United States, forced by stress of weather, or other similar cause, into Sicilian ports, to be exempt from port and tonnage duties, provided no operation of commerce is car- ried on The coasting trade is re- served by each country to its own vessels. The direct importation of articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the U. States to be subject to the same duty, whether imported in vessels of the United States or in those of Ihe Two Sicilies. In the indirect trade, importations under the flag of the U. States into the ports of the Two Sicilies to be subject to differential duties. Remarks.— A decree was issued, December 18, 1854, by the King of tlie Two Sicilies, extending to tlie indirect trade of such foreign nations as would be willing to reciprocate, all the advantages of the national flag. Under the act of 18S38, (given at length in the preliminary remarks to this 1 Summary,) the government of the United States has reciprocated the privileges thus granted by the government of the Two Sicilies ; and the flag j of the United Slates is, therefore, equalized, in Sicilian ports, with the national flag, in the indirect trade. TURKEY. Treaty concluded May 7, 1830, and ratified February 2, 1831. Not limited as to duration. Vessels of the United States to be treated, in ports of the Ottoman empire, in like manner as vessels of the most favored nation ; to have the same liberty to pass the canal of the imperial residence, and to go into and come from the Black sea, either laden or in ballast ; and may be laden with the produce, manufac- tures, and effects of the Ottoman empire, except such as are prohib- ited, as well as with those of their own country. United States vessels must sail under their own flag, and are pro- hibited from lending their flag to the vessels of other foreign nations, or to those of the Eajahs. Importations into Ottoman ports in vessels of the United States to be subject to the same duties, charges, &c. , as importations under the flag of the most favored nation. Ameri- can merchants established in the states of the Sublime Porte for purposes of commerce, to be at liberty to employ "semsars" — brokers or factors — of any nation or religion ; such mer- chants or other American citizens residing in the Turkish dominions, not to be amenable to Turkish tribunals for offences committed, but to be tried by their own minister or consul, and punished according to his sentence. Remarks. — By virtue of the most favnrod-nntion stipulation, ves.sc!s of the Ottoman Porte are admitted into United States ports on the same terms as American vessels. Duv'e?, ac'OMiiVdg to the i.i^'fT of the O: toman Porte, arc based upon the ad -valorem principle ; and the treaty nations usually name cniTimis^ioners every live or six yen^s, who, in concert W]!h a commission named by the Sublime Porte, regulate the " fi.xed values" of merchandise imported. The present rates vere f -.pd by a Bii ish commissio!i of this character; and, in regard to many articles of American importation, esppcrLi:iy cotrons and .uju. the mode of valuapon works ;' practical discr jritiaiion. v.ld'^li r'nii be remedied only by the action of an American commission remodel ng evisrng valunnnns. as re^fihvls tln^ nianufactu"^s of the Unifd Srnrrs. SUMMARY OF TREATIES. 803 TUNIS. Date and duration. BTIPDLATIONB. Navigation. Commerce. Treaty of August, 1797, modified by convention of March 26, 1799, and by subsequent treaty of Febru- ary 24, 1824 ; establishes perpetual peace and friendship between the U. States and the Bey of Tunis. Vessels of the United States per- mitted to enter all the ports of the liingdom of Tunis on paying the usual duties which are paid by the vessels of the most favored nations. Should the government of Tunis have need of the services of an American vessel, not previously en- gaged, it must have the preference on paying the same freight that is usual with merchants for the same service. Commerce with Tunis under the U. States flag to be conducted on precisely the same footing, as to import duties, fees, and all charges whatsoever, as is commerce under the flag of the most favored nation. American merchants to be permitted to establish them- selves, transact their own business, or appoint their agents, factors, &c. , in the territories be- longing to the kingdom of Tunis. VENEZUELA, Treaty of peace, friendship, navi- gation, and commerce, concluded January 20, 1836; ratified May 31, and proclamation made by Presi- dent of the United States June 30, of the same year. To continue in force 12 years from date of ratifica- tions; and further, until either par- ty gives 12 mouths' notice of its intention to renounce it. Vessels of the United States, no mat- ter whence they come, or with what laden, to be on a footing with national vessels. The same equality, including bounties, duties, and drawbacks, to ap- ply in regard to exportation or re-ex- portation. Vessels of the United States ship- wrecked, foundered, or in any other way damaged, on the coasts, or within the dominions of Venezuela, to receive all necessary assistance and protection. Whatever may be imported in Venezue- lan vessels may also be imported in vessels of the United States, and on the same terms, as to duties and all other charges. The same equality as to exports. Arti- cles, the growth, produce, or manufac- ture of the United States, to be subject in Venezuela to no higher or other duties than similar articles, the growth, produce, or manufacture of any other foreign coun- try. All favors hereafter granted to other foreign nations to apply equally to the United States, on similar conditions. Remarks. — The cu.stojiis, larilTs, and comnieii'ial regulatioria of Venezui'la aru subject to frequent, and, occasionally, onerous changes, The latest of these — that of Apiil 27, 185G— imposes an extraordinary contribution upon certain imports and exports, re lake ellect from and after July J, 1856. Among the expo) Is thus affected, are colfee, cocoa, indigu, hides, qninia, sarr^aparilla, (i\e-vvood, fice. The extraordinary import duly is 2:0 percent, on the amount nf regular duties, and Ij per cent, on all arlioles tlKit are included ij] the fiee list, cxcepiini; gold andsiher in b.irs, bullion, or dust, printinf,f-pre^ses. printed book:, niaL-limery, &c. INDEX. index; Aargan, canton of, 405 d teq., 413. Absenteeism, 433. Absynthe, 152. Abyssinia, 465. Acapuloo, port of, 585, 589, 590. Acajutla, port of, 597. Acajou, 207, 562, 569, 597. Accession, to the Zoll-Verein, 334, 457. Acids, 579,696,705,774. Acts, of Congress, &c., 16 et aeq., 75,76,179,243,261,262, 295, 509, 533, 545, 547, 548,550,555,644,651,710, 714,772. Aconcagua, province of, 723. Adams, Mr., 49. Adams, John, ship of war, 555. Aden, port of, 