The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
THE MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE, Established July, 1839, BY FREEMAN HUNT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. CONTEN TS O F N O . II, Y O L . I X . ARTICLES. ART. PAGE. I. The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands— No. 2 — Their Commerce and Agricul ture— Their Prospects— Chief Towns— Seizure by Lord George Paulet, etc. By J ames J ackson J arvis , author o f the “ History o f the Sandwich Islands,” ..................................................................................................................... I l l II. Progress o f Population and Wealth in the United States, in Fifty Years, as exhibited by the Decennial Census taken in that period. T he Products o f Industry. Chapter X IX — By Professor G eorge T ucker, o f the Univer sity o f Virginia,......................................................................................................... 136 III. Our Railways. By W . R. C asey, Civil Engineer o f N ew Y ork ,.................. 144 IV . Inland Navigation o f the State o f New York, icith a short account o f its ' origin, and o f the Trade and Tonnage o f the Erie Canal. By H . S. D ex ter , Civil Engineer o f New Y o r k ,..................................................................... 148 V. Commerce o f the Mississippi. By J ames H . L anman, author o f the “ His tory o f Michigan,” ................................................................................................... V I. V II. V III. 154 Free Trade— Mr. Woodbury's View o f the Tariff. By F. B. F isher,..... 161 Mercantile Biography— Sketch o f the Life and Character o f the late Jacob Ridgway......................................................................................................... 167 Story, on Bills o f Exchange, Guaranty of Bills, and Letters o f Credit,..... 169 M E R C A N T I L E LAAV DE PA RT ME NT . Liability o f ships in case o f forced loan for repairs,......................................................... 173 Insurance— Maritime usage,................................................................................................. 173 Fire Insurance— Charter Party— Common Carriers,............................................... 174 Landlord and Tenant— Action o f Trespass— Exemption Law of N ew Y ork, 1842, 175 MONTHLY C OMMERCI A L CHRONI CLE, EMBRACING A FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES, ETC., ILLUSTRATED W ITH TABLES, AS FOLLOWS : Receipts o f Flour at tide water, in 1842 and 1843,................* .. . . ................................. 176 Table o f Dividend paying Stocks,....................................................................................... 178 V OL. I X .-----X O . I I . 10 110 Table o f Contents. PA G E . Imports into England, France, and the United States, o f tobacco and other articles, 179 Exports o f tobacco from the United States, from 1828 to 1841,................................... 180 Exports o f manufactured tobacco from the United States from 1833 to 1841,......... 180 Exports o f cottons, linens, woollens, worsteds, and blankets, from Liverpool to the United States, from 1836 to 1842,.................................................................................. 181 COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. Import Duties at St. Johns,.................................................................................................. 182 Duties payable on and after the 5th July, 1843, on Imports by land, or inland navigation at St. Johns,.................................................................................................... 182 Valuation o f Real and Personal Property o f N ew Y ork State and City,................... 183 S T E A M B O A T AND R A I L R O A D S T A T I S T I C S . Description o f the People’s Line, Night Boats, on the Hudson,.................................... 184 Boston and W orcester Railroad,........................................................................................... 185 Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad,........................................................ 185 S T A T I S T I C S OF P O P U L A T I O N . ft* V.-.. Irish f^ensus for 1841,............................................................................................................. 186 Census o f Upper Canada,....................................................................................................... 186 C OMME RC I A L S T A T I S T I C S . Quantity o f Indian Corn and Meal exported from the United States from 1791 to 1841,...................................................................................................................................... 187 Value o f Indian Corn and M eal exported from 1803 to 1841....................................... 187 Consumption o f T obacco in England,................................................................................ 187 Exports o f T obacco from the United States from 1791 to 1841,................................... 189 Value o f T obacco exported from the United States from 1802 to 1841,..................... 189 Flour inspected in Baltimore in 1840, 1841, 1842, and 1843,....................................... 189 Imports at the port o f Buffalo to July 1st, 1841, 1842, and 1843................................. 190 Exports from the port o f Detroit, Michigan, in 1842....................................................... 190 Exports o f Domestic Manufactures o f Cotton from the United States to all parts o f the world, in each year, from 1826 to 1841,.................................................................. 191 T H E BOOR T R A D E . T ow er’s Illustrations o f the Croton Aqueduct,.................................................................. 199 L eech’s V oice from the M ain-Deck,.................................................................................... 199 Calhoun’s Speeches— James’s Marriage R in g ,.................................................................. 200 Price’s Tables o f the worth o f Government and State Stocks,..................................... 200 Sweetser’s Mental Hygiene— Davis’s Manual o f Magnetism,....................................... 201 Munsell’s Every-Day Book, or History and Chronology,................................................. 201 Maurice’s Kingdom o f Christ— Livingston’s Catholic Imputation,............................... 202 Old Humphrey’s W alks in London and its N eighborhood,............................................ 202 Chalmer’s Lectures on the Romans— Marmaduke W y v il,............................................ 203 Introduction to Geometry— Devotional Exercises for Schools,...................................... 203 Church’s Antioch— Lessons on the Book o f Proverbs,................................................... 203 Hall’s Russia and the Russians— Life in M exico,............................................ 203 and 204 Johnson’s Farmers’ Encyclopaedia— L ee’s Letters to Cotton Manufacturers, etc.,... 204 HUNT’S MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE. A U G U S T , 1843. A r t . I.— T H E S A N D W IC H OR H A W A I I A N IS L A N D S . HUMBER II. THEIR COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE— THEIR PROSPECTS— CHIEF TOWNS— SEIZURE B Y LORD GEORGE PAULET, ETC. P r e v i o u s to the visit o f Captain Cook, the internal commerce o f the group was limited to a mere exchange, between the several islands or dis tricts, o f those articles which more abundantly grew, or were more inge niously manufactured in each. For this purpose, stated fairs were held, subject to certain general rules for their maintenance, and the preserva tion o f good order. But they were not o f very frequent occurrence; and it is probable that their many wars prevented the inhabitants from enga ging in a constant trade, which otherwise their agricultural habits and enterprising dispositions might have drawn them into, and thus prepared them, in a still more favorable degree, for adopting civilized pursuits. Between 1535 and 1650, Europeans, most probably Spaniards, several times visited the group. Some o f their number remained among the peo ple, intermarried with them, and their descendants became so thoroughly nationalized, that, one hundred and fifty years afterward, but faint traces or signs o f their origin remained— but they were sufficient to identify them as being partly o f a different and lighter race than the present inhab itants. The cursory view which the Spaniards o f that period took o f the islands, satisfied them that neither precious metals, or fruitfulness o f the soil, were inducements for them to found a settlement there. O f the for mer, not the slightest trace existed— o f the latter, it was mainly to be seen in the interior o f the valleys, and far inland, where probably the warlike habits o f the inhabitants deterred them from penetrating, as there appeared to be no prospect o f gain to remunerate the toils and dangers which would have been encountered. Moreover, these visits appear to have been chiefly the result o f accident, and by single vessels which had departed some what from their ordinary course in crossing the Pacific, and whose crews 112 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. were not o f sufficient strength to allow o f exploration. Be this as it may, it is certain that, beyond this occasional touching at a few points, or coasting their shores, during the period abovementioned, no use, either for purposes o f traffic or colonization, was made o f the discovery. Either from their apparent insignificance, or from motives o f selfish policy, the court of Madrid discouraged any attempts at the latter, and likewise suppressed all journals which related to cruises in that quarter. Consequently, the knowledge o f their existence became lost, in a great measure, to the nation that discover ed them; and the very knowledge o f the fact o f their visits, about which hangs a mystery which affords a fine and novel field for romance, is de rived from the Hawaiians themselves, with but incidental, though strongly corroborating testimony, from the naval histories o f that. era. With all the precautions o f the Spanish court, however, a group o f islands, answer ing in most particulars to the present Hawaiian, found its way upon the charts o f that nation, and with but so little distance from their correct po sition, as to leave not a shadow o f doubt that La Disgraciada, La Mesa, and Los Mojos, o f the seventeenth century, are identical with the Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and the other islands o f the Hawaiian group o f the nineteenth century. This cluster, and another island called San Francisco, large, and within one hundred miles o f the true position o f the largest island o f the Sandwich group, Hawaii, are to be found upon the chart accompany ing the earlier editions o f Anson’s Voyages. Captain Cook probably derived his idea o f the existence o f a large group in the North Pacific, from this chart, which was said to have been copied from an early Span ish one. At any rate, he shaped his course directly for them, and mani fested no surprise at falling in with land in that direction. Iron was well known among the natives at that period, though the specimens which they possessed were few, and comparatively useless. Its value was well understood ; and while trinkets were comparatively but little prized, iron was held in the highest estimation. The desire to pos sess it led to robbery on their part, and murder on the part o f their visit ers. But trade, on equitable terms, was soon established; and bits o f iron-hoop, nails, & c., were found quite as efficient agents for procuring supplies, as dollars and doubloons would now be on the same spot, though but sixty-four years later. The mercantile habits o f the natives, their shrewd bargaining, and understanding o f the value o f equivalents, struck La Perouse with surprise, in 1786 ; and he attributed this knowledge, and very plausibly, to their former intercourse with Spaniards. For a few years, bits o f iron, beads, and the varied et cetera, of almost valueless character, with which ships were wont, at that period, to be supplied, to purchase refreshments and stores, were all-sufficient to tempt the cupidity o f the savages. In 1790, fire-arms, gunpowder, and ardent spirits, began to be desired; and soon after cottons, linens, broadcloths, iron-ware— in short, the useful and necessary products o f civilization, as well as the de structive and demoralizing. No export, however, had yet been discover ed— their sales were limited to supplying provisions, firewood, water, and spars for vessels. In 1792, the attention o f Captain Kendrick, o f Boston, was first drawn towards sandal-wood as an article o f export. He left two men on Kanai to collect a cargo, and purchase pearls— few o f the latter, however, are there found, o f either beauty or value. The wars and dissension among the natives probably prevented the former trade from being then lucra The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. 113 tive, as we find it was not prosecuted to any extent, until the commence ment o f the next century, when the group was united under one monarch, Kamehameha the Great, at once a religious, civil, military, and commer cial despot. No source o f profit escaped his vigilant eye, and he monop olized for his own coffers all the lucrative branches o f trade, and husbanded them with a wisdom which showed an intellect not inferior to the most cultivated and shrewdest o f his white customers. Owing to the benefi cence o f the English government, through Vancouver, the islands were then well stocked with exotic fruits and vegetables, and with cattle. These added to the wealth and commerce o f the monarch-trader. He wisely discouraged the use o f ardent spirits, and prohibited their manufacture within his kingdom. The stores o f manufactured goods o f England and the United States, and military equipments collected by him, were exten sive and valuable. His treasury was well filled with Spanish dollars and gold.’ Not contented with these accumulations, he made arrangements with the Russian governors at the north, to open a traffic with them, and, in the latter part o f his reign, fitted out a fine vessel o f his own, and sent her on a voyage to Canton, loaded with sandal-wood. Through misman agement, this proved an unprofitable speculation, but it suggested to him a new source o f revenue. In 1818, he established pilot and harbor fees, at a high rate, and which were not diminished until 1825. At that date, by the advice o f Lord Byron, who was at Honolulu in the Blonde frigate, they were placed upon a more moderate footing. Upon the succession o f his son, Siholiho, the treasures o f his father were soon dissipated by his extravagance. Abandoning the wise measures o f his predecessor, by which the sandal-wood trade was made, under suitable regulations, a regular and permanent source o f real profit to the islands, he recklessly rushed into profuse expenditures, which could only be met by an equally extravagant supply o f the wood. While it lasted, it was like a mine o f gold. Before 1820, it had been exported at the rate o f several hundred thousand dollars annually. Now, it was sought for, and cut in discriminately. Wines, liquors, and the richest products o f China, Eng land, and the United States, poured into the kingdom, and were either wasted in riot and debauchery, or destroyed by neglect. With the jovial king, it was one gala day, while the source o f purchasing remained undi minished. Mountains and hills, valleys and plains, were ransacked for the precious commodity. Siholiho practised on his own subjects the same ex tortion, rapine, and system o f compulsory labor, that the Spaniards o f Cuba, Mexico, and Peru, did upon the unfortunate aborigines o f those countries, in their eager search for gold. The consequences were alike disastrous. Famine, misery, and death, stalked over the land. Numbers perished, or sought safety in flight or exile. The population withered before the curse which the avarice o f their chiefs, and the dissipation o f their ruler, brought upon them. Vast quantities o f sandal-wood were collected, and exported ; so much so, that the supply became either exhausted, or so dif ficult o f access, as to prove an almost insurmountable bar to its further export. Still, as may have been expected, the government involved itself deeply in debt. At this period, in their simplicity, some natives would exchange a dingy, worn doubloon, for a bright, new dollar. Vessels were purchased, occa sionally, by their bulk in sandal-wood; and a pit being dug equal to the greatest depth, length and breadth o f the vessel in negotiation, it was filled 10* 114 T he Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. with sandal-wood, which was exchanged for the desired craft. The Cleo patra’s barge, of Salem, a prettily ornamented pleasure craft, brought, it is said, upwards of $60,000, or more than six times her cost. The profit made by the merchants, at that time, was great; and, had the policy o f Kamehameha I. been continued by his son, wealth would have, flowed in abundance into the islands. Vessels flocked thither for supplies, in great numbers. From forty to sixty ships, mostly whalers, were, at certain sea sons, there at once. Their disbursements were very considerable. After the death o f Siholiho, in 1824, trade began to assume a more systematic form. Respectable mercantile houses were established among the foreign residents, and the prices yearly approximated to a more correct standard. The resources o f the islands, thus passing in foreign hands, were properly husbanded ; and from that period commenced a prosperity which has been gradually and steadily increasing, until it has made the group an exporter o f agricultural products of her own growth, an entrepot o f goods for other markets, and a valuable consumer for the United States, England, and China. The commercial statistics will best serve to show the actual rate o f in crease, from year to year, o f exports and imports, commencing in 1834. The statement o f shipping that visited the port o f Honolulu, Oahu, during that year, is as follows. These statistics are gathered from tables carefidly prepared at the Sandwich islands, from year to year, by those interested in the trade. Whale Ships. 1834—A m erican ,.. English,....... In Spring. In Fall. Total. Tonnage. Bbls. sperm oil. 37 4 58 13 95 17 34,016 6,089 99,008 19,400 T o ta l,.... 41 71 112 40,095 Merchant vessels, 56— sloop-of-war, 1— tonnage,.......... 6,311 118,407 Total tonnage,.......................................................... 46,406 Merchant vessels belonging to Oahu,................................................................................. “ “ “ United States,................................................................... “ “ “ England,....................................................... “ “ “ Sydney,............................................................................... “ “ “ Canton,............................................................................... “ “ “ Tahiti,................................................................................. 17 8 4 3 3 1 M erchantmen,................................................................................................. 56 W halers,.......................................................................................................... 112 M an-of-war,.................................................................................................... 1 Total vessels,...................................................................................... 169 Whale Ships. In Spring. In Fall. Total. Tonnage. Bbls. sperm oil. 12 0 50 10 62 10 22,282 3,714 71,600 10,140 T otal,....... 12 60 72 25,996 Merchant vessels, 36— tonnage,....................................... 6,405 81,740 1835— A m erican,.. English,....... Total tonnage,.......................................................... 32,401 Merchant vessels belonging to O ahu,................................................................................. “ “ “ Boston,................................................................................ “ “ L on d on ,............................................................................. “ “ “ M exico,............................................................................... “ “ “ Salem,................................................................................. “ “ “ Isle o f F rance,.................................................................. 12 8 5 2 3 2 115 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. Merchant vessels belonging to Canton,............................................................................... 2 “ “ “ Antwerp,................................................................... 1 “ “ “ Valparaiso,......................................................................... 1 M erchantm en,................................................................................................ W halers,.......................................................................................................... Russian government ship,............................................................................. 36 72 1 Total vessels,..................................................................................... 109 1836— W halers: American, 52; English, 9 ; total, 61— 22,000 tons. Merchant vessels belonging to Oahu, 15 ; Boston, 9 ; Salem, 4 ; N ew Bedford, 2 ; England, 5, (including one steamboat for Columbia river;) China, 4 ; Isle o f France, 1 ; M exico, 1-; Calcutta, 1 ; total, 42— 7,793 tons. United States men-of-war, 2 ; English, 1 ; French, 1 ; total, 4. 1837— W halers: American, 5 0 ; English, 1 6 ; French, 1 ; total, 67. M erchantmen: American, 1 1 ; English, 1 ; Mexican, 1 ; Canton, 2 ; Oahu, 12 ; Prussia, 1 ; total, 28. English men-of-war, 3 ; French, 1 ; total, 4. 1838— W halers: American, 6 3 ; English, 1 0 ; France, 3 ; total, 76. American, 3 ; English, 6 ; Mexican, 2 ; Tahiti, 1 ; total, 12. English, 1 ; total vessels, 89. 1839— W halers: American, 5 7 ; English, 2 ; Oahu, 1 ; total, 60. Merchantmen : Am er ican, 8 ; England, 7 ; Oahu, 8 ; Tahiti, 1 ; Manilla, 1 ; Prussia, 1 ; total, 26. M en-of-w ar: American, 3 ; English, 3 ; French, 1 ; Russian, 1 ; total, 8— 94 vessels. 1840— Whalers : American, 36 ; England, 2 ; Oahu, 1 ; total, 39. Merchantmen : American, 1 4 ; England, 1 0 ; Oahu, 6 ; France, 1 ; total, 31. M en-of-w ar: United States exploring expedition, 6 ; France, 2 ; total, 8— 78 vessels. 1841— W halers: American, 50 ; England, 7 ; total, 57. Merchantmen : American, 1 9 ; England, 1 3 ; France, 2 ; Oahu, 40, (including coasters ;) M exico, 1 ; total, 75. Men-of-war : American, 10, (including arrivals o f United States exploring expedition;) England, 1 ; total, 11— 143 vessels. Merchantmen: Man-of-war : The preceding statistics are for the port o f Honolulu alone. At Lahaina, on Maui, from June 1, 1840, to May 1, 1841, forty American whalers recruited. T w o United States men-of-war visited that port also. The crews o f all numbered upwards of twelve hundred men. Occasion ally a French or English whaler, or merchantman, touch there. American whalers recruit also at the ports o f Hilo, Kailua, and Kealeakreakua, on H aw aii; and Waimea, Koloa, and Haioli, on Kanai, and also at Niihau, which latter island produces excellent yams. From January, 1834', to January, 1842, 545 vessels o f the United States visited the port of Honolulu; and there were, during that period, twenty arrivals o f United States men-of-war. O f English vessels, 129— men-ofwar, 8. O f French vessels, 6— men-of-war, 5. Total o f all vessels for eight years, 888. The year 1841 includes the coasting trade. The average expenditures o f whale ships for recruits, every visit, are from $700 to $800 each. The total value o f American property touching at these islands annu ally, including the outfits o f the whalers and their oil, is about $4,000,000. Seamen, two thousand. This statement does not include the value and crews o f national ships. Pilotage from the port o f Honolulu is as follows : For taking a vessel in or out, one dollar per foot. Vessels entering for refreshments, pay the following harbor fees : For the outer harbor,........................................................... 6 cents per ton. “ inner ' “ ........................................................... 10 “ 116 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands, Vessels entering for purposes o f trade : For the outer harbor,.................................................. “ inner “ ................................................ Per the buoys,............................................... ............... $ 50 cents per ton. 60 2 00 All goods must be manifested, and landed only by permission o f the harbor-master. In 1842, a trifling duty on imports was laid, amounting to not over 3 per cent, ad valorem. A higher rate o f duties will doubt less be shortly established. The following tables show the amount o f exports and imports for five years, arranged under their various countries. They are not strictly ac curate, but are as nearly so as can be gleaned from a general knowledge o f invoices where no custom-house regulations have been established. They are chiefly drawn from tables prepared by Messrs. Peirce and Brewer, merchants o f Honolulu, for the Polynesian o f 1840 and 1841. U nited S tates — Imports. Consisting o f cotton cloths, bleached and unbleached, blue prints, chintz, hardware, glass, Britannia ware, copper, cordage, naval stores, furniture, canvas, flour, bread, pro visions, wines, ardent spirits, soap, iron, paints, shoes, clothing, books, lumber, & c. & c. 18 36, ................................................................................. 18 37, ................................................................................. 1838, ................................................................................. 1839, ................................................................................. 1840 to August 17, 1841,...................................................... $151,000 170,000 73,000 231,000 310,000 T ota l,................................................................ $935,000 T he aggregate amount o f goods sold from American whaleships annually would swell the above sum to considerably upwards o f $1,000,000. E ngland — Imports. Longcloths, broadcloths, chintz, prints, spirits, malt liquors, hardware, clothing, & c. 18 36,.......................................................................................... 1837............................................................................................ 1838, ................................................................................. 1839, ................................................................................. 1840 to August, 18 41,............................................................ $10,000 8,000 5,600 10,000 94,000 T otal................................................................. $127,600 M exico— Imports. Specie and bullion. 1 8 3 6 , ...................................................................................... 1 8 3 7 , ...................................................................................... 1 8 3 8 , ...................................................................................... 1 8 3 9 , .............................................. 1840 to August,1 8 4 1 ,............................................................. $36,600 29,000 20,000 42,000 40,000 Total................................................................. $167,600 P russia — Imports. Cotton goods, & c. 18 37,.......................................................................................... 1 8 3 9 ,.......................................................................................... $5,000 2,000 T otal,................................................................ $7 ,000 C a l if o r n ia , and its I slands— Imports. Sea-otter skins, land furs, soap, lumber, beans, horses, hides, tallow. 1836............................................................................................ $73,900 117 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. $61,900 26,500 59,700 18 38,............................. 1839 1840 to August, 1841, $271,500 Total, C hili— Imports. Same chiefly from the United States and England; also, French goods and flour. 1836........................................................................................... $29,000 1837, ..................................................................................... 23,000 1838, ..................................................................................... 10,000 1839 ...................................................................................... 31,000 1840 to August, 1841,............................................................ 67,000 T otal,................................................................ $160,000 C hina — Imports. Blue nankeens, blue cottons, teas, furniture, silks, satins, & c. 1836, 1837, 18 38, 1839, 1840 to .................................... ..................................................................................... ..................................................... '............................... ..................................................................................... August, 1841,............................................................ $70,000 47,000 30,000 31,000 55,000 Total................................................................. $233,000 S ociety I slands , A scension R and other I slands— Imports. Turtle shell, cocoanut oil, pearls and pearl shell, sugar. 1836, ..................................................................................... 1 8 3 7 , ..................................................................................... 1 8 3 8 , ..................................................................................... 1 8 4 1 ,......................................................................................... $21,500 10,800 1,500 6,500 T otal,............................................................... $40,000 ussian S ettlements on the C olumbia R iv e r and N o rthw est C oast of A merica — Imports. Lumber, salmon, spars, & c. 1836, 1837, 18 38, 1839, 1840 to ..................................................................................... ..................................................................................... ..................................................................................... ..................................................................................... August,18 41,............................................................. $21,000 8,000 5,000 5,000 17,000 T otal,............................................................... $56,000 M an illa — Imports. Cigars, rope, hats, rice, manufactures o f England, China, and the United States. 1840, ..................................................................................... N e w S outh W ales— $15,000 S ydney — Imports. English goods. ..................................................................................... $10,000 Total value o f imports during the year— 18 36,......................................................................................... 1837........................................................................................... 1 8 3 8 , ..................................................................................... 1 8 3 9 , ..................................................................................... 1840 to August, 18 41,........................................................... 1841, $413,000 350,500 207,000 378,500 674,000 Total— 5 years 7 months,............................ $2,023,000 Inclusive o f goods sold from whalers throughout the islands, the imports for that period may safely be estimated at $2,200,000. A large portion o f the imports into Honolulu 118 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands, are purchased for reshipment to California and the Southern islands, and the Russian settlements. A large quantity o f merchandise also arrives annually, destined for other markets, and is either temporarily stored, or remains on shipboard. T he value o f vessels owned by foreign residents and natives has varied, within the few past years, from $50,000 to $75,000— tonnage from twelve to fifteen hundred tons. In 1840 there were seven vessels owned by citizens o f the United States, valued at $ 3 9 ,0 0 0 ; three by English subjects, valued at $17,000. *§ E xports January 1 to December 1. from H onolulu Sandal-wood,* Bullock $7 per hides,! picul. $2 each. 1836,........ 1837,........ 1838,........ 1839,....... 1840 to A ug. 1841 $26,000 12,000 6,000 21,000 T otal,.. $65,000 of S andwich I sland produce, and va lu e . Goat skins, 1 23 cents each. Salt,§ $1 25 per barrel. Leaf tobacco,|| 15 cts. lb. Sugar, H Molasses — per & syrup,** pound. — per gal. $12,000 13,000 10,000 6,000 $4,600 4,500 3,000 1,000 $4,400 2,700 1,400 2,900 $5 00 300 ........ ........ $300 6,200 6,000 $1,000 3,450 3,000 21,500 14,140 4,400 300 25,000 9,000 $62,500 $27,240 $15,800 $1,100 $37,500 $16,450 T able — Continued. January 1 to December 1. 1836,........ 1837,........ 1838,........ 1839,........ 1840 to A ug. 1841, T otal,.. Kukui oil,ft Sperm oil,!! Arrow50 cents per vessels fitted root,§§ gallon. out at Oahu. 5 cents per pound. $4 00 600 500 500 $4,000 500 9,900 $2,500 $13,900 Raw silk. ........ $25,000 " 50’000 36,000 50^000 5,100 $2 00 86,500 [$2,090 178,730 $5,900 $2 00 $247,500 |$2,090 $497,780 $3 00 200 300 ........ Supplies to Sundries— Total value vessels—fresh Pulu, a moss o f native & salt provis- for beds, produce ions, &c., must’d-s’d, exported. firewood. 1brooms, &c. ........ $73,200 84,600 94,400 * Most o f the sandal-wood is young, and o f inferior quality. A small amount is an nually shipped to China. t T he bullocks are found in herds, wild, on the mountains o f Hawaii. T he annual export has heretofore been from three to ten thousand hides; but, in 1840, the king laid a taboo upon their destruction for five years, which will enable them to increase very much, and afford him a productive revenue. t W ild goats have been very numerous, but, o f late years, wild dogs, which roam the mountains in packs, like wolves, have greatly thinned their number. T hey also destroy young calves, poultry, and even are dangerous to man. § T he salt is procured from a natural salt lake four miles to the west o f Honolulu. It is in the cone o f an extinct crater, and can afford an exhaustless supply o f the article. T he lake is about one mile in circumference, and during the summer season, salt is formed spontaneously, and in the greatest abundance. || But little attention has been paid to raising this article. It flourishes well, however, in many situations, and is o f good flavor. IT Sugar has fallen from eight cents per pound, within four years, to two cents, and now varies from two to four cents per pound. ** Molasses has fallen from 25 cents to between 18| and 12^ cents per gallon. t t Kukui oil is a paint oil, expressed from the candle nut, or aleurites tribola. It is a very good substitute for linseed oil. Several mills for its preparation are now in active operation. tt Though the experiment o f fitting vessels for the whale-fishery has, as yet, scarcely been tried from Honolulu, owing to a want o f capital and suitable officers, yet its local advantages for this branch o f commerce are great, and worthy the attention o f merchants. §§ Any quantity o f arrow-root can be manufactured and exported at a cheap rate. It there forms a common article o f diet, and is nutritious and healthy. A prejudice against its use exists in the United States, which confines its sale to the shops o f apothecaries. It could be afforded at eight or ten cents per pound, and should be sold by grocers and introduced into families. The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. 119 In addition to these exports, bills o f exchange, drawn at a discount by the governors o f the Russian settlements, on the imperial government, by masters o f ships, pursers, and travellers, afford the means o f large annual remittances to the United States, England, and China. Considerable sums in specie are also annually shipped to the latter country. It will be seen that the exports, as well as imports, are steadily, though not rapidly increasing. The want o f a suitable export has been a great hinderance to business; and the chief dependance has been upon the sup plies furnished shipping. Yet a market which, within five years, has con sumed one million o f dollars’ worth o f the manufactures and provisions o f the United States, is worthy o f attention and encouragement. The demand for cotton goods, and the cheaper manufactures, is increasing. Annually, the means o f purchasing, among the natives, is becoming greater, and with it their desire for the necessaries, and even luxuries o f civilized lands. Indeed, much o f the money bestowed upon modern missions may be con sidered, in a mercantile view, as a profitable investment for merchants. American missionaries are constantly, though indirectly, by their labors, opening new, and increasing old markets for American manufactures ; and, simply as a matter o f policy, if no higher motive presents itself, it is well for American merchants liberally to contribute to missionary enterprises. Their gifts will most undoubtedly be returned to them, swelled and pros pered by the grateful wishes and thanks o f races being rescued from bar barism to civilization. Both the English and French governments view their mission societies as valuable auxiliaries to promote the interests o f their policy and to enlarge the bounds o f their influence, as well as afford ing no inconsiderable aids to commerce ; and, as such, they assist and protect them. The American merchant will find it expedient to do the same by his own countrymen who engage in the work o f benevolence among savage tribes, if he would not see them altogether supplanted by those o f rival nations. The question presents itself, what are the natural capabilities o f the group for sustaining commerce and agriculture, and what has already been accomplished ? This, I shall endeavor briefly to state. An exaggerated opinion o f the fertility o f these islands very generally prevails. As a whole, they are not fertile. A large portion o f their surface consists o f lava-rock, black and barren, and incapable o f supporting vegetation. The largest island, Hawaii, is very generally o f this character; and, except a few spots near the shore, and some valleys, has no rich soil. These latter are in deed luxuriant; and nature, in them, seems to strive to redeem the sterility o f the remaining portion. However, much o f the other land here, as on the leeward islands, is suitable for grazing; and herds and flocks must eventually constitute a large share o f the natural wealth o f the kingdom. Cotton, indigo, coffee, and wheat, flourish remarkably well, and require but attention and capital devoted to their cultivation, to cause them to be come profitable exports. The coffee-trees bear most luxuriantly at Hilo, Hawaii, from six to ten pounds per tree being not an uncommon crop. On the uplands o f Maui, at an elevation o f two thousand feet, wheat o f an ex cellent quality grows wild, and abundantly. No better region for the Irish potato exists, than is to be found on this island. They here acquire great size, the largest weighing from three to four pounds, and in flavor and dry ness resemble the Nova Scotia potato. They can be raised for twentyfive cents the barrel. Cabinet-woods, equal to the finest Brazilian, are to 120 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. be met with in the forests. As an article for export, the attention o f the merchants has chiefly been turned towards the cultivation o f the sugar cane, and, to some extent, the manufacture o f silk. The site o f the principal operations is the district o f Koloa, on Kanai, the leewardmost and most fertile island. Koloa signifies “ great cane,” which here grows to a large size, and yields well. In 1835, a lease o f an extensive tract o f land was obtained here, by a mercantile firm o f Hono lulu, for the purpose o f raising the sugar-cane. Some experiments in this branch o f agriculture had been before attempted, but which failed, owing to the opposition o f the government to the designs o f their proprietors, to distil ardent spirits. But, in this instance, no such objection was neces sary, and encouragement was afforded them. Tw o or three years were spent in planting, inducing the natives to labor, and the erection o f mills, and but little sugar was manufactured. The apparent success, however, attending this one, induced others to operate in the same manner; and in 1841 several iron mills had been imported, and were in operation, worked by water-power. These were on Kanai and Maui, while a number o f wooden ones, on a smaller scale, were erected on the other islands. The quantity o f land under cultivation for sugar, amounted to upwards o f one thousand acres, most o f which was held in small plantations or farms, by the natives themselves. His Hawaiian Majesty became largely interested, and established an iron mill on his own account at Wailuku, Maui. The best mills are able to turn out from one to four tons daily, during the work ing season. Water-power is plentiful. The sugar thus far manufactured has been mostly brown, inferior to the Havana, and has gradually fallen in price from six cents to two, at the mills. It now varies from the latter price to four cents, according to the quality. The molasses and syrup sells from twelve and a half to thirty-seven and a half cents per gallon, and none superior is anywhere manufactured. The soil commonly yields from one thousand to one thousand five hun dred pounds to the acre ; and, in some instances, from three to five thousand pounds have been taken off—but these are rare. Within the present year, the firm which first established its cultivation at this group, have sold out all their rights and titles to the lands they held, to a company in Belgium, for a very large amount. His Majesty, King Leopold, is in terested in the speculation, which starts with a very large capital, said to amount to 25,000,000 francs. B y virtue o f a lease o f all the unoccupied lands on these islands, said to have been given by the king, Kamehameha III, this company are about entering on an extensive scheme o f coloniza tion, which, it is hoped, will revive the commerce o f Belgium. I f they are successful in their operation, the islands will be, in a great measure, peopled by Belgians, and thus present the singular spectacle o f a compar atively non-commercial nation holding a colony at the farthest; distance it could have been placed. But there are many obstacles to its success. Though the cultivation o f sugar-farms, by native proprietors, in a small way, has afforded them more profit than many other branches o f domestic industry, yet, with the foreigners, it has not proved a lucrative business. The lands were obtained only on high rents, averaging from twenty-five cents to a dollar per acre, and then only for a limited period. Wages are comparatively high, twelve and a half cents per diem ; while in Manilla, and other sugar countries in the East Indies, they are but four cents. Ma chinery was obliged to be imported from England or the United States, at The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. 