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T IIE
MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE,
E stablis3u*d J u l y , I S 3 9 ,
BY FREEMAN HUNT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
CONTENTS
OF NO. V I ,
VOL. XI.
ARTI CLES.
ART.
PAGE.
I.
Germany, and the Commercial Treaty o f Berlin, ................................................ 491
II. Commerce o f the P rairies,............................................................................................ 501
III. The Cotton Trade.
By Professor M 'C ay , o f the University o f Georgia,........ 517
IV. The Post-Office Department, considered with reference to its Condition, P oli
V.
VI.
cy , Prospects, and Remedies. By Hon. F. O. J. S m ith , o f M aine,................ 522
British Bounties on Manufactures. By H en ry G. R ice, Merchant, o f M ass.,. 539
Anthracite Coal Trade, by Railways and Canals.
By J. E. B loomfield, of
N ew Y o rk ,...................................
VII.
541
Annals o f American Commerce, No. 4 ,................................................................... 545
MONTHLY COMMERCI AL CHRONI CLE,
EMBRACING A FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES, ETC., ILLUSTRATED
W ITH
TABLES, AS FOLLOWS :
Means and Liabilities o f the N ew Y ork Banks,................................................................ 54G
Imports into N ew Y ork, for last ten months,.......................................................... ........... 547
United States Deposits in different Banks,.......................................................................... 548
United States Deposits in N ew Y ork city,.......................................................................... 548
Loans o f Deposit Banks in N ew Y ork ,............................................................................... 548
Revenue and Expenditure o f the United States, for year ending Sept. 30, 1844,__ 549
Progress o f Cuba Commerce,................................................................................................. 550
Progress o f the Commerce o f the United States,............................................................. 550
Revenues o f Great Britain, from 1836 to 1844,............................................................... 551
Export o f British Manufactures from Great Britain, from 1841 to 1844,.................... 552
Progress o f British Exports o f Cotton Goods, etc.,........................................................... 552
Cotton taken for Consumption in Great Britain, from 1841 to 1844,............................. 552
MERCANTILE
LAAV D E P A R T M E N T .
Decision in United States Circuit Court, before Judge Betts,............................. ........... 553
Edward W hite, W illiam Sturgis, and William Shaw, vs. Edward Curtis.................... 553
V O L . X I .---- NO. V I .
38
490
Table o f Contents.
P1.GI-
COMMERCIAL
STATISTICS.
Tobacco Trade o f Virginia, for the last ten years, from 1835 to 1844,......................... 559
Sperm Oil Trade o f the United States, for 1844 and 1845,...........................................
560
Trade and Navigation o f England, for 1843 and 1844,.................................................. 561
Imports into the United Kingdom o f Foreign and Colonial Merchandise, in 1843
and 1844,.............................................................................................................................. 562
Exports o f Foreign and Colonial Merchandise front the United Kingdom, in 1843
and 1844,.............................................................................................................................. 565
Exports o f British Produce and Manufactures from the United Kingdom, in 1843
and 1844,.............................................................................................................................. 565
Vessels employed in the Foreign Trade o f the United Kingdom, in 1843 and 1844,. 566
Vessels employed in the Coasting Trade o f the United Kingdom, in 1843 and 1844, 567
Produce o f Customs Duties in the United Kingdom, in 1843 and 1844,..................... 567
Importation o f Flour and Grain into Great Britain, for 12 years,.................................. 567
RAILROAD
STATISTICS.
Railways in F rance,................................................................................................................. 568
British Railway Statistics,...................................................................................
569
NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
Loss o f Vessels on the Bahama Banks,...... ...................................................- ............. .
570
Sunken R ock near the Island o f R ockal,............................................................................ 570
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.
M exican Law relative to Foreigners,...........................................................
571
Regulations at R io Janeiro, relative to Postage on Letters, Books, Newspapers, etc., 572
MERCANTILE
MISCELLANIES.
