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THE MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE, E s ta b lis h e d J n l y , 1 8 3 9 , BY FREEMAN HDNT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. VO LU M E IX . D E C E M B E R , 1843. C O N TEN TS N U M B E R VI. OF NO. VI, VOL. IX. ARTI CLES. ART. RACK. I. Sketches o f Commercial Legislation — The Tariff o f 1816. By F r a n c i s W harton, o f Pennsylvania,...................................................................................... 495 II. Progress o f Population and Wealth in the United States, in Fifty Years, as exhibited by the Decennial Census taken in that period.— Chap. X X I., and last.— Increase o f Wealth. By Professor G e o r g e T u c k e r , o f the Uni versity o f Virginia,.................................................... 509 III. The Cotton Trade. By Professor M ’C ay , o f the University o f Georgia...... 516 IV. The Union o f Protection and Free Trade— Protection to American interests in Union with the Principles o f true Free Trade, illustrated by the Report o f the Central Committee o f the Home League, at its second Anniversary. By C. C. H aven,.......................................................................................................... 523 V . What shall Congress do ?— Reduction o f Postage — Commercial Treaties— The Navy,........................... 533 VI. Maritime Law, No. 3 — Collision o f Ships. By A . N a s h , Esq., Counsellor at L aw , o f N ew Y o rk ,............................................................................................... 543 MERC ANTI LE LAW DEPARTMENT. Representations in reference to Property Insured,................ ........................................... 559 Usury,.................................................... 559 Insurance— Damages for Injury to Merchandise,............................................................. 559 MONTHLY COMMERCI AL CHRONI CLE, EM BRACING A F IN A N C IA L A N D CO M M ERCIAL R E V I E W OF T H E U N ITE D S T A T E S , E T C ., IL L U S T R A T E D W IT H T A B L E S , AS F O L L O W S : Arrivals o f Specie at Boston, N ew York, and N ew Orleans, in 1843,......................... Bank Capital, Loans, and Circulation, in nine o f the United States,in 1839 and 1843, Prices o f Stocks, and Value o f the State Issues, in Jan., 1843, and Oct., 1843,. 562, Banks o f N ew Orleans, N ew Y ork, South Carolina, and Ohio, in 1842 and 1843,.. Aggregate Loans at four points in the United States, in September, 1842 and 1843,.. Movements o f the Bank o f England in 1842 and 1843,........... ................................... Foreign Loans contracted in England, Rale o f Interest, etc.,....................................... COMMERCIAL 561 562 563 564 565 565 566 STATISTICS. Cottons, Linens, W oollens, Worsteds, and Blankets, exported from Liverpool to N ew Y ork, Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore, from 1836 to 1843,................ . 567 Exports o f Cotton from N ew Orleans, for the year 1843,................ ............................. 568 Exports o f T obacco, for the year 1843,.............................................................................. 568 V O L. I X .-----N O. V I. 42 Table o f Contents. 464 PAGE. Arrivals, Exports, and Stocks o f Cotton and T obacco, at N ew Orleans, for 10 years, Imports o f Domestic Produce into N ew Orleans, in 1843,............................................ Exports o f Sugar and Molasses from N ew Orleans, for 1843,...................................... Exports o f Flour, Pork, Bacon, Lard, Beef, Lead, W hiskey, and Corn, from N ew Orleans, for 1 8 4 3 ,............................................................................................................... Arrivals at N ew Orleans o f Vessels, for 1843,.................................................................. Imports o f Coffee, Sugar, and Salt, into N ew Orleans, for 3 years,............................ Statement o f Cotton and T obacco at N ew Orleans,............................................. 570, Exports o f Various Articles from Franklin, Louisiana, for 1843,................................. Navigation o f Franklin, Louisiana, in 1843,...................................................................... Commerce o f Apalachicola, Florida, for 5 years,............................................................. Value of the Imports o f Ma nufactures of Silk into the United States, for the last 91 years, Imports and Exports o f Foreign Raw Silk, for 5 years,................................................... Exports o f Petersburg and Richmond, for last 3 years,..................................................... Exports o f T obacco and Flour from James’ River, Virginia, in 1843............................ Commercial Panic in 1 7 8 9 ,................................................................................................... 568 569 569 570 570 570 571 579 579 572 573 573 574 574 574 COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. The N ew Chinese Tariff—Exports— Imports,.................................................................... Regulation o f British Trade in China,.................................................................................. Pilots— Custom-house Guards— Masters o f Ships reporting themselves on arrival,. Commercial Dealings between English and Chinese Merchants— Tonnage Dues — Import and Export Duties— Examination o f Goods at the Custom-house— Manner o f Paying the Duties— Weights and Measures,..................................... Lighters, or Cargo Boats— Transhipment of Goods— Subordinate Consulate Of fices— Disputes between British and Chinese subjects— British Government Cruizers anchoring within the Ports— On the Security to be given for British Merchant Vessels,.......................... .............................................................................. 575 577 577 578 579 CANAL AND RA I L RO A D S T A T I S T I C S . T ariff o f Freights on the South Carolina Railroads—-Domestic Produce,..................... Southern Route from the Atlantic to the Mississippi,........................................................ Liverpool and Manchester Railway,................................................... .................................. Transportation o f Merchandise on the Wabash and Erie Canal,................................... 580 581 589 589 MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES. American Seamen’s Friend Society....................................................................................... 583 United States Home League,................................................................................................. 584 Shoes Manufactured by Machinery,...................................................................................... 584 THE BOOK T RA DE . Alison’s History o f Europe, from 1789 to 1815,................................................................. T he Opal, a Pure Gift for the Holy Days— T he Rose o f Sharon, for 1844,................ The Rose, or Affection’s Gift— Elijah the Tishbite,........................................................... Sears’s N ew and Complete History o f the Holy Bible— Governmental History of the United States,......................................................................................................................... A m os Kendall’s Life o f General Andrew Jackson,............................................................. A n Address delivered before the Boston Mercantile Library Association,..................... Huguenots in France and America— Marco Paul’s Adventures in Pursuit of Knowledge, The Farmer’s Daughters— Ladies’ Hand-Book,.................................................................. T he Farmer’s Encyclopedia, and Dictionary o f Rural Affairs,................ ..................... Clements’ Customs Pocket Manual— Practical Instruction in Animal Magnetism,.... The Complete Cook’s Book— Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature,.................................... Portrait o f an English Churchman— The Unity o f the Church,...................................... N ew Y ork Sacred Music Society’s Collection of Sacred M usic,................................... Gould’s Abridgment of Alison’s History o f Europe— Constitutional Law relative to Credit, etc.,............................................................................................................................ Perilous Adventures, or Remarkable Instances of Courage, etc.,................................... Lectures on the Constitutional Jurisprudence o f the United States,.............................. American Biography— Natural History— Token o f L ove,.............................................. Make the Best of It, or Cheerful Cherry— The Siberian Sable-Hunter,......................... English Songs, and other Small Poems— Travels and Adventures o f Monsieur Violet,. Frederick the Great, his Court, and Times— D’Aubigne’s History of the Reforma tion— Songs of Beranger,................................................................................................... 585 586 586 587 587 587 588 588 589 589 589 590 590 590 591 591 591 591 592 592 H U N T ’S MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, A rt. 1843. I.— S K E T C H E S OF C O M M E R C IA L L E G IS L A T IO N . NU M BER II. TH E T A R IF F OF 1816. T he peace o f 1816, grateful as it was to the great mass o f the people, brought with it consequences which, to the manufacturers, were o f doubtful value. Through the suspension o f commerce, arising not only from the war itself, but from the embargo which preceded it, the market had been closed to foreign goods; and whatever the consumer needed, with the exception, perhaps, o f East and W est India produce, he was obliged to raise himself, or to obtain by submitting to the hazards and delays which a state o f maritime warfare induces. English goods were wholly excluded from our ports; and articles, therefore, which before the war we never dreamed o f manufacturing, were introduced into our manufactories, and assumed a place among our national staples. When peace was declared, consequently, and when the war prohibitions were to be taken off, very serious considerations were presented. On the one hand, the great ex porting interests maintained that, unless the country was allowed to buy English goods, the English would not be able to buy theirs; and con sumers also objected to duties which, though justifiable in war, forced on the country in peace inferior articles, at an enormous price. On the other hand, the manufacturers, conscious o f the destruction to which most of them would be subjected by a return to the former duties, protested against a lowering o f rates which they held to be essential to their existence. It was in 1816, in fact, that the great question o f a protective tariff was first presented; and we will be pardoned, therefore, in briefly looking back at the history o f the revenue bills which had preceded that important period, and in ascertaining how far they had induced the system which, in 1816, was to be perpetuated. The first Congress under the present constitution met at New York on the 4th o f March, 1789; and on the 1st o f April following, a quorum was 496 Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. collected. On the 11th o f April, a petition was presented from Balti more, and on the 18th o f April from New York, praying for the imposition o f such duties on exports as would give preference to articles o f home manufacture. The committee o f the whole, to whom the petitions in question had been referred, reported, on the 28th o f April, the following resolution to the House :— “ Resolved, That it is the opinion o f this com mittee, that the following duties ought to be laid on goods, wares, and merchandise,” & c. ; and a select committee was appointed to bring in a bill in pursuance with the resolution. On the 5th o f May, the bill was reported. On the 16th o f May, it was read a third time, and passed ; and, after going through the Senate, was signed by the President on the 1st of June, under the following title and preamble :— “ An act for laying a duty on goods, wares, and merchandises, imported into the United States. Whereas it is necessary, for the support o f government, for the discharge o f the debts o f the United States, and the encouragement and promotion o f manufactures, that duties be laid on goods, wares, and merchandises imported— S ection I. B e it enacted,” & c. Notwithstanding the declaration o f the preamble, that one o f the objects o f the bill was the promotion o f manufactures, the bill itself gives earnest o f no such intention. The recital became a compliment o f peculiar emp tiness when it was discovered that the highest ad valorem duties were 15 per cen t; and these were imposed, not on rival manufactures, but on such foreign luxuries as a sumptuary law, which was strongly allied with the prejudices o f the revolutionary statesmen, might be supposed to operate. 10 per cent was the average duty on foreign manufactured goods ; and such a duty, it is manifest, savors far more o f revenue than o f protection. On the 8th o f January, 1790, Washington, in his second annual mes sage, made the following recommendation :— “ A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined ; to which end, a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite— and their safety and interest require that they should oromote such manufactories as tend to render them independent on others for essential, particularly for military supplies. The advancement o f ag riculture, commerce, and manufactures, by all proper means, will not, I trust, need recommendation; but I cannot forbear intimating to you the expediency o f giving effectual encouragement as well to the introduction o f new and useful inventions from abroad, as to the exertions o f skill and genius in producing them at home.” On January 15th, 1790, the House adopted the following resolution:— “ Ordered, That it be referred to the Secretary o f the Treasury to prepare, and report to this house, a proper plan or plans, conformable to the recommendation o f the President of the United States, in his speech to both houses o f Congress, for the encouragement and promotion o f such manufactories as will tend to render the United States independent of other nations for essential, especially for military supplies.” Mr. Hamil ton filled, at that period, the treasury department; and it is not to be won dered that, when once introduced into his strong and capacious mind, the idea o f protection acquired a system and completeness which it before had wanted. On the 5th o f December, 1791, his celebrated report on manu factures was presented to the house o f representatives; and had it, at that period, been sanctioned and carried into effect by the legislative branch o f the government, there can be no doubt that to that period the Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. 497 American system would have been able to have dated its origin. On the 23d o f January, 1792, the house came to the following order:— “ Ordered, That the report o f the Secretary o f the Treasury, on the subject o f manufactures, be committed to a committee o f the whole house, on Monday next.” What was the treatment it there received, the imper fect journals at hand do not state ; but it is very clear that it was effec tually disposed ofj and that the subject o f protection, except so far as it may have been hidden under the revenue principle, neither received the attention, or provoked the discussion o f that Congress to which it was first submitted. On the 10th o f August, 1790, before, it will be noticed, the presenta tion o f Mr. Hamilton’s report, the second revenue bill received the sanc tion o f the President. The preamble o f the bill deserves attention :— “ Whereas, by an act entitled ‘ An act for laying a duty on goods, wares, and merchandises, imported into the United States,’ divers duties were laid on goods, wares, and merchandise so imported, for the discharge of the debts o f the United States, and the encouragement and protection o f manufactures : And whereas the support o f government and the dis charge o f the said debts render it necessary to increase the said duties— S ection I. B e it enacted,” & c. It will be observed that, notwithstanding the incidental protection af forded by the former bill, the revenue it has afforded turned out to be insufficient; and that, consequently, an increase o f revenue became ne cessary— not for domestic protection, for that was not an object o f consid eration, but to provide for the government expenses, and to sink the national debt. In fact, notwithstanding the increase o f duties on foreign luxuries, on teas and coffees, on spirits and wines, and articles o f similar character, the following clause shows that the idea o f protection, notwith standing the great assistance given to it by the increased necessities o f government, was effectually dissipated :— On cabinetwares, buttons, sad dles, gloves o f leather, hats o f beaver, felt, wool, or a mixture o f any o f them; millinery, ready made; castings o f iron, and slit and rolled iron; leather, tanned or tawed, and all manufactures o f which leather is the arti cle o f chief value, except such as are herein otherwise rated; canes, walking-sticks, and whips ; clothing, ready made ; brushes, anchors ; all wares o f tin, pewter, or copper, all or any o f them ; medicinal drugs, ex cept those commonly used in dyeing ; carpets, and carpeting; all velvets, velverets, satins, and other wrought silks; cambrics, muslins, muslinets, lawns, laces, gauzes, chintzes, and colored calicoes and nankeens, seven and a half per centum, ad valorem.* The vote on the bill, in the house, was— yeas 40, nays 15 ; and in the senate, not counted. In the following tariffs, comprising all adopted from the period which we have just left to the peace o f 1816, not only was the preamble free from allusion to the protective system, but the details themselves were framed on the exclusive revenue requisitions :—3J revenne act was dated 4th “ “ 5th « “ Gth “ “ March 2, March 3, M ay 2, June 5, 1791. 1791. 1792. 1794. 7th revenue act was dated June 7, 8th “ “ Jan. 29, 9th “ “ March 3, 10th “ “ July 8, Twenty-seventh Congress, Doc. N o. 244, p. 67. 42* 1794. 1795. 1797. 1797. 498 Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. 11th revenue act was dated M ay 7,1800. 12th M ay 13,1800. March 26,1804. 13th 14th March 27,1804. 15th April 21,1806. 16th March 3,1807. 17th Jan. 19,1808. 18th Jan. 10,1809. 19th revenue act was dated Jan. it 20th “ Jan. (( 21st “ Jan. it 22d “ July ii 23d “ Feb. ti 24th “ Feb. it 25th “ July 17,1810. 7,1811. 31,1812. 1,1812. 27,1813. 28,1813. 29,1813. W e have now arrived at the period to which the tariff policy o f the United States may justly be said to ascribe its origin. The great question proposed by the return o f peace was, what would be the amount o f revenue required by the future exigencies o f the government ? The debt incurred during the war amounted to over a hundred millions o f dollars, absorbing annually six millions in interest, and calling for an annual sinking fund appropriation o f almost as much again. Mr. Dallas, in the very able report submitted by him to Congress at its meeting, suggested “ that, in the year 1817, and annually in every subsequent year, there be appro priated the sum o f two millions o f dollars, in addition to the sum o f eight millions now annually appropriated, for the payment o f the interest and principal o f the public d eb t; that the payment o f this additional sum be made out o f the proceeds of the revenue derived from the customs, the sale o f public lands, and the internal duties, or either o f them, available after the payment o f the sums for which they are now respectively pledged or appropriated; and that the said additional sum o f two millions o f dollars annually be payable to the commissioners o f the sinking fund, to be applied by them in the same manner as the moneys which they are now entitled by law to receive ; that is to say— 1st. T o the payment o f the interest on the public funded debt. 2d. T o the reimbursement o f the principal, from time to time, as the same, or any portion o f it, shall become reimbursable, according to the terms o f the contracts by which it has been created. 3d. After having answered these purposes, if there shall remain a surplus at their disposal, to the purchase o f such parts of the public funded debt as shall appear to them to be most to the advantage o f the United States, in the manner prescribed by law, and at a rate not exceeding the par value.” * In accordance with the secretary’s recom mendation, not only were the appropriations set aside for the debt in creased to ten millions o f dollars, but it was voted that the surplus, which might annually remain in the treasury, should be devoted to the same fund. The great object was to raise the maximum o f revenue that a tax on imports would yield ; and though, without doubt, the conviction that, by so doing, manufactures would be encouraged, went some way to bring about the result, the grand object in view was the speedy removal o f the national incumbrance. In his opening message, Mr. Madison, after pressing with great earnest ness the duty o f providing amply for the debt, fortified his position by the collateral argument which the necessities o f the manufactures afforded. “ In adjusting,” he said, “ the duties on imports to the object o f revenue, the influence o f the tariff on manufactures will necessarily present itself for consideration. However wise the theory may be, which leaves to the sagacity and interest o f individuals the application o f their industry and resources, there are, in this, as in other cases, exceptions to the general Niles’ Register, ix., 275. Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. 499 rule. Besides the condition which the theory itself implies, o f a recip rocal adoption by other nations, experience teaches that so many circum stances must occur in introducing and maturing manufacturing establish ments, especially o f the more complicated kinds, that a country may remain long without them, although sufficiently advanced, and in some respects even peculiarly fitted, for carrying them on with success. Under circumstances giving a powerful impulse to manufacturing industry, it has made among us a progress, and exhibited an efficiency, which justify the belief that, with a protection, not more than is due to the enterprising cit izens whose interests are now at stake, it will become, at an early day, not only safe against occasional competitions from abroad, but a source o f domestic wealth, and even o f external commerce. In selecting the branches more especially entitled to the public patronage, a preference is obviously claimed by such as will relieve the United States from a depend ence on foreign supplies, ever subject to casual failures, for articles neces sary for public defence, or connected with the primary wants o f individuals. It will be an additional recommendation o f particular manufactures where the materials for them are extensively drawn from our agriculture ; and consequently impart and insure, to that great fund o f national prosperity and independence, an encouragement which cannot fail to be rewarded.” * The condition o f the manufacturing interest, in truth, was such as loudly called for the sympathies o f the legislature. During the war, a large portion o f the capital o f the country had been drawn from com merce, and invested in manufactures. One-third o f the productive wealth o f the northern states was estimated, at that time, to be so employed; and, without doubt, a considerable portion o f the laboring community was thus supported. The moment the ports were unsealed, it was antici pated foreign goods would pour in, and underbid domestic. It was for gotten that, before long, the capital w’hich was thus thrown from employ ment in one quarter, would seek for action in another. It was forgotten that, as capital shifted from one point to another, labor wrould shift with it. One great thought pressed upon those who were involved in the man ufacturing interest, and that was the danger o f immediate destruction. Petitions, on mammoth rollers, were carried to the tables o f both houses. Members were besieged by multitudes o f rich and poor, who foresaw, in the reduction o f duties to the peace level, both their own annihilation, and the humiliation o f the country. The alternative became clear, be tween a rapid discharge o f the debt, and a temporary protection o f man ufactures, on the one hand, and a slow discharge, with no protection at all, on the other. The committee o f wTays and means, as appointed by the speaker, Mr. Clay, was composed o f Mr. Lowndes, o f South Carolina; Mr. Burwell, of Virginia ; Mr. Taylor, o f N ew York ; Mr. Mosely, o f Connecticut; Mr. Robertson, o f Louisiana; Mr. Ingham, o f South Carolina ; and Mr. Gaston, o f North Carolina. Mr. Lowndes, who, for the two preceding sessions, had filled the post o f chairman o f that important committee, was well qualified, both from his own capacity, and the confidence everywhere imposed on him, for duties which were then most arduous. Not pretend ing to anything that might be called eloquence, and, indeed, laboring under a defect o f utterance which he was but rarely able to overcome, he * Niles’ Register, ix., 256. Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. 500 possessed the power o f making the most intricate statements intelligible. So great, indeed, was the confidence felt in his fairness, his honesty, his financial abilities, which in those days were very different things from what they are now, that if ever he found it difficult to make himself un derstood, which was but rarely the case, he never failed in convincing his hearers, by the weight o f his character, o f the truth, if not o f the trans parency o f his statements. Except Mr. Huskisson, it would be difficult to find a man who, without oratorical power, had reached such great par liamentary influence ; and it may safely be said, when we take in view the nominations o f three southern legislatures, that, had Mr. Lowndes not been carried from his country in the prime o f life, his virtue, his ability, and his energy, would have secured him that high office with which his name was brought into connexion. On March 20th, 1816, the committee reported to the house a bill, o f which, as amended, we have drawn a brief abslract:— T A R IF F OF 1816, AS SIGNED B T M R . M ADISON . S ection I. B e it enacted, by the Senate and House o f Representatives, in Congress assembled, That from and after the 30th day o f June, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, the duties heretofore laid by law on goods, wares, and merchandise, imported into the United States, shall cease and determine ; and there shall be levied, and collected, and paid, the several duties hereinafter mentioned ; that is to say :— A duty o f 25 per centum, ad valorem, on hempen cloth, or sail cloth, (except Russian and German linens, Russia and Holland duck;) stockings, o f wool or cotton ; printing-types; all articles manufactured from brass, copper, iron, steel, pewter, lead, or tin, or o f which these metals, or either o f them, is the material o f chief value ; brass wire, cutlery, pins, needles, buttons, button-moulds, and buckles o f all kinds ; gilt, plated, and japan ned wares, o f all kinds ; cannon, muskets, fire-arms, and side-arms ; Prus sian blue, Chinaware, earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, and glass man ufactures, other than window glass, and black glass quart bottles. A duty o f 25 per centum, ad valorem, on woollen manufactures o f all descriptions, or of which wool is the material o f chief value, excepting blankets, woollen rugs, and worsted, or stuff goods, shall be levied, col lected, and paid, from and after the 30th day o f June next, until the 30th day o f June, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, and after that day, 20 per centum on said articles ; and on cotton manufactures, o f all descriptions, or o f which cotton is the material o f chief value, and on cotton twist, yarn, or thread, as follows, viz : for three years next ensuing the 30th day o f June next, a duty o f 25 per centum, ad valorem; and, after the expiration o f the three years aforesaid, a duty o f 20 per centum, ad valorem. A duty o f 30 per centum, ad valorem, on carriages o f all descriptions, and parts thereof; leather, and all manufactures o f leather, or o f which leather is the material o f chief value ; saddles, bridles, harness ; paper o f every description, pasteboard, paper-hangings, blank-books, parchment, vellum ; brushes, canes, walking-sticks, whips, and clothing ready made. And in all cases where an ad valorem duty shall be charged, it shall be calculated on the nett cost o f the article at the place whence imported, (exclusive o f packages, commissions, and all charges,) with the usual ad dition established by law, o f 20 per cent on all merchandise imported Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. 501 from places beyond the Cape o f Good Hope, and o f 10 per cent on all articles imported from all other places. The following duties, severally and specifically :— On tarred cables and cordage, three cents per lb. ; on untarred cordage, yarns, twine, pack thread, and seines, four cents per lb. ; on wax and spermaceti candles, six cents per lb. ; on Chinese cassia, six cents per l b .; on cinnamon, twenty-five cents per l b . ; on cloves, twenty-five cents per l b . ; on cheese, nine cents per lb. ; on chocolate, three cents per l b .; on cocoa, two cents per l b . ; on coal, five cents per heaped bushel; on copperas, one dollar per c w t .; on copper rods, bolts, spikes, or nails, and composition rods, bolts, spikes, or nails, four cents per lb. ; on coffee, five cents per l b . ; on cotton, three cents per lb. ; on gunpowder, eight cents per lb. ; on hemp, one dollar and fifty cents per cwt. ; on iron or steel wire, not exceeding No. 18, five cents per lb., and over No. 18, nine cents per l b . ; on iron in bars and bolts, excepting iron manufactured by rolling, forty-five cents per cwt. ; on iron in sheets, rods, and hoops, two dollars and fifty cents per c w t .; and in bars or bolts, when manufactured by rolling, and on anchors, one dollar and fifty cents per cwt. ; on indigo, fifteen cents per lb. ; on lead in pigs, bars, or sheets, one cent per l b . ; on shot manufac tured o f lead, two cents per l b . ; on red and white lead, dry, or ground in oil, three cents per l b . ; on steel, one dollar per cwt. ; on segars, two dollars and fifty cents per thousand; on spirits from grain, o f first proof, forty-two cents per gallon ; o f second proof, forty-five cents per gallon ; of third proof, forty-eight cents per gallon; o f fourth proof, fifty-two cents per gallon; o f fifth proof, sixty cents per gallon; above fifth proof, sev enty-five cents per gallon ; on spirits from other materials than grain, o f first and second proof, thirty-eight cents per gallon; o f third proof, fortytwo cents per gallon; o f fourth proof, forty-eight cents per gallon ; o f fifth proof, fifty-seven cents per gallon ; above fifth proof, seventy cents per gallon ; on shoes and slippers o f silk, thirty cents per pair; on shoes and slippers o f leather, twenty-five cents per pair; on shoes and slippers for children, fifteen cents per pair; on spikes, two cents per l b .; on soap, three cents per lb. ; on brown sugar, three cents per lb. ; on white, clayed, or powdered sugar, four cents per lb. ; on lump sugar, ten cents per lb. ; on loaf sugar, and sugar-candy, twelve cents per l b . ; on snuff, twelve cents per lb. ; on tallow', one cent per pound; on tea from China, in ships or vessels o f the United States, as follows, v iz : bohea, twelve cents per lb. ; souchong, and other black, twenty-five cents per lb. ; imperial, gun powder, and gomee, fifty cents per lb. ; hyson and young hyson, forty cents per l b . ; hyson skin, and other green, twenty-eight cents per lb. ; on teas from any other place, or in any other than ships or vessels o f the United States, as follows, viz : bohea, fourteen cents per lb. ; souchong, and other black, thirty-four cents per l b .; imperial, gunpowder, and gomee, sixtyeight cents per l b . ; hyson and young hyson, fifty-six cents per lb. ; hyson skin, and other green, thirty-eight cents per pound. O f the debate which followed the presentation o f the bill, o f w'hich, as subsequently amended, we have given an abstract, there is but a slight sketch remaining. Long, it certainly was ; able, it certainly must have been ; for never, from the formation o f government to the present day, was there so great an amount o f ability collected in the capital, as in the house o f representatives in 1816. In the speaker’s chair sat Mr. Clay, 502 Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. in the meridian o f his parliamentary glory. On one side, sat Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Cheves, and Mr. Calhoun ; and on the other, Mr. Webster, Mr. Grosvenor, Mr. Gaston, Mr. Sergeant, Mr. Hopkinson, and Mr. Ran dolph. All o f them young men, most o f them thrown into public life by that great upheaving o f the elements which followed the embargo, they were as yet free from those blemishes which a long political life, made up o f coalitions with old enemies, and ruptures with old friends, invariably leaves behind. On the one side, war measures were pressed with the greatest ardor, because it was determined the war should be supported. On the other side, war appropriations were opposed with equal vehemence, because it was determined the war should be stopped. When peace came, the same spirit continued; and while the war party insisted on a national bank, as a remedy for present exhaustion, and a preventive of future embarrassment, the opposition maintained it to be unnecessary and unconstitutional. On the tariff question, however, though a considerable portion o f the south, with a generosity most honorable, unwilling to sub mit to the losses incurred by a high scale o f duties, in order to soften the fall o f the manufacturers, a large minority o f the southern members joined with the eastern federalists in opposing a measure which would press so heavily on the southern staples. The great states o f New York, o f Penn sylvania, o f Kentucky, and Ohio, pushed the bill with unbroken force ; and, by the strength which they brought into the field, insured its success against zealous enmity and qualified friendship. The speeches which are preserved in the National Intelligencer, on the merits o f the bill, are those o f Mr. Robertson, o f Louisiana, which are very brief, confined princi pally to the item o f sugar; o f Mr. Lowndes, which are still briefer, and o f which three hours in delivery are compassed in three lines o f type; one o f Mr. Calhoun’s, which, although the ablest o f the series, was made impromptu, and which consists chiefly o f an appeal to the magnanimity of the south ; a very odd dissertation o f Mr. Randolph’s ; a speech of Mr. Ingham, who took the lead in support o f the bill, and one o f Mr. Telfair, in opposition; from both o f which we shall make extracts, as exhibiting the tone with which the debate was sustained. Mr. Ingham took the bold ground that it was necessary to legislate pri marily, for the benefit o f the manufacturing interests. The manufac turers, he maintained, according to the sketch from which we make an extract, are vitally concerned in the fate o f this bill, and its details. It is believed that not less than one hundred millions o f dollars have been invested in manufactures in the course o f the last eight or ten years; and these furnish, in times o f prosperity, profitable employment to many thousands o f persons, who could procure subsistence in no other way. They consume vast quantities o f the products o f the country, and create a demand for raw materials which are imported from abroad, to an extent not easily believed by those who have no practical acquaintance with the facts. They supply substantial and valuable fabrics for the convenience and comfort o f the people, which they can pay for with their surplus pro ducts, and contribute to the completion o f by their own labor. The revenue question must, therefore, be regarded as a minor consideration, even if it had been shown (which it has not) that the proposed duty would yield either too much or too little revenue. Mr. I. said he considered this bill as involving a great principle o f national polity— not a mere contrivance to collect taxes from the people in the easiest way, but a Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. 503 measure intended and calculated to increase their comfort, happiness, and wealth, and, o f course, their disposition and ability to pay whatsoever the exigencies o f the government may require ; and, as a necessary conse quence, to increase and perpetuate the security, peace, and especially the independence o f the nation. He said he felt himself altogether incom petent to do anything like justice to this great and interesting subject; but he regretted this the less, because he knew it would be discussed by those who could not be indulged with a similar excuse. But it has been said that the promotion o f manufactures would tend to injure our com merce, though he had not heard any attempt to prove the allegation. What is the present condition o f our navigation ? Totally excluded from the British West Indies, and the carrying trade we formerly had, divided among the powers o f Europe. This must continue so long as they remain at peace. In addition to this, it may be remarked that, but lor the late treaty, we could not have carried out our own cotton to its principal mar ket. Many o f the products o f the middle states can find no market abroad. And do gentlemen suppose that our navigation can be preserved by en couraging the importation o f cotton and woollen goods, which, in many states, we have not the means of paying for, the balance o f trade being already most decidedly against us 1 This employment for our navigation has already failed, and it is worse than illusory to rely upon it— we must seek for some more certain employment for our shipping, that cannot be affected by the navigation acts o f other nations. This can only be found in our coasting trade, which must increase with our population, and will be especially promoted by every pursuit that increases the intercourse between the states on our maritime frontier; and it is the only trade ex clusively our own. Do not manufactures, in an especial manner, contrib ute to this object, particularly that o f cotton ; the raw material being pro duced in one extreme, and the fabrics made in the other— tending, also, to bind the states by the indissoluble bonds o f interest and mutual depend ence. Another source o f employment for our navigation is the trade with South America, which must depend upon the success o f our manufactures. W e shall require from thence a great variety o f raw materials, and the profit we make by working them will enable us to purchase European goods, with which to pay for them. Many articles which we make, have already found a vent in that country ; and this trade must increase with American manufactures, and will depend almost exclusively upon their success. The negative on the question o f the passage o f the bill was the un popular side ; and so great, indeed, was the outward pressure, that there were but few who had the boldness to stand up, and scrutinize the merits of a measure which stood on a basis so plausible. Occasionally the southern members queried as to the justice o f the protection principle, or the expediency o f its application to the southern staples ; but generally they allowed their personal doubts to be swallowed up by what appeared to them to be their national duties. Mr. Robertson, o f Louisiana, made one short speech in opposition, if we can judge from the report in the In telligencer ; and Mr. Telfair, o f Georgia, in the course o f the final debate, threw the matter so much on the ground which it has occupied in late years, that we feel justified in extracting from his remarks a few pas sages. After commenting at some length on the details o f the bill, and exposing what seemed to him the defects in its machinery, he proceeded 504 Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. to argue on the impropriety o f the protection theory. The second consideration, he remarked, according to the Intelligencer, and that most relied on, arises from the policy o f other nations, and promises a more permanent security to the independence o f this people. Imposing, indeed, is such a ground o f argument; and if the independence o f this nation either required or could be guaranteed by this bill, abhorrent, indeed, would be all opposition to it. But believing, as I do, that the liberties of this people, and the independence o f this government, rest on a basis too firmly laid, in their very genius and nature, to require such protection, for one, I will not consent to adopt the measure proposed. After having advanced in prosperity and improvement far beyond the march o f any other nation on the globe, in the same period o f time, you are now called upon to reject the admonitions o f experience, and adopt the very policy which, with reference to the people o f Europe, is congenial, because it denotes the absence o f all ideas o f self-government. You are about to abjure that principle which was peculiarly your own, and the offspring of freedom— o f leaving industry free to its own pursuit and regulation— and to assume to yourselves the capacity and right o f judging and dictating that labor which is wisest and best for the people o f this country. The extent o f territory, the exuberance o f our soil, the genius o f our people, the principles o f our political institutions, have in their combination de creed, as by a law o f nature, that, for years to come, the citizens o f Amer ica shall obtain their subsistence by agriculture and commerce ; and we, in our wisdom, would fain issue a counter-order to withdraw industry from its accustomed channels, and, by our laws, force into a state o f prematu rity the manufacturing enterprise o f this country. But we are told it would be idle, weak, and absurd in us, while all the powers o f Europe are devising plans for the encouragement o f manufactures, to let them stagnate for want o f national aid. T o this, I answer, that such are the profits and enjoyments flowing from labor in the ordinary pursuits o f life with us, that you cannot draw off the citizen, and tempt him to a new and less active pursuit, without robbing from the national wealth a considera ble portion, which is thrown in to make up his profits. Is not, then, the productive labor o f the country thereby diminished ? Has not a great portion o f it been thrown away, unless some great benefit is derived from this new direction o f industry ? And is the policy o f other governments to be urged as sufficient justification ? It must be borne in mind that the circumstances o f our country are totally different from those o f Europe. There, a crowded population causes it to be an object o f real national importance to discover means of employment for the many hands which would otherwise encumber society. With us, however, the case is widely different. Here, every hand would find ample employment in tilling the earth ; and the calls o f society are sufficient, without bounty, to give oc cupation to those who prefer other employments to those o f agriculture. And every occupation which requires the aid o f bounty contains, within itself, a proof that it is not productive o f national wealth, though it may be o f national glory. I must protest against this habit o f resorting to the regulations o f other governments as rules by which to graduate our own. Because the governments o f the old world have resorted to this mode of facilitating the collection o f taxes, by creating protuberances upon the body politic, are we to be influenced by their examples ? Because mo nopolies have for ages become familiarized to them, are we to disregard Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. 505 the evidences in favor o f an unshackled pursuit o f our own interests ; and, in despite o f the warning voice o f these very nations, which attests the ruinous effects of such a policy upon every principle held sacred by the friends o f freedom, are we to give aid to a favorite class o f the community by a tax upon the rest 1 Like the state banks, sir, these manufactures grew up while a state o f war gave a feverish heat to our political atmosphere, because the tempo rary wants o f the people and the government, and the sluggish state o f trade, required them. The return o f peace has diminished the demand for the paper o f the one, and the fabrics o f the other— they may both be said to have depreciated in their relative value. The depreciation o f bank paper, it is to be hoped, will be arrested in its progress— the combi nation o f these moneyed monopolists broken, as to all capacity for harm, by the establishment o f a bank governed in part by ourselves, and by other ulterior measures in contemplation. But, when the different man ufacturing states may have deemed it wise to follow the example o f Great Britain, and incorporate the different manufacturing establishments, grant them exclusive privileges, prop them by by-laws, and regard them as fa vorites, how are you to control the mighty combination to which such a policy would give rise? for they can concert, as well as the state banks. Will you, in such event, open the flood-gates, and let in the ocean o f foreign goods threatening to overwhelm them ? Certainly not. And yet this would be the only corrective left you. At this period o f time, the action o f Congress, in a session so far dis tant, can be as well determined from the journals o f its votes, as from the register o f its debates. W e proceed by introducing a brief summary, first, o f the amendments which were passed by the House, and incorpo rated, in consequence, in the bill o f which we have already given an abstract; and, secondly, o f the amendments which were proposed and lost, to exhibit, more fully than can be done by any other process, the attitude assumed by the various interests o f which the House was com posed. The bill from the committee o f ways and means was before the House; and on it, therefore, the amendments which we subjoin were in tended to be grafted :— I . AM ENDM ENTS PASSED. 1. Mr. Smith, o f Maryland— to increase the duty on iron sheets, rods, and bolts, from $1 50 to $2 50 per cwt. Carried without division. 