480,481. Adelaide, port of, 81, 388. Adriatic, ports of the, 356, 375,419,422,426. Adrianople, city of, 440, 447. Adventures, 260,261,515. Africa, 5,9,35,62,85,145,165,261,387 etsej., 439, 465 ei seq., 653, 654, 660, 661, 667, 672. Afuera, Lobos de, 704. Affluents, of La Plata, 756. Agates, 501,516,524,530,724. Agents, 17, 122, 165, 355,374,386,402,476,480,493,515, 538, 539, 548, 559, 580, 708, 709, 710, 744. Agencies, 443, 505, 515, 706, 709, 710. Agriculture, 80, 81, 82, 145, 149, 178, 179, 182, 207,215,219, 233, 241, 339, 428, 440, 466, 501, 508*718, 767-, 774. Agricultural, 220, 241, 292, 294, 337, 339, 342, 343, 357,'-375, 422, 447, 46«, 491, 537, 614, 615, 621, 6C5, 643, 650, 662, 665, 674, 682, 685, 695,705,714,716,718,726, 768. Aguadilla, port of, 210. Aguardiente, 185, 188, 213. Aintab, pachalic of, 440. Akerman, port of, 115 Alabaster, 418, 422 et seq. Alagoas, province of, 646. Aland, isles of, 95. Albuquerque, port of, 756. Alcohol, 137, 152, 154, 407, 546 ei seq. , 599. Alcometer, Gay Lussac's, 548, 549. Ale, 72.227,546,549,662,735. Alexandria, port of, 35, 364, 369, 440, 441, 451, et seq. Aleppo, port of, 440. Algeria, province of, 145,420,439. Alicante, port of, 163, 164. Alluvial, 144,700,755. Almeria, port of, 163, 164. Almonds, 164, 219, 423, 440, 447, 466, 719. Almude, its equivalent, 223, 226, 759. >Almaden, town of, 357. Aloes, 83,279,480,562,578. Alpaca, woo), 685,696,718,719. Alquiere, its equivalent, 220, 223. Altona, port of, 284,286,290,294, 320, 332, 387, 397, 622,623. Alum, 339,375,400,422,426,514. Amazon, river, 607, 650, 677, 713, 714, 756. Amber, 440. Ambriz, kingdom of, 476. Ambergris, 440. America, 5,9,49,62,209,222,229,234,284,287,310 eiseq., 320 et seq., 362,382,384,387,388,391,393,394,405, 410, 411, 441, 444, 453, 479,487,504,537,559,560, 595 ei «e?., 600, 625, 630, 635, 636, 644, 659, 666, 667 757. America, Central, 595 et seq., 693. Ameijca, Sa,uth, 607 a! sej., 611, 643, 659, 685, 725, 727, 743, 755,767. Ammonia, 153, 700, 702, 705. Ammunition, 15, 56, 154, 274,298,478,483,495,496,525, 587,646,678,682. Amoy, port of, 513 et seq., 525, 526, 530, 531, 532. Amortizacion, 216, 592. Amsterdam, port of, 241,260,261,270,273,344,381,433, 623,624. Anam, port of, 491. Analysis, 100, 101, 115, 180, 181, 191, 278, 358, et seq , 459, 543,572,613,648,649,705,728,730. Ancona, port of, 423,426, Anchovies, 375,431. Ancud, port of, 738. Anchors, 150,154,247,271,296,351,472,493,495,505 et seq. ,523, 681 fise?., 596, 659, 685 eisey., 697, 743, 744, 749,750. * The simplest form of verbal index has been adopted, in preference to the analytical or synoptical, because more compact and comprehensive. Any nconvenience arising from the great number of references in some cases may be easily obviated. Thus, if information on the subject of coffee in Brazi is desired, a glance at the tabic of contents, at the beginning of the volume, will show the digest of Brazil to be embraced within the pages 648-6S5 ■ then turning to the word coffee in the index, and disregarding all figures but those embraced between the pages 6-i3-'}>5, every reference to the subject o f coffee in Brazil will be at ooce found. So of cotton in the Hanse towns, between pages ;?.Sl-405; or of wool in Turliey, between 4-59-465 or of wool in Chai, between 728-748; or of wool in the Argentine Confederation, between TJS-TiJ. So, also, of sugar in the Spanish American possessions 177-216 or in Brazil, 648-682, ' ' 808 INDEX Anchorage, 26, 70, 90, 150, 203, 205, 209, 215, 216, 246, 271, 337, 350, 419, 426, 429, 432,441,457,476,480,495, 505, 506, 509, 569, 582, 585,631,635,646,658,668, 680, 687, 750, 762. Ancient, 226, 242, 320, 383, 418, 471, 527, 626, 725. Andine, valley, 723. Andes, 578,607,608,614,717,718. Anderson, Mr., 705. Angra, city of, 233. Angostura, city of, 21, 626. Antigua, island of, 73. Antimony, 132,338,466,487. Antilles, the, 177, 207, 212, 213, 217, 267, 269, 283, 284, 563. Antioquia, province of, 611,613. An ti Britisli League, 329. Antwerp, port of, 35, 241 rf scj., 252, 339, 381, 649. Apure, province of, 626. Apparel, 22, 31, 42, 84,89,92,376,400,412,478,549,550, 570,587,591,772. Appenzel, canton of, 405. Appraisements, 205,548,001. Arabia, 440,480. Arbitrators, 580,775. Archipelagoes, 170, 271,274,275,456,487,502,555,607. Ardeb, its equivalent, 453. Arecibo, port of, 208, 209. Argillai-wood, 494. Argol, 83,374,412,427. Argentine Confederation, 85, 390, 432, 444, 607, 608,611, 659,663,671,672,732,734.743 dseq., 748,749,751, 755 aseq., 760,763,787. Arica, port of, 685, 686, 688, 690, 691, 696, 697, 700, 701, 705, 706,707. Arl€S, port of, 130. Arms, 15, 56, 154, 156, 225, 382, 466, 478, 483, 492, 507, 549, 599, 626, 646, 666, 667, 682, 695. Armadillo skins, 494. Army, 129, 132, 454, 674, 695. Armenia, 441, 451. Arrack, 27*, 312, 391, 401, 546. Arracan, province of, 496. Arrow-root, 72, 154, 279, 476, 537, 540, 544, 549, 556, 581. Ashes, 22, 57, 68, 289, 336, 337, 400, 406, 681, 745. Assembly, 83, 299, 407, 459, 548, 596, 650. Asses, 144,146,718,770. Asia, 5, 9,62,96,103,176,177,179,261,338,387,388,390, 439 dseq., 444,465,491,496,502,514. Asuncion, city of, 608, 756 et seq. Asumbre, its equivalent, 759. Atacama, desert of, 699. Atfeh,port of, 452. Atlantic, 85, 160, 161, 233, 477, 527, 528, 539, 542 et Sfq.,601, 611,614,658,666,713,714,756. Atrato, river, 614. Aurich, district of, 340. Austria, 106, 109, 115, 116, 187, 188, 191,194 el seq., 212, 241, 243, 251, 268, 309, 317, 330 et sej.,334, 343, 355, 377,395,408,409,441 et 8^5,452,453,456,457,469, 475,647 etseq., 652,659 etseq.,7S7. Austrian Italy, 417. Australia, 31.79,81 etseq., 96, 131, 154, 170,171,222,268, 309, 387 et sej., 496, 528, 543, 617, 652, 676, 693, 697, 733. Aux Cayes, port of, 560, 568. Azov, sea of, 98, 103, 109, 115, 117. Azores, the, 233, 234, 3S9. Bacon, 37, 66, 80, 101, 182, 191, 215, 250, 270, 287, 612, 659. Baden, grand duchy of, 330, 331, 333, 334, 339 et seq. Bags and bagging, 84,324,336,550,651,665,685,696,707,146. Baggage, 17, 22,42 ei sra., 165,600,645,772. Bagdad, city of, 440. Bahia, port of, 35, 364, 635, 646, 650, 658, 659,666,668 etseq., 676, 680. Bahama islands, the, 69,70. Bajocchi, its equivalent, 426. Baltic sea, etc., 95, 96, 98, 103, 109,110, 118,285,297 etseq., 315,324,325,330 et sej., 336, 341, 381 etseq., 396. Balsams, 153,279,597,719. Ballast, 69, 73, 78, 103, 110, 114, 145, 154, 164, 173, 179, 203, 205,216,229.247 etseq., 253,266,303,307,322,337, 341,372,391,455, 538, 571, 574,596,615,616,662, 671,738, 762. Balaklava, port of, 117. Balbi, the geographer, 465. Balance, 161, 162, 171, 182, 209, 228, 234, 294, 312, 368, 376, 399,443,492,748,760. Balanzas Generales, 178, 183 a seq., 211 et seq., 689, 724. Bales, 247, 387, 393, 399, 658, 747, 748. Balearic islands, 164, 167, 168, 212. Baltimore, city of, 342, 369, 383, 393, 623, 664, 771. Bananas, 177,236,643. Banco, its equivalent, &c., 309, 324. Bangkok, city of, 491 etseq., 494,495,497,498. Bar-wood, 477. Barbadoes, island of, 72, 73. Barter, 98, 102, 107, 118. Barrels, 136,324,550,571, Barilla, 160,279,472. Barcelona, port of, 162 etseq., 210,381,621 etseq. Baracoa, port of, 192 et seq. Barreda& Brothers, 709,710. Barbary States, 89, 90, 410, 465, 473. Barks, 153,487,229,449,467,487,613,614,635,637 et seq., 678,717. Barley, 65, 83, 84, 133, 337, 338, 356, 400, 433, 442, 447, 466, 471,549,643,718,737. Bastard-cardamoms, 494. Bastard-pearls, 726. Baskets, 400,758. Basel, canton of, 405,407,411,413. Basins, 242,454,718. Batavia, port of, 271, 272, 503. Bavaria, kingdom of 330, et- seq., 337, 343, 345, 347, 348, 349, 395. Beans, 83,133,219. Bedinger, Mr., 297. Beedell's British Tariffs, 42,43. Beet-root, 244. Beer, 82,223,247,273. Bees-wax, 185, 188, 219. INDEX. 