Mercantile Library Association o f Boston,......................................................................... 572
T he Question for Accountants, by J. W . W right,............................................................. 573
Answer to Mr. Ileriot’s Question, by Thomas Jones,...................................................... 574
Commerce and Manufactures in Greece,............................................................................. 575
B ook o f the Exploring Expedition,..................................................................................... 576
Iron Trade on the Continent o f Europe,............................................................................. 576
Late Hours o f Business,........................................................................................................ 577
Missouri Iron Mountains,...................................................................................................... 577
Self-Reliance Important to the Merchant,.......................................................................... 578
Advice to Traders in Africa,.................................................................................................. 578
THE BOOK T R A D E .
American Almanac— American W ild Flowers.................................................................. 579
Rose o f Sharon— Novels o f Frederika Bremer,................................................................ 580
Revolutionary Orders o f General Washington,................................................................. 580
B ooks for Children— Frost’s Book o f the Indians o f North America,......................... 581
Halstead’s (Caroline) Richard III.— Bushe’s Anastasis,.................................................. 582
Hemans’s (Mrs.) W orks— Maryatt’s Settlers in Canada,................................................ 582
Sparks’s American Biography— Griswold’s Christian Ballads,....................................... 583
B oyd’s Rhetoric and Criticism— Campbell’s Philosophy o f Rhetoric,.......................... 583
Everest’s M oss-Rose and Hare-Bell,................................................................................... 583
Gilman’s (Caroline) Oracles from the Poets,..................................................................... 584
Bement’s Poulterer’s Companion— Draper’s Organization o f Plants,.,......................... 584
Vandenhoff’s System o f Elocution— M ora Carmody,...................................................... 584
t
H U N T ’S
KERCH A I T S ’ MAGAZIIE.
D E C E M B E R ,
1844.
A et . I.— G E R M A N Y , A N D T H E C O M M E R C IA L T R E A T Y O F B E R L IN .
W e think that the great commercial union o f the German states, which,
in a very short space o f time, has wrought among them a reform amount
ing to revolution, merits a more particular study from our citizens than it
has yet generally obtained ; and this, as well on account o f the resem
blance o f many o f its features to those o f our own confederation, as o f the
relation to it in which we at present stand. Perhaps a few remarks on
our part may serve to direct the attention o f some to this subject. W e
will make them without further introduction.
H alf a generation ago, only, the schoolboy who was studying his map
of what is named Germany, seeing a number o f blotches o f every shape,
size and color, dotted over it from one end to the other, blue, green, red,
white and yellow, many times repeated, all numbered, with reference to
the margin ; because their diminutive size rendered it impossible other
wise to indicate their names ; was taught to his astonishment, that each
of them represented a sovereignty, or fragment o f one, as selfishly inde
pendent o f its neighbors as though it were one o f the first o f first rate powers. The traveller in Germany too, was taught the distinct supremacy o f
each state he visited, more forcibly than the school boy. At the present
time, such a one, when he is journeying along through what seems to him
to be one and the same country, inhabited by one and the same people,
is told often when he can discern no natural boundary even by stretch of
imagination, by his merely meeting a boundary post or two, painted dif
ferently from the last that he passed by— by meeting differently dressed
soldiers and a different assortment o f colors for the national flag, that he
has changed by one revolution o f the wheels o f his post chaise, the govern
ment, constitution, laws and monarch under whom he lives; he may even
by possibility be thus called upon to observe that he has gone from one
of the Saxes to a bit o f Prussia, Prussia to some of the Hesses, and Hessee
to another part o f Saxony again, in the course o f an hour’s drive in one
direction, straightforward as the crow flies ; then, however, the experi-
492
Germany, and the Commercial Treaty o f Berlin.
ence did not end here with him. He found no single attribute of sovereignty wanting in the smallest o f the territories through which he passed.
Above all, was he called upon to recognize the existence of that right of
independent governments, which consists in the offering o f constant annoying impediments to the change o f place o f man and merchandize. At
the crossing o f any one o f the many Mason & Dixon’s lines which divide
the territory o f one state from that o f its neighbors, he was stopped and
made to undergo a rigid examination o f his person and effects, nor was
he permitted to travel onward, before making disbursements for the affix
ing o f certain endorsements to his passport, and for the payment o f duties
o f export and import on his baggage, to certain government police or cus
tom house officers, authorized to receive, or help themselves to the same.