2. Mr. Huger— to strike out the proposed duty o f four cents on broken sugar. Carried— 62 to 55. 3. Mr. Clay— to fill the blank thus created with three and a half cents. Carried— 64 to 58. 4. Mr. Smith— to make the duty on loaf sugar fifteen cen ts; that on lead, in bars, two cents per lb. ; on clocks, & c., 22 per cen t; on cotton, laces, & c., 22 per ce n t; on wire, under No. 18, five cents per l b . ; over No. 18, nine cents. 5. Mr. Ingham— to add the following clause to the paragraph which fixes the duties on woollens and cottons :— “ On cotton-yarn or thread, the same ; provided that all unbleached and uncolored cotton-yarn, the origi nal cost o f which shall be less than sixty cents per lb., shall be deemed and taken to have cost sixty cents per lb., and shall be charged with duty accordingly ; and all bleached or colored yarn, the original cost o f which VOL. ix .— no. vi. 43 506 Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. shall have been seventy-five cents per lb., shall be taken and deemed to have cost seventy-five cents per lb., and shall be charged with duty ac cordingly.” Ayes 66. 6. Mr. Robertson— to strike out the words “ on grain” from the clause fixing the duty on spirits, so as to include all spirits, o f whatever material made, within the highest rate o f duties specified on spirits. 7. Mr. Webster— to strike out the clause relating to the duties on im ported cottons, and substitute the following :— “ For two years ensuing the 30th of June next, a duty o f 30 per cent, ad valorem ; for two years thereafter, a duty o f 25 per cent, ad valorem; and after that, a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem.” Carried by a large majority. 8. Mr. Lowndes— to add the following to the clause fixing the duty of 25 per cent on woollens :— “ Excepting blankets, woollen stuffs, and rugs, shall be levied, & c., until June 30th, 1819; and after that day, 20 per cent on said articles.” 9. The duty o f 20 per cent on books was confined to English books— 48 to 45. 10. Mr. Smith— to lay a duty o f $2 50 per piece on Russia duck, and $3 per piece on Holland duck. Passed nem. con. 11. Mr. Betts— to make the duty on gold-leaf 15 per cent. 12. Mr. Clay— to make the duty on lead ground in oil four cents per lb. Passed— 48 to 43. 13. Mr. Pitkin— to extend the duty on teas to all which may be import ed from any other place than China, east o f the Cape o f Good Hope. 14. Mr. Ward— to fix the duty on Madeira wines at ninety cents. 15. Mr. Irving— to add the following clause to section 1st:— “ That in all cases when ad valorem duty be charged, it shall be calculated on the nett cost o f the articles, (exclusive o f packages, & c., and all charges,) and on the usual addition o f 20 per cent on all merchandise from places beyond the Cape o f Good Hope, and 10 per cent on articles imported from all other places. 16. Mr. Hardin— to make the duty on cottons 25 per cent for two years after the ensuing June, and 20 per cent thereafter— 84 to 60. 17. Mr. Smith— to make the above limit o f 25 percent for three years instead o f two— 79 to 71. 18. Mr. Stearns— to make the duty on brown sugar two cents per lb. Carried— 86 to 56. 19. Mr. Smith— to reduce the duty on lump sugar to ten cents per lb. 20. Mr. Pickering— to reduce the duty on india cottons to the old dou ble duty. Carried nem. con. II. AM END M ENTS LOST. 1. Mr. Strong— to strike out the clause reported by the committee, im posing 25 per cent, ad valorem, on all woollen and cotton goods, and to insert 334 per cent on cotton, and 28 per cent on woollen goods. With drawn. 2. Mr. Clay— to fix the duty on cottons at 33| per cent. Lost— 43 to 51. 3. Mr. Clay— to fix the duty on cottons at 30 per cent, ad valorem. Lost. 4. Mr. M ’Kee— to strike out three cents from the duty on lead, in order to insert a larger sum. Lost— 43 to 49. Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. 507 5. Mr. Forsyth— to fix the duty on broken sugar at five cents. Lost. 6. Mr. Lowndes— to strike out the duty on salt. Lost. 7. Mr. Forsyth— to subject burr millstones to duty. Lost. 8. Mr. Forsyth— to reduce the duty on cottons to 20 per cent, after the ensuing June. Lost— 65 to 69. 9. Mr. Wright— to exclude from voting on the cotton question all mem bers concerned in manufacturing cotton. Withdrawn. 10. Mr. Wilde— to fix the duty on cotton and woollen goods at 20 per cent ad valorem. Lost— 51 to 76. 11. Mr. Tucker— to strike out the minimum price o f twenty-five cents per yard on cottons. Lost. 12. Mr. Ward— to reduce the duty on hemp from l i to 1 per cent. On the 8th o f April, 1816, after an ineffectual attempt by Mr. Randolph at postponement till the next session, the bill passed the House by a vote of 88 to 54, according to the following table:— YEAS. New Hampshire.— Charles H. Atherton— 1. Massachusetts.— William Baylies, Benjamin Brown, Albion K. Parris, Nathaniel Ruggles, Solomon Strong, Samuel Taggart, Laban W heaton— 7. Rhode Island.— John L. Boss, James B. Mason— 2. Connecticut.— John Davenport, jr., Timothy Pitkin— 2. Vermont.— Daniel Chipman, Luther Jewett, Chauncey Langdon, Charles Marsh, John Noyes— 5. New York.— Asa Adgate, Samuel R . Betts, James Birdsall, Micah Brooks, Daniel Cady, Oliver C. Comstock, Henry Crocheron, Thomas R . Gold, T . P. Grosvenor, J. D. Hammond, Moses Kent, John Savage, A . H. Schenck, Enos D. Throop, George Townsend, Jonathan W ard, James W . W ilkin, W . W illoughby, jr., P. H. W endover, John B. Yates— 20. New Jersey.— Ezra Baker, Ephraim Bateman, Benjamin Bennett, Henry Southard, Thomas W ard— 5. Pennsylvania.— William Crawford, W illiam Darlington, Hugh Glasgow, John Hahn, Jos. Hopkinson, Jared Irwin, Samuel Ingham, Aaron Lyle, William Maclay, William Milnor, William Piper, John Sergeant, Thomas Smith, James W allace, John Whiteside, Thomas W ilson, William W ilson— 17. Maryland.— Stevenson Archer, Samuel Smith— 2. Virginia.— P. P. Barbour, Burwell Bassett, Aylett Hawes, William M ’Coy, Thom as Newton, James Pleasants, jr., Henry St. G. Tucker— 7. South Carolina.— John C. Calhoun, W illiam Lowndes, William Mayrant, W illiam W oodward— 4. Georgia.— Alfred Cuthbert, Bolling Hall, W ilson Lumpkin— 3. Kentucky.— Joseph Desha, R . M. Johnson, Abney M ’Lean, Stephen Ormsby, S. P. Sharpe, Micah Saul— 6. Tennessee.— Newton Cannon, B. H. Henderson, Samuel Powell— 3. Ohio.— John Alexander, James Caldwell, David Clendenin, William Creighton,jr.— 4. N AYS. New Hampshire.— W illiam Hale, Jeduthan W ilcox , R oger Vose— 3. Massachusetts.— George Bradbury, Jeremiah Nelson, Timothy Pickering, Asahel Stearns— 4. Connecticut.— E. Champion, Lyman L aw — 2. Verm nt.— Asa Lyon— 1. New York.— John Lovett, Erastus R oot— 2. Pennsylvania.— Thomas Burnside, Joseph Heister, John Ross— 3. Maryland.— George Baer, Charles Goldsborough, John C. Herbert, Robert Wright, Philip Stuart— 5. Virginia.— James Breckenridge, John Clopton, John P. Hungerford, Peterson Goodwyn, John Kerr, James Johnson, Joseph Lewis, Hugh Nelson, John Randolph, William H. Roane, Daniel Sheffey, Ballard Smith, Magnus Tate— 13. 508 Sketches o f Commercial Legislation. North Carolina.— J. H. Bryan, J. W . Clarke, John Culpeper, W . N. Edwards, D. N. Forney, W . N . Gaston, William C. Love, William H. Murliee, Israel Pickens, Lewis Williams, Bartlett Yancey— 11. South Carolina.— Benjamin Huger, Thomas M oore, John Taylor.— 3. Georgia.— John Forsyth, Thomas Telfair, Richard H . W ilde— 3. Kentucky .— Benjamin Hardin— 1. Tennessee.— J. B. Reynolds, Isaac Thomas— 2. Louisiana.— Thomas B. Robertson— 1. After a debate o f considerable length in the Senate, and the adoption o f two amendments, one raising the duty on unmanufactured wool to 15 per cent, ad valorem, and another fixing the general sugar duty at three cents per lb., the bill passed that body by a vote as follows :— Y e a s .— Messrs. Barry, Brown, Campbell, Chace, Condit, Daggett, Fromenlin, Gail, lard, Hersey, Hunter, King, L acock, Mason, o f Va., Morrow, Roberts, Ruggles, Sanford, Talbot, Tait, Thompson, Tichenor, Varnuni, W ells, Williams, W ilson— 25. N a y s . — Messrs. Barbour, Goldsborough, Gore, Harper, M ason ,of N . H ., Turner— 7. Such is the history o f the tariff o f 1816 ; and, however obnoxious it may be, as being both precedent and argument for subsequent destructive legislation, the most ardent advocates o f a free intercourse between nation and nation could not have objected to it. The manufacturers, by the up ward pressure o f prohibition war duties, had been lifted up to the top o f the house : and the only question was, whether they should have been thrown out o f the window, or taken gradually down stairs. The first step no one could counsel, who was aware both o f the vast amount o f wealth and labor which was at that time invested in the manufacturing interests, and o f the cause through which it had been there invested. It was Con gress that had raised the wall o f duties so high that the utmost swell o f the tides without failed in surmounting it— it was Congress who had in vited the capitalists and the laborers o f the land to throw their money and work in the new investment; and we cannot imagine anything more un just than for Congress, as soon as the necessity for home goods was over, to throw down the dyke, and subject property which had been thus invest ed to the rush o f the foreign torrent. There was but one course remain ing ; and that was, to let the duties gradually down. Such was the course proposed in 1816. The manufacturer was to be taken under the charge o f government; and, after being advised o f the proposed change, to be handed carefully down, with the help o f regular and adequate stoppages, till he reached that platform where a suitable revenue tariff would place him. “ I perceive but two errors in the act,” said Mr. Calhoun, in a late speech ; “ the one in reference to iron, and the other to the minimum duty on coarse cottons. As to the former, I conceive that the bill, as reported, proposed a duty relatively too low, which was still farther reduced in its passage through Congress. The duty, at first, was fixed at seventy-five cents the hundred w eight; but, in the last stage o f its passage, by a sort o f caprice, occasioned by an unfortunate motion, to forty-five cents. The other error was that as to coarse cottons, on which the duty was as much too high as that on iron was too low .” Progress o f Population and Wealth, etc. 509 A rt. II.— PR 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 I F T Y Y E A R S . AS EXHIBITED B Y THE DECENNIAL CENSUS TA K E N IN T H A T PERIOD. C H A PTE R X XI. T H E IN C R E A SE OF W E A L T H .* H aving ascertained the amount o f the national income, it would on many accounts be desirable to ascertain also its ratio o f increase, and more especially whether it increases at the same rate as the population or at a different rate. There are obvious reasons why the wealth o f an industrious and pros perous community should increase faster than its population. Every year adds to its stock o f labor-saving tools and machinery, as well as improves their usefulness. Lands, too, are made more productive by draining, ditching, manuring, and better modes o f culture. Both science and practical art are constantly enlarging the quantity o f manufactured commodities, and yet more improving their quality. By means o f cheaper and quicker modes o f transportation, much o f that labor which in every country is expended, not in producing, but in transferring pro ducts from place to place, is saved and rendered directly productive : and lastly, the small excess o f annual income over annual expense, is con stantly adding to the mass of capital, which is so efficient an agent o f production. But we must bear in mind that so far as this improvement in the sources o f wealth are shared by the whole civilized world, it is not mani fested in pecuniary estimates o f annual products, supposing the value o f the precious metals to be unchanged, since the same portion o f them will be constantly representing a greater and greater amount o f what is use ful and convenient to man. It is only where the increase o f wealth o f a country is faster or slower than the average that it will be shown in the money value o f its annual products compared with its population. It is, then, the relative and not the positive increase o f wealth in the United States which we propose to consider. Had each preceding census furnished the information afforded by the census o f 1840, this question had been o f easy solution. But this not being the case, we are left to infer the progress o f national wealth from such partial indications o f it as we are able to derive from other statisti cal facts. One o f these indications is the progressive increase in the value o f the lands and buildings o f the several states. In each o f the years 1798, 1813, and 1815, the General Government laid a direct tax, apportioned among them, as the constitution requires, according to their representative numbers. But as the act o f Congress authorized the states in 1813 and 1815 to assume the payment o f their * The present chapter closes the valuable series o f papers, by Professor Tucker, which have been in course o f publication in this Magazine during the last eighteen months. It will be seen, by reference to our November number, page 487, that Professor Tucker has collected and published the entire series in an octavo volume o f 211 pages. It should be in the hands o f every statesman and political economist in the country; and, indeed, all who wish “ to see and understand on what solid basis rests the hopes o f the AngloSaxon race on this continent.” 43* 510 P rogress o f Population and Wealth in the respective quotas, and thus relieve themselves from the tax, and several o f the states availed themselves o f this provision, a valuation o f the lands in those states not being necessary, did not take place. The valuations which were made were as follows :— 1798. N ew Hampshire,............... Massachusetts............................................................. Rhode Island,............................................................. C onnecticut,............................................................... Vermont....................................................................... N ew Y o r k ,.......................................................... Delaware,.................................................................... Maryland,.................................................................... North Carolina,......................................................... Tennessee,.................................................................. 1818. $23,175,046 83,992,464 11,066,358 48,313,434 16,723,873 100,380,707 6,234,414 32,372,291 39,842,372 6,134,108 $36,957,825 149,253,514 24.567,020 86,546,841 32,747,290 265,224,983 14,218,950 106,490,638 58,114,952 28,748,986 $359,235,067 $802,870,999 This shows an increase in the value o f the lands o f 123 per cent in fifteen years, equivalent to a decennial increase o f about 68 per cent. Let us now compare this increase with the increase o f population of the same states, in the same period o f fifteen years. In 1800 and 1810, their numbers were as follows :— N ew Hampshire,....................................................... Massachusetts,............................................................ Rhode Island............................................................... Connecticut,... .......................................................... V erm ont,...................................................................... N ew Y ork ,.................................................................. Delaware,..................................................................... Maryland,..................................................................... North Carolina............................................................ Tennessee,.................................................................. 1803. 1810. $183,762 574,964 69,122 251,002 154,465 586,756 64,273 341,548 478,103 105,602 $214,360 700,745 77,031 262,042 217,713 959,049 72,674 380,346 555,500 264,727 $2,828,597 j $3,701,327 This shows an increase o f population o f 30.8 per cent, and supposing the increase from 1798 to 1800, and from 1810 to 1813 to be not ma terially different, we may regard 30.8 per cent as the decennial increase o f their numbers. But the decennial increase in the value o f the lands was 68 per ce n t; that is, more than twice as great, or nearly as 221 to 100. It may be presumed that those states in which there was no valu ation o f the lands in 1813 would exhibit the same difference between these ratios. It is proper to remark that the lands o f those states which were valued in 1813, were again valued in 1815, and that the subsequent valuation showed no increase in the total value, and in seme o f the states an actual falling off. The war, by interrupting foreign commerce, prevented any in crease in the total value o f landed property, and probably arrested the progress o f the national wealth. Again : The valuation o f the lands in Virginia in 1798, uijder the direct tax law, was $71,225,127, and the same were valued in 1839, under a law o f the state, at $211,930,538, showing an increase o f value in 41 years o f 197.5 per cent, equal to a decennial increase o f 31 per cent. The population o f the state had, from 1800 to 1840, increased 40.8 per cent, which gives a less average decennial increase than 7 per cen t; by which it appears that the value of its lands had increased more United States in F ifty Years. 511 than four times as fast as its population, supposing the two valuations made with equal accuracy. On the other hand, in the state o f New York the valuation o f its lands under the direct tax law o f 1815, was $266,067,094 ; and the average valuation o f the same lands, for the years 1834, 1835, and 1836, under a law o f the state, was $430,751,273. This shows an increase o f value, in twenty years, o f 61.8 per cent, which is equivalent to a decennial in crease o f 27.2 per cent. The increase o f population o f the same state from 1810 to 1830 was 100 per cent, and from 1820 to 1840 was 76.9 per cent. The average between them (88.4 per cent) maybe presumed to give the rate o f increase from 1815 to 1835, the period in question, which is equivalent to a decennial increase o f 37 per c e n t; and thus, supposing the valuation to have been made on the same principles under the federal and the state governments, population would seem to have increased faster than capital in that state, or at least, than capital seek ing investment in real estate. It would seem from the preceding instances that the increase in the value o f land has been very different in the different states, even when compared with the increase o f population. It has also probably varied at different periods. The great extension o f the foreign commerce o f the United States during the first decennial term, and the extraordinary demand for their agricultural products, caused a rapid rise in the value o f their lands. The interruptions to that commerce in the second period, and part o f the third, produced a correspondent depression. On the other hand, the depreciation o f the currency in most o f the states during the war, and in all o f them about the year 1835 and 1836, had the effect o f enhancing the price o f land. Let us now advert to the progress o f commerce, seeing that the growth of national wealth may be expected to manifest itself in an increase of exports and imports. But since they greatly vary from year to year, it will be necessary to take the average o f several years. The average imports for the three years, from March 4th, 1789, to March 4th, 1792, were as follows :— The imports from March 4ih, 1789, to Decem ber 31st, 1791,...................... “ from December 3ist, 1791, to March 4th, 1792, equal to onesixth o f the imports o f that year,.............................................. $52,200,000 One-third o f...................................... $57,450,000 is........................................................ $19,150,000 5,250,000 The average imports o f 1839, 1840, and 1841 are $132,393,000, which shows an increase in fifty years o f 692 per cent, equal to a decennial increase o f 47 per cent, which is about two-fifths, or 40 per cent more than the average decennial increase o f population. The average annual exports o f domestic products from March 4th, 1789, to March 4th, 1792, were $13,500,000, and for the years 1839, 1840, and 1841, the average was $107,937,000, showing an increase o f 799 per cent in 50 years, which is equal to a decennial increase o f some thing more than 51 per cent. Again : The average imports for the years 1819,1820, and 1821, were $74,720,000, and when compared with those o f 1839, 1840, and 1841, an increase is shown o f 77 per cent in twenty years, equal to a decennial 512 Progress o f Population and Wealth in the increase o f 33 per cent, which is rather less than the increase o f the population in the same period. The consumption of those commodities which are in extensive, but not in universal use, may also be presumed to indicate the progress of wealth. O f this character are tea, coffee, and wine, all o f which, more over, being imported from abroad, their home consumption can be accu rately ascertained. T he average quantity annually consumed o f Coffee, was— lbs. “ “ “ “ T e a ........................ “ “ “ “ W ines, .... gls. From 1808 to 1812. From 1836 to 1840. 16,158,000 3,445,932 1,737,002 96,274,000 14,591,000 5,422,000 T he increased consump. in 30 years o f Coffee, 495 p. ce n t; the decen. incr. 81 p. cent. “ “ “ Tea, 323 “ “ 61 “ “ “ “ W ine, 212 “ “ 46 “ It would seem, then, that from 1808 to 1838 the increased decennial consumption o f coffee, compared with that o f the population, has been as 33 to 81 ; o f tea, 33 to 6 1 ; and o f wine, as 33 to 46. It must, however, be remembered, that for the last six years o f the term, coffee, which had previously paid a duty o f 5 cents per pound, and teas, which had paid an average duty o f more than 20 cents per pound, have been free o f duty ; and that for the same period the duties on wine have been greatly reduced. It is not easy to say how far the increased consumption o f these commodities is to be attributed to the changes in the tariff, but it does not probably exceed 20 per cent, and may be much less. One circumstance which has contributed to diminish the increase both o f imports and exports, is the growth o f manufactures, which has at once enlarged the home market for the raw materials, and lessened the de mand o f imports. Official estimates o f the manufactures o f the United States were taken both in 1810 and 1820, but there were so many inaccuracies in both, and especially the last, that anjr inferences drawn from them are to be regarded rather as probable conjectures than well-founded estimates. According to a digest o f the returns made by the marshals in 1810 of the manufactures o f the United States, they amounted to $127,694,602. A further estimate was afterwards made by the acting Secretary o f the Treasury o f the omissions, by which the amount was extended to $172,762,676. But inasmuch as there might also be great omissions in the returns o f 1840, it would seem safer to compare the returns that were actually made, more especially as Mr. Gallatin had, from those of 1810, estimated the annual amount o f manufactures at only 120 millions o f dollars. It seems, however, that each o f these estimates contain items that are not comprehended in that o f 1840. These, then, will be deducted before the two are compared. The following articles in the returns o f 1810, were not, in 1840, com prehended in the estimate o f manufactures, viz :— Amount, according to the marshal’s returns,. Fabrics made in families,................................................. Products o f fulling-mills,................................................... “ carding mills,................................................. Bar and pig iron,................................................................ Tanneries,................... $127,694,602 $16,491,200 4,117,308 1,837,508 6,081,314 8,338,250 United States in F ifty Years. S a lt,............... Fish oil,.......... Lead in pigs,.. 513 1,149,793 240,520 26,720 $38,332,613 $89,361,909 29,787,329 Deduct for raw materials one-third,.. $59,574,660 T he annual product o f the ,manufactures o f 1840, w as...................... 239,752,227 T o be deducted, the following articles not comprehended in the di gest o f 1840, v iz :— Bricks and lime, two-thirds of......... Houses, two.thirds of....................... Mill manufactures, one-fourth of... $9,736,945 41,917,401 76,545,246 $6,491,390 28,044,934 19,136,311 $53,672,635 $186,079,592 Comparing the same articles o f manufacture in 1810 and 1840, the increase, from $59,574,660 to $186,079,592, is 212 per cent in thirty years, or a decennial increase o f 46 per cent. The returns o f manufactures made by the marshals in 1825 were still more imperfect and inaccurate. In whole counties there were no returns whatever, and in almost all o f them there were considerable omissions. In some cases, where capital to a large amount appears to be employed, no product is stated. In not a few large establishments the proprietors refused to answer the marshal’s inquiries. In many, it should be added, the manufacturers are represented to be in a languishing condition. The gross annual amount o f the manufactures, so far as it can be gathered from such defective returns, appears to be only $36,115,000, and the capital employed in them to $41,507,000. As this branch o f industry is known to have been steadily advancing from 1810 to 1815, so great a falling off in five years as is indicated by the returns o f 1820, seems to be utterly inadmissible. Without doubt it must have greatly declined after the peace o f 1815, which at once raised the price o f raw materials and lowered that o f manufactures ; but after making large allowances for these circumstances and the omissions in the returns of 1820, they do not seem sufficient to account for the great apparent dif ference, and a part o f it seems not improbably to be referred to an over valuation o f the manufactures in 1810. Perhaps the best mode o f comparing the manufactures o f 1820 with those o f 1840 is to compare the number o f persons employed in those years ; and the rather as this part o f the returns is the most complete, and in the most manufacturing states makes some approach to accuracy. The number employed in 1820 was 36,705 men, 5,812 women, and 13,779 children— in all 56,296. The whole number o f persons employ ed in 1840 was 455,668— that is, as 100 to 8 0 9 ; which supposes the extraordinary decennial increase o f 284 per cent. After making the most liberal deduction from this estimate for the omissions in the returns o f 1820, the remainder shows an advancement in this branch o f industry that is without example. As a further evidence o f the same fact, we find that while no other branch of our domestic exports has ever doubled since 1820, that o f manufactures has increased six fo ld ; that is, from $2,342,000 to $12,868,840 in 1840, and $13,523,072 in 1841. 514 Progress o f Population and Wealth in the The increase o f the precious metals, or rather o f money, would be one o f the surest indications o f an increase o f wealth ; but we have no means o f ascertaining its amount in the first two or three decennial terms with even an approach to accuracy. In 1791, the estimates o f the currency, then almost wholly metallic, varied from nine to sixteen millions of dol lars. But in 1821, upon better data, the amount was estimated by the Treasury department at from eighteen to twenty millions. From that time to 1841, the imports o f specie and bullion, according to the custom. house returns, w ere................................................................. $181,589,814 138,085,922 The exports in the same period w ere.............................. $43,503,892 This, with the quantity then in the country, estimated at $19,000,000, gives a total o f $62,502,892. T o this we should add the product o f do mestic mines, but on the other hand, deduct the quantity wrought into plate and manufactures, or consumed by the wear o f the coin. The quantity of gold and silver manufactured from coin during the twenty years in question, is supposed by those most conversant on the subject not to exceed an average o f $500,000 a year. The quantity lost and consumed by the wear o f the coin may be set down at one-fourth of 1 per cent a year. The product o f the domestic mines, carried to the mint in the same period, has been $6,124,547, and making a moderate allowance for the quantity used by goldbeaters and other manufacturers, we may safely estimate it in round numbers at $7,000,000. On the preceding state o f facts, the quantity o f specie in the country in 1841 would be as follows:— Amount in circulation since 1821, and since imported,................................. Product o f domestic mines,................................................................................. $62,503,892 7,000,000 $69,503,892 Deduct amount manufactured,................................................... “ “ consumed by wear,........................................... $10,000,000 2,000,000 -------------------------- 12 , 000,000 $57,503,892 This increase in twenty years, from $19,000,000 to $57,503,892, is equivalent to a decennial increase o f 73 per cent, or nearly two-thirds more than the increase o f population. Without doubt the quantity of the precious metals in the United States was considerably augmented by the large loans contracted in Europe, but it must be recollected that a large part— it is believed the largest part— o f those loans was contracted after 1837, in consequence o f the reaction occasioned by the preternatural dis tension o f the currency, and tended rather to check the efflux o f specie (which it could not prevent) than to increase its im port; and that, what ever was the effect o f those loans, it would seem that the equilibrium was restored by the same reaction before 1841, by the fact of the great increase o f specie within the last two years. In this comparative estimate, as well as in all those preceding it, we should take into account the rise which the precious metals have ex perienced since 1820, by reason o f the lessened production o f the Ameri can mines, and which cannot be much if any short o f 10 per cent. If we allow for this additional value, it will convert the $57,503,892 in 1841 United States in F ifty Years. 515 to more than $63,000,000, and raise the decennial increase o f those metals to something more than 82 per cent. The result o f the preceding comparisons may be seen in the following summary:— Decennial increase o f land in 10 states,.... 44 44 “ Virginia,.... 44 44 “ N ew York,. 44 44 imports in 50 years, 44 44 exports “ 44 44 imports in 20 years, 44 44 exports “ 44 44 imports o f tea, 44 44 “ coffee, 44 44 “ wine, 44 44 manufactures, 44 44 specie, 68 per cent.— O f population, 44 44 31 44 44 27 44 44 47 44 44 51 44 44 33 44 44 33 44 44 61 44 44 81 44 44 46 44 44 46 44 44 82 601 30.8 per cent. 44 7. 44 37. 44 33 50 33 33 “ 33.33 44 33.33 44 33.33 44 33.33 « 33.33 “ 33.33 33.33 44 371.94 44 Which shows the decennial increase o f capital and wealth to have been to that o f population as 601 to 371.94, or nearly as 50 to 31 ; and sup posing the decennial increase o f population to have averaged 3 3 ’- per cent, that o f wealth has been 53 per cent. According to the view that has been taken o f the resourses o f these states, their public debts, on the most liberal estimate made of them, bear an insignificant proportion to their means. Supposing the amount o f those debts to be 200 millions o f dollars, at an interest o f 6 per cent, the annual charge is $12,000,000, which is little more than 1 per cent o f their income in 1840, and may be presumed to be less than 1 per cent o f their present income. But if they were all to provide for the punctual payment o f this interest, and thus restore that confidence in the national faith which once existed, or even make an approach to it, the debt could be readily converted at par into a five, or even four per cent stock, and the excess would be sufficient for a sinking fund that would discharge the debt in thirty years or less. In this interval, too, as wealth would be steadily increasing, the burthen would become lighter and lighter, and in twenty-five years it would bear but a third or fourth o f its present rate on the value o f property. With such ample means o f complying with their engagements, the states have not a shadow o f excuse for not faithfully fulfilling them. It is true that these debts are distributed among them very unequally, be cause their affairs have been administered with very unequal degrees o f wisdom and forbearance ; but even those states which are most encum bered, may provide for the payment o f interest by a moderate tax, which shall be made to bear on all sources o f revenue. Thus the debt o f Penn sylvania, estimated at $40,000,000, bears, at 5 percent, an annual inter est of $2,000,000. The income of this state was, in 1840, $131,000,000, and is probably at this time not less than $150,000,000. A nett re venue o f only 1J per cent o f that income would produce the $2,000,000 required. But were the burthen yet greater, and the means o f discharging them yet less, no state which does not set a higher value on property than in tegrity, can consent to a violation o f the national faith ; nor would any right-minded citizen deem the saving thus effected any compensation for 516 The Cotton Trade. the stain o f national infamy it would leave behind it. But the public sentiment o f the Union, to say nothing o f our character abroad, to which we never have been and never ought to be indifferent, is so decided on this subject, that it is impossible the people o f any state can permanently resist it. Even the excuses and pretences which were but too success fully urged by those who make a political traffic o f their principles when the first stunning effects of the revulsion in 1839 were felt in full force, will soon find no support from any considerable portion o f the American people. All men who have at once common sense and common honesty, must see that “ repudiation,” if warranted by strict law, would not be ju s t; and though it were just, would be neither liberal nor wise. W e confidently trust, then, that the cloud which now fearfully over hangs a few states, and to the distant observer casts a shade over the uncontaminated associates, will soon disappear, and leave the path before us as bright and cheering as that it is our pride to have passed over. A rt . III.— T H E C O T T O N T R A D E .* T he recent advance in the price o f cotton gives interest and value to the statistics o f that branch o f trade. These will not, indeed, settle the question whether the rise is speculative or well founded ; for the future cannot be determined by the past. They will, however, aid in settling that question. The experience o f former speculators, and the circum stances which attended former advances, will be o f more or less use in guiding the cotton-sellers and cotton-buyers o f this season. T o disregard past experience, is not the part o f prudent men ; and in business, even more than in morals, people desire to be prudent. I propose to bring together some facts on this subject. I f the advance is merely speculative, and not based on the wants o f the spinners and consumers, it is the interest and policy o f our planters to bring forward their crop as soon as possible. I f the rise is permanent— founded on a real or probable deficiency of supply— the whole south will rejoice again, with prosperity and abundance. The facts I shall bring forward will all be o f the most authentic char acter. They will be taken principally from Hunt’s Merchants’ Magazine, Baines’ History of the Cotton Manufacture, and M ’Culloch’s Commercial Dictionary. Some other authorities, equally undoubted, will be referred to. The principles on which I shall examine the question proposed, will be the following :— The stocks in foreign ports have been accumulating for several years past. At the end o f 1842, they were larger than ever be fore. I f the probable supply and demand are such that the stocks, at the end o f 1844, will exceed those o f 1842, the present advance cannot be sustained. If, on the contrary, the deficiency o f the incoming crop, and the increased demand at home and abroad, will more than consume the excess of the present crop o f 1843, then prices must rise ; or, at least, the present advance will be sustained. * This article was written in October, by Professor M ’ Cay, o f the University of Georgia, and sent to his brother, W . M ’ Cay, Esq., Postmaster at Washingtonville, Pa., who forwarded the manuscript to us too late for publication in the Merchants’ Magazine for November. It will be read with interest.— Ed. Merchants’ Magazine. 517 The Cotton Trade. The first question is, as to the crop now gathering. From Carolina, the reports are unfavorable. From the upper part o f Georgia, there will be a fair crop ; from the lower parts, it will fall off a quarter or a half from last year. In Florida, the failure is estimated to be very large— not a half crop, the newspapers sa y ; and private accounts are not more flat tering. From Alabama, the greatest deficiency I have seen reported, is 30 per cent. In the northern part, the crop is good. In Louisiana, Mis sissippi, Arkansas, and Texas, the reports are contradictory. Some say a falling off o f 30 per ce n t; all agree there will be much less than last year. It must be recollected, on the other hand, that the bad reports are al ways most easily circulated— that there is usually much exaggeration in the reported injuries to the growing crop— that the season has, thus far, (October 6th) been very favorable for picking; and that the natural in crease o f hands, and the extending o f the cultivation by the planters, will tend to augment, somewhat, the production. The following estimate of the crop is submitted :— 1841. Receipts. New Orleans,................................... M -bile,............................................... Florida, ............................................. Georgia,............................................. South Carolina,................................ North Carolina and Virginia,........ 1844 . 1,06 ),000 bales. 482,000 “ 161,000 “ 299,000 “ 352,0)0 “ 24,000 “ 2,378,000 “ 700,009 350,000 ] 00,000 240,000 280,000 23,000 to to to to to to 800,000 bales. 430,000 «t 123,000 it 480,000 tt 32 1,003 (t 30,000 tt 1,690,000 to 1,950,000 t< The average, 1,820,000 bales, is probably the fairest estimate o f the crop that can now be given. So much for the supply frcm the United States. The imports into England, o f Egyptian, Brazil, & c., have been nearly stationary for several years ; and their average amount may be taken as the supply for 1843 and 1844 :— 1839, ................................ 1840, ................................ 1841, ................................ 176,000 bales. 112,000 “ 119,000 “ 1842,................................... Average........................ 129,000 bales. 132,000 “ As yet, the import from India has not fallen off; but the opening o f the Chinese ports will lessen it considerably for 1844. Probably a falling off of 50 per cent may be calculated on. That will bring it down to 127,000 bales for 1844. The amount exported to England before the Chinese war, was as follows, from 1833 to 1840 :— 1833,.................. 1834,.................. 1835,.................. 1836,.................. 1837,.................. ............... ............... ............... ............... 88,000 118,000 219,000 145,000 “ “ “ “ 1838,......................... 1839,......................... 1840,......................... Average,............ ........ ........ ........ ........ 109,000 bales tt 132,000 tt 216,000 tt 139,000 If we set it down at 255,000 for 1843, which was the amount o f 1842> and 127,000 for 1844, we will probably be near the mark. The receipts in France, from Egypt, are considerable ; but I have no means o f obtain ing their amount, and shall have to leave them out. So, also, the receipts o f France, and other European countries besides England, from India, Brazil, & c. These, however, are small, and may safely be neglected. O f the crop made in the United States, a large amount must be retained for home consumption. Our factories are active, and will want more than VOL. ix . — n o . v i . 44 518 The Cotton Trade. in any former year. The American consumption, for several years past, has been as follows :— Av. for two years. 1836,.. 1837,.. 1838,.. 1839,.. 236,000 bales, j o o q nan 222,000 « 244,000 “ i o£n nnn 276,000 “ Av. for two years. 1840,.. 1841,.: 1842,.. 1843,.. U e. Dn a in l6 S 295,000 bales. 297,000 268,000 <t 325,000 tt 296.000 bales. 297.000 “ I f we allow 350,000 bales for 1844, it will be a very large increase ; but probably it will be nearly correct. W e have now the elements o f the European supply for 1S43 and 1844 :— Exports o f the United States for Crop “ “ English import o f East India, for “ all others, “ “ “ “ 1843,....................................................... 1844,....................................................... 1844,....................................................... 1843,....................................................... 1844,....................................................... 1,990,000 bales. 1,820,000 “ 255,000 “ 127,000 “ 132,000 “ T ota l,............................................................................................. From this, deduct the wants o f the United States for 1844,................... 4,456,000 350,000 “ “ A nd there remains...................................................................... 4,106,000 “ W e have no means o f estimating the demand in Europe, out o f Eng land and France ; but, as that is small, we will leave it out, both in esti mating the wants and the supply. The exports o f the United States to all other countries, except France and England, for 1842 and 1843, have been 321,000 bales. As those of 1842 were 67,000 larger than those o f 1843, it is probable the amount for 1843 and 1844 will be less than this. Taking them at 320,000, we will have, finally, the English and French supply for 1843 and 1844, 3,786,000 bales ; or the average supply for both, 1,893,000 bales. Let us now inquire into the demand. In Hunt’s Merchants’ Magazine, the English consumption is put down as follows :— 1839, 1840, ............................ ............................ 1,054,000 bales. 1,293,000 “ 1 1841,.................................. |1842,................................... 1,150,000 bales. 1,195,000 “ In M ’Cuiloch’s Commercial Dictionary :— 1837................................. 1838, ........... ,,............... 1839, ............................ 1,057,000 bales. 1,207,000 “ 1,114,000 “ 1840,................................... 1,089,000 bales. 1841,................................ 1,237,000 “ From Brande’s Encyclopedia :— 1840,................................ 1,251,000 bales. From Cotton Brokers’ Circular:— 1840,. 1,285,000 bales. 1 1841,. 1,196,000 bales. There is much agreement between these estimates, and great depend ence may, doubtless, be placed on them. The average o f all gives:— 1837.................................. 1838, ...................... 1839, ...................... 1,073,000 bales. 1,222,000 “ 1,084,000 “ 1840,................................. 1841,,............................... 1842................................. 1,276,000 bales. 1,173,000 “ 1,195,000 “ The French consumption, according to Hunt, was as follows :— 1837..................................... 1838, .......................... 1839, .......................... 361,000 bales. 392,000 “ 326,000 “ 1840, 1841, 1842, ......................... ......................... .......................... 446,000 bales. 419,000 “ 445,000 “ 519 The Cotton Trade. Much o f this was Egyptian ; but how much, we cannot say. Most of the American exports go to Havre— the Egyptian to Marseilles; and the Havre imports are considerably below the French consumption. W e will omit this, as it will not much affect our final results. Combining, now, the French and English consumption, we have— 1837,................. 1833,.................. 1839,................. 1840,.................. 1841................... ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 1,434,000 bales. 1,614,000 “ 1,410,000 “ 1,722,000 “ 1,592,000 “ 1842..................... Av. for 1837 and 1838,. “ 1839 and 1840,. “ 1841 and 1842,. 1,640,009 bales. 1,524,009 “ 1,566,000 “ 1,616,000 “ Which gives an increase o f less than 2 per cent per annum. The wants of 1843 and 1844 will, doubtless, outrun these. The opening o f the Chi nese trade, the general peace throughout the world, the favorable harvest in England, will increase the demand faster than usual. But, as we have had these circumstances all operating before, it is possible to tell the probable limit o f the effects they will produce. The cotton trade has been increasing, for twenty or twenty-five years, with gigantic strides. For several years past, this rate has much slackened; and no one can suppose the rate hereafter, or for the next two years, will be as large. What, then, has been the rate o f progress? From M ’Culloch, it appears that the English weekly consumption has been as follows :— 1825,................... ................ 1826,................... ............... 1827,................... ............... 1828,................... ............... 1829,.................. .............. 1839,................... ............... 1831,.................. .............. 3,456,000 lbs. 3,410,000 “ 3,802,000 “ 4,158,000 “ 4,263,000 “ 4,768,000 “ 5,048,000 “ 1832,.................. 1S35,................... 1836,.................. 1837,................... 1838,................... 1839,.................. 1840,................... ............... .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. 5,330,000 lbs. 6,117,000 (i 6,681,000 44 7,032,000 44 8,013,000 44 7,321,000 4( 8,825,000 44 The consumption o f 1833 and 1834 is not given. The French consumption is given, in Hunt, in bales, for the whole year; but they may be turned into pounds, and the weekly consumption obtained very nearly, by taking the weight o f the bags from M’Culloch. In 1825, the weight was 270 lbs. ; in 1830, 300 ; in 1835, 331 ; & c. 1825,... 1826,... 1827,... 1828,... 1829,... 1839,... 1831,... Bales. Weight o f 216,000 281,000 280,000 240,000 265,000 251,000 244,090 a Img. 270 276 282 288 294 390 306 Weekly consumption. 