809 Beef, 136, 141, 149, 153, 186, 190, 191,215,216,229,247, 250,270,274. Behring's Straits, 95. Belts and Sound, 284, 297. Belgian vessels, 272,300. Belgium, 105, 106, 135, 162, 170, 171, 181,187,188,191, 194 et seq., 206, 212, 241 dseq., 261, 262,268,270, 284,290,303,779,788. Belfast, city of, 16,35. Bella Vista, port of, 744, 745. Bengal, province of, 77. Berbice, colony of, 74,75,261. Berdiansk, port of, 117. Bessarabia, province of, 95, 115. Betel, 147. Bilboa, port of, 164. Biscay, sea-coasts and ports of, 162. Biscuit, 255, 291. Blockade, 98,122,288. Bolivia, 693, 696, 697, 699, 700, 713 etseq., 725, 729,732, 734,748,770,788. Bombay, port of, 76 ei seq. Bones, 22,83,153,287. Bona-Bona, island of, 154. Borneo, island of, 487, 789. Books, 42,43,224,274. Bourbon, isle of, 146, 147. Bounties, 147,148,272. BowTing, Sir J., 492. Brabant, province of, 241, 243. Brandies,124, 146, 149, 160, 201, 222, 223, 226, 233, 247, 266, 273,286,303. Brazdl, «6, 91, 141, 162, 187, 188, 191, 194 etseq., 220 etseq., 226, 228, 243, 261, 268, 270, 290,303. Breadstuffs, 160, 265, 266. Bremen, city of, 104, 112, 113, 222, 226,268,272,284,290, 291,300,302. Breweries, 146, 293. Bristol, 32, 34, 35. Bristles, 102, 111, 112, 289. British, 8,74,83 etseq., 159,170,173,228,245,252,261,262, 268,272. Brokers, ship, 247. Brooke, Sir J., 492. ^ Brussels, city of, 241, 243 et seg. Buckwheat, 133. Buenos-Ayres,portof, 215, 608,693,744 etseq ,755,756,758, 760,767,771,773. Bullion, 149,274,276. Bruges, city of, 241, 243, 244, 246. Burgundy, wines, 273. Butter, 133, 149, 184,186,190,209,211,215,223,247,264, 274. Cabinet-woods, 146, 153, 290, 585. 613, 664, 685, 719. Cables, 97, 550, 719. Cacao, 188, 189. Cadiz, 164, 166, 368, 381, 622, 62.?. Cagliari, port of, 418, 419. Cairo, 440, 453. Calais, 6, 15,137. [102 1 Calcutta, 76 rf sey.,527, 598. California, 81, 126, 172, 173, 268,388,389,531,532,539 et seq., 577, 580, 616, 617, 652, 662,695,697,707,726, 728,732. Calisaya, 614, 638. Callao, port of, 154, 531, 543, 635, 685 et seq. Calicoes, 223, 243, 613, 725, 735, 756. Camargo, port of, 589. Cambrics, 137, 228, 407, 497, 549, 735, 774. Camlets, 243, 474. Campeche, port of, 581. Campeche-wood, 643, 686. Camphor, 276, 487. Camphor-tree, 501, 502, 514, 521, 525, 530, 549. Canada, province of, 57 el seq., 68, 69, 75, 212, 222, 226, 424. Canada, its equivalent, 226. Canaries, islands, 165, 166, 169, 268, 342, 622, 623. Candareen, its equivalent, 506, 528. Candia, island of, 440, 447 et seq. Candles, 60, 66, 71, 72, 84, 85, 97,149,189,211,228,274, 275, 291, 294, 479, 520, 540, 549,570,589,590,649, 662, 668, 677,687, 697, 698,716,726,735,745,767, 771,774. Canea, port of, 440,447,448. Cane, sugar, 144, 233, 236,439,440,466,476,496,563,568, 678,581,653,718,755,759. Cannons, 244, 400, 525, 612, 615. Can tar, its equivalent, 452. Canvas, 96, 98, 247, 336, 392, 498, 550, 735. Caoutchouc, 244, 677. Caps, 514, 716, 774. Caraccas, city of, 210, 621, 625, 635. Caractere, its equivalent, 169. Caravans, 440, 441, 467, 471, 474. Cardamoms, 491, 494. Cardenas, port of, 205. Cards, 15,19,274,725,774. Cardwell, Mr., 20. Carinthia, 357. Carlstadt, 308. Carnatic, 147. Carnelians, 501. Carniola, 357. Carolina, North and South, 570. Carpets, 145, 243,250,274,276,423,44.3,447,474,549,590, 735. Carrara, city of, 423,425. Carriages, 80, 274, 276, 587, 718, 735, 763. Carrying-trade, 131, 142 rf s^., 162, 163, 178, 180, 181, 192, 201, 203, 208, 209, 234,261,263,264,319,367,385, 396, 400, 401, 419, 420, 421,423,427,429,441,467, 468, 472 et sej., 478, 481, 482, 492, 502,505, 506, 508, 515, 538, 541, 544,545, 560,572,581, 582,585, 614 el seq., 625, 635, 669, 677, 686, 695, 725, 726. Carthagena, port of, 164, 166,612 d seq. Cascarillas, 588, 689 etseq. Cashmere, 134, 245, 550. Caspian sea, 95, 96, 101, 103, 107, 109, 110. Cassia, 391, 449, 514, 521, 525, 549, 590. Cassimeres, 243, 587, 590, 735, 727. 810 INDEX CastalanOjits equivalent, 109. Castor oil, 474,678. Catania, city of, 433. Catty, its equivalent, 172, 529. Cattle, 81, 136, 143, 147, 177,219,245,274,276,285,343, 396, 420, 425, 439, 440, 460,471,472,508,586,600, 621, 635, 718, 719, 743,755, 767. Caucasian provinces, 95. -. \ Caviar, 68,69,117. Cayenne, province of, 144, 149 d seq , 608. Census, 131, 177, 417, 426, 447, 577, 582, 583. Centime, its equivalent, 248. Centner, its equivalent, 400; 413. Cereals, 81,82, 96, 135, 189, 211, 255, 372, 446, 451, 460, 496, 622,569,768. Cetto, port of, 137. Ceylon, island of, 76, 260, 654. Chalk, 131,400,460. Chains, 248,294,614,736,736. Champagne wine, 110,273. Channel islands, 31. Charlemagne, the Emperor, 133, 381. Charlevoix, the explorer, 503. Charqui, meat, 737. Charleston, port of, 393, 424, 656, 664, 771. Charters, 391, 454, 616, 626, 635, 710. Chatham, Lord, 47. Cheese, 57, 59, 60, 68, 71, 76, 80, 84, 85, 223, 274, 341, 372, 396, 400, 406, 412, 413, 425,449,473,570,626,767. Chemicals, 97, 225, 244, 246, 294, 357, 433, 614, 682, 705. Cheroots, 82. Chestnuts, 133,144,219,418,449. Chicory, 15,400,652. Chihuahua, province of, 577,580,583,684. Chili, 170,432,444,514,540,542,607,608,617,621,635 et seq., 659 etseq., 666,667,693 eiseq., 723 etseq., 779, 789. ChUoe, island of, 607, 723. China, 30,98, 103, 107, 108, 118, 123, 170, 171, 262, 268, 274, 277,367,384,389,491,496 ei seq., 501,506,608,613 et seq., 633, 537, 640, 642, 546, 590, 693, 709, 710, 727, 729,731,734,780,790. Chincha Islands, 685,687,695,699,701,702,704,706 etseq. Chinchilla, 719,737,743. Chintzes, 410,487,640,587. Christianstad, port of, 295,296. Chocolate, 717,718. Choo-Kiang, 514. Chuquisaca, city of, 608, 713, 725. Cider, 82,597,763. Cienfuegos, port of, 192 ei seq. Cinchona bark, 685. Cincinnati, 383. Cinnamon, 144, 149, 150, 261, 590, 678, 719, 774. Cinque Ports, 26. Cisplatine Republic, 767. Citrons, 210,418. Cigars, 15, 34, 35, 43, 82, 85, 170, 172, 185, 188, 190, 191, 201, 215, 266, 269, 291, 294, 391, 395, 525, 540, 562, 585, 696, 664, 668, 671, 716,726,765,768,759,774. Clay, 22,131,215,400. Clocks, 84, 134, 170, 226,391,406,412,526,587,716,756, 763. Clothing, 74, 146, 149, 165, 167, 168, 608, 691, 681, 690, 691, 736,774. Cloths— linen, cotton, and woolen. 