Unnatural, indeed, was this condition o f things, and grievous were the
consequences also, resulting from it. The self-isolating sort o f indepen
dence o f each German state was detrimental in the highest degree to the
just exchanges o f commerce between them all. Many have no outlet for
their surplus products, and no great channels for receiving their equiva
lent, but rivers which empty into the sea within the territory o f other
states. These latter had, consequently, the power o f controlling, or even
entirely putting a stop to their trade ; and this power, although the per
jurers o f the holy alliance, expressly guaranteed to every subject o f the old
confederation, the right o f freely navigating such rivers, some o f them exercised with a most unsparing hand. The brigand barons o f the Rhino
in the old time were used to lie in wait like spiders watching for flies,
ready to pounce upon the poor merchant whose boat passed by their for
tress towers, and to either despoil him o f all his goods, or commit upon
him that partial kind of robbery, which consists in levying toll or custom ;
so, in our own civilized times was the same sort o f wrong perpetrated by
their successors, the princes o f the empire by the grace o f God, Metternich and Lord Castlereagh. All was grist that came to their mill. Scarce
any thing that would bear a duty was exempted from it. Each state en
deavored to overreach its neighbor by increasing its tariff; and, indeed,
for many articles, made it amount to a prohibitory one. As must always
happen in such cases, the tax thus imposed upon the merchant, fell upon
the people at large, and ultimately, by diminishing his resources and reve
nues, upon the monarch himself. Commerce languished, and all industry
with it, and the subject suffered without profit to his ruler. Besides, to
the governments it was a great difficulty to raise these imposts. The
similarity o f language o f the contiguous countries, the noble rivers which
run through them, and the want o f natural barriers between them— all
elements o f strength to a people united— disunited, was their weakness.
Smuggling abounded, and the immoralities consequent upon it. To sup
press this, as far as possible, an army o f custom house officers was found
necessary, and these, while they devoured the substance o f the land, were,
o f course, so many taken away from the number o f producers.
This artificial state o f things might have been endured by the Ger
mans, so long as they felt as aliens to one another; but this sort o f feel
ing ceased before Leipzig and W aterloo; and since the pacification, up
to our own day, all the tendency o f their education has been to teach
them, on the other hand, that they are brethren, who ought to prize and
cultivate as something sacred, their relationship. All the thinkers of Ger
many have been given to discoursing upon this theme ; and it has been
Germany, and ike Commercial Treaty o f Berlin.
493
the fashion among them, in like manner, to deplore the disunion which
fritters away the resources o f their common land. When, therefore, the
people, suffering directly in their existence o f every day from the evils of
disunion, failed not to discover its absolute needlessness, they very natu
rally turned the force o f the existing active spirit o f nationality, upon the
actual grievance which oppressed them. Here was an example o f the
ill— an incarnation o f the evil principle. ; here was an occasion for the
application o f the remedy. Men talked and wrote upon the matter, from
one end o f the country to the other, till the slow mind o f the mass was
moved. The disturbances in 1831, when an exasperated peasantry rose,
somewhat like the Rebeccaites o f Wales, last year, to destroy the custom
houses, where were carried into effect the legalized robberies upon them,
were put down by bloodshed and force o f arms; but they showed that
the burden*had grown too oppressive to be any longer borne. It was evi
dent to all who then looked on observingly, that some change must soon
take place.
Prussia, the young monarchy o f Europe, took the initiative, in availing
herself o f this disposition. She was governed at this time by an old man
whose increasing 3-ears were teaching him increasing cautious forethought,
— an old man who had been taught, by dear experience o f misfortune,
more wisdom than it usually falls to the lot o f monarchs to possess.