1,123,000 1,489,000 1,512,000 1,344,000 1,510,000 1,456,000 1,440,090 lbs. “ “ “ “ “ “ 1832,... 1835,... 1836,... 1837,... 1838,... 1839,... 1840,... Bales. Weight of a bag. 272,000 309,000 357,000 361,000 392,000 326,000 446,000 312 331 342 347 350 348 365 Weekly con sumption. 1,632,000 1,964,000 2,342,000 2,366,000 2,638,000 2,181,000 3,126,000 lbs. “ “ « “ “ “ Combining the two, and taking the average o f two years at a time, and getting the increase per cent for two years, we have the following table : — Week’ y consump tion. 1825-26,.. 1827-28,.. 1829-30,.. 1831-32,.. . 9,478,010 lbs. . 10,816,000 “ . 11,997,009 “ . 13,450,000 “ Rate of incr. for two yrs. 14 per cent. ii 12 Weekly consump tion. 1835-36,.. . 17,104,000 lbs. 1837-38,.. . 20,049,000 “ 1839-40,.. . 21,453,000 “ Average increase,............ Rate of incr. for two yrs. 13 per cent. 17 7 12 The utmost rapidity o f any period was 17 per cent; the average, only 12. T o suppose that the increase per cent on the very large numbers now representing the consumption would be as great as it ever was, in 520 The Cotton Trade. the past history o f the cotton trade, would he preposterous; but we will take this as the utmost limit to which it will go. The result is as follows Bales. Consumption o f 1837-38,........ “ 1839-40,........ “ 1841-42,........ I Bales. 1,524,000 Possible cons, o f 1843-44,....... 1,560,000 i Estiin’ed supply, 1843-44,....... 1,616,000 | 1,891,000 1,893,000 Here, then, is our conclusion. The stocks, at the end o f 1844, will be larger than those on hand at the end o f 1842 ; and an advance o f prices, in the face o f increasing stocks, is so utterly at variance with the laws o f trade, that they cannot be sustained. I have everywhere made liberal allowances and deductions, to avoid this conclusion. I have first supposed a very large increase in the demand from the northern manufacturers. I have supposed the demand in England and France to increase as fast as it has done in any period o f the last eighteen years, or five times faster than it has done in the last six years. I have supposed the East India supply to fall off, next year, 50 per cen t; which brings it lower than the average before the Chinese war, although it is known that there has been a great extension o f production in India. I have not reckoned anything for French receipts from India, Egypt, and Brazil. I have made no reference to the large stocks in our Atlantic ports, which, at the end o f 1843, were 55,000 bales larger than at the end o f 1842 ; and, in spite o f all, I have been forced to the conelusion that the supply for 1843 and 3844 will exceed the demand, and that the larger stocks on hand, at the end o f 1842, will be increased at the end o f 1844. I will now go back, and examine this question with a different set of facts, not with reference to England and France alone, but for the whole o f Europe. The crop and export o f the last six years have been as follow s:— 1837,......... 1838,......... 1839,......... 1840,......... Crop. Exports. Crop. Bales• Bales. Bales. Exports. Bales. 1,422,000 1,801,000 1,360,000 2,177,000 1,169,000 1,575,009 1,076,000 1,876,000 1,635,000 1,684,000 2,379,000 1,313,000 1,465,000 1,990,000 1841,.. 1842,.. 1843,.. These are the crop and the exports o f the United States at the end of the cotton year. I f we had the increase or decrease o f stocks in Europe at the same time, we would know the European consumption. These are made up at the end of the civil year, and differ considerably from what they are at the end o f the cotton year. In comparing them, however, with one another, the results will be much the same. I f the European stocks increase or decrease from September to September, they will in crease or decrease nearly at the same rate from December to December. The stocks on hand at the end of the year were as follows :— England. Bales• 1837.. 1838.. 1839.. . . . 259,000 . . . 321,000 . . . 265,000 France. Bales. Europe. Bales. 64.000 63.000 75.000 386,000 460,000 412,000 England. Bales. 1 8 4 0 .. 1841.. 1842.. France. Bales. ... 464,000 96,000 . . . 538,000 136.000 . . . 561,000 138.000 Europe. Bales. ............. ............. ............ The English imports from other countries than the United States were— 1837, .......................... 1838, .......................... 1839..................................... 331,000 bales. 397,000 “ 299,000 “ 1840..................................... 1841,.................................... 1842..................................... 363,000 bales. 440,000 “ 379,000 “ 521 The Cotton Trade. Average European supply for— 1837-38.......... 1839-40............................. 1,691,000 bales. I 1841-42............................... 1,807,000 “ | 1,798,000 bales. Increase o f stocks from— 1837 to 1833,..................... 1833 to 1840,..................... 74,000 bales. I 1840 to 1842,.................... 172,000 “ | 139,000 bales. Hence, actual average wants for— 1837-33,.......................... 1839-40,.......................... 1,617,000 bales. I 1841-42,............................. 1,635,000 “ | 1,649,000 bales. T o this, add 17 per cent as the possible increase o f demand, and it gives the European demand, 1,929,000 bales. The supply was before estimated, for the whole o f Europe, at 2,053,000 bales, a very great ex cess in the supply over the wants. W e are thus led to the same conclu sion as before. The stocks in Europe must increase during 1843 and 1844; and, therefore, the price o f cotton ought at least to fall back to what it was at the end o f 1842. I come now to a third method o f settling this question ; and in this, the elements I shall use will be independent o f those already brought forward. The numbers will relate to the English market on ly; but, as this is by far the most important o f all, what applies to it will apply to all. E n g l is h I m p o r t s , in m il l io n s o f p o u n d s . A ll oth ers. 1 3 5 .0 1 8 4 0 , .......... 1 8 3 7 , .......... U . States. 3 2 0 .7 India. 51 6 1 8 3 8 , .......... 4 3 1 .4 4 0 .2 3 6 .2 1 8 3 9 , .......... 3 1 1 .6 4 7 .2 3 0 .6 All others- U . States. 4 8 7 .9 India. 7 6 .7 1 8 4 1 , .......... 3 5 8 .2 9 7 .4 3 2 .4 | 1 8 4 2 , .......... 3 8 7 .3 ... . •... 2 6 .9 The import from all other countries, except the United States and In dia, has been thus nearly stationary. The average for the last five years is 328,000,000. The India import, for 1842, was 255,000 bales. The average weight o f an East India bag, from 1837 to 1841, was 358 lbs. This gives, for the India import for 1842, 91.3 millions; and for the whole English import o f 1842, 511.4 millions. Hence, the average im port for— 1837-38, was.................... 1839-40, “ ..................... 457.5 millions. I 1841-42, was..................... 490.4 “ | 499.7 millions. The exports were as follows :— 1837, ........................ 1838,........................... 39.7 millions o f lbs. 30.6 I 1841,....................................... 50.9 millionsoflbs. The exports in bales are given, in M ’Culloch, for the other years, and the weight o f the packages imported, but not the weight o f those export ed. As but few United States bags are exported, the average weight of the imported will be a little too large, as the American bags are the hea viest. Taking them the same, the pounds exported will be as follows:— 1839, ....................... 1840,........................... 40.8 millions o f lbs. 42.7 I 1842,........................... 52.5 millions o f lbs. This leaves for the average amount retained for home consumption— 1837-38.................... 1839-40,.................. 422.4 millions o f lbs. I 18 4 1 -4 2 ,.................. 448.7 “ | 448.0 millions o f lbs. Up to the 1st o f September o f the present year, the import into Eng land was 1,382,000 bales. Last year, at the same date, the import was 44* 522 The Cotton Trade. 993,000 bales ; and for the whole year, 1,386,000 bales. Supposing the import for the rest o f the year to fall off 25 per cent, the whole amount for 1843 will be 1,677,000 bales. Although the estimate o f the crop for 1844 is higher than that o f 1842, our English export o f 1844 may not exceed that o f 1842. Allowing the East India import to fall off 50 per cent, and that o f all others to remain stationary, the imports for 1844 will be as follows :— 1,019,000 137.000 123.000 American,... East India,.. A ll others,... T otal,........................................................................... 1,279,000 bales. “ “ “ And, as a large portion o f this is American, the weight o f the bags may be put at 380 lbs. This gives the English import as follows :—• 1843, .................................................... 1844, .................................................... 637.3 I Average............................................... 486.0 I 560.6 As the East India import falls off, the English export will decrease; but, let it be taken at the average o f the last six years, which is 42.9 millions, and it leaves for English consumption, as the average for 1843 and 1844,...................................................................... 518.7 millions o f lbs. The av. ain’t left for consumption in 1841-42, was 448. “ Increase for 1843........................................... 70.7 “ Which is about 16 per cent. Thus, although the stocks on hand increased, during 1841 and 1842, from 464,000 to 561,000 bales, the amounts retained for English con sumption in 1843 and 1844 wiU exceed the amount retained in' 1841 and 1842, by 16 per cent. As this increase is as great as any possible in crease o f the demand, it follows that the stocks must increase during 1843 and 1844, and therefore the price ought to recede, rather than advance. The present rise in cotton seems, therefore, like a bold endeavor to force the price above the rate required by the demand ; and such an attempt can only result in injury to those who engage in it. In conclusion, I would advert to some facts in the history o f former speculations in cotton. The great rise in 1825 was accompanied by many circumstances to justify it. The import o f 1824 was below the average import o f the previous five years, although the consumption was increasing at the rate o f 8 and 10 per cent per annum. The stock on hand fell off from 107 millions to 76 ; and yet the advance in prices was so completely unfounded, that a general bankruptcy overwhelmed all the speculators. A slight rise was proper enough ; but the eagerness to make a fortune, which always belongs to a rising market, forced the speculators beyond all proper limits. The rise in 1833 and 1834 was justified by a constantly decreasing stock. The stocks were as follows :— 18 27.. 1828.. 1829.. 1833.. .. .. .. .. 164.8 mill’ ns o f lbs. 452,000bales. 1831.. 1832.. 147.0 “ 406,000 “ 1833.. 115.5 “ 289,000 “ 118.8 “ 320,000 “ .. 114.4 mill’ns o f lbs. 275,000 bales. .. 103.7 “ 245,000 “ .. 94.4 “ 215,000 “ The short crop o f 1839 created a speculative rise here, which was not accompanied by a corresponding advance in England, The circumstances The Union o f Protection and F ree Trade. 523 attending that rise were somewhat similar to those o f this year. The crop o f 1838 was very large ; that o f 1839 was very small. By the offi cial estimates at the custom-house of the United States, the prices were, for— 1838, .......................................... 1839,.......................................... 10.1 cents. I 1840,.......................................... 14.5 “ | 8.6 cents. While, according to M ’Culloch, they were, in Liverpool— 1838,............................................ 1839,............................................ 7 pence. | 1840............................................... 71 “ I 6 pence. The advance here being about four cents and a half, while in England it was only one and three-fourths o f a cent. No one now hears, in the cotton-growing states, the universal complaints that were made in 1839; and yet the advance in prices is greater now, in the United States, than it was in Liverpool in that disastrous year. There is nothing, therefore, in the history of the cotton trade ; nothing in the present state o f the demand and supply; nothing in the present or future state o f the stocks on hand, to justify any advance over the prices of 1842 ; and all attempts o f speculators to force prices, can only recoil on themselves. The laws o f trade are as irreversible as those o f na ture ; and these laws have more and more influence on the results, in pro portion to the magnitude o f the business. In the whole range o f products, there is none in which man’s influence is less than in cotton. W e may, therefore, confidently expect that prices will fall back to their former rates, till the new planting o f 1844 begins to exert its influence. A rt. IV .— T H E UNION OF P R O T E C T IO N A N D FR EE T R A D E . PROTECTION TO AM ERICAN INTERESTS IN UNION W IT H THE PRINCIPLES OF TR U E FREE TR A D E , ILLUS T R A T E D B Y TH E REPO RT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF TH E HOME LEAGUE, A T ITS SECOND A N N IV E R S A R Y .* Gentlemen, Associates o f the Home League : W e hail, with honest pride, the return o f this anniversary. An impor tant work has been accomplished by the friends o f American interests, and the day is now with us. In contemplating the striking contrast between the present condition o f our country, and the discouraging state o f its affairs when, at the call o f the American Institute, we were first assembled in this city, we can dis cover ample cause for mutual congratulation. Tw o years ago, when every portion o f the country was laboring under embarrassments in all departments of business— when the laborer was without employ, and the capitalist without confidence— when our agricul turists sought in vain for a remunerating market for their products— when our manufactures were all but ruined by foreign importations, and threat ened with a withdrawal o f adequate protection— when our foreign com merce and shipping interest, even under a low state o f duties, were, in every way, unprofitable— when the states and general government were * T he Annual Report o f the Central Commitiee, prepared by C. C. Haven, being read, was unanimously adopted ; and, being referred to the committee for publication, was ordered by them to be published in “ Hunt’s Merchants’ Magazine.” 524 The Union o f Protection and F ree Trade. embarrassed by increasing debts, and every interest in the commonwealth seemed to be at the mercy o f an adverse current o f events— a few indi viduals, o f various professions, without dictation or reward from any quarter, except the satisfaction o f acting with honest and patriotic mo tives, resolved to devote themselves to the task o f devising some remedy for the existing evils; and for this purpose invited a convention of their fellow-citizens, from every section o f the country, without distinction of party, which organized this association for the protection o f A merican labor , and the promotion o f reciprocal free trad e . This was the starting point o f the H ome L eague , and under this banner we have tri umphed. The following are some o f the resolutions which were unanimously passed on that occasion. W e think it important that they should now be remembered as the principles we then professed, and as having, so far, proved correct in practice :— Resolved, That the primary object o f the H ome L eague will be to digest and recommend a national polity, for the promotion o f the general interests o f agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and finance ; exercising a continuous influence for the benefit o f the Union, independent o f sec tional prejudices, aloof from party trammels, and free from vacillating and temporizing expedients. Resolved, That, in the organiza tion and proceedings o f this League, no other influence is contemplated than such as will rest on principles and arguments which may be approved by the people, and sanctioned by Congressional enactments. Resolved, That labor, corporeal and mental, is conservative o f virtue, and the origin o f wealth— its interests should, therefore, be the prime objects o f legislation; while capital is competent to its own protection in the strife o f interests, and needs little else than to be secured to its pro prietors. No nation can be great or prosperous where labor is either dishonorable, or wasted for want o f objects upon which it can be bestow ed, or meets with no adequate reward. Resolved, That no nation should tolerate any other than a reciprocal commerce ; but, to receive the products o f nations which refuse ours in exchange, is only another name for vassalage. Resolved, That a policy which favors the augmentation o f our exports, encourages home labor according to the directions our citizens may prefer to give it, and regulates or restricts importations so as to prevent, as much as possible, the balance o f trade being against us, is best calculated to secure a stable revenue to the government, and promote the whole interests o f the country. Resolved, That the preservation o f a sound currency can only be pro moted by a steady security to domestic industry; whilst any other system o f currency, not secured from violent changes, is liable to paralyze indus try, to prostrate trade and confidence, and subject the country to revulsions imminently dangerous to its welfare. Resolved, That in any adjustment o f the tariff, for the purpose o f rev enue, due regard should be had to the protection o f such articles as may render every portion o f the country competent to supply its primary wants from home resources, in times o f peace as well as war. Resolved, That if a revenue for the economical support o f government is to be the measure o f protective favor to our manufacturers and me- The Union o f Protection and F ree Trade. 525 chanics, justice, as well as policy, demand that such a scale o f duties be adopted as will not, by fostering an increased consumption o f imported fabrics, favor foreign labor, when (by a higher scale, producing an equal revenue,) our own industry may be aided, without injury to any home interest. Resolved, That adequate protection to the mechanical and manufactu ring interests does not conflict with, but does essentially aid the agricul tural and commercial industry o f the country. Resolved, That, based as our government is, on the principles o f equal ity, both political and social, among its citizens, it depends, for its existence as a republic, upon such an administration o f the laws as will secure to men o f wealth the enjoyment o f their property, and to the laboring man a sufficient and satisfactory return for his labor, and enable him not only to procure the necessaries, but to enjoy the comforts o f life. Modelled upon these principles, a highly acceptable tariff was at length enacted by the government; which, having been maturely prepared by practical men, has proved most beneficial and satisfactory in its opera tion. It has given new life, and a healthy action, to all departments o f our national industry, and a new impulse to the popular mind. Our cit izens, who were before divided in their opinions respecting its utility, can now clearly see the advantage o f protection to our national concerns. None but the interested agents and venal presses in foreign employ, and monopolizing capitalists, who seek exclusive benefits from the labors o f others, without laboring themselves, pretend any longer to deny its ben eficial influence to the country at large. Permanency is now all that is wanted to secure its continued triumph. Even those who at first denounced it as an unjust and piratical manoeuvre o f northern manufactures, and taunt ingly derided it as the Home League tariff, are now willing to participate in its advantages, and even affect to claim merit for having permitted its enactment. W e rejoice that our humble labors have been in any way satisfactory, even to those who have bitterly and unjustly aspersed our motives. Such a result proves the utility o f popular associations, acting under the influ ence o f constitutional privileges ; and tests the value o f free inquiry, inde pendent o f party trammels. With all the industrial classes o f the commu nity, the Home League has been decidedly popular; and the formation o f more than a hundred auxiliary associations will prove its extended influ ence throughout the states. But, that hostility to our proceedings should be manifested by foreigners, interested in opposing it, or by sectional politicians in our own country, who misrepresent or misunderstand our principles, is not surprising. The free institutions, and vast resources o f our country, encourage speculation o f every kind. Our government, being essentially liberal in its policy towards all nations, and constituted with establishments mainly devoted to foreign intercourse, and a national bias existing among the people in favor o f our early commercial pursuits, overlooking the ten-fold importance o f our home trade, we cannot be astonished either at the apathy or hostility shown towards our internal resources, and the neces sity o f giving them proper protection. L a b o r , the great staple o f the farmer ; i n d u s t r y a n d s k i l l , those vast levers o f the manufacturing and mechanical interests; d o m e s t i c i n s t i t u t i o n s , f o r encouraging the right direction o f capital and talent in aid o f our commercial intercourse at home, have not only been subjected to a stinted or unstable patronage from the 526 The Union o f Protection and F ree Trade. government, but have too often been made the sport o f party legislation and sectional jealousy. T o have a steady protective policy, wisely foster ing these great motive powers o f a free, industrious, and enlightened peo ple, one could hardly conceive would be thought questionable, especially when recommended and approved by all the constitutional fathers of the republic. But up to this hour the very name o f protection, and the es tablishment o f any league for mutual concert and action, although it may be a home league, are by some denounced as visionary; and, in fact, it has required no ordinary independence to uphold American interests in preference to foreign. In the promotion, however, o f our humble, but, as we trust, useful labors, the members o f this Association are again organized for the pur pose o f carrying out its original designs. T o study and digest the in tricate principles o f an American political economy— to be the rallying point for gathering statistical knowledge, and to disseminate principles and facts conservative o f the industrial interests and prosperity o f the country, will continue to be our leading object. The officers and mem bers o f this League, it is known, have no distinctive political influence in its proceedings. They are composed o f men o f all parties ; but so far as regards what they consider to be independent American ground, viz. p r o t e c t i o n t o o u r h o m e i n t e r e s t s , they stand aloof from political partyism, and act above it. They are Americans ; representing all the different interests and sections o f the country, and heartily devoted to the permanent security, honor, and prosperity o f the Union. The existing tariff, which we have labored to render an effectual relief and advantage to the whole community, it will be our glory, if necessary, to defend. The protective policy, embracing a reciprocal commerce abroad, and a per fe c t fr e e trade among ourselves, we consider the only policy adapted to our national growth and security. Its success, we think, will eventually insure its universal popularity; but, as long as the government is without a home department, devoted to home interests— as long as our national legislature is not secure from the corrupt designs and vascillating tenden cies o f political partizans, we shall hold ourselves ready to act on the defensive, whenever the cause o f American industry or true free trade shall be assailed. T o both these we are devoted. That these apparently antagonistic interests are not opposed to each other, however artfully they are made so to appear, we appeal to the ar guments which this committee have repeatedly published. The subject requires to be looked at fairly, patiently, and closely. That the protec tion which wise governments give to their own interests is not inconsis tent with, but decidedly promotive o f national free trade, we think can not be doubted. Take our own situation, to try the question. In dis criminating judiciously what ought to be the leading pursuits o f the peo ple, what require fostering and encouraging, for the greatest advantage o f all the individuals and classes o f the community, government, which, with us, is the embodying o f the people’s will, selects and chooses what the majority decides shall be chosen. I f every government does this, is not an international commerce created, which is the perfection o f free trade ? When the citizens o f every country do that which they can do best, produce those things which they can produce to most advantage, and trade everywhere as they please in pursuit o f commodities which they The Union o f Protection and F ree Trade. 527 covet, in exchange for those they wish to part with, is not this free trade ? Now, let us suppose that these citizens give up to the government, or to the will o f the majority, to decide what is the best thing to be done, what productions afcd occupations are likely to be most advantageous, taking into view all circumstances, climates, soil, motive-power, skill, capital, industry, & c., what is this but an organized free trade, for the benefit o f the whole community 1 Each nation that adopts and main tains this, consults and protects the good o f all. But suppose that any one government, influenced by selfish cupidity, or blended by a perversity of will, monopolizes advantages which others are entitled to, and en croaches on the charter o f free and fair trade by conflicting regulations— are not defensive and retributory measures justifiable ? Should not such an infringement o f the rights o f all be counteracted ? I f self-protection is an individual right, is not national protection the prerogative of na tional sovereignty ? Surely this cannot be denied. Reciprocal protec tion, then, and reciprocal free trade, are but one and the same principle. Romance as we may in pursuit o f any more enlarged or subtle form o f commercial freedom, we shall find the chase an idle one. The greatest good o f the greatest number is the only fair and conservative rule o f na tional as well as international p olicy ; and the wise government that will faithfully discriminate for, and protect its own people, and will perma nently pursue this course, is sure o f independence and success. Under the presumption that these premises are correct, we have next to consider what is the best mode o f bringing about the results flowing from them. Is free trade to be defined and settled by a conventional agreement between different nations, through the means o f commercial treaties, or by the independent legislation o f separate states, or the un restrained freedom o f individual members, or classes o f the community, managing their own separate interests, free from all restraints o f tariffs, drawbacks, bounties, or governmental interference ? Shall every one do as he pleases with his own, on the principle that he can manage his own affairs best— chose for himself, and protect himself best— the son as well as the parent, the subject as well as the sovereign, and one universal spirit o f free trade roam through the world, on the principle o f self-protectability ? The latter is the most specious and popular delusion o f the free trade theorists— the transcendental vision o f millennial philosophy, which is prophesied by the political Magi “ as sure to he realized when the world is sufficiently enlightened.” It may be so ; but the day, we think, is distant, and the selfish nature o f men and nations must be thoroughly changed before it dawns upon us. Leaving this now impracticable theory, therefore, out o f the question, we will proceed in solemn earnest to consider the feasibility o f the com mercial treaty scheme, which has, o f late, been suggested by some o f the profoundest political economists o f this country and England, with a view to harmonize and perpetuate the great interests o f trade between two na tions so intimate and friendly in their commercial relations. As far as we understand the views o f our own great statesman on this subject, we must do him the justice to state, that he appears himself very doubtful o f their practicability. He admits that our first attempt has been a failure ; that any diplomatic arrangement must, after all, be subject to the sanc tion o f Congress ; and that our great relation and rival cannot begin to give up to us those privileges which she considers her reserved rights, 528 The Union o f Protection and F ree Trade. and without which being conceded, no reciprocal advantage would be secured to us. These admissions, so far as a commercial treaty with England is a clue to what is to be the general policy, one would suppose, would settle the question definitely. There is no rec^uocity or true free trade about it. The exclusive monopolizing, protective policy o f Eng. land is as fixed as the foundations o f her sovereignty. They are one, and indivisible. With an insular position, which she calls Great Britain, inferior in size to some o f our states, she has, by this policy, contrived to command the trade o f the world. Nay, more ; with the wand o f diplo macy, and under the mask o f free trade, she has been able, until lately, to entrance almost every nation with which she has had intercourse, to give up to her a portion o f their essential independence. Even o f her own subjects, three-fourths are now bound in the chains o f colonial vas salage ; and this is the policy which she still seeks to fasten on the world, even on Americans, who have broken her fetters from their youthful limbs, and are able to trample their fragments in the dust. T o deny to her the right, however, o f any policy which she chooses to pursue for the maintenance o f her gigantic power, would be to repudiate the same right which we claim for ourselves. Protection is “ sword and shield” to h er; and if we have to enter the lists with her as a rival, with whatever flourish o f free trade offers she may make us under the commercial treaty flag, we must be armed in the same manner, or our Ajax, whoever he may be, will find his hand weaponless, and his diplomacy a foil. As with England, so with France and other foreign powers; we doubt if any arrangement could be made by a commercial treaty, which would securely benefit us as an agricultural, manufacturing, or even as a trad ing people. Nations generally find out, in times o f peace, what is most for their own interest; and it must be considered that if our country has youthful vigor and natural advantages, the older dynasties o f Europe have more experience and better organized departments for estimating what is for their own interest, and for defending themselves against diplomatic skill. They would not consent to yield to us advantages without an equivalent, and settling a treaty o f equivalents in trade, under constantly changing circumstances, and a fundamental difference be tween the values o f things in old countries compared with what we have, (capital, for instance, and the rates o f free and servile or pauper labor,) would be no easy task even for those who have been successful in draw ing boundary lines o f disputed territories. The sliding scales suited to such an adjustment, we fear, would be very liable to get out o f order, even i f we could place confidence in the good faith o f governments generally. But we could not. All history is against it. The governments them selves are unstable ; wars nullify treaties, and change o f circumstances would render their ordinary fulfilment doubtful. As long as the foreign friendly relation would prove advantageous to any governments abroad, such as now exists by our unfortunate miscalled reciprocal treaties, which are striking a death-blow to our shipping interest, we should probably en joy the costly benefit o f a commercial alliance ; but the Metternichs and Perriers and Peels o f Europe understand their trade too well to allow us any great advantage under treaty stipulations, first or last. Our own commercial arrangements, both for revenue and protection, we think, may be best understood and adopted at home. Our commerce we wish to see flourish, and to be as free as the winds that waft it. In The Union o f Protection and Free Trade. 529 every way that it can be protected, it should be ; but as long as the de lusive reciprocal treaty policy continues, it cannot be. The sea is free to all, and under this ignominious treaty regulation, which is only nominally reciprocal, our carrying trade and our maritime advantages are offered gratis, to give employment to cheaper ships and cheaper men than ours, the cheapest carrier taking the freight. Our own citizens here find out practically what an unprofitable, but falsely called free trade is. Were it not for our protected coastwise commerce, and the indomitable perseverance o f our whaling adventurers, the country would have little to do with navigation o f any sort; and we fear that not until another general war in Europe can the neutral advantages we once enjoyed again restore the supremacy o f our merchant marine. If, however, this unprotected interest can, in any way, be benefitted through the means o f any commercial treaty, without disparagement to our leading home pur suits, (v iz : agriculture, manufactures and internal trade, constituting at least nine-tenths o f the exchangeable values in which our national indus try and capital are embarked,) we should be glad to have the object se cured at once, by the employment o f the highest talent in the land. One thing, at least, should be attempted— the carrying to market o f our surplus products from our own ports direct to foreign countries, and not permitting them to be taken, under the plea o f a relaxation o f the English protective system, through the British colonies at a less duty than is charged per American vessels. Nothing could be more contrary to the spirit of true free trade than this attempt to evade it by a narrow colonial policy. In its tendency, our commerce and our rights are as much dis paraged as if England were to invest our shores with her fleets, and blockade every harbor in the country. With this kind o f preference for the commerce and navigation o f her colonies, which we consider a com plete violation o f the pretended reciprocal treaty with her, we shall soon see cotton passing up the Mississippi to be exported through Canada, and every staple product o f the country which England needs, made to pay a higher duty from our own ports than what it would have to pay if im ported in British vessels from her colonial possessions. W e trust that our citizens and our government will resist promptly this destructive and ignominious attack upon our commercial rights, as artful as it is invidious. If hams, flour, and other provisions are to be taxed with less duty in England, coming through Canada, than if imported direct from New-York, or any other American port, we do not see why the same policy may not be extended to cotton, tobacco, rice, and all our heavy staples. And we venture to predict, that it will b e ; thus offering a specious bribe to our western farmers and southern planters, to send their products through the English colonies, rather than by the interdicted route o f our own ports. The acceptance o f such an advantage from an enemy in time o f war, by any state in the Union, would be treason, and would not be tole rated. Why, then, should it be tolerated in times o f peace ? It is a species o f commercial warfare, equally offensive and destructive in its effects. This consideration, at least, may be worthy o f a commercial treaty, the spirit o f which should be, “ m e a s u r e f o r m e a s u r e , ” f o r the benefit o f the whole Union. If England will not abandon this round-about evasion o f the principles o f true free trade, let us boldly interdict her navigation from our ports, or confine it, on the principles o f her colonial policy, to prescribed limits. W e want no great warehousing system in 45 V O L. I X .-----NO. V I . 530 The Union o f Protection and Free Trade. Canada which would render our own warehouses useless, our harbors deserted, and our commerce a blank. Let us freely exchange with her our surplus products, and take from her all we actually want of her manufactures in return ; but on principles o f fa ir reciprocity, and not at the expense o f our own interests, whether commercial, agricultural, or manu facturing. I f her population is redundant, let us welcome her oppressed subjects to our shores, here to be fed and clothed as freemen. If her superabundant capital at home is a burden, here is ample field for its em ployment. Here may the idle sons o f her rich men find relief from their indolence and ennui, and her hard-working farmers and skilful artisans reap a golden harvest for their ingenuity and industry out of the reach of burdens they cannot bear. In this way will her people be truly benefitted, and her government find repose. When we contemplate the happy condition o f our own country at this moment, contrasted with the misery which exists in other lands, under the withering influence o f false systems o f government, we cannot but exult in the life-giving power o f our young and thriving republic. Nor can we fail to deplore the fatal effects o f those grinding systems o f mono poly, and heartless legislation, in older countries, which prevent that mu tuality o f interest and feeling which should characterize members o f the great human family. A sympathy such as should be universal, and which is cordially proffered by the liberal policy o f the United States, might soon alleviate the miserable condition o f the suffering population of Europe. It is not the repeal o f the corn laws alone, in England, nor of the monopolies o f tobacco, and other luxuries, in France and elsewhere, nor by the costly maintenance o f millions o f paupers under privations of the most cruel character, inflicted upon the starving many by the pam pered few, that the world is ever to witness the termination o f the grow ing evils which now exist; evils which, unfortunately, the cessation of wars among nations does not diminish ; but it is by allowing men to go where they can find a living by their labor, and the protection o f their natural rights, that the great objects o f free trade, in its legitimate sense, are to be accomplished. T o carry food three thousand miles to fill the mouths o f the starving multitudes, is too costly a sacrifice merely to main tain a commercial or manufacturing monopoly. Ours is the land to furnish this food in abundance ; and the poor, but bonest and industrious, citizens of other countries should be permitted or assisted to come here and earn it for themselves. The mountain cannot be made to go to Mahomet, but his deluded worshippers should be invited to come to the mountain, and participate o f prosperity which their labors would add to, rather than di minish. Everything but labor, in this country, is now at a lower value than it has been for many years; and it is a favorable time, both for the govern ment and those who have lands to settle, as well as to the settler, to com mence operations which will increase our fr e e population. By the growth and encouragement of this, we shall, as a nation, eventually outgrow evils which were early fastened on us under the colonial policy o f Eng land, and which, being sanctioned by a constitutional compact, cannot, we fear, be otherwise got rid of. Monopolies o f every sort are odious in this country; and a monopoly o f human labor, where the laborers are divested o f the rights and comforts o f freemen, is more odious than any other, inasmuch as it competes unfairly with the rates o f free labor The Union o f Protection and F ree Trade. 531 giving to capital an undue influence in our legislation, and reproaches our claim to being a free people. By the encouragement o f those industrious foreigners, who come over among us with ample means for set tling upon our soil, with the experience o f exchanging a state o f burden some vassallage abroad for a free and fertile country here, our govern ment will add to its revenue and reputation; and the cause o f free indus try, free discussion, and the right o f instructing cur representatives to listen to our wishes, instead o f having them reject our petitions, will be promoted. Free laborers will also be multiplied in those states where labor is now above its relative value in comparison with other values. O f most articles, the money value is now one-fourth to one-half less than for merly. Labor has not declined in proportion, and if an active state o f business continues, it will be higher, probably, instead o f lower, thus forcing up the general scale o f values, and making us less able to com pete with producers in other countries. Our own laborers, who are op posed to monopolies o f capital or power o f any sort in other hands, must not themselves be sticklers for a monopoly o f higher wages than is con sistent with the maintenance o f other values, and the general interest o f the whole commonwealth. Their insisting on old rates o f wages under the present hard money currency, which reduces the value o f the pro visions, clothing, luxuries, and necessities, o f every sort which they want, would be unreasonable ; but when hands are scarce, and high rates are offered by speculators under some new rage for over-building or over trading, where would the virtue be found among laborers not to take ad vantage o f these circumstances 1 Our general security lies in maintain ing a proper equilibrium. T o do this, we need labor in proportion to capital; and all honest, intelligent, or hard-working freemen should be welcome to our shores, to become members o f the body politic. W e certainly do not want, however, idlers and aliens, who flock here to reap a temporary relief from starving abroad, and who do not incline to be o f us, but against us. As a general rule, we should be better off without a host of these foreign traffickers, who have no interest in our institutions, but hesitate not to revile them— those who never mean to become Amer ican citizens, and try to unsettle the allegiance o f those who are such. But this is an evil which will cure itself. The protective policy is hav ing its due effect in keeping us freer from this annoyance than we were formerly; and as long as we can preserve our home interests clear o f a treacherous foreign influence, and the standard o f free industry is secured by the tariff against the degrading competition with servile or pauper labor, no fears need be entertained o f our permanent success. The influence o f low prices, both o f our exports and imports, and of money, the measure o f their values, we conceive deserves the considera tion o f all our citizens, but most especially o f the laboring classes, who are still enabled to maintain relatively high rates o f wages, and o f our farmers and planters, for whose vast products a market must be found at remunerating prices. W e are at this time realizing the effect o f those happy coincidences when an industrious people, under judicious and ade quate protection to their home interests, are enabled to realize the high est triumphs o f political economy, to w it: a high rate of returns for la bor, and an adequate employment o f all their capital, consistent with security and permanency. The attainment o f these is clearly owing to the possession o f a favorable soil, climate, and superior natural advan 532 The Union o f Protection and Free Trade. tages for production ; to our skill in improving these advantages by all the forces of ingenuity and industry; to our prudential and frugal disposition, the effect o f reformed habits, brought about by our recent experience of adversity ; but more than all, perhaps, by the peculiar tendency o f low prices to aid the protective influence o f the tariff and to place our pro ducts in a successful state o f competition with the leading staples of other countries. On this basis o f low values and our power o f superabundant production, rests the main hope o f our future triumph. Nothing, in outview, would be more deplorable than the return to our former inflated state o f high values— nothing which would so effectually give encourage ment to every species o f smuggling, and so certainly nullify the protective aid o f the tariff to all our interests— not merely to our home manufac tures— but to our planters, to our farmers, our exporters o f cotton, provi sions— and all that we can raise or make and send to market cheaper than others can. This requires explanation, perhaps. Let us take, then, the cotton growth, that mammoth product o f oqr southern clime and ofiabor peculiar to the south, o f which over two millions o f bales have this year been sent to a profitable market in Europe, thus repudiating the Macon doctrine o f too much cotton and too little price. At a low rate, we come in direct competition, not only with the grow ers o f cotton in Egypt, Brazils, India and elsewhere, but with the producers o f other staples which compete with cotton, viz : flax, hemp, wool, worsted, raw silk, & c., for the making o f clothes, hats, gloves, hosiery, furniture stufls, sails, and other fabrics. O f these staples, there is at present an im mense consumption, but which, at the present low- price o f cotton, is daily di minishing, and will soon be inconsiderable. There is no possibility of pro ducing them, even in those countries where labor is already down to almost starving rates, so as to prevenl cotton being substituted for them, provided we go on to produce it abundantly at a low price. Here, then, lies the secret o f making one source o f our commercial independence per manent, and of securing a foreign market for our chief staple of export, whether we are able to take pay tor it in goods or not. Its immense use, and indispensable demand for the employment of foreign capital and laborsaving machines, by the constantly increasing manufacturing classes, are certain to command a supply o f it, even for specie returns. The elements o f our prosperity are now so clearly developed under the propitious effects o f the existing tariff, that your committee does not, in conclusion, deem it important to point out any particular course o f future proceedings, except to recommend the continuance o f our associations in their several auxiliary relations throughout the country, for the purpose of acting on the defensive, should any attempt be made to unsettle the pre sent protective policy. The growing popularity o f this policy among the agricultural and planting states, is truly encouraging ; and were it not for the political intrigues which are continually interfering with our best interests, for selfish or party supremacy, we might have little cause for apprehension. But whilst these continue, we must vigilantly and united ly strive to counteract them. At no former period was the general pros perity o f our country so promising as it now is, nor its leading interest, productive labor, on so solid a foundation. Abundant products o f industry at low values, an ample supply o f specie, an equilibrium o f exchanges so remarkable that the productions o f the various sections o f the country, amounting to more than two thousand millions o f dollars, so nearly balance What shall Congress do ? 