121 a great advance on its original cost. After the sugar was manufactured, it was subjected to several heavy freights, and long delays, before it could find a market; and as yet it has been unable to compete successfully, in the markets o f Chili, or Sydney in the Pacific, with the sugars o f Peru, Mexico, or Manilla. When sent to the United States, it yields no profit, on account o f the high duties it is subjected to. Native labor has been annually rising in value, owing to the new sources o f industry which every year open to the Hawaiians. Sugar cannot be raised on an extensive scale at these islands, except by the introduction o f a great amount of foreign labor. The native population is sparse, and finds more abundant sources o f profit in laboring on their own lands, or in engaging in other branches of industry, than in becoming mere field-hands, at a rate of wages which, when the high prices o f foreign commodities are considered, scarcely affords them a suitable remuneration. It is evident, then, that this scheme can only be put into successful operation by the virtual colonization of the islands by a foreign power ; and that, too, by a people with whom no pre vious associations have been formed, and whose religion and habits are as hostile to the institutions o f the Sandwich islands, as their language and cli mate are dissimilar. It is o f but small service to them for the United States, England, or France, to acknowledge their national independence, while they receive within their territory a commercial monopoly, headed by a king, and sustained by a powerful government, which cannot be successful but by revolutionizing their own manners, rights, religion, and even language. Colonization schemes, when undertaken by companies, even for countries far less remote, have generally been found expensive, ruinous, and often, in the end, impracticable. That this will be an excep tion, may well be doubted. The inhabitants o f the United States feel a deep interest in the issue. It is their wish and their policy that they should be let alone;— that the experiment, whether a savage race can become a civilized and Christianized people, when unmolested and uncorrupted by the powerful or vicious, should be fairly tried;— that the means there at work take their own course, and the enterprise and benevolence o f private citizens be left to stand or fall by their own merits. It is a too deeply in teresting problem, to be rudely and forcibly interrupted; and it is to be hoped that the actual practicability, and real prospects o f success o f this Belgium speculation, which, in some o f its features, as for as it has been made known, seems analogous to the South Sea scheme and Darien bub ble o f a past century, will be fairly tested, and thoroughly examined, before lives and fortunes are embarked in the design, which can only be success ful by the subversion o f the liberties o f an interesting people, and, if a failure, will carry want and misery into many families. The silk business was entered into with as much enthusiasm, in 1837, and with more reasonable hopes o f success than the sugar. It was found that the mulberry-tree flourished well, that the silk-worms throve, the tem perature of the climate was uniform, and the labor light and easy. Koloa was also selected for the first operations. A company was formed, and an agent selected to manage its concerns. He was sent to the United States to acquire information in regard to the business, to purchase the necessary machinery, to procure plants, and new varieties o f eg g s; also a family, to superintend the reeling, and teach the art to the natives. In all this, he was successful; and so highly was the enterprise esteemed at that date, that the proprietors could have realized a large advance for their lease V O L. i x . — x o . I I . 11 122 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. and improvements. Unfortunately, they were too sanguine; and, three years after commencing business, all their capital was sunk, owing to in competent management, and the enterprise proved a total failure. The location proved a bad one for the growth o f the trees and the health o f the worms. An individual, however, not discouraged by the ill success o f this under taking, selected a more favorable situation, in a fertile and sheltered valley, and in eighteen months succeeded in raising silk beyond his expectations, and has since prosecuted the business, with a fair prospect not only o f its ultimate success with himself, but o f its production becoming a staple o f the country. So rich is the soil of the valley where his plantation is located, (that o f Waioli, Kanai,) that but a. comparatively small extent o f ground is required to feed all the worms he can take care of. Indeed, without wit nessing for oneself the rapid growth of vegetation there, it would almost stagger belief. By repeated measurements, it has been ^found that the mulberry shoots grow upwards o f an inch per day, and thousands at the rate of four feet a month. It has been ascertained, on cutting down rows o f the trees for food, level with the earth, that, in three months afterwards, they attained an average height o f over twelve feet, with a most luxuriant growth o f leaves. The leaves o f one, taken indiscriminately from the row, when plucked, weighed eight pounds, and the new wood eleven and three quarters. The trees are planted from slips, very close, in uniform lines, so as to form thick hedges, about six feet apart. They were found best to preserve their vigor and freshness by being cut down once in three to four months. When allowed to remain longer, their leaves became hard and tough. The varieties o f the mulberry planted, were the white, black, Canton, and morus multicaulis ; all o f which thrive equally well, and afford equally good nutriment for the worms. It was soon discovered that the species o f the worm used in the United States would not answer for this climate, it being impossible to cause their eggs to hatch with any degree o f regularity. A cross between them and a smaller and more delicate species, from China, was then raised, which has been found to answer admirably. Their cocoons are large, and o f either a pale straw or bright orange color, both o f beautiftd lustre, and great firmness. From four to six thousand make a pound o f reeled silk, worth at Mazatlan, Mexico, from seven to eight dollars, and in the United States from five to six. The native women and boys make expert reelers, turning off from one-half a pound to a pound each, per diem. The worms are fed in large thatched buildings, erected at a small expense, and the reeling is done in similar houses. For nine months in the year, the worms can be fed to advantage : a crop o f from three hundred thousand to one million being raised monthly. This plantation, on which but a trifling expense has been laid out, has already accumulated for a market a valuable lot o f the raw material. It affords employment to many women and children, besides men. The Sandwich islands have abundant resources within themselves, to support a population tenfold greater than the present. T o be a flourishing kingdom, they must become both an agricultural and commercial nation. Whether the indigenous population are o f themselves capable of sustaining such relations successfully, when in competition with the grasping policy, the avaricious spirit, and chivalrous enterprise o f older nations, remains to The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. 123 be proved. The aggregate wealth, refinement, and respectability o f the Hawaiians, have made, of late years, slow, though sure and progressive advances. Their population, which was rapidly hastening towards ex termination, has now a tendency to recover itself; and, although depop ulation is still going on, the ratio is small, when compared with former years. The present native population numbers about one hundred thous and, being about one-third o f what they were in 1778. Heathenism, how ever, has now ceased to claim its victims for its horrible religious rites— the wars in which tens of thousands were either slain in battle, massacred, or perished by famine, are now ended— the fearful diseases introduced by white men have either exhausted themselves, or been checked by medical aid— the onerous taxes, which crushed the bone and sinew o f the nation, are discontinued; and a beneficent and humane legislation, based upon the principles o f Christianity, is now pouring a fresh stream of life blood into the arteries of the nation. The natural resources o f these islands, both in fertility, population, and products, are too inconsiderable to produce any sudden and rapid commer cial growth. Their prosperity will chiefly be commensurate and co temporary with the progress of the coasts o f the neighboring continents, and the civilization of the southern archipelagoes. A fair proportion o f increasing trade in that quarter must necessarily, from their peculiarly advantageous situation, fall to their lot. The completion of the Panama canal, which is destined to unite the waters o f the Pacific with the At lantic, would greatly increase their commerce. Already are they the stopping point, the resting-place o f the valuable trade between Mexico, Peru, and China. Let the canal be finished, and it would be found that much o f the prosperity which the French so confidently predict for the Marquesas and Society groups, which they have so recently seized, would centre at the Sandwich islands. The course o f the trade-winds and the currents, so favorable for vessels bound from the western coasts of Amer ica to China, the Philippine islands, or the East Indies, are equally so for their touching, for purposes o f trade, refreshments, or repairs, at these islands ; while the other groups cannot be reached except by a departure from the ordinary track, and a consequent delay. The foreign population of the group, at the present year, numbers about one thousand, o f which two-thirds are Americans; the remainder Eng lishmen, Chinese, Spaniards, French, Portuguese— in short, a mixture o f all races. The caste o f half-breeds is rapidly increasing, both in numbers and respectability. Seven years ago, the value o f American property o f all kinds, invested at the islands, was computed at four hundred thousand dollars. Now, it is reckoned at upwards of one million, and is invested in permanent improvements, houses, agricultural pursuits, shipping, stocks o f trade, & c. ;— the value o f other foreign property, at about one-fifth o f that sum. The property held in trust by the American Board o f Foreign Missions is considerable, amounting to one hundred thousand dollars, and is invested in some forty dwelling-houses, printing-offices and presses, bindery, a high-school, libraries and apparatus, furniture, cattle, & c., for the use of their missionaries. There are sixty American families, inclu ding the missionaries, scattered over the group, and six o f other nations. Lahaina, on Maui, is the capital o f the kingdom, and the residence of the king and his court. It has no harbor, but an open, though safe road stead. It is the favorite resort for American whalers, supplies being both 124 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. cheap and plentiful. About forty recruit here annually. A vice-consul o f the United States resides here, and several merchants, with their families. The port-charges are much lighter than at Honolulu— the police o f the place is effective, and the municipal regulations excellent. No seamen are allowed to remain ashore at night, except by special permission; and all groggeries, as far as possible, are suppressed. Its population is about three thousand. Honolulu, situated on the southeastern side o f Oahu, is the commercial emporium. Its population is ten thousand. The harbor, which is formed by a projecting reef, with a narrow and somewhat intricate entrance, is capacious and safe, and capable o f accommodating from fifty to seventyfive sail o f vessels at once. On the side o f the town it is lined with wellbuilt wharves, at which ships can lie, and discharge their cargoes, at all times of the tide, the greatest rise or fall o f which is seldom above four feet. Near the wharves, are numerous well-built stone warehouses, a convenient ship-yard, a stone fort, mounting sixty guns, and the government buildings and private residence o f His Hawaiian Majesty. The public buildings consist o f two capacious Protestant churches, one o f stone, and the other o f adobies, a seaman’s chapel, a Roman Catholic cathedral of stone, several well-built school-houses, & c. The residences o f the for eigners and chiefs are built after the European manner, adapted to the warmth o f the climate. English, French, and American consular agents, reside here. The hon orable Hudson’s Bay company have an extensive agency here, in connec tion with their establishment at Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia river. O f stores and ships held by foreigners, there are thirty-four. Artisans of every grade are to be found. The general appearance o f the town pre sents a combination o f orientalism and modern civilization, which is far from being displeasing. It owes its origin and growth entirely to foreign commerce, and its increase has been rapid and uniform. The streets are wide, and chiefly run at right angles with each other. Including Bird island, which lies one hundred and twenty-five miles to the northwest of Kanai, the group consists o f twelve. The former is a barren rock, the resort only o f birds. There are three others o f similar character. Leliua, “ E gg island,” and Kaula, near Niihau, both fre quented by wild fowl. The latter supports also a numerous colony of rabbits. Molokini, a mere rock, lies between Maui and Kahoolawe. The other islands, their extent, capitals, and estimated population, are as follows:— Hawaii, from which the group derives its name, is eighty-eight miles in length, and seventy-three in breadth. It is triangular in shape, and it comprises an area of four thousand square miles. Its mountains attain an elevation o f thirteen thousand nine hundred feet, and on it exists the largest known active volcano on the globe. Its population is forty thousand. Kailua is the capital town, with a population o f two thousand. Maui is forty-eight miles long, by thirty in breadth. Area, six hundred square miles. Mauna Haleakla, “ hour of the sun,” is its highest eleva tion, being ten thousand five hundred feet. Lahaina is its capital, and its population is near twenty-five thousand. Kahoolawe, but little better than a barren rock, eleven miles long by eight in breadth, sustains a fishing and convict population o f about two hundred. The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. 125 Lanai is seventeen miles long by nine in breadth. Population, one thousand. Molokai comprises one hundred and ninety square miles. Population, four thousand. Oahu, forty-six miles long, by twenty-five in width, has five hundred and thirty square miles, and a population o f thirty thousand. Highest moun tains, four thousand feet. Kanai embraces five hundred square miles, and is nearly circular. Pop ulation, nine thousand. Waimea,the capital, contains two thousand inhab itants. Mauna Waialeali, in the centre, attains an elevation o f six thousand feet. Niihau, with ninety square miles, has one thousand inhabitants. The whole group comprises a superficial area o f about sixty-one thousand square miles, o f which Hawaii alone includes two-thirds. The only avail able harbors for foreign shipping are those o f Honolulu, Oahu, and Hilo, or Byron’s Bay, Hawaii. The remaining anchorages are mere road steads, generally safe and convenient, but during the winter months some what exposed. The extravagant statements which individuals are sometimes guilty of in regard to statistical information, either from ignorance, or a desire, from selfish or political motives, to create a false interest in far-off places, is highly reprehensible. O f late years, French writers have particularly indulged in this strain, it would seem, to create a national longing for col onial possessions in the Pacific. They have been in part successful, and the expensive establishments at the Marquesas and Tahiti owe their origin, to some extent, to this system o f falsifying. In 1839, a report to the French minister o f the marine appeared in the journals o f that nation in regard to the Pacific, and was extensively copied into the papers o f the United States, and found its way, as statistical information, into the pages o f this magazine. Coming from such high authority, it is no matter o f surprise that it was so universally credited. A portion o f it is as follows, and pur ported to be upon the authority o f that celebrated navigator, Captain d’Unville “ The principal rendezvous for the whale-ships, (French,) Captain d’Unville states to be the Sandwich islands, Tahiti, and New Zealand. At the former o f these stations, sometimes sixty French whalers are assembled together; at the second, twenty; at the third, forty. At all these places, when the whalers are in, the most unbounded licentiousness and disorder prevail among the crews, and call imperiously for the establishment o f con suls, or other authorized agents, on the spot.” “ Captain d’Unville strongly urges the necessity o f sending out agents o f this kind without delay, more particularly to the Bay o f Islands, in New Zealand, where a British resident, who performs the functions o f a con stable and chief magistrate, has long been settled. England and the United States, the captain adds, had several vessels o f war, during the course o f each year, to visit these fisheries; whereas France sends only one occasionally— he therefore recommends the government to adopt more efficient measures o f this kind.” — Paris paper, Nov. 23. That such a tissue o f misrepresentations should have been officially issued, seems past belief. But it no doubt had the intended effect. The facts are the following, as will be seen by reference to the tables already given :— In 1837 and 1838, fou r French whalers touched at Honolulu, one 11* 120 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. at Lahaina, and one at Waimea, Kanai. But one afterwards appeared up to December, 1841; making seven French whalers in five years, only. Previous to that date, it was a rare thing to see a French vessel o f any class at the Hawaiian islands. During the same period, two French mer chantmen also visited Honolulu. The proportion o f French vessels at Tahiti and New Zealand was no greater. Four French men-of-war vis ited Honolulu during the same time, or one man-of-war, nearly, for every two whalers or merchantmen. Pretty “ efficient” protection, when com pared with the English or United States commercial statistics. During seven years, the American men-of-war, including the repeated visits o f the almost unarmed exploring expedition, have been, in proportion to the num bers o f other vessels from the United States, as one to twenty-eight— o f the English, as one to sixteen ; by which facts, it will be seen that the French marine, instead o f being the least guarded and looked after, is the best. At that date, also, French consular agents were residing both at Tahiti and Honolulu— M. Morenhart occupying the former position, M. Dudoit the latter. In regard to the “ unbounded licentiousness and disorder” o f French crews, said to prevail both at Oahu and Tahiti, no symptoms of such con duct appeared among the crews of the vessels before recapitulated. In deed, for good conduct and sobriety, they compared favorably with the best of those o f the United States or England ; and the only difficulties which have arisen have sprung from those very men-of-war, and their offi cers and crews, sent to protect and preserve order among a few whalers and merchantmen, scattered over an ocean o f ten thousand miles width, and one hundred and eighty degrees o f latitude from north to south. Since the preceding article was prepared, the intelligence o f the seizure o f the Hawaiian islands by Lord George Paulet, commanding Her Britan nic Majesty’s ship Carysfort, has reached this country. As this act will have so important a bearing upon the history o f this group, and particu larly upon the general interests o f Americans residing there, and the trade and commerce o f our country in the Pacific, I shall briefly recapitulate the facts which led to so high-handed and intemperate a measure. Rightly to understand the relative position o f American citizens and British sub jects residing at those islands, with the policy, acts, and character of Richard Charlton, the infamous consul o f England, the originator and prime mover o f most o f these troubles and disturbances, I take the liberty to refer the reader to “ The History o f the Hawaiian and Sandwich Islands, Tappan & Dennet, Boston, 1843.” In it has been traced from its origin the jealousy o f a certain class o f Englishmen towards the progressive as cendancy o f American influence and trade at those islands. This act of Lord Paulet’s is but a consummation o f that jealousy— a fulfilment o f a long-cherished plan, on the part o f a few worthless individuals, resulting from a settled and determined hatred to all that is Am erican; for the ruin o f which, it was necessary that the English flag should wave in triumph over these islands, and under their auspices. Until this act is avowed by the English government, judging from the mass o f evidence before me, and an intimate knowledge o f the characters from whom it originated, I cannot view it otherwise than a partisan blow, or, to speak more strict ly, a piratical operation on the part o f Lord Paulet, unauthorized by his government, and brought about by the influence obtained by the individ The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. 127 uals before alluded to over him, “ an empty-headed popinjay,” to use the words o f one o f his most respectable countrymen at Oahu, holding an im portant station under the honorable Hudson’s Bay company in that quar ter, in a communication upon this subject, in which he expresses the dis satisfaction, regret, and shame, of the better class o f Englishmen there, at the lawless act o f their naval commander, and makes a manly and in dignant remonstrance, in the name o f humanity, and the honor and justice o f Great Britain. As his communication is forwarded for publication in England, it will be unnecessary to allude farther to it, than to observe that it is an important document from a responsible quarter, and shows that the views entertained by our government and people, for recognizing and maintaining the independence o f the Hawaiian nation inviolate, meet the hearty concurrence o f those Englishmen who have most at stake in that quarter, and that they view the motives and characters o f their coun trymen engaged in this business in the same light that we do. In the fall o f 1842, Charlton, the English consul, left Honolulu in a disreputable manner, for England, leaving behind him, as acting consul, one Alexander Simpson, an able man, who cordially united with him in his endeavors to ruin the Hawaiian nation, destroy their government, and drive away the Americans. That Charlton should be hostile to every good purpose, was to be expected— he had too often, by his lawless acts, rendered himself obnoxious to the punishment which his official situation alone screened him from. But with Simpson, it was a design coolly formed, and carried through ; and it had been in his mind for years pre vious, while in the employment o f the honorable Hudson’s Bay company. But the governor o f that body, Sir George Simpson, his uncle, from visit ing the islands, had convinced himself o f the ability o f the Hawaiian government to maintain orderly and friendly relations, not only with the foreigners residing among them, but with all nations; and that it was for the general interest o f the commercial world that they should remain free and independent. In conjunction with Messrs. Richards and Haaldis, he accepted the situation o f an envoy to the principal courts o f Europe, in order to bring about the formal recognition o f their independence, and to place the commercial interests o f the several countries upon an honora ble and equitable basis. He preceded the lastnamed gentlemen in their mission, but joined them in London, in February o f this year. Simpson, upon being left by Charlton, failed in obtaining a recognition o f his offi cial situation from the Hawaiian government, and very properly. Charl ton had left the country with debts to a large amount, having engaged his passage in the name o f Simpson, going off with the latter when the vessel was outside the harbor, under the plea o f bidding him farewell— but he remained, and Simpson returned. His acts, from that time to the arrival o f Paulet, were a mere repetition o f the unworthy and insulting conduct o f his predecessor— defying the laws, insulting the officers o f gov ernment, and exciting the contempt and disgust o f all the respectable res idents. It was evidently his object to irritate the government into some act which might, by his representation, serve to criminate them in the eyes o f his own. Failing in this, he wrote a plausible letter to the consulgeneral o f England for the west coast o f Mexico, Mr. Barron, in which he urged the immediate presence o f a naval force, to redress the griev ances o f English subjects. His letter was forwarded to the admiral o f the station, who ordered the Carysfcrt to repair thither, under what in 128 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. structions it is unknown, but it is conjectured with discretionary orders, and to be regulated by the statements o f the acting consul. At any rate, he boarded him, and remained with him all the night o f his arrival. From that time, until the forced cession was completed, Lord Paulet allowed no communication to reach him from any other quarter, but placed himself completely under his guidance. The messenger from the governor o f Oahu, the American and French consuls, a number of American and Eng. lish merchants, who called on board to pay their respects, as is customary, to the commander o f every war-vessel at this port, were grossly insulted and repulsed. The following correspondence then ensued :— O F F IC IA L CO R R E SPO N D E N C E R E L A T IN G T O T H E P R O V ISIO N A L C E S. SION OF T H E S A N D W IC H IS L A N D S . [.Published by Authority.] H . B. M . ship C a r ysfor t , } W oahoo, 11th February, 1843. j Sir— Having arrived at this port in H er Britannic Majesty’s ship Carysfort, under my command, for the purpose o f affording protection to British subjects, as likewise to sup. port the position o f Her Britannic Majesty’s representative here, who has received repeated insults from the government authorities o f these islands, respecting which it is my intention to communicate only with the king in person. I require to have immediate information, by return o f the officer conveying this despatch, whether or not the king (in consequence o f my arrival) has been notified that his presence will be required here, and the earliest day on which he may be expected; as otherwise I shall be compelled to proceed to his residence in the ship under my com . mand, for the purpose o f communicating with him. I have the honor to be, Sir, Y our most obedient, humble servant, GEO. P A U L E T , Captain. T o Kekuanaoa, Governor o f W oahoo, & c. H onolulu , O ahu , Feb. 11, 1843. Salutations to you, Lord George Paulet, Captain o f H er Britannic Majesty’s ship Carysfort— I have received your letter by the hand o f the officer, and with respect inform you that we have not as yet sent for the king, as we were not informed o f the business ; but having learnt from your communication that you wish him sent for, I will search for a vessel, and send. He is at Walluku, on the east side o f Main. In case the wind is favorable, he may be expected in six days. Yours, with respect, M. K EKU AN AOA. Translated by G. P. Judd, Recorder and Translator for Government. H . B. M. ship C a r ysfo r t , } Honolulu Harbor, Feb. 16, 1843. j Sir— I have the honor to acquaint your majesty o f the arrival in this port o f Her Bri tannic Majesty’s ship under my com m and; and, according to my instructions, I am desired to demand a private interview with you, to which I shall proceed with a proper and competent interpreter. I therefore request to be informed at what hour to-morrow it will be convenient for your majesty to grant me that interview. I have the honor to be Y our majesty’s most obedient and humble servant, G E O R G E P A U L E T , Captain. T o His Majesty Kamehameha. H onolulu , Feb. 17, 1843. Salutations to you, Lord George Paulet, Captain o f H er Britannic Majesty’s ship Ca rysfort. Sir— W e have received your communication o f yesterday, and must decline having any private interview, particularly under the circumstances which you propose. W e shall be ready to receive any written communication from you to-morrow, and will give it due consideration. The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. 129 In case you have business o f a private nature, we will appoint Dr. Judd our confiden tial agent, to confer with y o u ; who, being a person o f integrity and fidelity to our gov ernment, and perfectly acquainted with all our affairs, will receive your communications, give you all the information you require, (in confidence,) and report the same to us. With respect, KAM EHAMEHA, K E K A U L U A H I. I hereby certify the above to be a faithful translation. G. P. Judd, Translator and Interpreter for the Government. H . B. M . ship C a r ysfor t , ? W oahoo, February 17, 1843. $ Sir— In answer to your letter o f this day’s date, (which I have too good an opinion o f your majesty to allow me to believe ever emanated from yourself, but from your ill ad visers,) I have to state that I shall hold no communication whatever with Dr. G. P. Judd, who, it has been satisfactorily proved to me, has been the prime mover in the unlawful proceedings o f your government against British subjects. As you have refused me a personal interview, I enclose you the demands which I con sider it my duty to make upon your government, with which I demand a compliance at or before four o’clock, P. M ., to-morrow, (Saturday,) otherwise I shall be obliged to take immediate coercive steps to obtain these measures for my countrymen. I have the honor to be Y our majesty’s most obedient humble servant, G E ORGE P A U L E T , Captain. His Majesty Kamehameha. D emands made by the Right Honorable Lord George Paulet, Captain Royal Navy, com manding Her Britannic Majesty’s ship Carysfort, upon the king o f the Sandwich Islands. First— The immediate removal, by public advertisement, written in the native and English languages, and signed by the governor o f their island and F. W . Thompson, of the attachment placed upon Mr. Charlton’s property; the restoration o f the land taken by government for its own use, and really appertaining to Mr. Charlton; and reparation for the heavy loss to which Mr. Charlton’s representatives have been exposed by the op pressive and unjust proceedings o f the Sandwich island government. Second— The immediate acknowledgment o f the right o f Mr. Simpson to perform the functions delegated to him by Mr. Charlton, nam ely: those o f Her Britannic Majesty’s acting consul, until Her Majesty’s pleasure be known upon the reasonableness o f your objections to him. T he acknowledgment o f that right, and the reparation for the insult offered to Her Majesty, through her acting representative, to be made by a public recep tion o f his commission, and the saluting the British flag with twenty-one guns, which number will be returned by Her Britannic Majesty’s ship under my command. Third— A guarantee that no British subject shall in future be subjected to imprisonment in fetters, unless he is accused o f a crime which by the laws o f England would be con sidered a felony. Fourth— The compliance with a written promise, given by King Kamehameha to Captain Jones, o f Her Britannic Majesty’ s ship Curacoa, that a new and fair trial would be granted in a case brought by Henry Skinner, which promise has been evaded. Fifth— The immediate adoption o f firm steps to arrange the matters in dispute between British subjects and natives o f the country, or others residing here, by referring the cases to juries, one-half o f whom shall be British subjects approved by the consul, and all of whom shall declare on oath their freedom from prejudgment upon, or interest in, the cases brought before them. Sixth— A direct communication between His Majesty Kamehameha and Her Britannic Majesty’s acting consul, for the immediate settlement o f all cases o f grievances and com plaint on the part o f British subjects against the Sandwich islands government. Dated on board Her Britannic Majesty’s ship Carysfort, at W oahoo, this 17th day of February, 1843. H. B. M . ship C ar ysfor t , > W oahoo, February 17,1843. S Sir— I have the honor to notify you that her Britannic Majesty’s ship Carysfort, under my command, will be prepared to make an immediate attack upon this town, at four 130 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. o ’clock, P. M., to-morrow, (Saturday,) in the event o f the demand now forwarded by me to the king o f these islands not being complied with by that time. Sir, I have the honor to be Your most obedient humble servant, GE OR GE P A U L E T , Captain. T o Captain Long, Commander U. S. S. Boston, Honolulu. H onolulu , February 18. Salutations to Right Hon. Lord George Paulet, Captain o f H . B. M. ship Carysfort. W e have received your letter, and the demands which accompanied it; and in reply would inform your lordship that we have commissioned Sir George Simpson and W il liam Richards as our ministers plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary to the court of Great Britain, with full powers to settle the difficulties which you have presented before u s ; to assure Her Majesty, the queen, o f our uninterrupted affection, and to confer with her ministers as to the best means o f cementing the harmony between us. Some o f the demands which you have laid before us are o f a nature calculated seriously to embarrass our feeble government, by contravening the laws established for the benefit o f all. But we shall comply with your demand, as it has never been our intention to insult Her M a jesty the queen, or injure any o f her estimable subjects; but we must do so under protest, and shall embrace the earliest opportunity o f representing our case more fully to H. B. M . government, through our minister, trusting in the magnanimity o f the sovereign o f a great nation, which we have been taught to respect and love, that we shall there be justified. W aiting your further orders, With sentiments o f respect, K A M E H A M E H A 3d. K E K A U L U A H I. I hereby certify the above to be a faithful translation. G. P. J udd, Jr., for the Government. H . B. M . ship C ar ysfor t , ) W oahoo, 18th February, 1843. $ Sir— I have the honor to acknowledge your majesty’s letter o f this day’s date, wherein you intimate your intention o f complying with my demands, which I have considered m y duty to make upon your majesty’s government. I appoint the hour o f two o’clock this afternoon for the interchange o f salutes, and I shall expect that you will inform me at what hour on Monday you will be prepared to receive myself and Her Britannic M a jesty’s representatives. I have the honor to be Y our majesty’s most obedient humble servant, GEORGE P A U L E T , Captain. His Majesty Kamehameha III. H onolulu , Oahu, Feb. 18, 1843. Salutations to Lord George Paulet, Captain o f H . B. M . ship Carysfort. I have received your communication, and make known to you that I will receive your self, and II. B. M. representatives, on Monday, the 20th o f February, at 11 o’ clock, A . M. Yours, respectfully, K A M E H A M E H A 3d. I hereby certify the above to be a faithful translation. G. P. J udd, Jr., for the Government. Where are you, chiefs, people, and commons from my ancestor, and people from foreign lands ! Hear ye, I make known to you that I am in perplexity, by reason o f difficulties into which I have been brought without cause, therefore I have given away the life o f our land, hear ye ! But my rule over you, my peo ple, and your privileges, will continue ; for I have hope that the life of the land will be restored when my conduct is justified. Done at Honolulu, Oahua, this twenty-fifth day o f February, 1843. Witness, J o h n D. P a a l u a . KAM EHAM EHA, K EKAU LU AH I. I hereby certify the above to be a faithful translation. G. P. J u d d , Recorder and Translator for the Government. The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands . 131 In consequence o f the difficulties in which we find ourselves involved, and our opinion of the impossibility o f complying with the demands in the manner in which they are made by Her Britannic Majesty’s representatives upon us, in reference to the claims of British subjects, we do hereby cede the group o f islands known as the Hawaiian (or Sandwich) islands, unto the Right Honorable Lord George Paulet, captain o f Her Ma jesty’s ship-of-war Carysfort, representing Her Majesty Victoria, queen o f Great Britain and Ireland, from this date, and for the time being; the same cession being made with the reservation that it is subject to any arrangement that may have been entered into by the representatives appointed by us to treat with the government o f Her Britannic M a jesty ; and in the event that no agreement has been executed previous to the date thereof, subject to the decision o f Her Britannic Majesty’s government on conference with the said representatives, and being accessible, or not having been acknowledged subject to the decision which Her Britannic Majesty may pronounce on the receipt o f full informa tion from us, and from the Right Honorable Lord George Paulet. In confirmation o f the above, we hereby fix our names and seals, this twenty-fifth day o f February, in the year o f our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-three, at H o nolulu, Oahu, Sandwich islands. Signed in presence o f G. P. Judd, Recorder and Translator for the Government. K A M E H A M E H A 3d, K E K A U L U A H I. A provisional cession o f the Hawaiian or Sandwich islands having been made this day by Kamehameha III, king, and Kekauluahi, premier thereof, unto me, the Right Honorable Lord George Paulet, commanding H . B. M. ship Carysfort, on the part o f her Britannic Majesty Victoria, queen o f Great Britain and Ireland, subject to arrangements which may have been or shall be made in Great Britain with the government o f H. B. Majesty : I do hereby proclaim— First— That the British flag shall be hoisted on all the islands o f the group; and the natives thereof shall enjoy the protection and privileges o f British subjects. Second— That the government thereof shall be executed, until the receipt o f the com munication from Great Britain, in the following manner, viz :— By the native king and chiefs, and the officers employed by them, so far as regards the native population; and by a commission consisting o f King Kamehameha III, or a deputy appointed by him, the Right Hon. Lord George Paulet, Duncan Forbes Mackay, Esq., and Lieut. Frere, R. N ., in all that concerns relations with other powers, save and except the negotiations with the British government, and the arrangements among foreigners, other than natives o f the Archipelago, residents on these islands. Third— That the laws at present existing, or which may be made at the ensuing coun cil o f the king and chiefs, after being communicated to the commission, shall be in full force so far as natives are concerned; and shall form the basis o f the administration o f justice by the commission, in matters between foreigners resident on these islands. Fourth— In all that relates to the collection o f the revenue, the present officers shall be continued at the pleasure o f the native king and chiefs, their salaries for the current year being also determined by them, and the archives o f the government remaining in their hands. T he accounts are, however, subject to inspection by the commission heretofore named. T he government vessels shall be in like manner subject, however, to their em ployment, if required, for Her Britannic Majesty’s service. Fifth— That no sales, leases, or transfers o f land, shall take place by the action o f the commission aforesaid, nor from natives to foreigners, during the period intervening be tween the twenty-fourth o f this month, and the receipt o f the notification from Great Britain o f the arrangements made there. They shall not be valid, nor shall they receive the signatures o f the king and premier. Sixth— A ll the existing bona fide engagements o f the native king and premier shall he executed and performed, as if this cession had never been made. Given under my hand this twenty-fifth o f February, in the year o f our Lord one thou sand eight hundred and forty-three, at Honolulu, Oahu, Sandwich Islands. GEORGE P A U LE T , Captain o f H. B. M. ship Carysfort. Signed in presence o f G. P. J udd, R ec. and Int. to the Government. A l e x . S impson, H. B. M . Acting Consul. A true copy o f the original. G. P A U L E T , Captain. 132 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. Fraud and injustice are stamped upon the face o f it, but the circumstances attending it were still more gross. Demands were brought which are not in print, and which they would not put to writing, one after another, claim ing heavy damages for alleged causes o f the most frivolous and contempt ible nature. In short, Simpson was determined that the English flag should surmount the Hawaiian ; and, losing sight o f all cautious policy in his ardor for its accomplishment, grossly committed himself, by threat ening an appeal to violence, in the support o f fraudulent claims. After the cession, the principal grounds o f complaint were abandoned by Lord Paulet, particularly the new trial for money in dispute, demanded for Skin ner, a British subject, against Dominis, an American citizen, which had been settled a year before, and for which Dominis held Skinner’s certif icate. Dr. Judd, who was marked in the official correspondence as an enemy to Englishmen, and with whom, as agent for the king, Paulet would have nothing to do, was requested by that lord to retain his situation. These, and a few other circumstances, are mentioned merely to show the inconsistency o f these men, which strengthens the probability that they acted solely upon their own responsibility, with no definite plan o f opera tions beyond the determination o f possessing the islands ; expecting, no doubt, in the end, that they would not only be sanctioned by the English government, but highly rewarded for securing to their country so valuable a group. One o f the first acts o f the new government was to raise the duties— to limit the number o f groggeries to twelve, under high licenses ; an act which gave great dissatisfaction to many o f the loyal subjects of Great Britain, as it took away their business. A proclamation was issued, re quiring all foreigners to produce evidence o f their titles to real estate, within a certain period. This will create much confusion among Amer ican residents in particular, against whom it is aimed— as all the lands upon which the missionary property, and most o f the improvements belong ing to merchants, are located, are held by the old law of the country, “ Indian g ift.” The king, this very year, was about bestowing full and legal deeds, according to the new constitution, upon all who held property in this precarious way, and which this edict jeopardizes to a great extent. At the same time, the king was compelled to give a deed to the agents o f Mr. Charlton, in his favor, o f the most valuable portion o f the town of Honolulu, comprising a large lot situated on the water-side, and covered with improvements. This had been claimed by Charlton, within a few years, on the strength o f a deed, which he said he had in his possession, signed by Kalaimoku, former governor o f Oahu. A paper had been ex hibited, in which his name was spelt in a manner which no native ever writes— letters being used which are not in their alphabet. Those who recollect the letter o f Boki, which made so much stir in this country and England, until its forgery was demonstrated beyond a doubt, will perceive a similarity between the two, which looks strikingly like a common origin. The names o f witnesses are attached, but they are o f men long since dead ; and the document was not produced, or even heard of, until after their decease. Tw o vessels, belonging to the king, were taken possession of, for the use of the English governor. The mansion and grounds of Haalilio, the Hawaiian commissioner, were occupied by Lord Paulet and suite. It was their desire that it should appear that the king voluntarily ceded The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. 