Through the want o f co-operation o f the German potentates, Frederick
William had seen himself degraded and stripped o f power, his people plun
dered, and his family insulted; and, on the other hand, he had seen his
hated master, Bonaparte driven back to France, and himself disenthralled
by the after union o f themselves and subjects— reverses from which no
fool could fail to draw the obvious lesson. He saw that his dominions
were in detached portions separated from each other by intervening do
main o f other powers ; he saw that his Rhenish provinces advanced like
“ enfans perdus” beyond the main body o f his possessions, would be an
easy prey to the next French invaders that crossed the castled river, and
thoughts o f the possible propagandist consequences of the revolution o f
1839, whose shock in France vibrated throughout Eastern Europe, made
him tremble ; for he felt that of his own unassisted strength he was as little,
able to defend his kingdom as thirty years before. In view o f continued
peace, he might perhaps have thought it more favorable to the interests
of despotism, that the detached arrows of the people’s strength should not
be bound together in one bundle, but in view o f war, he saw in it his only
hope o f salvation. Accordingly, after sometime spent in preparatory ncgociations, in 1833, he formed a league with the only five Powers he could
induce to join him, for the purpose o f putting an end, as far at least as the
instrumentality o f each was concerned, to these evils ; calling it the. “ Zoll
Verein,” or Toll Union. This was the nucleus o f the present powerful
association. It succeeded so well in attaining its designed object, that as
its prosperity increased, other powers found it impossible to resist the
wishes o f their subjects, and the working o f the iasionary legislation which
the associated states, in some cases, purposely directed against them. They
were obliged one after another to give in their adhesion also, to it; and
now, the Zoll Verein unites about two-thirds o f all the German population.
These have reciprocally established a system of weights and measures,
adjusted according to one approved unvarying standard.
494
Germany, and the Commercial Treaty o f B erlin.
A uniform coinage, which secures a uniform measure o f value to all
the people, and at the same time puts in circulation one coin to remind
them that they are one nation.
Uniform commercial regulations as regards the intercourse o f the states
with stranger nations; a power being conferred upon the Senate which
regulates the affairs o f the Union, o f making treaties with foreign powers
binding upon the whole confederation, which enables them to bargain as
buyers by wholesale, united in one firm, and not as heretofore, like petty
retailers, striving to underbid each other.
Uniform duties o f import, export and transit; and a kind o f free trade
and intercourse similar to that o f our own blessed Union. The frontier
states levy the duties agreed upon by the states in council, on merchan
dize coming from abroad, and the receipts are divided among all o f them,
in a strict rated proportion to the population o f each. The flintier once
passed, all goods except salt and playing cards, are free to move wherever
their owner lists, many o f the interior states having no customs’ “ cordon”
whatever.
The effect o f this action has been such as was to be expected from the
importance o f the enactments cited. <Che paper barriers which before
imprisoned the German inhabitant within his own little precinct, have
been entirely broken down, and he is now free to wander about and
trade, in almost two-thirds o f all the land in which his own tongue is
spoken. A change has been given, in consequence, to the whole face of
the country. Turnpikes and highways have been mended and widened.
Twenty-one railroads, more than eleven hundred miles in length, draw
near to each other distant places, separated by an extent o f dry land.
Steamboats run everywhere on the great rivers and their tributaries, and
down them freely float to the ocean, as the Creator intended, the commo
dities produced in the countries watered by them. T o all industry an im
pulse has been given. With commerce, agriculture and manufactures
have received an increase o f prosperity. The circulation o f capital has
been stimulated, the value o f property increased.
Nor has the result o f the union been, nor will the result o f the union be,
merely to effect the objects in its terms explicitly specified. The moral
consequences are going to prove more important than the material. The
lamentable divisions by which have been separated from each other the dif
ferent parts o f the joint country o f Frederick and Gcethe, Kant and Leibnitz,
are in every sense being healed. The states are no longer SaxeorLippe
this, that, or t’other, Reuss Greitzes, Reuss Schleitzes, or Reuss Lobenstein Ebersdorfs ; little patches o f territory isolated as if expressly to be
successive mouthfuls for a devouring army. They still are called by these
names, it is true, and still have the (mal-)administration o f their govern
ments, as to many serious matters, confided to little gambling princes and
their mistresses, with little courts, little courtiers, and all manner o f such
expensive prettinesses. But all this has no foundation but “ vieux parchemias,” and the first storm will sweep it away. Not only the same
coin, but the same ideas are circulating everywhere ; not only different
commodities, but different ideas are interchanged, not only enlightenment,
but that other “ vis” o f the democracy, their sense o f numbers, is increas
ing. All northern and south-western Germany, from the Alps to the
Baltic, from the Danube to the Niemer and the Rhine, is becoming like
Germany, and the Commercial Treaty o f B erlin .