533 each other, that monetary facilities are hardly called for ; a people out o f debt to their government after having paid off all their credit bonds to the extent o f many millions, and still carrying on a prosperous import trade, furnishing cash duties enough for an economical administration o f its affairs, are certainly encouraging circumstances to make us proud o f our advantages ; and, although our national character is impeached and justly reproached for the bad faith o f some o f the states, who, after having bor rowed largely o f foreigners on the credit o f their confederates, are willing to let them share in the disgrace of their own delinquency, still there is a conservative tendency in the Union to repair this e v il; and with a country boundless in resources, progressive in improvements, and proud of its free institutions, we shall soon see our national debt extinguished and every state in the Union assuming its accustomed independence.. With a wise and liberal government, permanently protective in its policy, and aided by an effective home department to look after and defend all our home inte rests, and a people co-operating in the promotion o f a true reciprocal free trade, we shall not be ashamed o f having taken the title of a “ free, sovereign, and independent people.” The successful experiment o f popu lar institutions, exhibiting advantages that no other nation can boast of, ought to make us grateful and contented. In this feeling the members of this association have a right to participate deeply; and having faith fully labored to advance the highest interests o f the country at a time of general despondency, they may now be permitted to exult in their prosperity. c. c. h . A rt. V.— W H A T S H A L L CON G R E SS DO ? REDUCTION OF POSTAGE---- COMM ERCIAL T R E A T IE S -----T H E N AVY, ETC. I t will be difficult to find a more decided contrast than that between the first and the last half o f the present presidential term. At the open ing of the first period, both president, senate, and house, were whig ; flushed with the recollection o f a great popular victory, and encouraged by the prospect of still greater congressional triumphs. At present, while the senate is whig, and the house democratic, the president is at the head of a hermaphrodite faction, which unites the features o f both parties with out possessing the energies o f either. With the late Congress, the danger was, that any measure which might be slung forward by the popular wave, should, through the absence of all opposition, be carried on by the swell till it reached the opposite shore. With the present Congress, no such danger exists. The sub-treasury bill will never get through the senate ; a national bank will be stopped in the house ; and unless both house and senate shut their eyes and open their mouth to receive what ever Mr. Tyler drops into it, the exchequer will never invite the consti tutional fact o f his signature. Congress will meet, will debate, and will adjourn; but unless an emergency shall occur which shall alter or ob literate party land-marks, the adjustment o f the cardinal points o f politi cal controversy will be postponed to a period when the co-ordinate branches of the grovernment shall once more harmonize. 45* 534 W hat shall Congress do ? It will be a subject o f congratulation for the people at large, if the journal o f the debates o f the next Congress does not exceed the register o f its enactments. The great, perhaps the only lesson inculcated by the late Congress, however, leads us to expect a different result. We have been taught, by brawls without number, and harangues without end, that the less business there is to be done, the more trouble there is in doing it. A spirit o f quibbling and quarreling has gained ground o f late years in the capitol, which ascribes its origin to the corruption o f party machinery, and proclaims its result in the destruction o f parliamentary de corum. By the introduction o f the system of ward committees and of party conventions, the old electoral franchise has been changed. The majority o f the members o f the lower house attribute their election, not to the voluntary choice o f the people, embracing within its limits each o f the various interests which possess the country ; but to a self-constituted cau cus which represents but one interest, and that the basest o f all. Politi cal adventurers, office-seekers or office-keepers, tavern politicians, form, in fact, the constituents o f a great part o f the lower house ; and when such a tribunal is allowed to establish, in the heart o f the country, an authority so potent, we need not wonder that it should lend its charac ter to its ambassadors at the capitol. The ward committee, or the county committee, or the district committee, will be careful to select for office such men as will attend to the greatest good o f the greatest number of those to whom they owe their election. Such committees, also composed o f men who are generally better skilled in huckstering or prize-fighting than in legislation, will be awake to but few qualifications but those which come within the sphere o f their own ambition. Whenever we are told o f a man being sent either to the national or state legislatures, because he deserves well o f his party, we may so conclude that his true title to distinction is either the adroitness with which he has tampered with, or the impudence with which he has bullied, that portion o f the community which can either be corrupted or dragooned. Disreputable as were the proceedings of the late Congress, the proceed ings o f the next will be still more so, unless the disapproval o f the com munity be brought home to the promoters and abettors o f congressional brawls. It is to be feared, that unless the voice o f reproof be distinctly heard, the stress o f circumstances— among which may be reckoned the diversity o f opinion which will prevail at the capitol, and the confusion which will follow the retirement o f those great parliamentary leaders who, in some measure, controlled the unruly elements about them— will assist in fomenting the uproar o f the next campaign. Let unnecessary strifes be avoided, and if it be found that no bank bill can be passed, or that no modification o f the tariff will be suffered, let the attention o f Congress be turned from the agitation o f subjects which it will be impossible to adjust, to the settlement o f the less engrossing, though not less important points o f business legislation. Such a restriction will not only remove frcm the field o f action those topics o f political excitement which, like the red flag o f the Spanish-bull fights, serve only to engage the combatants, but will enable the legislature to enjoy that moral gratification which time well spent must create. It is the object o f the present paper, to suggest a few points to which the attention of the business part o f the community is directed, and to which the labors o f Congress at the next session may be invited, with the belief that, in their discussion, brawls may be avoided, and that, by their adjustment, good will be produced. 535 What shall Congress do ? I. TH E POST OFFICE. At the late session, the house o f representatives passed a bill effect ing a small reduction o f postage, which was rejected by the senate, and which, had it been passed, would have been rejected by the country. The whole system of postages at present is bad, and any change that does not go to the root o f the matter, may mitigate, but cannot remove the evil. I f we start with the position that uniform reduction to five cents a letter, no matter what may be the distance, would not only increase the revenue, but would elevate almost incalculably the moral and intellectual standard o f the country, a position which will presently be made good, we will be justified in treating as illusory the diminution proposed at the last session, of two cents in a hundred miles, and of tour cents in two hundred. There is a story told, in one o f the old Scotch histories, o f a kirk where but one tune was sung, and that o f so awkward a character as to defy the attempts at imitation which the stranger might make. The laird o f the country having announced his intention o f paying a visit to the neighborhood, efforts were made to get up a tune which would do more credit to the congregation. When the singing commenced, however, the laird found that the psalm was his old acquaintance, only pitched a key lower. The reduction o f postage at the last session seems based on a similar principle. The tune was the same, though the key was lower. An entire remodel ing of the system was called for ; but instead o f a reduction being effected of a character sufficiently decided to benefit both the revenue and the community, the Spanish currency was changed into the decimal, twelve and a half cents were made to give way to ten, and a measure was pro posed, which, had it gone into operation, would have given us the evils o f both systems without the benefits o f either. The reduction o f the postage rates, we maintain, to a uniform tax o f five cents on the single letter, no matter how great may be the distance, will not only increase the reve nue o f the department, but will give a vast stimulus to the country in its moral and intellectual relations. First, as to the revenue o f the department. The number o f letters passing through the London general post-office in 1839, during which period, with the exception o f four weeks, the old rates were in operation, was— Unpaid letters,............................................................................................................ Paid “ ............................................................................................................ Total,.................................................................................................. . 17,662,437 3,425,455 21,087,892 In 1840 and 1841, under the new uniform system o f a penny per half ounce, the numbers were— Year. Unpaid. 1640,.......................... 1841,.......................... 7,287,627 5,662,060 Paid. Stamped. Total. 29,668,134 29,960,452 11,099,650 32,196,367 48,045,411 67,818,379 The increase per cent, from 1839 to 1840, was................................................ “ “ “ 1841, « ............................................... R e v e n u e o f t h e B r i t i s h P o s t - O f f ic e D e p a r t m e n t , f r o m Year. 1801, ...... 1802, ...... ...... 1803, 1804, ...... 1805.................. £ 911,875 757,859 956,212 983,363 1,119,429 Year. 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, £ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ 1,185,659 1,167,425 1,173,062 1,260,822 1,365,251 1801 Year. 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, to 127.88 221.60 1842. £ ......... 1,344,109 ......... 1,422,001 ...... 1,506,064 ......... 1,598,295 ......... 1,619,196 536 What shall Congress do 1 R e v e n u e o f t h e B r it is h P o s t - O f f ic e D e p a r t m e n t , e t c . — £ Year. 1816, ............. 1817, ............. 1818, ............. 1819, .......... 1 8 2 J ,.......................... 1821, ............. 1822, ............. 1823, ............. 1824, ............. Year. £ ........ 1,632,267 1825, 1826, ........ 1,589,762 1 , 4 6 7 , 5 3 3 1827, ........ 1,484,164 1,523,240 1828, ........ 1,544,224 1 , 4 6 5 , 6 0 5 1829, ........ 1,509,347 1 , 3 0 3 , 4 6 5 1830, ........ 1,517,951 1 , 4 2 8 , 3 5 2 ls 3 1 ,.................. 1,569,038 1 , 4 7 5 , 1 6 7 1832.................... 1,531,828 1 , 5 4 0 , 0 2 2 1833,.................. 1,553,425 1 ,5 3 7 ,5 0 5 1 ,4 3 3 ,8 7 1 Continued Year. 1834.. 1835.. 1836.. 1837.. 1838.. 1839.. 1840.. 1841.. 1842.. . . . . . . . . . £ 1,513,052 1,564,457 1,645,835 1,658,481 1,576,522 1,649,088 1,633,704 465,927 645,540 W hy is it, it will be asked, that, from 1815 to 1840, with a population whose literary facilities have been on a vast and constant increase, the post-office revenue has remained stationary ? The answer is, that the government, instead o f lightening the tax as the tendency to correspon dence developed itself, increased it, and diminished the number o f letters passing through the office at the same rates as it augmented the premium which they were singly to pay. But observe, that though in the first year after the penny system went into operation, there was a reduction o f 70 per cent in the gross revenue received, yet still, in the first place, when the official tables are examined, which we are not at present able to do, it will be found that the deficit takes place almost entirely in the revenue accruing from the foreign postage department, where the high rates are still preserved ; and in the second place, that the quarterly aggregate in crease, down to the present moment, is such as to promise, in 1845, an ex cess over the greatest former revenue. In one year after the taxes were let down, there was an increase o f three hundred per cent on the amount o f correspondence, and without doubt, in five years more, there will be a corresponding increase in the amount o f revenue. But where is the increase to come from ? It may be safely answered, 1st, from the increased amount o f correspondence; and 2dly, from the suppression o f letter-smuggling. Remember, in the first place, that the domestic relations among the poorer classes are just as complicated as among the rich, perhaps more so, and that, with a few exceptions, one section is about as capable as the other o f putting down on paper the usual topics o f family interest; and yet remember that the shilling, or the quarter o f a dollar, which the rich man does not notice, forms a passable portion o f the poor man’s wages. Go to the post master o f one o f our manufacturing or mining towns, and ask him whether the manufacturers or miners within his district appear often at his window. He will tell you that letters, decently superscribed, are sometimes brought, and that there is scarcely a man in the neighborhood who does not appear with his own little load once or twice in a season. With how much difficulty, however, the tax is borne, is shown from the fact that the return letters sometimes rest weeks before the postage is removed. The actuary of a savings’ institution, which could point to depositors from one end o f the land to the another, stated lately that the exorbitant rates o f postage pre vented his sending the annual statement o f the institution to nearly a thousand o f those interested in it, for the reason that he knew the burden would be onerous. Remove the load, and it is but fair to say, that at an uniform rate o f five cents, an increase o f one hundred per cent will be experienced. In the second place, there will be an increase equally great from the suppression o f letter-smuggling. What shall Congress do 1 537 Lord Brougham, in a recent visit to the north o f Scotland, sent a pair of tartan trousers through the post-office the whole distance between In verness and Edinburgh ; and it was lately stated, on high authority, that a member from one o f our western states regularly sent his linen home, during the last session, to be washed, under the title o f “ public docu ments.” The other day a mammoth newspaper was detected, the inside o f which had been scooped out, and which concealed, within the hollow thus created, eight or ten letters, which had been conveyed from one end of the Union to the other for a single penny. It is said, and with how great truth most o f the readers o f this paper can testify, that a consider able correspondence is carried on between different sections by means of newspapers, the printed letters o f which are marked in such a way as to enable the reader to spell out the communication intended to be con veyed. Not long ago a weekly paper was shown to us, in which quite a series o f items o f domestic interest were thus indicated. A Kentucky post-master complained, a short time since, that the people in that neigh borhood wrote hieroglyphics on the covers o f newspapers sent by m a il; and it is an actual fact, that firms o f respectability communicate to each other by means not less clandestine. Thus, the date on which goods have been sent is designated, in an instance lately brought to light, by the following table :— Mr. Smith,............................... Mr. John Smith...................... Mr. J. Smith,.......................... Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. J. Smith, Esq.,............................. John Smith, Esq.,...................... -------Smith, Esq.,........................ Thursday. Friday. Saturday. The despatch o f goods is communicated by annexing the business title of the consignee; that is, goods sent on Wednesday, the newspaper is directed to Mr. J. Smith, grocer, & c. The receipt o f goods is intimated by the omission o f the trade ; that is, goods received on Friday, the address is, John Smith, Esq., 1 Marketstreet. The changes o f the market are thus ru ng:— Tea-dealer alone,.......... Grocer,............................ Grocer and tea-dealer,.. Grocer, tea-dealer, &c.,. Grocer, & c.,................... Prices of teas rising. “ falling. Sugars rising. “ falling. Prices stationary. By a combination, very easy o f construction, the dates and events are brought into connection ; as, for instance, should sugars rise on Monday, the address is, Mr. Smith, grocer and tea-dealer, 1 Market-street, Phila delphia. Do you say that such a scheme is rarely practised? W e an swer, that though the precise combination we have just exhibited may have been used but in one instance only, yet there are others, equally significant and equally safe, which are in constant use. Red, and blue, and black ink, combining with wafers o f all imaginable colors, contrast ed with paper o f various shades, designate as effectually the leading idea to be presented, as the flag o f a ship at sea does its country. A system o f smuggling is thus established in the face o f the post-master, making use of post-office machinery for its operations, and smuggling in utter freedom from detection. But it is not by such devices alone, ingenious as they are, that the force of the post-office is broken. Very considerable, it is true, are the losses which are thus sustained ; but far more so are those which arise from 538 W hat shall Congress do ? the depredations o f private appointments and public expresses. A clergy, man o f New Haven, than whom no one can possess a more accurate knowledge of the district which is covered by his labors, has intimated that more than one-half the letters which pass between N ew Haven and Hartford, are carried outside o f the mail. I f the fact be good in a more extended sphere, it will be seen how great are the losses which the high rates o f postage provoke. Is it not true, we would ask, that so heavy has the tax been felt in one o f our greatest manufacturing towns, that, periodically, mail bags, if they can be called so, are opened in connection with some o f the larger manufactories, in which the workmen are invited to deposit letters to their friends, if they have any in an adjacent large city, which are conveyed by the proprietor free o f expense ? The burden on him is but small, as he can transport the aggregate bundle at a trifling premium to its destination ; and he is aware that nothing can conduce more amply to the preservation o f a healthy atmosphere among the young people under his charge, than the opportunity o f free communication with their parents and friends. But does not such a fact exhibit, in a lamenta ble light, the inconsistencies o f a government, which, while it depends wholly for its stability upon the intelligence and good feeling o f the peo ple, and professes to do all it can to educate and elevate them, interposes an effectual clog on the action o f those domestic relations on which the happiness and good order o f the community depends ? With our treasury encumbered with debt, with our credit languishing in dishonor, we should think that any honorable expedient for increasing our income, would commend itself to our attention; but here, on the post-office department, thirty years have gone by, in which through the bad economy o f heavy rates, the revenue has fallen within the corresponding expenditures. And what an important portion o f our history do those thirty years cover! In that time we have nearly trebled our population, and we have marched forward in still greater haste on the scale of mere intellectual cultivation. Within that period the common schools have sprung up. Within that period the press has acquired a prodigious force; operating, not as it used to do, solely within the narrow sphere o f its immediate neighbor hood, but, through the facilities afforded to newspaper transmission, over a tract o f country occupying half a continent. Can you go into a house, no matter how remote, without seeing there the printed evidence that not only do its inmates read, but that they receive, periodically, the intelligence o f Mr. O’Connell’s agitation, o f the opening o f the Chinese seals, and o f the alternate successes o f parties over the face o f our own mottled country? Within that same period of thirty years, also, bible and tract societies have gone into operation, and have succeeded in extend ing, in the more populous sections o f the country at least, a bible and a few tracts to each household. Political discussions have swept on over the horizon, as swift and quick as summer clouds ; questions o f deep re ligious interest have been discussed fully and warmly by the public prints: there has been a free circulation o f thought on the general and outward circumstances o f the republic; and yet the amount o f letters passed through the mail is stationary. Does not such a fact tell badly for the country ? Is it not a bad sign, that matters o f domestic interest, of so cial concern, should be thus neglected ? Can we resist the conclusion, that, when we allow margin for the great necessary increase of commer cial correspondence, the ratio o f family letter-writing to the community W hat shall Congress do 1 539 is one-third less now than it used to be ? God grant that the feelings which prompt an interchange o f thought and affection between members of a scattered family, and between friends once parted, may not wither away completely. It is our misfortune, that when families once break asunder, they forget their old relations, and that, through the enterprising and energetic spirit o f the age, as soon as a young man can shoulder his axe, or comprehend his arithmetic, he flings to the winds the ties which bound him to his home. But is this wise ? Is it wise that ligatures, which are the sinews o f the republic, should be thus snapped ? Intelli gence, we do not want; acculeness, we do not want ; that quick and accurate perception o f things worldly, which arises from a constant ac quaintance with what is going on from Greenland to the Cape o f Good Hope, we do not want; energy enough to make a bold bargain, and dexterity enough to avoid its penalties, we do not w ant; but what we do want is, that simple fundamental regard for the laws o f honesty and the impulses of good feeling which shudders at injustice, not because it is punishable, but because it is wrong. The young man hurled, before his beard is grown, into the western whirlpool, or sent to work along those great state improvements on whose lips the evil humours o f the state break out and fester ; or the young woman, transferred from a farm-house home, to the wily little world o f a manufactory,— do not these require the sanctions and restraints which arise from a free intercourse with the householders they have left 1 A leading manufacturer has lately declared, that more than a hundred young girls at work under his charge were prevented from corresponding with their parents, except at rare intervals, by the exorbitant post-rates. Can this conduce to the morality, to the order, to the happiness o f a class, which, when we look into it, and observe that it comprehends more than half o f the younger portion o f the working classes, demands the best offices o f government ? No one who has felt how solemnly and how weightily a letter from a father or a mother acts upon the mind o f a young man, when removed from the shelter o f home ; what a mighty barrier it opposes to those subtle temptations which then crowd forward ; with what almost supernatural influence counsels thus imparted drop upon the heart, when inflamed by passion or agitated by doubt— can deny that in destroying the power o f home upon the charac ter, we are destroying the power which, next to that o f the gospel, is most necessary both to the safety o f the citizen and the well-being o f the republic. And yet not only is it destroyed, as far as it well can be, by the hand o f government, but contrary and inimical influences are let in to occupy its station and usurp its power.* Say not that it is a ques tion o f dollars and cents,— if it was, we have shown that change should be expedient,— but rest it not on the mere diminution or increase o f revenue It is not in dollars and cents that the merits o f the question repose. The safety o f the country asks for a change ; not a mere nomi nal reduction, but a change which will call into action, once again, the elements o f these domestic sanctions on which our welfare depends. * W e are at a loss, also, to discover the justice o f a system by which newspapers, large enough to paper a moderate-sized room, are rated at 1J cents over 100 miles, while periodicals, composed certainly o f more substantial, and generally o f more useful mate rial, are charged 2J cents for the same distance, for every sixteen octavo pages; the whole sixteen being in size about one-half that o f the ordinary sixpenny papers. 540 W hat shall Congress do ? W e have pressed one consideration alone at present, not because it is the only one to be brought forward, but because it is the most general and obvious. That the mercantile interests demand a reduction to the five cent rates is well known ; and it is almost equally well ascertained, that if that reduction be made, the amount o f letters, as far as those inte rests are concerned, will be trebled. A member o f a leading London house, engaged in the importation o f Mediterranean fruits, lately stated, that notwithstanding the great monetary reverses, the business o f his firm had doubled, from the fact that orders from petty country dealers, which had previously been pent up by the old rates, had come flocking in by the hundreds as soon as the door was opened. W e trust that Congress will enter fully into the investigation ; and if that task be performed, we are conscious that the same result will ensue which followed in the Brit ish house o f commons that the uniform minimum rates will be adopted. II. COM M ERCIAL T R E A T IE S . Another great object to which the attention o f Congress can safely be directed, is the establishment o f a commission for the consideration, in conjunction with Great Britain, o f a commercial treaty. The present tariff will remain untouched. The conflicting relations o f Congress will prevent its amendment; and if such were not the case, the expediency of present alterations is doubtful. W e do not mean to vex again the old question o f the domestic system. Our increasing debt, and our shat tered credit, require a revenue which will leave margin enough for the most timid protectionist, as well as the most adventurous free trader. One thing is clear, and that thing is, that the revenue necessary for our present emergency is ample enough to justify duties sufficient to protect whatever deserves protection. Articles which cannot be raised in this country at less than 60 per cent beyond the foreign value, must, it will be admitted on all sides, be dismissed as unworthy the trouble o f manufacture ; and all other articles will be sufficiently protected by duties framed in such a way as to afford the maximum o f revenue. Let the country enjoy rest for two years at least, and do not throw the manufacturing and consuming inte rests once more at sea by unavailing efforts to shake a tariff, which, bad as it is considered by some, is not so bad in its results as that species of pendulum legislation which occupies itself in swinging from one end to the other o f the political cycloid. But, though it is clear that the complexion o f both houses will prevent a new tariff from passing, is it equally clear that a commission could not be instituted to enter into negotiations with Great Britain on the subject o f a commercial treaty ? The objection usually made, that by such a procedure we take the tariff out o f the hands o f Congress and put it into those o f the executive, is unfounded, inasmuch as such a treaty, before it could be acknowledged, would require a vote of two-thirds o f the senate, and, before it could go into effect, would require the appropriations o f the house. Such a commission, from the very idea o f its constitution, would tend rather to allay than to excite the sensibili ties o f the manufacturing community. I f we are constantly liable to have a tariff sprung upon us, no matter how unexpectedly, capitalists will be led to withdraw their money from protected investments for fear duties may be lowered, and speculators to enter into such as are unprotected in hopes they may be heightened. No matter how ponderous the tax may be, the manufacturer will be afraid to manufacture lest the rates may be let What shall Congress do ? 541 dow n; no matter how low they are, the merchant will be afraid to im port, lest they may be increased. As the tide ebbs or flows, the one in terest will be in danger o f being left high and dry, and the other o f being swept out to sea. But the appointment o f commissioners for the negotia tion of a commercial treaty can give no such shock. One year, at least, must elapse between the inception o f the work and its completion, so far, at least, as the commissioners are concerned; and after a treaty is framed, it will be subject to the approval or disapproval o f both execu tive, senate, and house, under circumstances which will bring it fairly before the country. Whatever change may be made, will be made after due notice to all concerned; and when the change is made, it will be the earnest o f rest for a few years at least, and not of future perpetual agita tion. But do our commercial relations with Great Britain require revision ? Certainly they do ; and one great cause of the. fluctuations o f our markets for the last few years rests with the clumsiness, the want o f reciprocity, in our respective tariff's. W e are constantly jarring against each other. Instead o f tooth fitting into tooth as the wheels move round, the whole machinery is kept in a jump from the irregularity o f the corresponding functions. A naked American, with two bushels o f corn on his head, meets a starving Englishman with two coats on his back, and just as they are about to effect an exchange, by which the American can be clothed and the Englishman fed, without loss to either, up starts the Secretary of the Treasury and stops the bargain. It is hard to believe that, when the two nations come together calmly to consider the absurdity o f thus vexing themselves under pretence o f vexing each other, they will not take mea sures for their mutual benefit. Take, for instance, the common illustra tions o f Indian corn and tobacco. Nothing would be more ludicrous than for England to attempt to raise the latter staple, or more troublesome than to raise the form er; and yet so great are the duties on the one as to make the revenue very inconsiderable, and so complete are the prohibi tions on the other, as to put an end to its introduction altogether. W hy should not Indian corn be admitted through the English custom-house ? It could not interfere with the British farmer, because there is no farm on the island that raises a bushel o f it. But how important it would be for the United States that such a staple should be admitted into the inter course between the two countries! In 1840 we produced 377,531,871 bushels o f Indian corn, and but 85,000,000 o f wheat. How much more we could raise, no one could tell, as at present we have more than enough for every imaginable domestic purpose. That, in a year’s notice, we could produce enough to make up the present balance against us, who can doubt; and by so doing we will not only be able to pay cheaply for English goods, but the most important o f our interests, that o f agriculture, will receive a protection more efficient than that o f a thousand tariffs. And would not such a change be important for Great Britain also ? Look at her hives o f laborers, starving, not from indolence, but from the actual insufficiency o f provision. Is it impossible to doubt but that Indian meal, freely introduced, would not only relieve a vast amount o f misery, but would encourage the drooping manufactures o f the realm far more com pletely than all the prohibitions that could be imagined piled on one an other ? W e have advanced a single illustration, and further than that, at present, vol . ix .— no . vi. 46 542 W hat shall Congress do 1 we cannot go. The great objection, at present, to a modification of the tariff, is, that however fair the principles of free trade may be, could they be universally adopted, it is nonsense for one nation alone to attempt to carry them into practice. Without admitting the force o f such a posi tion, it is worthy o f remark, that by the mutual and simultaneous amelio ration effected by a commercial treaty, the danger is removed. Great changes, it is true, cannot be made by a process so cautious, so slow ; but benefits, distinct and definable, will ensue, which it will be folly to neglect. W e trust, therefore, that the propriety o f instituting such a commission will provoke grave attention, and that, if possible, in its consideration, party war cries will be forgotten, and party fetters thrown aside. III. TH E N A V Y . The last point we propose to notice, concerns the navy; and were it not for the absurd attacks which every session introduces upon what is the most defenceless and least objectionable object of public expenditure, we should not open again subjects which have already been fully discussed in these pages. But the cry o f retrenchment, both o f ships and o f officers, has so often been heard, that it might eventually, by its clamor alone, be able to convince the public that moral sentiment is more efficacious a defence to our commerce against the snares o f the civilized world and the violence o f the savage, than a ship o f the line ; and that a shop-keeper or a backwoodsman is better adapted, both for sailing and fighting, than a man who has been brought up in the service. Certainly, if declama tion without limit, if shouting out the word economy at every imaginary pitch, is sufficient to prove to the mercantile interests that they can pro tect themselves by the mere respectability and value o f their cargoes against piracy and insults, the work is already performed. But to a cautious mind,— to one who feels that there are millions o f property at stake on the high seas, as well as the honor and credit o f the country,— something more than the appropriation debates o the late session, stain ed as they are with fighting and huckstering, is necessary to maintain the position that the navy should be emasculated. Have we too few ships ? Only the other day, owing to the want o f an adequate force on the African coast, an American merchantman, temporarily wrecked, was broken up, and her crew massacred. Where is the evidence o f strength enough on the Asiatic seas to enforce the respect o f nations who can only be held back from plunder by naked force ? Are we not, at this very moment, engaged in silly attempts to vex the Oregon question with but one manof-war on that great coast to protect, not the mere territory alone, but the shipping that hugs it ? The only points where we are sufficiently manned, are the ports whose docks have been cumbered, through the in efficiency o f Congress, with half-built vessels. The objections towards a decent compensation to those engaged in the service, are equally futile. Young men o f spirit, and energy, and educa tion, will not enter a profession where they will be starved ; and even could that objection be surmounted, and glory be accepted as meat and drink, the privation and humiliation to be undergone would soon drive away those in whose breast there still remained an aversion to dirt and degradation. I f lately, through the utter stoppage o f the channels of promotion, the tone o f the service has been lowered, the fault rests not Maritime Law. 543 with the department, for there, at least, during the last few years, energy most honorable, both to the country and the secretary, has been display ed. The fault rests with Congress, and by Congress alone can it be met and remedied. W e have thus touched upon three points to which it is probable the at tention of Congress will be turned. There is, generally speaking, much more danger o f over-legislation than under-legislation ; and though the hostile creeds o f the two houses renders it probable that the danger o f the former evil is not now imminent, still, no matter how little may be done, the country will be well satisfied, provided that that little be done in decency and order. There is still room to trust that such will be the case. I f Mr. Adams would refrain, not from pressing the right o f peti tion, for it is well that a right so cardinal should be defined and establish ed, but from pressing it with those weapons o f invective and sarcasm which no man can use so bitterly and so surely,— or if members from the south would recollect that generosity is the better part o f chivalry,— then would the evil omens o f the soothsayers be brought to nought. But if such be not the case,— if the law makers combine the law breakers,— if the journals of Congress continue blurred with brawls and blotted with blood, farewell to the hopes o f this young and great republic. The af fections o f the better part of the community will become alienated from bodies whose proceedings evince so total a disregard o f personal honor and national interest; and when once the legislation loses the respect o f the people, there may be found no medium between a relapse into anarchy and a return to despotism. A rt . VI.— M A R IT IM E L A W . NUM BER m . COLLISION OF SHIPS. W h e n e v e r one vessel does damage to another within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, the offending vessel becomes hypothecated to the vessel and cargo sustaining the injury, to repair the damages occasioned by the collision. The injured persons have a lien or privilege upon the guilty property by the general maritime law o f all nations, to the ex tent o f the injury sustained; and they may pursue and enforce their remedy in the courts o f admiralty jurisdiction, by attachment, condemna tion, and sale, to pay damages and costs. In the discussion o f this subject, we apply the term collision to all cases o f vessels running foul, though the terms allision and collision are not exactly synonymous. The term allision applies to the act o f one vessel striking against another ; and the term collision, to the act o f two vessels striking together. But the inquiry upon a claim for damages, in such cases, is not so much whether either ship be active or passive, as whether the act was occasioned by accident, or by the negligence or the design o f one or both > them. Sir William cott, in pronouncing judgment in the case o f the Woodrop Sims,* says t 1; re are four possibilities under which a collision may o ccu r:— * 2 Dodson’s Admiralty Rep., 85. Maritime Law. 544 First. It may happen without blame being imputable to either party : as where the loss is occasioned by a storm, or any other vis major. In that case, the misfortune must be borne by the party on whom it happens to light, the other not being responsible to him in any degree. Second. A misfortune o f this kind may arise where both parties are to blame— where there has been a want o f due diligence or o f skill on both sides. In such a case, the rule o f law is, that the loss must be apportioned between them, as having been occasioned by the fault o f both o f them. Third. It may happen by the misconduct o f the suffering party only, and then the rule is, that the sufferer must bear his own burthen. Fourth. It may have been the fault o f the ship which ran the other down, and in this case, the injured party would be entitled to an entire compensation from the other. There is often great difficulty in determining the facts o f each particu lar case, arising sometimes from the darkness o f the night, or the danger and violence o f a storm, or the confusion o f the moment, and from a want o f observation ; and frequently, from the strong and almost overpowering motives o f interest, personal vanity, party feeling, and strong bias of wit nesses. The master and crew o f each vessel are generally the only witnesses in the case, and, from necessity,* they are often used as wit nesses in a court which tries the controversy ; although the witnesses may stand in a situation o f direct interest in the cause, and the result o f it. Each side often represent the transaction most favorably to themselves, and endeavour to throw all the blame upon their opponents ; this renders the whole investigation the most perplexing and unsatisfactory which can be brought into a court o f justice. Care, attention, vigilance and philoso phical knowledge is required o f counsel who conduct such proceedings ; and a person practically acquainted with navigation, has a decided ad vantage over an opponent who is deficient in that branch o f knowledge. The court, too, frequently has to decide upon great diversity o f statement as to the courses the vessels were steering, or the quarter from which the wind was blowing at the time when the accident occurred ; besides the doctrine o f currents o f the water, the force o f the winds, the size, model, and trim o f the vessels, the weight o f their cargoes on board, the man ner their sails are set, together with many other nautical matters, are in gredients out o f which the court are to form and pronounce its decree. The court o f admiralty possess equitable powers, to adjust and litigate the interests o f suitors when before them. But suits for collision may be prosecuted at common law, by an action against the masters and owners o f the vessel doing the damage, and then the cause is to be tried before a jury. In such cases, it frequently happens that the jury which decides the facts o f the case by their verdict do not possess sufficient nautical knowledge to judge of the propriety or impropriety o f the things done or omited on the part o f one party or the other. The court o f admiralty gene rally proceeds directly against the property offending by an arrest, and the vessel and cargo are liable to be condemned and sold to pay the damages and costs o f the injured party, and this as well in case o f domestic as of foreign vessels. The lien or privilege in both cases is the same, and may be enforced by suit in rem in admiralty, which is the preferable method o f proceeding, especially when the owners arc absent, or the master is irresponsible in his pecuniary ability. * 2 Haggard’s Rep., 145. Catharine, o f Dover. Collision o f Ships. 545 In cases o f collision, it is often the practice in the British court of admiralty in London, to call in to the assistance o f the judge, who tries the cause, one or more experienced navigators o f the association o f Trinity House. These persons are called Trinity-masters, who, after hearing the evidence given in the cause, and the arguments o f the advocates for the respective parties, are called upon to express their opinion upon the merits o f the case ; and as they pronounce their opinion, the judge gene rally renders his sentence o f condemnation or acquittal. The courts in the United States have the aid of experienced ship-masters and naviga tors, who are sworn as witnesses in the case ; and their opinions, very justly, have their weight and influence with the court in making up its decree. Damage in cases o f collision o f ships, or in running foul, may be re duced to three classes :— First. By design. Second. By negligence. Third. By accident, and this is called a peril o f the sea. All known maritime laws compel the wrong-doer to make reparation in the two first cases. There are certain rules o f navigation which have been adopted by the courts o f different nations as positive law, to govern cases litigated before them :— First. The vessel that has the wind free, must get out o f the way o f the vessel that is close hauled. Second. The vessel on the starboard tack has a right to keep her wind, and the vessel on the larboard tack is bound to bear up or heave about, to avoid danger, or be answerable for the consequences. Third. The vessel to the windward is to keep away when both vessels are going the same course in a narrow channel, and there is danger o f running foul o f each other. Fourth. A steamboat is generally deemed as always sailing with a free and fair wind, and therefore is bound to do whatever a common vessel going free or with a fair wind, would, under similar circumstances, be re quired to do in relation to any other vessels which it meets in the course o f its navigation. Steamboats receive their impetus from steam, and not from sails, and are capable o f being kept under better command, and ought always to give way in favor o f vessels using sails only,* all other circumstances being equal. Fifth. The master o f a vessel, entering a port or river where other ves sels are lying at anchor, is bound to make use o f all proper chicks to stop the headway o f his vessel, in order to prevent accidents ; and if, from want of such precautions, a loss ensue, he and his owners are responsible. Sixth. So it is held, that if two vessels, or ships of unequal size, are in the same stream, the less must give way to the greater. Seventh. So a ship clearing out of a harbor must make way for another vessel that enters. Eighth. Where two ships are clearing out o f a harbor, the hindermost ship must have care to the one putting out before her.f The question in all cases o f collision is, whether proper measures o f precaution are taken by the vessel which has unfortunately run down the other. This is a * Story on Bailments, p. 38fi. t Jacobson’s Sea Laws, p. 338. 