111, 134, 135, 137, 224, 227, 243, 423, 501, 514,622,526,540,549,584,685, 587, 591, 626, 673, 678,727,766,763. Cloves, 144,146,149,150,277,362,480 eiseg., 549, 590, 678. €oke, 31,64,84,167. Coal, 31,57,60 etseq., 68,71,74,84,98,117,132,135,149, 163, 167, 203, 213, 224,244,245,247,276,286,289, 290, ?38, 339, 356, 372,391,400,401,422,478,525, 527, 545, 550, 671, 685, 648, 662, 664, 667, 685, 687, 724, 736, 737, 767, 774. Coasting trade, 20, 21, 22, 90, 150, 154, 164, 169, 234, 262, 342, 356, 361, 362, 367,370,372,375,418,426,427, 431, 446, 447, 456, 513,514,526,666,668,696,699, 602, 606, 611, 622, 644,659,661,664,666,668,714, 738, 769. Cobalt, 338,418,731. Cobija, port of, 696,698,713,715 etseq., 725,726. Coblentz, city of, 332. Cochineal, 163, 214, 443, 449, 467,471, 678, 686, 726. Cocket, 26,386. Cocoa, 74, 130, 144, 146, 149,150,177,210,215,315,362, 372,. 426, 661, 662, 667,569,696,603,607,613,614, 615, 621, 626, 627, 635,637,643,671,678,686,717, 718, 725, 743, 774. Cocoa nuts and nut oil, 147, 154, 276, 480, 482, 666, 697, 719. Codfish, codfishery, &c., 67,147 etseq., 163,162,184,186, 190, 191, 209, 224, 314, 448, 648, 649, 662, 677, 771. Coffee, 15,98,100, 114, 130, 141, 143, 144, 146, 146, 149, 150, 167,170,171,177,185,188,190,191,201,208 et seq., 213,223,233,250,265,262 etseq., 286,290,344,359, 362,363,365,367,368,371 eiseq., 391,396,425,426, 429,430,440 etseq., 449,456,458,459,467,470,471, 472,476,477,479,560 eiseg., 505, 667 et wj., 678,581 et seq., 685, 589, 607, 613, 616, 621, 626, 627, 630, 636, 637, 643, 646, 649, 651,662,659,660,662,664,666, 667, 674, 678, 717, 718,726,736,774. Coins, 39, 56, 102, 127, 141, 149, 184, 189, 224, 274 et seq., 433, 504, 579, 692, 000,715,717,719,736,761,762, 794. Colbert, M., 133. Cologne, city of, 332, 344, 346, 381. Colonies, 47 fisey., 121, 122, 130, 141 etseq., 160,119 etseq., 208,237,261 etseq., 272,278,284,295,307,465,476, 478, 482, 661, 607, 024, 727, 729 et seq. Columbus, Christopher, 207, 559. Commerce and Navigation, treaties of, 785 ei seq. Commerce, summary statement of. United States, 778 et seq. Commissioners, 16 dseg., 330, 334, 464,467, 492 eiseq., 50i, 547,672. Commonwealth, 48,261. Companies, 76,78,261, 283, 344, 385, 388, 447, 454, 491, 492, 623,568,586,714. Concepcion, port of, 723, 724, 744, 773. Concessions, 312, 330, 343, 376, 381, 382, .503, 506, 589, 765. Concordia, port of, 744, 746. INDEX 811 onfederations, 260,288,329 d se?., 381,595,71i,743,745 d seq., 755. Confiscations, 122, 153, 205, 325, 427, 495, 515, 551, 589, 601, 612,624,639,762,772. Congrens, 51, 52, 121,122,142,179,243,246,261,297,299, 330,334,376,383,386, 425, 485, 615, 616,638,639, 644,714,724,745. Connecticut, 508. Consignments, 385, 476, 592, 687, 771, 772. Consignees, 21, 43, 155, 165, 173, 205, 271, 350, 599, 600, 686, 772. Constantinople, 109, 116,369, 372,440 e« sej. , 446, 450, 454, 471,475. Consuls, 121, 125, 148, 159, 162, 204, 222, 234, 303, 355, 405, 419, 431 e/ scj., 447, 451, 471, 472, 488, 492 ei sej.,515, 524, 529, 533, 600, 602, 632, 645, 771. Conto, its equivalent, 647. Conventions, 50,76,121 etaeq., 131,261,283,297,298,330, 334, 382,427, 457, 487, 555, 713. Coolies, 237, 695. Copal, gum, 475, 476, 480 ei seq. Copaiva, 719. Copenhagen, 286 d seq., 290 d seq., 299, 396. Copiapo, town of, 723,732,738. Copper, 72, 97, 102, 107, 110, 112,131,143,153,190,224, 229,244,267,274,276 dseq., 338,339,396,400,418, 422, 440 d seq., 466, 470, 476 d seq., 48.3,520,521, 530, 633, 540, 549, 571,587,597,607,621,682,685, 717,726,728,732 etseq., 774. Copper ore, 185, 188, 191, 201, 696, 731. Coral and coral fisheries, 145,423,427,549. Cordage, 96, 98, 116, 170,172,233,274,332,336,392,426, 514, 520, 525, 540, 549, 487, 664, 681, 719, 767, 774. Cordilleras, mountains, 578, 611, 618, 745, 757. Cordials, 91, 149, 153, 412, 548, 549, 763. Corfu, port of, 368,857 dseq., 860. Cork, port of, 16,29,35. Corn and corn meal, 16, 63, 66, 71, 72, 82, 102, 133, 149, 153, 172, 219, 223, 236,331,418,420,427,439,440,447, 450, 459, 472, 474, 476,549,578,581,582,585,615, 685,697,755,759,768. Corrientes, town of, 744, 745, 764. Corsica, 144,417. Cossack districts, 95. Costa Firma, 215,432. Costa Eica, 602,611,651,790. Cotton, 6, 31 d seq., 57, 60, 74, 100, 101, 105, 107, 116 d seq., 123, 124, 126 d seq., 135,143 d seq., 149,150,160, 162, 167, 170, 177,185,188,190,191,208,211,213, 264,273,286 dseq., 291 d seq., 299,303,335 dseq., 345, 346, 385, 387, 391 d seq., 396 dseq., 406, 408 dseq., 419, 420 d seq., 425, 427, 429,430,434,439, 471 d seq., 483, 491, 495, 497,526,549,561 d seq., 567 d seg., 570, 578, 579, 582, 585, 587, 590, 621, 629, 630,635 dseq., 643,648,650,653 dseq., 671,673 d seq., 678, 681, 690, 693, 696,718,726,730,735,743, 755,756,758,759. Cottons, 61, 63, 67, 96 d seq., 110, 137,172,223,228,234, 243, 244, 250, 255, 274,359,362 dseq., 313 d seq., 426,440 a;se2'.,447 d ss^., 460,470, 514,520 d seq., 540, 591, 597, 626, 630,646,664,674,681,688,691, 694,716,727,735. Courtray, town of, 243, 244. Cowes, port of, 542. Cow, hides, tails, horns, etc., 746,747,767,768,770,774. Crackers, 525, 600, 771, 774. Crapes, 426,525,590,735. Crawford, Mr., 491. Cream of tartar, 374, 426, 427. Crimea, 95, 109, 115, 116, 129. Cromwell, Oliver, 48. Crockery, 549. Cronberg, town, castle, 297,382,384. Crushed sugar, 215,432. Crystals, 97, 224, 255, 412, 460, 587, 774. Cuartilla, its equivalent, 169. Cuba, 160, 164, 167,177 d seq., ISO d seq., 190 d seq. 200 d seq. ,212 d seq. , 268, 270, 290, 291, 294, 303, 342, 383, 390, 391, 531, 563, 571, 589, 613, 621, 665. Cumana, city of, 621, 630. Curapoa, port of, 268 d seq., 568, 613, 623 d seq. Curing-grounds, 147, 148. Currants, 458 d seq. Customs, 16, 44, 84, 99,100, 103, 108, 114, 128, 129, 155, 162, 164, 168, 205, 264, 292, 329 d seq., 334, 340, 345, 357, 365, 376, 393, 495,530,556,598,600,631,654,681, 687,748. Custom-houses, 10, 41, 44, 145, 151, 152, 168, 187, 203, 204, 206, 214 d seq. , 286, 296, 300, 303, 343, 347, 360, 367, 393, 400, 402, 407,411,426,429,431,432,476,531, 560, 579, 588, 589, 699, 600 d seq. , 614 d seq., 632, 638, 645,648,650,668 dseq,, 686,688,714,716,729,738, 744, 758, 761 d seq., 168, 772, 774. Cutlery, 31, 66, 145, 242, 244,266,406,412,427,492,556, 648, 664. Cuxhaven, port of, 386. Dalmatia, kingdom of, 355, 357, 360, 375. Damasks, 134, 242, 243, 526, 549, 591, 735. Damascus, city of, 440, 446. Dantzic, port of, 337,382. Danube river, 96, 115, 331, 332, 337, 340, 350, 356, 368, 449, 454. Dates and duration of treaties, 789 d seq. Dates, fruit,145,466,471,480. Deals, 31, 65, 308, 322. Delf, 180. Delta of the Nile, 460,451. Demerara, port of, 74, 75, 261, 432, 631, 563. Denia, port of, 164. Denmark, 104, 105, 109, 162, 163, 180 e( sej., 206,212,251, 283 dseq., 309, 311, 316 d seq., 336, 382, 385, 390, 397, 564, 569, 622, 624 d seq., 693, 748, 791. Depots, 131, 440, 523, 560, 681, 585, 725. Diamante, province of, 744. 