133 the islands to Great Britain. When the official correspondence was print ed, it contained the short but feeling address o f the king to his people. This was given in the presence o f Lord Paulet, Mr. Simpson, and all the officers, and interpreted to the former by Dr. Judd, word for word, as it was spoken by the king. I f that was allowed to go abroad, it was evident, even to them, that it could not fail to convey the impression that the king yielded only to force, under a protest, and that he appealed for justice to the righteousness o f his cause, and the magnanimity o f Great Britain. This would not do. Lord Paulet ordered the whole to be suppressed, and issued an amended edition o f his own ; but some copies were circulated, and he had the folly to post up about the streets o f Honolulu the following notice :— O ffice of the B ritish C ommission, & c., I March 3, 1843. ( It is hereby publicly intimated that the publication and distribution o f a speech stated to have been made by Kamehameha, on the twenty.fifth o f February, in a paper entitled “ Official correspondence, relating to the late provisional cession o f the Sandwich islands,” was entirely without the authority o f the Right Honorable Lord George Paulet, or the commission appointed by him. That speech was delivered without the sanction o f Lord George Paulet, and formed no part of, and had no connection with, the arrangements by which the sovereignty o f these islands was provisionally ceded to Great Britain. By order o f the commissioners. (Signed) A L E X . SIM PSON, ) Joint H . SE A , ( Secretaries. He evidently attempts to convey the impression that the speech is a forgery, and caps the climax o f inconsistency by stating that it was deliv ered without his sanction; thus desiring to deprive the poor king o f the liberty o f speech, as well as his throne. A demand was made upon the French consul to produce his credentials. His reply was— “ When you show me by what authority you make the demand, I will take it into consideration.” Mr. Hooper, the American consul, sent his in, and was recognised. It is to be hoped that our consular department abroad will, in future, be filled with individuals possessing suf ficient knowledge and firmness to maintain the dignity and independence o f their stations. But men whose lives are devoted exclusively to the pur suit o f gain, cannot be expected to fill responsible situations with that independence o f character which those who have no mercantile interest at stake can exercise. The following are some o f the notices of the Simpson government, and serve to show its spirit:— O ffice of the B ritish C ommission, & c., I March 3d, 1843. ( Public notice is hereby given, that Mr. Jules Dudoit, consul o f France to the late gov ernment, having intimated to the commission that he declines to lay before it his authority for acting as representative o f France in these islands, the commission will not recognise him from this date in that capacity. By order o f the commissioners. (Signed) A L E X . SIM PSON, > Joint H. S E A , ( Secretaries. O ffice of the B ritish C ommission, & c., } March 1st, 1843. ( Public notice is hereby given, that all British subjects, and the subjects or citizens of other countries, (other than the natives o f the Archipelago,) having any claims for land in the Sandwich islands, whether by lease, written document, or in virtue o f occupancy, V OL. I X .---- NO. I I . 12 134 The Sandwich or Hawaiian Island#. are required to send in such claims to the commissioners, on or before the first o f June n e x t; failing which, no claims will be hereafter held valid, (unless the holders o f these claims shall be absent from these islands during the intervening space.) T he commis. sioners will not enter upon the validity o f these claims at present, but will cause all the deeds and claims, as presented, to be registered for future decision. By order o f the commissioners. (Signed) A L E X . SIM PSON , ) Joint H. SEA, ( Secretaries. The probable effect o f the latter upon American property has already been noticed. Business is interrupted, and the whole community is in a state o f great excitement. The doors o f the residents are shut against Lord Paulet and his officers. He made an attempt to conciliate favor, but was repulsed with a manly indignation. It is to be regretted that the king had not aroused within him the lion spirit of his noble and courageous father, old Kamehameha. Had he been alive, not a demand o f an unjust nature would have been submitted t o ; but force would have been met by force. Some o f the chiefs wished to fight; but the spirit o f the king, who is an exceedingly amiable man, and beloved by his subjects, had been crushed by the repeated insults and demands o f the French, in the cases o f Laplace and Mallet, and who probably would have anticipated Lord Paulet, had they been aware o f his movements. Kaivkeouli, in peaceful times, is an excellent and patriotic sovereign; but he has not the firmness requisite for emergencies o f such a nature as the one in question. Still, had it not been for the amount o f property belonging to his personal friends, which would inevitably have been sacrificed, and the destruction o f the lives of many o f his subjects, perhaps o f foreigners, and the expo sure of their families to rapine and violence, not so much from the attack ing party, as the body o f dissolute whites within the town, he would have resisted. Had the scene terminated in bloodshed, and destruction o f prop erty, it would have aroused from the civilized world an indignant burst of ex ecration, and awakened a sympathy for a trodden-down people, which would have lifted them up to their proper situation, and secured them there. Had the Hawaiian nation been one o f pirates, an occasional war-vessel would have touched at their shores, and bombarded a deserted coast, or destroyed a few villages. But they have been a good, a hospitable people, extending justice and welcome to all, as far as lay in their power. Those whom they have treated the best, have turned upon and rended them. No one who knows them well, can hesitate to say that their troubles and persecutions have been mainly brought about by the plausible but false representations o f a set o f ingrates, o f low and contemptible, and too often o f criminal characters, residing among them. America has several millions o f dollars at stake, either on those islands, or in vessels that touch there. From five hundred to a thousand o f her citizens reside on them. They are a valuable market for her manufactures, and an invaluable resort for her shipping— particularly the whaling interest. Where are they going, when these ports, as well as those o f the southern groups, are in effect closed against them, by heavy port-charges, duties and favors given to the shipping o f the nations that have seized upon them 1 The Georgian group, Society, New Zealand, and now the Sandwich islands, have been seized within a short period, by rival nations. W ill the American government, after having, by their- executive, used such encouraging language as the following to the Hawaiian nation, look on with apathy, and see its rights disregarded, and the interests o f American citizens destroyed, through the intrigues and The Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands. 135 cabal o f envious foreigners ? “ It cannot but be in conformity with the interest and wishes o f the government and the people of the United States, that this community, thus existing in the midst o f a vast expanse o f ocean, should be respected, and all its rights strictly and conscientiously regarded. And this must also be the true interest o f all other commercial states. Far remote from the dominions o f European powers, its growth and pros perity, as an independent state, may yet be, in a high degree, useful to all whose trade extends to those regions; while its near approach to the American continent, and the intercourse which American vessels have with it— such vessels constituting five-sixths o f all which annually visit it — could not but create dissatisfaction, on the part o f the United States, at any attempt by another power, should such attempt be threatened or fear ed, to take possession o f the islands, colonize them, and subvert the native government. This government would be justified, should events hereafter require it, in making a decided remonstrance against the adoption o f an opposite policy by any other power.” — From Message to Congress, Decem ber 11, 1842. And yet, within two months from the publication o f this message, a for eign vessel o f war enters the harbor o f Honolulu, in a time o f profound and universal peace, without declaring war, or giving suitable notice of her intentions, proclaims hostilities to take place within a few hours, unless the whole kingdom is surrendered. The lives and property o f American citizens are periled— no time allowed for seeking safety— but, without previous warning, the inhabitants are assured that the town will be shortly bombarded, unless the government accede to terms dictated by an individual living among them, whose hatred to them had long been proverbial. Does not this occasion call for the “ decided remonstrance” o f the American government ? W ill England, after the assurances given the Hawaiian commissioners, and the tone o f her press against French conquests in the Pacific, justify this measure ? I f honor and justice have not altogether taken flight from her councils, she will promptly bring the authors to trial, and make full and immediate restitution and reparation. There is good ground for believing that, in this case, England will be governed by a correct principle, and that the indemnity and restoration will be full and prompt. Her desire for territory is great, and may tempt her strongly to hold on to a possession already in her grasp. But she has always treated the Hawaiians with kindness. The time when she could have seized upon them, and with the consent, to some extent, o f the peo ple themselves, she let go by— now, the voice o f the civilized world would be against the measure. The military occupation o f one o f our own ter ritories could scarcely have more excited the American press through the length and breadth o f the land. A large class o f her own subjects are strongly opposed to it. The expense o f holding and fortifying it, would be great. France is keenly sensitive upon the subject; and England, from her own acts within two months, cannot, without the grossest inconsistency, as well as the basest ingratitude, entertain for a moment, even, the idea o f permanently holding them. The following is a summary o f the results o f the efforts o f the Hawaiian envoys in Europe, derived from first sources:— “ Charlton arrived in England in February o f this year, previous to the Hawaiian commissioners ; and, by his representations, succeeded in cre ating a prejudice in the minds o f the ministry against them, on the ground 136 Progress o f Population and Wealth in the that the islands were exclusively under the control o f American merchants and missionaries— that Englishmen were abused, deprived o f their just rights, and could not obtain common justice in their courts. But Sir George Simplon and Captain Jones, (a naval commander who had been at Oahu the year before, and from what he had witnessed for himself, afterwards expressed his shame and disgust at the conduct and character o f his fellow, subjects residing there,) stepped forward, and disproved the charges. Charlton was immediately disgraced ; and the ministry, in March last, expressed their readiness to acknowledge the unconditional independence o f the Hawaiian kingdom, and to appoint a proper agent to reside at that court. In this, they followed the example o f the United States, France, and Belgium. In addition, Guizot declared to the commissioners his readiness to alter the obnoxious clauses o f the Laplace treaty, and place the commercial relations between the two countries upon an equitable footing.” If, in addition to what has already been observed, it is necessary to add anything else to show the improbability o f Lord Paulet’s actions being under instructions from the English ministry, his character, and the small ness o f his force, should be taken into consideration. Is it reasonable to suppose that England, with the intention o f subduing an extensive group, with a popidation o f upwards o f one hundred thousand semi-civilized peo ple, possessing fortifications and the munitions o f war, with many foreign ers in their service, would send on such an expedition so weak-headed an individual as Lord Paulet as commander, and one frigate, the smallest and most inefficient o f her class ? Any one who knows the islands, is perfectly aware that so small a force, had resistance been made, could not have held possession one day, or even an hour. The vessel might have de stroyed the town with her heavy guns; but with an exasperated and aroused population against thorn, the crew would have been cut off as fast as they landed. The Hawaiians, in past years, have shown no deficiency in military courage and hardihood, and it is not yet extinct; but the mild spirit o f the precepts o f the gospel influence their councils, and they have a trust, in particular, in the honor and generosity o f the English nation, derived from their reverence for Cook, Vancouver, George IV, and Lord Byron. That it may not be misplaced, every friend o f humanity will pray; and there is yet hope that this occurrence will terminate in the retraction not only o f Great Britain, at the Hawaiian islands, but by France, of her equally unjust seizure o f the Georgian cluster. A r t . II.— P R O G R E SS OF P O P U L A T IO N A N D W E A L T H IN T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S , IN F IF T Y Y E A R S . A S EXHIBITED B Y THE DECENNIAL CENSUS TAKEN IN THAT PERIOD. C H A P T E R X IX . TH E PRODUCTS OF IN DU STRY. H a v i n g traced the progress o f the population o f the United States from 1790 to 1840, shown its distribution according to age, sex, race, condi tion, and pursuit, and deduced the laws o f its increase, let us now turn our attention to that part o f the census o f 1840 which estimated the annual United States, in F ifty Years. 137 products o f industry. These were arranged under the six heads o f Mines, Agriculture, Commerce, Fisheries, the Forest, and Manufactures; each of which was subdivided into specific commodities and sources o f profit, as follows :— M ines. Cast iron. Bar iron. Lead. Gold. Other metals. S alt* Horses and mules. Neat cattle. Sheep. Swine. Poultry. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Rye. Buckwheat. Indian corn. W ool. Hops. W ax. Potatoes. Hay. Hemp and flax. T obacco. R ice. Cotton. Anthracite coal. Bituminous coal. Granite, marble, & c. A griculture . Silk cocoons. Sugar. Firewood. Products o f the dairy. “ “ orchard. W ine. Produce o f market gardens. “ nurseries, & c. Domestic goods. C ommerce. Capital in foreign trade. “ retail trade. “ lumber trade. Capital in internal transportation. “ the business o f butchers, packers, & c. F isheries. Smoked and dried fish. Pickled fish. Spermaceti oil. Other fish oil. Lumber. Tar, pilch, & c. Pot and pearl ashes. Skins and furs. Machinery. Hardware, cutlery, & c. Cannon. Small arms. Manf. o f precious metals. “ o f various metals. “ o f granite, marble, & c. Bricks and lime. Manf. o f wool. “ o f cotton. “ o f silk. “ o f flax. Mixed manufactures. Manf. o f tobacco. Hats and caps. Straw bonnets. Sole leather. Upper leather. Manf. o f leather. Soap. Tallow candles. Spermaceti & wax candles. Distilled spirits. Brewed liquors. Gunpowder. Drugs, paints, dyes, & c. Turpentine and varnish. Glass. Pottery. Refined sugar. Chocolate. Whalebone and other prod ucts o f the fisheries. T he F orest . M Ginseng, and other products o f the forest. anufactures . Paper. Manf. of paper. Bookbinding. Printing. Cordage. Musical instruments. Carriages. Flour mills. Grist mills. Saw mills. Oil mills. Ships. Furniture. Houses. Other manufactures. In about half o f the preceding articles, the number or quantity is given by the census; in the rest, only the value annually produced. T o all, except the products o f agriculture, the number o f men employed, and the amount o f capital invested in each occupation, are severally annexed. Some further details are added to a few branches o f business, as may be seen in the following compendium o f this part o f the census o f 1840. f * This comprehends salt manufactured from sea-water as well as mineral salt, t This part o f the last census having been already published in the April number o f this Magazine for the last year, is now omitted. 12* 138 Progress o f Population and W ealth in die W e thus have a mass o f materials for estimating the annual income o f the United States, which has been rarely, if ever, afforded to seventeen millions of people. Yet, with all this valuable aid, precise accuracy is still unattainable; for those diversities and fluctuations o f price, from which no country is exempt, are particularly great in this country. Articles o f raw produce, which vary in price, from year to year, far more than manufactures, constitute here the unusually large proportion o f more than two-thirds of the whole annual product. In a country, moreover, o f such large extent as the United States, differing so widely in soil, climate, density o f numbers, and easy access o f market, the price o f the same com modity varies considerably among the different states in the same year. Nay, more— with the larger states, the same local diversities apply to dif ferent parts of the same state, and often make the price o f the more bulky commodities, at one place o f production, more than twice as high as the price they bear at another. T o make, then, a fair average, it is neces sary to take into account the quantities produced in the several parts, as well as the difference o f price. There are also sources o f revenue, in which the census has given not the annual product, but the whole value o f the capital invested, as in the case o f live stock, and o f the capitals employed in com m erce; in which items, there being room for further difference of opinion, there is a further source o f uncertainty. Even in those manufactures o f which the census has determined their gross values, we may expect, in deducting the value o f the raw materials which have been estimated under other heads, somewhat o f the same difference of opinion, and consequently o f the same uncertainty. The most carefiil estimate practicable must therefore rest, in part, on conjecture and prob ability. Yet, if the estimate be cautiously made, and be founded on the opinion o f judicious persons, who look not beyond their own experience and observation, the unavoidable errors will probably so balance and compensate each other, that the result will afford an approximation to the truth, which is all that the subject admits of, and indeed all that it is im portant for us to know. In making the subjoined estimate, the following course has been pur sued :— O f those articles o f which the census has given only the quantities, the market price at the place produced, or where the producer transports it by his own labor, is considered the fair value. T o ascertain this, local information, from persons competent to give it, has been procured, as far as practicable. The prices affixed ought, in strictness, perhaps, to have been those which prevailed in 1840, when the census was taken ; but, as the prices o f most articles o f commerce were not uninfluenced, even then, by the distention of the currency which succeeded the termination o f the Bank o f the United States, in 1836, it was thought that a medium between the prices of 1840 and those o f the present day, when they are unusually depressed, would give a fair average. In estimating the product of live stock, one-fourth o f its gross value has been assumed to be its annual value. This may be somewhat too much for horses and mules, but it is far too little for sheep and hogs, and may be not quite enough for neat cattle. The products o f this branch o f hus bandry is compounded in a small degree o f rent, but principally o f the wages o f personal service and the profits o f capital; and, considering the high price which both labor and capital bear in this country, 25 per cent seems to be not too high. In England, it is supposed that one-fourth o f the United States, in F ifty Years. 139 cattle is slaughtered in the year. As those fatted for the shambles are worth about double the general average, this rule would give twice the amount o f the present estimate ; but then it would be necessary to deduct the value o f the food consumed in the process o f fattening, which would bring us to nearly the same result. From the gross value o f domestic manufactures, included in the products o f agriculture, one-half is deducted for the raw materials. In estimating the products o f commerce, as they also are compounded of the wages o f industry and the profits o f capital, they have, in like man ner, been set down at 25 per cent on the capital employed. Without doubt, this greatly exceeds the rate o f profits in the wholesale and foreign trade, but it is also far short o f the retail trade, in which, for the most part, the capital is turned over several times in the year. The census shows that upwards o f 100,000 families are engaged in the employments comprehended under the head o f commerce ; and a less profit than the one supposed, would not be adequate to the support o f that number in a style of living which far exceeds the average rate o f that o f the whole community. From the gross value o f manufactured products, one-third has been de ducted for the value o f the raw materials, leaving two-thirds for the wages of labor and the profits o f capital. These are the average proportions in the official statements o f the manufactures o f New York. From this val uation, however, the articles manufactured by mills have been excepted. Three-fourths o f the gross value o f these articles have been deducted. Even this would not be enough, if the products o f sawmills and oilmills, in which human labor bears a much larger proportional part, were not comprehended. A separate estimate is made o f the products o f printing and bookbinding, by allowing 25 per cent on the capital invested, and $200 for each man employed. In estimating the annual products o f the mines, the fisheries, and the forest, the whole value at the place o f production, or o f sale by the pro ducer, has been the measure— that value being made up o f the profits o f land, o f labor, and of capital. In all cases, the prices at which the principal products o f each state have been estimated, may be seen by comparing the values with the quan tities, so that every one may correct the estimate wherever he deems it erroneous. It is proper to remark that the census omits several products o f indus try, whose aggregate value would make no insignificant addition to the total amount. Among these, are— 1. The blades o f Indian corn, an ex cellent fodder for horses and cattle; and which, estimating twenty pounds for every bushel o f grain, amounts to 3,775,000 tons, worth $37,750,000. 2. Peas and beans. 3. Flaxseed. 4. Broom-corn. 5. Sumach. 6. Honey. 7. Feathers. In the subjoined table, the values o f the principal products o f agricul ture and of manufactures, and occasionally o f other branches o f industry, are specifically stated, while the rest are included under the general heads. 140 Progress o f Population and Wealth in the N E W ENGLAND STATES. A nnual P roducts o r I ndustry I. Agriculture. Horses and m ules,..................No. Neat cattle,..................................... Sheep,.............................................. H ogs,................................................ in M ain e . 59,208 327,255 649,264 117,386 $2,960,400 4,908,825 973,896 352,158 ................. is............................................ ,................. Poultry,.............................................. ................. $9,195,279 W h ea t,................................... bush. Oats,................................................. M aize,.............................................. Other grain,..................................... Potatoes,.......................................... 848,166 1,076,409 950,528 544,645 10,392,280 $1,061,207 376,743 712,896 435,716 2,078,556 W o o l,.........................................lbs. 1,465,551 Products o f dairy,........................... .......................... “ orchards,..................... H ay,.......................................... tons 691,358 Other products,................................ ......... ...... . $492,942 1,496,902 149,381 5,530,864 1,099,083 25 per cent of..................... $2,298,819 123,171 $2,421,980 4,665,118 Total o f Agriculture,......... .......................... II. Manufactures. Metals and machinery,.................. $194,099 Lime, & c .,....................................... 621,583 W o o lle n ,.......................................... 412,366 Cotton, & c.,..................................... 1,023,086 Leather,............................................ 443,846 Furniture,......................................... 204,875 Carriages,......................................... 174,310 Ships,................................................ 1,184,902 H ouses,............................................ 733,067 Other manufactures,...................... 1,503,538 ----------------Deduct for materials one-third,................................. 8,769,172 ................ $15,856,270 $7,102,983 2,334,328 $4,768,655 790,398 56,250 ------------------------------------------ $5,615,303 Commerce, 25 per cent on capital,......................................................... 1,505,380 The Forest.................................................................................................. 1,877,663 Fisheries,.................................................................................................... 1,280,713 Mines,....... .................................................................................................. 327,376 Manufactures by mills, one-quarter,......................... Printing, & .C ., estimated,........................................... III. IV . V. V I. Total,.............................................................................................. A nnual P roducts of I ndustry I. Agriculture. Horses and mules,..................N o. Neat cattle,............................................. Sheep,....................................................... H o g s ,....................................................... in 43,892 $2,194,600 275,562 4,133,430 649,264 973,896 121,671 365,013 25 per cent of.................................................. $7,666,939 is $1,916,735 107,092 Poultry,.. $26,462,705 N e w H ampshire . $2,023,827 141 United States, in F ifty Years. W heat,.................................. ■bush. M aize,.................................... Other grain,.......................... 422,124 454,699 1,162,572 379,880 6,206,606 $527,655 160,134 796,926 284,910 1,241,321 2,162,368 129,742 1,638,543 239,979 441,181 3,248,856 644,678 $3,010,946 Sugar,.................................... ...lbs. Products o f dairv,................ “ orchards,......... W o o l,..................................... ’.’.’.lbs!’ H ay,....................................... ...tons Other products,.................... 1,260,517 406,107 6,342,979 $11,377,752 II. Manufactures. Metals, & c .,...................................... W oollen,........................................... Cotton, & c.,..................................... Hats, ................................................ L eather,............................................ Paper,................................................ Carriages,.......................................... Houses,............................................. S h ip s,................................................ Other manufactures,................ . $379,898 795,784 4,290,078 190,526 712,151 152,700 232,240 470,715 78,000 1,235,860 ----------------Deduct for materials one-third,....................... .......... $8,437,959 2,812,651 Manufactures by mills, one-quarter,......................... Printing, & c .,............................................................... $5,625,301 790,398 130,112 III. Commerce, 25 per cent on capital,........................................................... IV . The Forest,................................................................................................. V. Fisheries,................................................................................................ VI. M ines, ................ ..................................................................................... $6,545,811 1,001,533 449,861 92,811 88,373 $19,556,141 A nnual P roducts of I. Agriculture. Horses and mules,............. ...N o . Neat cattle,........................... S h e e p ,................................... Plogs,.................................... . 25 per cent of.......... ................... is .... Poultry,................................. I ndustry in 62,402 384,341 1,681,819 203,800 $3,120,100 5,764,113 2,522,728 611,400 ............ $12,018,331 $3,006,110 131,578 ............. W heat,.................................... .bush. Oats,...................................... M aize,................................... Other grain,.......................... ....... Potatoes,.............................. ....... V ermont . $3,137,688 495,800 2,222,584 1,119,678 514,190 8,869,751 $619,750 888,904 746,652 371,940 1,773,950 Sugar,................................... 4,647,934 W o o l,.................................... ...... 3,669,035 Products o f dairy,............... ............ ............ “ orchards,......... ............. ................... Hay,...................................... 836,739 Other products,.................... ................... ................... 278,866 1,284,232 2,008,737 213,934 5,857,173 697,319 4,401,196 10,340,271 $17,879,155 142 P rogress o f Population and W ealth in the II. Manufactures. Metals and machinery,.................. W oollen............................................ Cotton, & c ........................................ Leather,............................................ Paper,................................................ Carriages,.......................................... H ou ses,............................................ Ships,................................................ Other manufactures,...................... $161,374 1,331,953 268,430 361,468 214,720 102,097 344,896 72,000 5,098,653 Deduct for materials one-third,, $7,955,591 2,651,897 Manufactures by mills, one-quarter,.......................... Printing, & c .,............................................................ . $5,303,694 270,781 110,950 $5,685,425 758,899 430,224 389,488 III. Commerce, 25 per cent on capital,, IV . The Forest....................................... V. M ines, .............................................. $25,143,191 A nnual P roducts of I ndustry in M assachusetts . A g ricu ltu re. 61,484 282,574 378,226 146,221 $3,074,200 5,086,332 567,339 572,884 25 per cent of........ ............ ...................... $9,300,755 Horses and m ules,............. ...N o . Neat cattle,......................... S heep,................................... Hogs...................................... $2,325,189 178'l5 7 Poultry,................................. $2,503,346 Whetjt,.................................. Oats, .................................... M aize,.................................. Other grain,.......................... Potatoes,.............................. 157,923 1,319,680 1,809,192 788,333 5,385,652 $197,404 527,872 1,356,894 591,238 1,346,413 W o o l,.................................... Products o f dairy,............... “ orchards,.......... H a y ,..................................... Other products,.................... 941,906 329,677 2,273,299 389,177 5,124,555 1,425,142 4,019,821 ................ 569,395 9,542,450 II. Commerce, 25 per cent on capital,........................................................... III. Fisheries,.................................................................................................... IV. Manufactures. Metals and machinery,.................. $4,717,919 W oollen,........................................... 7,082,808 Cotton, & c .,...................................... 17,823,637 Hats, & c .,......................................... 918,436 Straw bonnets,.................................. 821,646 Leather,............................................ 10,553,826 1,716,630 Paper................................................. Cordage,........................................... 852,200 Carriages,.......................................... 803,999 Furniture,.......................................... 1,090,008 Houses,.............................................. 2,767,134 Ships.................. 1,349,994 $16,065,627 7,004,691 6,483,996 143 States, in F ifty Years. Other manufactures,.................. Deduct for materials one-third,. $13,305,878 ----------------- $63,903,617 ........................ 21,301,206 Manufactures by mills, one-quarter,.......................... Printing, & c.,................................................................ V. VI. $42,602,411 442,796 472,850 M in e8 , ............................................. The F o re s t ...................................... $43,518,057 2,020,572 377,354 Total,.................................. $75,470,297 A nnual Products of Industry in R hode Island. I. A g r ic u ltu r e . Horses and mules,................No. Neat cattle,................................. Sheep,......................................... Hogs,.......................................... 8,024 36,891 90,146 30,659 $401,200 664,038 180,292 122,636 25 per cent of....................... $1,368,166 is......................................... Poultry,........................................... $342,041 61,702 $403,743 Wheat,................................ bush. Oats............................................. Maize,........................................ Other grain,................................. Potatoes,...................................... 3,098 171,517 450,498 103,990 917,973 $3,875 60,030 281,561 77,003 227,994 Wool,.....................................lbs. Products of dairy,............................ Hay,......................................tons Other products,............................... 183,830 $65,340 223,229 571,041 285,493 650,463 63,449 1,145,103 $2,199,309 II. M a n u fa ctu res. Metals and machinery,................ Woollen,...................................... Cotton, &c.,................................ Hats and bonnets,....................... Leather,...................................... Houses,...................................... Other manufactures,................... $1,006,870 842,172 7,564,851 178,571 182,110 379,010 2,689,385 Deduct for materials one-third,........ $12,842,969 4,280,989 Manufactures by mills, one-quarter,. Printing, &c................................... $8,561,980 20,921 57,725 IV. Fisheries............................................... V. Mines..................................................... VI. T h e F o re s t ...................................... $8,640,626 1,294,956 659,312 162.410 44,610 Total,................................... $13,001,223 III. Comm erce, 25 per cent on capital,.. A nnual P roducts o r I n dustry I. Agriculture. Horses and mules................... N o. Neat cattle,..................................... in 36,650 238,650 C onnecticut. $1,732,500 4,145,700 144 Our Railw ays. S h e e p ,.......................................N o. H o g s ,................................................ $403,462 131,961 $806,924 527,844 25 per cent of. $7,211,968 is. Poultry,............................. W heat,............................. Oats,...................... .......... E y e ,................................... M aize,.............................. 87,009 453,262 737,424 1,500,441 336,802 3,414,238 Potatoes,.......................... 889,870 W o o l,................................ Products o f dairy,............ “ orchards,.... Hay,.................................. Other products,. 426,704 $1,802,992 176,629 ----------------$108,761 164,969 555,568 900,264 252,598 854,559 ----------------$311,434 1,376,534 296,232 3,840,336 730,900 ----------------- $1,979,621 2,836,719 6,555,436 $11,371,776 II. Manufactures. Metals and machinery,.................. W o o lle n ,.......................................... Cotton, & c .,................................. Hats and bonnets,........................... Leather,............................................ P aper,............... Carriages,.......................................... Ships,................................................ H ou ses,............................................ Other manufactures,...................... III. IV. V. VI. $3,559,029 2,494,313 3,302,059 886,310 2,017,931 541,300 929,301 428,900 1,086,295 3,416,983 Deduct for materials one-third,. $18,662,425 6,220,808 Manufactures by mills, one-quarter,.......................... Printing, & c .,................................................................ $12,441,617 135,877 201,469 Commerce, 25 per cent on capital,, Fisheries,........................................ Mines, & c .,..................................... The Forest,...................................... Total,........................... ................................................................... $12,778,963 1,963,281 907,723 820,419 181,575 $28,023,737 N ote .— W e are compelled to omit in this place the -value o f the products o f the other states o f the Union. T h ey will be given in a subsequent number o f this Magazine.— E ditor . A rt. III.— OUR R A IL W A Y S . I f it be admitted that the commercial interests o f the country are mate rially benefited by the railways now in operation, an examination into the means by which an extension o f these advantages may be secured, can not be without interest to the readers o f the Merchants’ Magazine. E s pecially is this investigation important, when we bear in mind that all the successful railways in the United States have been executed by private enterprise, the capital having been, in a great degree, furnished by the Our Railw ays. 145 mercantile community. It must also be obvious, to every intelligent ob server, that all future undertakings o f this kind must be carried through by individual energy and private capital exclusively. Quite as important, however, as examining new projects— which may promise success, and which are called for by the increasing wants and more advanced state o f the country— is it, to discuss the reasons why the merchants and manufacturers o f New England and N ew York, and more particularly the farmers o f western New York, derive so small a portion of the benefits which the railways now in operation are capable o f con ferring, to the advantage o f all parties. T o this, but one answer can be given— the law o f New York, which denies “ in toto” the right o f the citizen o f this or o f any other state to transport freight between Albany and Buffalo by railway. In other parts o f the state, as on Long Island, in Rockland, Orange, Columbia, Tomp kins, and other counties traversed by railways, the people are as free to use any mode o f transportation they please, as are the citizens o f London, Boston, or Philadelphia; but, during the five months the Erie canal is closed, merchandise or agricultural produce must be carried in wagons or sleighs, actually in sight o f the railway, as during the past winter, or kept till May or June, and then sent down simultaneously with the produce of the western states— thus at once glutting a market which has been bare all winter, and completely neutralizing the advantages which the New York farmer ought to derive from his proximity to the seaboard, and ac tually using the large sums he has contributed to— as he is informed— “ improvements,” as an excuse for depriving him o f the vast benefits brought to his door by railways, o f which he is not allowed to avail himself. It is quite unnecessary to point out, that what cripples the farmer, cannot eventually be otherwise than injurious to the merchant. The sudden falling off in the receipts o f the Western railroad, on the closing o f the Erie canal, from $14,000 to $7,000 per week, gives some idea o f the injury inflicted on the New York farmer, on the manufacturing population on the line o f the railway, and, lastly, on that great work itself, by the withering mo nopoly o f the Erie canal. Could western New York be supplied with merchandise by way of Philadelphia, or by any other route, during the five months’ sleep o f the canals, this policy, though equally objectionable in principle, would be less injurious in effect; but, to exclude the farmer from market when alone he can leave his farm— to force him to lay in five months’ stores in the autumn, and to virtually prohibit him from sending to market many minor products from day to day, is literally “ a wind that blows nobody good,” unless, indeed, the increase o f officeholders be in cluded in that category. That the friends of the Erie canal know, or at least believe, that the railways alongside would, by giving superior facilities to the public, diminish the revenue o f the Erie canal, is proved by the pertinacity with which they refuse to entertain the idea o f permitting the railways to com pete with the Erie canal, on any terms, even during winter. T o perpet uate this “ peculiar institution” o f the north, the canal is to be enlarged — direct taxation, on the farmers o f N ew York, to prevent a slight in crease o f the present moderate tolls on the produce o f the western states, completing this patriotic policy. It is only by bringing prominently be fore the public the true state o f the case, that the people o f New York and New England can expect to be relieved from their present disability V OL. ix.— NO. n . 