46* 34 Kent’s Com., 230. Maritime Law. 546 question partly o f nautical usage, and partly o f nautical skill. I f all the usual and customary precautions are taken, then it is treated as an acci dent, and the vessel is exonerated ; if otherwise, then the offending ves sel and its owners are deemed responsible. Indeed, all rules are held subordinate to the rule prescribed by common sense ; which is, that every vessel shall keep clear o f every other vessel, when she has the power to do so, notwithstanding such other vessel may have taken a course not con formable to established usages. A case can scarcely be imagined in which it would be justifiable to persist in a course after it had become evi dent that collision would ensue, if, by changing such course without inju ry, the collision could be avoided ; and where vessels are sailing on the wind and approaching each other, and the vessel is so far to windward on the larboard tack, that if both keep their course, the other will strike her on the lee side abaft the beam or near the stern, in such a case the ves sel on the starboard tack, contrary to the rule laid down above in the se cond division o f this subject, must give way, because she can do it with greater facility and less loss o f time and distance than the other.* And in case o f a collision tried before the honorable Sir William Scott, judge of the court o f admiralty in England, it appeared that a fishing-smack, called the John and Mary, had been run dow'n by the sloop Thames off the port of Great Yarmouth, steering about north-northeast and hauled close to the wind, with a fresh breeze from the northwest by north; and the sloop the Thames was sailing at that time to the southward, with the wind free, and drove against the fishing-smack, and struck her with such violence on her starboard bow that she soon after sunk, and was totally lost, with her cargo and fishing apparatus on board. A Trinity-master was called in to assist the learned judge in the hear ing o f this cause, and he gave it as his opinion that, upon the testimony, it appeared that the Thames wanted to obtain information from the fish ing-smack, and to take in some herrings from her. He said that the Thames did not act in a seaman-like manner for this purpose ; that in at tempting this object it doth not appear that the Thames ever altered sail, but ran down upon the fishing vessel. He said the Thames should have put about, by which means all danger would have been avoided. That it appeared to him, that the loss had been occasioned by the bold manoeuvre o f the Thames in attempting to run all at once along side o f the fishingsmack, which did not appear to have altered her course. That the par ticular manner in which the blow was stated to have been received, on the starboard bow o f the smack from the larboard bow o f the Thames, could not have happened whilst the vessel was passing, unless owing to the improper course and directions in which the Thames was steered. ‘ That it appeared to him that the accident was owing to the unseaman like manner in which the Thames was navigated. The court, in this case, after Captain Hubdart, the Trinity-master, had given in his opinion, proceeded to pronounce a decree against the owner o f the Thames, for full damages sustained by the libellant, and for his costs. The pleadings in this case showed a great diversity o f state ments, and facts were contradictory from the witnesses. Whenever two ships run foul o f each other, or one vessel runs against another, the following matters are to be taken into consideration :— * Story on Bailments, p. 385. Steamboat Portland. Collision o f Ships. 547 First. What wind was there at the time operating upon the vessels, or either o f them 1 Second. Upon what tack the one vessel was, before it came in collision with the other 1 Third. What part o f the one ship struck upon the other, and what sail was set upon both ships at the time o f the collision ? Fourth. What means had the masters o f both vessels, or the ships’ company, taken to prevent the collision ? Fifth. H ow were the sails o f the vessels respectively braced and set? Sixth. Which way did the helms lie, and whether competent and faith ful persons were at the helms at the time o f the collision, and what was the character o f each vessel in regard to the ready obedience of their re spective helms ? Seventh. Whether, on one or other o f these vessels, the mizen-sail was not set or clewed up ? Eighth. Whether, or not, before they struck, the jib upon either o f them was set or down ? Ninth. Whether both vessels were steering the same way or in op posite directions, and what was the course o f each vessel which they were pursuing at the time and before the collision ? Tenth. What were the currents and tides that affected each vessel, and how fast were they going through the water ? Eleventh. How was each vessel loaded ? Whether in part or in bal last ? And what was the model o f the vessel : for the ship’s behaviour will depend as much upon the manner in which she is loaded and bal lasted as upon her model ? So the height o f the masts o f a ship materially affect the principles o f sailing, and, it is said, that as soon as a ship inclines, her velocity dimin ishes in proportion as her inclination increases. By some of the treatise on navigation, it is declared, that if on one or the other o f two vessels coming in collision, the mizen-sail was set, and the jib or the foretop staysail was also set, that this is an incontestible sign that each vessel was going to the leeward ; and. therefore, that the other vessel should have kept to the windward. In which case the ves sel which has struck the other with her bow, and therefore to the wind ward, was entitled to greater damages ; and that the one which was struck on the lee side, and was injured, to less damages.* A first-class merchant ship contains no less than twenty-seven sails, or pieces o f canvass, when all set and in use. Besides, the various masts, yards, sails, and the several parts o f the rigging and apparel o f the ship, number about one hundred and forty-eight in a modern-built vessel. And in cases o f collision at sea, the different workings o f a ship are all to be taken into consideration, as well as the respective size, tonnage, and class o f each vessel, which, in the merchant’s service, number as many as eight and more. First. W e have the ship proper, which is a three-masted vessel. Second. The barque is also a three-masted vessel as well as the ship, and the great difference between them is, that the ship has square sails on the mizen-mast, which the barque has not. Third. A full-rigged brig. * Jacobson’s Sea Laws, p. 330. 548 Maritime Law. Fourth. An hermaphrodite brig. Fifth. A top-sail schooner. Sixth. A fore-and-aft schooner. Seventh. Sloops, and these may be built in the form o f the yacht. Eighth. Steamboats, o f various sizes, models, and power. Ninth. Vessels o f various sizes and modelling, some o f which are pe culiar to particular countries, like the Dutch galliot and dogger, the French polacca and bilander, and the Chinese junk and English ketch. The workings o f a ship are to be demonstrated by proofs o f the effects o f every sail and o f the rudder, separately or altogether considered, both with respect to the points where these machines are placed in the ship, and to the different dispositions which either are given them in the changes o f evolutions, or which arise from their obliquities alone. So they pre sent more or less obliquely their sides to the course o f the water or the wind. The general workings o f a vessel at sea are set forth in a small treatise, the “ Seaman’s Friend,” by R . H . Dana, jr., author o f “ Two Years Befo r e the Mast.” Mr. Dana’s books are well known to the public, and are excellent of their kind, and ought to be in the hands o f every person interested in mari time affairs. He says that* “ a ship is acted upon principally by the rudder and sails. When the rudder is fore-and-aft, that is, on a line with the keel, the water runs by it, and has no effect upon the ship’s direction. When it is changed from a right line to one side or the other, the water strikes against it and forces the stern in an opposite direction. For instance : if the helm is put to the starboard, the rudder is put off the line o f the keel, to port. This sends the stern up to the starboard, and, o f course, to the ship turn ing on her centre o f gravity, her head goes in an opposite direction to port. If the helm is put to port the reverse will follow, and the ship’s head will turn off her course to starboard. Therefore, the helm is always put in the opposite direction from that in which the ship’s head is to be moved. Moving the rudder from the right line has the effect o f dead ening the ship’s way more or less, according as it is put at a greater or less angle with the keel. A ship should, therefore, be so balanced by her sails that a slight change o f her helm may answer the purpose.” I f a vessel is going astern, and the rudder is turned off from the line o f the keel, the water, striking against the back o f the rudder, the push ing the stern off in the same direction in which the rudder is turned. For instance : if stern-way is on her, and the helm is put to the starboard, the rudder turns to port, the water forces the stern in the same direction, and the ship’s head goes off to the starboard. Therefore, when stern way is on a vessel, put the helm in the same direction in which the head is to be turned. A current, or tide, running astern— that is, when the ship’s head is to wards it— will have the same effect on the rudder as if the ship were going ahead, and when it runs forward it will be the same as though the ship were going astern. It may now be well to show how the sails act upon the ship with re ference to her centre o f rotation. Suppose a vessel to be rigged with three sails, one in the forward part, * Chapter 10, Seaman’s Friend. Collision o f Ships. 549 one at the centre, and the third at the after part, and her left or larboard side to be presented to the wind, which we will suppose to be abeam, or at right angles with the keel. I f the head sail only were set, the effect would be that the wind would send the vessel a little ahead, and up to the starboard on her centre o f rotation, so as to bring her stern slowly round to the wind. I f the after sail only were set, the vessel would shoot ahead a little, her stern would go off to the starboard, and her head come up to the wind. I f only the centre sail were set, the effect would be the same as if all three o f her sails were set, and she would go ahead in a straight line. So far we have supposed the sails to be set full; that is, with her tacks forward and their sheets aft. I f they were all set aback, the ves sel would go astern nearly if the rudder were kept steady in a straight line. If the head sail only is set, and aback, she will go astern and round upon her axis with her head from the wind much quicker than if full. So, if her after sail alone were set, and aback, she would go astern, and her head would come suddenly into the wind. These principles o f the wind acting upon the sails, and the water upon the rudder, are the foundation o f the whole science o f working a ship. In large vessels the sails are numerous, but they may all be reduced to three classes, v iz : head sails, or those which are forward o f the centre of gravity or rotation, having a tendency to send the ship’s head off from the wind ; after sails, or those abaft the centre o f rotation, and which send the stern off and her head toward the wind ; and lastly, centre sails, which act equally on each side the centre o f rotation, and do not turn the ship off her course one way or the other. These classes o f sails, if set aback, tend to stop the headway and send the ship astern, and also to turn her off her course in the same direction as when set full, but with more rapidity. The further a sail is from the centre o f rotation, the greater is its tendency to send the ship off from the line o f her keel. Accordingly, a jib is the strongest head sail, and a spanker the strongest after sail. The centre o f rotation is not necessarily at the centre o f the ship. On the contrary, as vessels are now built, it may not be much abaft that part of the deck to which the main tack is boarded. For the main breadth or dead flat being there, the greatest cavity will also be there, and o f course the principal weight o f the cargo should centre there, as being the strong est part. Therefore the centre o f rotation will greatly depend upon pro per stowage. If the ship is much by the stern, the centre o f rotation will be carried aft; and if by the head, it will be carried forward. The cause of this is, that when loaded down by the stern, her after sails have but little effect to move her stern against the water, and a very slight action upon the forward sails will send her head off to leeward, as she is there light and high in the air. Accordingly, to keep her in a straight line, the press o f sail is required to be further aft; or, in other words, the centre o f rotation is further aft. If a ship is loaded down by the head, the opposite results follow, and more head and less after sail is necessary. A ship should be so stowed, and have her sails so trimmed, that she may be balanced as much as possible, and not be obliged to carry her helm much off the line o f her keel, which tends to deaden her way. I f a ship is stowed in her best sailing trim, and it is found, when on a wind, that her head tends to windward, obliging her to carry a strong weather helm, it may be remedied by taking in some 550 Maritime Law. after sail, or adding head sail. So, if she carries a lee helm— that is, if her head tends to fly off from the wind— it is remedied by taking in head or adding after sail. Sometimes a ship is made to carry a weather helm by having too much head-sail set aloft; for if she lies much over on a wind, the square sails forward have a tendency to press her downwards, and raise her proportionally abaft, so that she meets a great resistance from the water to leeward under her bows, while her stern, being light, is ea sily carried off, which, o f course, requires her to carry a weather helm. The general rules, then, for turning a ship, are these : to bring her head to the wind, put her helm to leeward, and bring the wind to act as much as possible on the after sails, and as little as possible on the head sails. This may be done without taking in any sail, by letting go the head sheets so as those sails may lose their wind, and by pointing the head yards to the wind so as to keep the head sails shaking. At the same time, keep the after sails full, and flatten in the spanker sheet; or, if this is not sufficient, the after sails may be braced aback, which will send the stern off and the head to windward. But as this makes back sails of them, and tends to send the vessel astern, there should be either head or centre sails enough filled to counteract this, and keep headway upon her. On the other hand, to turn the head off from the wind, put the helm to windward, shiver the after sails, and flatten in the head sheets. Brace the head yards aback if necessary, being careful not to let her lose headway if it can be avoided. The vessel may be assisted very much, in going off or coming to, by setting or taking in the jib and spanker, which, if the latter is fitted with brails, are easily handed. A merchant ship, that is run down by a public armed vessel in the ser vice o f the government, will have in equity a claim to the same indemnity and contributions for the loss, as where the accidents happened by collision by and between merchant vessels; yet we know o f no case where the ship o f war has been arrested by a suit in admiralty, to obtain satisfaction for the damage. The master o f the government vessel, in such a case, might be liable to a personal action for negligence or trespass to the party injured; though a more direct method to obtain satisfaction would be to petition the government o f the country for redress o f grievances, and pay ment o f all losses occasioned by the collision. The commercial code of France, article 407, provides that, in case o f running foul, if the occurrence was purely accidental, the damages are to be borne without remedy by the suffering vessel. I f the running foul proceeded from the fault of one o f the captains, the damages are to be paid by the one who occasioned it. I f there be a doubt which o f the two vessels was in fault in running foul, the damages are to be repaired at their common expense, in equal portions between them. There are some differences in the rules which are applied to the cases o f vessels running foul amongst the various commercial nations. By the laws o f Holland, in cases o f collision, if the damage is done reci procally, such damage is apportioned in common between the parties; if the damage ris wholly created by one ship through the fault o f the master, he is to repair the damages alone, if he is able ; otherwise, the owners are liable to the extent o f their interest in the vessel and cargo, and no further. This is understood to be also the law o f England, by virtue o f the statutes ; as well as the law in the states o f Maine and Massachusetts, by virtue of their local laws. In England it is said that, by the common law, in cases of Collision o f Ships. 551 collision where there is a common fault, neither jiarty can recover any compensation against the other, and the loss, however unequally distri buted, must be borne where it has alighted ; and the result is the same where the fault cannot be ascertained or brought home by satisfactory evi dence. But in the court o f admiralty, where there is a manifest fault on both sides, the damage is to be apportioned in the aggregate.* The ancient general maritime law, exacted a full compensation out o f all the property o f the owners o f the guilty ship, in cases o f collision, upon the common principle applying to persons undertaking the conveyance o f goods at sea. They were answerable for the conduct o f the persons whom they employed, and o f whom the other parties, who suffered dam age, knew nothing, and over whom they had no control. This is pre sumed to be the law at the present day, in those countries which have not made any regulations respecting it, by statutory enactments, j- Yet it appears, that by various authorities, that the cargo on board o f the offending vessel has not been held liable, in some instances, in England, to contribute to the damage done to the injured vessel and cargo. 'Ihe in jured vessel and cargo, could call upon the offending vessel for reparation to both vessel and cargo, but the contribution was only between the vessel, on one hand, and the ship and cargo, on the other, which was in jured. The ship, only, was to contribute to the loss. The house o f lords, in England, in the case o f Le Neve vs. the Edinburgh and London Ship ping Company, which was a case in appeal from Scotland in 1824, decided that the ship and cargo, that was sunk and lost by collision, should both receive the benefit o f contribution from the offending vessel and ow ners; but they did not decide the question in this case, whether the offending vessel, and cargo on board, should be held liable, jointly or severally, to contribute for the loss, j: W e will suppose that the value o f the ship and freights are insufficient to pay the damage done ; why should not the car go be called in to contribute its share in making reparation ? The cargo on board adds to the force and power o f the collision, and increases the damage. The ow ner o f the cargo is represented by his agent, the mas ter o f the offending vessel, and so are the owners o f the ship; and the owners o f the cargo ought to be responsible for the acts o f their agent. By the laws o f Holland, both ship and cargo are liable to condemnation in cases o f collision. Thus, where a ship and cargo run foul of another vessel in ballast, the ship and cargo was condemned to pay one-half o f the damage sustained by the other vessel, and this condemnation was made after in formation obtained upon marine usage in like cases.§ So, in case where a Dutch ship had run foul o f a Lubec trader in a storm, without fault on either side, with such violence that they, the master and crew, were com pelled to run upon the strand, to save their lives and their ship and cargo, the senate o f Dantzic decreed, that both cargoes and vessels should be valued and summed up together, and each party should be indemnified dollar for dollar. The old Danish sea-laws are replete with provisions under the head o f collision. The Scandinavians once had so many ships in the sound, that it was said to be easy to pass over them from Zealand to Schoon ; and they felt early, in their abundance o f shipping, in their long nights and tem * Kent’s Com. p. 233. Jacobson’s Sea Laws, p. 328. t 1 Haggard’s Rep., 109. t Bell’s Cum., vol. i, p. 580. § Jacobson’s Sea Laws, p. 328. 552 Maritime Law. pestuous seas, the necessity o f mutual assistance in the accidents which might belallthem. They adopted the rule, that when two ships under sail, without the fault o f either party, by day or night, run foul, the damages arising are to be divided equally between the parties. The Swedish code* subjoins the same law, and the provision o f these northern powers seem to have been handed down from the earliest periods to the present time, and influenced the codes o f all maritime powers. By the term division, we are to understand what is known at the present day as apportionment. The Russian law determines, like the common law of England, that each party is to bear his own loss, without recourse to the other, where neither party is in fault; and by the Prussian code, if two ships at anchor are, by the three o f the winds or waves, driven together so as to occasion damage to one or both o f the parties, such damage is to be computed together; and where a ship at anchor, from the badness o f her cables or other negli gences of the master, breaks loose, and is driven upon other vessels made fast, the master o f such ship must make good all damages done to the other. The owners o f the vessel, in cases o f collision, are liable to the extent o f their shares, and no more, which is regulated by article 1929 of their code. The northern European maritime codes contain various laws in regard to ships running foul, while one or both are at anchor, but they all adopt the principle generally, that the vessel in fault must pay the whole damage ; but when the collision occurs by inevitable accident, the loss is to be borne by apportionment between the vessels. The Prussian law declares, that when a ship or vessel is driven against another at an chor, without fault, the vessel doing the damage shall pay its own, and one-half o f the damage sustained. The owner is held liable in subsidium for all damages. By the laws o f France, vessels going out o f port are bound to have regard to those before them, and if the hindermost ship in jures the one forward, she is bound to pay all damages ; and in two cases where vessels had put out o f the harbor o f Marseilles, in France, and another vessel in each case had followed and run down the vessels going out first, the offending vessels were condemned to pay all damages and costs o f suit; and in another case in the same port, where two vessels ap proached the harbor, and the hindmost vessel ran down the forward one, the hindmost vessel was adjudged to have incurred the blame, because she had not waited until the other vessel passed in, and the admiralty court o f Marseilles condemned her to pay all damages and costs. So, where two vessels o f unequal size are in the same stream, the less vessel ought to give way to the greater.j" Most maritime nations consider it negligence, on the part o f masters, not to keep watch on board their vessels. In the night-time this is ab solutely necessary for the safety o f the vessel ; and where there is negli gence in this particular, the vessel will be held to blame in cases o f col lision. In channels, or narrow seas, the practice o f ringing bells in foggy weather ought to prevail, and the general injunction to keep a good look out is insufficient. The master o f a Hamburgh ship, in the night time, in foggy weather, passing the Catagat, observed a sailor or board who did not belong to the crew. “ From whence came you ?” was the question, in amazement. * See Jacobson’s Sea Laws, p. 328. t See Jacobson’s Sea Laws, p. 338. Collision o f Ships. 553 The answer was, “ From a Dutch brig, which you have just run down. I was on the yards at the time, and jumped on board.” The collision was not observed until the sailor gave the astonished captain the informa tion. By the Spanish law, every ship or vessel above the burthen o f sixty tons, shall have a light in the lantern o f the ship at night, as well at sea as in the roads, under a penalty. The want o f a lantern in narrow seas and ports has always been looked upon as an omission and neglect, not entitling the party to redress, if injured. The supreme court o f Holland have so decided ; and this appears to be the law in other European coun tries, as well as in tho United States o f America. By the laws o f the state o f N ew York, any steamboat that is navigating any waters in the night time, within the jurisdiction o f the state, shall have, and carry, and show, two good and sufficient lights, one o f which shall be ex posed near her bows, the other near her stern, and the lights shall be raised at least twenty feet above her decks; and every master who shall violate this law is held liable to forfeit the sum o f $250 for each and every offence, to be sued for in the name o f the people ; and in case the penalty cannot be collected o f the master, theowners are jointly and severally liable to pay the penalties, as sureties o f such master ; and the owners are declared by statute to be responsible for the good conduct of the masters employed by them ; and the term “ master ” is declared to apply to every person having, for the time being, the charge, control, and directions o f any steamboat or other vessel comprised within the provi sions o f the statute.* And when steamboats meet each other within the jurisdiction of the state, each boat shall go towards that side o f the river, or take that which is to the starboard or right side, so as to enable the boats meeting to pass each other in safety ; and while the boats on the Hudson river, or Lake Champlain, are at anchor, they are bound, in the night time, to lower their peak, to have a sufficient light shown in some part o f the rigging, at least twenty feet above the deck, and from the taffrail o f the boat, under a penalty o f $50, to be collected o f the master, in the first instance, and in case he is unable to pay it, then the owners are held to pay the same. By the same statute, it is enacted that when a steamboat is going the same direction with another steamboat, the steamboat behind shall not approach to pass the head steamboat within the distance o f twenty yards, nor can the steamboat ahead be navigated so as to unnecessarily come within twenty yards o f the steamboat following it. A copy o f the statute is to be posted up in a conspicuous place in every steamboat navi gating the waters o f the state, for the inspection o f all persons on board thereof. W e have before stated that steamboats, when navigating, are deemed to be what is called, technically, before the wind, and are considered as having the wind free, and are, therefore, bound, at all events, to avoid a collision with other vessels. This is the general rule, but it has some exceptions. Thus, in the case o f the steamboat North America, tried in the month o f June, eighteen hundred and forty-two (1842), in admiralty in the United States district court for the Southern District o f New York, before the Honorable Samuel R. Betts, United States district judge, it V O L. I X .— NO. V I . * 1 Revised Statutes, p. 682. 47 554 Maritime Law. appeared that the British barque George Canning, was lying at anchor in the port o f New York, in the Hudson river, within three hundred yards o f the Battery, during the night o f the 30th March, 1842. At about four o ’clock in the morning, the steamboat North America, coming from Albany, rounded too just below the George Canning, in order to come into her berth at the foot o f Courtland-street. This was the usual method o f bringing her to the slip, and on this occa sion she also followed the accustomed route, going below the dock, slack ening her speed, and then being brought round and worked up to her land ing place. In making her way up she came upon the barque, and both vessels were considerably injured by the collision. The barque, at the time, had no light suspended in her rigging, and no watch on deck. Much testimony was called on both sides to prove the state o f the at mosphere at the tim e; on the part o f the barque it being attempted to be proved that daylight had appeared, and was sufficiently ad vanced to enable persons on board the North America to see the barque a distance off, amply sufficient to take measures to avoid h e r; and, on the other side, that it was so thick and dark at the time, that the barque, with out the aid o f a light hung out, could not be seen the length o f the steam boat from her. His honor, Judge Betts, in pronouncing his opinion, says : “ I think a decided preponderance o f proof established these facts :— “ That the collision was wholly accidental, free o f intended neglect or fault on either side ; that the steamboat was navigated with reasonable care and precaution, and was pursuing the usual course o f her voyage at the time o f collision with the libellant’s vessel; that it was night time, and thick dark weather on the water. “ That the vessel o f the libellant, at anchor off Castle Garden, had no watch on deck at the time, and no light exhibited in the rigging, and none within view on deck ; and she was not seen on board the steamboat until the boat was too near to avoid collision. “ That if a light had been suspended in the rigging o f the vessel, she might have been discovered from the boat in time to avoid her.” And further, in delivering the opinion o f the court, the learned judge says, “ I have no hesitation in saying, that not only was the George Can ning acting in violation o f an express law in lying at her place o f anchor age, without showing a light, but that, independent o f the state statute, it was culpable negligence in her to remain in the then darkness o f the night, without both such light and a watch on deck.” * So in another case, which was an action in rem, Pezant vs. the Steampacket Charleston, brought against the steamboat in the same court, before the same learned judge, for a collision in running down a vessel in the Delaware bay, the libel was dismissed with costs, because it appeared that the vessel run down was sailing up the Delaware bay in the night time, and had altered her course, and thereby the steamboat came in col lision with her. The court held that the steamboat, though she was to be considered as a vessel sailing before the wind, with the wind free, yet, the other vessel having unnecessarily changed her course and run athwart the course and bows o f the steamboat, she, the latter vessel, must be con * See the case reported at length in the N . Y . Legal Observer, M ay 13, 1843, p. 67. See also 6 Wharton’s Reps., 311— Simpson vs. Hand. 1 Gilpin, 519— Reeves vs. The Ship Constitution. Collision o f Ships. 555 sidered as faultless, and the vessel driven by sails as the one which had received damage by an unnecessary collision. The cause having been appealed to the United States circuit court, before the Honorable Smith Thompson, the circuit judge, the decree o f the district judge was affirmed with costs. The learned circuit judge, in pronouncing the decree o f affirmation, stated, that steamboats were regarded in navigation as always having the wind free. Nevertheless, they could not be held liable when the collision happened through the fault or mismanagement o f a vessel driven by sails. That in this case it appeared from the evidence that, had the vessel run down kept her course coming up the Delaware bay, she would have passed the steamboat without collision ; but she had unnecessarily under taken to alter her course, and the steamboat, pursuing her course without deviation, had come in collision with the vessel. The vessel run down had been injured by her own mismanagement or fault, and she could not, from the fact that she was navigated by sails alone, call upon the steamboat for damages. In Holland there is a distinction between the collision o f sea vessels and a collision o f river craft. Such distinction, in practice, must exist in the United States, where vessels navigate the internal waters o f the country. The maritime jurisdiction o f the United States, is confined to the waters within the ebb and flow o f the tide ; consequently, vessels navi gating fresh water rivers and lakes are not within the cognizance o f courts o f admiralty jurisdiction. In the state o f New York, cases o f col lision upon the internal waters o f the tstate, are brought within the prac tice o f arresting the offending vessel by the statute.* By the civil law, every vessel which floated upon the water, whether o f a small or large class, or driven by oars or sails, or both, or by machinery, were liable to the jurisdiction in rem for the contracts and torts o f the master. And the jurisdiction equally applied to all vessels, whether they navigated the ocean, seas, lake, rivers or ports ; and whether the waters were fresh, or under the influence o f the flow and reflow o f the tide. But the constitution o f the United States confines the jurisdiction o f the United States tribunals, proceeding in rem, to cases o f admiralty and maritime ju risdiction, and therefore collisions arising upon the great fresh water lakes in North America, and on the rivers where the tide does not ebb and flow, or above it, are not embraced within the jurisdiction o f the courts o f the United States. The state legislatures are competent to pass laws which shall give the remedy against offending vessels on the internal waters o f a state, by a proceeding in rem. The statutes o f New York, Missouri and Ohio, have pro vided such a remedy; and we see no objection to the extending it, by state laws, to cases o f contracts which concern the navigation and maritime employment o f the vessel. W e are certain that this remedy would be many times beneficial. As, along the shore o f some o f the great lakes, numerous territories, states, and countries, each claiming a separate and independent code o f laws, are to be found, besides, the dangers and hazards o f navigation on the lakes in North America equal those upon the ocean and foreign seas. Losses which arise by collision are held in the law o f insurance to be within the term known as perils o f the sea, and are subject to the doc * A ct passed April 26, 1831. 556 Maritime Law. trine o f averages. When a vessel is so damaged at sea by collision, and without any fault o f the owner, and the master is obliged to put back, or run into port for repairs, to enable her to prosecute her voyage, the ex penses o f repairing the vessel, and o f unloading the cargo to make the repairs, are held to be a general average within certain limitations. I f the ship gains a lasting benefit by the repairs, a deduction from the amount o f the general average must be made on that account, which is usually set down at one-third o f the expense o f the new fixings o f the vessels.* Certain damages which accrue to a ship and cargo by collision, are held by the civil law, as well as by a law o f England, as a particular average. By the Spanish law, the damage happening to a ship and cargo, by the accidental running foul o f another vessel, is declared particular average, and each party, as in other casual misfortunes, is to bear his own loss ; if the damage be occasioned by misconduct or negligence, the guilty party must indemnify the other to the full extent o f the loss. Such is the Russian law ; but by the law o f Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Sweden, losses, in all cases o f accidental collision, are to be apportioned on both vessels— their freights and cargoes are held to be general averages, y Where a loss occurs through the mistakes, ignorance, and inattentions o f the master or mariners o f a vessel by collision, this is held in England to be a barratry. But when a collision has happened, and there is no proof o f negligence in the master or crew of the damaged ship, the in surer is liable for the damage, and he may sue the party who has wilfully been the cause o f the damage. A very interesting case was decided in the supreme court o f the United States, in regard to a loss by collision o f vessels without fault on either side, which occurred on the river Elbe, on a voyage from Hamburg to Gottenburg, in Europe. The American ship Paragon, in the passage above-mentioned, while proceeding down the river with a pilot on board, came in contact with a Dutch galliot called the Frau-Anna, and sunk h e r; by this accident the Paragon sustained so much damage as to be obliged to put into Cuxhaven for repairs, and this port being within the jurisdiction o f Hamburg, the captain o f the galliot libelled the Paragon in the admiralty court for his damages, alleging that the loss o f the vessel was caused by the carelessness or fault o f those on board o f the Paragon. But upon hearing, the court determined that the loss accrued without fault or carelessness on either side. This made the loss one o f general average, to be borne equally by each party ; that is to say, the Paragon was to bear one-half o f the expense o f her own repairs, and to pay one-half o f the value o f the galliot; and the galliot was to bear the loss o f one-half o f her own value, and to pay one-half o f the re pairs o f the Paragon. The court became possessed o f this case in Amer ica by a suit o f the owners o f the Paragon against the Warren Insurance Company, for the amount which they had paid in Hamburg for the colli sion ; this amount was $2,600. The supreme court o f the United States decided that this loss by collision, without fault on either side, was a loss by the perils o f the sea, and came within the protection o f the policy o f insurance ; the Paragon had no cargo on board at the time o f the col lision, and was in ballast, no freight had been earned, and the owners having no funds in Hamburg, the captain was obliged to raise the money * 3d Maule and Selw. Rep., p. 432— Plumber vs. W ildman. L + Benecke on Average, p. 146— Benecke, p. 369. Collision o f Ships. 557 on the bottomry of the vessel, and thus the Paragon was obliged to bear the whole loss.* If the ship or goods on board be damaged by collision, the loss is con sidered by insurance writers to be a peril of the sea, within the terms of an insurance policy, and the underwriters must make good the loss. Where a collison takes place between an American vessel and a foreign one, within a foreign jurisdiction, the case will be decided according to the rules of law which govern the foreign jurisdiction ; so vice versa, when a collision happens within the jurisdiction of the United States.! Collisions often arise between vessels while coming out or going into port, and while one or both of the vessels are under the government or control of a pilot. In such cases, a question occurs whether the owners of the vessel are liable for the damage occasioned by the guilty vessel. Sir William Scott held that the parties who suffered by collision in such cases, without their own fault, are entitled tohave their remedy against the vessel which occasioned the damage, and are not under the necessity of looking to the pilot, from whom redress is not always to be had, for com pensation ; the owners are responsible to the injured party for the acts of the pilot, and they must be left to recover, as well as they can, the amount against him. The learned judge says, that the circumstance, of having a pilot on board, and acting in conformity to his directions, cannot operate! as a discharge of the responsibility of the owners. But the rule of law is different when the statutes, or the laws of a coun try, require that a pilot shall be taken on board. Thus, in a case decided by the supreme court of the United States^, the law is de clared to be such that the owners of vessels, which are compelled to receive a pilot on board, shall be exonerated fromthe payment of any loss which happens by collision, while the vessel is under the government of the pilot. The American ship Francis Depeau was in the harbor of Liverpool, and was run foul of by the barque Tasso, which was, at the time the accident happened, in charge of a regular pilot, and leaving the Prince’s dock on her homeward voyage. The Francis Depeau was at anchor in the harbor laden with salt, and ready to sail; both were American vessels. It appeared, that by the British statute then in force, that vessels leaving ports in Great Britain were obliged by law to take a pilot on board. The Francis Depeau sustained considerable damage by the collision. The owners brought an action against the owners of the Tasso to recover damages, and the defendants pleaded that the offending vessel was in charge of a regular pilot at the time ofthe collision, and that the pilot, by the statutory regulations of England, was required to be on board. The cause was tried in the circuit court of the United States, in the District of Columbia, and thejudge who tried the cause instructed the jury that the defendant, under the statute of England, was not responsible to the plaintiffs for any damage occasioned by the default, negligence, or unskilfulness of the pilot on board the Tasso. Upon a writ of error, the supreme court held that the circuit court was right in their instructions given to the jury ; they further decided that it was for the jury, upon the whole evidence, to say whether the injurywas the result of accident, aris* 14 Peter’s Rep., p. 99— Peters vs. Warren Insurance Company, t Phil, on Insurance, p. 94, vol. i. 1 2 Dodson’s Rep., 4 6 7 — the Neptune. § 1 H oward’s Rep., p. 28— Smith vs. Caudry. 47* 558 Maritime Law. ing from strong wind and tide, against which ordinary skill and care could not have guarded, or the fault of the pilot, or the misconduct, negligence, or unskilfulness of the crew, or the insufficiency of the hawser ropes, or the equipments with which the vessel was furnished. In the two first instances, the owners of the Tasso are not answerable ; in the two latter, they are culpable. The reason why owners are not liable for the acts ofa pilot, put onboard by legislative authority, is, that he is not chosen by the owner, and his quali fications are determined by others; and that it is conformable to natural justice to hold the owner exempted from responsibility for the acts of per sons who are not his agents. When a party pleads the act of the pilot to exonerate himself in cases of collision, such party is bound to showin evidence on his part affirmatively the truth of his plea, or he will be held responsible. The statute law of Massachusetts and the state of Maine, following the statutory law of England and Holland, have exonerated the owner of a vessel upon his abandoning the ship and freights, from damage and lia bilities in cases of collision. a . n. C redit given and ta k e n .—Bitter experience has taught those who $eek todo an over-large business at small profits, that very little credit can be given; since the only inducement for reducing prices belowan average standard, is a certainty of payment. If youdo business with all the world, you may rely upon having a world of trouble and anxiety in return; and after all, the nett profit upon an extensive business carried on in this way, is seldom more than would be realized without a tenth part of the trouble. My advice to youis, to establish and maintain a local business. As it is al most impossible to carry on such a business without giving credit, you must weigh well in your mind beforehand, to what extent you may with propriety do so. The amount of credit you take, will of course de pend upon the amount you give. If you are doing a safe and current business, you need fear little on this head ; only take care in making your purchases to bargain for time sufficient. This is important if you have a capital, but absolutely indispensable if you have none. F air P rofessions.—Be on your guard against those who make the fairest and most numerous professions. Depend upon it, all the com merce of the world is founded upon self-interest; and if you cannot see any cause for deserving such kindness and attention, suspect it of being merely affected, and keep yourself out of danger. To be secure, put yourself in no man’s power. There are, no doubt, many men in the world who are strictly honest and upright, and who could not be influenced by any consideration whatever, to be guilty of a dishonest action; but such characters are rare, and although the conclusion may be thought uncharitable, you will find yourself safest in considering every man a rogue till such time as you have had an opportunity of proving him the reverse. Experience will soon convince you that a great proportion of mankind make use of virtue only as a stock in trade, which they are readyto bring to market as soon as they see an opportunity of disposing of it to ad vantage. 