812 INDEX. Diamonds, 487, 501, 646, 664, 671, 756, 757. Differential, 178, 183,184,213,234,264,312,405,419,695, 738. Dimities, 223. Direct trade, 152, 234, 237, 245, 262, 264, 274, 275, 278, 287, 290 el seq., 303,310,320,323,329,335,341,345,367, 369,374,388,391,397,418,420 rfse?., 427,429,431, 433, 434, 443,446,449,454 e^sej., 477,481,493,513 el seq., 519,521 et seq., 625,628,630,635,643,664, 678, 680, 685, 694 et seq., 726, 745. Discriminations, bOetseq., 56, 62, 162, 164, 178, 181 «( seg'-; 190, 220, 227, 262, 272, 393, 457, 644, 744. Diseases, 146,155,235,538. Distress, vessels in, 122,203,234,236,35^,401,505 et seq. Distilleries, 293,322,387,392. Divans, 459. Divi-divi, 279. Dnieper, Dniester, rivers, 96, 115. Docks, 27,81,242,247 etseq., 261,293,635,646. Documents, 22, 205, 287, 315, 321,334,369,422,507,573, 646,650,719,773. Dollar, its equivalent, 169, 695. Dominica, island of, 143. Dominician Eepublic, 559,569,571 el seq. Doubloon, its equivalent, 480, 694, 695, 738. Drachmas, its equivalent, 169,457. Draught of vessels, 155, 247, 295, 299, 419, 423, 492, 581, 645, 773. DrawbacliS, 69, 123, 210, 246, 272, 294,355,455,493,550, 611,655. Dresden, city of, 386. Dresden china, 338. Drills, drillings, 173,525,527,696,716,735,759. Drontheim, port of, 35. Drugs, 63, 84, 116, 225, 267, 274, 276, 315, 339, 344, 412, 431, 440, 470, 480, 514, 523, 555,587,613,678,685,719, 735, 774. Dublin, 15,16,29,35. Duchies, 284 etseq , 292 d seq., 308,320,333,339,343,345, 847,417. Dunkirk, port of, 109, 130, 137, 245, 381. Durango, department of, 577, 580, 583. Dusseldorf, 332, 344, 345. Dry goods, 180, 189, 476, 563, 565, 626, 666, 761, 762. Dye-woods, 6, 70, 74, 75, 141, 146,255,279,310,314,391, 400, 497, 514, 569, 571, 586, 596, 668, 678, 719. Dyes, 153, 225, 228, 243, 337, 591, 718, 763. Dye-stuffs, dying, 68, 98, 100, 101, 116,134,264,344,359, 413, 444, 583, 613, 626, 643, 681, 685. Earthenware, 31, 209, 215,224,276,400,425,474,478,483, 492, 498, 578, 587, 625, 716, 735, 759. East Indies, 5, 10, 31 etseq., 15, 77, 79, 123,130,151,171, 180,290,309,317,410,492,523,629. Edicts, 134, 502. Egypt, 130, 308, 393, 421, 425, 440, 446, 449 et sej., 461, 465, 473,475,483,629. Elba, island of, 422. Ellie, river, 331, 338, 340 et seq., 368, 381, 386. Eli, Mr., 77. Elephants' teeth, 146.153,472,477,482,494. El Paso, port of, 584. Elsinore, port of, 293, 298 et seq. Emancipation, 563,651. Embarcation, 165,431,7,73. Embroidery, 76, 244, 407, 410, 590, 774. Emigration, emigrants, 391,476,531 etseq., 600. Emporiums, 110, 112, 241,246,260,295,338,387,406,443, 514,615. Enactments, 165,283,547,559,772. Encarnacion, city of, 757. Engines, 289,314,546,550,757. England, 100, 104 etseq., 123, 130, 132,136,141,180,183, 187, 200,208,212,241 el seq., 255,261,267,284,287 etseq., 303, 309,312,316,320 rf sej., 329, 335 etseq., 343, 347,356,364,367 a; sey., 382,406,412, 420,426, 428 a seq., i4:2, 446,449,452,456 etseq., i67 etseq., 477, 487, 513, 519, 523, 530, 542, 569 et seq. , 581, 587, 598, 613, 622 etseq., 627, 629, 635, 638, 646 etseq., 651,659,693 etseq., 707 etseq.,72i et seq, 734, 757, 763,769. Engravings, 15, 587. Entrepots, 103, 130,145,148 rf scj., 209, 213, 290, 292, 294, 320, 365, 369, 375, 388,407,410,434,446,625,636, 697. Epidemics, 581. Equador, republic of, 384, 608, 611 635 riscg., 693,725, 728, 732,734,791. Equator, 234,424,769. Eras, 178,262,513. Errors, 185 etseq., 193,570,573,687,708. Essences, 471,665. Essential, 242, 283, 294, 321. Estadistica, Comercial, de la Kepublica de Chile, 733. Eupatoria, port of, 117. Euphrates river, 447. Events, 216,294, 377. Exactions, 167, 179j 208, 229, 457. Exchequer, 192. Excise, 21, 100, 103, 110, 132, 193, 401. Executive document, 297, 773. Exorbitant, 321. Expirations, 308, 321, 335, 376, 466, 533, 600. Explorations, 207,643. Exports, summary statement of, United States, 780,781. Expulsion, 718. Extorting, 297, 530. Extracts, 15, 153, 179, 439, 452, 549. Fabrics, 143, 170, 172, 242, 244, 262, 264, 322, 330, 331, 338, 342 et seq., 375,425,440,468,471,473,492,568,625, 673,730. Facilities, 165, 234, 245, 252, 324, 331, 341. Factories, 97, 98, 129 , 144 <:( sej. , 292 rf seq. , 338, 345, 356, 373, 392,408,427,443,447,454,458,476,514. Fairs, 338. Falkland Islands, 85, 607, 608. Falmouth, port of, 567. Famine, Port, 607. Fancy wares, 180,549,587,666. Fanega, its equivalent, 169. Fa vara, town of, 433. INDEX. 813 Favors, 181, 184, 2U, 220, 245, 262, 263, 283, 284, 342 et seq., 355, 875, 385, 405, 418, 427, 431,454,466,472,475, 479, 480, 488, 492, 496, 502, 503,538,570,580,601, 688. Feathers, 114, 145, 165, 322, 336, 431, 470, 471, 549. Federal, 122, 330, 382, 405, 407, 577, 580. Fees, 144, 145, 150, 151, 165, 166, 203,204,213,236,248, 249,374. Feejee Islands, 555 et seq. Feroes, islands, 283, 284. Fertile, 144, 177, 207,233,269,331,338,356,422,439,473, 479, 480, 491, 496, 526, 555,563,568,571,578,596, 597,603,643,755,767. Fezzan, Fez, 465, 467. Figs, 19, 163, 219, 265, 266, 374, 418, 423, 440, 443. Filberts, 219. Finland, 95, 99, 102, 109, 308, 316 ei seq. Finmark, 322. Firewood, 57, 247, 400 et seq. Fire-arms, 154, 255, 274, 294, 314, 492, 507, 549, 602. Fisli and fish oil, 6, 16, 22, 48, 57, 60, 63 et seq., 67 et seq.,8i, 85, 114, 130, 141, 143, 145, 146,149,153,189,209, 211, 215, 224,241,245 a! «ej., 259, 261, 262,278,287, 291, 314, 315, 318 rfseg., 322, 363, 387, 396, 401, 413, 423, 425, 432, 439, 456,458,472,477,480,494,547, 549,570,607. Flags, 122, 135, 142, 149, 151, 153,156,162,163,168,184, 190 e««ej., 195, 197,199,214,220,245,260 st seq., 271 etseq. ,276 et seq. , 285, "288, 296, 298, 307, 310, 315, 322, 341 et seq. , 355, 367 a! seq. , 384, 385, 391, 396, 398, 406, 418, 420, 423,427,431,440 rfs«j., 447, 452, 455, 457, 459, 460, 471, 472, 482, 488,496,515,526,528,531, 538, 545, 556, 560, 564, 566 cilseg., 570, 572, 574, 597, 635, 663, 687, 713, 756, 760, 771. Flanders, 241,243,260. Flannels, 242,243. Flax, 67, 50, 61, 68,74, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104 f< sej., 110, 114, 133, 137, 165, 167, 224,227,243,274,286,331,337, 3i0 etseq., 356, 359,374,412,419,425,427,440,447, 451,562,568,587,727. Fleet, 110, 141. Flensburg, port of, 294, 385. Flints, 22,275. Florence, city of, 417,423. Florida, 177,207. Florin, its equivalent, 268, 269, 332, 344, .374. Flour, 136, 143, 145, 149, 163, 164, 166, 167, 171, 173, 180 ei seq., 184, 186, 189 a! se?., 223, 236, 270, 274, 287, 289, 291,337, 340, 473, 475, 514, 520, 525, 540, 570 rf se?., 574,646,649,652,653,662. Flourishing, 259, 260, 293, 307, 320, 322, 408. Flowers, 153, 223, 338, 549. Fluctuating, 124,219. Food, 59, 96, 351, 374, 407, 425, 578, 674, 685, 718. Forests, 59. 