495
ourselves, one formed from many— one family o f the children o f one
father land.
In the United States, we are generally unaware how self-relying and
well to do a country is this Germany, so much has her condition improved
since 1814. At that time, when the cruel Wars that harrassed her were
ended, and quiet restored, we know that she was dependant upon England
for nearly all but the very coarsest manufactures she consumed. This is
the case no longer. Thirty years o f peace have done what Napoleon
with his continental system, backed by all his legions and the united monarchs o f the main o f Europe, was unable to effect. The soldier genera
tion has passed away, and in its place has grown up that o f the mechanic,
taught to manage other tools than bayonet, sword, or firelock, in the
world’s industrial war. At first importing English workmen and English
machines— human and iron models, she has learned to produce many
things cheaper than the country which furnished her teachers. Germany,
(we mean the Germany o f the League, for in that sense we must hence
forth be understood to use the term and its derivatives,) is capable o f rais
ing more than double the quantity o f corn necessary for the subsistence
of her population, and consequently has a large number o f surplus labor
ers to employ in manufactures. These are more sober, steady, economi
cal and thrifty than the English workmen, and being better educated, are,
nine cases out o f ten, more intelligent. Her people’s food costs them,
too, less than the Englishman’s, for there are no “ corn laws” to enhance
its natural just value, and their rents also less. It costs them less to erect
their factories, for timber and stone are cheaper, as well as the hire o f
the carpenter and mason. Machinery, to be sure, costs them more, but
a ridiculous law which forbade its export from England, has forced them
to learn to make this, too, at a not very material advance o f price. From
these causes, it is plain that they must derive a great advantage over their
competitors. The capitalist has seen this. His investment, no longer ex
posed to the hazards o f war, he has laid out his money in the creation of
manufactories and workshops in general, till they swarm in every eligible
situation the country affords. So far, indeed, is Germany from being now
dependant on Great Britain, that she is, on the contrary, driving her out
o f many o f the foreign markets she was used to call most peculiarly her
own. Germany’s exports o f manufactured cottons alone, have increased
360 per cent, in the seven years ending with 1839; that is to say, to an
amount nearly equal to one-sixth o f the whole product o f Great Britain,
and more than five times as great as she takes from that country.
Tw o o f her most important manufactures, however, those o f iron and
steel, and cotton ; the latter employing at the time o f the last statement
we have met with, 311,532 work people, are still dependant in a certain
measure upon England. The former derives thence its chief supply o f
the raw material; the latter can not make itself its cotton yarn as cheaply
as she can for it. In the production o f this article, the countrymen of
Arkwright, and the spinning jennies, are still superior to the rest o f the
world; and the Germans have so far found it more to their profit to import from them, in the form o f twist, as it is called, four-fifths o f the cotton
they have been using.* From this dependence they desire extremely to
* Thus, while the importation o f loom fabrics from Great Britain diminished from 1832
to 1841, some £300,000 sterling in value, those o f twist increased in the same time from
£1,197,274 to £2,406,396, or more than double— so as to form nearly one-third the
496
Germany, and the Commercial Treaty o f Berlin.