559 Mercantile Law Cases. MERCANTILE LAW DEPARTMENT. M E R C A N T IL E L A W C A S E S. REPRESENTATIONS IN REFERENCE TO PRO PERTY INSURED. In the case o f Alston vs. the Mechanics’ Mutual Insurance Company o f T roy, brought before the Court o f Errors o f the state o f N ew Y ork, at the December Term, 1842, the following decision was m ade:— This action was founded upon a fire policy on a building, and some personal property belonging to the plaintiff, bearing date August 27th, 1838. The term o f insurance was five years, comm encing with the date o f the policy. In the policy, the building was de scribed as a brick dwelling-house and shop ; and, after setting forth the size o f the build ing, and its height above the basement, the policy added, “ which basement is privileged as a cabinetmaker’s shop.” T he personal property covered by the mortgage consisted o f stock in trade in the cabinet business, household furniture, wearing apparel, and family stores. Am ong other conditions contained in the policy, was this:— “ I f the said Alston shall make any misrepresentation or concealment, or if said building or premises shall be occupied in any way, so as to make the risk more hazardous than at the time o f insuring, this policy shall be void, and o f no effect.” On applying for his policy, the plaintiff prom ised the underwriters, verbally, that, if they accepted the risk, he would discontinue the use o f a fire-place in the basement, and use a stove instead thereof, which he omitted to do. T he Court o f Errors held that the omission o f the plaintiff to perform this promise con stituted no defence for the insurance company, in an action on the policy. A represen tation in the nature o f a promise, or stipulation for future conduct on the part o f the insured, must in general be inserted in the policy, or the underwriters cannot avail them selves o f it Parol evidence o f what passed between the insured and the underwriters, at and previous to the delivery o f the policy, is not admissible with a view to vary its terms. USURY. T his was an appeal from the Court o f Chancery to the Court of Errors o f the state o f N ew York. Anderson filed his bill against Rapclye, for the purpose o f setting aside an assignment, by the complainant to the defendant, o f a bond and mortgage executed by John Anderson, and also to have delivered up and cancelled, a bond, given by the com plainant and A . A. Remsen, guarantying the payment o f the bond and mortgage. It appeared, from the proofs and pleadings o f the case, that Anderson held a bond and mortgage for 83,000, payable one year from date, with interest, to becom e due half yearly, and on which over five months’ interest had already accrued. This he assigned absolutely to the holder, for $2,600, in order to raise money. T he assignment stated the considera tion paid by the assignee to be $3,000, and contained a covenant that thus much was due and owing on the bond and mortgage. A t the time o f executing the assignment, Ander son also executed to Rapelye a bond, upon which A . A . Remsen was security, conditioned that the mortgager should pay the $3,000, with interest, by the day appointed for that purpose, in the securities assigned. T he Court reversed the decision o f the chancellor, and declared that the transaction was on its face a mere sale o f a bond and mortgage, and therefore not usurious in itself. INSURANCE— DAMAGES FOR IN JU R Y TO MERCHANDISE. In the Superior Court o f N ew Y ork city, Judge Oakley presiding. Benjamin W . Storm, a merchant residing at Salem, Mass., brought an action against the Guardian Insurance Company, to recover damages for injury done to a quantity o f coffee, being part o f a cargo imported from Sumatra in the course o f last summer. Part Mercantile Law Cases. 560 o f the coffee was sold on its arrival, and part o f it was stored in a store in Front-street. W hile the coffee was in the store, a fire took place in the second story o f it, and reached the loft above it, and smoked the whole building, and damaged the coffee, which was insured at three insurance offices, v iz : the Sun, Mutual Safety, and Guardian Insurance Companies, o f which $15,000 was insured with the defendants. After several attempts to settle the matter by arbitration, the plaintiff finally sold the coffee by auction for $22,258, and brought his action to recover the difference between what it sold for, and its value before it was injured by the fire. The method by which the plaintiff undertook to prove the quantity o f coffee stored in the premises injured by the fire, was, by first showing the quantity imported, then how much o f it was sold, and to take the balance as the quantity stored in those premises; and then, whatever quantity less than that amount remained after the fire, was to be set down as having been destroyed by the fire. And for this amount, and also for the deterioration in value on what remained o f the coffee, the plaintiff claimed remuneration in the amount o f $5,891. From the evidence adduced for the plaintiff, it appeared that the coffee was carefully weighed at Padang, the place o f importation, and that it weighed six hundred and sixtyfive thousand and ninety-four pounds, nett weight, besides an allowance o f four pounds to every thousand that was shipped ; that it was well dried when being shipped, and that it had been stored some time before; and that coffee coming from that climate rather gains than loses in weight on board ships, from their dampness. It also appeared that, on arri ving at N ew Y ork, two thousand bags were sold at the wharf, which weighed about two hundred and eighty thousand pounds, and that the balance o f the coffee was put into this store about the 1st o f November, where it remained until the fire took place, in January, 1843. That immediately after the fire, the whole number o f bags which were originally put into the store were then found in i t ; but that some o f them were browned, and nearly blackened with the smoke, and that the coffee remaining in them was crisped and dried up, and its flavor injured; and that, when it was sold by auction, the whole two thousand nine hundred and seventy bags weighed only three hundred and sixty-eight thousand pounds, instead o f three hundred and eighty-five thousand, which would be the amount that ought to have remained o f the six hundred and sixty-five thousand pounds, after de ducting the two hundred and eighty thousand pounds, which had been sold at the wharf. And this difference, being about seventeen thousand pounds, the plaintiff contended was the loss on the weight o f the coffee, occasioned by the fire. In relation to the value o f the coffee, there was some variance in the evidence. But the lowest value set on it was seven cents per pound, and it appeared that coffee o f a sim ilar quality had been sold in January for seven and a half cents. For the defence, it was contended that there could be no reliance placed on the mode by which the plaintiff undertook to fix the amount o f coffee placed in the store ; and that the way was, to average the weight o f coffee contained in the bags which went into the store by the weight o f those which were sold on the w harf; and, as it appeared that the two thousand bags sold at the store averaged only one hundred and twentythree pounds to a bag, and the two thousand nine hundred and seventy bags which were in the store averaged one hundred and twenty-four pounds, it was evident that those bags in the store could have lost nothing in weight by the fire. In answer to this, however, it was shown in evidence that there was nothing like uni. formity in the size o f the bags, and that some o f them weighed forty pounds more than others. T he Court charged the jury that, from the different data laid before them, they must fix the quantity and sound value o f the coffee in the store before the fire, and from that they must deduct the amount o f the proceeds by the sale at auction, and the plaintiff would be entitled to the balance. Verdict for plaintiff, $2,900. Monthly Commercial Chronicle. 561 MONTHLY COMMERC I AL CHRONICLE. T he state o f financial affairs now, throughout the Union, is o f character. a most extraordinary T he whole appearance presents the action o f business in a country, rich be yond parallel, filled with an industrious and enterprising population o f ceaseless activity, whose whole internal operations o f trade are disordered by the absence of a circulating medium in certain sections, with immense accumulations o f money at other points, wait ing, at extraordinary low rates, some channel o f profitable employment. In all sections, the products o f industry are superabundant; the amount o f individual indebtedness, com paratively very small— immense scores having been liquidated by bankruptcy, compro mise, and the bankrupt act— yet trade languishes, and m oney for circulation is very scarce. T he whole presents the appearance o f a great and rich country emerging from the ruin and disaster attendant upon the breaking down o f an immense paper system, but not yet recovered its due proportion o f the precious metals, previously driven from cir culation by the too free use o f paper money. In the western and central parts of the Union, whence the products o f the soil are the last to reach market, the proceeds o f industry exist in great profusion, while money is absolutely not to be procured. A person stationed at Cincinnati finds a redundancy o f products, and a scarcity o f money, perfectly surprising. The same state o f things prevails north and west o f that point. If, however, he approaches the Atlantic on the east, or the Gulf o f M exico on the south, he finds, at each approach, produce less redundant, and specie more plenty, accompanied by a gradual rise in the m oney prices o f the articles he has occasion to purchase. wealth has swept by, leaving the country without circulation. T he torrent o f paper T he banking system has, in a great degree, perished, and is unable to renew its issues o f paper. T he precious metals must be supplied from without During the past year, all the seaports have received large sums o f money, indicated as follow s:— A r r iv a l s o f S p e c ie at B oston, N ew Y ork, and N ew O rlean s, f o r t h e y e a r e n d in g 30, 1843. Boston,...................................................................................................... ;................ New Y ork,................................................................................................................. New Orleans,............................................................................................................. S ep tem ber $7,044,222 9,500,000 10,541,000 Total three cities,............................................................................... $27,085,222 Part o f that arrived at N ew Orleans was received from the north. This specie, for the most part, has accumulated in the banks, whence it slowly finds its way into circulation. O f the $10,500,000 arrived at N ew Orleans, but about $4,000,000 has remained in the banks— the remainder has found its w ay up the valley o f the Mississippi, as far as St. Louis, in general circulation. From N ew York and Boston, money finds its way slowly to the western country, for two principal reasons. One is, that the consumption o f articles o f western produce, on the Atlantic, is mostly supplied from the Atlantic states— the sur plus o f the west must go abroad. T he other is, that the people o f the west, having been long accustomed to paper money, the foreign gold coin, which is the shape in which specie arrives in the seaports, circulates with difficulty among them ; and, as there are no mints at the points o f arrival, the expense and trouble o f coinage are almost insuperable bars to converting it into American money. A t this juncture, there is probably $13,000,000 of English gold in the vaults o f the N ew Y ork banks; while American gold, before their doors, commands i per cent premium. T he actual cost o f carrying the gold to Philadel phia to be coined, would be about § per c e n t; a charge which no individual feels disposed to incur, nor is it to the interests o f the banks that they should. T he expense and trouble o f the operation, therefore, forms a premium in favor o f taking bank paper instead of I 562 Monthly Commercial Chronicle. g o ld ; which arrives on our shores, goes into vaults, and remains idly there, until adverse exchanges again carry it abroad. In order that we may estimate the extent to which bank paper has circulated, and thereby the want now felt for specie in its place, we will take the capital, loans, and cir culation o f the banks in nine leading states, in 1839, a year of great expansion; and also the same features for the present y ear:— B ank C apital , L oans , and C irculation , in nine S tates , in 1 8 3 9 and 184 3 . 1839. Capital. 1843. Loans. Circulation. Capital. Loans. Circulation. Louisiana, 847,736,768 $56,856,610 $6,280,588 $12,932,820 $31,987,280 $1,218,116 Alabama,. 11,996,332 25,842,884 1,560,000 9,333,202 1,500,000 None. Florida,... 4,582,236 5,236,293 519,290 ................. Mississip., 30,379,403 48,333,728 15,171,639 ................ 1,112,433 Missouri,.. 672,950 1,500,000 2,320,667 626,973 230,000 Illinois, .. 5,435,055 3,729,513 ................ 6,046,615 Arkansas, 3,495,857 1,199,120 ................ 3,956,636 Michigan, 3,018,701 969,544 240,000 340,000 150,000 2,885,364 O hio,........ 10,507,521 7,424,014 2,150,000 3,849,032 2,135,351 16,029,540 $112,204,306 $167,587,377 $45,229,060 $18,322,820 $38,363,286 $3,733,467 7,131,404 .......................................... 7,088,947 S pecie,.................................................... O f the amount o f specie now held by the banks, over $6,000,000 is in those o f New Orleans. Consequently, about $5,000,000, which was in the banks in 1839, has passed into circulation, while $42,000,000 o f bank paper has been withdrawn; making a dimi nution o f $37,000,000 in the circulating medium. Nearly as much specie has arrived in this country during the past year, but has not yet found its way into the channels o f cir culation. It remains in the Atlantic cities, competing for employment, and reducing interest to extraordinary low rates. This state o f affairs has greatly raised the value o f public stocks, notwithstanding that the discredit attending the delinquency o f many o f the sovereign states o f the Union still retards the return o f confidence in the minds of capitalists. T he immediate effect o f the rise in stocks has undoubtedly been the necessity o f the banks to find some mode for investing the accumulating funds in their possession. This has been done partly by direct investments in sound stocks, but mostly by loans upon pledge o f them. P rices of S tocks, and T he effect o f these operations upon stocks has been as follows:— V alues of the S tate I ssues, in Ja n u a r y , 1 8 4 3 , and O ctober , 1843. January, 1843. Stocks. Capital. September 30,1843. Prices. N ew Y ork,......... Illin o is,.............. Indiana,.............. Ohio,................... K entucky,.......... Pennsylvania, .. United States,... $27,000,000 12,500,000 13,000,000 13,700,000 3,500,000 36,000,000 17,000,000 T o ta l,.... $122,700,000 Value. $88 20 20 67 82 42 100 $23,760,000 2,500,000 2,600,000 9,179,000 2,870,000 15,112,000 17,000,000 Prices. $100 40 39 100 100 63 107 $73,021,000 Value. $27,000,000 5,000,000 5,100,000 13,700,000 3,500,000 22,680,000 17,119,000 $94,099,000 This gives a rise o f $20,000,000 in the aggregate value o f the stocks; but they are yet far below their total par values. O f the above states, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, are delinquent in their interest; and, with Michigan, Maryland, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida, making nine defaulting states, fill up the measure of the national dishonor. Maryland and Pennsylvania are without excuse for the disgraceful disregard for state faith, which has so long characterized them. T hey have, for the most part, received the full value for their obligations, which have been issued according to law, and the pro ceeds invested in public works, which are now in operation as state projects. T he w'hole operation o f borrowing m oney to build these works was a speculation entered into by the Monthly Commercial Chronicle. 563 people o f each state, through their representatives. I f the works had proved enormously profitable, or yielded revenues like the Erie canal, o f N ew Y ork, the debts would have been paid, principal and interest, and the people have enjoyed the whole profit o f the operation. T he speculation has, however, hitherto failed ; and the people, with ineffable meanness, have thrown the loss upon those o f whom they borrowed the m oney, which they refuse to repay, while they hesitate to part with the works at a fair equivalent. T he people have, however, been less to blame in this matter, than the party politicians who have neglected to urge upon their constituents the importance o f taxation, and a manly dependence upon their ow n resources. They have, on the other hand, for years, held up some paper phantom, by which the people have been amused with the idea that they can get out o f debt, and preserve their honor, without meeting their obligations. Illinois, having contracted the largest debt on the smallest foundation, was one o f the first to fail from necessity; while Pennsylvania pursued the same course from choice. A s Illinois was one o f the first to stop, she has been the first to get back into the road o f honor. In our June number, we mentioned the departure o f the Illinois commissioners for L on don, to negotiate with the foreign creditors a compromise, the nature o f which w e then described as follows :— “ T he canal requires $1,600,000 to finish it, and open a communication for the whole trade o f the chain o f lake navigation with the valley o f the Mississippi. T o obtain this, the new canal law proposes to the holders o f the canal bonds that they shall advance the necessary su m ; and, to secure them, they shall be put in possession o f the canal and its lands, the latter to be sold within three months from the completion o f the canal, the proceeds to reimburse the new loan, principal and interest; after which, the balance o f lands, and revenues o f canal, shall pay the interest on the canal bonds, then that upon the improvement b on d s; next, the principal o f the canal bon ds; and, finally, that o f the improvement bonds.” T he canal debt is about $5,000,000, and the advance o f $1,600,000 is about 32 per cent o f the face o f each bond. T he holders here readily subscribed the amount, and the commissioners departed to London, whence they have just returned, after having fully succeeded in the object o f their mission, not exactly in the terms o f the law, but in a manner much more advantageous for the whole country. There never has been, in the minds o f the most eminent men in Europe, connected with American affairs, the slightest doubt but that all the outstanding American debts would ultimately be paid. Unfortunately, however, for the credit o f republican institutions, an impression is rife with the European public that there is a want o f will to pay— a premeditated design to run in debt, and evade the payment. It is a matter o f first necessity to remove this injurious impression, which weighs heavily on all transactions connected with America, and is a bar to any movement o f the leading houses towards compromise. T he initia tory movement must com e from this side, and that in the substantial form o f actual tax ation. Hence, when the Illinois commissioners presented themselves to the creditors o f the state, and proposed a compromise, they were met with the declaration that the terms offered, so far as they were sufficient for the actual payment o f the canal debt o f Illinois, were satisfactory; but they did not remove the blot on the financial character o f the Union, inasmuch as it evinced no desire to support the burden o f taxation in order to discharge debts. A counter proposition was then made, to the effect that, instead of paying down the whole 32 per cent now , the four leading firms, Baring Brothers, Roths childs, Hope & Co., Magniac, Jardine & Co., would subscribe positively 12$ per cent, on condition that all the bondholders did the same— that with this amount, the commis sioner, Michael Ryan, Esq., should return to Illinois, in company with an agent o f the bondholders, and comm ence operations upon the ca n a l; and, when the legislature o f the state again meets, i f a law should be passed imposing a small tax, in some shape, towards the payment o f the improvement debt o f the state, then the remaining instal- 564 Monthly Commercial Chronicle. ment, 19J per cent, should be forthcoming. Pursuant to this arrangement, three gen tlemen o f Boston, Messrs. A bbott Lawrence, T , W . W ard, and W illiam Sturgis, were appointed to nominate an agent on behalf o f the bondholders. T he Honorable John Davis accordingly accepted the mission, and proceeded to Illinois, in com. pany with Michael Ryan, Esq., and an engineer, to make surveys, preparatory to the lettings. Thus, this great and important enterprise is likely soon to be brought to a suc cessful issue. Perhaps no better choice than John Davis, Esq., could have been made, as an agent for the bondholders. H e is eminently capable o f appreciating the vast na tional importance o f a work like the Illinois canal, as well as the immense advantages which will be derived to the manufacturing interests o f Massachusetts, from such an internal communication with N ew Orleans. Near $500,000 will be spent upon the canal during the present year; and when the legislature meets, the alternative will be forcibly presented to the people, o f submitting to a small tax towards the improvement debt, and thereby securing the inestimable advantages o f a complete canal, through which the pro duce o f the state will find a ready and profitable market, or o f rejecting the tax, and with it the hope o f ever completing the canal, or o f emerging from the foul dishonor of a repu diated debt. There is no doubt but that the first course will be pursued ; and that Illinois, having cast o ff the rotten banking system, will stand “ redeemed, regenerated, and disen thralled,” from the whole paper system. W hile Illinois is thus in the way of regaining her rank, states o f such wealth and population as Pennsylvania cannot be backward in the race, but will turn their attention to their own resources ; and, reposing with manly confidence in their own energies, discharge in full the claims upon them. W e have remarked that many o f the states o f the Union are now destitute o f banks. W e will now trace the movement o f those institutions, still in existence at the leading points, whose periodical returns have been made during the past year, as follows:— B anks of N ew O rlean s, N ew Y ork, S o u th C a r o l in a , and O h io . Loans. 1842— September,... “ O c to b e r,...... “ N ovem ber,... “ Decem ber,.... 1843— January,......... “ February,...... “ M arch,........... “ April,............. “ June,.............. “ July,............... “ A ugust,......... “ September,... “ O ctober,........ “ N ovem ber,... N e w O rleans. $ 4 8 ,2 2 8 ,1 7 3 O h io. $ 5 ,2 9 1 ,1 8 1 4 8 ,1 0 1 .2 1 0 5 ,1 3 1 ,0 0 0 4 ,1 6 1 ,2 7 1 4 8 ,4 5 3 ,0 6 8 4 ,8 7 0 ,2 9 0 4 ,2 4 3 ,2 5 5 3 0 ,6 3 2 ,9 2 9 4 ,1 2 0 ,3 4 0 4 ,1 5 5 ,5 5 4 3 1 ,6 2 8 ,6 2 4 3 ,8 9 2 ,5 3 3 4 ,0 5 3 ,7 3 0 3 7 ,9 0 3 ,5 1 8 3 ,8 9 0 ,8 7 4 3 ,9 1 2 ,3 2 3 S o u th C a rolin a . $ 4 ,0 7 7 ,4 8 6 3 1 ,9 8 7 ,2 8 0 3 ,9 0 7 ,2 3 0 3 ,9 1 7 ,9 6 5 3 2 ,3 4 0 ,1 3 6 3 ,9 3 3 ,9 0 6 3 ,7 8 0 ,2 2 2 3 2 ,7 6 2 ,3 1 3 4 ,0 5 3 ,9 5 2 3 2 ,4 4 3 ,9 9 0 4 .0 7 1 .2 2 0 3 1 ,6 9 5 ,4 3 9 4 .0 8 4 .2 2 0 3 ,9 1 5 ,4 0 4 3 1 ,3 3 9 ,3 3 8 3 ,8 4 8 ,8 2 5 3 ,9 1 2 ,9 9 2 3 1 ,2 2 0 ,3 3 0 3 ,8 4 9 ,0 3 3 3 1 ,3 1 5 ,1 2 9 ' N . Y o r k city. $ 2 9 ,7 0 9 ,5 3 7 2 9 ,5 7 9 ,0 8 8 3 ,8 2 5 ,7 7 2 3 ,8 3 0 ,2 9 8 3 6 ,5 1 4 ,3 3 2 3 ,9 3 6 ,5 4 0 4 ,0 0 4 ,7 5 8 Specie. 1842— September,... “ O ctober,........ “ N ovem ber,... “ D ecem ber,... 1 8 4 3 — January,........ “ February,...... “ M arch,........... “ April, ............ “ June,.............. “ July,............... “ A u g u st,......... *l Septem ber,... “ October,......... *' N ovem ber,... $ 1 ,2 0 8 ,4 5 5 * $ 7 9 5 ,6 2 2 $ 4 1 9 ,1 4 2 1 ,5 0 4 ,6 6 1 7 8 2 ,2 3 0 4 4 2 ,8 2 5 1 ,9 1 1 ,9 5 4 7 2 4 ,3 4 0 4 0 0 ,4 1 5 3 ,7 4 6 ,0 2 0 6 2 3 .5 6 0 4 0 0 ,4 3 5 4 ,5 9 6 ,7 8 4 5 2 4 ,0 9 6 4 4 4 ,3 8 4 4 ,7 0 8 ,8 1 0 6 9 2 ,8 7 9 4 8 4 ,6 3 2 4 2 4 ,4 3 8 4 ,1 6 4 ,7 8 3 6 3 0 ,7 2 6 4 ,7 1 7 ,6 4 7 6 3 9 ,4 6 6 4 7 1 ,9 9 3 6 ,3 0 1 ,4 1 5 6 8 8 ,5 4 3 6 5 2 ,0 7 5 6 ,1 0 4 ,0 8 6 6 9 2 ,1 3 0 7 0 1 ,1 2 5 5 ,8 5 8 ,5 5 7 7 3 5 ,8 6 1 6 8 5 ,4 7 6 5 ,9 6 5 ,3 6 3 7 0 5 ,8 1 8 6 5 5 ,1 5 5 6 ,3 5 2 ,1 3 0 7 1 6 ,1 5 2 6 6 2 ,4 4 9 6 ,3 8 9 ,3 4 9 6 7 2 ,8 0 2 $ 5 ,2 8 0 ,0 3 2 7 ,2 7 9 ,5 6 0 1 2 ,9 6 5 ,9 4 4 Monthly Commercial Chronicle. 565 This table gives the fact that, in all sections, the same movement, in a greater or less degree, has been going on. The aggregate loans at the four points, in September, 1842 and 1843, were as follow s:— Loans. Specie. September, 1842,................................................ “ 1843,................................................ $8 7,3 )6 377 76,23o,395 $7.71)3,251 20,2 2,107 In crease,..................................................... D ecrease,.................................................... .................... $11,069,682 $12,498,856 ..................... This is a singular result; and, coupled with the decrease o f paper in circulation, and the import o f specie into the country, indicates the magnitude o f the revolution which has been g_>ing on in the moneyed system o f this country. W hen wre consider the immense increase which has taken place in products o f the soil, and the exchangeable values of the country, coupled with the extreme low' rates and uniformity o f the internal exchanges, we become convinced o f the soundness o f the business doing, and the probability o f a great and long-continued season o f prosperity. The same features which have distin guished the banking system in this country, have also marked that o f E: glar.d, in a greater or a lesser degree. The revulsion w'hich overtook the commercial world, consequent upon the failure o f an English harvest, in the midst o f a general and immense inflation o f paper credits, powerfully shook the p?per system o f England, while it destroyed that o f the United States. The latter is now passing to comparatively a specie currency, while the former is again on the way to inflation. The fallowing is a table of the movements o f the Bank o f England, and the current rates o f discount in the London market, on the dates of the bank’s reports:— M ovem ents of t h e B ank of E n gland. Current rate 1842—January,....... “ February,.--. “ M a rch ,........ “ April,............ “ May, ............ . “ June,............ “ July,............. “ A u g u st,....... “ Sepiember,... “ October, ...... . “ November,... “ December,.,.. . 1843 —January,........ . “ February,..... . “ M a r ch ,......... . “ A p ril,............ . “ M a y ,............. . “ June,............ . “ July............... . “ August, ...... . “ September,... . “ O cto b e r,...... .. Deposits. Circulation. Security. Bullion. of interest. 6 p. cent. £16,1132,1100 £7,948,000 £22,880.000 £5,799,000 6 “ 16,63 1,000 8,5 '6,000 22,680 000 5,337,000 8,954,900 4 “ 16,769,000 23,699,000 5,687,000 17,235.000 8,323,000 4 “ 21,898,000 6,590,000 34 “ 17,586,000 8,045,000 21,366.000 7,032,000 34 “ 17,795,010 8,061,000 21,083,000 7,329,000 8,565,0110 2* “ 18,279,100 21,713,000 7,8i8,000 9,331,000 18,952.000 22,525,009 2§ “ 8,495,000 23,159,000 “ 19,714,000 9,833.001 9,177,000 9,368,010 20,0 14,000 22,573,000 2 “ 9,633,000 9.072,000 21,934,000 2 “ 19,9 3,000 9,769,000 8,957,090 21,210,000 19,562,000 2 “ 9.984,000 21,672,000 10,7 ’5,090 19,342,000 10,407.000 If “ 19,739.000 11,2 15,000 22,695,000 10,945,090 1} “ 20,073,01)0 12.003.000 23,831,000 11,054,000 1J “ 23,587,009 11,190,000 1 i a 2 p. ct. 20,230,000 11,631,000 “ 19,653,000 11,155.009 22,696,000 11,291,000 14 a . 21,604,010 11,472,000 14 a . “ 19,5211101 10,495,009 21,462,000 11,615,090 ‘ 19,280,001 10,724,009 14 > . “ 19,358,000 11,218,009 21.899.000 11,829,000 14 a . 14a. 22,394,000 12,018,000 “ 19,496,001- 11,724,000 2 a 2 ii From January, 1842, up to the present time, it appears that specie in bank has rapidly and uninterruptedly accumulated; and the increase is now near 200 per cent, equal to near $65,003,000. T he amount c f bullion on hand has not been so high since the close o f 1823, when it stood at X14,000,000, with a circulation o f £ \ 9,000,000. At that time commenced that enormous speculation in foreign ft cks, which produced the disastrous revulsion o f 1825. In those years, near $250,000,00) o f foreign stocks were negotiated in Londan; and conduced, to a great extent, to the terrible revulsion which followed, by V OL. I X .-----NO. V I . 48 566 Monthly Commercial Chronicle. producing a drain o f bullion from England, which was not easily recovered. Those loans were made to most o f the small states, both o f Europe and South America. The follow ing is a statement o f the greater proportion o f them :— F o r e ig n L o a n s Name of Loan. Austrian,................ Belgian,.................. Brazilian,................ Brazilian,................ Buenos Ayres,...... C h ili,..................... C olom b ian ,.......... C olom b ian ,.......... Danish,.................. G reek,.................... G reek,.................... Guatem ala,........... Guadelquiver,...... M exican,................ M exican,................ Neapolitan,............ Russian,................. Russian,................. Portuguese,............ P eru vian,.............. Peruvian, .............. Peruvian, .............. R ussian,................ R ussian,................ Spanish, ................ Spanish, ................ Other loans,........... Several U .States,. con tracted Contractors. Rothschild. Rothschild. Wilson &, Co. Rothschild. Rothschild & W ilson. Barings. Hallett. Herring & Co. Goldschmidt. Wilson. Ricardos. Loughman. Powles. Ellward. Goldschmidt. Barclay. Rothschild. Rothschild. Rothschild. Goldschmidt. Keys & Chapman. Keys & Chapman. Keys & Chapman. Rothschild. Haldimanes. Campbell & Co. Various firms. to Various firms. to in E ngland. Year. Rate of inL Rate o f issue. 1823 1822 1824 1825 1829 1824* 1822* 1822* 1824* 1825 1825 1824* 1825* 1825* 1824* 1825* 1824 1818 1822 1823 1822 1824* 1825 1822 1821* 1823* 1838 1839* 5 per cent. it 5 tt 5 ii 5 tt 5 tt 6 tt tt it tt it it it 6 6 6 3 5 5 6 5 5 6 5 5 5 5 ii tt tt tt tt tt ti tt tt it tt ii 6 6 6 5 5 5 4 to 5 p. ct. 5 to 5 p. ct. Am’ to f loan. 82 75 75 85 £2,500,000 3,000,000 3,200,000 2,000,000 800,000 85 1,000,000 70 1,000,000 84 2,000,000 88* 4,750,000 75 5,500,000 56J 2,000,000 59 800,000 73 1,428,571 60 600,000 58 3,200,000 89 f 3,200,000 924 2,500,000 72 5,000,000 84 3,500,000 87 1,500,000 88 850,000 82 750,000 78 616,000 82 3,500,000 56 1,500,000 304 1,500,000 10,0110,000 80 to par. 30,000,000 Total loans,........................................................................................ £96,794,571 Those marked * are delinquent in their interests, and the amount is large. W e have marked the United States loans in the same manner, although but a portion o f them are delinquent; yet the odium extends over all. Here was a sum o f money, extending to nearly the incredible sum of $500,000,000, loaned out o f England, and a large proportion o f it lost. The certificates representing it are floating, at nominal prices, upon the London stock exchange— a standing warning against the embarkation in such another speculation. Hence, notwithstanding the ex treme abundance o f money in London, the accumulation o f coin in the bank, and the low rate o f interest, the prejudice against foreign stocks seems rather to increase than subside. This feeling is a great drawback upon the export trade o f Britain. Of the above large amount o f capital sent out o f the kingdom, but a small proportion o f it was actually money. It consisted, for the most part, in English manufactured goods, furnished to the borrowing country from the manufacturing districts, on the credits opened to their account by the capitalists o f London. O f this nature, consisted nearly all the American loans. T he proceeds were consumed here, on the credit o f banking institutions which have ceased to exist, and the indebtedness o f the consumers has been wiped out by the opera tion o f the bankrupt la w ; while England, having sold her wares at a profit, claims a per petual annual tribute from all the countries, equal to $25,000,000, except from the United States, where the tribute is for twenty years’ continuance. These corporate and govern ment credits have been powerful instruments in promoting the export trade o f Great Britain; and their cessation is a leading cause in the depression of trade. 567 Commercial Statistics. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. C O T TO N S, LIN EN S, W O O LL E N S, W O R ST E D S, A N D B L A N K E T S , EXPORTED FROM LIVERPOOL TO N EW Y O R K , PHILADELPHIA, BOSTON, AND BALTIM ORE. following table exhibits a comparative view o f the quantity of cottons, linens, woollens, worsteds, and blankets, exported from Liverpool to New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore, in the first nine months o f each o f the last eight years; that is, from 1 8 3 6 to 1 8 4 3 , inclusive. It is derived from the circular o f Messrs. Gibson, Ord & Co., o f Leeds ; and gives a very accurate indication of the progress of trade. It will be seen that the exports o f cottons in 1 8 4 3 have been far less than for any year of the series; and, o f any o f the other articles, they exceed the extremely low exports of last year. T he E xports fro m L iv e r p o o l — Janu ary 1 to S eptem be r 3 0 . Cottons. Y e a r. 1 8 3 6 , .................... N e w Y ork. P h ila d elp h ia . B a ltim ore. B oston . Packages. Packages. Packages. Packages. 2 2 ,7 0 6 3 ,0 9 8 967 3 ,6 5 8 T o ta l. Packages. 3 0 ,4 2 9 1 8 3 7 , ................... 8 ,9 3 0 631 521 1 ,0 8 1 1 1 ,1 6 3 1 8 3 6 , ................... 1 0 ,9 2 6 2 ,0 0 6 948 749 1 4 ,6 2 9 2 2 ,1 6 2 1 8 3 9 , ................... 1 5 ,5 9 3 4 ,0 0 4 836 1 ,7 2 9 1 8 4 0 ..................... 7 ,9 2 4 1 ,7 8 1 698 847 1 1 ,2 5 0 1 8 4 1 , ................... 1 3 ,1 1 0 2 ,6 3 2 526 2 ,1 3 7 1 8 ,4 0 5 1 8 4 2 , ................... 9 ,0 0 9 1 ,3 6 5 147 1 ,8 4 4 1 2 ,3 6 5 1 8 4 3 , ................... 6 ,3 0 6 935 230 2 ,3 5 0 9 ,8 2 1 1 5 ,9 8 5 Linens. 1 8 3 6 , ................... 1 2 ,3 6 1 1 ,8 5 4 671 1 ,0 9 9 1 8 3 7 , ................... 4 ,3 5 9 584 431 489 5 ,8 6 3 1 8 3 6 , ................... 7 ,5 8 5 1 ,4 1 1 400 629 1 0 ,0 2 5 1 5 ,5 0 8 1 8 3 9 , ................... 1 0 ,6 3 8 3 ,1 2 1 665 1 ,0 8 4 1 8 4 0 , ................... 6 ,6 6 5 1 ,5 0 4 494 788 9 ,4 5 1 1 8 4 1 , ................... 1 2 ,3 8 3 2 ,6 1 8 378 1 ,5 0 4 1 8 4 2 , ................... 7 ,1 5 6 1 ,3 5 7 146 924 1 6 ,8 8 3 9 ,5 8 3 1 8 4 3 , .................... 8 ,6 1 5 852 349 1 ,1 5 4 1 0 ,9 7 0 2 4 ,9 1 1 Woollens. 1 8 3 6 , ................... 1 7 ,1 8 4 4 ,1 6 8 1 ,6 3 5 1 ,9 2 4 1 8 3 7 , ................... 6 ,4 5 8 1 ,5 1 7 514 189 8 ,6 7 8 1 8 3 8 , .................... 8 ,7 2 3 1 ,5 4 0 1 ,0 2 2 584 1 1 ,8 6 9 1 8 3 9 , ................... 1 4 ,2 3 1 2 ,7 3 9 1 ,5 7 1 847 1 9 ,3 8 8 1 8 4 0 , .................... 4 ,8 3 6 969 676 488 6 ,9 6 9 1 8 4 1 , ................... 8 .5 5 6 1 ,5 8 6 620 862 1 1 ,6 2 4 1 8 4 2 , ................... 7 ,6 0 0 712 255 876 9 ,4 4 3 1 8 4 3 , ................... 9 ,3 7 8 1 ,1 9 4 646 1 ,2 9 3 1 2 ,5 1 1 1 8 3 6 , ................... 5 ,9 0 6 402 219 1 ,6 0 6 8 ,1 3 3 681 157 4 ,3 9 7 7 ,4 5 6 Worsteds. 1 8 3 7 , ................... 3 ,2 3 2 1 8 3 8 , ................... 4 ,9 2 4 598 93 327 236 1 8 3 9 , ................... 5 ,4 9 7 1 ,1 7 0 128 661 5 ,8 5 1 1 8 4 0 , ................... 2 ,8 9 0 272 63 394 3 ,6 1 9 1 8 4 1 , ................... 4 ,7 4 0 869 87 1 ,2 4 1 6 ,9 3 7 1 8 4 2 , .................... 3 ,6 7 0 477 953 5 .1 0 0 1 8 4 3 , ................... 3 ,8 5 3 573 i6 1 ,4 8 0 5 ,9 2 2 1 8 3 6 , ................... 3 ,8 6 2 817 153 298 1 8 3 7 , ................... 2 ,0 3 9 244 123 71 2 ,4 7 7 3 2 ,5 7 8 1 8 3 8 , ................... 1 ,3 4 1 142 77 85 1 ,6 4 5 4 4 ,0 1 9 1 8 3 9 , ................... 2 ,9 6 1 452 95 234 3 ,7 4 2 6 8 ,2 5 6 1 8 4 0 , ................... 834 172 69 98 1 ,1 7 3 3 2 ,4 6 2 1 8 4 1 , ................... 1 ,5 4 8 379 127 172 2 ,2 2 6 5 6 ,0 7 5 1 8 4 2 , ................... 1 ,5 8 8 41 155 1 ,7 8 4 3 8 ,2 7 5 1 8 4 3 , .................... 1 ,6 0 7 174 136 1 ,9 6 3 4 1 ,1 8 7 Blankets. 46 T o t a l B lank ets. 5 ,1 3 0 8 4 ,5 8 8 568 Commercial Statistics. C O M M E R C E OF N E W O R L E A N S . The annual statement o f the commerce o f N ew Orleans, embracing the imports of produce, & c.t from the interior, into New Orleans, and the exports o f the great staples, as cotton, tolKicc », sugar, molasses, flour, pork, bacon, lard, beef, lead, whiskey, & c., is made up to the 31st o f August in each year, w'ith great care and accuracy, by the editor o f the New' Orleans Price Current, Commercial Intelligencer, and Merchants’ Transcript. In the M rchants* M igazine, for November, 1841, Vol. V., N o. V., we published these tables entire, embracing a period o f ten years, from 1831 to 1841 ; and in the number for October, 1842, we continued the statement, bringing it down from the 1st o f Sep. tember, 1811, to the 31st o f August, 1842. W e now proceed to lay before our readers a statement o f the commerce o f New Orleans for 1843. W e give— 1 .— Exports o f Cotton from New Orleans, for the year commencing ls£ o f September, and ending 3 Is/, o f August , 1843. Whither exported. 1842-43. L iv e rp o o l,............................ bales L ondon,....... .................................. Glasgow and G reenock,............. Cowes, Falmouth, & ,c .,.............. Cork, Belfast, & c .,...................... Havre, ........................................... Bordeaux,....................................... M arseilles,.................................... Nautz, Cette, and Rouen,........... Amsterdam.................................... Rotterdam and Ghent,................ 624,681 61 35,831 15,939 2,926 159,658 2,861 9,982 8,374 2,593 2,173 Hamburg,......... ............................. Gottenburg,................................... 13,664 114 Whither exported. 1&42-43. Spain and Gibraltar,............bales West Indies, ............ Genoa, Trieste, & c .,................... C h in a,................ ........................... O her foreign ports,..................... N ew Y ork ,.................................... Boston,........................................... 401 21,177 17,662 4,393 1,312 48,036 73,891 Philadelphia,.......................... .T.. 3,253 Portsmouth,....... ........................... ........ T otal,................................... 1,088,870 2.— Exports o f Tobacco from New Orleans, for the year commencing 1st September> 1842, and ending on the 31 st o f August, 1843. Whither exported. 1842-43. L iv e rp o o l,.............................. hlids. 6,788 L o n d o n ,........................................... 9,851 Glasgow and Greenock,................................ Cowes, Falmouth, & c .,.................. 10,798 Cork, Belfast, & c .,......................................... H a vre,.............................................. 4,648 B ordea u x,........................................ 2,332 Marseilles,....................................... 4,66J N an'z, Celle, and Rouen,............................ A m sterdim ,..................................... 2,700 Rotterdam and Ghent,.................. 2,933 Bremen,............................................ 7,888 Antwerp, & c.,................................ 5,657 Hamburg, ....................................... 1,477 Gottenburg,...................................... 963 Whither exported. 1842-43. 4,496 Spain and Gibraltar,............. hhds. West Indies,..................................... 1,063 Genoa, Trieste, & c .,...................... 1,760 C h in a ,.............................................................. Other foreign ports,........................ 217 New Y o rk ,...................................... 10,533 Boston,............................................. 3,650 Providence, R. I .,........................................... Philadelphia,................................... 2,845 Baltimore,....................................... 2,433 Portsmouth,...................................................... Other coastwise ports,................... 2,194 T otal,...................................... 89,891 3 . — Comparative A n ivals, Exports, and Stocks o f Cotton and Tobacco, at New Orleans, fo r ten years, from September 1 to August 31, in each year. COTTON — BA LE S . TOBACCO----- HHDS. Y ea rs. 1 8 1 2 - 4 3 , .......... Arrivals. Exports. Stocks. Arrivals. Exports. Stocks. 1 /8 9 ,6 4 2 1 ,0 8 8 ,8 7 0 1 8 4 1 - 4 2 , .......... 7 4 0 ,1 5 5 7 4 9 ,2 6 7 1 8 4 0 - 4 1 ............ 8 2 2 ,8 7 0 8 2 1 .2 8 8 1 8 3 3 - 4 0 , .......... 9 5 4 ,4 5 5 919 320 1 8 3 8 - 3 ) , .......... 5 7 8 ,5 1 4 5 7 9 ,1 7 9 4,700 4,428 14,490 17,867 10,308 9,570 20,678 4,586 3,649 4,082 92,509 67,555 53,170 43,827 28,153 37,588 28,501 50,555 35,059 25,881 89,891 68,058 54,667 40,436 31,852 35,555 35,821 43,028 33,801 25,210 4,873 2,255 2,758 4,409 1,294 3,834 3,857 10,456 1,821 717 1 8 3 7 - 3 3 , .......... 7 4 2 ,7 2 0 7 3 8 ,3 1 3 1 8 3 3 - 3 7 , .......... 6 ! 5 ,8 1 3 5 8 8 ,9 6 9 1 8 3 , 5 - 3 3 , .......... 4 9 5 ,4 4 2 4 9 ) ,4 9 5 1 8 3 4 - 3 5 , .......... 5 3 6 ,1 7 2 5 3 6 ,9 9 1 1 8 3 3 - 3 4 , .......... 4 6 7 ,9 8 4 4 6 1 ,0 2 6 569 Commercial Statistics. 4.— imports into New Orleans, from the interior, from the 1st o f September, 1842, to the 31st August, 1843. Articles. 1842-43. Apples,................................. bbls. 67,803 Bacon, asst.,.................. 16,568 Bacon h a m s,............... 13,588 Bacon in bulk,............. 1,453,798 Bagging,........... .......... 89,721 Bale rope,...................... 80,932 Beans,............................ 8,878 Butler,........................... 18,530 Butter, .......................... 894 Beeswax,....................... 985 B eesw a x ,.................... 2,677 B eef,.............................. 17,549 Beef, dried,.................. 51,400 Buffalo robes,............... 5,135 Cotton, La. and Miss., . . . . bales 824,045 “ L a k e ,............. 11,280 “ N. Ala. and T e n n .,.... 191,410 “ Arkansas,....... 30,511 “ M obile,........... 10,687 “ Florida, ......... 3,381 “ Texas,............. 15,328 Corn m eal,................... 5,415 Corn in ears,................ 255,058 Corn, shelled,.............. 427,552 Cheese,......................... 3,502 Candles,........................ 1,201 Cider,............................ 1,026 Coal, western.............. 255,568 Dried peaches,............. 718 “ apples, .............. 958 Flaxseed,..................... . 13,480 Flour, ........................... 521.175 Furs,............................. 37 Furs,.............................. .bundles 326 F eathers,...................... 1,484 H em p,............................ .bundles 14,873 45,957 Horns,............................ 1,700 Articles. 1842-43. H ay,................................. bundles 28,059 Iron, pig,................................ tons 211 Lard,..................................... hhds. 1,433 Lard, ....................................bbls. 104,540 307,871 L a r d ,..................................... kegs Lime, western,.....................bbls. 1,159 Lead,....................................... pigs 571,949 Lead, bar,..............................kegs 701 Lead, white,................................ 50 Oats,....................................... bbls. 120,430 O n ion s,........................................ 4,614 Oil, linseed,................................. 1,356 Oil, castor,................................... 4,976 Oil, lard,....................................... 1,818 Peach brandy,............................. 72 Pickles,................ kegs and bbls. 445 Potatoes,...............................bbls. 48,060 P o rk ,............................................ 204,643 P ork,.................................... hhds. 2,371 Pork, in bulk,......................... lbs. 6,814,750 Porter and ale,......................bbls. 1,050 Packing yarn,.......................reels 1,465 1,496 Skins, deer,........................packs Skins, bear,.................................. 97 S h o t,......................................kegs 1,588 S u g a r,..................................hhds. 65,036 S o a p ,.................................. boxes 2,627 Shingles,....................................... 147,000 Staves,.......................................... 1,165,400 Tallow, .............................. bbls. 6,995 T obacco, leaf,......................hhds. 91,454 4,902 T obacco, chewing,.............kegs T o b a c c o ,............................. bales 3,008 T w in e,............................. bundles 1,903 W hiskey,...............................bbls. 83,597 2,342 W indow glass,...................boxes W heat,..............bbls. and sacks 118,248 5 .— Exports o f Sugar and Molasses from New OrleanSjfor the year 1843, (up the river excepted ,) commencing 1st o f September, and ending 3ls£ o f August. 1842-43. SUGAR. Whither exported. Hhds. N ew Y o rk ,....................... Philadelphia,.......................................... Charleston, S. C .,......... .................. Savannah,.......................................... Providence and Bristol, R . I . , ............... Boston,........................ Baltimore, ....................... N o r fo lk ............................. Richmond and Petersburg, V a.,........ ............ Alexandria, D. C .,.............................. .................. M o b ile ,.................................. Apalachicola and Pensacola,............... ............. Other ports,............................................. 1 ,0 9 0 Hhds. B bls. 7 ,2 8 5 2 8 ,0 3 0 708 1 ,2 8 8 9 ,0 9 1 100 63 3 ,9 8 6 1 ,6 4 0 663 576 106 976 4 ,8 0 9 1 ,1 6 2 216 592 565 48* V 8 ,4 5 9 , 28 2 ,3 3 7 T o t a l , .................................. M OLASSES. B b ls. 947 2 ,3 1 6 575 375 3 ,3 1 3 306 2 ,2 6 0 100 800 1 ,3 6 9 2 ,2 8 0 1 2 ,3 6 6 6 6 ,9 0 1 570 Commercial Statistics. 6.— Exports o f Flour, Pork, Bacon, Lard, Beef, Lead, Whiskey, and Com, from New Orleans, for the year commencing the Is* o f September, 1842, and ending on the 31st o f August, 1843. DestinationN ew Y o r k ,...... Boston,............... Philadelphia,.... Baltimore,......... Charleston,........ Other coast pts.,. Cuba,.................. Other for. ports,. T otal,......... Flour. Pork- Bbls. Bbls. 101,336 81,955 3,541 67 1,494 41.717 26,747 82,916 69,275 60,278 4,794 6,881 137 G,974 550 10,885 Bacon. Hhds. 1842-43. Lard. Beef. 6,669 203,057 1,359 115,475 8,953 1,363 1,343 12,630 2,906 3,441 6,678 6,705 255 88,617 2,810 298,861 338,772 159,774 23,383 737,729 Whisk. Lead. Pigs. Bbls. Kegs. Com. Sacks. Bbls. 1,140 225,077 5,402 160,707 561 112,670 216 166,599 55,594 534 2,873 12,765 2,573 30 2,613 20,507 638 20,663 128,266 150 510 50 1,905 135,556 135 193,314 4,424 542,172 32,136 672,316 7.— Monthly Arrivals, at New Orleans, o f Ships, Barques, Brigs, Schooners, and Steam, boats, from September 1st, 1842, to August 31st, 1843. 