13 146 Our Railways. o f using railways for the transportation o f freight to and from the West. It was remarked, in the commencement o f this paper, that private cap ital must hereafter be depended on exclusively. This assertion is based on the present condition o f state works. Pennsylvania is endeavoring to sell out her “ main line” from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, her only valuable public work— Illinois is trying to dispose o f her can al; and both states will probably succeed. The canals o f Ohio have been, and must con tinue to be, supported by taxation. In Indiana and Michigan, the interest “ goes ov er;” and the people o f New York are paying $600,000 per annum to prevent a slight increase o f tolls on the produce o f those directly benefited by the Erie canal— the said tax being paid, in a great measure, by those who have no interest in that work, and by not a few whose prop erty is injured by i t ; as the inhabitants of the river counties, Long Island, & c. In all these states, the people begin to comprehend the ruinous effects o f entrusting the expenditure o f millions on public works to a set o f politicians ; and it is hard to believe that another canal or railway will ever be undertaken by any state o f this Union. It is at least doubtful whether any further appropriations can be carried to finish works already commenced. But if public works are to be constructed exclusively by means o f pri vate capital, it is necessary to show that they will yield a fair return for the amount invested. Unless this can be made as clear as the nature o f the case admits of, public works should not be undertaken; for they are valuable solely from their usefulness, which again is measured by their income. O f all the railways and canals in use in the Union, four only o f the former— two in Pennsylvania, and two in Michigan— are state works; and the canals owned by private companies are not much more numerous. O f all the state works in the Union, the Erie canal alone cannot be pro nounced a failure; yet it would be impossible to dispose of it for its cost up to this time, (about $ 20 ,00 0 ,0 0 0 ,) not on account o f the magnitude of the sum, but because, if thrown on its own resources, in fair and honor able rivalry, its income would not warrant that expenditure. Thus, the income for 1842 was $1,568,946 56, and the nett revenue about $1,200,000, with, and to a considerable extent, by means o f the state monopoly, which, o f course, it could not retain in the hands o f a company. But, at its original cost o f seven or eight millions, it would be readily taken. Well-projected railways claim the favorable attention o f the merchant, because they offer safe and profitable investments, besides aiding com merce, generally, by their unrivalled facilities. They are peculiarly adapted to this country, where the population and business are so scatter ed, and where capital is not abundant. Unlike canals, the cost o f a rail way may be adapted to the trade. In most parts o f the country, a railway can be put into operation for about $ 20,000 per mile, including engines, cars, buildings, & c., for a single track— less than half the average cost of the Chenango, Black River, and Genesee Valley canals, without boats, buildings, horses, & c. Again, a railway carries passengers, as well as freight, and both throughout the year ; so that, with less than half the cost o f the canal, its receipts are several times greater. It is on this account that canals must be constructed as cheaply as possible, to have any chance o f success here. Even in a mineral region— the most favorable o f all— their being useless half the year is an insuperable objection; and this Our Railw ays. 147 again becomes intolerable when advancing civilization renders a commu nication, open throughout the year, indispensable to the community. It appears, therefore, that three vital obstacles to the success of canals exist: their enormous cost, (compared with railways) their small income, their being closed nearly half the year in this wintry region. The two last objections are insuperable, and will as effectually deter individuals from embarking their own means in canals as would the first. With politicians, spending the money o f the public, the case is reversed. They uniformly prefer those works which require the largest expenditure and the longest time to execute, these two conditions furnishing the best “ opportunities.” The $20,000,000 spent in this state, on works which can never be re quired, affords only too true an illustration; but the course o f the Cana dian government, for the last two years, distances the wildest visions of the wildest western states, even during the phrenzy o f ’36. The railways diverging from Boston in all directions, which have been projected, executed and managed by companies, form the only successful system o f public works on this continent, and would command a large advance on their total cost. The Western railway has been, in a great degree, constructed with the funds o f the state, and the direction being in part appointed by the stockholders and in part by the state, cannot well be efficient or harmonious. Besides this, it can never become a successfid work until the railways o f New York can be used for the transporta tion of freight. Had this work been left to private enterprise, its com pletion would have been delayed some years; probably until the repeal of the state monopoly, when its success may be considered certain. In place of a decrease, the winter will then show an advance on the receipts of the summer. It is o f no use to speculate on which course would have been most advantageous. It is not impossible that the earlier use o f the railway may compensate for its great cost and deficiencies during the first years. The Boston railways deserve peculiar attention from the readers o f the Merchants’ Magazine, because they have been constructed by the inhabitants o f a commercial city to aid and extend its trade, foreign as well as domestic. Their success is as complete as is the failure o f most o f the works in which, unfortunately for themselves as well as for the cause o f railways, so many o f the merchants o f New York have, at different times, taken stock. The results, in both cases, teach the same lesson : that the objects to be attained by the construction of any work, and the cost at which those objects can be secured, should be as carefully weighed and maturely considered as any undertaking o f equal magnitude, in ordinary business, would be by merchants o f the first class for capital and character. The Eastern, Lowell, Worcester, Providence, New Bed ford railways and their branches, have succeeded because the expenditure was adapted to the probable income. The Stonington, Long Island, Harlem, Mohawk and Hudson railways are unsuccessful works, because the expenditure was not adapted to the probable income. The Boston railways were viewed as permanent investments, conducing alike to the advantage o f the capitalist and o f the community. The other railways, enumerated above, were regarded as mere speculations by stockjobbing, as were State works by political gamblers; both equally indifferent to the judgment with which the works were projected, and to the skill with which they were conducted. A more efficient course to injure the cause o f rail ways and to retard the progress o f the country, as far as it is affected by these works, could not have been devised. 148 Inland N avigation o f the State o f N ew - York, When the public mind is turned in one direction, it is hard to divert it, be the reasons ever so cogent; and public works must remain in their present lethargic state, until they are regarded by men of property and intelligence as safe and permanent investments. This, again, can never be the case until such men give the subject their serious attention ; the more cautious their examinations o f cost and income, the better for the cause as well as for their own interests. The worthlessness of bank stock as an investment, its very trifling ultimate security, the downward tendency of “ lots” since the fortunate discovery, during the last few years, that much land remained yet unoccupied in this country, together with the general failure o f all undertakings not based on honesty and industry, must gradually work a radical change in the manner in which railways will, in future, be undertaken. Before many years elapse, they must be regarded throughout the Union as favorably as they have long been in Massachusetts and in England. It is not the object o f these remarks to advocate any particular railway or system o f railways, but it is rather an attempt to draw the attention o f merchants to the subject of internal communication generally; more especially by railways, as well as to the vast advantages they would derive from being permitted to regulate the mode and time o f transporting their own commodities to and from the west, according to their own ideas o f their own interests— in other words, if the state government would only “ let them alone.” w. h. c. A W ITH rt. IV. IN L A N D N A V IG A T IO N OF T H E S T A T E OF N E W -Y O R K , ' A SHORT ACCOUNT OF ITS ORIGIN, AND OF THE TRADE AND TONNAGE OF THE ERIE CANAL. T h e first idea o f perfecting, by canals and locks, a continuous water cotnmunication between the Hudson river and Lake Erie, cannot be traced to any source in particular. It originated with the prolific mother o f invention— Necessity. The first surveyor who explored the forest between the tributaries of the Hudson and the lakes, may have entertained the idea, and have had some crude notion o f how the thing was to be done. The earliest navi gation o f the Mohawk and Oswego rivers led to an examination o f the practicability o f substituting water communication for land carriage, at the different portages on those rivers ; and a belief in the practicability o f the interior, or present route o f the Erie canal was, probably, enter tained as soon as it was known that there were no mountains to intercept its course. As early as 1768, Sir Henry Moore, governor o f the colony o f New York, directed the attention o f the general assembly to the “ great inconvenience and delay, attending the transportation o f goods at the carrying places on the Mohawk river, between Schenectady and Fort Stanwix,” and remarked “ that it was obvious to all conversant in mat ters o f this kind, that the difficulty could easily be removed by sluices, upon the plan o f those in the great canal o f Languedoc, in France.” The Languedoc canal was begun in 1666 and finished in 1681, and was furnished with both locks and sluices. and the Trade and Tonnage o f the E rie Canal. 149 In 1784 a committee o f the assembly reported, “ that the laudable proposals of Mr. Colies, for removing obstructions in the Mohawk river, so that boats of burthen may pass the same, merit encouragement.” In 1791 an act was passed “ concerning roads and inland navigation, and for other purposes.” In 1792, nine years after the close o f the Revolutionary war, the W es tern and Northern Inland Dock Navigation companies were incorporated. The Northern company soon expired; but the Western company com pleted a water communication from Schenectady to the falls o f the Oswe go river, and boats of burthen were passed to within twelve miles o f Oswego. At Oswego falls there was a portage o f a mile, and the navi gation was resumed by a smaller class o f boats at the foot o f the falls to Lake Ontario. The works o f the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, princi pally consisted o f a series o f locks and a canal, at the falls of the Mohawk at Little Falls, a canal, with locks, at Fort Stanwix, from the Mohawk river to W ood creek, (a tributary o f Oneida lake and the Oswego river,) and a series o f locks and dams on W ood creek. The company were in the receipt o f tolls as early as 1796, and were extending their works for the improvement o f the navigation down to 1812, at which time it had expended $450,000. The state became a shareholder in 1795, and subsequently increased its interest to $92,000. A boat leaving Schenectady followed the course o f the Mohawk river to Fort Stanwix, and passing by the canal at that place into W ood creek and Oneida lake, entered the Oswego river eleven miles south o f the falls, and twenty-three miles from Oswego. There was but one portage in the whole distance (at Oswego falls) between Schenectady and Lake Ontario. T o the honor o f this, the pioneer o f our inland navigation, it should be remembered that it opened a navigation o f about one hundred and eighty miles, without ever receiving any pecuniary advantage from the outlay, and that most o f the shareholders undertook the enterprise more from patriotic than pecuniary motives. However imperfect the navigation, as compared with that o f the Erie canal, which superseded it, its influence upon the prosperity, the early and rapid settlement o f western New York, is incalculable. In 1798 the Niagara Canal Company was incorporated for “ Opening the navigation between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.” The Niagara company completed no work o f importance, and the navigation was first opened in 1828 by the Oswego and Erie canals. In 1808 the legislature passed a law directing “ An accurate survey o f the rivers, streams and waters, in the usual route o f communication between the Hudson river aud Lake Erie.” Not without a decided op position, and an unsuccessful effort for postponement o f a year. James Geddes received the appointment of engineer, and to him the honor is due o f first demonstrating the practicability o f the Erie canal. Mr. Geddes entered with enthusiasm upon the discharge o f his duties, and in spite o f the insignificant appropriation o f six hundred dollars to de fray expenses, accomplished an exploration, during the year 1808, which left no doubt as to the practicability of a canal from the Hudson to Lake Erie. During the year 1817, nine years after Mr. Geddes’ survey, the canal was begun ; contracts having been made for constructing fifty-eight miles. The law, authorizing the construction o f the canal, directed the middle 13* 150 Inland Navigation o f the State o f New- York, section, extending from Utica to Seneca river, to be commenced first. The wisdom of the measure may be appreciated when we recollect that one level on this section is sixty-nine miles long, and that upon the whole section there are but nine locks. It was necessary to the success o f the project that the first steps taken should be such as would ensure its early completion, and the mind that suggested the opening o f the middle section first displayed no ordinary sagacity. Two years after, in 1819, seventy-five miles o f the middle section were completed, at a cost so small as to remove any doubts o f the ability o f the state to complete the whole canal. The popularity o f the canal was also fully established, and in subsequent elections the popular vote sus tained the policy. The completion o f other sections of the canal rapidly followed, and, in 1820, the middle section, ninety-six miles, was finished; in 1822 two hundred and twenty miles o f canal were completed; in 1823, two hun dred and eighty miles, and with the close o f the year 1825, the whole, or three hundred and sixty-three miles. The Champlain canal, begun at the same time, was completed with the year 1823. T o the lovers of coincidence, it may be interesting to know that the number nine was not without its mystic influence upon the destinies o f our inland navigation; that nine years after the Revolution the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company was incorporated; that from 1808 to 1817, nine years, legislative wisdom labored with the idea o f the Erie can al; and that from 1817 to 1825, both inclusive, a period o f nine years, the labor of constructing the canal was accomplished. The state has completed, up to the present year, an aggregate length o f canals, navigable feeders and slackwater navigation, o f seven hundred and twenty-eight miles. The Erie canal is the main artery to which all other canals, owned by the state, are tributary, except the Champlain canal. The following canals are owned by the state, and are navigable. The length o f each includes side cuts and navigable feeders :— Name of Canal. Length in miles. Erie,..................... Champlain,*........ O sw ego,.............. Seneca & Cayuga, C hem ung,!......... Crooked Lake,... Chenango,........... Oneida L ake,__ Genesee Valley,. 371 79 38 23 39 8 97 6 52 713 Average cost, per mile Cost. $7,143,789 1,257,604 565,437 236,804 331,693 156,796 2,270,605 50,000 1,401,791 86 26 35 74 57 90 22 00 90 $13,414,523 43 $19,225 15,520 14,879 10,295 8,504 19,597 22,377 8,333 26,957 49 95 93 85 96 11 37 33 53 $18,814 29 Average cost per mile, per year, o f repairs, from 1826 to 1843. $6 36 1,012 678 664 490 650 184 581 252 00 00 87 65 05 48 39 10 65 Date o f completion. 1825 1824 1828 1828 1833 1834 1837 1840 1840 $5 72 24 The annual expenditure for repairs has no small influence upon the profits o f canal investments. The above table exhibits the curious fact, * Locks have been rebuilt on the feeder to this canal by contract, and are not included in the above. t A ll the locks are being rebuilt by contract, at a cost o f about the original sum ex pended in building the whole canal. and the Trade and Tonnage o f the E rie Canal. 151 that the amount o f business on a canal has no influence upon the cost o f repairs. The Erie and Champlain canals were put in operation about the same time, and the business on the Erie canal has reached a point not far below its maximum capacity; while the business on the Cham plain canal is, and always has been, quite limited. The annual repairs upon the former canal have cost, per mile, about 60 per cent less than those of the latter. That this is not accidental, is evident by the cost o f repairs, per mile, on the lateral canals which have been longest in ope ration. An examination o f the statistics o f the state and city o f New York, will show that the completion o f the Erie canal is an epoch from which they date a prosperity without precedent in their commercial history, or parallel in that o f any other state or country. Although the increase of population, from 1790 to 1810, was rapid beyond all former example, it was not accompanied by a corresponding increase of wealth ; and western New York, though rich in the produce o f a fertile soil, was poor in every thing else. The last war with England, by causing a demand for pro duce on the frontier, enabled the western farmer to realize in money, and reduce or extinguish his debt at the land office; but, with the close o f the war, the demand ceased, and his condition was, probably, not unlike that o f the Illinois farmer at the present time. The blast o f war which blew in Europe for nearly a quarter o f a cen tury, was a profitable blast for the commercial interests o f the city ; but the profits o f the carrying trade could not have added much to the wealth of the city, if the valuation o f property in 1812 is at all accurate. The population o f the city at that time was about ninety-six thousand, and the comptroller’s valuation o f real and personal estate was $26,245,040. From the opening o f the Erie and Champlain canals to the present time, the interior trade has steadily increased, and it now employs an aggregate tonnage larger than that o f all the foreign and domestic ship ping entering and departing from the city o f New York. The aggregate value o f property ascending and descending the state canals alone, is about equal in value to the imports at the port o f New York. The following table of the population and prosperity of the state and city o f New York, for the last fifty years, exhibits the rapid increase o f wealth which followed the opening o f inland navigation in this state :— Y ears. Population of the state. 1790,.................... 1800,.................... 1810...................... 1814,.................... 1816,.................... 1817...................... 1818,.................... 1819,.................... 1820,.................... 1821,.................... 1822,.................... 1823,.................... 1824,.................... 1825,.................... 1830,.................... 1835,.................... 1840,.................... 340,120 586,050 959,049 1,043,236 Population of the city. 33,131 60,489 96,273 95,519 95,519 ........ 1,372,812 123,706 ...... ......... 1,616,458 1,919,404 2,174,517 2,429,476 166,086 203,007 270,089 312,932 Real and personal estate of the state. $281,838,057 323,406,505 314,913,695 281,018,280 256,021,494 241,983,232 245,626,878 275,742,636 274,481,560 314,787,970 364,715,830 514,329,941 641,359,818 Real and personal estate o f the city. $77,398,243 82,074,200 78,895,735 80,154,091 79,113,065 69,530,753 68,285,070 71,289,144 70,940,820 83,075,676 101,160,046 125,288,518 218,723,703 252,135,515 152 Inland Navigation o f the State o f New York, From the commencement o f the Erie canal, in 1817, to its completion in 1825, nine years, the increase o f population in the city o f New York was 74 per cent, but the valuation o f real and personal estate was only a million more in 1824 than it was in 1816. The increase o f population in the first five years subsequent to the completion o f the Erie canal was 22 per cent, and o f real and personal estate 24 per cent. The increase o f population in the fifteen years im mediately preceding the completion of the canal was 72 per cent. Increase of population in fifteen years after the completion of the canal, or from 1825 to 1840, 88 per cent, and o f property 149 per cent. The above comparisons are no less remarkable as applied to the population and property o f the whole state. The opening o f the Erie canal has advanced the commerce o f the up per lakes from comparative insignificance to the foremost rank. Prior to 1818, there were no steamboats on the upper lakes, and the aggregate o f American tonnage was 2,068 tons. The tonnage owned on the Canada side was inconsiderable. From 1817 to 1825, there were but three steamboats launched upon the upper lakes. The aggregate tonnage in 1825, including steamboats, was about 2,500 tons. In 1840, the aggregate tonnage o f steamboats alone exceeded 17,000 tons; and o f other craft there was about 18,000 tons. There are about sixty steamboats now employed on the upper lakes, and the number of other vessels is two hundred and twenty-five. The increase in inland navigation is shown by the following table of the amount of tolls collected at the eastern and western termini o f the Erie can al:— Years. 1 8 2 9 ,...... 1 8 3 0 ,...... 1 8 3 1 ,...... 1 8 3 2 ,...... 1 8 3 3 ,...... 1 8 3 4 ,...... 1 8 3 5 ,...... Tolls collected at Buffalo and Black Rock. $ 2 5 ,9 5 7 38 48,9 58 64 66,409 19 58,232 09 73,812 79 91,203 44 106,213 35 Tolls collected at Albany and West Troy. $ 2 4 6 ,7 0 3 15 336,816 28 438,901 92 396,965 60 4 95,760 29 377,781 44 5 11,073 62 Years. 1 8 3 6 ,...... . 1 83 7 ,....... 1838,....... 1839,....... 1 84 0 ,...... 1 841........ 1 8 4 2 ,...... Tolls collected at Buffalo and Black Rock. $ 1 5 8 ,0 8 5 05 128,024 09 202 ,41 0 66 254,961 52 375,581 74 432 ,62 2 58 410,215 65 Tolls collected at Albany and West Troy. $ 5 4 9 ,5 7 4 '9 5 408,481 43 539,586 33 510,129 93 4 45 ,32 4 36 564,363 72 419,801 97 It will be seen that the tolls collected at the western terminus o f the Erie canal have steadily increased in amount, with two exceptions on ly; and that, at the eastern terminus o f all the state canals, there are seven exceptions in the same time, or in fourteen years. As early as 1833, the tolls collected at the Hudson river had nearly reached half a million ; and down to 1842 they had not reached, in any year, $600,000. The tolls at the western terminus have increased $336,403 in the same time ; and, for 1842, nearly equal in amount those collected at the Hudson river. Further evidence o f the increase o f the western trade is furnished by the following table o f the number o f tons, and estimated value o f prop erty shipped at Buffalo and Black Rock, and at Albany and West Troy, and passing on the Erie can al:— Years. Shipped at Buffalo and Black Rock. To n s. 1 8 3 7 ,......... 1 8 3 8 ,......... 1 8 3 9 ,......... 1 8 4 0 ,.......... 1 8 4 1 ,......... 1 8 4 2 ,.......... 73,194 104,400 156,164 177,607 248,471 225,173 Years. Shipped at Albany and West Troy. 1 8 3 7 ,......... 1 83 8 ,......... 1 83 9 ,......... 1 84 0 ,......... 1 8 4 1 ,......... 1 8 4 2 ,......... 172,692 187,434 200,544 161,211 194,446 141,836 V a lu e . $ 3 ,3 0 4 ,7 7 1 4,870,459 5 ,222,756 6,200,286 9 ,706,024 7,541,793 T ons. V a lu e . $ 2 5 ,7 8 4 ,1 4 7 33,062,858 40,094,302 36,398,039 5 6,798,447 3 2,314,998 and the Trade and Tonnage o f the E rie Canal. 153 The same steady increase in tonnage, as in tolls, at the western ter minus, and like fluctuation in tonnage, as in tolls, at the eastern terminus, is shown by the table. If any further evidence were wanting to show that the trade o f the upper lakes is rapidly furnishing a tonnage that will not only pay the expense o f repairs o f the Erie canal, (as it does at pres ent,) but will also pay the interest upon its cost, the following tables will furnish i t :— Property arriving at Buffalo from other states, and shipped on the canal. Years. T on s. 22,124 36,273 42,229 68,187 90,723 125,539 179,537 179,437 1835.. 1836.. 1837.. 1838.. 1839, 1840.. 1841, 1842.. Merchandise and furniture arriving at Buffalo by canal, and shipped to other states. Years. T on s. 23,140 35,809 27,567 35,587 31,887 20,463 26,598 22,897 1835.. 1836.. 1837.. 1838.. 1839.. 1840.. 1841, 1842.. The tonnage from other states, and shipped at the western terminus o f the canal, exceeds the tonnage at the eastern terminus, which passed upon the Erie canal, by 37,601 tons. Aggregate tonnage on alt o f the state canals, as cending and descending, and its estimated value. Years. To n s. Value. 1834, ..... ...... 1835, 1836................. 1837, ..... 1838, ..... ...... 1839, 1840, ...... 1841, ..... ...... 1842, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, 553,596 753,191 696,347 611,781 640,481 602,128 669,012 774,334 666,626 $13,405,022 20,525,446 26,932,470 21,822,354 23,038,510 20,163,199 23,213,573 27,225,322 22,751,013 . Tonnage, and estimated value o f property arriving at the Hudson river by all the state canals. Years. To n s. V a lu e . ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... 668,433 ...... 882,801 ...... 1,310,807 $67,634,343 1,171,296 55,809,288 1,333,011 65,746,559 1,435,713 73,399,764 1,416,046 66,303,892 1,521,661 92,202,929 1,236,931 60,016,608 The value o f imports at the port o f New York, in 1840, was $60,440,750; and of exports, $34,264,080. Aggregate value o f exports and imports by foreign and American vessels, $94,704,830 ; exceeding, by two and a half millions, the value o f property moved on the state canals in 1842. It will be seen that the aggregate tonnage arriving at the Hudson river by canal, and the aggregate ascending and descending tonnage, has been nearly stationary for the last seven years; and that the tonnage from the upper lakes, passing on the canal, is five times greater than it was seven years since— the decrease in the tonnage o f the state being about equal to the increase o f tonnage from other states. It is from the western states bordering the lakes, that we are to receive any material addition to the tonnage of the canals; and unless it arrives from that quarter, the business of our canals will not yield a much larger income than it does at present. The following table indicates the states front which we are to draw our most profitable trade :— Merchandise and furniture which passed on the Erie canal to other states bordering the upper lakes. Pennsylvania,............ Ohio,........................... Indiana,..................... Michigan,.................. Illinois,....................... W isconsin,................. Upper Canada,.......... (t it it it it 1838. 1,205 16,283 1,701 11,973 3,943 42 26 1839. 1,471 15,123 2,352 7,432 3,926 792 1840. 1,067 10,116 789 4,616 2,599 816 79 1841. 855 14,674 1,116 5,714 2,417 1,190 40 1842. 567 10,657 827 5,533 2,919 1,985 78 154 Commerce o f the M ississippi. The state o f Ohio completed the Ohio canal in 1833. Since then, she has completed canals, which make the aggregate length o f her artificial navigation 785 miles. The navigation is now open from Lake Erie to the Wabash river, in the state o f Indiana. The Illinois canal, (next in importance to the interest o f the state of New York, to the Ohio canal,) has been suspended, although more than half completed. The trade with Wisconsin is rapidly increasing ; and the canal which will, at some future day, connect the Wisconsin river with Green Bay, will convey the produce o f that territory to the upper lakes. The British government, by the enlargement o f some, and the construc tion o f other canals, which will pass vessels carrying a burthen o f three hundred tons from the Atlantic to the upper lakes, are furnishing a prac tical solution to a problem o f no small importance to the city o f New York. After the completion o f the Canadian canals, if it shall be found profitable for British vessels to trade directly with the states bordering the lakes, New England vessels will likewise make it profitable; and the greatest manufacturers o f either continent may drive a keener trade, and more active competition, than has ever before been witnessed, without our being able to share in the profits, by doing the carrying trade. W e may anathematize the frozen passage o f the St. L aw rence; but if it shall be found, after a series o f years, that commercial adventure nets a clear gain, the dangers of the navigation will not be heeded, and the loss of human life disregarded. In five years after the completion o f the Canadian canals, or by 1850, the question will be fully examined and settled. I f it shall turn out that the trade o f the lake states, (states that can sustain a denser population than any others,) can be more advantageously done by the St. Lawrence, if the expectations o f the British government are realized, there will then be no necessity for enlarging the Erie canal, and we shall have to content ourselves with the residuum o f a trade which we now have entire. h . s. d . A kt . V.— C OM M ERCE OF T H E M ISSISSIPPI. valley o f the Mississippi, embracing that broad and fertile tract o f alluvial soil lying between the Alleghany and the Rocky mountains, and including the territorial areas o f the most prominent states o f the west, possesses, in the Mississippi river, a commercial outlet magnificent in its features, and in all respects proportioned to the grandeur o f the ex tensive region that it waters. Taking its rise from the rice lakes o f the remote north, and receiving important tributaries which interlock their channels far through the interior, it supplies a most important track o f navigation to the increasing trade and commerce o f Louisiana and Ark ansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, as well as the more northern states o f Illinois and Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, and the territories o f Iowa and Wisconsin— a section o f the republic which may already be regarded as the agricultural storehouse o f our country. Coursing a distance o f three thousand miles, it traverses a cold, as well as a tropical climate ; the land o f enduring snows, and the ranging-ground of the remote savage and the T he Commerce o f the M ississippi. 155 fur-trader; the land o f the wheat and the rice-field, the cotton and the sugar plantation ; the solitary wilderness, and the opulent m art; supply ing the main bulk o f the trade to an important emporium o f the west— the city o f New Orleans. It is our design to devote the present paper to a brief sketch of the commerce o f this most striking artery of our inland navigation. In the first place, we would allude to a fact which has long been a for midable obstacle to the safe navigation of the Mississippi, as well as the cause o f much individual hazard, and the sacrifice o f numerous lives and a considerable amount o f property. It is perhaps well known that the bed and banks o f the Mississippi and Missouri are, for the most part, com posed o f alluvial deposits o f sand, the latter o f which are covered with large trees. When, as is often the case, the current o f the stream rises, the banks not unfrequently fall, and these trees are carried off by the stream. The sand and earthy substance adheres to the root, causing that part to sink, and to leave the tree anchored in the bed o f the river. D e posits of sand are thus formed about the roots, and the obstruction thus produced frequently forces the channel in another direction. By the action of the water or the ice, the branches are worn off, leaving a stem which sometimes projects above water, sometimes is submerged a few feet, and sometimes is so deeply buried below the surface as to be entirely conceal ed from sight. These obstructions, which present themselves with greater or less frequency throughout the greater portion of the bed o f the Mis sissippi, vary in danger according to the position in which they chance to be placed. They are termed “ s n a g s and, coming into collision with the steamboats at midnight, or during a fog, are the source o f no small discomfort to passengers— not unfrequently forcing a hole through the boat, sinking the hull, injuring the cargo, and even destroying lives. These obstacles most commonly occur in the bends o f the rivers, or in those parts where the currents are obstructed by islands or sand bars. Indeed, they present themselves occasionally in such numbers, that the boats are fenced in by these fallen trees, insomuch that a boat-master upon the Missouri was recently obliged to cut his way through them; and they tend to impede the navigation o f that river to such an extent as to call for the attention o f Congress. With that view, the chamber o f com merce o f the city o f St. Louis have adopted vigorous proceedings in rela tion to the improvement o f the navigation of the Mississippi river and its principal tributaries, and also the St. Louis harbor. A body o f statistical facts connected with the commerce o f that river, has been compiled, and submitted to the chamber by Mr. A. B. Chambers, demonstrating the amount of the actual commerce now carried on upon that river, and the motives which would call for the aid o f the general government to remove the obstructions upon what may now be deemed one o f the most important commercial highways o f the nation. He who has had occasion to traverse the Mississippi, in one o f the numerous steamboats which ply upon that river, may perchance have been cast in contact with one o f those numerous snags which beset the stream, causing a degree o f confusion, if not a dam age, which it is highly desirable might be prevented. The amount of value afloat upon it, at all times during the season o f navigation, and the value of the property whose fate would be probably involved in the im provement, naturally calls for some effective aid on the part o f the general government. Independently o f the carrying trade from the remote inte 156 Commerce o f the M ississippi. rior, the cotton and sugar plantations, which send their cargoes abroad from the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas— the tobacco which is yearly shipped from the states o f Kentucky and Tennessee, Mississippi and Illinois— together with the manufactured articles imported and exported from those states, exceeding in value that of its agricultural products, and the importance, as places o f shipment, o f the numerous ports upon the river— ail tend to present additional claims for the aid of Congress. The removal o f those obstructions which have so long impeded the Mis sissippi navigation, would seem to be a no very difficult object. The most convenient instrument for that purpose is termed a snag-boat, which, with its machinery, will usually remove about twenty per d ay; the cost o f work ing the boat being fifty or seventy dollars, and requiring fifty men ; and the expense o f construction being from twenty-five to twenty-six thousand dollars. The numerous wrecks o f snagged steamboats, which strew that noble river— the fact that freights and persons from nearly half o f the Union are afloat continually upon its bosom— that nearly six millions of people, residing in the bordering territory, would be benefited in greater or less degree by the improvement; and that the imports and exports of nine states and two territories, which skirt its banks, must pass along its waters, tend materially to strengthen the claims which have been urged before Congress for the improvement o f its navigation. Hundreds of thousands of persons are sailing upon its surface during the season of navigation— property to the amount o f millions o f dollars are risked upon its waters. The merchants and manufacturers o f the east are deeply in terested in the subject, because the advance o f freights is not less than 10 per cent, in consequence o f the difficulties o f navigation; and the losses o f insurance companies, yearly, amount to no inconsiderable sum. Moreover, not one-tenth part o f the land which skirts it has been subdued to cultivation; and the bright prospects o f wealth and strength that are continually unfolding, from the developing resources o f the soil, are ever adding to the value and importance o f the desired improvement as a merely mercantile enterprise, important from the fact that, o f the total number of steamboat losses throughout the whole country, the greater proportion occur upon the Mississippi river. Passing by New Orleans, as well as the smaller intermediate ports, which now constitute valuable depots o f trade, and points o f shipment for the produce of the interior, we reach the city o f St. Louis. That, from its geographical position, is doubtless destined to become one o f the most opulent cities in the Mississippi valley; and to this point we shall now direct our special attention. This point, down to the 3'ear 1836, was but little more than a trading village ; and its rapid advance may be pretty accurately judged from the fact that it now contains a population of about thirty thousand ; and, although the first steamboat reached that port during the year 1817, it is not uncommon to notice the arrival and departure of from twenty to thirty boats during a single day. A considerable portion o f the trade o f the states o f Illinois and Missouri, and the territories of Iowa and Wisconsin, center at this point. A vast amount o f bricks are manufactured in the city. Lumber is produced in extensive quantities by the operation o f nine steam sawmills. There are three mills for planing boards, two white-lead factories, three oilmills, and six merchant flour mills, that grind annually eighty thousand barrels of flour, besides other Commerce o f the M ississippi. 157 minor manufactures. faie measure o f its trade may also be judged some what from the fact that the whole amount o f marine insurances in the city, including boat-hulls and cargoes, and embracing only property at risk upon the rivers, is set down at $58,021,986 ; and adding to this the sum o f 33^ per cent for property not insured, or insured at other places, we have a total o f $77,362,648. The leading articles o f export from St. Louis and the adjacent country, of which it is the commercial emporium, are lead, tobacco, furs and pel tries, hemp, flour, wheat, and other agricultural products, as well as a large amount o f horses, mules, hogs, and live cattle o f various sorts, which are shipped to the south, in flat or keelboats. W e turn our attention first to the article o f lead, the greater part o f which is received at St. Louis for export from the Galena mines, and that is either consumed in the city, sent to the Ohio, or shipped to New Or leans. The lead mines o f Washington, and other southern counties, are, however, below St. L ouis; yet the great bulk o f this article is most com monly shipped from that port, through the agency o f mercantile houses and by boats, to New Orleans. Subjoined is the statistical return o f the receipts of lead at St. Louis, from the Galena mines, for three years, end ing in 1841:— 1839, ...................................................................................pigs 375,000 1840, ............................................................................................... 390,000 1841, ............................................................................................... 425,000 The receipts o f lead at New Orleans, for the same period, are as follows:— 1839, .......................................................................................pigs 300,000 1840, ............................................................................................... 352,000 1841, ............................................................................................... 423,000 Each pig averages 60 lbs., and accordingly the total amount may be estimated at 29,325,000 lbs., which, at three and a half cents per pound, would make the value o f the trade $1,026,375. It is said that the lead mines in the southern part o f Missouri yield only about one-fifth part o f the product o f the Galena mines; and, according to that estimate, the whole lead trade would scarcely fall short o f one million and three hun dred thousand dollars— more than a million dollars’ worth o f which is transported within a few hundred miles o f the whole navigable length o f the Mississippi. Another principal item o f St. Louis export consists o f tobacco. O f the tobacco crop o f Missouri, it is stated, by a house engaged in the trade, that the shipments from that port, during the year 1841, did not much vary from nine thousand hogsheads, o f which eight thousand five hundred passed through St. Louis, and o f the subjoined quality and value; pre mising, however, that the present crop will range from twelve to fifteen thousand hogsheads. 2,000 hhds. strips,........................worth in Europe $ 1 75,= $350,000 2.500 firsts,.................................. “ N . Orleans 120, 300,000 2.500 seconds,............................... “ “ 70, 175,000 1.500 X ’s,....................................... “ “ 50, 75,000 500 king’s and bull’ s-eye,....... “ “ 25, 12,500 Total, V O L. I X .