free themselves. A natural dislike to being thus at the mercy o f others,
does much, doubtless, to produce this feeling. Its chief cause, however,
is to be found in the fact, that Great Britain will not take their products
to an at all corresponding extent in exchange. Corn and timber, their
most important ones, she excludes by duties that majr be called prohibito
ry ; nor is she much more liberal in the admission o f others. Such an
unequal trade as this, ought not to continue, and Germany says that it
shall not. The unfair privileges which her weakness granted, her strength
refuses any longer. She has made remonstrances upon remonstrances to
Great Britain ; yet, though Germany is her best customer, better even
lately than the United States, taking as she does seven millions and a
half sterling annually o f her exported manufactures, which is one-sixth of
their entire amount, Great Britain thinks fit to turn a deaf ear to her
complaints. Germany has been forced to retaliate in self defence. Al
ready she has made her duty almost prohibitory for Great Britain’s
coarser kinds o f cotton goods ; nearly twenty-seven times as great as
that upon twist, and quite recently has made an important increase for
her mixed cotton and woolen stuffs. Still having failed to induce her to
modify her tariff, Germany, wishing only justice, as is proved by her hav
ing offered to make direct concessions to the British government, if it
would lower the duty on cotton velvets merely, at last says openly, like
the old man to the apple stealers, that “ if grass won’t do, she must have
recourse to stones,” and declares her determination, come what may, to
tax the unfair trader’s chief exports to her ; iron 33 per cent, and twist,
$1 38 each centner (113 19-50 lbs. nearly) more than at present, or cent
per cent. This also seems to be without effect, no return having been made
to it on the part o f Great Britain but arrogant language, o f which the
Downing street despatch o f the Earl o f Aberdeen to Lord Westmoreland,
that made its appearance not a great while ago in our newspapers, may
be taken as a fair specimen. She abates none o f her pretensions, refuses
to do any justice, and instead, tries to bully Germany out o f her purpose
by obscure threats o f retaliation and the Lord knows what. But in spite
o f Lord Aberdeen and his menaces, she will put it into execution. The
enhancement of the duty on iron and steel will no doubt increase the cost
o f her manufactures o f these articles ; and candidly, we cannot but think
her course, in this respect, though perfectly justifiable, unwise, since it may
render her unable to sustain heA elf in her newly obtained markets; but,
to spin her own cotton, will cost her but little, and that little the people
are willing to pay. Her manufactories of twist have increased up to the
present date with surprising rapidity; a sufficient proof o f which is to he
found in the fact, that her import oirate cotton increased 260 per cent in
the seven years ending 1840 ; and the cotton spinners, having grown into
an important and powerful interest, arc strenuously “ agitating” the ques
tion o f having this tax laid in their favor.
Now, should the spinners obtain the increased protection proposed,
should what we may call a rupture o f friendly commercial intercourse
amount o f the total imports from thence. T he average number o f pounds weight of
twist imported annually, on on average, o f the three years, 1837, 1838, 1839, was
50,888,970 pounds; and i f we account 70,000,000 pounds for the quantity o f it con
sumed per annum, at present, which is stated to he the fact, and subtract from it onefifth, the proportionate quantity manufactured at home, we may set down the annual im
port o f the Zoll Verein at this time, as at least 56,000,000 pounds.
Germany, and the Commercial Treaty o f B erlin.
497
take place, as threatened, between Germany and Great Britain, this im
portant fact is to be remarked ; the former is thrown upon us to obtain
her supply o f cotton, and the English twist which she now imports at an
annual cost o f something like twelve million dollars, comes from the Uni
ted States direct, as the raw material.
There can be no doubt that this probable course o f trade was early
foreseen by Germany, and that in view o f it, the negociations were en
tered into, which last spring at Washington were brought to such an un
timely end. Great Britain sillily makes her manufacturer pay a duty on
cotton, equal to about half a cent per pound, or seven per cent ad valorem,
as prices go, thus giving to his German rival, o f course, a virtual protec
tion o f seven per cent, provided he receives his cotton duty free. Ger
many is thus stimulated to an additional extent to endeavor to secure to
herself a permanent supply o f this article on the most advantageous terms,
by approaching her commercial relations with the United States, and
this, so great a benefit to ourselves, she counted upon accomplishing by
the late treaty o f Berlin.
Let us now say a few words about this instrument. W e will be brief;
purposely confining our attention to a few o f its features that we know
with certainty, and to a few facts bearing upon its character and history,
that are altogether incontrovertible.
By it, in the first place, we were to give to the Zoll Verein states,
about $270,000, in the remission o f duties to that amount on the mer
chandize we import from them. But this was outweighed more than
$70,000 by those released in our favor on tobacco alone ; so that if we
had space to devote to this part o f our subject, it would be easy to show a
heavy balance on the credit side o f our treasury books, as far as the light
ening o f imposts is concerned. Enough, however, o f this small sort of
argument.