132, 145,146,266,308,311,320,324,331,338, 339,356,357,621,755. • Forfeiture, 7, 16 et seq., 21 el seq., 62. Forges, 97, 146, 224, 244, 322. Fox, Mr., 49. France, 30, 31, 100, 104, 109, 111,112,114,115,121,138, 141 etseq., 148, 153, 162, 170, 180, 187, 188, 194 etseq. 206, 208, 212, 222, 226,260,265,267,268,284,287 290, 301, 303, 309, 311, 316 etseq., 330, 331, 335 etseq. 343, 347, 348 etseq., 356, 367, 370, 381, 390, 406 etseq. 417,420,426,428,439,443 etseq., 452,453,455,468 470,471,47 6,481,482,519,523,524,529 etseq., 542 547, 560, 563, 564, 566 etseq. , 693, 694, 697, 725 etseq. 729 etseq., 734,747,748,792. Frankfort-on-the-Mayn, 330, 332, 333, 343, 344, 347 et seq. Frederiokstad, port of, 295. Free, freedom, 121, 134, 141, 144,145,149,153,203,214, 237,243,245,246,262 etseq., 334,335,343,351.383, 385, 398, 401, 402, 440,452,467,471,479,480,487, 488,493,494 etseq., 505,537,638,539,543,547,550, 551, 596, 601, 687, 713 et seq., 743, 744, 775. Freights, 18,72, 73, 90, 110, 113, 114, 136, 209, 248, 253,254, 284, 285, 312, 319, 339,341,374,385,432,466,473, 479,520,541,563,571,599,671,686,706 etseq., 710, 715. Friesland, principality of, 260, 342. Frontiers, 339, 343, 357, 358, 360, 407,413,439,463,476, 590. Fruits, 57,69, 60, 67, 70,72,82,84,100,110,144,145,160, 170, 189, 203, 208, 211, 215,225,286,337,338,359, 368, 400, 525, 431, 439, 440,444,466,471,474,514, 549. Furniture, 84, 189, 211, 274, 276, 448, 454, 459, 540, 550. Furs, 57, 60, 67, 103, 308, 337, 365, 391, 413, 440, 520, 522. Galatz, town of, 109. Galicia, province of, 115, 355, 357 et seq. Gallenas Point, 465,476,607. Gallegos, port of, 607. Galls, 287,474. Gamboge, 491,494. Galveston, port of, 388. Gay, Mr., 723. Genoa, port of, 210, 373, 676, 770. Geofray, Mr., 758,759. Geology, 64,294,701. Georgetown, port of, 608. Georgia, 8, 630. Gerbis, port of, 472,473. Germany, 111, 128, 180, 187, 188, 191, 194 et seq., 210, 242, 244,246, 260, 270, 288, 298, 329 e« seg., 338, 340, 383 etseq., 392, 477, 543, 587, 612, 624, 625, 638, 649, 693, 697,724rfseg'., 731 etseq., 760. Ghent, city of, 241, 243 et seq., 252. * Gibbs & Co., 709. Gibraltar, portof, 35, 89, 90, 160, 162, 317, 390. 467, 468,676. Gin, 149, 223, 247, 273, 401, 540, 546, 548, 626, 649, 726, 771. Ginger, 6, 70, 150, 153, 391, 718. Ginseng, 520, 522, 525. Glasgow, city of, 15, 29, 673, 677. Goats, goatskins, &c., 83, 96, 146, 167, 279,320,339,474, 531, 540, 542, 544, 549, 583, 737. Gold, 39, 81, 102, 103, 146, 169, 173; 189, 211, 216, 224, 267, 274 et seq., 400,. 471, 472, 477, 487, 514, 520, 522, 525, 578, 582, 583, 585,586,592,596,597,602,607, 617, 681, 685, 688 etseq., 690, 693, 695, 715 etseq., 724,728,756,761,774. 814 INDEX. Godericli, Lord, 50. Gonaives, port of, 560,563,569. Gonzales, Felix, 702. Goree, island of, 146, 161. Gotha Canal, 324, 325, 385. Gothenburg, port of, 320, 324, 325, 396. Governors, 75 dseq., 143, 144, 151, 205,260,551,585,638. Grains, 16, 81, 48, 57, 59, 60, 67, 72, 90, 96, 98, 105, 112, 116, 145 etseq., 219,229,233,250,264,267,270,287,293. 318, 324, 336, 338, 359, 374,396,401,470,723,743, 764. Grants, 220, 245, 246, 263, 283, 298, 488, 492 dseq., 503, 505, 601, 612, 630, 635, 644, 645, 686, 709, 713, 738. Grapes, 466,471,589. Grass cloths, 525, 549. * Granaries, 285,471. Grease, 215,747,767. Great Britain, 5 d seq., 47 d seq., 60 et seq., 65, 85, 104, 122 dseq., 131, 135, 141, 163, 181, 190, 191, 19idseq., 206,222,226,234,251,261,265, 289, 297e(:se2., 303, 311, 316 rf sej., 323, 332,336,345,364,371, 385, 387 dseq., 398, 399, 471,477, 4:81 dseq., 491, 506, 507, 514, 518, 519, 524, 528,540,542,543,564,568,572, 579,582,587,597,598,624,625,631, 649, 655dseq., 661,663,672 dseq., 747,748,757,760,793. Greenland, 283, 390. Greece, 104, 109, 115, 251, 268, 356, 367, 390. Grindstones, 57,68,549. Groschen, its equivalent, 337,342. Groups, 233, 236,466,501,537,539,541,555,556,607,702. Growth, 260, 264, 267, 270, 308, 463, 477, 487, 496, 497, 546, 580. Guadeloupe, island of, 136, 141 d seq. , 153, 623, 624. Gualeguai, port of, 744, 773. Guanajuato, State of, 577,580,583. Guanatanamo, port of, 192 d seq. Guano, 188, 400, 477,482, 685, 689, 692 dseq., 699 dseq., 725,737. Guarantees, 245, .381, 383,538,601,612,626,630,644,688, 10S dseq., 714,738,768. Guarda-costas, 160. Guatemala, 383, 581, 585, 595, 596, 635, 792. Guayama, port of, 208, 210, 589. Guayaquil, port of, 635 et seq., 725. Guerrero, State of, 577, 5«0, 585. Guiana,. 136, 261, 268, 597, 621. Guilder, its equivalent ,'2 60. Gums, 77,145,153,172,391,467,470, 476, iSOdseq., 494, 556,585,719,755. Gunpowder, 56, 149, 247, 274,294,314,396,467,471,478, 483,599,678,716,756. Guns, 110,166,363,478,480,495. Gurley, Mr., 476,477. Gutta percha, 487. Guyac, 569. Gypsum, 63,68,400. • Haberdashery, 31, 170, 565, 587, 626, 636. Hainault, province of, 241, 243, 559. Hair, 112, 153, 165, 244, 336, 339, 549, 679, 681, 743, 765, 767,770. Hakodade, port of, 505, 508. Hams, 37, 66, 71, 80, 101, 136, 186, 190, 215, 250, 274, 767. Hamburg, portof, 104, 162, 206, 210, 222, 260, 268, 270, 272, 284,287,290 d sa?., 319, 332 d seq. 381 d seq. ,iOO, 433, 482,524, 673,582, 584,602, 624,635, 693,707, 725. Hanse Towns, 31, 105, 170, 180, 200, 243, 251, 262, 298, 302, 316 e(se}.,410,476,481,519,564, 613, 621 d seq., 6i6 et seq. , 652, 660 a; seq., 748, 794. Hanover, 104, 109, 162, 251,268, 284,290,300, 330,340 d seq., 37S, 386, 390, 566, 748, 793. Hardware, 31, 60, 83,97, 114, 145,180, 244,255, 322,337, 396, 423, 440,470, 492, ,540, 663,670, 587,600, 613, 621, 636, 648, 664, 678, 694, 759. Harburg, port of, 340 d seq., 387. Hats,149,244, 412, 423, 447, 520, 540, 570, 587, 626, 650, 677, 691,759,772,774. Havre, 109, 128, 130, 137, 408, 422, 542, 623, 655, 676. Havana, 166, 178, 187, 193 dseq., 270, 342, 531, 622, 747, 770. Hawaii, island of, 550. Hay, 22,65,83,400. Hayti, 141, 177, 243, 290, 390, 559 d seq., 570, 629, 657. Health, 71, 162,203, 234,308, 374,419, 424,432,455, 550, 615,760,768. Headings, 229,250,362,430. Hectolitre, its equivalent, 153. Heligoland, island of, 284, 390. Helsingburg, port of, 297. Hemp, 57, 68, 96, 102 dseq. , 133, 146, 165, 170, 286, 331, 356, 374, 440, 466, 494, 502, 665, 583, 590, 681. Herds of cattle, 177, 743,755. Herndon, Lieut., 677. Herrings, 105, 11 4, 149, 400, 448, 477. Hides, 38,57, 72,83,102,145,153, 165,170,250, 277,286, 312,322,363,392,423,440,456,470 d sey., 540, 561, 674,681,696,630,646,669,671 d «ej., 726, 737, 755, 759,774. Hilo, port of, 538, 542 d seq. Hogs, 133,144,542,743,770. Horns, 68, 77, 153, 279, 480, 492, 514, 549, 743, 756. 