---- NO. I I . $912,500 14 158 Commerce o f the M ississippi. Another peculiarly interesting feature o f the commerce o f St. Louis, is the circumstance that the trade o f the American Fur Company, and that o f other independent traders, including the fur trade o f nearly all the northern and northwestern Indians within the jurisdiction o f the United States, concentrates at that point. The value, to that city, o f the trade in cloths, blankets, and other fabrics used in the traffic, exclusive o f annu ities, the pay of hands, and the outfits for expeditions^ boats, & c., has been estimated, by individuals familiar with the trade, as exceeding two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. It has been computed that the exportation o f furs, buffalo-robes, and peltries, the proceeds o f that trade, which go to the Atlantic cities, independently o f the home consumption, and the amount sent to the Ohio and other parts o f the west, during the year 1841, was between three hundred and fifty and four hundred thous and dollars ; and that the entire fur trade for that year could not fall short o f half a million o f dollars. This trade includes the furs and skins that were collected by the various Indian tribes from the Mississippi to the Pacific, and from the Columbia to the California. The American Fur Company, it is well known, was originally incorporated with a capital of a million o f dollars ; and into this, as well as the Messrs. Brent’s company upon the Arkansas, have been merged several smaller companies. They employ a number o f steam and other boats, and several thousands of men. These boats, at least once a year, ascend the Missouri to the mouth o f the Yellowstone, freighted exclusively with supplies for trade in furs with the several Indian tribes between the state line and that river, and also with the tribes extending thence to the Rocky mountains and the Pa cific. The furs and peltries thus collected through that extensive tract of territory, as well as those purchased by the Mexicans, traverse a consid erable portion of the Mississippi and the interior rivers ; but the trade has, as is well known, become diverted to other channels, and has suffered substantial drawbacks in consequence o f a want o f certainty in the plans upon which it has been prosecuted. Another important staple o f the commerce o f St. Louis is that o f hemp, which is now, in fact, becoming one o f the most valuable products o f this section o f the country. Not only are there now in existence two large manufactories o f bagging and bale rope, but several ropewalks, which produce this article with considerable profit. One thousand four hundred and sixty tons o f hemp were exported last year, o f which sixteen hundred tons, grown in the state, were shipped to Kentucky, and three hundred and eighty to New Orleans. It is estimated that the crop o f 1841 was double that o f the preceding year, and that, including the state o f Illinois, the farmers o f which are beginning to direct their attention to the manufac ture o f hemp, the total crop during the year 1842 was about ten thousand tons, which, in a raw state, is doubtless worth $ 2 00 ,0 00 , but, when man ufactured, as most o f it is, and shipped to the south, would equal double that sum. Another o f the most valuable exports from St. Louis is pork, bacon and lard. The production o f pork constitutes, in part, a prominent arti cle o f attention o f the farmer for the market. Alton, Peoria, and most o f the villages upon the upper part o f the Mississippi and the Illinois river, export many thousand tons o f pork in various states o f preparation, as bulk and barrelled pork, bacon and lard. The value o f the trade o f Illinois, in that article, is estimated at a million and a half of dollars, Commerce o f the M ississippi. 159 the Missouri and the Mississippi affording about an equal quantity, the larger portion of that produced on the upper Mississippi being consumed in the lead mines, by the Indians, and also at the various military posts in this quarter. A part o f that which is provided upon the Missouri is consumed by the Indians, the fur companies, and by the army o f the United States, stationed upon the frontier. Flour and wheat also form a considerable portion o f the export trade o f St. Louis and in 1841 one hundred and seventy-four thousand barrels o f flour and two hundred and thirty-seven thousand bushels o f wheat were shipped from that port, be sides a large amount o f horses, mules, heads of cattle and hogs, which are sent southward by the flat or keelboats, which may be seen continu ally plying upon the river. Besides the articles which we have enume rated, the exhaustless fertility o f the soil, stretching away in broad expanse upon the banks o f the Mississippi, and the easy navigation afforded by that river, will, doubtless, give to the city o f St. Louis a control o f the southwestern market, and enable her to exchange the vast amount o f beef, pork, corn, oats, potatoes, wheat, and the other agricultural products pro duced in the adjacent region, for eastern merchandize, and while the ca pacity o f the surrounding region is amply sufficient to supply the United States with meat and bread stuffs, its mineral resources, and the coal to manufacture the metals, so largely yielded by the earth, will enable it to furnish to the entire country enough o f iron and lead for its entire con sumption. Nor are the imports o f this inland city o f less importance than its exports. A large amount o f goods, o f various sorts, required’ by the population along its shores, was, in 1841, imported from the east, the south, and the Ohio, and estimated at the value o f twenty millions o f dollars; all traversing the waters o f the Mississippi Some o f those articles imported into St. Louis, such as hardware, queens and china ware, German and French goods, linens, wines and liquors, to the amount o f several thousands of dollars, were received directly from Europe. Besides, an extensive trade is carried on between that city and Santa Fe, and the states o f New Mexico, annually amounting in value to the sum o f four hundred thousand dollars. These goods are often purchased here and transported by boats to Independence, upon the Missouri, and thence are carried in wagons across the country. This trade employs from one hundred to one hundred and fifty wagons. No inconsiderable an item to the trade o f the place is furnished by the supplies for the United States army, such as arms, clothing, and rations, which amount to nearly a million o f dollars, and which it is necessary to transport over the rivers to their destined points. It may be mentioned, as indicating the extent o f the commerce o f the Mississippi by steam, that, upon this river and its tributaries, four hundred and thirty-seven boats regularly plied during the year 1841, o f which one hundred and fifty were employed in the St. Louis trade, and eighty-three steamboats were, in part, owned by citizens of that place ; some o f them being run from the Ohio to Peoria, upon the Illinois, and to Galena upon the Mississippi, while others are now em ployed in a direct trade from New Orleans to various points upon the Missouri, making St. Louis a stopping point. It may serve to give some idea o f the character o f the commerce o f the river, to state that the ex ports from St. Louis to New Orleans by steamboats, keel, or flatboats, either carried direct or sold along the coast, consist o f flax-seed, tobacco, 160 Commerce o f the M ississippi. wheat, whiskey, shot, hides, hemp, castor oil, corn, meal, buffalo robes, beeswax, rope, butter, bagging, beans, furs and peltries, green fruit, dried, tallow, bacon, beef, dried corn, flour, lard, lead, oats, potatoes, pork, on ions, and live cattle. But notwithstanding the importance o f St. Louis as an inland city, that, from its position, must be the centre o f the trade o f a wide extent o f sur rounding territory, we advance by the cities o f Vicksburg, Natchez and other minor places, serving as valuable points o f shipment for the produce o f the interior, and soon reach the commercial emporium at its mouth, the city o f New Orleans. Here is the grand entrepot o f foreign com merce, and the natural point o f export. The mighty stream o f products, which are continually pouring down through the Mississippi, finds in New Orleans its grand reservoir, and here also is the depot, whence a consid erable portion o f the freights imported from abroad are shipped into the interior. Here, also, is the rallying point o f commercial enterprise and population, the seat o f mingled yet refined manners, opulence and want, splendor and poverty; exhibiting all the characteristics o f an Atlantic city in its thronged marts and its tumultuous and crowded streets. Stand ing upon its levee, one may behold, during the season o f navigation, fleets o f vessels, either setting sail for foreign ports, or taking in their canvas and running into the docks, laden with freights from Great Britain and France and the most prominent ports o f Europe. It is here that the cargoes o f cotton and tobacco, sugar and molasses, and other agricultural products, either transported from the interior to the frontier or brought down the river in the puffing low pressure steamer, or the numerous strange water craft which ply upon that stream, are accumulated for export to our northern states or to foreign ports; and it is here that one may find the most thorough representation o f the mingled population scattered along the Mississippi valley. W e may judge somewhat o f the amount o f this commerce from the fact, that, besides the lour hundred and thirty-seven steamboats which regularly ply upon the river, and that vast train o f keel and flatboats that are sent down from the upper ports with produce or live stock from the interior, there were in the month o f December, 1842, as we learn from the N ew Orleans price current o f that date, in its port one hundred and twenty-eight ships, forty-six barques, forty-four brigs, and nineteen schooners, either unloading, taking in their cargoes, or awaiting a more auspicious season for future voyages. W e conclude this condensed view o f the commerce o f the Mississippi with an expression o f our thanks to the chamber o f commerce o f the city o f St. Louis for their valuable, document, to which we are much indebted in the preparation o f the pre sent paper; and we trust that this important commercial avenue o f the west may receive such aid as its prominence as a national highway would seem to invoke. ' • F ree Trade, etc. A rt. 161 V I.— FR E E T R A D E . MR. WOODBURY’ S VIEWS OF THE TARIFF. T h e views put forth by this gentleman, in his lecture before the New York Free Trade Association, do not, in all respects, coincide with the writer o f the present paper. They are tolerant towards a mode o f taxa tion which we deem injurious to trade, and inordinately burdensome to tax-payers. W e therefore wish to state our objections to them in due season, since they are views entertained by other leading politicians, and likely to become the policy o f the nation, if not strenuously opposed by the people. Whether these leaders regard the revenue from customs as the best, or only as the best at present attainable, is not for us to inquire in these pages; but, leaving constitutional questions out o f view, and leav ing the real or supposed opinions o f the multitude o f voters to the guess work o f nominating juntos, we propose to show that the true interests of the world, the country, and the people, require, as the ultimate and fixed policy, a total abandonment o f this species o f taxation; and that the tar diness of our government, in relation to this reform, is too great, too much indulged by the public, and not without unfavorable effects on the legisla tion o f other nations. Having replied in a very able manner to the usual arguments against free trade, Mr. Woodbury proceeds to consider how far the necessity o f revenue warrants a tax on commerce. He says— “ A tariff on imports, not much exceeding the tax levied on other kinds o f property by the states or the federal government, does not prevent trade from being equally free with all other kinds o f business. Nor is such taxation unjust; for, when equal, it treats all with like favor, and merely makes all pay, as all should, in a just ratio for the ordinary protection o f life, liberty, and all kinds o f property. The true practical motto, then, where taxation becomes neces sary to maintain an economical administration o f the government, is, not ‘ free trade, and no duties,’ but ‘ free trade, and low duties the latter be ing no higher than what is required for revenue alone, and only in due pro portion to the tax which is generally imposed on other property in the country under our mixed forms o f government. But, while the ordinaryrate o f taxation on most other property is not, by the states, over five per cent on its value, and often not one, the existing tariff is seldom less than twenty per cent, and in some cases eighty or a hundred.” By this extract, and by the general tenor o f this portion o f his lecture, it may be seen that he considers equality a necessary condition in taxa tion. W e are not prepared to admit this; but we will for the present grant it, and show that it conflicts with the view he attempts to sustain by it. But first, to make the matter clear, we must observe that there is a fallacy in comparing, in the way he does, the tax o f one or five per cent, levied by the states, with that o f twenty or a hundred, levied by the na tion— the one being on capital, the other on revenue. One per cent on the value o f a farm or mill, is equal to a fifth or seventh o f its rent— equal, at least, to the average duties since 1816. Hence, though it may serve as an argument against the existing tariff, it will not serve as an ar gument for such low duties as we hope Mr. W . intends to advocate. But, in levying this tax on domestic products, the states indirectly tax the commodities for which they are exchanged— if, then, duties be afler14* 162 F ree Trade. wards imposed, the taxation becomes double. I f a farmer pays a tax equal to a fifth of all that remains to him after paying the cost o f cultivation, he obtains so much less o f foreign goods in exchange for his produce— for the foreigner does not pay a higher price for produce in consequence of our taxation ; and if, when he brings home the pay for his remaining fourfifths o f his nett produce, the government takes a fifth o f that, it gets in ail thirty-six per cent on the foreign goods, or sixteen more than it receives on domestic. All tariff imposts are an increase o f taxes equal before; and they must be lower than is contemplated, by any low-tariff men we know, if they do not conflict with the condition stated by Mr. W ., that they shall “ not much exceed the taxes levied by the states,” & c. Equal ity, strictly, forbids any duties— it demands “ free trade, and no duties and the moderate inequality which Mr. Woodbury seems willing to tol erate, even this will by no means allow the duties necessary to the gov ernment. Our design, and the narrow space that can be spared in a journal, will not allow us further to pursue this branch; but we cannot refrain from remarking that, when a statesman builds up a system, it is not advisable for him deliberately to put into it what he believes to be a false principle. I f he affirms equality to be right, let him insist on it, and not tolerate a moderate intermixture o f a contrary principle. For ourselfj we question the necessity o f equality, in the sense here implied; but whatever weight it may have, is wholly in favor o f free trade, in the strict sense o f the term. Since this argument in favor o f duties is shown to rest on a singular oversight o f the fact that, without duties, the equality already exists, and would be destroyed by duties, we may notice some arguments against them, not alluded to by Mr. W . ; namely, the compound profits on duties, and the increase o f price o f domestic goods, with profits thereon, all which are paid by consumers, without the least benefit to the government. Mer chants o f good standing inform us that the profits o f importers average 10 per cent on what it costs them to get their goods into their stores ; those o f jobbers, 15 to 18 per c e n t; those o f retailers, at least 25 per cent, taking the whole country through. On a given article, the importer pays one dollar duty— he sells it to the jo b b e r; the jobber to the retailer ; he to the consumer, each charging his profit. Hence, the dollar becomes $1X1.10X1.165X1.25=$1.60. Thus, it appears that sixty cents on every dollar is paid by the consumer, in consequence o f collecting taxes in a way which subjects them to profits. But this is a small fraction o f what results from the effects produced by the tariff on domestic goods. Under the present tariff, by the estimate o f the chairman o f the commit tee on manufactures, the value of protected goods imported annually, is $45,000,000 ; o f those made at home, $400,000,000. W e suppose that the protectum is only adequate— only enough to produce fair competition; for the manufacturers are too noble to ask more— the legislators too enlight ened to grant more ! The average duty is 36 per ce n t; hence the duty on imports, $45,000,000, is equal to $16,200,000. This is all the gov ernment receives. Let us now see what the consumers pay. The profits on the duties is $9,720,000 ; the increase o f price o f domestic goods is $144,000,000; the profits on this investment o f price, reckoning only jo b bers and retailers, is $64,800,000— in all, $213,520,000, paid as the inci dental expense o f collecting $16,200,000 ; besides all the cost o f the custom-house, revenue-service, legislation, negotiations, and sometimes M r. W oodbury's Views o f the T ariff. 163 wars, arising from this system. But this is not a ll; nor is it possible to detect all. The valuation is made in this country, not according to the invoice price, but according to the price o f domestic goods o f the same quality— hence the duties may be increased far beyond the nominal rate. Mr. Woodbury, however, is not friendly to an evil so enormous. High duties he condemns. But no tariff can be unattended by the evil o f profits upon them ; and the tariff o f equal duties, which he advocates, cannot fail to raise prices on a large amount o f goods. A rate o f less than 10, per haps 15 per cent, will not support the government; and this rate will afford efficient protection to cheap articles— hence, much o f the evil will continue, if “ low duties” be levied. Even if we adopt a tariff from which the principle o f protection is rigidly excluded, which taxes only teas, and other articles that we cannot produce, still at least $18,000,000 will be paid for profits on duties, which will in no respect benefit the government. W e could wish no easier task than to explode the tariff system, if the principle o f equality were established— they are utterly incompatible— but we see no very strong grounds for the principle, and are not aware that it is generally deemed o f consequence. Indeed, objections o f the deepest root lie against it. Not only tariff taxes, but all other taxes that fall on consumers, through commodities that pass through the hands o f dealers, are increased by profits— and this principle, as he expounds it, opposes a barrier to a selection o f such kinds o f property as may be taxed without giving rise to profits. It assumes that property o f all kinds is equally subject to taxation; but it takes no notice o f the fact that it bears unequally upon persons, and is not economical. Besides the violation o f sound principles o f taxation, and the liberty to exchange with any who possess what we want, this method o f taxing trenches on another kind o f equality or right, namely, the right to equal privileges ; or, rather, to equal exemption from privileges in others to use us for their profit. It has been customary to take a too limited view of the protective, or privilege system— to regard it only as a boon to man ufacturers ; but it is really a monopoly to capitalists in general. Put the duties low as you will, they still protect if they be undiscriminating ; and, though the injury be less as the duties are lower, the principle is still in dulged. Money in England lets at 2 to 3 per c e n t; and sometimes, o f late, at 1 per cent— here, it brings 6 or 7. While the difference is so great, the American capitalist dreads a free commerce, that will bring English capital into competition with his own, just as the English land holder dreads the competition of American land, whose price is not a tenth of the annual rent o f his own. Abolish restrictions, and the rates o f rent and interest in the two countries will approach towards equality ; but in crease them, and the inequality increases. While the English manufac turer can get money at 2 or 3 per cent, he can manufacture cheaper than the American, who must pay 6 or 7 ; but if you allow duties, and so pro duce an arbitrary equality o f prices, the scanty capital o f this country becomes invested in costly machinery, on which the consumers must pay twice the profit they would pay on English machinery. Whoever in this country owns more than a certain amount o f any kind o f property, except land, if he is a shrewd and selfish fellow, will pray for high duties. I f he cannot get them, he will lower his tone, and pray for moderate duties, incidentally protective. I f these be denied, he will pray for a horizontal tariff, with duties adequate to a judicious administration; and if this be 164 F ree Trade. denied, he will join the middle-ground conservatives, and shout “ free trade,” “ low duties,” “ equality,” & c., & c . ; for every shackle on trade increases the demand for his capital, and every effective blow at the restrictions diminishes this demand, by giving to foreigners that work which requires large capital, and paying for it in the products o f agricul ture, which requires little capital, and would require less, if the lands were not sold, but rented. His policy is to create a demand for capital. T o do this, he will divert it into mills ; put it to sleep in lands ; persuade men to buy land in Iowa, Oregon, or the moon— no matter where, so that this capital is dissipated— but he will never be in favor o f free trade. In short, the tax o f customs, in this country, is a device to keep up the profits o f capital, and to keep down the rent o f land. In England, it is worse— it is a device to keep up rents, and to keep down profits and the wages o f labor, so that the landholder may obtain fifteen dollars per acre for rent, and with that money hire thirty men for a day, with the implements ne cessary for them to use. The higher this tax, the worse ; but the least fraction of it is an offence to freedom and freemen— and if we, who are our own masters, do not explode it, and show to the world that it is not necessary for protection or for revenue, we shall not confirm the belief that, in a democracy, the men o f great genius and great virtue will rule. Another obvious objection to this tariff system, is the effect it has to keep up restrictions abroad. English papers are constantly quoting our tariff, as a pretext for countervailing duties; and they find enough who believe in reciprocal free trade, but suppose that one-sided free trade will be injurious to the nation that adopts it. W e grant that the less the duty, the less is the effect in this w a y ; but a total abolition would be palpable and prompt in removing the scruples o f these men, and make them at once join the free trade parties in their respective countries ; while the modifica tions proposed will not satisfy them. Above all, a generous movement on our part would have the unusual, because seldom tried, effect o f an appeal to the nobler feelings o f men. Indeed, we deem this the only way in which other nations ought to be addressed in the matter. W e should do the right thing ourselves, and leave it to the exertions o f the liberal-mind ed, who will in due time control public opinion, to remonstrate with their own oligarchies, and drive them into the right way. When all his neigh bors are mean, a weak man becomes like them in practice, though he be unlike them in principle ; but if an honorable man come into the neigh borhood, the weak one dares to differ from the rest, being excited and emboldened by example, and ashamed to bear an unfavorable contrast. So, if a nation acts nobly, the people o f other nations, from admiration and shame, will follow the example, and generally endeavor to indemnify themselves for not having had the honor o f beginning the good conduct. As when a drunkard reforms, the temperance people rejoice, knowing that their orations are as nothing to his example, so if this nation sends the tariff to Coventry, a few years hence you may buy tariffs in Coventry cheaper than old clothes in Chatham-street; for cupidity— a weakness that men dare not confess before those who are above it— cannot resist the force of a bold example o f generosity, a quality that all men admire, and would be thought to possess. The universality o f the apology, “ everybody does so,” is a good reason for supposing that some notable exception, in any case o f this nature, will not be barren. But, were it not likely that such results would soon follow, it is due to communities to M r. W oodbury's Views o f the T ariff. 165 address the nobler portion o f them with such arguments and inducements as honorable men can listen t o ; and not to tamper with the weakness o f human nature, by appealing to the pockets, the fears, and the national prejudices o f the meaner sort. All gentlemen in Europe or America will refuse to applaud or countenance the crafty manoeuvring o f treatymakers and slow-moving reformers, who are in perpetual dread that they may not get their pennyworth o f privileges and meliorations ; and, wrong though it be, they will keep aloof from public affairs while such men and their measures are the only ones before the community, to claim its respect, and its zealous efforts in elections. Ifj in the event o f our abolishing duties, some nations should not reci procate, and if, as the protectionists believe, this one-sided freedom o f trade should prove o f greater disadvantage to us than we ought to bear, there there still would remain this remedy: other nations would gladly obtain a greater share o f our trade, and, to do so, would readily reciprocate our freedom, if we proposed, as a condition, to shut our ports entirely against nations that still refused to adopt the principle o f freedom. W e do not mean that this mode o f coercion should be resorted to, unless the disad vantage were considerable, at least some millions per yea r; for there is an obligation of morality and honor, to bear some sacrifice for the good o f mankind, and to sway othef nations by courteous means, not by ap peals to their fear or avarice ; but if the conduct, contrary to our belief o f England, for example, should long continue to be o f the sordid character, presumed by the reciprocal free traders, then the alternative, free trade or no trade, might be offered as an inducement to England to open her ports, and at the same time to France and Germany to open theirs. The latter nations would esteem it an advantage to their manufacturers to get all the custom which England had enjoyed from us ; and, so far as France is concerned, we have reason to believe that there are no weighty obstacles to hinder the acceptance o f such a proposition; nor do we know why Germany and Russia and other nations should not avail themselves o f the opportunity. England, alone, has a strong body whose interests are op posed to it, but whose honor, nevertheless, may not unsuccessfully be ap plied to in favor o f a system generally allowed to be unexceptionable, if reciprocal, and in favor of a nation that generously incurs the real or imaginary honor o f disadvantage, by being the first to adopt it. The pride and the high sense o f honor o f the English oligarchs are well known to render them superior to the meaner motives o f avarice which operate on the middle classes; but, if this pride and honor should fail, then the alter native we speak o f would be a potent argument; it would array the capi talists and laborers o f England against the landholders, and they would not long retain their political stations, as peers, if they did not give w a y ; but both this noble appeal to the higher principles, and this last resort, in case higher principles are wanting, are prevented by the weak and partial reform proposed by Mr. Woodbury, the low duty system. Since we deny this mode o f taxation, as a means o f the necessary rev enue, we are under a sort o f obligation to point out a less exceptionable one. This we shall attempt. There is a tendency in some taxes to distribute themselves so that they "'ill unavoidably fall on consumers, whatever legislation may do to prevent i t ; in some other taxes there is no such tendency ; the latter are the fittest, since no profits accumulate upon them, provided there be no oppres 166 F ree Trade, etc. siveness in singling out the particular kinds o f property which yield such taxes, and compelling the owners to part with a portion o f the natural revenue thereof. But we so far admit the doctrine o f equality that we regard it as unjust to lay such taxes on property that is strictly private. What a man has made, all that results from labor and skill, all that is detached from the earth, is private property; but whatever is an original part o f the earth, its soil, its waters, its atmosphere, its mines, fisheries, harbors and pleasant situations, these are the inalienable property o f the ra c e ; only the revenue o f them belongs to the generation at any time livin g; and no acts of past publics, or oligarchies, can have impaired the right o f any generation to the whole of this revenue. If, in times o f oppression and ignorance, men have given to the public some consideration or condition, that, forever after, the rents o f certain parts o f the public estate should fall to them and theirs, saving the part which the public may demand as taxes, this is no ground o f right on which to claim a continu ance o f the alienation, though the feelings o f kindness for persons, and o f charity for errors, will prompt every honorable mind to indemnify these claimants on the public estate ; but while we thus concede the privilege o f undiminished revenue to landholders, we claim for the public the whole o f whatever increase o f rent may accrue— and a great increase will accrue— from a change o f taxation, and an emancipation o f commerce from its ancient shackles; in this there is no injustice, no unkindness; and as this is a very obvious source o f revenue, and one wholly free from the objection o f profits, we adduce it as a reply to those middle ground men who make the plea of treasury-want for the continuance o f the overburdensome tax o f the customs. Another source o f revenue, which, if rightly managed, especially under a commercial system which increases the demand for agricultural produce, will soon become considerable, and ultimately immense, is the public do main. W e do not admit the right to sell any part o f i t ; but the rents of it, of course, belong to the public, and may justly be used for current pub lic expenses. The present management is such as to hinder the settlement o f new lands; it requires the payment of $1 25 per acre from men whose capital is so scanty, and whose credit is so limited, that the interest o f this sum is worth, to them, not generally less than 20 per cent; hence the price is as burdensome as a rent o f 25 cents per acre, and the lands, therefore, will not be cultivated until the price of produce will pay this rent, above all the cost o f cultivation. The true natural system is, to allow land to be used as soon as it will barely pay the cost o f cultivation, and to demand rent as soon as a surplus remains, after paying the wages o f the farmer, and the profits o f his stock ; this surplus is rent; the farmer cannot fail to ob tain it from the consumers ; and if the public allows the farmer to keep it, it merely enriches him, but does not in the least cheapen produce, the natural price o f which depends solely on the cost of raising it on the poor est or most remote lands, which barely pay for cultivation. Now an abo lition o f duties would increase imports, and, therefore, exports, chiefly of produce, hence lands would come rapidly into use, but more rapidly if this virtual rent were not demanded ; for, let it be observed, this is an unnatural rent, a rent on all land, even the poorest and most remote, and such a rent, or rather tax, enhances the price o f produce ; it is precisely equivalent to an indiscriminate measurement land tax. But if all lands that will now barely pay for cultivation be allowed to be settled, rent free, M ercantile B iography, etc. 167 the increasing trade will soon increase the demand for produce, roads and canals will be opened, and the farmers’ income will soon exceed what is due to their capital and labor; and in this way a natural revenue will grow up, and in time it •will be sufficient for the public expenses o f the new territories, and for the national government. The low duty system, though it does not wholly prevent this revenue, cannot fail to keep it far below its natural lim it; for every tariff impost in some degree checks im portation, and the demand for produce to pay for imports. For the foregoing reasons, we protest against this compromise o f the principles o f free trade, and hope that all free traders will insist on the full measure o f freedom; to be carried into effect as speedily as can be, without too much pressure upon interests that have grown up under the old system. Let it be decreed, as soon as possible, that the duties shall be wholly abolished; but if justice and good will require that they be ex tinguished gradually, let it be so. f. b. f. A rt . VII.— M E R C A N T IL E B IO G R A P H Y . SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE LATE JACOB RIDGWAY. A c o r r e s p o n d e n t o f the Herald, in Philadelphia, has furnished some interesting incidents o f the life o f the late Jacob Ridgway, o f Philadel phia. The writer was personally acquainted with the subject o f this notice, and gives a variety o f facts derived from Mr. R. personally before his death, and other authentic sources. It appears that Mr. Ridgway, styled the millionaire, was born near Tuckerton, in the state o f New Jersey, seventy-five years ago, o f wealthy parents. In Europe, his father would have been regarded as one pos sessing lordly domain, and altogether worthy a title and rank among their nobles. He wore a title here, among his republican fellow-citizens, o f infinitely greater value than all the diadems of Europe— that o f an honest, benevolent, and good man— which he never tarnished, but carried with him to his grave, leaving to his descendants each a legacy a prince might be proud of, and all true men know how to value. The object of this sketch left home at an early age, not content with the tranquil enjoyment and ease o f competency in rural life, came to Philadelphia, and entered that o f a busy, bold, and enterprising merchant. He commenced on a small sca le; but by (•his industry, integrity, economy, and attention to business, he rose rapidly— Dame Fortune smiled— he, in common par lance, became a shipping merchant. He visited Europe, to superintend a branch o f the house with which he was connected; and soon after, hav ing the confidence o f the merchants o f our country, was appointed Amer ican consul at Antwerp, where he laid the foundation o f his great fortune. He shortly after retired from mercantile pursuits, having applied himself so closely as to impair his health— then made the tour o f Europe, and returned to his native country with his health but little recruited. He placed himself under the care o f two o f our most experienced physicians; visited by their directions the Virginia Springs, and other watering-places, to no purpose. He then settled himself in Philadelphia, entered exten sively into the improvement o f it and the city o f Camden, on the opposite 168 M ercantile B iography. side o f the river Delaware, and, in proportion as he improved them, so did his fortune and health increase ; and from being the owner, in early life, o f a single farm, he acquired possessions and wealth, the extent of which has perhaps never but once been equalled in Pennsylvania, and in all human probability never will be by any one man again. It is in vain, at this time, to attempt to calculate with certainty his wealth; as those to whom it has worthily descended can form, as yet, no proper estimate. Mr. Ridgway was, throughout life, a plain, truth-loving man, who inspired confidence in all with whom he come in contact. His dress and deport ment were plain, his manners free from hauteur; yet they were such as to command respect from all, and to avoid undue familiarity with any. He was judiciously benevolent; ever found ready to encourage the man of limited means, and send him on the road to fortune. This was particu larly manifested in his directorship o f the Bank o f Pennsylvania, in which he was a large stockholder, always refusing discounts and accommodations to the rich and extensive operators or speculators, preferring the humbler mechanics, tradesmen, and merchants. His conduct in that particular may serve as an index to his business intercourse with the world. Indeed, for the last few years o f his life, he had little other than business inter course. His time was occupied in the employment and payment o f a vast number o f the humbler portion o f our citizens, to whom, and the city o f Philadelphia generally, his loss will long be felt; and many a family o f respectability, whose fortune has fallen from under them withm the last few years, and who were tenants o f his, will live to mourn his loss, who knew and felt for them in a way not to be misunderstood. Mr. Ridgway left a son and two daughters; to whom, in equal proportions, after providing in a handsome manner for all closely connected with him in business, including his household servants, he bequeathed his vast for tune. In this last act o f this prosperous and good man’s life, he showed himself a true man. His children were entitled to the products o f his enterprise— they have received it without stint, limit, or condition ; and either o f them may be considered as wealthy as any citizen o f our state. The son o f Mr. Ridgway is a true American nobleman— so plain, unas suming, and unpretending in his manners and deportment, that he might well be mistaken for a gentleman o f humble fortune. One o f his daugh ters is the wife o f Dr. James Rush, a man of science, and high reputation in his profession. He is the son o f the celebrated Dr. Rush, late o f Phila delphia. Mrs. Rush is well known for her benevolence and extended charities— she is a lady o f commanding intellect, and great sprightliness o f character; the leader in fashionable life ; yet never forgets the poor. The other daughter o f Mr. Ridgway is the widow o f Mr. Roach, who was a country gentleman, and has lived for the last few years a country life. She is said to be betrothed to Dr. J. Rhea Barton, a successful and far-famed surgeon. W e have thus given a brief history o f the life o f Mr. Ridgway. O f the leading traits o f his character, and kindness to the virtuous poor, the writer speaks from personal observation, and a lim ited acquaintance for the last few years. But a few weeks before his death, he was in perfect health. He was injured, in walking along the street, by a pair o f horses attached to a vehicle running away. He was taken home, and within a week the writer called at his office to inquire after his health, and was surprised to find him sitting in his usual seat, and in fine spirits. He was in a few days after confined to his bed. The Story on B ills o f E xchange. 169 writer attended his funeral. The ex-president of the United States, John Quincy Adams; his secretary o f state, Richard Rush ; the ex-minister to Russia, the Honorable George M. Dallas; Horace Binney, Charles Chauncey, Josiah Randall, David Paul Brown, and Richard Willing, Es quires, and many other o f our most distinguished citizens, were there. The coffin was plain— on the breast was a silver plate, with this in scription :— JACOB R ID G W A Y , Died April 30,1843, In the 75th year o f his age. His remains were conveyed to Laurel-Hill cemetery, and deposited in the family vault. R eq u iesca t in p a ce ! A rt. VIII.— S T O R Y O N B IL LS OF E X C H A N G E * T h e learned author o f these commentaries has rarely produced a work more likely to be directly useful to persons out o f the legal profession, than is the volume before us. It may go at once into the hands o f the merchant, the banker, and the broker, for purposes o f great practical benefit; while it is, at the same time, o f the highest value for the philosophical and wellread commercial lawyer. It treats o f the origin and nature, and different kinds and requisites o f bills o f exchange ; the competency and capacity, the rights, duties, and obligations o f parties to bills; the consideration and transfer o f bills ; the presentment of bills for acceptance, the non-accept ance thereof, and proceedings thereon; the presentment for payment and non-payment, and proceedings thereon ; and the payment o f bills, and other discharges o f parties thereto. All these topics, with the laws and usages o f the commercial world, are unfolded with great clearness, learning, and lucid arrangement; so that the reader, when he has been through these chapters, finds not only that his actual stock o f knowledge is vastly in creased, but that his power o f comprehending the principles o f legal rules and provisions is materially enlarged. But what is to render this work o f great value, and indispensable use to commercial persons in this country, is the chapter on “ Guaranty o f Bills and Letters o f Credit.” The vast amount o f our commerce with foreign countries, carried on by means o f these artificial aids, renders a knowledge o f the principles by which they are regulated o f great importance. The difference between knowing and not knowing the nature o f a letter o f credit, when one has purchased it— how, and where, and with whom it is an available instrument o f credit, known to the usages o f commerce, and protected and sanctioned by the law o f civilized countries— what rights it gives to the party making ad vances on the faith o f it— the difference between knowing and not know ing some or all of these matters, is, to an intelligent merchant, a thing o f no small moment. The last chapter in this work is devoted to inland bills o f * Commentaries on the Law o f Bills o f Exchange, Foreign and Inland, as adminis tered in England and A m erica; with occasional illustrations from the commercial law o f the nations o f continental Europe. By Joseph Story, LL.D. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown. London : A . M axwell & Son, & c,, & c., & c. pp. 608. 1843. VOL. I X .---- NO. I I . 15 Story on B ills o f E xchange . 