1842-43. Months. Ships. Septem ber,..................................... ................... October,.............................................................. N ovem ber,..................................... ................... December,....................................... .................. January,........................................ ................... February,....................................... ................... M a rch ,............................................ ................... A p ril,............................................... .................. M a y ,.......................................... .. June,................................................ ................... July,................................................. ................... August,........................................... ................... T otal,.......................... Barques. Brigs. Schrs. Total. Steam- 7 10 35 41 28 31 50 25 28 16 7 6 9 27 30 49 54 77 95 82 47 38 7 17 15 15 35 38 35 70 83 79 50 45 34 25 47 105 224 195 156 224 303 246 23) 156 72 60 boats. 124 145 185 266 285 246 240 221 220 175 127 90 283 532 524 2,018 2,324 16 53 124 67 39 47 75 60 57 24 12 8 .— Direct Imports o f Coffee, Sugar, and Salt, into New Orleans, for three years—from September 1 to August 31, in each year, since 1840. Coffee, Havana,....................... C offee, R io ,................................. Sugar, Havana,......................... Salt, Liverpool,........................ Salt, Turk’s Island, & c .,....... 1842-43. 1841-42. 1840-41. 61,183 85.438 2,333 239.427 129,520 37,509 126,610 7,733 156,781 113,403 78,470 85.231 1 1.636 187,678 192,694 9.— Statement o f Cotton. Stock on hand 1st September, 1842,..............................................................bales Arrived since the 25th ultimo,..................................................... . 1,079 Arrived previously,............................................................................... 1,088,563 Total receipts for twelve months,............................................................... 4,428 1,089,642 1,094,070 Exported since 24th ultimo,.......................................... 683 Exported previously,....................................................... 1,085,187 Total exports for twelve months,.......................................... A dd— sent coastwise, not cleared,.................................................... “ Shipped to western states,....................................................... Loss in re-picking, burned, & c .,........................................................ 1,085,870 1,000 2,000 500 1,089,370 Stock on hand 1st September, 1843, .bales 4,700 571 Commercial Statistics. 10.— Statement o f Tobacco. Stock on hand 1st September, 1842,....................................................................hhds. Arrived since 25ih ultimo,............................................................. 335 Arrived previously,.......................................................................... 91,089 Total receipts for twelve months,..................................................... 91,424 Accumulated by reprisal and stripping,....................................................... 1,085 ---------- 2,255 92,509 94,764 Exported since 25th ultimo,.......................................................................... 905 Exported previously,....................................................................................... 88,986 Total exports for twelve months,..................................................................... 89,891 Stock on hand 1st September, 1843,.....................................................hhds. 4,873 REM A R K S . It seems, from the foregoing statements, that, for the year ending September 1st, the imports into N ew Orleans are valued at ten and a half millions o f dollars, which, o f course, falls short o f the real amount. It is remarked that, notwithstanding the large receipts during the year, the stocks on hand were never at a lower point before. Not withstanding the large supply o f cotton through the year, only about 1,800 bales remain on hand. T he exports o f this article have largely increased. T o Great Britain have been ship ped 679,438 bales, greater than last year’s export by 257,988 bales. France has taken less ; and, indeed, the export to that country has steadily declined since 1839-40, when the quantity was 240,490 bales. T he last year, it was but 183,875. T he north o f Eu rope has taken a large amount compared with former years; and there is an increase o f the export to the northern states, but they still receive less than in 1840-41. T he whole amount exported during the year closing with September 1st, was 1,088,870 bales— the receipts for the same time were 1,075,394. T he total receipts o f cotton at all the ports, (N ew Orleans, Mobile, Savannah, Charles ton, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina,) were 2,383,245 bales. Increase over the re ceipts o f 1841-42, 702,979. amount for export. The gulf states furnished nearly three-fourths o f the whole T he total number o f hogsheads o f tobacco exported during the year was 89,891; more than double the number in 1839-49, and 29,000 more than in 1841-42. 1831-35, there has been a small increase o f the export to the northern states. Since T he sugar crop o f last year was abundant, turning out from 40,000 to 45,000 more hogsheads than in 1841. Notwithstanding this, the average o f the prices was higher than last year, owing, it is supposed, to the increased duties on foreign sugars, and the diminished product o f the W est Indies. The average o f sugar exported coastwise, during the year, was 66,044 hogsheads, and 2,280 barrels. T he receipts o f western produce have been large, and the prices much better sustain ed than was at first anticipated. An unusual quantity has been forwarded directly to other markets on country account; and to such an extent was this carried, that during the months o f April and May, when the receipts were largest, the quantity actually on sale, o f some descriptions, was inadequate to meet the demand. T he present stocks, except lard, and some descriptions o f bacon, are not considered heavy; and the supply o f salted provisions, such as pork and beef, is unusually light— so that there is likely to be a tolerably bare market for the reception o f another year’s product. A s to the prospects o f the ensuing year, ready sales, at favorable prices, are anticipated. Commercial Statistics. 572 E XP O R T S FR O M F R A N K L IN , L a. Statement o f Exports , by Sea, out o f the State, from the port o f Franklin, District of Teche, from 30 th September, 1842, to 30 th June, 1843. SUGAR. Hhds. Whither exported. Portsmouth, ....................... N orfolk ,.............................. Charleston,.......................... N ew Y o rk ,.......................... M obile,................................. Richmond, .......................... Philadelphia, ...................... M OLASSES. Bbls. 270 1,481 2,138 317 507 503 115 i Hhds. 42 10 3,727 176 119 T ota l,...................... 100 330 5,331 26 MOSS. Feet. Bales. 12,300 36,000 818 1,722 1,445 458 149 500 140 25 N ew Haven,....................... L IV E O A K . Bbls. 33,400 39 47 9 4,474 4,732 81,700 95 Statement o f the Number o f Vessels from the port o f Franklin, District o f Teche, with the aggregate tonnage, from 30 th September, 1842, to 30 th June, 1843. OUTW ARD BOUN D. No. o f vessels. From September 30, to December 31, 1842,. “ December 31, 1842, to March 31, 1843,.................... “ March 31, to June 30, 1843,....................................... Total. 21 T otal,....................................................................... 47 26 2,618.92 5,573.00 2,866.69 94 11,038.66 I N W A R D BOUN D. From September 30, to December 31, 1842,. “ December 3, 1842, to March31,1843,........................ “ March 31, to June 30, 1843,...................................... 32 T otal,.............................................................. 43 16 3,852.10 4,805.46 1,983.75 91 10,641.36 C O M M E R C E OF A P A L A C H IC O L A , F L O R ID A . Number o f Clearances from Apalachicola, from 1st January, 1835, to 30tA September in each year, to 1843. 1835....... 1836,...... 1837,...... 1838....... 1839,...... Schrs. Brigs. 82 99 93 102 92 49 51 68 55 37 Barques. Ships. 2 11 10 8 8 13 24 16 17 17 1840,...... 1841,...... 1842,...... 1843,...... Schrs. 84 Brigs. Barques. Ships. 88 56 79 12 14 26 24 io 91 33 49 It will be observed that the list o f clearances commences on the first day o f January each year ; therefore, it will take three months more to complete the list for 1843. TONN AGE. T he amount o f tonnage for the year ending September 30, 1843, is 60,625. EXPORTS. T h e value o f foreign exports from this port, for the year ending 30th September, as per custom-house books, is............................................. Estimated value o f exports coastwise,.................................................. . $1,282,364 08 1,602,591 (10 T ota l,.............................................................................................. $2,884,956 08 In this calculation for coastwise exports, nothing has been added for export o f lumber, staves, cedar, hides, furs, tallow, & c. Commercial Statistics. 573 IM PO R TS OF SILK M A N U F A C T U R E S IN T O T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S . Greeley & McElrath have published No. VI. o f their series o f 44 Useful W orks for the People,” in a pamphlet o f eighty pages, entitled “ The Silk Culture o f the United States; embracing complete accounts o f the latest and most approved modes of hatching, rearing, and feeding the silkworm, manufacturirg the silk, & c .; with brief historical sketches of the silk business, natural history of the silkworm, & c. of machinery, and progress, & c.” Illustrated by numerous engravings It i3 the most valuable manual for those engaged, or otherwise interested in the silk culture, that has fallen under our observation. T he follow ing table, exhibiting the value o f importations o f silk manufactures i to the United States, from foreign countries, and exports o f the same, from 1821 to 1841, inclusive, being a period o f twenty-one years, was compiled from official document?, expressly for this w ork:— Exports. Im ports. $ 9 , 3 '0 , 8 5 6 E x p o r ‘ s. $ 1 ,2 6 6 ,4 1 6 1 8 3 1 ............ 2 ,6 2 6 ,9 9 7 8 9 6 ,8 0 1 1 8 3 5 , .......... 1 6 ,5 9 7 ,9 8 3 Y e a r. 1 8 2 1 , .......... Im ports. $ 4 ,4 8 6 ,9 2 4 1 8 2 2 ............ 6 ,4 8 4 ,9 2 8 1 .0 1 6 ,2 6 2 1 8 2 3 , .......... 6 ,7 1 3 ,7 7 1 1 ,5 1 2 ,4 4 9 1 8 2 4 , .......... 7 ,2 1 3 ,2 8 4 1 ,8 1 6 ,3 2 5 1 8 3 6 , .......... 2 2 ,8 8 9 ,6 8 4 7 6 0 ,8 2 2 1 5 ,1 3 3 ,0 6 4 1 ,2 1 7 ,8 1 2 $ 1 ,0 5 7 ,2 3 3 2 ,9 6 5 ,4 4 2 Y ear. 1 8 3 3 , .......... 7 6 5 .5 U 1 8 2 5 , .......... 1 0 ,2 7 1 5 2 7 1 8 2 6 , .......... 7 ,1 0 4 ,8 3 7 3 2 3 1 .7 2 I 1 8 3 8 , .......... 9 .8 4 2 ,2 7 6 6 6 6 ,5 2 9 1 8 2 7 , .......... 6 .5 4 5 .2 1 5 1 ,6 9 0 ,1 2 6 I f t 3 9 , .......... 2 1 ,6 7 8 ,1 8 6 7 5 0 ,9 1 6 1 8 2 8 , ........ 7 ,6 0 8 ,6 1 4 1 ,2 2 3 ,1 8 1 1 8 4 0 , .......... 9 ,7 6 1 ,2 2 3 1 ,2 1 2 ,7 2 1 1 8 2 9 , ........ 7 ,0 4 8 ,6 2 8 9 2 1 ,9 5 8 1 8 4 1 , .......... 1 5 5 1 1 ,0 0 9 5 8 0 ,7 5 6 1 8 3 1 , ........ 5 ,7 7 4 ,0 1 0 1 8 3 1 , ........ 1 0 ,8 0 4 ,3 9 3 9 5 2 ,0 7 9 1 ,0 4 1 .6 1 0 T o t a l,. $ 2 1 0 ,5 4 1 ,0 5 1 $ 2 6 ,8 2 7 ,2 8 5 1 8 3 2 , ........ 7 ,1 4 7 ,7 1 2 1 ,2 8 8 ,3 2 3 Total imports for 21 years,................................................................................. “ exports 44 ................................................................................. $210,541,051 26,827,285 1 8 3 7 , .......... Consumption for 21 years,...................................................................... $183,713,766 Annual average for 21 years,. ............................................................. $8,748,274 And, including the estimated consumption o f foreign silks for 1842 and 1843, amounts, for 24 years, to...................................................................................................... $240,000,000 i R a w S ilk . Imports and Exports o f Foreign Rato Silk, (included for the above,) fo r five years. Year. Imports. Exports. 1837, .................... $211,694 1838,......... 29 938 79,251 1839,......... 39 258 4,682 1849,......... 234,235 200,239 Year. $118,434 1841,............... T otal,... Imports. $254,102 $769,227 Exports. $227,113 $629,719 In 1839, we purchased o f other countries silk to the amount o f nearly $23,000,000, as follow s:— Silks from India and China, piece goods,....................................................... 44 44 44 sewings,............................................................. 44 sewings from other places,........................................................................ 44 raw ,.............................................................................................................. 44 from other places than India— veils, shawls, & c., & c .,.................... 44 other manufactures, from other places than India,............................. Manufactures o f silk and worsted, $2,319,884, (allowing one-half the value to be silk,)............................................................................................... $1,738,509 50,650 78,884 39,258 345 490 18,685,295 Total,................................................................................................. $22,838,028 1,159,942 The importations o f silk are one-fourth more than o f any other article. The amount o f cotton manufactures imported was........................................ O f iron,...................................................................................................................... O f cloths and cassimeres,....................................................................................... Oiher woollen manufactures,................................................................................ One-half the value o f silks and worsteds,......................................................... Total woollen goods,.............................................................................................. $14,692,397 12,051,668 7,025,898 3,507,161 1,159,942 18,831,907 Commercial Statistics. 574 In the Burlington (N. J.) Silk Record, for January, 1842, it is stated that in England the importation o f raw silk, from the year 1821 to 1828, was 24,157,568 lbs.; which, when manufactured, was worth £120,770,580 sterling; and the hands required for its manufac ture were more than 400,000. year. This sum is equal to $536,222,237, or $76,190,462 each O f this amount, Italy alone furnished $59,881,233. In 1835, Great Britain con sumed, at wholesale prices, to the value o f $28,282,582 o f manufactured silks. The sum paid to weavers alone, not taking into the account what was paid for throwsting, winders, doublers, drawers, warpers, the soap, the dye-stuffs, and to various mechanics, was little short o f $14,000,000. The amount of.silk goods, now produced in that kingdom, is stated to be $7 5,000,000; but they raise not a pound o f the raw material. E X P O R T S OF P E T E R S B U R G !! A N D R IC H M O N D — 1841-43. W e are indebted to a correspondent residing at Richmond, Va., for the following com parative statement o f the exports o f tobacco, cotton, and flour, from Petersburgh and Richmond, for three years, commencing October 1st, 1840, and ending 30th September, 1841, 1842, and 1843 T o b a cco ,, hhds. Stems,............... 1841. 34,662 6,172 1842. 32,565 3,245 1843. 36,236 2,000 Cotton, ...bales F lo u r ,.......bbls. 1841. 5,152 47,505 1842. 5,678 48,464 1843. 1,817 73,726 These exports went to Cowes, London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Havre, Bordeaux, Bre men, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Marseilles, Trieste, Genoa, R io, Pernambuco, & c., & c. T otal I n s p e c t io n s of T obacco in V T obacco inspected,.......................... hhds. Stock on hand,........................................... I n s p e c t io n s 1841 1842 ................................... ................................... E of F lo u r in R ir g in ia , e n d in g 3 0 t h S eptem ber, 1841. 1842. 1843. 51,994 9,080 52,743 11,100 56,792 12,000 ic h m o n d , e n d in g 3 0 t h J une, 162,896 bbls. I 18 43,..................................... 134,244 “ | xports of T obacco a n d F lour fro m J am es R iv e r . 184,677 bbls. • Exports o f Tobacco and Flour from James River, Virginia, from October 1st, 1842, to September 30tA, 1843. Hhds. To L ondon,........................... Liverpool,........................ Bristol,............................. G lasgow ,......................... Leith,............................... Cowes, & c., for orders,. H a v r e ,............................ 4,867 4,030 489 253 294 5,459 2,979 607 512 Marseilles,...................... Tierces and kegs. 468 537 Hhds. To Dunkirk,....... Rotterdam,... Amsterdam, B rem en ,...... Antwerp,...... S tockholm ,.. T rieste,......... 435 4,073 2,282 3,013 4,814 60 452 T otal,...... 34,619 Tierces and Stems. kegs. 302 19 1,243 136 1,005 1,700 Exports o f Flour from James River, from October 1, 1842, to September 30,1843. T o South A m erica,...................................................bbls. “ Great Britain,............................................................. “ W est Indies,................................................................ 58,135 6,954 3,364 68,453 Total, , A C O M M E R C IA L P A N IC IN 1782. W hen it happened, says the Liverpool Mail, that between 1782, and April, 1783, some 7012 bags o f cotton were imported, a perfect panic was produced by this unusual sup ply. During the last week, however, some 130,000 bags were imported into Liverpool alone, without producing the most trifling decline in prices! W hat a contrast. Commercial Regulations, 55 COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. T H E N E W C H IN E S E T A R IF F . A Bristol correspondent o f the London Morning Herald has reduced the duties levied by the new Chinese tariff to English weights, measures, and moneys, as annexed. The same rate o f duties are applicable to American com m erce:— E £ 1. A lu m ,............................. cwt. 2. Anniseed, star,...................... “ oil of,.................... 3. A rsenic,................................ 4. Bangles, or glass armlets,... 5. Bamboo screens, and bam boo wares o f all kinds,.... 6. Brass le a f,............................. 7. Building materials,............. 8. Bone and hornware............. 9. Camphor,............................... 10. Canes o f all kinds, per 1,000, 11. Capoorcutchery,...........cwt. 12. Cassia,................................... “ buds,.......................... “ oil,.............................. 13. China roat,............................. 14. Chinaware, all kinds,......... 15. Clothes, ready made,.......... 16. Copperware, pewter do., & c . , ..................................... 17. Corals, or false coral,......... 18. Crackers and fireworks o f all kinds,............................. 19. Cubebs,................................... 20. Fans, as feather-fans, &,c.,. 21. Furniture o f all kinds,......... 22. Galingal,................................ 23. Gam boge,.............................. 24. Glass and glassware o f all kinds, .................................. 25. Glass beads,........................... 26. Glue, as fish glue, & c .,...... 27. Grass cloths, all kinds,........ 28. Hartall, .................................. 29. Ivoryware, all kinds,............ 30. Kittysols, or paper umbrel las, ...................................... 31. Lackered ware, all kinds,... 32. Lead— white lead,............... 33. “ real lead,.................. 34. Marble slabs,......................... 35. Mats, straw, rattan, bam boo, & c.,............................. 36. Mother-of-pearl ware,......... 37. M u s k ,............................... lb. 0 0 1 0 0 xports. s. d. 0 2 5 3 2 6 64 24 94 64 0 1 0 0 7 6f Dutyfree. 0 5 (?4 0 7 6| 0 3 0 2 1 10 0 3 94 0 5 0^ 1 5 2* 0 1 0 0 2 64 0 2 64 0 0 2 64 2 64 0 3 0 7 0 5 0 1 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 2 5 2 5 94 tf 04 0 6 1 64 64 64 C4 64 2J 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 1 2 1 64 0J 3 64 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 2 64 d. Nankeen and cotton cloths, o f all kinds,................ cwt. Pictures, v iz : large paint ings,.............................each Paper fans,.....................cwt. Paper o f all kinds,.............. Pearls, (i. e., false pearls,).. Preserves and sweetmeats, o f all kinds,......................... Rattan work o f all kinds,... Rhubarb, .............................. Silk, raw, whether from Chekiang, Canton, or else where, all kinds,............... Coarse or refuse silk,............ R ice paper pictures, .pr. 100, Organzine, all kinds,............ Ribands, threads, &.c.',.......... Silk piece-goods o f all kinds, as silks, satins, pongees, velvets, crapes, lustrings, & c.,...................................... N. B.— The additional duty o f so much per piece, hith erto levied, to be hence forth abolished. 47, Silk and cotton mixtures, silk and woollen mixtures, and goods o f such classes, Shoes and boots o f leather, satin, or otherwise,............ Sandal-wood ware,.............. S o y ,........................................ Silver and gold ware,.......... Sugar, white and brown,... Sugar-candy, all kinds,........ T in foil,................................... T ea,........................................ T obacco o f all kinds,......... Turmeric,.............................. Tortoiseshell ware,.............. Trunks o f leather,............... Treasure, (i. e., coin o f all kinds,).................................. V erm ilion,.....................cwt. 0 5 04 0 0 0 0 0 74 2 2 64 64 2 64 0 0 0 64 0 04 2 0 0 2 2 10 13 0 12 10 4| 74 74 4f 41 3 0 5| 0 15 14 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 5 04 2 04 10 4| 1 3 1 94 2 64 12 74 1 0 1 0 10 1 4| 0 free. 0 15 14 Articles unenumerated in this tariff pay a duty o f 5 per cent, ad valorem. Im ports. £ 1. Assafcetida,.. 2. Beeswax,.... .cwt. 0 ...... 0 d. £ s. d. 3. Betel nut,..........................cwt. 0 0 9 4. Biche le mer, lstqual.,orb’k,. 0 4 04 576 Commercial Regulations. I m p o r t s — Continued. £ 4. Biche Ie mer, 2d quality, or white,...........................cwt. 5. Birds’ nests, 1st q., cleaned,. 44 2 J 44good mid., 44 3J 44 unclean’d, 6. Camphor, Malay, 1st quality, c le a n ,........................Ik Camphor, Malay, 2d quality, refuse,.......................... 7. Cloves, 1st q., picked,.cw t. 44 2J 44 mother, .... 8. Clocks, watches, spy-glasses, all kinds o f writingdesks, dressing-boxes, cutlery, perfumery, & c., 5 per cent, ad valorem. 9. Canvass, 3 0 to 4 3 yards long, 24 to 31 inches wide, per piece, .................................. 10. C och in ea l,.................... cwt. 11. Cornelians,..per 100 stones, 44 beads,.........cwt. 1 2 . Cotton,................................... 13. Cotton, manufactured, viz: Long cloths, white, 30 to 40 vards long, 30 to 36 inches wide,...pr, piece, Cambrics and muslins, 20 to 24 yards long, 40 to 4 6 inches wide,............. Gray or unbleached cottons, viz: long cloths, domestics, &.c.. 3 ) to 40 yards long, 28 to 40 inches wide, ........................ Gray twilled cottons, 30 to 40 vards long, 28 to 40 inches wide,........................ Chintz and prints o f all kinds, 20 to 31 yards long, 28 to 31 inches wide, ......................................... Handkerchiefs under 1 yd. square,72 ea.,................ Handkerchiefs above 1 vd. square, 108 ea., ................. Ginghams, pullicates,dyed cottons, velveteens, silk and cotton mixtures, woollen and cotton mixtures, and all kinds o f fancy goods, not in current consumption, 5 per cent, ad valorem. yarn and cotton 14. Cotton thread, ................................cwt. 15. Cow bezoar,............................ lb. 16. Cuich, ..................................... cwt. 1 7 . Elephants’ teeth, 1st quality, whole,..................................... Elephants’ teeth, 2d quality, broken,................................ s. d. 0 1 1 5 0 12 0 O 0 24 74 64 0 5 64 0 0 0 2 7 2 64 64 64 0 3 0 1 5 24 0 2 3 10 4\ 0 2 04 0 0 1CJ 0 0 1C} 0 0 0 74 0 0 74- 0 0 24 0 1 04 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 64 5 04 1 64 1 0 2 1 10 1 18. Fish maws,.................... cwt. 19. F lin ts,................................... 2J. Glass, glassware, and crystalware, o f all kinds, 5 per cent, ad valorem. 21. Gambier, ...................... cwt. 22. Ginseng, 1st qual.,................ 44 2d “ or refuse,. 23. Gold and silver thread :— 1st quality, or real,........lb. 2d 44 or imitation,... 24. Gums— Benjam in,...... cwt. Olib.inum,....... ....... M y rrh ,................... Gums unenumerated, 10 per cent, ad valorem. 25. Horns, bullocks* and buffakes’ , .........................cwt. 2 6 . Horns, unicorns’ or rhinoceros’, .................................. 2 7 . Linen, fine, as Iri>h or Scotch, — yards long, — inches wide,....... per piece Coarse linen, as linen and cotton mixtures, silk and linen mixtures, &,c., 5 per cent, ad valorem. 2 8 . M ace, or flower o f nutmeg, .....................per cwt. 29. Moiher-of-pearl shells,......... 3J. Metals— viz : Copper, manufactured, as i'» Pigs*............................ Copper, manufactured, as in sheets, rods, & c .,... . Iron, manufactured, as in pig^ ................... ......................... Iron, manufactured, as in bars, rods, & c ., .................. Lead, in pigs, or manufactured, ....................................... Quicksilver,............................... Steel, unmanufactured,.... T in , .................................................. Tin plates,................................... Unenumerated metals, 10 per cent, ad valorem. 31. Nutmegs, 1st quality, or cleaned,...................... cwt. Nutmegs, 2d quality, or uncleaned,......................................... 32. Pepper, .................................. 33. Pu:chuck,........................................ 31. Rattans, ............................................ 35. R ice, paddy, and grain o f all kinds, ............................................. 36. Rose m akes, ....................... cwt. 37. Saltpetre, to be sold to government. agents only, .......... 38. Sharks’ fins, 1st quality, or white,.............................................. Sharks’ 6ns, 2d qual., or bl’k, £ 0 0 S. d. 7 0 « 0 0 9 11 0 17 9 7 0 0 0 0 0 2 7* If >4 6* 2 64 0 0 5 3 'i 0 10 l 0 15 14 0 3 o 0 0 5 1 fi 0 0 5 OJ 0 7 64 0 0 6 0 0 9 0 2 0 15 0 2 0 5 0 2 04 1 10 1 0 0 0 0 5 2 14 04 04 04 04 04 3 94 1 0 Duty free. 0 5 04 0 1 64 0 0 5 04 2 64 Commercial Regulations. Im ports— £ Skins and furs, viz :— Cow and ox hides, tanned and untanned,........ Sea-otter skins,......... each F ox skins, large,....... “ sm a ll,.... Tiger, leopard, and marten skins,................ Land-otter, raccoon, and sharks’ skins,..per 1 0 0 , Beaver skins,............. H ire, rabbit, and ermine, Smalts,........................... .cwt. Soap,.............................. Stock-fish, &,c.,............ Seahorse teeth ,.......... Treasure, and money o f all kinds, ......................... W ine, beer, spirits, & c . : In quart bottles, per 1 00 botlies, ................ In pint bottles, per 1 0 0 bottles,.................. In casks,.................. .cwt. W oods, viz:— E b o n y ,.................... .cwt. Continued. s. d. 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 If} 0 54 0 0 101 0 10 } 0 12 0 3) 0 3 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 10 0 0 0 2 64 04 l free. 0 6 0 0 0 3 0 2 64 0 9 577 £ Sandal-wood,.................. 0 Japan-wood,............ ........ 0 Unenumeraied woods, 10 per cent, ad valorem. 47. W oollen manufactured, viz : Broadcloths, Sp. stripes, habit cloths, & c., 51 to 64 inches wide, per sq. foot,................................... 0 Long ells, kerseymeres, flan nel, and narrow cloths of this description, per sq. fo o t,................................... 0 Blankets o f all kinds,....each 0 Dutch camlets,....pr. sq. foot 0 Camlets,........... .........................o Imitation do., bombazets, & c .,................................... 0 Bunting, narrow ,.................. 0 Unenumerated woollen g’ds, or silk and woollen, and cotton and woollen mix tures, &.c., 5 per cent, ad 8. d. 2 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 5| 74 11 5} 0 2i 1 3J valorem. 48. W oollen yarn,...............cwt. 0 15 0 64 9 1^ R E G U L A T IO N S OF B R IT IS H T R A D E IN C H IN A . T he High Commissioner o f the Chinese government has issued a proclamation re specting the treaty between Great Britain and China, and the following general regula tions, under which the British Trade is to be conducted at the five ports, Canton, A m oy, Fuchow, Ningpo, and Shanghai:— I. P i l o t s .— Whenever a British merchantman shall arrive o ff any o f the five ports opened to trade, viz: Canton, Am oy, Fuchow, Ningpo and Shanghai, pilots shall be allowed to take her immediately into port; and in like manner when such British ship shall have settled all legal rates and charges, and is about to return home, pilots shall be immediately granted to take her to sea without any stoppages or delay. Regarding the remuneration to be given those pilots, that will be equitably settled by the British con sul appointed to each particular port, who will determine it with due reference to the distance gone over, the risks run, & c. II. C u s t o m - h o u s e G u a r d s . — T he Chinese superintendent o f customs, at each port, will adopt the means that he may judge most proper to prevent the revenue suffering by fraud or smuggling. W henever the pilots shall have brought any British merchantman into port, the superintendent o f customs will depute one or two trusty c is t un-house offi cers, whose duty it will be to watch against frauds on the revenue; those will either live in a boat or stay on board the English ship, as may best suit their convenience. Their food and expenses will be supplied them from day to day from the custom-house, and they may not have any fee o f their own whatever given to them by the command ers or consignees. Should they break this regulation, they shall be punished proportion ately to the amount exacted. III. M a s t e r s o f S h i p s r e p o r t i n g t h e m s e l v e s o n a r r i v a l .— W henever a British vessel shall have cast anchor at any one o f the above-mentioned ports, the captain will, within twenty-four hours after arrival, proceed to the British consulate, and deposit his ship^s papers, bill o f lading, manifests, & c., in the hands o f the consul; failing to do which he would subject himself to a penalty o f two hundred dollars. For presenting a false manifest the penalty will be five hundred dollars. For breaking bulk, and commencing to discharge before due permission shall be ob V OL. I X .---- NO. V I . 49 578 Commercial Regulations. tained, the penalty will be five hundred dollars, and confiscation o f the goods so dis. charged. T he consul, having taken possession o f the ship’s papers, will immediately send a written communication to the superintendent o f customs, specifying the register ton nage o f the ship, and the particulars o f cargo she has on board, all of which being done in due form, permission will then be given to discharge; the duties levied as provided for in the tariff. IV. C o m m e r c i a l d e a l i n g s b e t w e e n E n g l i s h a n d C h i n e s e M e r c h a n t s . — It having been stipulated that English merchants may trade with whatever native merchants they please, should any Chinese merchants fraudulently abscond or incur debts which they are unable to discharge, the Chinese authorities, on complaint being made thereof, will o f course do their utmost to bring the offenders to justice; it must, however, be distinctly understood, that, if the defaulter really cannot be found, or be dead, or bankrupt, and there be not wherewith to pay, the English merchant may not appeal to the former custom o f the Hong merchants paying for one another, and can no longer expect their losses made good to them. V. T o n n a g e d u e s .— Every English merchantman, on entering any o f the above-men tioned five ports, shall pay tonnage dues at the rate o f five mace per register ton, in full o f ail charges. The fees formerly levied on entry and departure, o f every description, are henceforth abolished. VI. I m p o r t a n d E x p o r t d u t i e s .— Goods, whether imported to, or exported from, any one o f the above-mentioned five ports, are henceforward to be taxed according to the tariffs as now fixed and agreed upon, and no farther sums are to be levied beyond those which are specified in the tariff. A ll duties incurred by an English merchant vessel, whether on goods imported or exported, or in the shape o f tonnage dues, must first be paid up in full; which done, the superintendent o f customs will grant a port clearance, and this being shown to the British consul, he will thereupon return the ship’s papers and permit the vessel to depart. V II. E x a m i n a t i o n o f g o o d s a t t h e C u s t o m - h o u s e . — Every English merchant having cargo to load or discharge, must give due intimation thereof, and hand particulars o f the same to the consul, who will immediately despatch a recognized linguist of his own es tablishment to communicate the particulars to the superintendent o f customs, that the goods may be examined and neither party subjected to loss. T he English merchant must have a properly qualified person on the spot to attend to his interest w'hen his goods are being examined for duty; otherwise, should there be complaints, these can not be attended to. Regarding such goods as are subject by the tariff to an ad valorem duty, if the English merchant cannot agree with the Chinese officer in fixing a value, then each party shall call two or three merchants to look at the goods, and the highest prices at which any o f these merchants would be willing to purchase shall be assumed as the value o f the goods. T o fix the tare upon any article (such as tea,) if the English merchant cannot agree with the custom-house officer, then each party shall choose so many chests out o f every one hundred, which, being first weighed in gross, shall after ward be tared, and the average tare upon these shall be assumed as the tare upon the whole, and upon this principle shall the tariff be fixed upon all other goods in packages. I f there should still be any disputed points which cannot be settled, the English mer chant may appeal to the consul, who will communicate the particulars o f the case to the superintendent o f customs, that it may be equitably arranged. But the appeal must be made on the same day, or it will not be regarded. W hile such points are still open, the superintendent o f customs will delay to insert the same in the books, thus affording an opportunity that the merits o f the case may be tried and sifted. VIII. M a n n e r o f p a y i n g t h e d u t i e s .— It is herein-before provided, that every English vessel that enters any one o f the five ports, shall pay all duties and tonnage dues before she is permitted to depart. The superintendent o f customs will select certain shroffs, or banking establishments, o f known stability, to whom he will give licenses authorising them to receive duties from the English merchants on behalf o f government, and the receipts o f these shroffs for any money paid them shall be considered as a government voucher. In the paying o f these duties, different kinds o f foreign money may be made use of, but as foreign money is not o f equal purity with sycee silver, the English con suls appointed to the different ports will, according to time, place, and circun.s ances, arrange with the superintendent o f customs at each port, what coins may be taken in payment, and what per centage may be necessary to make them equal to standard or pure silver. IX . W e i g h t s a n d M e a s u r e s . — Sets o f balance yards, for the weighing o f goods, of money weights, and o f measures, prepared in exact conformity to those hitherto in use Commercial Regulations. 579 at the custom-house at Canton, and duly stamped and sealed in proof thereof, will be kept in possession o f the superintendent o f customs, and also at the British consulate, at each o f the five ports, and these shall be the standard by which all duties shall be charged, and all sums paid to government. In case o f any dispute arising between Brit ish merchants and the Chinese officers o f customs regarding the weights or measures of goods, references shall be made to these standards, and disputes decided accordingly. X . L i g h t e r s o r C a r g o - b o a t s . — Whenever an English merchant shall have to load or discharge cargo, he may hire whatever kind o f lighter or cargo-boat he pleases, and the sum to be paid for such boat can be settled between the parties themselves without the interference o f government. T he number o f these boats shall not be limited, nor shall a monopoly o f them be granted to any parties. I f any smuggling take place in them, the offenders will o f course be punished according to law. Should any o f these boatpeople, while engaged in conveying goods for English merchants, fraudulently abscond with the property, the Chinese authorities will do their best to apprehend them; but, at the same time, the English merchants must take every due precaution for the safety of their goods. X I. T r a n s h i p m e n t o f Goons.— N o English merchant ships may tranship goods without special permission ; should any urgent case happen where transhipment is necessary, the circumstances must first be submitted to the consul, who will give a certificate to that effect, and the superintendent o f customs will then send a special officer to be pre sent at the transhipment. I f any one presumes to tranship without such permission be ing asked for and obtained, the whole o f the goods so illicitly transhipped will be confis cated. X II. S u b o r d i n a t e C o n s u l a r O f f i c e s .— At any place selected for the anchorage o f the English merchant ships, there may be appointed a subordinate consular officer, o f ap proved good conduct, to exercise due control over the seamen and others. He must ex ert himself to prevent quarrels between the English seamen and natives, this being o f the utmost importance. Should anything o f the kind unfortunately take place, he will in like manner do his best to arrange it amicably. W hen sailors go on shore to walk, officers shall be required to accompany them ; and should disturbances take place, such officers will be held responsible. T he Chinese officers may not impede natives from coming alongside the ships to sell clothes or other necessaries to the sailors living on board. X III. D i s p u t e s b e w e e n B r i t i s h S u b j e c t s a n d C h i n e s e . — W henever a British sub ject has reason to complain o f a Chinese, he must first proceed to the consulate and state his grievance. T he consul will thereupon inquire into the merits o f the case, and do his utmost to arrange it amicably. In like manner, if a Chinese have reason to com plain o f a British subject, he shall no less listen to his complaint, and endeavor to settle it in a friendly manner. I f an English merchant have occasion to address the Chinese authorities, he shall send such address through the consul, who will see that the lan guage is becoming, and if otherwise, will direct it to be changed, or will refuse to con vey the address. If, unfortunately, any disputes take place o f such a nature that the consul cannot arrange them amicably, then he shall request the assistance of a Chinese officer, that they may together examine into the merits o f the case and decide it equitably. R e garding the punishment o f English criminals, the English government will enact the laws necessary to attain that end, and the consul will be empowered to put them in force; and regarding the punishment o f Chinese criminals, they will be tried and pun ished by their own laws, in the way provided for by the correspondence which took place at Nanking after the concluding o f the peace. X IV . B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t C r u i s e r s a n c h o r i n g w i t h i n t h e P o r t s . — A n English government cruiser will anchor within each o f the five ports, that the consul may have the means o f better restraining sailors and others, and preventing disturbances. But these government cruisers are not to be put upon the same footing as merchant vessels, for as they bring no merchandise and do not come to trade, they will o f course pay neither dues nor charges. T he resident consul will keep the superintendent o f customs duly in formed o f the arrival and departure o f such government cruisers, that he may take measures accordingly. X V . O n t h e S e c u r i t y t o b e g i v e n f o r B r i t i s h M e r c h a n t V e s s e l s .— It has hith erto been the custom, when an English vessel entered the port o f Canton, that a Chinese hong merchant stood security for her, and all duties and charges were paid through such security merchant. And these security merchants being now done away with, it is un derstood that the British consul will henceforth be security for all British merchant snips entering and in the aforesaid Chinese ports. 580 Canal and Railroad Statistics. C A N A L AND R A I L R O A D S T A T I S T I C S . T A R IF F OF F R E IG H T S ON T H E SOUTFI C A R O L IN A R A IL R O A D . F rom C harleston to Salt per sack, not exceeding four bushels,.............................................. Drygoods, shoes, saddlery, boxes furniture, hats, bonnets, and all measurement goods,....................................................... per cubic foot, Bacon, bagging, beeswax, confectionary, coflee, copper,drugs, glass, hides, hardware, lard, butter, lealher, molasses in barrels, mill and grindstones, oil, paints, rope, rice, sugar, tallow, tobacco, tin, and 3 lbs. Hogsheads o f molasses and oil,............................................ “ “ “ if at risk o f shippers,........ Hogsheads and pipes o f liquor, not exceeding 123 gallons,.. and Quarter casks and barrels o f liquor, beef and pork, tonj .each fish ,............................................................................................. “ H alf barrels o f liquor, beef and pork, tongues and fish,........ u Kegs o f liquor, not exceeding 5 gallons,................................... “ “ 10 “ ........................... Demijohns, jars, and jugs, not exceeding 2 gallons,............. a n it 5 it (i (( ti u Carboys o f vitriol,......................................................................... lions, Barrels o f beets, bread, crackers, flour, potatoes, fruit, oysters, onions, each and ice, and all light barrels,.........................................................each C o lu m b i a . H am bu rg. $ 0 40 $ 0 40 12 J 25 40 25 3 00 25 40 25 3 00 75 50 25 50 25 75 1 25 75 50 25 50 25 75 1 25 50 50 374 374 50 75 50 50 374 00 75 50 50 50 75 00 each u Barrels o f lime, by the car-load,.. “ by less quantity,. (( (( Buckets and tubs in nests,........................................................ Shovels, spades, scythes, and broom s,................................... per dozen Chairs, .......................................................................................... “ Rocking-chairs,......................................................................................each Cotton-gins, fans, and mills,................................................................ “ Straw cutters,....................................................................................... “ Ploughs and wheelbarrows,............................................................... “ Collars,......................................................................................... per dozen Close carriages, and stage-coaches,................................................. each Barouches and Phaetons,.......................................................... Buggies and wagons,................................................................. Gigs, sulkeys, and common Jersey wagons, or carryalls,.. Specie, per 1,000 dollars,.......................................................... A ll small packages,................................................................... 124 1 3 3 1 15 50 75 50 50 374 00 75 50 50 50 75 00 1 3 3 1 15 10 00 10 00 50 50 00 00 00 00 25 25 25 25 25 25 D o m e s t ic P r o d u c e . Cotton, in round and square bales, at present rate per 100 lbs., (sub ject to variation by bale or by w eight,).............................................. Cotton yarns, cotton fabrics, and indigo,........................... per 100 lbs. Grain— oats, bran, vice-flour, in sacks,............................... per bushel, “ corn meal, grist, peas, beans, ground-nuts,............ “ “ wheat, rye, and grass seeds,..................................... “ Hay, blades, and straw in bales,*......................................... per 100 lbs. A single horse, mule, ox, or c o w ,.....................................................each Two “ “ “ .......................................... Three “ “ “ .......................................... Four “ “ “ .......................................... Live sheep and goats, by car load,................ ........................ Lambs, kids, and pigs, “ ........................................ Calves, “ ......................................... 8 8 10 10 124 124 20 10 00 20 10 00 7 50 7 50 6 00 6 00 5 00 50 374 5 00 50 374 I 00 1 00 I f sent by ton or car-load, as may be agreed upon, the owners loading and unloading. Canal and Railroad Statistics. T a r if f o f F r e is h t s , 581 etc.— Continued. F r o m C h a r le s t o n t o C o lu m b i a . H am bu rg. H ogs,..........................................................................................per 100 lbs. 40 40 One or more o f the above, if boxed, by measurement, per passenger train,............................................................................................. per foot 12* 12* Larger quantities o f live stock will be taken by weight, by the head or car, as may be agreed on by superintendent o f trans portation. Geese and turkeys in coops,....................................................... per head 10 10 ll Ducks and fowls “ .......................................... 3 3 Eggi=, in boxes, baskets, or tubs,..............................................per .per dozen dozen 2 2 Fruit and vegetables, dried peaches and apples,...................... per bbl. 50 50 In smaller quantities, in boxes, baskets, & c., pro ra'a, no box or basket less,..................................................................... 