767, 770. Holland, 9,30,100, 162,180,191,212,222,241,259 d seq., 290,303,311,319,336 d sej., 371,382, 395, 412,420, 429, 432,502,584, 613, 649,663, 693,728, 734,748, 794. Holsteiu, Duchy of, 284, 286, 292 d seq., 390. Honey, 186, 191, 219, 391, 440, 458, 567, 763. Honduras, 74, 390, 695 d seq. Hong-Kong, port of, 508, 625, 529, 533. Honolulu, port of, 640 d seq. Hoops, 209,400,550,770,774. Hops, 82,130,391,549. Hosiery, 180,244,289,294,540. Hospitals, 77, 92, 151, 234, 588, 616, 673, 679, 768. Household, 376, 401, 660, 585. House of Representatives, 178,297,547. Huaneras, 6d9 ei seq. Humboldt, Baron, 193. Hungary, 332, 355 d seq. Husbandi-y, 133, 149, 214, 550. Huskisson, Mr., 13. INDEX 815 Ibarra, town of, 635. Ibraila, town of, 450. Ice, 72, 77, 84, 115, 189, 550, 682, 695. Iceland, 148, 283, 284, 290. Idria, town of, 357. Idzu, principality of, 504, 505. Illinois, 570. Illyria, kingdom of, 355, 357 et seq. Illustrations, 193, 211, 220, 254, 318, 572, 622, 631, 660. Immigrants, immigration, 207, 616, 668. Immunities, 121,122,159,246,743. Implements, 42, 145, 149, 167, 211, 375, 625, 716, 756. Imports, summary statement of, United States, 778, 779. Importers, imported, 43,128, 133, 168, 264, 401,583, 599, 601,761,775. Imposts, 50,75,90,121,167,293,308,385,454,455,467 et ««g'.,560,764. Improvements, 133, 192, 208, 241, 242, 383, 529, 636, 724. Impositions, 178, 242, 262, 298, 299, 308, 331, 355, 387, 405, 418, 427, 547, 551, 631, 674, 738. Impediments, 208, 263, 330, 495, 631. Imperial, 75, 79, 504, 506, 507, 513, 679. Incorporations, 58, 242, 245, 726, 727. Independence, independently, 49, 241, 261, 322, 425,457, 476, 547,560,569,570 «( s«j., 577, 581, 595, 596, 608, 616,724,725,743. Indigo, 6, 74, 75, 77, 85, 98,146,147,149,153,170 et seq., 177, 224, 359, 368, 440,443,449,451,471,514,521, 561 etseg.,59e rfMj., 603, 607, 621, 627, 630, 718, 726. India rubber, 60, 291,339,375,391,480,591,615,635,638, 678,719,758,774. Indies, 33, 76, 181, 210, 213,367,387 e< ««j., 393, 394, 482, 491,496,498,622,629,694. Indianola, port of, 388. Indigenous, 502,578,685. Indirect, 220, 227, 246, 262, 290, 312, 321, 335, 348, 418, 420, 427,431,432,745. Indemnities, 299,611. Infringements, 382, 612, 639. Infections, 234,432. Ingots, 613,686. Inland, 246, 321, 425, 465, 479, 494, 495, 602, 744 Instruments, 42, 149, 337,338,504,549,636,682,685,716, 761, 774. Inspection, 42, 128, 425, 530, 539, 599, 600, 612, 771. Instructions, 181, 263, 264, 297, 350, 532. Insects, 267, 578, 655 Intercourse, 47, 50 et seq., 57, 15 «« sey., 79, 91, 121, 130, 141, 147, 159 c<«e?., 284, 331, 336, 355, 381, 418, 431, 449, 454, 477, 478, 487, 501 et seq. , 508, 514, 524, 570, 608, 625,743,768. Interdict, 51, 130, 263, 515, 635, 715, 717. Interchanges, 98, 320, 331, 426. Interior, 128, 146, 246, 360, 381 , 418, 422, 467, 474, 476, 479, 501, 504, 531, 571, 584,588,592,614,626,655,725, 744,767. International, 331, 588, 592. Interpreters, 466, 580, 616, 631. Interfennce, 488, 523, 654, 699. Inter-oceanic canal, 598. Inundations, 207,497. Invasions, 207,443,453. Inviolable, 159,611. Invoices, 169, 274, 400 e< sej., 548,566, 573,591, 600 c( s«j., 682. Inward, 325, 391, 565, 568, 582e( seq. , 663, 674, 678, 680, 768. Ionian isles, 115,370,390,429,439,457 et seq., i61. Ipecacuanha, 718. Iquique, port of, 685,696,700,715. Ireland, 16,29,34,136,261,433. Iron, 6, 31, 60, 72,82,98,102,107,112,132,145,189,209, 211, 224, 244 et seq., 255, 264, 267, 274, 279, 286, 290, 294, 310 et seq., 338,344,356,372,396,400,418,422, 425, 426, 441,456,458,466 e(«ej., 477, 487, 492, 498, 502, 514,520,540, 549, 585, 621,681,685,697,716, 724,736,774. Ironmongery, 83. Irrigation, 210,440,568. Isinglass, 96,98,112,678. May, port of, 685, 690. n^ Isthmus, 595, 598, 611 ei seq. Istria, province of, 375. Italy, 66, 100, 111, 187, 191 et seq., 270,284,317,343.358, 373,417,422 et seq., 565,570,579,638,649, 659, 693 et seq. Ivory, 17,219,411,4:75 et seq., 491 eiseq., 514. Jackson, Dr., 64. Jackson, President, 7. Jacmel, port of, 560, 568. Jalap, 582. Jamaica, island of, 70, 177, 563, 568, 651. Japan, 160,262,276,480,501 dseq.,19i. Jasper, 501,724. Java, island of, 171, 260 et seq., 290,487,491, 651. Jefferson, Mr., 10,13. Jerked beef, 183 et seq., 190, 206, 216, 583. Jeremie, port of, 560, 569. Jewelry, 103, 170, 274, 276, 337, 396, 406, 411, 549, 587, 625, 646,648,667,716,736,774. Juices, 153,487,501,567,681. Junks, 275, 491, 502, 508, 513. Jurisdiction, 385, 476, 509, 531, 559, 611, 639, 644, 645, 756. Justice, 371, 555, 601, 630, 645, 756. Kauai, port of, 537, 550. Kealakeakua, port of, 538,542,550. Kentucky, 129, 269. Kertch, port of, 98, 117. Kerseymeres, 167, 168. Klachta, town of, 513. Kiang, Choo, port of, 514. Kiang, Hong, port of, 513. Kiel, port of, 109, 290, 294, 397. Kilogramme, its equivalent, 118, 153, 169, 269, 286, 290,319, 344,396,409,629. Kilo, its equivalent, 475, 519. King, kingdom, 6, 159, 219, 226, 261, 263, 266, 285, 288, 292, 295,307,313,320,338,340,342 etseq., 381,397,418, 426 et seq., 439,457,460,472,476,491 et seq., 496, 502,555,625,656,724. Kirschenwasser, 149, 339. 816 INDEX. Konigsberg, city of, 336. Kwang-chow, port of, 515. KwaBg-chan-fu, port of, 514. La Bahia Negra, port of, 714. La Basseterre, port of, 153. Labor, 131, 167, 207, 210, 376, 407,443,466,628,643,651 aseq., 662,677,695. Laces, 242, 244, 250, 274, 406, 549, 590, 681, 716, 735, 758. Lacquered wares, 276,502,509,525,549. La Desirade, island of, 143. La Guayra, port of, 342, 621, 625, 626. Lahaina, port of, 538, 542, 550, 551. Lakes, 57, 315, 324, 325, 331, 472, 598, 658. Lamps, lamp-oil, 498,549,666,716,774. Lanangeiras, port of, 680. Lanthala, port of, 556. La Paz, city of, 715, 717, 744, 745. Lard, 37, 68, 71, 84, 149, 182 et seq., 186, 189, 190, 211, 250, 255. 270, 406, 413, 549, 590, 600, 685, 697. Laredo, town of, 589. Las Higueritas, port of, 773. Lasting, 549,736. Last, its equivalent, 98, 103, 108, 248, 249, 315, 324, 400. Laths, 64, 159, 546. La Union, port of, 597. Lausanne, city of, 407. Lavrodores, cane-planters, 053. Laws, 133,141, 144, 147, 178,207,220,242,247,259,262, 266, 295, 307, 313, 325, 350, 381, ,S85, 407, 452,492, 501 et seq., 523,530,538 d seq., bit el seq., 558,560, 564, 592, 598 el seq., 602, 614, 621, C30, 635, 681, 714, 738,745,749eisc3. La Tela, port of, 621,630. La Ventosa, port of, 589. Lazarettos, 162, 165, 166, 374, 377. Leather, 60, 66, 84,96,98,112,145,244,245,274,276,322, _336, 338, 363, 375. 