170 exchange. W e confidently recommend the work to our commercial friends; and they will find the chief benefit resulting to them, in consulting and using it, in comparison with other treatises, will be, that it gives them principles, and rules, and doctrines, instead o f abstract statements o f par ticular decisions. It is one o f those rare works, in the lawT, (most o f which have been produced in this country,) of which a layman may read the text, and find that he has acquired real knowledge, by being made ac quainted with principles ; while the notes are enriched with a various and accurate learning that leaves the critical and studious lawyer nothing to desire, and in which the author is so distinguished. W e give below the chapter relating to guaranty o f bills, and letters o f credit, omitting the very copious notes, which occupy more space than the text, and are rather designed for the learned lawyer than the practical merchant. GUARANTY OF BILLS, AND LETTERS OF CREDIT. W e have thus gone over the principal doctrines applicable to foreign Bills o f E x change. There remain one or two topics, which are, in some measure, connected therewith, and are o f a kindred nature, upon one o f which some remarks have already been incidentally made, but wrhich deserve a more direct, although a brief, exposition and recapitulation in this place. These topics are, first, the Guaranty o f Bills of E x change ; and, secondly, Letters o f Credit, authorizing persons to draw foreign Bills, on the faith o f such Letters. These are equally applicable to cases o f Foreign, and cases o f Inland, Bills o f Exchange ; but they are more frequent in the former cases. In respect to the former, Guaranty o f Bills, it is well known, and in much use, in cases o f foreign Bills, in France, and other parts o f Continental Europe. In France it is known by the name o f A val; and in Germany, at least, when a Latin appellation is affixed to it, by the name o f Avallum. This guaranty is usually placed at the bottom o f the Bill o f Exchange, from which circumstance it is said to derive its na m e; and sometimes it is written upon a separate paper. T he effect, in France, and other foreign countries, o f this Aval or Guaranty, sub scribed at the bottom o f the Bill, is, that it binds the Guarantor in solido, and subjects him to the like obligations, as the party on the Bill, for whom he has given it, at least, unless there is some different stipulation made by the parties, and also entitles him to the like rights, as the same party. It amounts, therefore, in effect, to a guaranty, that the party, for whom it is given, shall perform all the obligations, which the Bill itself imports on his part. The usual manner o f accomplishing this purpose is, that the name o f the Guarantor is preceded by the words “ pour Aval.” But this is not indispensable, for any equivalent form will d o ; and even the name o f the Guarantor alone, written in blank, may, if that is the usage, bind the party as a Guarantor, where it is clear that he is not liable as an Indorser on the Bill. It follows, from what has been said, that, in the French and Foreign Law, this con tract o f Aval, or Guaranty, when on the face o f the Bill, is, in the absence o f any re strictive or controlling words, an agreement, partaking o f the character o f the Bill itself, and is negotiable, and passes to, and gives the same rights to the Holder o f the Bill, as if it were made personally to himself, and subjects him to the like obligations. And this quality is, beyond question, highly important to the true value, and easy circulation, and free credit, o f Bills o f Exchange. T he like rule seems to prevail among the German Civilians; and it probably also prevails among the nations o f Continental Europe gen erally ; and it is fully recognized in the law o f Scotland. Whether, under our law, a like negotiable quality belongs to the like guaranty upon the face o f the Bill, so as to give the Holder a complete legal right thereto, as well as to the Bill, has been a question o f considerable discussion. It has been said, by a distin guished elementary writer, that, even in cases where a valid engagement o f guaranty has been made, that a Bill o f Exchange or note shall be paid, it is effectual only be tween the original parties to it, and not transferable at law, or in equity, or in bankruptcy. But this language is quite too general; for it is very certain that the party, to whom the guaranty is originally made, may, in equity, assign his right to the holder, at the same time that he assigns the Bill, and thereby vest in him the equitable, although not the legal title thereto. The language should further be understood to be limited to cases where Guaranty o f B ills , and L etters o f C redit. 171 the guaranty, if it is on the face o f the Bill, is, by its very terms, confined to the original party, to whom it is given; and the language does not, certainly it ought not to be extended to cases, where, by its very terms, the guaranty is to such party, and to his order, or to the bearer, or to any person, who shall subsequently become the H older; for there does not seem to be any ground, or principle, in our law, which will, in such a case, limit the right, contrary to the avowed intention o f the parties, to the first or original Guarantee. On the contrary, there would seem to be very urgent reasons why it should be deemed equivalent to a continued promise, upon a valid consideration, to every suc cessive Holder for a valuable consideration, toties quoties, that the Guarantor promises the like guaranty to him personally. There is great weight o f authority for the maintenance o f this doctrine, as well upon general principles, as upon the usage o f the commercial world. And, with a view to the convenience, and the security o f merchants, as well as the free circulation and credit o f negotiable paper, it would seem, that such a guaranty, upon the face o f a Bill o f E x change, not limited to any particular person, but purporting to be general, without naming any person whatsoever, or purporting to be a guaranty to the Payee, or his order, or to the bearer, ought to be held, upon the very intention o f the parties, to be a complete guaranty to every successive person, who shall become the Holder o f the Bill. Nay, the doctrine has been pressed farther, and it has been maintained, with great ability and co gency o f reasoning, that such a guaranty upon a separate paper, ought to be held nego tiable in the same manner, and to the same extent, in favor o f each successive Holder o f the Bill, as if it were upon the face o f the original Bill. In respect to Letters o f Credit, which are in common use in our commerce with for eign countries, it may be stated, that a Letter o f Credit (sometimes called a Bill o f Credit) is an open letter o f request, whereby one person (usually a merchant or a banker) requests some other person or persons to advance moneys, or give credit, to a third person named therein, for a certain amount, and promises that he will repay the same to the person advancing the same, or accept Bills, drawn upon himself, for the like amount. It is called a general letter o f credit, when it is addressed to all merchants, or other persons in general, requesting such advance to a third person; and it is called a special letter o f credit, when it is addressed to a particular person by name, requesting him to make such advance to a third person. Marius gives the following description o f Letters o f Credit, o f both sorts, and o f their use and obligation. “ N ow , letters o f credit, for the furnishing of moneys by exchange, are o f two sorts, the one general, the other special; the general letter o f credit is, when I write my open letter directed to all merchants, and others, that shall furnish moneys unto such and such persons, upon this my letter o f credit, wherein, and whereby I do bind myself, that what moneys shall be by them delivered unto the party or parties, therein mentioned, within such a time, at such and such rates (or, in general terms, at the price current), I do thereby bind myself for to be accountable and answerable for the same, to be repaid according to the Bill or Bills o f Exchange, which, upon receipt o f the money so furnished, shall be given or delivered for the same. And, if any money be furnished upon such my general letter o f credit, and Bills o f Exchange therefore given, and charged, drawn, or directed to me, although, when the Bills come to hand, and are presented to me, I should refuse to accept thereof, yet (according to the custom o f mer chants) I am bound, and liable, to the payment o f those Bills o f Exchange, by virtue and force o f such my general letter o f credit, because he or they, which do furnish the money, have not so much (if any) respect unto the sufficiency or ability o f the party, which doth take up the money, as unto me, who have given my letter o f credit for the same, and upon whose credit, merely, those moneys may be properly said to have been delivered. T he special letter o f credit is, when a merchant, at the request o f any other man, doth write his open letter o f credit, directed to his factor, agent, or correspondent, giving him order to furnish such or such a man, by name, with such or such a sum o f money, at one or more times, and charge it to the account o f the merchant that gives the letter o f credit, and takes Bills o f Exchange, or receipts, for the same.” And again ; “ N ow , in the general letter o f credit, he that writes it doth make use o f his credit for his own account and concernments in his way o f trade, and, therefore, there need no more than his letter o f credit to make him liable to repay what shall be so furnished. But, in the particular letter o f credit, he that writes the letter, doth it not to make use o f the moneys himself, or to be employed for his own use, but for the use and accommoda tion o f some other man, at whose request he is willing, and doth write his letter o f cred it; and, therefore, it is very expedient and ordinary for him, at whose entreaty the letter is written, at the writing, and upon receipt thereof, to give security by bond, or otherwise, unto the merchant that gives the letter o f credit, for repayment unto him, his 172 Story on B ills o f E xchange. executors, or assigns, o f all such moneys as shall be received by virtue o f the said letters o f credit; for the merchant, by his letter, stands sufficiently bound to his correspondent; and, therefore, it is no more but reason, that he, for whom the letter is granted, should give (as it were) his counterbond for repayment. The Bills o f Exchange, which are to be made for moneys taken up by letters o f credit, do run in the ordinary form o f Bills o f Exchange.” This language would seem to be sufficiently explicit to establish the doctrine, that general letters o f credit partake o f a negotiable quality, and, according to the usage o f merchants, are treated as a direct promise to repay the advance, or to accept and pay the Bill, which shall be drawn upon the advance, where the letter purports such a promise to repay, or accept and pay the Bill. There does not seem to be any ground to doubt, that the letter o f credit is an available promise in favor o f the person, who makes the advance upon the faith o f the letter, if the letter is specially addressed to him. But it has been made a question, whether, if the letter o f credit is a general one, addressed to any person or persons generally, without any other designation, the person making the advance upon the faith thereof, is entitled to a punctual performance o f the promise contained therein, from the person signing the letter, as a floating contract, designed to circulate as a direct promise, in the nature o f a negotiable security, for the benefit o f any party, advancing funds on the faith thereof; or whether the remedy exclusively lies be tween the original party, writing the letter, and the party to whom, and for whose im mediate use it was given. The question does not appear to have been positively decided, or, indeed, to have been elaborately discussed in England. But, in America, it has come under judicial exam ination and decision in various cases. In the Supreme Court o f the United States, the doctrine has been directly affirmed, on several occasions, that the Letter-writer is pos itively and directly bound to any party making the advance upon the faith o f the Letter; and that it applies not only to cases where the Letter o f Credit purports, on its face, to be addressed, generally, to any person or persons whatsoever, who should make the ad vance, but also in cases where the Letter o f Credit is addressed solely to the person to whom the advance is to be made, and merely states, that the person, signing the same, will become his security for a certain amount, without naming any person, to whom he will become security, if it is obviously to be used to procure credit from some third per son, and the advance is made upon the faith o f the Letter by such third person. And it has been further held, that, if the engagement be, to accept and pay any Bills, not ex ceeding a limited amount, drawn by the person to whom, and for whose benefit, the advance is to be made ; in such a case, the person, taking such Bills, and making the advance upon the faith thereof, if the promise o f the Letter-writer cannot be treated as a positive acceptance o f such Bills, is entitled to treat it as a direct promise to himself to accept and pay such Bill, which promise he may enforce, accordingly, in an action in his name, founded upon such Letter o f Credit, against the writer thereof. Mr. Bell, in his learned Commentaries, has given his own opinion, as to the nature and operation o f Letters o f Credit, in the following expressive language. “ Letters o f Credit, strictly speaking, are mandates, giving authority to the person addressed to pay money, or furnish goods, on the credit o f the writer. They are generally made use o f for facil itating the supply o f money, or goods, required by one going to a distance or abroad, and avoiding the risk and trouble o f carrying specie, or buying Bills to a greater amount than may be required. T he debt, which arises on such a Letter, in its simplest form, when complied with, is between the mandatory and mandant; though it may be so con ceived as to raise a debt also against the person, who is supplied by the mandatory. 1. W here the letter is purchased with money by the person wishing for the foreign cred it; or, is granted in consequence o f a check on his cash account; or, procured on the credit o f securities lodged with the person who grants it; or, in payment o f money due by him to the P a y ee; the Letter is, in its effects, similar to a Bill o f Exchange drawn on the foreign merchant. T he payment o f the money by the person, on whom the Letter is granted, raises a debt, or goes into account between him and the writer o f the Letter ; but raises no debt to the person, who pays on the Letter, against him to whom the money is paid. 2. W here not so purchased, but truly an accommodation, and meant to raise a debt against the person accommodated, the engagement generally is, to see paid any ad vances made to him, or to guarantee any draft accepted, or Bill discounted; and the compliance with the mandate, in such case, raises a debt both against the writer o f the Letter, and against the person accredited.” Mercantile Law Cases . 173 MERC ANT I LE L A W D E P A RT ME NT . M E R C A N T IL E L A W C A SE S. LIABILITY OF SHIPS IN CASE OF FORCED LOAN FOR REPAIRS. United States District Court o f Massachusetts, March Term , 1843. Shelton and others vs. Brig Mary. Specie was shipped from Boston to Porto Cabello, for the purpose o f purchasing a return cargo. The vessel was obliged to put into Antigua, on account o f a disaster; where the master, being destitute o f funds, sold a part o f the specie for the purpose o f making repairs, and the vessel proceeded to the port o f destination, and thence to Boston. It was admitted that the specie thus taken should be paid for in general average, at its value at Porto Cabello— the only question presented was, whether, in making an ad justment, the libellants should be allowed interest on the specie so taken, from the time when they would have had the benefit o f it at Porto Cabello. Sprague, district judge, decided that the libellants were entitled to such interest, inas much as it is the general principle o f law that the shipper must be compensated in such cases— the measure o f compensation being such as is necessary to place him in as good a situation as he would have been in had the property o f some other shipper been taken instead o f his. T o place him in such a situation, however, it is necessary that payment should be made to him at the port o f destination, as there he needed his cargo to carry on his enterprise. Having a right to have the goods shipped delivered to him at the port o f destination, so has he the right to have that which without his consent has been sub stituted for the goods, delivered to him at the same place. A s this was not done, he has a claim for dam ages; and interest is the established measure o f damages for the non payment o f money. INSURANCE— MARITIME USAGE. District Court o f Massachusetts, in Admiralty, February, 1843. T he schooner Eddington went into Provincetown harbor in a gale o f wind. After coming to anchor, she was driven from her moorings towards the flats, where she was brought up by her small anchor, and lay head to the wind. In this position she»was run foul of, in the night-time, by another vessel, the Lion, having no person on board. A principal question discussed was, whether the owners o f the Lion had omitted a reason able and ordinary measure o f security, and whether the collision was attributable to their neglect, notwithstanding a usage at Provincetown to leave vessels owned in that place, and manned by persons residing there, at anchor in the harbor, without any persons on board. Sprague, district judge, observed, in delivering his opinion in this case, that the neglect with which the Lion is charged consists in leaving her alone, when it was seen that a gale was coming on, with from thirty to fifty vessels at anchor in the harbor. A vessel is doubtless rendered more safe from collision when some person is on board; but the owners o f the Lion were not bound to use any extraordinary measures o f precaution. T he question is, have they omitted a reasonable and ordinary measure o f precaution ? T he general sense o f the maritime world, and o f maritime writers, indicates that a vessel should not be left without some one on board., This position is confirmed by numerous witnesses who have been examined in this case ; but it also proved to be the usage at Provincetown to leave vessels ow’ned in that place, and manned by persons residing there, at anchor in the harbor, without any person on board, in every aspect o f the weather. There is some evidence produced o f a similar usage in other places in Mas sachusetts ; but all those places, except Cape Ann, are tide harbors, and the evidence is 15* 174 Mercantile Law Cases. by no means satisfactory as to the extent or limitations o f the usage. T he people of Truro, it appears, adopt the usages o f their neighbors in fair weather; but when a gale is seen to be approaching, some person is put on board to guard the vessel. must be considered as confined to the inhabitants o f Provincetown. followed in the present case. T he usage “ T he usage was The respondents urge, in the first place, that they adopted all ordinary precautions. Secondly, that the adoption o f such a usage, by the prudent inhabitants o f Provincetown, is evidence o f its safety. But the last point suggests two considerations:— First, that the practice o f the inhabitants o f Truro shows, on the other hand, that it is not safe to leave a vessel alone when a gale is foreseen ; and, in the next place, this practice is not adopted by the Provincetown mariners because it is safe, but only because it is convenient; their vessels usually being small, and the officers and crews having their homes at Provincetown. Shall a stranger-vessel, like that o f the libel lant’ s, be subjected to the hazards o f such a usage ? This is not a case o f contract, where a party has made an agreement with reference to a known usage. Provincetown is open to all vessels o f the United States. T he harbor of W hen it is said that ordinary precaution was used, the truth o f the position depends upon the standard to which refer ence is had. I f referred to the praciice o f the inhabitants o f Provincetown, it is true ; but with reference to the general maritime standard, it is not true. W hen the libellant entered the harbor at Provincetown, he was bound by the general maritime rules and usages, and has a right to rely upon their observance by others using the same waters.” Decree in favor o f libellant. FIRE INSURANCE. N ew Y ork Superior Court— present, Judge Oakley. vs. New Y ork Fire Insurance Company. June term, 1843. John Raynor This was an action upon a policy o f insurance upon a frame house at the corner o f the Third Avenue, which the defendants insured for the plaintiffs, describing it as “ to be kept for a grocery.” The house took fire, and wras consumed ; and in the progress of the fire, an explosion was caused by a barrel o f gunpowder in the grocery. The defend ants contended that the policy was annulled by reason o f the plaintiff’s keeping powder, an extra-hazardous article, on the premises insured. But his Plonor, having declared it to be the law that the rights o f the plaintiff must depend on the question whether or not it is customary for groceries to contain gunpowder, and tfie plaintiff having proved such to be the custom, a verdict was rendered for plaintiffs for $1,500. CHARTER-PARTY. Superior Court. Jonathan D. Cathell vs. Medad Platt. This was an action upon a charter-party. In December, 1841, J. C. and M. Steven son, o f Newbern, North Carolina, employed defendant as their agent to charter a schooner, which he accordingly did, from the plaintiff. T he defendant wras described in the charter-party as the agent o f the plaintiff. His Honor, the chief justice, however, charged the jury that, inasmuch as the defend ant had signed, and virtually chartered the vessel as a principal, notwithstanding he was described in the body o f the charter-party as an agent, he was personally and primarily bound to pay the stipulated price to the plaintiff. Verdict for plaintiff. COMMON CARRIERS. N ew York Court o f Errors, June session, 1843. vs. Joseph T obey, defendant in error. J. N . Vanderbilt, plaintiff in error, This was an action originally commenced by the defendant in error in the Superior Court o f the city o f N ew Y ork, for the recovery o f the value o f certain g ood » delivered by him to the plaintiff in error, (who is a steamboat proprietor,) for transportation to Mercantile Law Cases . Albany. 175 A judgment was obtained by Mr. T obey in the Superior Court, and this judg ment was afterwards affirmed upon the merits in the Supreme Court. The cause was then appealed to the Court o f Errors, which also affirmed the original judgment, and virtually decided that common carriers are liable for the safe transportation o f the goods entrusted to them, unless the loss o f such goods be occasioned by the act o f God, or the public enem ies; and that they are so liable, although they may have affixed public no tices, purporting that “ all baggage is at the risk o f the owner.” LANDLORD AND TENANT---- ACTION OF TRESPASS---- EXEMPTION LAW OF NEW YORK OF 1842. In the Court o f Common Pleas, Judge Inglis presiding. Morris Flynn vs. George Barclay and Simon P. Iluff. This was an action o f trespass under the act o f 1842. It was to recover damages for illegally seizing a horse o f the plaintiff’s for rent, in violation o f the law which provides that, “ in addition to the articles now exempted by law from distress for rent, there shall be exempted from such distress, and levy, and sale, such necessary household furniture and working-tools, and team owned by any person being a householder, or having a fam ily, for which he provides, to the value o f not exceeding $1 50.” In this case, the plaintiff rented a stable, on which rent was due to the defendant Bar clay, who procured a landlord’s warrant, and levied on the plaintiff’s cart-horse, and had it sold. On the part o f the plaintiff, it was contended that the horse came under the articles exempted by law under the term team, and that therefore the defendants have committed a trespass against the plaintiff by levying on it. The court charged the jury. T he first inquiry was, whether the property levied on was o f that sort exempted by the act o f April, 1842. T he exemption extends to $150 worth o f household furniture, tools, wearing apparel, and team owned by the lodger— and if $1 50 worth o f articles were left, although other articles enumerated amongst those which are exempt, are levied on, and taken away, it does not render the person taking them responsible for doing so. I f the articles are not owned by a householder, or man having a family, the law does not exempt them. Much criticism has been resorted to in relation to the word “ team,” and I have taken some pains, by looking into dictionaries and other sources, to ascertain the meaning o f that word. But before I state my conclusion as to its legal meaning, I will observe that it often happens that statutes are not drawn up with clerical correctness, or logical or critical propriety, from the persons who do it not paying sufficient attention to these matters. Therefore, the great and important question to be ascertained is, as to the sense in which the legislature intended to use the words. It is said that the word “ team” cannot refer to the horse o f a carman, as the word team is used by the best writers as referring to more than one animal, and cannot be held to mean a single horse— and I confess that, so far as the usage o f this word by old English authors, it appears, from many examples, that the word had originally only a plural sense. It is, however, said that the word is not derived from the Latin, but from an A ngloSaxon word, which means a yoke, and that it does not refer to more than one animal. Counsel says that such is the proper use o f the word, and I think it is, at least in the present ca se ; although ordinarily, when we speak o f a team, we mean more than one animal. But we must look at what was the object o f the legislature in passing the law in which this word is used. T he object o f the statute was obviously to prevent the poorer class from having all their little chattels taken away from them, or be deprived o f the means o f procuring subsistence. With this object in view, we find that the law has exempted furniture and a “ team” from being levied o n ; and I think, under that view o f the law, a horse must be held to mean a team. But for the remarks o f counsel, I might have been inclined to think that the legislature meant more than one horse by the Monthly Commercial Chronicle. 176 word team. But the act was perhaps drawn up by a person who resided in a rural dis trict, and therefore used the word team. But i f asked what did the word mean in the case o f a farmer, who was so poor that he possessed but one animal, he would most probably say, that the word “ team” meant but one animal. And, though I say it with some doubt, I think the word team means a single animal. If, therefore, in import and judgment o f law, this horse was a “ team,” then the next inquiry is, was the plaintiff a carman. It appears that he had the mayor’s license, dated in August before; and, al though he did not do much work with his horse, and had offered to sell it, his having done so does not take away the privileges conferred on him by this act. A s to his being a householder, I think that a man who rents the upper part o f a house comes under the denomination o f householder. I f you come to the conclusion that he was a householder and carman, then the question will be, were there sufficient articles left him to amount to $150. I f there were, then the horse was rightfully taken. A s this is a special statute, taking away the common-law right o f the landlord, it is the plaintiff’s duty to make out his case to you plain, and without doubt. Verdict for the plaintiff, $ 6 6 . For plaintiff, Messrs. De Witt, and F. B row n; for defendant, Mr. Benedict. MONTHLY COMMERCIAL T his CHRONICLE. is a period o f the year when commercial affairs are usually exceedingly dull, and the present month has not been singular in that respect. There are abundant elements o f improved commercial prosperity; but as yet the movement is not such as to cause any increased demand fof money. In all sections o f the country, the returns o f tolls on the public works, those great arteries o f trade, show, without exception, increased re ceipts over former years. On the N ew Y ork state canals, in particular, although there has been but sixty days o f navigation up to July 1st, the receipts were actually larger to that time than in 1842, when the canals had been open seventy days. tolls, and o f flour and wheat, at tide-water, have been as follows : TOLLS. 4th week in June. D o lla r s . R E C E I P T S OF F L O U R A T T I D E - W A T E R . Total to July 1st. 4th week in June. D o lla r s . F lo u r. W h ea t. 30,914 68,373 19,973 9,104 37,359 ...... .... ...... ... 53,244 18 64,664 14 593,699 83 612,896 01 Increase,. ... Decrease,. 11,399 96 19,196 18 1842, 1843, The receipts o f Total to July. F lo u r. W h e a t. 413,157 438,298 159,641 102,335 25,441 10,869 57,306 Taking into view the shorter period o f navigation, this increase is large ; and the same feature is apparent in all other quarters. It consists, for the most part, o f produce coming to market, rather than any increase o f merchandise going to the interior. T he outlet for most o f the surplus produce is abroad ; and, under the new English tariff, the market for American provisions is rapidly extending there. Although, at the latest dates, the pros pect o f the English harvest was good, and prices therefore comparatively heavy, yet the demand for United States produce was on the increase, and prices well sustained. I f the means o f paying for those importations into England were left free and untrammelled, the intercourse between the two countries would extend with immense rapidity, to the benefit o f the agricultural interests. Unfortunately, however, in the present state o f things, specie is almost the only remittance this way in return— a fact which weighs heav ily upon the markets. T he prices o f produce continue very low, although they are ad vancing ; and we believe that almost all those who have embarked in agricultural products during the past spring, have been more than remunerated for their outlay. The margin o f profits left in the hands o f the producers, at the low rates at which they have parted 177 Monthly Commercial Chronicle. with their products, has been too small to cause any great increase o f purchasers o f sup. plies by them ; hence, the demand for domestic and imported goods has not revived in a degree sufficient to raise the prices from the extreme low grade to which they had fallen, in consequence o f the contraction o f the currency, and the diminished means of the con sumers. Domestic goods have fallen so low, that a large export trade sprung up, and took off considerable quantities, without materially affecting values. It is not pretended that domestic goods can be exported at a profit; but the fact that they are so exported, and sold in foreign markets on an equal footing with foreign manufactures, in preference to selling here, where they enjoy a discriminating duty o f 60 to 150 per cent, is an ap palling proof o f the prostration which ha3 overtaken the domestic markets, notwithstand ing the exceeding abundance o f the crops— a prostration which could only have been effected by the paralyzing effect o f pernicious legislation. Another indication o f the presence o f some unnatural obstacle to the revival o f trade, is the continued and increas ing abundance o f money. Notwithstanding the low prices o f every article o f commerce, for nearly one year, money has continued to accumulate in the Atlantic banks, while the means o f employing it have been constantly diminishing. T he state o f the market is peculiarly manifest in the operations o f the federal government. In 1841, a loan was authorized, to meet the deficiency in revenue. A part only o f that loan was taken, and the remainder hung upon the market in the summer o f 1842, without meeting any bid ders, although it was offering at almost “ any price,” and the state o f N ew Y ork borrowed $3,000,000, at 7 per cent, at par. loan, with utter ill success. A n agent was despatched to Europe to negotiate the In the mean time, money continued to accumulate in the banks, as the crops went forward, and outstanding accounts were settled, until February, 1843, when the balance o f the 6 per cent loan, $3,500,000, was taken at par. In our June number, we published the notice o f the Secretary o f the Treasury, to redeem the outstanding treasury-notes on the 30th June, 1843. W e then remarked that it was highly probable that the necessary amount could be obtained at par, for a 5 per cent stock. Subsequently, proposals for a loan o f $7,000,000 w’ere issued, and taken mostly by N ew Y ork houses, at $101 01. A small lot was taken at $1 02 37£, and another at $101 55. Immediately afterward, the stock rose to 5£ per cent premium in the market. The treas ury-notes redeemed were mostly held by banking institutions for investment, and paying them off threw a large sum o f money into the market for re-investment. For the em ployment o f banking funds, United States government stocks are the most desirable ; because, being all held on this side o f the water, there is no danger, how high soever prices may rise, that amounts from abioad, sufficiently large to produce revulsion, will be suddenly thrown upon the market— a danger which would be incurred if the rates o f state stocks were carried as high. On these stocks, the banks loan their money at call, many o f them as low as 4 per cent per annum, keeping a margin o f 10 per cent as security against sudden fluctuations. merely corporate and banking. This abundance o f money is not general— it is On the contrary, many sections o f the country, and most industrial pursuits, experience a scarcity. Business moves so sluggishly, and that on a cash basis, that very little paper is created o f that character most desired by the banks. T he true value o f the United States 5 per cent stock, o f $7,000,000, ten years to run, interest payable semi-annually, to yield 5 per cent per annum on the investment, is 100.48 per cent; and at the price given, 101.01, is therefore .527 in excess o f that value, and yields an interest o f 4.9929 per cent. For causes above enumerated, then, govern ment stocks command the highest prices; while others, equally good as security, sell very low— that is, they yield much higher rates o f interest. Assuming 5 per cent to be the rate o f interest in the stock-market, the real value o f some o f the dividend-paying stocks are as follows, compared with their market prices :— 178 Monthly Commercial Chronicle. Stocks. Interests. Redeemable. Value. Market price. 1862 $1 12 99 114$ a 115 United States,................ 6 ’s semi-annual “ 5’s “ 1853 100 48 103$ a 104 Massachusetts,............... 5’s “ 1868 100 8 8 102 a 102$ Kentucky,...................... 6 ’s “ 1868 115 15 95$ a 96 T ennessee,.................... 6 ’s “ 1868 115 15 91$ a 92 O h io ,.............................. 6 ’s “ 1860 112 11 89$ a 90 “ 1849 110 81 108$ a 109 N ew Y o rk ,.................... 7’s “ .................... 6 ’s “ 1862 113 44 108 a 108$ “ 5’ s “ 1858 100 97 99$ a 100 This table shows very clearly the artificial state o f the market. Those stocks on which corporate means have been brought more particularly to bear, for want o f some more legitimate means o f employing their funds, are very high; while other stocks, and those o f distant states, are kept down, chiefly by the excess o f the supply o f stocks above the surplus o f individual means seeking such investments, and the amount o f new stock constantly coming upon the market for sale. Large amounts o f stocks, never yet ab sorbed by the investments o f individuals, have been pledged, by the original contractors for the loans, with third parties, for debts. have been tempted to realize. A s the prices have improved, these latter O f this description, are the $14,000,000 o f stocks held by the London houses as collateral for the debentures o f the United States Bank. Also, near $700,000 o f Kentucky and Tennessee bonds, being part o f original loans taken by the Baltimore American Life and Trust Company, and assigned by that company to a London house to secure a debt, have been gradually coming into this market for sale, at the same time that the state o f Kentucky has been gradually converting its outstanding scrip, issued to contractors, into 6 per cent bonds. These have been among the leading causes out o f which has grown the inequality in stock values. The abundance o f money, which, in the N ew Y ork and eastern banks, has compelled them to seek the stocks of their own states and the federal government for investment, is gradually extending to the institutions in other sections— south, southwest, and west. T he commercial indebted ness due by those sections to the north and east, has been mostly settled during the past year, and the banks are beginning to show an accumulation o f specie, and diminution o f loans, consequent upon the maturity o f paper, and the absence o f new applications. A s the new crops come forward to enhance this feature, some other description o f invest ment must be fou nd ; and the N ew Y ork example, o f stock loans, will probably be fol lowed. T he prices o f stocks must, in such an event, continue high, and becom e uni form, and the rate o f interest low on commercial paper. In this posture o f affairs, there seems to be a movement in progress to effect a change in the features o f business-paper. It is, to accept for large sales short notes, drawn to the order o f the buyer, and to offer them for discount without the endorsement o f the seller. A combination o f influential merchants, at a time like this, might effect a revolution in this particular, and thus throw the weight o f mercantile risks upon corporations, rather than, as now, upon knots o f mutual endorsers. It is frequently the case that these cliques absorb a very large proportion o f all the means o f an association ; thus acting in reverse o f the axiom, that the wider range over which moderate risks are spread, on certain con ditions, acting in the nature o f an insurance premium, the more secure are the operations, and the more infallible is the aggregate and eventual profit. T he Parisian bankers, operating upon this principle, discount but a limited amount to each individual customer, over whose habits and business an unremitting watchfulness is kept up. This threatened change in the manner o f doing business, has had a great influence upon the banks, as well as the operation o f the new law o f the state o f N ew Y ork, which went into opera tion July 1st. That law prescribes, as its leading features, that the banks o f the state shall hereafter make quarterly statements o f their affairs public, commencing on the first Monday o f August, 1843 ; and that they shall issue no circulating bills except those to be derived from, and countersigned by the comptroller, with whom the plates are depos- Monthly Commercial Chronicle . ited. 179 These bills have already superseded the others in circulation. The principle on which this latter regulation was based, is, that the institutions cannot be trusted with their own issues. T he public has so often sustained heavy losses by the illegal pledging of their notes, that it requires legislative interference. This produces a singular difference between the issues o f the banks under the free banking law, and those o f the chartered banks, viz : the free banks can issue no bills without depositing adequate security, in New Y ork state stocks— the chartered banks can issue without any security. The trade between the United States and Europe has, o f late years, reversed its char acter, inasmuch as that the policy o f the United States has approached to the prohibitive, while that o f England and Europe has becom e more liberal. The following will show the amount o f articles imported into France and England in 1840, with the amount o f duties levied upon them ; and o f the import o f dutiable imports into the United States, with the accruing duties for 1842:— Imports into England. Duties. Imports into France. D o lla r s . D o lla r s . D o lla r s . Duties. D o lla r s . Imports into U. States. Duties. D o lla r s . D o lla r s . T obacco,.... Other art’s ,. 3,227,880 50,777,910 20,514.816 4,841,998 2,836 7,845,337 24,618,757 2,345,037 62,015,693 16,840,219 T otal,. 54,005,790 28,360,153 29,450,754 2,347,873 62,015,693 16,840,219 W ith the exception o f tobacco, the average English duties are 15 per cent, the French duties 8 per cent, and the United States duties 35.8 per cent. The import duty on to bacco into France is small, but that article is a monopoly enjoyed by the government, and therefore the whole impositions upon it are great. In England, the levy upon tobacco is direct and enormous. This great tax upon tobacco has been one o f the most effective arguments in favor o f a retaliative tariff. The tax imposed by France on the article is an internal regulation, affecting French, equally with foreign tobacco. T he quantity raised in France is about 30,000 hhds., or more than double the amount she receives from the United States. In England, an important revenue is derived from the customs on tobacco, amounting, as seen above, to £4,000,000, or 11 per cent o f the whole reve nues o f the kingdom. T he article o f tobacco is a luxury, and is incapable o f application to any other object than that o f chewing and smoking, which is entirely an acquired taste. The quantity used by any individual for these purposes, is necessarily so small, that, how ever great the burden upon tobacco may be, it is to him o f but little importance. The weed differs from all other articles o f merchandise in two particulars. I f the price is very high, those who are addicted to it can find no substitute, and they must pay the price. On the other hand, no matter how low the price may fall, more than a certain quantity is desired by no votary. It can be applied to no other purpose, nor will those not accustomed to it commence its use because it is cheap. Gradually, with the progress o f population, in all parts o f the world, the use o f tobacco increases ; and facts before us show that the increase keeps in advance o f production. These facts are furnished by the treasury tables. T he following will show the total exports o f tobacco from the United States since 1821, with the average yearly prices per lilid.:— E xport Y ears. 1821,.................... 1822,.................... 1823,.................... 1824,.................... 1825,.................... 1826,.................... 1827,.................... of T obacco from the U nited S tates from to 3842. Value o f snuff and manuf’d. $5,798,045 6,380,020 6,437,627 5,059,355 6,287,976 5,557,342 6,816,147 $149,083 157,182 154,955 203,789 172,353 210,134 239,024 66,858 83,169 99,609 77,883 75,984 64,098 100,025 $5,648,962 6,222,838 6,282,272 4,855,566 6,115,623 5,347,208 6,577,123 $84 74 63 62 80 83 65 $183,788 81,003 $5,864,227 $ 7 3 53 Average 7 years,.. $6,084,073 Hhds. 1841 Total value of to bacco exported. Value. Value per hhd. 49 82 46 34 48 42 75 Monthly Commercial Chronicle . 180 E xports of T obacco from the U nited S tates — Continued. Total value of to bacco exported. Value of snuff and manuf’ d. 1828...................... 1829,................ 1830,.................... 1831,.................... 1832,.................... 1833,.................... 1834,.................... $5,480,707 5,185,370 5,833.112 5,184,863 6,295,540 6,043,941 6,923,714 $210,747 202,306 246,747 292,475 295,771 288,973 328,409 96,278 77,131 83,810 86,718 106,806 83,153 87,979 Average 7 years,. $5,849,749 $265,061 85,982 $5,583,247 $ 6 3 25 1835, .......... 1836, .......... 1837...................... 1838,.................... 1839,.................... 1840,.................... 