25 25 Dogs in baggage-car, whole distance,............................................each 1 00 1 00 u “ “ 50 miles,.......................................................... “ 59 50 « “ “ 25 “ ...................................... 25 25 Marl, per bushel, for first 10 miles, 5 cents; 1 cent for every 10 miles additional. Bricks, per 1,000, for first ten miles, $ 2 ; and 50 cents for every 10 miles additional. W ood, per cord, $ 1 for first 10 miles, and 25 cents for every 10 T o be loaded and miles additional. - unloaded by the Spokes and staves, $ 1 50 per 1,000 for first 10 miles, and 25 cents owners. • for every 10 miles additional. Shingles, 75 cents per 1,000 for first 10 miles, and 25 cents for every 10 miles additional. Lumber, $ 1 50 per 1,000 for first 10 miles, and 25 cents for each additional 10 miles. T he rate o f freight between Columbia and Hamburg will be as above ; and to all in termediate stations between Branchville, Columbia, and Hamburg, where the present freight exceeds, it shall be reduced to the rate specified as above. The company does not engage to notify consignees o f the arrival o f goods and pro duce. T hey are considered as delivered when they have reached the depot; but if not taken away, will be stored at the depot, at the risk o f the owner. Goods, wares, produce, and merchandise, consigned to the company’s agent in Charles ton, will be forwarded and shipped to any place o f destination, free o f commissions. The same, if intended for the interior o f the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, unless otherwise directed, will be despatched by the first wagons offering for the place to which the goods may be consigned. I f destined for the Georgia railroad, they will be sent to the depot in Augusta immediately ; provision being made, in all the above cases, for the payment o f freight and expenses on the road, to the agent in Charleston, or to the company’s agent at the depot, by whom the goods are forwarded. W e give, above, the tariff of freights on the South Carolina railroads from Charleston to Columbia, Hamburg, & c. Superintendents o f the different roads in the United States will, we trust, perceive the importance o f furnishing the rates adopted by the several companies for publication in this Magazine, as a desirable medium o f communicating a kind o f information required by merchants and business men. SOUTHERN RO U TE FROM T H E A T L A N T IC T O T H E MISSISSIPPI. The Augusta Constitutionalist states that a meeting o f the proprietors and agents of the several railroad and stage companies on the great mail route between Memphis, Term., and Charleston, S. C., was held at Tuscumbia, Alabama, on the 19 th ult. The object o f the meeting was to adopt a uniform and reduced charge per mile, in concert with the Tuscum bia, Courtland, and Decatur, and Georgia and Charleston railroad companies. The meeting resolved to adopt two tickets, one from Memphis, Tennessee, to Decatur, Alabama, and 49* Canal and Railroad Statistics. 582 the other from Decatur to Charleston. The sum o f $ 1 2 is to be charged from Memphis to Decatur, and the sum o f $ 2 5 from Decatur to Charleston. By this arrangement, it appears that the time from Memphis to Charleston will be six and a half days, at a charge of $ 3 7 , and to N ew York nine days, at a charge o f $6 2. According to the rates now fixed by the resolutions adopted, and the speed already established on the line, the traveller will make the trip from Tuscumbia to New York in seven days; and the expense will be $ 5 2 for conveyance, and about $ 1 0 for other expenses, v iz :— Tuscumbia to Decatur, railroad, 43 miles,................................................................. Decatur to Madison, Ga., stage, 260 miles,.............................................................. Madison to Charleston, railroad, 241 miles,............................................................... Charleston to Baltimore, steamboat and railroad,..................................................... Baltimore to Philadelphia, railroad,............................................................................. Philadelphia to N ew York,.......................................................................................... $2 16 9 19 3 3 00 00 00 00 00 00 — Eating and sleeping, say...-............................................................................ $ 5 2 00 10 00 Total,......................................................................................................... $ 6 2 00 The expense from Tuscumbia to N ew York, by the way o f Nashville, Louisville, W heel ing, &c., is $ 7 2 . L IV E R P O O L A N D M A N C H E S T E R R A I L W A Y . T he receipts o f the company for the conveyance o f passengers during the last six months, are nearly twenty-five thousand dollars less than for the corresponding period in the year 1842. freight. Happily there has been no material decrease in the income from A reduction in the disbursements, too, has fully neutralized the falling off in the gross receipts. Receipts for the last six m onths,............................................................. Expenses “ “ Nett profit “ “ £108,960 51,897 10s.1(7. 18s.6(7. £57,06 2 11s.7(7. This amount, by the addition o f an undivided surplus, was increased to £60,450, equal to 5 per cent on 12,090 shares entitled to dividend. A dividend o f 5 per cent was ac cordingly agreed to, payable on and after the 8th instant. Great progress has been made during the last six months in the construction o f the Leeds Junction lin e ; and it is expected that a continuous line o f railway from Liver pool to Leeds, Y ork, and Hull, will be in operation early in the ensuing year. T R A N S P O R T A T IO N OF M E R C H A N D IS E ON T H E W A B A S H A N D ER IE CANAL. It is a fact, says the Indianapolis Journal, that we are beginning to send produce west to the N ew Y ork and Boston markets. Large quantities o f hemp and other articles are now being forwarded in wagons to La Fayette, some sixty-five miles northw'est, by our enterprising citizens, to be sent on the Wabash and Erie canal to Boston and N ew Y ork markets. For one hundred and fifty miles above this place, along the rich valley o f the W hite river, this canal can be reached by our farmers, by travelling north and west some sixty or sixty-five miles. Heretofore, they have been compelled to transport their pro ducts in wagons one hundred and fifty to two hundred miles, to reach Cincinnati, and other points on the Ohio. V ■?, ■ ’ts Mercantile Miscellanies. MERCANTILE 583 MISCELLANIES. A M E R IC A N S E A M A N ’ S F R IE N D S O C IE T Y . W e have received from the officers o f this philanthropic institution a circular, appeal, ing to the friends o f the institution for aid. The Society, having given largely o f their funds, and devoted much o f their time to the furtherance o f the objects o f the Society, feel warranted in asking aid from those who are alike interested with themselves in the moral improvement o f seamen— an object so deeply affecting all the mercantile interests o f this great commercial emporium. The last call on the public was made for the means o f building the Sailor’s H ome, which has been completed, and is now in successful operation. In relation to this institution, the Board are convinced, from careful observation, that it is fully answering the purpose for which it was established ; and that it is doing more for the protection, comfort, and moral improvement o f seamen, than any other o f the means directed to this object. It is only by such an establishment as the “ Home,” that a prominent example can be presented o f a boarding-house for seamen, which shall produce a constant moral influence ; and with out it, the many respectable private hoarding-houses which now exist, would sink under the discouragements by which they are surrounded, growing out o f the profligate character o f many o f the houses into which seamen are allured to their ruin. The following is a statement o f the condition o f the house up to the 1st o f October, 1843:— Boarders received since Mav, 1842,................................................................................ “ received from 1st May, 1843, to 1st October, 1843, 5 months,.................. “ shipped in 518 vessels,.......................... ............................................... 1,497 “ in the hospit al,........................................................................................ 10 “ dismissed for disorderly eonduct,........................................................ 20 “ left for other houses,.............................................................................. 8 u “ different parts of the country,............................................. 47 u deceased— in hospital,.................................................................... 2 “ “ suddenly, in Walnut-street,...................................... 1 41 “ drowned,....................................................................... 1 — 4 “ remaining in the house,........................................................................ 185 ------- 4,755 1,771 1,771 Some hundreds o f these men have arrived at the “ Home” after shipwreck, or in pov erty from other causes, and have been relieved, who, from their destitution, have necessa rily departed in arrears to the house. The directors, however, believe that the relief of such is furthering the designs o f the institution, and that no worthy seaman ought to be refused a kind reception. It appears that the receipts o f the house, thus far, have fallen short of the expenditures, owing to the very considerable amount of arrears due from seamen. T he Board have not deemed it proper to avail o f any o f the incidental advan tages o f a clothing-store, or o f an allowance from those who supply seamen with clothing, or from washing, or any other perquisite, conceiving that the only proper course in these respects is one entirely disinterested. The committee believe, however, that as far as the house may have been a source o f expense to the friends o f seamen, the benefit to the pub lic has been commensurate. They point with confidence to the improved character of seamen; to the sobriety and promptness with which they go on board o f ship when about to sa il; to their increased temperance and efficiency, and to the reasonable hope of still greater improvement in all these respects. The directors speak with the more confidence on this subject, as a large part o f them are merchants and shipmasters, and well acquaint ed with the past and present character o f seamen. T he debt o f the Board, which it is Mercantile Miscellanies. 584 the object o f this effort to pay off, has been o f long standing, and operates in many ways to the disadvantage o f the institution. W hen paid, the directors confidently believe the expenditures will be met by the ordinary receipts. The committee do not dwell on the beneficial influence exerted by the chaplains o f the Society abroad, on the character of the seamen, as this appeal is more especially made to the merchants and citizens of N ew York, with reference to the Sailor’s Home. W ith a view to the more full satisfaction o f the public, a select committee o f the directors has been recently appointed to inspect, in de tail, the management and condition o f the Home, and the result has been perfectly satis factory, showing that the moral and religious order o f the house, and the economy o f its management, are all that the friends o f seamen could desire. The following gentlemen constitute the officers o f the Society:— Edward Richardson, President; Charles N. Talbot, Treasurer; Thomas Hale, Rec. Secretary; John Spaulding, Fin’l Secretary ; and James Boorman, Anson G. Phelps, D. W . C. Olyphant, W . H. Aspinwall, Ephraim Corning, John C. Green, Robert B. Minturn, Augustus W hitlock, N. Briggs, Rufus Davenport, Henry Holdrege, Jasper Coming, Nathaniel W . Merrill, Peletiah Perit, Daniel Fanshaw, E. D. Hurlbut, Thomas De Witt, J. C. Brigham, Reuben Brumley, Directors. U N IT E D S T A T E S H O M E LEAG U E. T he anniversary meeting o f the United States Home League was held in N ew York on the 17th o f October, 1843, at the Repository o f the American Institute. W e publish, by request, in another part o f this Magazine, the very able report o f Mr. C. C. Haven, which was read at the meeting, and unanimously adopted. chosen for the ensuing year:— President— Gen. James Tallmadge, N ew Y ork. The following officers were Vice-Presidents— Gov. Mahlon Dick inson, N ew Jersey; James Brewster, Connecticut; J. W . Thompson, M. D., Delaware ; Hon. Harmar Denny, Pennsylvania. York. Recording Secretary— L. D. Chapin, Esq., New Corresponding Secretary— T . B. Wakeman, Esq., N ew York. Treasurer— W il liam G. Lambert, Esq., New York. Central Committee— Joseph Blunt, C. C. Haven, Adoniram Chandler, J. D. P. Ogden, Charles A . Davis, Esquires, N ew Y ork c ity ; Samuel Oakley, Esq., Brooklyn, N . Y . ; Henry Burden, Esq., Troy, N. Y . ; Charles S. Morgan, Esq., Virginia ; John S. Riddle, Esq., Philadelphia ; Joseph Grinnell, Esq., N ew Bedford, Mass.; Stephen Fairbanks, Esq., Boston, M ass.; William B. Kinney, Esq., N ew Jersey. SHOES M A N U F A C T U R E D B Y M A C H IN E R Y . T he N ew Y ork Evening Post gives the following description o f the manner o f making shoes by a machine, owned by Mr. Ruggles, o f 60 Gold-street, in this c it y :— The soleleather is first pressed between wooden rollers, which makes it extremely firm and com pact__much more so than hammering can do. It is then placed under a cutting machine, which, at one operation, cuts it into the proper shape. Meantime, another machine is busy making steel wire into screws o f about three feet in length, all o f which is done with surprising celerity. A fourth machine punches the soles with holes, inserts the screw, and cuts it off at the proper length. A ll that is then necessary, is to rivet the screws by a few blows with a hammer, on an anvil. T he soles manufactured in this way are superior to the Napoleon, inasmuch as the rivets adhere better, and the leather is rendered more compact. They are produced with infinitely less labor, and can be afforded about 50 per cent cheaper. The Book Trade, 585 THE BOOK TRADE. 1.— History o f Europe, from the commencement o f the French Revolution , in 1789, to the Restoration o f the Bourbons, in 1815. By A rchibald A lison . Four volumes. N ew Y o rk : Harper & Brothers. Mr. Alison’s history, without controversy, will take rank among the best standard works in that department o f literature. Hypercriticism can discover some defects, some repetitions, some superfluities, and even some errors ; but, after all, they detract but very little from the sterling value o f the narrative. W e have studied the whole o f the work, and, with two exceptions only, it is evident to us that Mr. Alison has well-executed a most laborious and important task, by condensing and displaying the marvellous mass of facts during the unprecedented extent and continuity o f the ever-varying events o f the French revolution, from the meeting o f the states general until the final abdication o f Napoleon. The faults which the critical reader may find with Mr. Alison’s style and redundancies are easier discovered than avoided in a history published in consecutive years, and especially where the prominent themes were altogether identical. The ex ceptions to which we refer, are his inaccurate view o f modern republican countries and political econom y, as exemplified in the United States. His acquaintance with our fed eral compact is very inadequate, and, therefore, it is not surprising that he should have mistaken, however involuntarily, both the theory and the practice o f our democratic in stitutions. The other objection arises from his partial and very inaccurate description o f some o f the occurrences, both military and naval, as well as o f our interior policy and movements, during the last war with Britain. These have been corrected partly by himself and partly by Chancellor Kent, and in a series o f notes appended to the seventysixth chapter, respecting A m erica; by which means his inaccuracies are noticed, and in a great measure effaced. His portraitures are drawn with discrimination; and, except probably some unconscious strokes o f his pencil too flattering on the tory side, and a little distorting o f the whig leaders in England, we think that he has proved himself to be a master limner. His eulogy o f Washington is inferior to neither o f the plaudits which the attributes o f our revolutionary and presidential patriot have elicited ; and with the addenda in the notes o f the seventy-sixth chapter, the objections to Mr. Alison’s avowed anti-American sentiments are o f no weight or importance; while his gallery o f portraits, Chapter L X ., is very graphical. trait. Moreover, his volumes present one noble They are replete with high-toned Christian m orals; and though he may err in the use o f his own criteria, from undue aversion or attachment, yet the applications o f the rule are very apposite; and the pertinacity and frequency with which he urges and re peats the momentous doctrine o f national retribution, and the claims o f religion upon individuals, give a charm and a recommendation to the work which, to an American patriot and philanthropist, are overpowering. T he N ew Y ork copy is vastly improved by the addition o f a most copious index , which is not found in the original work ; so that the Harper’s publication not only furnishes the author’s narrative entire, but, including the notes to the seventy-sixth chapter and the index, sixty pages are supplied for the edification and advantage o f the American reader. W e have not the smallest fellow ship o f judgment or sensibility with any o f Mr. Alison’s anti-American notions and prin ciples ; but, exclusive o f them, we have no hesitation to afiirm, that the introductory and the last sections o f many o f his chapters, especially Chapter L X . and the concluding lucubrations in Chapter L X X V III., are worth the price o f the whole work, which, we opine, cannot be too extensively disseminated. 586 The Book Trade. 2. — The Opal; a Pure Gift for the Holy Days. by J. G. C hapman . New Y o r k : J. C. Riker. Edited by N. P. WiLLis. 1844. Illustrated This beautiful annual, for the new year, is most emphatically what it purports to be, “ a pure gift for the holy days.” A correct and cultivated taste has here been* rendered subservient to the high moral and refined social sentiments o f humanity. W hile the editor appears to regard religious books, devoted solely to the inculcation o f the precepts o f piety, as all-important, as one branch o f instruction and reading, he has not forgotten that the Father who made all things for his creatures, and gave them taste, ideality, and a sense exquisitely alive to the beautiful, intended no ascetic privation o f the innocent objects which minister to these faculties. The embellishments are all from original designs by Chapman, nine in number, and embrace the following subjects :— Christ W alking on the W a te r; Ruth and N aom i; Dream o f the Consumptive; Christ by the W ell o f S ychar; T he M ill; The Daughter o f Jairus ; The Deserted W ife ; The Emi grant’s Sabbath, and M orning; which have original letter.press illustrations, in prose or verse. Am ong the contributors, we notice the names o f Willis, Professor Bush, Richard Henry W ilde, C. F. Hoffman, H. T . Tuckerman, Park -Benjamin, James Aldrich, and many other well-known and favorite writers. The articles-are generally well-written, though o f varied merit; but, where all are*so good, we feel, disinclined to compare or criticise. T he paper, printing, and binding, are really beautiful, and in keeping with the high moral and literary character o f the book. 3. — The Rose o f Sharon; a Religious Souvenir for 1844. Boston: A . Tompkins. E dgarton . Edited by Miss S arah C. 1844. This is the fifth year o f the blossoming o f the “ Rose o f Sharon.” T he literary con tents have, from the commencement, been characterized for purity o f thought, if not always o f the highest order o f literary m erit; though, in this respect, not behind works o f this class. T he engravings in the earliest issues were execrable ; but the volume for 1843 is a great improvement on those that preceded it, and the present is nearly all we can expect in view o f the state o f the art in this country. Indeed, the frontispiece, and two or three others, rise above mediocrity; and, on the whole, will bear a favorable comparison with its contemporaries. W e have not time or space to speak of the various articles, in prose or verse, that so appropriately make up the volum e; and we cannot find it in our heart to find fault with a few trifling blemishes in composition in a work abounding with pure and noble sentiments, fresh from the inspiration o f a goodness so full o f love for, and faith in, God and man. 4. — The R ose; or, Affection's Gift, for 1844. E dited b y E m ily M arshall. 18mo.,pp. 256. N ew Y o rk : D. Appleton & Co. W e rejoice to see a revival o f annual-making; and the more so, as w e notice an evi dent improvement in this pleasant and agreeable kind o f light literature. This is, we be lieve, the third annual issue o f the “ Rose ;” and, although ushered into life in an unpre tending manner, it really possesses m erit; and that, too, o f a higher order than works of this description, designed more particularly for the younger members of society, published some five or six years ago. The engravings are the prettiest things of the kind we have seen ; and the selections are generally chosen with taste, and a correct appreciation of the pure in thought, the chaste and beautiful in style. 5. — Elijah the Tishbite. By F. W . K rummacher , D. D., author o f the “ Martyr Lamb,” “ Dew o f Israel,” etc. 18mo. pp. 458. N ew Y o rk : Robert Carter. T he author o f this work is a German. lish translation. T he present edition is a reprint o f the Eng T he admirers o f German religious literature, divested o f the prevailing anti-supernaturalism or rationalism o f that country, considered by the most numerous class o f religionists here, where if is less prevalent, as “ a species of refined infidelity,’ will thank the American publisher for a more “ evangelical” development o f the Christian sentiment. 587 The Book Trade. 6 .— A new and complete History o f the Holy Bible, as contained in the Old and New Testaments, from the Creation o f the World to the full establishment o f Christiani ty ; containing a clear and comprehensive account o f every remarkable transaction recorded in the Sacred Scriptures during a period o f upwards o f four thousand years. W ith copious notes, critical and explanatory, forming an illustrated commentary of ’ the sacred text. With numerous engravings. By R obert S ears , aided by the wri tings o f our most celebrated Biblical scholars, and other learned persons who have made the scriplure their study. 8vo. pp. 672. N ew Y ork : Sears & W alker. 1843. Though the records o f the sacred volume and its historical associations have gained, with every century, a deeper, and truer, and more universal homage from man ; though the high and noble influence which this Book o f books is continually exerting elevates it above any extraneous attraction ; still do we rejoice in every effort made to illuminate its pages, or create a taste for the reverential perusal o f the earliest records o f man’s out ward history o f his intellectual, social, and religious progress, and o f those revelations which come through the medium o f the Good, the Beautiful, and the True. A work which, by historical, geographical, and scientific researches, renders us more familiar with the country and times wherein were evolved the most remarkable events in the history o f the race, from physical death in Adam to our spiritual birth in Jesus, has too universally acknowledged an interest to need a recommendation from our p en ; but as regards the splendid volume before us, we cannot refrain from expressing our admira tion o f the spirit and manner in which the publishers have executed their noble enter prise, by saying that they have rendered the mechanical execution o f the work worthy of its contents. W hat higher praise can we bestow? 7. — The Governmental History o f the United States o f America, from the Earliest Settlement to the adoption o f the present Constitution. By H en ry S herman , Coun sellor at Law, New York. In four parts. 12mo. pp. 282. N ew Y o r k : Mark H . Newman. 1843. T he design o f this work is, to place within the reach o f our common schools, and the libraries for the young throughout the country, a plain and simple history o f the origin of our government and institutions, with the causes which have given to them their characteristic qualities. There is, we believe, no work extant calculated particularly to aid them in making these acquisitions; while those from whence this information was derived were either too ponderous, too voluminous, or too expensive, to fall into the hands o f the mass o f juvenile readers. T he best authorities have been consulted in its preparation, and it appears to us admirably adapted to the purposes for which it was in tended by the author. 8. — Life o f Andrew Jackson, Private , Military , and Civil. N o. 1. N ew Y ork : Harper & Brothers. W ith illustrations. By A mos K endall. W e have only had time to glance at the outside o f this work, which is really very beat*, tiful. “ The task,” says the author, “ has been undertaken with the approbation of Gen eral Jackson himself, who has kindly put into the author’s hands his books and papers, public and private, and on obscure points favored him with his own recollections. With these materials, with the works already published, and with the contributions of facts and papers by many o f the General’s associates in civil and military life, aided by his own knowledge o f events occurring within the last twenty years, the author hopes to produce a work worthy of the confidence and patronage o f the American people.” 9.— An Address, delivered before the Mercantile Library Association, at the Odeon, in Boston, October 3, 1843. By P hilip H one. Boston : William D. Ticknor. W e regret that it is out o f our power to do more than announce the publication o f the excellent address o f Mr. Hone. W e shall make it, in a future number, the subject o f an article; when we hope to render ample justice to a performance so creditable to the head and heart o f its respected author. The Book Trade. 588 10. — The Huguenots in France and America. By the author of 44 Three Experiments o f Living,” 44 Life and Times o f Martin Luther,” “ Life and Times of Thomas Cranmer,” etc. 2 vols., 12 no. pp. 336 and 302. Cambridge: John Owen. 1843. W e have seldom read two more delightful volumes than these. The writer, an Amer ican lady, has invested historic narrative with life, clothing her in the habiliments of her day, that she may call forth the sympathies o f succeeding generations. While she con sults the best historians and biographers, she “ always reserves to herself the right of free and impartial judgment where narratives, as is not unfrequently the case, differ.” We have no fear o f pronouncing an undue eulogium upon this really excellent work. The North American Review, in order, doubtless, to display its critical acumen, has discovered in the volume some faults o f style, but goes as far as we do in bestowing commendation upon the enduring and intrinsic qualities o f the work. Reference is seldom made to the numerous authors consulted, except where history has approached so near to romance as to wear the appearance o f fiction. This, like all the publications o f Mr. Owen, in its typographical appearance, closely resembles the style o f the English press, and is not surpassed by the best o f them. 11. — Marco Paul's Adventures in Pursuit o f Knowledge. By the author o f Rollo, Jo nas, and Lucy Books. Four vols. 18mo. Boston: T . H . Carter & Co. 1843. Four volumes, each devoted to travels in some particular region o f the country, and designed to be continued. T he present volumes embrace 44 Boston,” the 44 Erie Canal,” “ City o f N ew Y ork ,” and “ Vermont.” T he object o f the series is not merely to en tertain the reader with a narrative o f juvenile adventures, but also to communicate, in connection with them, as extensive and varied information as possible, in respect to the geography, the scenery, the customs and institutions o f the country, as they present themselves to the observation o f the little traveller, who makes his excursion under the guidance o f an intelligent and well informed companion, qualified to assist him in the acquisition o f knowledge and in the formation o f character. T he author has succeeded in enlivening his narrative, and at the same time infusing into it elements o f a salutary moral influence, by means o f personal incidents befalling the actors in the story. These are o f course imaginary ; but we have the author’s assurance,44 upon the strict and ex act truth and fidelity o f all the descriptions o f places, institutions and scenes which are brought before his mind in the progress o f the narrative.” Mr. Abbott, the author o f the present series, and the 44 R ollo Books,” is undoubtedly one o f the most successful writers o f juvenile literature o f the time, and the interest manifested in his former works, which are universal favorites among the 44 little folks,” will secure for these a wide circulation. 12. — The Farmer’a Daughter. By M rs. C ameron , author o f 44Emma and her Nurse,” 44 The T w o Mothers,” 44 Fruits o f Education,” etc. 18mo., pp. 180. N ew Y ork: D. Appleton & Co. W e welcome, in this little volume, a valuable addition to the excellent series o f 44Tales for the People, and their Children.” T he story conveys high moral truths in a most at tractive form ; and well is it for that people who can peruse, with heartfelt satisfaction, what has been adapted to gratify the pure and innocent spirit of childhood. Since the above was written, we have received a copy o f another edition of the same work, published by Robert Carter. 13. — Ladies' Hand-Books. 6 Numbers. N ew Y o rk : J. S. Redfield. Boston: Saxton, Pierce & Co. These elegant little volumes contain clear and ample instructions, whereby ladies may attain proficiency in the preparation o f an infant’s wardrobe ; every department of plain and fancy needlework and em broidery; knitting, netting, and crotchet; embroidery in muslin and lace-w ork; and cutting, millinery, and dressmaking. The six volumes form a useful series o f books, each complete in itself, and are sold singly, or in sets. number is illustrated with engravings. Each The Book Trade. 589 14. — The Farmer's Encyclopaedia , and Dictionary o f Rural A ffa irs; embracing all the most recent discoveries in Agricultural Chemistry. By C. W . J ohnson, Esq. Adapt ed to the United States by a Practical Farmer. Philadelphia : Carey & Hart. This valuable work, published in numbers, is now completed. On announcing the work, the American publishers engaged to give sixteen numbers o f sixty-four pages each. T he last number contains over two hundred pages, and the volume will be found to comprise eleven hundred and seventy-three instead o f ten hundred and twenty-four pages, as promised. In the American edition the localisms and inelegant portions have been supplanted, by the introduction o f about 30 per cent o f information more imme diately relating to rural affairs in the United States. The main subjects which interest the American farmer, such as cattle, and the great crops o f maize, cotton, tobacco, hemp, and other staples o f the north and south, appear to have received the particular attention o f the American editor. The work is adapted to the comprehension o f the unscientific reader, and illustrated by numerous engravings o f animals, implements, and other subjects interesting to American agriculturists. 15. — Clements'Customs P ocket Manual. A . Sparks. L on d on : Smith & Elder. N ew Y o r k : .T. This little volume contains tables o f the duties now payable upon goods imported into and exported from the United Kingdom o f Great Britain, etc., and the prohibitions and restrictions applicable thereto ; the duties o f Excise, and the customs and excise boun ties and drawbacks ; the countervailing duties between England, Scotland, and Ireland, the tonnage duties in London, and the Russia Company dues, together with every ex isting order affecting any portion o f the same. T he compiler, George Clements, o f the Custom-house, London, has long been connected with the British Customs, and o f course competent to the preparation o f such a work. 16. — Practical Instruction in Animal Magnetism. By J. P. F. D eleuze . Translated by T homas C. H artsh orn . 12mo. pp. 408. N ew Y ork : D. Appleton & Co. This is, we believe, the only faithful translation o f Deleuze published in this country, and will o f course take the place o f several small, ill-digested works published in differ ent places, containing instructions chiefly derived from it, without acknowledgment. It embraces the general views and principles o f the mysteries o f magnetism ; the processes, the effects, and their indications; points out the necessary means to increase the mag netic action, and o f those by which the direct action is supplied; describes the applica tion o f magnetism to diseases, and its connection with them ; together with the means o f developing in ourselves the faculty, and o f deriving advantage from this development, &c., & c. About one-half the volume is occupied with an appendix o f notes by Mr. Hartshorn, and letters from eminent physicians and others, descriptive o f cases in the United States. 17. — The Complete Cook's Rook. W ith Additions and Alterations. By J. M. S ander of the Franklin House. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard. 1843. son, The present volume contains a great number o f plain and practical directions for cook ing and housekeeping, and some seven or eight hundred receipts, consisting of directions for the choice o f meat and poultry; preparations for cooking; making o f broths and soups; boiling, roasting, baking, and frying o f meats and fish ; seasonings, colorings, cooking ve getables, preparing solids, clarifying, making o f pastry, puddings, gruels, gravies, garnishes, &c., and general directions for making wines; and all for twenty-five cents. 18. — Cyclopcedia o f Biblical Literature. By J ohn K itto , editor o f the “ Pictorial Bible.” Assisted by various able Scholars and Divines. N ew Y o r k : D. Appleton & Co. 1843. W e have received Parts III. and IV., a double number o f this very learned and able work, and have, in former numbers o f this Magazine, spoken o f it in terms o f high, but, we believe, d e l v e d commendation. It is to be completed in fifteen parts. T he design o f themutbor o f this volume, which is a reprint from the seventh London edition, is, “ to paint the. feelings, habits o f thought, and mode o f action which naturally ' flow from a sincere attachment.to.the system o f belief and discipline adopted in the Eng. , lish Episcopal Church.” . Several chapters, in the earlier part o f the work, are devoted to the disfiussion o f what the author considers the principles o f the church ; but the main part o f the volume is occupied upon the illustration o f the practical working o f these principles, setting ferth .their value in the commerce o f daily life, and how they conduct those who embrace them in the “ safe and quiet path o f holy living.” It forms one o f the series o f the “ .Churchman’s Library,” and is printed in the uniformly elegant manner o f the volumes that have preceded it. 20. — 'The. Unity o f tlii Church. By H e n r y E. M anning , M . A ., Archdeacon of ChiChester.' “ Churchman’s.Library.” N ew Y o r k : D. Appleton & Co. 1843. T he present volume is divided into three parts. In the first part, the author maintains that the doctrine o f the unity o f the Church is most necessary to be known and believed, as an object o f faith, by all Christians, because “ it is in the one church alone lhat there is a revealed way o f salvation in the name o f Christ.” In the second part, he asserts that the unity o f the church is most necessary to be known and acted on as a rule o f life by all Christians, because it is a principle o f moral obligation. In the third part, the doc trine o f Catholic unity is applied by the author to the actual state o f Christendom. 21. — The N ew York Sacred M usic Society's Collection o f Sacred M usic. B yU . C. H ill . Second edition, pp. 372. N ew Y o rk : Saxton & Miles. • This collection embraces a number o f psalm and hymn tunes, anthems, motetts, sentences, and chants, principally by the most celebrated European composers. O f the character o f the music, it is unnecessary for us to speak, as the collection is ushered forth to the world under the anspices o f the N ew Y ork Sacred Music Society ; but w e observe, with pleasure, that about three-fourths o f the book consists o f new tunes, or tunes netovly arranged— so that the purchaser will not, as is too often the ease, find that, in buying a new book, he is only buying a collection o f old tunes,.of many o f which he may, perhaps, have already twenty different copies, in as many different-collections. The extent to which publishers of church music have, in this way, picked the pockets o f the psalm-singing public, is shameful. 22. — H istory o f Europe, § c . By A rchibald A lison , F. R. S. E. Abridged from the last London Edition. For the Use o f General Readers, Colleges, Academies, and other Seminaries o f Learning. By E dw ard S. G ould . N ew Y ork : J. Winchester. 1843. W e have noticed, on another page, the work o f which this is an abridgment. The work o f Mr. Gould furnishes a condensed outline o f the larger w o r k ; and he has per formed his task in a manner highly creditable to his industry, and in a scholarly style. Those who cannot afford five dollars for the original work, will, o f course, avail them, selves o f the pleasure o f possessing this admirable compend. 23. — Constitutional Law, relative to Credit, Currency, and Banking. By L ysander S pooner . A n octavo pamphlet o f thirty-two pages, in which the author discusses, 1st. T he unconstitutionality o f all state laws restraining private banking, and the rates o f interest. 2d. W hat bank charters are unconstitutional. tional. 3d. W hat bank charters are constitu 4th. T he power o f Congress over the currency. that restrain private banking, and the rates o f interest. 5th, T he remedy for the laws W e have not yet found time to examine the arguments o f the author in the several propositions he assumes and main tains with considerable clearness and force. . The Book Trade. 24. — Perilous A dventures; or, Remarkable Instances o f Courage, Perseverance, and Suffering. By R. A. D a v e n p o r t . “ Family Library,” No. 159. 18mo. pp. 335. New York: Harper & Brothers. • ? « \ There is a considerable degree of reality in the oft-repeated saying, that Truth is more strange or marvellous than fiction. The adventures, escapes/wanderings, &.C., of Prince Charles Edward, Cazanova, Charles II., the Earl of Nitfisdaie, and' others, whose lives are embraced in this volume, strikingly exemplify the correctness of this remark. The . histories of these remarkable men are charged with-such instances of courage,-constan cy, and perseverance, under circumstances the most-perilous* and-appalling, as ni'ost con spicuously show the power of the human mind to triumph over, difficulties; an'd go to confirm the fact, that nothing is to be despaired of where there is selfipossession to look danger fearlessly in the face, and promptly to take advantage of emergencies as they arise. • 25. — A Course o f Lectures on the Constitutional Jurisprudence o f the United States. By J ohn D uer, LL. D. “ Family Library, No. 160J? N ew Y o r k : Harper & Brothers. This volume embraces the course o f lectures on the constitutional jurisprudence o f the United States, delivered annually to the senior class in Columbia College, while Mr. D. presided over that institution. The outlines o f them were published some years ago, at - the request o f the “ American Lyceum.” After the decided testimonials o f Madison, Marshall, Livingston, and De Tocqueville, which have been given to these lectures, any opinion from a less authoritative source would seem an almost unpardonable presumption. 26. — American Biography. By J eremy B elknap , D. D. With Additions and Notes b y F. M. H ubbard. 3 vols., 18mo. “ Family Library, Nos. 161, 162, and 163.” New Y ork : Harper & Brothers. ^ Dr. Belknap’s American Biography was first published at Boston in 1794. The fre quent reference to it as an authority by more recent writers o f American history— the uniform acknowledgment o f its singular accuracy by those who have had occasion to in vestigate anew the lives o f those o f whom he has written— the correctness o f his judgment, his candor, and the elegance o f his style, render anything further in commendation of these volumes unnecessary. Mr. Hubbard has made some important additions j,o the present edition, which considerably enhances its value. 27. —Natural History.Harper &, Brothers. The Elephant. “ Family Library, N o. 164.” N ew Y ork : A volume o f three hundred pages, containing a very full and particular account o f the elephant, “ the mightiest and wisest o f the brute creation,” as he exists, in a wild state, and as he has been made subservient, in peace and in war, to the purposes of man. It abounds in entertaining and instructive matter, and may be read with equal advantage and delight by persons o f every age, and o f every degree o f intellectual advancement. This work was originally published by the British Society for the Diffusion o f Useful Know ledge, and is illustrated with thirty-seven wood engravings. 28. — The Token o f Love. Edited 'by a L ady . “ Miniature Classical Library.” N ew Y o r k : D. Appleton & Co. Love— the inexhaustible source o f poetry, since beauty first inspired the youthful lover’s song— is the subject o f this neat little volume. The pieces are selected with taste ; and, while they captivate the fancy by their alluring beauty, they will not corrupt the heart with insidious poison. 29. — Make the Best o f I t ; or, Cheerful Cherry, and other Tales. By the author of “ Peter Parley’s Tales.” 30. —A Tale o f Adventure ; or, the Siberian Sable Hunter. By P e t e r P a r l e y . N ew Y o rk : W iley & Putnam. The name o f “ Peter Parley” is enough to attract the attention o f children the world over, and secure for these handsome volumes an extensive sale. 592 31. The Booh Trade. — English Songs, and other small Poems. By B arky C o rn w all . 12m o. pp. 2 2 8 . Boston : Wm. D. Ticknor. 1844. T he author o f this delightful hook has been pronounced, by the most distinguished critics o f England, with the exception o f Coleridge, the most genuine poet o f love England has for a long time produced. “ There is an intense and passionate beauty, a depth o f affection, in his little dramatic poems, which appear even in the affectionate triflings o f his gentle characters. He illustrates that holiest .of human emotions, which, while it will twine itself with the frailest twig, or dally with the most evanescent shadow o f creation, wasting its excess o f kindliness on all around it, is yet able to ‘ look on tem. pests and be never shaken.’ Love is gently omnipotent in his poem s; accident, and death itself, are but passing clouds, which scarcely vex and which cannot harm it. T he fair blossoms o f his genius, though light and trembling at the breeze, spring from a wide, and deep, and robust stock, which will sustain far taller branches without being exhaust ed.” T he volume is beautifully printed on fine, white paper, and forms altogether a very attractive book. 32. —Narrative o f the Travels and Adventures o f Monsieur Violet, in California, Senora, and W estern Texas. Written by Captain M a r r y a t , C. B. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1843. The English edition of this work, which we have not found time to read, is spread over three duodecimo volumes—the Harpers have compressed it, without abridgment, into one hundred and thirty-three pages of their Uniform Library Edition of Select Novels, and sell it at 12J cents. The English edition is sold for about one guinea. 33. —Frederick the G reat; his Court, and Times. Edited, with an Introduction, by T homas • ampbell, Esq., author of the “ Pleasures of Hope.” Second series. 2vols. 12mo. Philadelphia : Lea & Blanchard. T he character o f Frederick the Great, and the eventful times in which he lived, give to these volumes a deep interest. The changes wrought in the social and governmental progress o f Prussia, during the reign o f Frederick the Great, are described with a. re markable degree o f force and clearness. Practically speaking, the Prussians are,well governed, and their courts o f justice are excellen t; but they have not yet a reprdsenta-t live constitution, and they have not entirely shaken o ff the chain o f despotism, though, indeed, it hangs loosely on them. Campbell has travelled with open eyes, and a liberal mind, through the dominions o f Prussia ; walked through her universities, and convefcse4 with her learned m e n ; and he describes them as a noble people, worthy o f the freest possible constitution. 34. —D’ Aubigne’s H istory o f the Eefonnation. 3 vols. 12mo. New York: Robert" Carter. It is but little more than a year since the first edition of this remarkable work appeared; and already have the publishers printed and sold twenty-two thousandcopies. The fourth volume is expected soon, and will be issued by the same publishers, uniform with the present edition. It is the only genuine edition published in this country ; the edition now in course of publication in Philadelphia having omitted the notes, which form a most val uable portion of the work. 35. — The Songs o f Beranger, in English. With a Sketch of the Author’s Life. 12mo. Philadelphia : Carey & Hart. This is the first collection that has been made, in this country, of the “ greatest lyric poet of all ages.” The translations are by various hands, and, of course, of unequal merit. The larger number have appeared in various British periodicals, a few are from American magazines, and the remainder are original translations. The selection is made with taste and judgment; and such songs are embraced in the volume (fifty-six) as, in their English dress, give the most true impression of the author’s genius. The volume is elegantly printed, on very beautiful paper.
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