412,426,440,470,471,474,549, 585, 590, 637, 666, 681, 736, 746, 755, 7C3. Lead, 72, 98, 131, 132, 153, 163, 224, 244, 274, 338, 340, 400, 419, 422, 426, 467,470,492,520,622,525,600,621, 682,724. Leeches, 440,467,470,472. Legal, legally, 262, 303, 405, 407, 418, 455,495,523,533, 538,579,612,631, 686. Legger, its equivalent, 277. Leghorn, port of, 381,422 el seq., 433,434. Legislation, 83, 131, 131, 137,144,154,159,179,220,242, 260, 262, 311, 317,321,360,417,476,559,560,572, 596, 598, 601, 621, 630, 635, 638, 650, 710, 771. Leipsic, city of, 332, 337. Leith, port of, 15, 29, 34, 35. Lemons, 163, 219, 425, 433, 449, 466. Lentils, 685, 697. Les Saintes, islands of, 143. Levant, 260, 270, 303, 356, 362, 367, 369, 425, 439 el seq., 473, 519,667. Lew-Chew islands, 501, 50S, 509, 514. Lex Mercatoria, 266,381. Liabilities, 153, 155. 247, 24S, 551. 612, 636. 7.S8, 772. Liberia, 35.476,479. Licenses, 127, 155, 480, 515, 530, 578, 686, 773. Liege, city of, 241, 243 et seq. Lierre, town of, 243 et seq. Light-houses, etc., 125, 173, 204, 234, 246, 249, 307, 331, 355, 374, 387, 538, 556, 580, 615, 631, 744, 773. Lighters, lighterage, 104, 248, 351, 374, 645. Lille, city of, 128. Lima, city of, 608, 636, 705, 714. Liman, lagoon, 1 15. Limburg, province of, 241,243. Lime, 146, 149, 172, 245, 400, 705. Limerick, city of, 16, 35. Line, its equivalent, 170. Linens, 31, 143, 145, 180,189,211,224,227,241 a seq., 250, 274 et seq. , 322, 337 et seq., 392, 400, 412, 418, 423, 451, 471, 585 et seq., 625, 648, 662, 666, 681, 690 et seq. Liptas, its equivalent, 457. Liquorice, 76, 163, 164, 427, 433. Liquors, 22, 100, 114, 146, 152 el seq., 215, 223, 288, 293, 295, 396, 407,445,538,546 et sej., 568, 578, 587, 598, et seq., 646, 664, 666, 688, 715, 736, 748, 774. Lisbon, city of, 219, 234, 368, 381, 666, 679, 771. Lispund, its equivalent, 400. Listados, linen, 588. Lithuania, province of, 105, 332. Liverpool, port of, 15, 31 et seq , 180, 373, 422, 432, 529, 566, 622, 666. Liverpool, Lord, 6, 9, 49. Live-stock, 141, 143, 285, 287, 396, 408, 423, 550. Livre, its equivalent, 141, 292. Llamas, sheep, 718. Lloyds, 447. Loanda, island of, 475,476. Loans, 57,699,724. Lobos Islands, 699, 703 et seq. Local, 203, 213, 234, 295, 307, 351,355,455,471,506,509, 515, 559, 580, 589, 596, 601, 615, 621, 744. Logwood, 314, 449,559,562 et seq. ,570,589,597. London, 26 etseq., 31 etseq., 43, 81, 106, 109, 180, 242,259, 373, 381 et seq., 433, 450, 458, 523, 526, 529, 724. Londonderry, IC, 35. Looking-glasses, 763. Looms, 106, 243, 292, 407, 423. Loretto, port of, 713. Louisiana, 122, 141, 432, 030. Louisville, 383. Louvain, town of, 246. Lubec, port of, 104, 162, 268,284, 290,298,302,332,381 et se?., 396, 401, 671. Lucca, duchy of, 417, 442. Lumber, 57, 63 et seq., 71 et seq., 136, 141, 159, 206, 209, 2.34, 236, 250, 270, 274, 319, 540, 545,550,565,568,694, 737,745,767,774. Luxemburg, city of, 241, 244, 245, 333, 347. Luxuries, 133, 160, 339, 376, 406, 426, 760. Lyons, city of, 128, 131, 433, 725. Macao, port of, 237, 502, 523. McCulloch, Mr. , 24, 98, 373, 382, 386. Macgregor, Mr., 162, 226, 308, 322, 324, 329,427,433,465, 472,653. INDEX 817 McLane, Mr., 52. Madagascar, 146, 481. Madder, 133, 440, 443, 446, 474. Madeira, island of, 133, 234 ei! s«?., 271, 389,548 d «eg., 660, 713. Madras, port of, 76. Madrid, 164. Magdeburg, city of, 332, 386. Mahogany, 74, 400, 549, 561, 567, 569 e« s*y., 574,582, 585, 596. Mails, 203, 479, 538, 568, 585, 589, 615. Maize, 16,146, 170, 177, 236,322, 331,356, 418,425, 439, 442,466, 471,578, 581,596, 607,643, 685,723, 743, 758. Malabar, coast and province of, 147, 261. Malaga, port of, 162, 622. Malines, city of, 244. Malta, 99 eiseq , 162, 317, 368, 391, 461. Manchester, 468. Mandioca, flour, 223, 643, 755, 763. Manganese, 244, 400, 418. Manheim, town of, 339. Manill;., port of, 166, 170, 173, 215, 270, 276, 497, 520, 540. Manna, 433. Manzanillo,port of, 192 et seq., 196 elseg. Maracaibo, port of, 613, 621, 630. Maravedi, its equivalent, 169. Marble, 57, 68, 229, 275, 400, 418, 422, 425, 650, 724. Marc, its equivalent, 224, 387, 401, 433. Marcy, Mr., 297. Mare, liberum, 262. Maris-galante, island of, 143, 153. Mariel, port of, 194 et seq. Mark, its equivalent, 169. Marine, 374, 397, 423, 456, 724, 733, 769. Marque, letters of, 122. Marsala, port of, 433. Marseilles, 128, 130, l.t?, 373, 381, 429, 433, 442, 450, 460, 472, 567, 623, 676. Martinique, island of, 136, 141 et seq., 149, 153, 623. Maryland, 7, 64, 129, 269, 394, 476, 570. Massachusetts, 78, 468, 475, 481, 570. Masts, 6, 167, 250, 308, 315, 402, 430. Matanzas, port of, 192 et seq. , 205. Materials, 189, 242, 245, 252, 255, 294, 299, 321, 368, 373, 387 396, 406 et sej., 506, 549, 565, 591, 681, 718. Mats, 164, 188, 276, 336, 474, 540, 585. Matto Grosso, province of, 75C. Maui, island of, 537,550. Mauritius, island of, 85, 147, 693, 709. Mayence, city of, 332,344. Mayotte, island of, 151,482. Mazagan, port of, 467 et seq. Mazatlan, port of, 383. Meal, 16, 71,82,472. Meats, 22,57,59,67,81, 136,153, 186,189, 209,211, 233, 314, 514, 585, 600, 659, 681, 697, 728, 743. Mecca, 467, 479. Mecklenburg, State of, 104, 106, 109, 112, 251, 268, 284, 290, 300, 303, 318, 342, 348, 390, 395, 795. [103] Medicines,63, 153, 225, 267, 276, 344, 412, 550, 585, 587, 613, 678,681,685,755,759. Mediterranean, 145,148,100 et so?., 290, 336, 341, 356, 367, 417 ei Mj., 422, 424, 426, 439, 453, 450, 465, 471, 473, 479,519,662. Memel, port of, 336. Menam, river, 491. Men-of-war, 115, 204, 374, 583. Merida, city of, 581. Merinos, 137, 243, 498, 650, 725. Mescal, 578. Messina, port of, 81,432. Mestizos, 595, 743. Metals, 74, 116,124, 145,188,211, 224,260, 267,318,356, 387,400,423 et sej., 425,440, 456,483, 578, 607, 613, 621,646,607,682,724. Metre, its equivalent, 170. Meura, Islaud of, 154. Mexico, 342, 362,367,369, 383, 390, 432, 540, 570, 511 et seq. , 581 et scj., 595, 597, 608, 613, 617,624,627,631,6.35, 693,726,729,732,734,795. Milan, 123, 373. Mills, 392, 431, 565, 654, 668, 677, 726, 768. MJlrea, its equivalent, 228, 647, 650, 661, 663. Minatitlan, port of, 589. Mines, 244,267, 308,311, 320,324,356, 418,426,433,466, 585, 613, 621, 697, 718, 724, 732. Miquelon, island of, 147, 151. Missions, 502, 550. Mississippi, 5,713. Missouri, 129,432,579. ^ Mobile, port of, 369, 656, 664. Mocha coffee, 440, 651. Modena, duchy of, 377,417,425. Mogador, 467 et seq. , 480. Moio,its equivalent, 219. Molasses, 59, 66, 70, 72, 74, 114, 141, 150, 179, 185, 188, 190, 201,203,209 et sej., 213, 223, 337,423, 430,441, 537, 540, 542, 544 et seq. , 549, 736, 755, 758, 764. Moldavia, principality of, 95,439,449. Moles, 115,214,588,686,717. Moluccas islands, 171, 200. Monaco, town arid state of, 417,425. Money, 110,109,228,461, 478,492,533,501,598,679,717, 759. Monopolies,53, 79, 123, 120,129, 131, 134, 141, 160, 170, 181, 237, 292,322, 345,375, 377,393, 419, 425,*433,407, 474, 487,491, 496,503, 523,559, 565,570,578,581, 001, 612 eisej, 708, 717, 758. Monterey, port of, 589. Montevideo, port of, 293,608,647,664 e