1841...................... $8,608,188 10,494,104 6,223,483 7,969,449 10,449,155 10,697,628 13,450,580 $357,611 435,464 427,836 577,420 616,212 813,671 873,877 94,353 109,442 100,232 100,593 78,995 119,484 147,828 $8,250,577 10,058,640 5,795,647 7,392,029 9,832,943 9,883,957 12,576,703 $87 91 57 73 124 81 85 Average 7 years, . $9,698,941 $586,013 107,275 $9,112,928 $ 8 5 92 Total, 21 years, $151,177,346 $7,254,129 1,876,828 $143,923,217 $ 7 6 23 Years. Hhds. This table presents certainly a very curious result. Value. Value per lihd. $5,296,960 4,982,974 5,586,365 4,892,388 5,999,769 5,755,968 6,595,305 $ 5 4 73 64 60 6 6 65 56 40 56 18 69 29 74 96 01 54 82 48 47 05 09 In the second seven years, ending with 1834, a very slight increase, only, took place in the quantity exported, yet the price fell largely. T he seven years in which this took place were precisely those embraced by the operation o f the high tariff. In the succeeding seven years, during which the com promise tariff was in progress, a constant increase in exports took place, accompanied by as regular an increase in price. W ithout alleging the tariff to be the cause o f that sin gular variation, we recommend our planting friends to keep it in view, as a remarkable coincidence. ner. Since 1834, the tobacco trade has been developed in a remarkable man T he quantity exported in 1841 was far greater than ever before, and the price higher than the average. N ow this constantly increasing export, accompanied by constantly increasing money-value, is pretty conclusive proof that demand is in excess o f supply, more especially if we keep in view the fact that, during the last few years, all other arti cles have fallen immensely in money-value. From these data, it may be inferred that the steady and regular impositions o f foreign governments upon the article o f tobacco, however onerous they may be to the consumers o f the article among their own citizens, are far less hurtful to the planting interest than a prohibitive tariff here, which, by exclu ding foreign goods, deprives them o f the means o f buying the tobacco at any price. If it is alleged that the impositions o f foreign governments restrict the consumption o f to bacco, then does the onerous tariff o f the United States prohibit it altogether. But it does not appear that the foreign imposts restrict the consumption, because almost the whole production is im ported; and, above all other articles, increasing quantities command improved prices. T he export o f snuff and manufactured tobacco has increased exceed ingly, having more than doubled in quantity and value since 1834. The following is a table o f the places to which manufactured tobacco has been exported since 1833:— E xports of Hanse towns. 1833,.... . ... 18 34,.... . . . . 1835...... . . . . 1 8 3 6 ,.... .... 1 8 3 7 ,.... M anufactured T obacco Holland. England & colonies. from the U nited S tates . Brit. Amer. colonies. France. Other places. Total. P o u n d s• P o u n d s. P ou n d s. P o u n d s. P o u n d s. P ou n d s. P ou n d s- 136,846 76,794 238,795 11,459 169,682 17,394 710,660 671,923 755,853 217,099 828,525 1,259,856 1,576,648 1,342,924 1,196,082 1,262,340 628 60,000 21,654 1,650 18,571 1,512,758 1,553,820 1,458,628 1,820,387 1,428,337 3,790,310 3,956,579 3,817,854 3,246,675 3,615,591 181 Monthly Commercial Chronicle. E xpoets Hanse towns. P ou n d s. . . . . 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, of M anufactured T obacco— Continued. Holland. England &. colonies. P o u n d s. 280,123 34,603 276,801 136,973 526,236 43,467 257,124 31,364 Brit. Amer. colonies. France. Other places. P o u n d s. P ou n d s. P ou n d s. 1,694,571 1,454,996 2,497,664 2,825,737 1,608,908 1,266,716 1,831,536 1,769,935 51,388 ......... 7,550 59,982 P o u n d s. Total. P ou n d s. 1,338,554 545,352 1,880,713 2,559,602 5,008,047 4,214,943 6,787,165 7,503,644 T he trade to England and its dependencies has rapidly and largely increased, having risen in quantity 400 per cent in nine years. T he gross exports have doubled in quan tity, and the value, as seen in the above table, has increased 200 per cent. T he quantity exported increased 100 per cent, and the value 200 per cent, most o f it to England. These are incontrovertible facts; and that this rapid increase o f trade took place precisely in those years when, simultaneous with the generally modified tariff o f England, the de scending scale o f the United States compromise act encouraged freedom o f intercourse, are practical evidences o f the benefit o f reciprocity. T he policy o f the United States was entirely changed by the twenty-seventh Congress. T he system which led to an extended introduction o f United States produce in European countries and their depen dencies, in exchange for the products o f their industry, has been changed. oxport trade, in agricultural products, has received a rude shock. T he growing T he streams o f com mercial intercourse have been suddenly dammed up, and the energies o f the people sought to be turned into channels other than in which their circumstances and their natural disposition directed them. From a lucrative cultivation o f the soil, whereby they profit ably availed themselves o f the cheap labor o f Europe, they are driven into new employ ments, and hazardous enterprises, in opposition to the capital, skill, and pauper labor of the tottering and debt-covered monarchies o f the old world. W hile this terrible revolution has been put on foot by political partisans, the financial movement o f the federal govern ment has been changed. From 1822, down to 1837, the government borrowed no money, but paid o ff $140,000,000, or nearly $10,000 per annum; which, released from stocks, sought other employments. In 1837, the government again began to borrow ; and the twenty-seventh Congress has borrowed and spent $37,135,091 more than its legitimate receipts, creating a debt o f $27,394,261. This is the first debt contracted for revenue purposes, in time o f peace, since the formation o f the government, and is a fearful evi dence o f maladministration. It is the result o f a bold and ruthless change in commercial regulations, whereby mercantile energies are paralyzed, and the sources o f revenue dried up. E X P O R T S T O T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S . Exports o f Cottons, Linens, Woollens, Worsteds, and Blankets, from Liverpool to the United States. Year. 1836............ .... 1837,........... 1838,.......... 1839,........... 1849,........... 1841,........... 1842, .......... Cottons. Linens. Woollens. 41,517 13,113 26,584 23,909 19,912 28,729 13,671 21,123 8,125 15,062 18,502 14,914 21,113 11,054 28,256 10,169 16,350 20,031 9,462 14,841 10,357 V OL. I X .— NO. I I . 16 Worsteds. Blankets. 8,932 4,851 7,236 7,667 4,677 8,582 5,391 5,777 2,612 2,050 3,798 1,248 2,538 1,826 Tot. pkgx. 105,505 38,870 67,282 73,907 50,213 75,803 42,299 182 Commercial Regulations . COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. IM P O R T D U T IE S A T S T . JOH N S. S tatement of D uties payable on and after the 5 th J uly, or I nland navigation. 1843, on I mports by L and Articles prohibited. Imper. duties. Provin. dut. Arms, ammunition, and utensils o f war,.......................................... Prohibited. Prohibited. Base or counterfeit coin,........................................................................... “ “ Books— such as are prohibited to be imported into the United Kingdom, being such books o f which copyright has been se cured, and now in fo rce ,...................................................................... “ “ jFree o f Duty. Beef, (fresh,) cattle or live stock, Indian corn, fish, (fresh,) grain o f all kinds, pork, (fresh,) meal or flour, except wheat flour, potatoes, provisions or stores o f every description imported for the use o f Her Majesty’s land or sea forces,................................. Free. Free. Subject to duty of 4 per cent. Beans, peas, seeds, except garden seeds,......................................... 4 per cent. “ Subject to duty o f 5 per cent. Biscuit or bread, cotton wool, diamonds and bullion, drugs, fruit and vegetables (fresh) except potatoes, gums and resins, hemp, flax, tow, hay and straw, hides, (raw,) manures o f all kinds, rice, tallow, meats (fresh) o f all kinds, except beef and pork, tortoiseshell, wood and lum ber,..................................................... Free. 5 per cent. Subject to different duties. Blubber, fins and skins, the produce o f creatures in the sea, spermaceti, glass manufactures, silk manufactures...... -............ 15 p. cent. Oils, (fish o f all kinds,)........................................................................ Free. Cotton manufactures, clocks and watches, corks, candles, except spermaceti, cordage and oakum, hardware o f all descriptions, linen manufactures, leather manufactures, woollen manufac tures, paper manufactures, soap manufactures,................ 7 per cent. 5 per cent. 8 s. p. cwt. Butter,............................................................................................ B eef or pork, salted or cured,................................................... 3s. Free. 3s. A ll other meat, salted or cured,................................................ 5 per cent. 5s. Cheese,........................................................................................... 5s. Coffee, green,........................................................... . ................... 2 d. per lb. “ roasted,............................................................................ 5s. 5 per cent. 5s. groundj............................................................................ 4 d. per lb. Is. 5 per cent. Cocoa,. 2 s. Fish, salted or dried,......................... Free. 4s. per bbl. 44 pickled, per barrel,................... Free. 3s. p. cwt. Is. 6d. cwt. M olasses,............................................. 4 per cent. Syrups,................................................ 20 44 2d. per lb. Sugar, refined,.................................... “ 5s. p. cwt. Id. “ unrefined,................................ “ 7 per cent. 2d. T ob a cco, manufactured, all kinds,. “ 4s. p. cwt. Id. “ leaf,..................................... “ 1 d. per lb. 3 d . Tea,. 2 s. 6 d. bbl. Free. Salt, per barrel o f 280 lbs,.................................................................. W heat flour, per barrel o f 196 lbs.,.................................................. 2 s. per bbl. Free. W in e, (M adeira,).................................................................................. 7 per cent. Is. per gal. 6 d. “ 44 all others,................................................................................... Spirits, cordials or strong waters, sweetened or mixed, so that the strength cannot be ascertained,.............................................. Is. per gal. Is. Id. gal. Spirits or strong waters, except rum, not mixed or sweetened, and not exceeding strength o f proof,............................................ Is. 44 6<f. “ 183 Commercial Regulations. Imper. duties. Provin. dut. Is. 6d. gal. A nd further for any greater strength than p ro o f,...................... And further in addition for every 100 gallons, not exceeding the strength o f proof, £ 2 10 s.— per 10 per cent over proo£ £ 2 5s.— for 20 per cent over proof, £ 2 — and so in proportion for any greater or less strength or quantity. Rum, not mixed or sweetened, and not exceeding strength o f proof,................................................................................................... 6d. per gal. 6 d. “ A nd further, for any greater strength,.......................................... Is. “ And further, in addition for every 100 gallons, without any reference to strength, £ 2 1 0 s., or 6d. per gallon, and so in proportion for any greater or less quantity. Household goods, and necessaries o f all kinds for private use, the property o f persons coming to settle within this province, are subject to duty under the imperial act 5 and 6 Victoria, chap. 49, according to their description. All articles not enumerated, except such as are comprised or re ferred to in the table o f exemptions, are subject to duty,........4 per cent. 5 per cent. W e mention a few articles o f general import paying this duty :— Ashes, arrow root, apples, (dried,) baskets, bricks, bristles, brooms, cement, chocolate, cider, crockery, currants, dyewoods, earthenware, essences, fruit, preserved or pickled, figs, furs, honey, hops, indigo, leather, lard, lemon syrup, marble, medicines, musical instruments, nuts o f all kinds, oil o f lard, oil olives, pepper, pickles, pitch, prunes, raisins, salad oil, spices, sponge, starch, straw, all manufactures of, tar, vinegar, whetstones, & c. By virtue o f the imperial act 3 and 4 William IV, cap. 59, and provincial statute 4 and 5 Victoria, cap. 16, all goods imported into this province may be bonded for ware housing without payment o f duties on the first o f entry thereof. Bonds may be given for all provincial duties, when amounting to .£50 currency and upwards, with conditions for payment in six months from date o f such bonds, if the same shall be dated on or be fore the first day o f Septem ber; and if dated after the first day o f September, then they becom e due on the first o f April next ensuing. A ll duties collected under the imperial act shall be deemed sterling money o f Great Britain, and be paid and received accord ing to the imperial weights and measures now by law established. A ll duties collected under the provincial statute shall be deemed sterling money o f Great Britain, and shall be paid and received according to British weights and measures in use on 6 th July, 1825. T en per cent will be added to invoice cost o f all articles paying per centage duties un der the imperial act, and duties will be levied accordingly. V A L U A T IO N OF R E A L A N D P E R S O N A L P R O P E R T Y OF N E W Y O R K . It will be seen that the value o f real estate in the state at large, is nearly double what it was in 1828, and in the city more than double. The personal property has increased in nearly the same ratio. NEW YORK STATE---- INCLUDING CITY. Year. 1828,................ ........ 1831,................ ........ 1832................. ........ 1833,................ 1834,................ ........ 1835,................ 1836,................ ........ 1837,................ ....... 1838,................ 1839,................ ........ 1840,................ 1841................. ........ 1842,................ NEW YORK CITY. Real. Personal. Real. Personal. $275,861,471 289,457,104 299,510,739 $68,785,292 75,258,726 77,011,007 96,601,946 109,660,506 124,394,293 127,639,486 122,144,173 124,660,778 131,602,988 121,449,830 123,311,644 116,595,233 $87,603,580 97,221,870 104,042,405 114,129,561 123,249,280 143,732,425 233,742,303 196,450,109 194,543,359 196,778,434 187,121,464 186,347,246 176,512,342 $37,684,938 42,058,344 42,260,213 52,365,626 63,299,231 74,991,278 75,758,617 67,297,241 69,609,582 70,010,796 65,721,699 65,430,456 61,294,559 350,011,629 539,756,874 499,313,276 519,058,782 531,987,886 Steamboat and Railroad Statistics . 184 S T E A M B O A T AND R A I L R O A D S T A T I S T I C S . S T E A M N A V IG A T IO N OF T H E HU DSON R IV E R . THE PEOPLE’ S LINE---- NIGHT BOATS. T he progress o f steam navigation since the launching o f the Clermont, o f Fulton, the first boat that ploughed the waters o f the Hudson, is truly astonishing. T he speed has been increased from five to eighteen miles an hour. T o the State o f N ew Y ork, with one side resting on the sea and the other upon the great lakes— with Niagara thunder, ing upon its western boundary, and its eastern seacoast serenaded by the roar o f the ocean— this empire, within itself combining agricultural and commercial resources in a remarkable degree, with a population, for the most part, sprung from the N ew England hive, moulded, in due proportions, with other elements— a population distinguished for its enterprise, liberality, and perseverance;— to N ew Y ork, holding in her right hand the trident o f the waters, and in the left the plough o f the western prairies, belongs the fining credit o f first setting afloat this power— the crowning glory o f its commercial victories. In a former number o f this Magazine we gave a description o f the T roy and Empire, o f the day line between N ow Y ork, Albany, and T r o y ; we now proceed to lay before our readers a brief account o f the steamers composing the People’s (night) Line. T he People’s Line consists o f the steamboats Knickerbocker, South America, Roches ter, North America, and Utica, forming two daily evening lines between N ew Y ork and A lb a n y ; one at 5 o’ clock P. M ., stopping at the intermediate landings, and the other at 7 P. M ., which proceeds direct, without landing. The Rochester, Captain A . Houghton, is two hundred and seventy-five feet long, and twenty-five feet beam. She has in her main cabins below three hundred berths, fifty in the ladies’ saloon on the main deck, which is eighty feet in length, and fifty-two in a suite o f twenty-six state-rooms on the upper deck, which, together with two large rooms on the guards, afford sleeping accommodations for about four hundred and fifty persons. T he South America, Captain L. W . Brainard, is two hundred and seventy-five feet long, twenty-seven feet wide, nine feet six inches deep, and measures six hundred and forty tons. She has twTo hundred berths in the gentlemen’s cabin, forty-eight in the ladies’ saloon, which is eighty-one feet in length on the main deck aft, and fifty-two in twenty-two splendid state-rooms, which enclose a fine sitting-room on the upper deck. T he North America, Captain M . H. Truesdell, is two hundred and fifty feet long, twenty-six feet beam, and nine feet depth o f hold. She has accommodations in her cabins and state-rooms for about three hundred persons. T he steamboat Utica is used as a spare boat, and, in the winter season, for hard ser vice, has rendered herself celebrated for her formidable encounters with the ice. She is two hundred feet in length, and twrenty-three in breadth, and can accommodate about three hundred persons with berths. T h e proprietors o f this line have spared neither pains nor expense in the construction and fitting out o f these boats. They have adopted all the new improvements which have been proved to lessen the risk o f accident, or add to the comfort and convenience o f passengers. Daniel Drew and Isaac Newton, Esqs., the principal owners, have, with the assistance o f Messrs. Smith and Dimon, ship builders, N . G. Minor, joiner, J. E . Coffee, boiler maker, H ogg and Delamater, engine builders, and other mechanics, de termined to add to their already excellent line a steamboat which, in size, extent o f ac- 185 Steamboat and Railroad Statistics. commodation, speed, elegance and beauty o f finish, will equal, if not surpass, any on the navigable waters o f the world. The Knickerbocker is three hundred and twenty-five feet long, thirty-two feet wide, nine feet nine inches depth o f hold, and will measure one thousand and forty-two tons; a greater amount o f tonnage than any other American steam vessel. H er engine was built at the Phoenix foundry. T he cylinder is sixty-five inches in diameter, and ten feet stroke. T he main water-wheel shafts are o f wrought iron, forged at Cold Spring, N ew Y ork, are sixteen inches in diameter, and weigh thir ty-one thousand seven hundred and sixty pounds. James Cunningham, Esq. T he cut-off is the one invented by T he boilers are intended for burning anthracite coal, aided by a blast from blowers, driven by two small engines. feet in diameter, and eleven feet face. T he water-wheels are thirty-two T he hull is built o f the best materials, well fastened, and unusually strong, in order that she may run, if necessary, on other waters than the Hudson. The main cabins below are three hundred feet in length, and are furnished with three hundred berths, sixty o f which are in state-rooms. T he ladies’ saloon is ninety feet long, twenty-nine feet wide, and has sixty.four berths, twenty.four o f which are in twelve state-rooms. On the upper deck there are fifty-six state-rooms, extending on the sides o f the boat from the pilot’s wheel to the promenade deck, between which is a large saloon, intended for a ladies and gentlemen’s sitting-room. Her state-rooms number, altogether, one hun dred and three, twelve o f which are in the ladies’ cabin, thirty in the dining cabin below, fifty-six on the upper deck, and five on the main deck. She is to commanded by A . P . St. John, long and favorably known as captain o f the Rochester. She will be completed by the 1st o f August. B O S T O N A N D W O R C E S T E R R A IL R O A D . T he report o f the directors o f the Boston and Worcester railroad, presented at the late annual meeting o f the stockholders, announces the near completion o f the second track o f that road, and o f the ample buildings for the accommodation o f the increased freight and travel that may be anticipated at the several stations. T he whole expenditure, to the date o f the report, was $2,885,374 45, to meet which a capital had been already paid in o f $2 ,70 0 ,0 0 0 ; and this amount will probably be increased by the creation o f 2,000 additional shares, making a capital o f $2,900,000. Over $500,000, in addition to the amount given by the South Cove corporation, have been expended for real estate, tools, and fixed machinery in Boston, including about ten acres o f land. About an equal amount has been expended for land and buildings out o f Boston— land for the track, engines, and cars; and $1,680,000 for the road itself, including the two tracks, the branches, sidelings, bank walls, bridges, and every expense immediately connected with the road itself. P H IL A D E L P H IA , W IL M IN G T O N , A N D B A L T IM O R E R A IL R O A D . T he Fifth Annual Report o f the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad Company, embraces some interesting statements. T he gross receipts o f the road for 1842, were $ 3 86,8 74; receipts on the Newcastle and Frenchtown Railroad for the same period, $ 8 2 ,9 8 3 ; joint gross receipts, $469,857. T he largest receipts for passengers, $38,370, were in the month o f M a y ; the largest receipts for freight, $7,293, were in the month o f February. T he largest gross receipts, in 1841, were $603,868, being an increase o f $134,010 over 1842. $239,965. Expenses in 1841, $ 3 42,9 40; expenses in 1842, Decrease in net revenue in 1842, $31,080. T he saving in expense for the last year is a very important matter, and speaks well for the management o f the road. 16* 186 Statistics o f Population. S T A T I S T I C S OF P O P U L A T I O N . IR IS H CENSUS F O R 1841. T he Dublin Mercantile Advertiser contains the following curious and interesting statement:— T he census, which was simultaneously taken in every parish in Ireland on a given day in 1841, and which has occupied a considerable staff in its preparation for publication, will soon be printed and laid before Parliament. and interesting details will be supplied for the first time. A variety o f curious T he exact amount o f the population, rated according to sex and age— and the diseases which are most prevalent and fatal— the number o f insane persons under restraint, with other statistical details, will, we understand, be given with a surprising degree o f accuracy. T he following is a return o f the population:— Males. Leinster,...................................... Munster,..................................... Connaught,................................ Ulster,......................................... Females. 963,747 1,186,190 707,884 1,161,846 Leinster,............. ........................ Munster,...................................... Connaught,.................................. Ulster,.......................................... 1,009,984 1,209,971 711,072 1,224,579 Total males........................ 4,019,667 Total population,. Total.................................... .................... 8,175,273 3,155,606 In 1821, the population was..................................................................................... 1831 “ “ ............. ........................................................................ 1841 “ “ ...................................................................................... 6,801,827 7,767,401 8,175,273 Increase between 1821 and 1831............................ “ “ 1831 “ 1841,........................ 965,547 407,872 From this it appears that the increase during the ten years up to 1841, was 557,702 less than it had been in ten years preceding. This extremely reduced rate o f increase is a very remarkable and extraordinary fact. It is evident that, during the last ten years, there has been a very decided check to the progress o f population in Ireland. T he increase in England, during the ten years from 1831 to 1841, was 2,004,794, which was more than one-seventh upon the population o f 1831. T he increase in Ireland, during the same ten years, was 407,872, which was little more than one-twentieth o f the population o f 1831. T he increase in England has been in the ratio o f nearly 3 to 1, as compared with Ireland. This is the first time that Ireland has shown a less degree o f increase than England. CENSUS OF U PPER C A N A D A . T he late census o f Upper Canada gives the population as 506,655, o f which number the natal country o f— 40,684 78,255 39,781 247,665 is England. is Ireland. is Scotland. is Canada, o f British origin. 13,969 6,681 32,838 7,595 is Canada, o f French origin. is the Continent o f Europe. is the United States. are foreigners, not naturalized. 187 Commercial Statistics. COMMERCI AL S T AT I S T I CS . E X P O R T S OF IN D IA N CORN A N D C O R N M E A L . A statement o f the quantity o f Indian corn and meal exported from the United States from 1791 to 1841, inclusive; also, the value o f the same, from 1803 to 1841. Years. Corn. Meal. Value. B u s h e ls . B a r r e ls . D o lla r s . 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1,713,241 1,964,973 1,233,768 1,505,977 1,935,345 1,173,552 804,922 1,218,231 1,200,492 1,694,327 1,768,162 1,633,283 2,079,608 1,944,873 861,501 1,064,263 1,018,721 249,533 522,047 1,054,252 2,790,850 2,039,999 1,486,970 61,284 830,516 1,077,614 351,695 263,405 189,715 241,570 512,445 540,286 254,799 211,694 231,226 338,108 919,355 266,816 133,606 111,327 116,131 108,342 136,460 30,818 57,260 86,744 147,426 90,810 58,521 26,438 72,634 89,119 2,025,000 2,500,000 1.442.000 1.286.000 987,000 298,000 547,000 1,138,000 2,896,000 1,939,000 1,838,000 170,000 1.140.000 1.646.000 Years. Corn. Meal. B u s h e ls . 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823, 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 387,454 1,075,190 1,086,762 533,741 607,277 509,098 749,034 779,297 869,644 505,381 978,664 70,492 897,656 444,107 571,312 451,230 437,174 303,449 755,781 124,791 151,276 172,321 162,306 574,279 535,727 Value. B a r r e ls . D o lla r s . 106,763 120,029 135,271 146,316 131,669 148,228 141,501 152,723 187,225 158,652 131,041 174,639 173,775 145,301 207,604 146,710 146,678 149,609 166,782 140,917 159,435 171,843 165,672 206,063 232,2S4 1,328,522 2,335,405 1,423,792 843,025 606,279 900,656 930,485 736,340 878,073 1,007,321 1,022,464 822,858 974,535 597,119 992,051 758,775 871,814 695,483 1,217,665 725,262 1,011,634 864,391 799,516 1,043,516 995,411 C O N S U M P T IO N OF T O B A C C O IN E N G L A N D . W e have received, fresh from the London press, (1843,) another volume o f “ The Progress o f the British Nation in its various Social and Econom ical Relations, from the beginning o f the nineteenth century to the present time. By G. R . Porter, Esq., F . R . S.” The present volume relates to “ Consumption, Accumulation, Moral Progress, Colonial and Foreign Dependencies.” W e shall, from time to time, lay before our readers the most important and interesting portions o f it. W e extract the following remarks and tables, all that relate to the consumption o f tobacco in Great Britain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom at different periods, from the commencement o f the nineteenth century to the present period (1841) inclusive. T he quantity o f this plant upon which consumption duty is paid is considerably less at the present time, taking the kingdom throughout and making allowance for the in creased population, than it was at the beginning o f the present century. clearly attributable to the increase made in the rate o f duty. This fact is In great towns and among the easy classes, and especially among our young men whose expenditure is least likely to be carefully regulated as regards minor luxuries, the smoking o f tobacco is probably much greater now than it has been at any earlier period. T he falling o ff in the con sumption is principally experienced in Ireland, where the smoking o f tobacco has long 188 Commercial Statistics. been a chief luxury among the working classes, and where, considering the few comforts that usually fall to their lot, its diminution betokens a great degree o f privation. Con trasting 1839 with 1801, it will be seen that the average use o f tobacco in Ireland is only one-half what it was at the beginning o f the century, and although the rate o f duty is now about three times what it was in 1891, the contribution per head to the revenue has advanced only 75 per cent. In Great Britain, where the condition o f the people generally has been more satisfactory than in Ireland, the consumption per head is now about equal to what it was at the beginning o f the century, and the contribution to the revenue has consequently been more in agreement with the increased rate o f the duty. G re at B r it a in . Years. 1801,....... 1811,....... 1821,....... 1831,....... 1841,....... Pounds weight consumed. Duty per pound. lb s . .5. d. 10,514,998 14,923,243 12,983,198 15,350,018 16,830,593 1 2 4 3 7 6-20 2 13-20 0 0 Amount o f duty. £ 923,855 1,710,848 2,600,415 2,338,107 2,716,217 Aver, contri Aver, yearly bution to the consumption. revenue. o zs. s. d. 15.37 18.95 14.43 14.84 14.52 1 2 8i 8J 3 7f 2 93 2 113 It is made evident by these figures that the duty o f 4s. per lb. was excessive. The advance to that rate from 2 s. 2d. caused a diminished consumption to the extent o f onefourth; and the revenue per head, which, had the consumption not been lessened, would have been 4s. 10Jd., amounted to only 3s. 7|d. Years. Pounds weight consiuned. Duty per pound. lb s. s. d. 1801,........ 1811,....... 1821,........ 1831,........ 1841,....... 6,389,754 6,453,024 2,614,954 4,183,823 5,478,767 1 1 3 3 3 0 7-10 7 0 1801,........ 1811,........ 1821,........ 1831......... 1841,....... 16,904,752 21,376,267 15,598,152 19,533,841 22,309,360 0 0 Amount o f duty. £ 285,482 552,082 528,168 626,485 863,946 Aver, yearly consumption. o zs. 18.95 17.35 6.15 8.61 10.71 Aver, contri bution to the revenue. s. d. 1 0£ 1 10£ 1 6J 1 7£ 2 0 1 5J U nited K ingdom . ........ 1,209,337 2,262,930 3,122,583 2,964,930 3,580,164 16.05 18.44 11.77 12.85 13.36 2 54 2 1 14 2 54 2 8 One great evil that attends upon exorbitant taxation on this article o f consumption, is the encouragement that it gives to smuggling. The amount o f the duty is so vastly out o f proportion to its value, that the contraband dealer can afford to lose several ventures if he can succeed in safely disposing o f one. T he high rates o f duty charged on tobacco in various European countries have been felt as a grievance by some o f the states o f the American Union, and threats have for some time been used, that unless an alteration be made in those rates, retaliatory meas ures will be taken, and heavy duties placed upon some o f the staple manufactures o f Europe when imported into the United States. This very ineffectual, hut by no means uncommon method o f meeting the ease, has very recently been adopted by the Ameri can congress. T he result o f the new tariff o f the United States will, in all probability, be to limit the sales as well as the purchases o f America, and instead of causing an in creased vent for tobacco, to diminish it by lessening the means which foreigners have for buying. Commercial Statistics . 189 E X P O R T S OF T O B A C C O F R O M T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S . A statement o f the quantity o f Tobacco exported from the United States in each year from 1791 to 1841, and of the value o f the same from 1802 to 1841, inclusive, com piled from official documents. Years. 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794......... 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801,....... 1 8 0 2 ; ....... 1803,........ 1804......... 1805,........ 1806,........ 1807......... 1808,........ 1809,........ 1810,....... 1811,........ 1812,........ 1813,........ 1814,........ 1815, 1816, Hogsheads. Value. N u m b er. D o lla r s . 101,272 .................... .................... 112,428 .................... 59,947 76,826 .................... 61,050 69,018 .................... .................... 58,167 .................... 68,567 96,070 .................... .................... 78,680 103,758 77,721 86,291 83,343 71,252 83,186 62,186 9,576 53,921 84,134 35,828 26,094 5,314 3,125 .................... 88,337 .................... 69,241 6 ,2 2 0 ,0 0 0 6,209,000 6,000,000 6,341,000 6,572,000 5,476,000 26,000 3,774,000 5,048,000 2,150,000 1,514,000 319,000 232,000 8,235,000 12,809,000 Years. Hogsheads. N u m b e r. 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, 1821,........ 1822,........ 1823,........ 1824......... 1825, 1826, 1827,....... 1828^........ 1829,....... 1830,....... 1831,....... 1832,........ 1833,....... 1834......... 1835,........ 1836,........ 1837,....... 1838,....... 1839,....... 1840,....... 1841,........ 62,365 .................... .................... 84,337 69,427 .................... 83,940 .................... 66,858 83,169 99,009 77,883 75,984 .................... 64,098 .................... 100,025 96,278 77,131 83,810 86,718 106,806 83,153 87,979 94,353 109,442 100,232 100,593 78,995 119,484 147,828 Value. D o lla r s . 9,511,529 10,241,304 8,874,167 8,118,188 5,798,045 6,380,020 6,437,627 5,059,355 6,287,976 5,347,208 6,816,146 5,480,707 5,185,370 5,833,112 4,892,388 5,999,769 5,755,968 6,595,308 8,250,577 10,058,640 5,795,647 7,392,029 9,832,943 9,883,957 12,576,703 B A L T IM O R E F LO U R T R A D E . The miller’s year, as we learn from Lyford’s Commercial Chronicle, commences with July, and ends with June. The following is the amount o f flour inspected in the city o f Baltimore during the last three years, ending June o f each year, v iz :— B a r r e ls . H a l f B b ls . 1842 to 1843— 1st quarter ending September 30,.................... “ 2d “ “ December 31,....................... “ 3d “ “ March 31,.............................. “ 4th « “ June 3 0 ,................................ 150,893 186,502 111,765 102,473 9,480 8,595 3,185 7,440 Total,............................................................................ 551,633 1841 to 1842— 1st “ 2d “ 3d “ 4th 28,700 quarter ending September 30 ,................ “ “ December 31,....................... “ « March 31,............................. “ “ June 3 0 ,................................ 144,115 179,217 111,441 99,965 T otal,............................................................................ 534,738 1840 to 1841— 1st quarter ending September 30,.................... “ 2d “ “ December 31........................ “ 3d “ “ March 31,.............................. “ 4th “ “ June 30.................................. 136,625 198,530 166,264 123,420 8,075 9,907 6,474 7,846 624,839 32,302 Total,........................................................................... 8,810 8,586 4,412 4,475 26,283 190 Commercial Statistics. T R A D E OF BU FFALO. T he Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, o f July 1st, 1843, gives the subjoined list o f arri vals, & c., with the aggregate o f principal articles landed at that port from the commence ment o f lake navigation to 1st July, for three seasons :— IMPORTS AT THIS PORT TO FIRST JULY. Articles. F lour,.................................. W h e a t ,.............................. C o r n ,................................. Oats, .................................. Ashes,................................ W h iskey,........................... T o b a cco ,........................... Hams and bacon............... Pork,................................... S e e d ,.................................. Fish,.................................... Butter and lard,............... H ides,................................ Lead,.................................. Brooms,............................. Staves,................................ 1841. 1842. 255,034 397,674 136,264 116,806 7,179 7,628 693 1,272 47,872 3,682 304 33,304 13,001 8,014 1,229 2,320,000 284,188 328,447 34,317 * 3,241 8,311 unknown 3,548 59,423 2,757 1,232 20,536 11,298 unknown 3,181 2,861,000 1843. 322,434 428,247 32,700 none. 14,587 4,049 1,192 3,244 34,178 3,252 660 28,942 10,640 8,130 877 457,000 Below will also be found the date o f commencing lake business, the number o f arri vals, the quantity o f wheat and flour landed up to the 1st July, with the prices paid at that period for those two articles, for five seasons :— Lake open— Arrivals. Wheat. Value. Flour. B u s h e ls . 1843, 1842, 1841, 1840, 1839, May 6,................ March 7,............. April 14............... April 2 4 ,.............. April 1 1 ,.............. 670 812 698 546 446 428,247 397,674 328,447 261,262 349,688 Value. B a r r e ls . $ 1 12 1 10 1 10 75 1 12 322,434 255,034 284,188 218,206 142,321 $5 5 4 3 5 12 12 90 70 63 This exhibit shows that although the arrivals here have been one hundred and fortytwo less than in 1842, the aggregate o f wheat landed is 30,572 bushels greater, while the excess o f flour received is 67,400 barrels above the same season ; and so in proportion to the three preceding years. T he universal cry among the dealers before navigation com menced, was— “ T he receipts will be short; the grain is not in the country to come forth.” H ow fallacious! M IC H IG A N . Exports from the Port o f Detroit in 1842. F lour,.......................... 180,210 n 19,461 P o rk ,........................... u Fish,............................. 11,894 L ard ,........................... .... “ 107 Butter,......................... . . . “ 609 W heat,......................... 98,923 C orn ,........................... .... “ 100 Pot Ashes,................. __ tons... 912 j Grass & Flax Seed, tcs. & bbls. 767 Amounting, in value, to W hiskey & High W ines, casks. W . I. &, Stand. Staves, .M ...... Hams,................. (t Shoulders,.......... « W o o l,................. Lumber,............... Michigan Glass,. it M erchandise,.... Broom s,.............. 383 7734 108,155 35,500 33,464 3,000 1,860 130 362 $1,108,496 81 T he value o f exports from this district to Canada amounted, during the year, to $323,943 41. * Included in the corn. Commercial Statistics . 191 E X P O R T S OF D O M E S T IC M A N U F A C T U R E S OF C O T T O N . The following statement, showing the annual amount o f the exports o f domestic man ufactures o f cotton to each o f the different countries to which they were chiefly sent from the United States in each year, from 1826 to 1842, was compiled from the annual reports of the Secretary o f the Treasury on commerce and navigation by a correspondent o f the United States Gazette :— M exico Has been a regular, and, for several years, a large customer, as well for colored as for white goods. O f the former, in 1826 she took $20,464, in 1835 $2 91,7 80; since then there has been a falling off in the amount, so that, in 1841, it was only $52,079. O f white goods she received, in 1826, $309,807 ; in 1835, $1,054,608 ; which has since gradually declined to $61,583 in 1841, owing, probably, to the perturbed state o f that country. Year. Colored. White. Year. Colored. White. 1826,........... $20,464 $309,807 1834,........... $91,249 $417,502 311,492 18,397 1835,........... 1827,........... 291,780 1,054,608 63,106 1828,........... 1836,........... 2,818 789,831 1829,........... 48,704 116,627 223,015 1837,........... 94,920 32,832 1830,............ 465,331 1838,........... 99,109 371,023 79,737 1831............. 342,837 1839,........... 170,523 100,617 1832............. 29,200 165,701 1840............. 86,883 155,220 1833,........... 235,481 578,057 1841,........... 52,079 61,583 T he C entrill R epublic Has likewise regularly received from us since 1826, but to a comparatively small extent. Year. Colored. White. Year. Colored. White. 1826,........... $1,254 $22,061 1834,........... $28,123 1827;........... 738 41,887 1835,........... $2,724 18,134 4,328 17,070 1836,........... 1828,.......... 20,459 21,321 1829,.......... 6,046 23,616 1837,........... 5,931 51,178 1830........... 540 35,468 1838............. 7,788 48,938 200 14,849 1831........... 1839,........... 1,414 36,470 1832, .................... 3,151 27,240 1840............. 13,677 68,093 14,490 103,323 1841,........... 1833, . 5,539 46,314 T exas, Considering the unsettled state o f the country since its independence, has formed a con siderable outlet for our manufactures, and, when established, will no doubt afford a per manent and extensive market. T he first exports appear to have been made in 1837. Year. 1 83 7 ,.............. 1 83 8 ,.............. 1839,.............. Colored. $ 9 ,5 9 3 30,711 95,857 White. $ 5 0 ,0 5 1 29,553 138,603 Year. 1 8 4 0 ,............. 1 84 1 ,............ Colored. $ 8 6 ,3 0 0 54,3 93 White. $ 6 7 ,4 8 8 43,030 H onduras Has taken, nearly every year, both white and colored goods, and the export is increasing. Year. Colored. White. Year. 1827.................. $450 1828, .............................. 1829, ............................... 1832, ...... 5,454 1833, ...... 1,699 1834, ............................... 1835, ...... 944 $476 250 955 1,400 9,221 2,742 11,102 1836.................. $507 ...... 1,742 1837, 1838,......................................... 1839, ...... 607 1840, ...... 1,246 1841, ........................................ Colored. White. $3,270 5,292 13,754 25,061 25,044 33,173 C hili Has uniformly been our largest customer, especially for white goods, receiving at the same time, to some extent, colored goods also. Year. 1826, 1827, 1828, Colored. .............................. ...... 1,894 ...... 15,747 White. $37,403 271,033 503,989 Year. 1829, 1830, 1831, ...... ...... ...... Colored. White. $52,090 5,847 4,456 $341,695 90,077 306,336 Commercial Statistics. 192 Year. 1832,................ 1833,................ 1834,................ 1835,................ 1836,................ Colored. $275 10,913 7,029 5,828 123,771 C hili— Continued. White. Y ear. $278,146 1837,................ 346,651 1838,................ 316,548 1839,................ 1840,................ 249,310 1841,................ 273,359 Colored. $57,865 4,006 20,989 30,687 12,870 White. $660,717 634,201 914,604 827,931 470,419 Furnishes the next largest market for both white and colored goods. Year. Colored. White. Colored. Year. 1834................. $1,559 $215,287 $16,365 1826.................. 2,736 1835,................ 20,827 63,880 1827,................ 1836,................ 109,853 12,161 1828,................ 2,544 172,231 86,769 1837,................ 1829,................ 5,904 54,234 1838,................ 554 32,887 1830,................ 62,541 1839,................ 1,388 61,017 1831,................ 166,023 1840,................ 79,533 13,244 1832,................ 207,151 1841,................ 164,031 16,545 1833,................ White. $206,824 246,089 187,967 217,095 499,847 231,242 391,170 424,701 B razil T he C isplatine R epublic Commenced receiving our manufactures in 1837 to a small extent. Colored. White. Year. Colored. Year. $1,172 $344 1840,................ $6,494 1837,................ 3,154 16,190 1841,................ 6,548 1838,................ 10,866 11,294 1839,................ B uenos A White. $26,165 12,752 y res . Till 1828, and durii g the remainder o f the period, the Argentine Republic received regularly o f cotton goods from the United States. Colored. White. Year. Colored. White. Year. $2,486 $42,591 1834,................ $4 ,824 1826,................ $258,35? 370 5,531 1835,................ 101,488 1827,................ 136 17,967 1836,................ 13,184 83,423 1828,................ 4,081 143,570 1837,................ 2,803 50,657 1829,................ 43,509 1,265 1838,................ 5,496 1830,................ 98,596 30 32,922 1839,................ 2,105 1831,................ 45,139 38,116 127,857 1840,................ 1832,................ 864 92,405 12,419 138,466 1841,................ 21,622 131,342 1833,................ P eru , From 1820 to 1832, was a regular customer, omitting 1831. N o further exports appear to have been made till 1837 and 1838, since when they have ceased. Year. 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, Colored. ...... ...... ...... ...... $11,700 257 5,674 1,612 White. $29,706 62,324 40,290 41,556 Years. Colored. 1830,........................................ ' 1832,......................................... 1837,................ $32,466 1838.......................................... White. $2,481 2,223 15,104 97,713 C olombia Has been a small but regular customer from 1826 to 1838, when Venezuela and New Grenada took her place. Year. 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, Colored. ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... $3,230 2,598 1,803 358 295 980 3,057 White. $14,411 14,284 5,138 4,555 11,693 14,623 20,378 Year. 1833,................ 1834.................. 1835, ...... 1836, ...... 1837, ...... 1838, ...... Colored. $1,852 15,914 9,426 12,217 27,739 11,543 White. $33,343 41,422 44,209 50,035 70,418 43,715 Venezuela in 1839 took o f colored goods, $ 2 ,0 0 3 ; 1840, $ 1 2 ,5 6 9 ; 1841, $ 3 ,9 8 8 ; and o f white goods in 1838, $16,945 ; 1839, $ 4 9 ,5 4 9 ; 1840, $ 8 0 ,6 2 1 ; 1841, $26,083. N ew Grenada in 1839 took all white goods, $2 ,858 ; 1840, $3,527 ; 1841, $1,794. 193 Commercial Statistics. S outh A merica , g enerally . Under this head, in addition to the foregoing, there were exported in 1827, $2,339 j in 1829, $9 67 ; in 1834, $ 9 0 ; in 1839, $ 1 2 ,2 7 6 ; in 1840, $ 5 8 ,8 1 0 ; and in 1841, $37,760, all white g o o d s ; and in 1840, $7 66, and in 1841, $21,051 o f colored goods. C hina Does not now, for the first time, receive our cotton manufactures, having, since 1826, been a customer to a considerable amount, viz :— Year. Colored. White. 1826, ...... $154 1827, .............................. 1828................................................. 1829, ..................................... 1830, ......................... 1831, ............................... 1832, ......................... 1833, ...... 64,881 Year. Colored. $14,776 1834,........................................ 1835................. $2,552 9,388 ...... 15,351 14,9811836, 25,9131837, ...... 11,997 1838, ...... 11,280 52,080 1839, ...... 6,360 49,256 1840, ....... 87,480 1841.................. 127,813 T u r ke y , L e v a n t , and White. $146,881 170,175 70,394 189,255 507,560 255,975 361,995 173,755 E g ypt , With the exception o f $ 4 1 7 in 1828, and $1 72 in 1829, have received all in white cottons. White. Year. 1826,.................. 1827,................. 1828................... 1829,................. 1830,................. 1831,................. 1832,................. 1833,................. Year. Colored. 1826,................ 1827,................ 1828,................ 1829,................ 1830,................ 1831,................ $300 67 1,025 396 Year. $29,058 46,321 3,880 4,004 29,117 11,599 32,961 70,902 1834,.................... 1835,.................... 1836,.................... 1837,.................... 1838,.................... 1839,.................... 1840,.................. 1841,.................... N C oast . Year. White. $30,433 14,969 51,240 21,720 111,947 48,996 63,749 81,780 orth w e st White. $9,951 14,364 17,488 1,075 7,188 5,113 1832,................ 1833,................ 1834,................ 1835,................ 1836,................ 1840,................ Colored. $1,130 6,104 24 White. $11,226 8,239 12,269 4,809 5,900 59 S outh S eas, Comm enced in 1826, and have furnished a regular market. Year. Colored. $4 33 1,180 1,824 1,194 1826,................ 1828................. 1829,................ 1830,................ 1831,................ 1833,................ 1834,................ 4,677 96 White. Year. $3,859 9,403 2,064 600 371 7,455 3,911 1835,................ 1836,................ 1837,................ 1838,................ 1839,................ 1840,................ Colored- $4,060 5.359 6,371 White. $4,185 24,764 8,848 11,590 37,739 49,174 S andwich I slands. Year. 1837,................ 1838,................ Colored. IWhite $11,590 $15,227 4,060 Year. Colored. 1839,................ 1840,................ $37,739 49,174 White. $5,350 6,371 In the report o f 1841, these two are united- -$45,373 worth o f colored, and $60,128 worth o f white goods. A u stralia , In 1838, received $9 10 worth o f cotton g o o d s ; and in 1840, $3,590. v o l . i x . — xro. i i . 17 194 Commercial Statistics. M an illa and P hilippine I slands, Have been regular customers since 1828 ; taking altogether o f white goods, excepting $3 62 worth o f colored in 1829. White. Year. Year. $534 1835,............................................. 1828,................................................ $35,471 1836.............................................. 1829, ....................................... 190 5,030 1838,............................................. 25,024 1830, ...................................... 79,531 1839,............................................. 1831,................................................. 8,571 95,416 1832,................................................ 2,680 1840.............................................. 80,271 1834,................................................. 3,662 1841,............................................. 33,050 A sia , generally . . Besides the preceding, there have been regular exports to other parts o f Asia, under this general head. Year. 1 82 6 ............... 1 827............... 1 82 8 ................ 1 8 2 9 ,.............. 1 8 3 0 ,.............. 1 8 3 1 ,.............. 1 8 3 2 ,.............. 1 8 3 3 ,.............. Colored. $278 White. $ 1 ,2 7 7 3,100 583 5,233 10,846 7,316 18,334 12,678 Year. 1 83 4 ,............ 1 83 5 ,............ 1 83 6 ,.............. 1 8 3 7 ,.............. 1838,.............. 1 8 3 9 ,.............. 1 8 4 0 ,............ 1 8 4 1 ,............ Colored. $166 1,170 376 58,013 21,231 2,029 White. $ 9 ,7 2 3 33,668 9,316 58,931 82,427 67,126 80,597 183,577 D utch E ast I ndies. T he export commenced in 1828. From that year to 1833, none but white goods ; for live subsequent years, a portion o f co lo re d ; since then, all white. Year. 1 8 2 8 ,.............. 1 8 2 9 ,.............. 1 8 3 0 ,............ 1 8 3 1 ,.............. 1 8 3 2 ,.............. 1 8 3 3 ,.............. 1 8 3 4 ,.............. Colored. $5,339 2 ,072 White. $2,577 5.777 4 ,110 3 ,500 6,396 2 6 ,2 8 5 52,896 D utch W Year. 1 83 5 ,............ 1 83 6 ,............ 1 8 3 7 ,............ 1 83 8 ,............ 1 8 3 9 ,............ 1 8 4 0 ,............ 1 84 1 ,.............. est Colored. $ 283 1,911 4,000 White. $124,602 134,914 240,699 129,350 65,618 90,241 82,789 I ndies, Have likewise been small customers for several years. Year. 1 82 6 ,.............. 1 82 7 ,.............. 1 8 2 8 ,.............. 1 8 3 1 ,.............. 1 832................ 1 8 3 3 ,.............. 1 83 4 ,............. Colored. White. $ 1 ,5 0 4 $939 176 171 706 is 854 1,422 772 428 Year. 1 8 3 5 ,.............. 1 836,.............. 1 83 7 ............... 1 8 3 8 ,.............. 1 8 3 9 ,.............. 1840,.............. 1 84 1 ,.............. Colored. $433 1,050 2 ,978 960 2 ,000 White. $842 262 6,091 6,704 5,989 16,637 3,373 H olland , In 1832, took $900, and in 1837, $5,027 worth o f white goods. H anse T owns of G er m any , In 1826, took $3 15 worth o f white goods ; in 1832, $ 7 2 ; in 1834, $ 8 2 0 ; in 1839, $ 2 0 ; in 1840, $2,150 ; in 1841, $1,412 ; and in 1837, $288 worth o f colored goods. B elgium , In 1840, took $341, and in 1841, $10,894 worth o f cotton goods. F rench W est I ndies, Have constantly received a small amount, chiefly white goods. White. Year. Year. $657 1831.. 1826,. 1832.. 1,004 1827.. 320 1833.. 1828.. 1834.. 1,807 1829,. White. $436 505 1,968 818 Commercial Statistics. F rench W est 195 I ndies— Continued. White. 1 Year. 1839,.... 1836,...................................................$6,345 1 1840,.... ............................................. 5,193 1837,.. 1838,.. ................................................ 5,558 | 1841,.... ............................................. 3,536 and in 1826, $ 2 0 worth o f colored goods ; 1827, $ 4 7 ; 1833, $ 4 7 2 ; 1834, $ 1 4 4 ; 1840, 1841, $6 8. White. 5& GO F rance on the A tlantic Received, in 1832, $100, and in 1838, $310 worth o f white goods. Her African settle ments took, in 1830, $ 2 6 6 w orth; and her ports on the Mediterranean, in 1830, received $ 1 ,2 9 2 ; 1833, $ 4 5 0 ; 1835, $931. R ussia Received, in 1830, $52, and in 1839, $12,131 worth o f white goods. E ngland , and the dependencies of G re at B rit a in . T o England, herself, the amount is very small, and probably was only designed to exhibit samples o f our different manufactures. In 1826, it was only $ 6 6 4 ; in 1829, $450, o f white goods. In 1828, the first colored goods were sent, amounting only to $2 73 ; in 1830, $1,852 ; 1832, $2,289 ; 1833, $ 1 ,8 6 1 ; 1834, $4,566, all white goods. In 1835, $573 worth o f colored; in 1836, $2,233 worth o f white, and $8,580 worth o f colored ; and in 1837, $11,899 o f colored, which appears to be the last export up to 1841. Sev eral o f her colonies have been regular customers, to some extent. B ritish E ast I ndies. In 1827, the export commenced, and has been continued ever since, increasing, till, in stead o f deriving, as formerly, from this quarter, our principal supply o f white goods, w e received not a piece from thence in 1840 and 1841; but in each o f those years furnished them with over $150,000 worth o f our own manufacture. Year. White. Year. 1827, 1828, 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, $ 1,200 1835.. 1836.. 1837.. 1838.. 1839, 1840.. 1841, 1,957 9,553 16,358 29,016 26,073 36,013 89,454 White. $27,300 102,746 52,017 134,848 42,862 153,484 157,560 In 1832, $ 8 7 worth o f colored goods were exported to the East Indies; in 1838, $ 5 ,9 1 4 ; and in 1839, $442. S t . H elena . In 1833, $2,426 worth o f colored, and $1 ,846 worth o f white goods, were exported to this island; and in 1834, $1,407 worth o f colored, and $7,108 worth o f white— none since. C ape of G ood H ope Received from us, in 1826, $ 5 8 4 worth o f white goods; in 1833, $ 8 6 5 ; in 1835, $ 2 ,0 1 5 ; in 1836, $ 1 ,0 2 3 ; and in 1838, $552. Here the exportation ceased. G ib r a l t a r . There have annually, since 1826, chiefly white goods. Year. 1826,.............................................. . 1827,.............................................. . 1828,.............................................. . 1829,.............................................. 1830,.............................................. . 1831.................................. 1832,.......................... 1833,................................. been clearances o f our manufactures for this port, White. $6,095 22,127 22,736 2,914 40,936 Year. 1834,................................................ 1835,................................................ 1836,................................................ 1837,................................................ 1838,................................................ 1839,................................................ 1840,................................................ White. $3,638 4,550 19,709 3,392 9,986 6,071 1,763 In 1828, § 4 4 6 worth o f colored goods were exported; in 1830, $ 2 8 0 ; in 1834, § 2 ,1 5 3 ; and in 1839, §93 3. 196 Commercial Statistics. M alta. Prior to 1834, Italy was united with Malta. In that year she received $9,041 worth of w h itegoods; in 1835, $ 1 0 ,4 7 5 ; in 1837, $11,695 ; in 1838, $5,120 ; in 1839, $1 3,40 7; and in the same year $3 83 worth o f colored goods. B ritish W est I ndies. In 1826, $ 1 1 worth o f colored, and $1,122 o f white goods, were exported. From that year to 1831, there was no further export. Since then, it has amounted annually to more or less. Year. 1 8 3 1 ,.............. 1 83 2 ,.............. 1833, ... 1834, ... 1 835................ 1 8 3 6 ,.................. Year. 1 8 3 7 ,.................. .1838,.................. 1 8 3 9 ,................. 1840,.................. 1 84 1 ,.................. White. $292 433 2,662 10,248 12,341 9,689 Colored. $469 1,252 2,237 B ritish A mer ican Colored. $731 132 581 1,375 1,530 White. $13,144 1,664 6,083 3,338 4,374 Colored. $2,067 75 305 620 48 13 White. $12,372 12,678 1,451 2 ,4 4 4 5,274 1,885 7,428 3,453 C olonies H a v e b een regular customers to a sm ill amo unt. Year. White. Year. Colored. 1 83 4 ,.................. $3,689 1 8 2 6 ............... $736 4,762 1,524 1 8 3 5 ,.................. 1 8 2 7 ,.............. 4,800 1 8 3 6 ,.................. 593 1 828................ 1,452 800 1 83 7 ,.................. 1 8 2 9 ,.............. 1,189 323 1838,.................. 1 83 0 ,.............. 2 ,6 9 3 1 83 9 ................... 83 1 83 1 ,.............. 7,719 1840, ....... 1 8 3 2 ,............ i 20,9 35 1 84 1 , ....... 354 1 8 3 3 ,.............. B ritish G uiana Received, in 1833, $337 worth o f colored goods; in 1838, $ 4 ,1 2 1 ; and in 1841, $9,533. S pain on the M editerranean , Received, in 1840, $7,013 worth o f white goods ; and the Colored. Year. 1826,............. 1827,............. 1828,............. 1829,............. 1839,............. 1831,............. 1832,............. 1833,............. $270 185 1,723 S panish W est I ndies White. Year. $126 1,175 259 497 640 595 96 360 It a l y and • White. . $5,102 1,401 . 2,941 . 1,485 Year. Colored. 1834,............... 1835,.............. 1836,.............. 1837,.............. 1838,.............. 1839,.............. 1840,............... White. $403 $1,127 995 1,561 300 1,013 M alta. Year. 119 2,673 458 778 2,849 White. $24,514 1830,............... 1826.............. 660 1831,.............. 1827,............. 7,366 1832,.............. 1828,............. 1829,............. In 1838, Italy alone received $ 4 4 worth o f white goods ; in 1840, $1,342 ; and in 1841, $10,274. G reece, In 1838, received $1,579 worth o f white goods. T Year. White. 1826,. 1827.. 1829.. 1834.. all white goods. rieste , and other ports on the $4 ,095 20,465 10,080 416 A driatic . Year. White. 1835.. 1837.. 1839.. 1840.. $1,000 200 In 1837, $2 89 worth o f colored ; and in 1839, $138. 1,484 1,350 197 Commercial Statistics. S icily , In 1841, commenced by receiving $500 worth of white goods. A frica , generally , Has afforded, since 1826, a considerable market; which, as the American settlements there progress, will continue to extend the consumption of our manufactures. Year. Colored. White. Year. 1825,........... 1827,........... 1828............ 1829,........... 1830,........... 1831,........... 1832,........... 1833,........... 83,609 3,975 4,007 6,369 4,350 81,759 3,450 11,390 9,249 4,619 6,171 19,015 15,665 1834,.......... 1835,.......... 1836,.......... 1837,.......... 1838,.......... 1839,.......... 1840,.......... 1841,.......... 8,455 18,004 Colored. 813,607 17,005 12,900 9,148 22,974 22,903 33,097 White. 813,927 27,475 18,827 43,594 69,568 68,790 53,478 84,266 P ortugal Has received a small amount, viz :—In 1826, $833 worth of white goods; in 1837, $2,244; in 1838, $740 ; and in 1835, $548 worth of colored. A zores, In 1826, received $2,636 worth of colored, have continued to take a small amount. Year. Colored. White. 1831,.......... 8825 1832,.......... 704 8124 1833,........... 1,329 1834,.......... 3,172 1835,.............. ....... 1,460 1836............... ....... 1,196 and $200 worth of white; and since 1831 Year. 1837, ..... 1838, ..... 1839, ..... 1840, ..... 1841............... Colored. $335 495 3,617 Mi1DEIRA Has also furnished a regular but small market from 1826 to 1838. Year. Colored. White. Year. Colored1826,........... 82,504 1833,.............. $1,661 1827,........... 417 1834, ..... 399 1828,........... 90 1835, ..... 213 1829,........... $711 ..... 5,187 1836, 50 1830,........... 310 1837, ..... 1831,........... 21 88 1838,.............. White. $1,483 1,728 823 1,358 1,584 $4,476 295 2,471 548 2,465 499 T eneriffe , In 1826, received $502 worth of white goods; in 1827, $500; in 1829, $5,650 ; in 1830, $1,107; in 1831, $1,959; in 1832, $516; and in 1827, $21 worth of colored goods; in 1831, $480. C ape de Have been more important customers. Year. Colored. White. 1826,............. $9,693 1827.............. $1,760 23,304 1828,............. 2,236 7,216 1829,............. 1,743 20,410 1830,............. 1,381 17,318 1831,........... 13,647 1832,........... 894 9,023 1833,........... 16,655 V erbs Year. 1834......... 1835,........ 1 8 3 6 ,...... 1837,....... ........ 1838,........ 1839,........ 1840,....... 1841,....... Colored. $422 514 697 8,739 13,249 2,175 4,457 8,487 S12.550 24,539 16,664 81,647 52,911 35,410 16,224 16,179 H ayti Has received regularly from us during the whole period, to a moderate extent. Year. Colored. White. Year. Colored. 1826,............. ft4 filR $9,374 1830 1827,............. 2,441 ~4j023 1831,........ 1,398 1828,............. 2,282 5,396 1832,........ 1,288 1829,............. 3,423 4,894 1833,........ 8,348 17* 15,363 15,660 9,304 198 Commercial Statistics. H a y t i —Continued. Colored. 1834,........... 1835,........... 1836............ 1837............ $4,459 7,805 5,931 10,468 White. $10,945 20,876 21,984 15,302 Year. 1838........... 1839,.......... 1840,.......... 1841,.......... Colored. $4,373 14,829 8,519 6,100 White. $24,078 47,034 39,702 34,111 C uba . Both colored and white goods have also found a tolerable market in this island, from the first export in 1826. Year. 1826,............. 1827,............. 1828,............. 1829,............. 1830,............. 1831,............. 1832,............. 1833,............. Colored. $9,336 6,082 2,737 8,112 4,155 1,970 894 10,810 White. $23,395 13,509 15,126 13,868 7,021 4,564 7,448 9,783 Year. 1834,................ 1835................. 1836,................ 1837,................ 1838,................ 1839,................ 1840,................ 1841,................ Colored. $20,467 24,218 9,009 17,566 3,356 3,383 8,957 4,884 White. $32,983 66,140 23,317 43,416 115,629 51,337 53,557 42,554 D anish W est I ndies Have been regular customers. Year. 1826,............. 1827,............. 1828.............. 1829,............. 1830,............. 1831,............. 1832,............. 1833,............. Colored. $7,171 749 4,510 1,745 18 195 623 3,230 White. $17,301 7,238 6,439 2,477 4,100 3,702 5,476 6,354 S wedish W Year. Colored. 1834,................ 1835,................ 1836,................ 1837,................ 1838,................ 1839,................ 1810,................ 1841.................. $2,359 4,791 4,194 2,568 736 1,032 3,261 4,751 est White. $17,909 13,520 10,465 24,946 13,267 16,338 32,346 35,478 I ndies, Since 1828, have taken more or less. Year. 1828,............. 1829,............. 1830,............. 1831,............. 1832,............. Colored. 1835,............ 192 White. $534 486 1,020 300 150 1,094 $768 W est Year. 1836,................ 1838,................ 1839,................ 1840,................ 1841................. I ndies, Colored. $102 452 619 White. $4 43 734 1,687 471 76 generally , Not before mentioned, have received small amounts. From the preceding statements, prepared with considerable labor from treasury documents, some idea may be formed of the importance of this branch of American man ufactures, which is yet in its infancy, and struggling under many difficulties. It is grat ifying to find that American goods are making their way to almost every portion of the globe to which our commerce extends; and although to many places the amount of ex port is at present small, indications are afforded of the future extent to W'hich it may he canied. These tables will be useful, as pointing out the various markets to which cot ton goods have been sent, and directing future adventurers to those which appear to hold out favorable prospects, from the gradual increase of the amount which they have re quired. The Book Trade . 199 THE BOOK T RA DE . 1. —Illustrations o f the Croton Aqueduct. By F. B. T ower, o f the Engineer De partment. 1 vol. quarto. New Y o r k : Wiley & Putnam. 1843. We have looked over the pages and illustrations of this splendid volume with great interest. The views it furnishes of the important points on the line of the Croton aque duct, are engraved from sketches taken by Mr. Tower, who was employed as an engi neer on the work from its commencement to its completion, for his own satisfaction ; but the interest so generally taken in the enterprise suggested to him the propriety of pre senting them to the public in the present form. The first forty-seven pages of the volume are devoted to a comprehensive description of the aqueducts of ancient Rome; the prin cipal aqueducts constructed by the ancient Romans in other parts of Europe ; aqueducts of modern Rome ; principal modern aqueducts of Italy, France, & c.; aqueducts of Mex ico, and the adjacent states; aqueducts of South America, fountains, &c. Then follows a history of the progressive measures for supplying the city of New York with water; of the plans proposed for the same purpose, and of that which was finally adopted, and has been so successfully and satisfactorily completed; the sources of the Croton river; flow of water in the Croton; capacity of the fountain reservoir; general design of the channel-way and reservoirs ; an account of the general construction of the aqueduct, and a description of the line of it, are prepared with good taste, and the utmost accu racy. The illustrations, twenty in number, are beautifully executed, rendering the work an ornament for the library or centre-table, aside from its great practical value to the ac complished engineer, to whom we should suppose it would be almost indispensable. We give a list of the illustrations, as follows :— Sections of the Croton aqueduct; Entrance ventilator; Isometrical view of culvert; Tunnel and gate-chamber, at the head of the aqueduct; View above the Croton dam ; Entablature over the entrance to the aqueduct; View below the Croton dam ; View of the aqueduct, and aqueduct-bridge, at Sing Sing ; Aqueduct-bridge, for roadway; Croton aqueduct at Mill river—at Jewell’s brook—at Hastings—at Yonkers—at Harlem river ; View of the jet at Harlem river; Croton aque duct, at Clendenning valley ; Aqueduct-bridge, at Clendenning valley ; Plan of the receiv ing reservoir, and Isometrical view of the distributing reservoir. Appended to the volume, is a valuable essay on the natural history of water; embracing an analysis of the Croton and Schuylkill waters, and a variety of other appropriate and useful facts, prepared by Charles A. Lee, M. D. The work has cost Mr. Tower great care and industry, and a large sum of money; so that the whole edition, if disposed of at the moderate price of $3 50 per copy, will only pay the actual expenditures in the engra ving and printing of the book, leaving no balance to compensate him for the time occu pied in making the drawings, and preparing the history and letter-press illustrations for publication. 2. — Thirty Years from H om e; or, A Voice from the Main-Deck: being the Expe rience of S amuel L eech . Embellished with engravings. Boston: Tappan & Dennet. 1843. It is well remarked that the quarter-deck has long and often told its own story. In this volume, an unlettered tar details the secrets of the naval main-deck. The author was six years in the British and American navies. Captured in the British frigate Ma cedonian in the last war, he afterwards entered the American navy, and was taken in the United States brig Syren, by the British ship Medway. His experience has furnished the materials of an interesting volume. The credentials to his character for veracity are such as to induce the belief that the details of his life and adventures may be relied upon as generally authentic. 200 The Book Trade. 3. — Speeches o f John C. Calhoun. Delivered in the Congress of the United States from 1811 to the present time. New York : Harper & Brothers. 1843. This volume contains nearly six hundred closely printed octavo pages, embracing thirty-eight speeches, mostly delivered in Congress from 1811 to 1843. Whatever dif ference of opinion may exist among our countrymen as to the soundness of Mr. Cal houn’s political doctrines, no one can detract from the transcendant genius of the states man, or the unsullied purity of the man. These speeches afford the best, if not the only means of knowing the political opinions of a citizen “ who, for a long succession of years, has occupied a conspicuous place before the public; who, as a high officer of government at one time, and as a statesman and legislator both before and since that time, has taken a leading part in all the great political questions that have agitated the country; who has long possessed an almost paramount influence in one part of the Union, and been looked upon, in fact, as the chief representative of political opinion in that portion ; and who, finally, has now retired from direct participation in the councils of the country, only to occupy the station of a candidate for the highest office in the gift of the people.” The compiler, in his zeal for Mr. Calhoun’s consistency, has omitted several of his earlier, but not less able speeches. No one, however, supposes for a mo ment that the high-minded statesman had any participation in the disingenuous act. It seems to us a very strange notion, that a statesman may not modify his opinions, or adopt from conviction entirely different views, without losing the confidence of his con stituents, or incurring the charge of inconsistency. We have been inclined to think that such changes were evidences of greater light, or at least indications of a commendable frankness and honesty of purpose. We would not, however, be understood as the ad vocate of all Mr. Calhoun’s political doctrines, or as participating in the party politics of any man. 4. o f G overnm ent or S tate S tocks , e tc. By New York: Peter A. Mesier. 1843. These tables, which have evidently been prepared with great care, are designed to show, at a glance, what price should be paid for stocks on which interest is payable semi-annually or quarterly, and which are redeemable at the end of from one to fifty years, in order to have them yield to the purchaser any given rate of interest, from 3 to 10 per cent. They are calculated upon the only true principle that can be used, to pro duce direct and positive results—that of annuities and compound interest. A person purchasing a stock, purchases an annuity equal in amount to the yearly interest the stock bears, and also purchases the par of the stock payable at a future period. The present worth of these two, at the rate of interest assumed or desired by the purchaser, consti tutes the present worth of the stock at such assumed rate. The labor of constructing these tables has been vastly increased by referring the interest to a yearly basis, as the only mode of instituting a proper comparison between a stock, the interest of which is payable semi-annually, and the same stock interest payable quarterly. And, although this gives rise to what might, at first sight, appear an inconsistency, (as, for instance, a five per cent stock, to produce five per cent, is shown to be worth a trifle over par,) yet it assimilates itself precisely to the most approved method of keeping mercantile ac counts— in which interest is debited on all payments, and credited on all receipts, to the end of the year—as is clearly and fully set forth in the introduction to the work. — T ables ex h ib itin g the P re s e n t W o rth Joseph M. P rice. From the writings o f J ohn Boston: Gould, Kendall, & Lincoln. 1843. This beautiful little volume is compiled from the writings of an able and popular Eng lish dissenter. The compiler informs us that he “ endeavored to present a work that shall be both interesting and instructive, and a suitable offering from the hands of the Christian pastor or pious friend.” 5. — The M a rria g e R i n g ; or, H ow to m ake H om e H a p p y. A noell J ames. The B ook Trade. 201 6.— M en ta l H y g ie n e ; or, an E xa m in a tion o f the In tellect and P a ssio n s, d esig n ed to illustra te their influence on H ea lth and the D u ration o f L ife . By W illiam S w e etse r , M. D., late Professor of the Theory and Practice of Physic, and Fellow of the Amer ican Academy of Arts and Sciences. New York: J. & H. G. Langley. 1843. We had read with interest the work of Dr. S. on consumption, publishechseveral years ago, a work written with clearness, and divested of the technicalities of the profession, so desirable to the unprofessional reader, seeking information on subjects that do not fall immediately within his vocation or calling. The present work is in the same style, and more generally interesting. Its leading design, as the title implies, is to elucidate the influence of intellect and passion upon the health and endurance of the human organ ization. The work is divided into two parts. In the first, are considered the intellectual operations in respect to their influence on the general functions of the body. The sec ond part is devoted to a view of the moral feelings or passions, in the relation which they also sustain to our physical nature, embracing a concise definition, with such gen eral classification as is necessary to the leading design of the work; describing a few of the most important of the passions belonging to each of the three great classes, namely, pleasurable, painful, and mixed, into which they are separated; examining closely their physical phenomena, and incidental influence in the well-being of the human mechanism. The evil consequences resulting from an ill-regulated imagination, to the firmness of the nervous system, and the integrity of the general health, are forcibly exposed. Truth being the grand aim of Dr. S. in his investigations, all mystical speculations and un grounded theories, whether of a metaphysical or moral nature, appear to be avoided in the pages of the work. It is addressed to no particular class of readers, and its matter is rendered as plain and comprehensible as the nature of the subject will admit. 7. —D avis's M an u a l o f M a g n e tis m ; in clu d in g also E lectro -M a g n etism , M a g n eto E le c tr ic ity , and T h erm o-E lectricity. W ith a description o f the E lectro ty p e P ro cess. For the use of Students and Literary Institutions. With one hundred Illustrations. Boston : Daniel Davis. New York: Saxton & Miles. The progress of magnetism and electricity, as related to science, is truly astonishing. Many important facts which have been observed, have not, as yet, been collected in any scienfific treatise, and the amount of unwritten knowledge is constantly increasing. The work before us furnishes a very full view, embracing all that is new and authenticated, of these sciences; together with minute descriptions of the instruments and experiments designed to illustrate them in their relation to each other. It is therefore adapted, not only for a manual, but will answer the purpose of an elementary treatise in those branch es of science to which it relates. Mr. Davis’s object, it appears, has been simply^ to state the facts which have been observed, and to generalize them only so far as the pro gress of discovery has fully authorized. Many of the observations recorded in the vol ume, and many of the instruments described, are new. The volume is beautifully printed on a fine, white, and firm paper. 8. —E v ery -D a y B ook, or H isto ry and C h r o n o lo g y : em b ra cing the A n n iversa ries o f M em orable P erson s and E ven ts, in e v ery p eriod and state o f the w orld, fr o m the Cre ation to the p resen t tim e. Compiled from authentic sources. By J oel M unsell . 2 vols. 12mo. Albany: Erastus H. Pease. The object of the present work, as will be seen by the title-page quoted, is to bring together the most memorable events of each day in the year, in all ages, as far as their dates can be ascertained, arranged chronologically. Although the volumes contain about nine hundred pages of closely printed matter, the compiler appears to have devoted as few words as possible to each subject, in order to embrace the principal great events. The work is evidently the result of an unusual degree of research, and the most unti ring industry. It dates back to an early period before the Christian era, and records events down to the present time. 202 The Book Trade. 9. — The Kingdom of Christ; or, Hints respecting the Principles, Constitution, and Ordinances o f the Catholic Church. By F. D. M aurice , M. A., Chaplain of Guy’s Hospital, and Professor of English Literature and History in King’s College, London. New York : D. Appleton & Co. 1843. This is one of the most remarkable and interesting books which has come from the English church. It is masterly in its criticisms, evincing great compass of thought, fidel ity of study, and candor. Evidently, Mr. Maurice has been a reverend disciple of Cole ridge; and shows, in intellectual symmetry and strength, the substantial food the master supplied. He has none of that aping of Coleridge’s style, however, which offends the heart as well as head, in reading some of his follower’s writings. This book might exert great power in England and in this country, if the currents which are sweeping men on were not so deep and strong. If the Oxford Tractarians would listen to this judicious, though earnest churchman, they would avoid the plunge which they are rapidly hasten, ing to make into Romanism. On the other hand, if the Evangelicals would follow this lead, and co-operate with such a movement as Mr. Maurice contemplates, they might quicken spirituality while preserving steadfastly all the institutions of “ the Church.” Indeed, this is the soundest, most thorough, and just book that has been called out by the existing controversies in the Episcopal body. All in vain, however, probably, will be such well-timed words. Changes are at hand, which will divide between realities and appearances, substances and shadows, as with a sword of fire. Meanwhile, we recom mend this book as a most instructive one to all earnest seekers of truth, of all denomina tions. The Messrs. Appleton have added a most noble and useful volume to their long list of publications. 10. — Catholic Imputation, fyc. By V anbrugh L ivingston . With'an Introduction, by the Right Rev. J ohn H ughes, D. D. New York: Casserly & Sons. 1843. This book, and its introduction, are interesting signs of the times to all observers. It contains an amount of historical illustration of past opinions, which are quite valuable. To Episcopalians, especially, in the perplexed and divided state of that body, it must meet with respectful attention, and must present to many minds considerations whose force it will be difficult to avoid. If this were the place for polemics, criticisms might easily be made upon both the introduction and the book. Both writers take much for granted which requires some proofs. It is not impossible that the impending contro versies between two churches, each assuming to be Catholic, may present the whole question of the One, Holy, Universal Church, in new aspects to this generation. This book is candid, talented, and instructive, and will reward perusal, j 11. — Old Humphrey's Walks in London and its Neighborhood. By the author of “ Old • Humphrey’s Observations,” “ Addresses,” “ Thoughts for the Thoughtful,” &c. 18mo. pp. 286. New York: Robert Carter. 1843. We have noticed, from time to time, as they were reprinted by the same enterprising house, the works of this popular author. There is a quaintness and individuality, that not only interests the reader in the book, but in its author. We feel, in the perusal, that good-nature, charity, or benevolence, united with shrewdness, are the distinguishing characteristics of “ Old Humphrey.” His “ Walks in London” are deeply tinctured with the “ orthodox” religious sentiment, though not sectarian. He says in his preface—“ I trust it will not appear that I have sought to give pleasure unaccompanied with profit, but so connected my walks in London with that ‘ city which hath foundations,’ that those who are informed as to the one, shall not be altogether unmindful of the other.” The volume contains visits to twenty-five different places, as the “ Tower of London,” “ St. Paul’s Cathedral,” &c. It is printed in the uniform neat style of the other works of this author, and, indeed, of the numerous publications of Robert Carter. The Book Trade. 203 12. —Lectures on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. By T homas C h al mers, D. D. and LL. D., Professor of Theology in the University of Edinburgh, and Corresponding Member of the Royal Institute of France. 8vo. in five parts. New York: Robert Carter. 1843. Dr. Chalmers stands in the front rank of the “ orthodox” divines of the present cen tury, and his writings will be considered as standards among Christians and theologians of the Calvinistic school, while the tenets of that distinguished reformer endure. What ever we may think of the soundness of the theological views inculcated in the Lectures on the Epistle to the Romans, there can be but one opinion as to the ability of his com mentaries, or the strength and beauty of the language in which they are written. 13. — Marmaduke W yvil; or. The Maid's Revenge. A Historical Romance. By H e n r y W illiam H er ber t , author of “ The Brothers,” “ Cromwell,” &c. New York: J. Winchester. 1843. We have not found time to read this work, but we make no doubt, from the well es tablished character of the author, that it is replete with all the characteristics of a fasci nating romance. All the facts introduced as historical, we are assured by Mr. Herbert, will be found strictly true ; the author deeming it a species of crime, even in fiction, to falsify the truth of history. 14. —An Introduction to Geometry and the Science o f Form. Prepared from the most approved Prussian Text-books. Boston : James Munroe & Co. 1843. This elementary treatise appears to have been prepared with great care, and is admi rably adapted to the wants of the student in geometry and the science of form. “ By a beautiful and original series of inductive processes,” says the learned professor of astron omy and mathematics in Harvard University, “ it avoids tedious demonstrations, developes the taste for observation, and leads the pupil to a real and practical knowledge of the truths of geometry with a rapidity which would not have been anticipated.” 15. —Devotional Exercises for Schools. Boston: J. Munroe & Co. This little manual consists of selections from the Bible, judiciously arranged. Its un sectarian character will, we presume, render it very generally acceptable to the liberal and enlightened Christian. 16. — Antioch ; or, Increase o f Moral Power in the Church o f Christ. By P harcellus C hurch . With an Introductory Essay, by Rev. B aron S to w . Boston: Gould, Ken dall, & Lincoln. 1843. This work contains the ideas, in an expanded form, of an address on commencement week, before a subsidiary organization of the Hamilton Theological Seminary. The author is favorably known to the religious public as an original thinker, and a forcible writer. His two principal works, entitled “ Philosophy of Benevolence,” and “ Prose Essay on Religious Dissensions,” have been extensively read and circulated. 17. — Lessons on the Book o f Proverbs, Topically arranged, forming a System o f Prac tical Ethics, for the use o f Sabbath Schools and Bible Classes. Boston : Tappan & Dennet. An excellent little volume, admirably elucidating and enforcing, by appropriate exam ples, the various Proverbs of Solomon. It may with safety be recommended to the reli gious of all denominations. 18. — Russia and the Russians. By J. G. H a l l . In two parts. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart. 1843. A very interesting description of Russia, its manners, customs, habits, and all that relates to its social condition or political institutions, by one who resided among the peo ple he appears to have described with fidelity and candor. It forms the two first parts of the Foreign Library. The work is printed on a fair type, but rather poor paper. Price, 25 cents per part. 204 The Booh Trade. 19.—Life in Mexico , during a Two Years’ Residence in that country. By Mme. C--------- de l a B---------- . In two vols. 12mo. pp. 412 and 423. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown. 1843. We have seldom seen two volumes of residence or travel in foreign lands more deeply interesting than the present; but perhaps the best notice we can give of them under our “ Book Trade” is the preface to this work, by the accomplished author of “ Ferdinand and Isabella,” William II. Prescott, Esq. He says:—“ This work is the result of ob servations made during a two years’ residence in Mexico, by a lady, whose position there made her intimately acquainted with its society, and opened to her the best sources of information in regard to whatever could interest an enlightened foreigner. It consists of letters written to members of her own family, and, really, not intended originally— however incredible the assertion—for publication. Feeling a regret that such rich stores of instruction and amusement, from which I have so much profited myself, should be reserved for the eyes of a few friends only, I strongly recommended that they should be given to the world. This is now done, with a few such alterations and omissions as were necessary in a private correspondence; and although the work would derive more credit from the author’s own name than from anything which I could say, yet as she declines prefixing it, I feel much pleasure in making this statement, by way of introduc tion, to the public.” We may add that the volumes have received the consenting praise of the highest literary authorities. The typography of the volumes is unexceptionably elegant and beautiful. 20. — The Farmer's Encyclopedia , and Dictionary o f Rural Affairs. By C uthbert W. J ohnson. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart. We have received the tenth number of this excellent work. It should be in the hands of every American agriculturist, as it combines all the matter of the English edition with judicious adaptations to our soil, climate, &c., and numerous additions by a prac tical farmer of the United States. O ’ Letters to the Cotton Manufacturers o f Massachusetts.—We have received from Henry Lee, Esq., a distinguished merchant of Boston, several letters, forming part of a series now in press, and to be published sometime in November next, in pamphlet form ; which, although addressed to the cotton manufacturers of Massachusetts, are of general interest to the cotton planter, as well as the manufacturer, in the United States. In the twenty-fifth letter, now before us, Mr. Lee maintains that the consumption of cotton in Europe, other than the product of India and America, is loo insignificant to have any important bearing in prices—that the superior cheapness of home-grown cotton is espe cially favorable to the interests of New England, as the principal seat of cotton manu facturing—that the decline in the value of cotton has increased the ratio of advantage heretofore enjoyed by the American over the British manufacturers—that heavy cotton goods, according to the statements of the manufacturers, are made as cheap, or cheaper, in this country, than in England—that the charges of importing cotton goods, under a duty of 25 per cent, amount to 45 per cent, without any allowance of mercantile profit to the importer—that any material advance in the existing prices of cotton must arise from over-issues of currency, or from speculative operations in the article, and conse quently is not likely to be maintained—that the prostration of bank credit, and of bank ing operations, in the southwestern states, is favorable to a continuance of the existing natural and sufficient prices of cotton—that the notion of increasing the wealth of the community by altering the measure of value, still prevalent through the country, is fal lacious.
@FedFRASER