By it, in the second place, we were to give to the Zoll Verein states, if
we may judge from what is now sent us, a sale far near $ 2,000,000 worth
o f articles their own manufacture. But, more than $1,500,000 worth of
those, are not manufactured at all in the United States, and therefore in
terfere with no existing interests on the part o f our manufacturers. ' Sub
tract then, this sum from $1,950,000, being the stated value o f the'manu
factures annually imported by us, and we have a remainder of less than
$500,000.
The sum o f which, to recapitulate, amounts to pretty nearly this. W e
were to give, at our cost, to the states forming the Zoll Verein, all and
simply, a market for a scant half million’s worth o f these fabrics in whose
confection, they, by possibility, might have become our competitors. It
will scarcely be believed by one who examines into this subject for the
first time, that this is the whole o f what the bugbear language o f the com
mittee o f the senate calls the “ extending to whole classes a large variety
of articles comprehended in our tariff.”
Yet, to compensate us for the sacrifice o f buying this $500,000 worth
o f goods at the cheapest prices they are to be had for, the states o f the
Customs Union offered to open wide to us the gates o f their market, and
allow us to sell freely our national staples to at least twenty-eight millions
o f people !
The average value o f our exports for the two years, ending September,
1842, was, o f cotton, over $50,000,000; rice, about $2,000/100 ; to
498
Germany, and the Commercial Treaty o f Berlin.
bacco, more than $10,000,000. W ell, they would have admitted our
cotton, duty free, our rice, for which there is such an increasing demand
in Germany, and our tobacco, almost s o ; the one paying about a cent a
pound, the other, one cent a pound for leaf, one cent and a third for stems;
and they would have let our lard, that excellent form in which we Yan
kees are learning to carry our corn, condensed in volume, to distant mar
kets, come in at something like a cent a pound.
This is the first great concession, that, since the formation o f our Union,
we have been able to obtain in favor o f our tobacco. The great neigh
bors o f Zoll Verein Germany still continue wedded to their old policy of
exclusion. At this moment, Austria is laying an impost upon it o f near
six cents, Russia, from twelve to twenty-five, and Great Britain o f seventy,
two cents a pound ; while France expressly prohibits it, except when her
“ R egie” or government monopoly administration, finding its domestic
and colonial supply deficient, condescends to buy some o f it from us for
its own use. For half a century we have been paying unearned wages to
tobacco agents and other diplomatists o f less humble title, but no greater
efficiency. Mr. Wheaton is the first o f our negotiators who has met with
success. This is no doubt to be attributed to his enviable personal influence. His reputation abroad as a scholar, an author, and a jurist, is
an honor to our country. O f no one is the society more courted, o f no
one are the opinions on matters o f international law and political econo
my more respected. In the United States, we all heard with exultation
o f the sensation which his treatise on the right o f search excited in the
cabinets o f Europe, but many o f us were by it, first made to find out the
name which he enjoys derived from other sources. It is to fall short of
the truth, rather than otherwise, to say, that in our day, no man has stood
so high as an American statesman. W e are far from wishing to depre
ciate the greatness o f Livingston, or to deny our tribute to his intrinsic
worth ; but it must be borne in mind that Mr. Wheaton has had a great
advantage over him, in being for so long a period the representative of
our nation at the Prussian court. W e heard it said by a distinguished
French journalist, at Paris, last winter, in exaggerated language, which,
however, is truthful enough to express our meaning :— “ You have many
tourist members o f Congress, and other similar transitory travelling diplomates, but Henry Wheaton is your only Minister Resident. He is the
only one o f your emissaries, except the venerable Beasley, o f the Havre,
from whom they tell us, in passing be it said, your representatives at this
court always take their instruction, and whom forsooth, you only call con
sul— the only one who has lived long enough in the country to which he
is accredited, to understand its laws, its customs, or its language, even.”
Not to be led off from our subject into a puff, however. From 1838
to 1844, six entire years, this gentleman unweariedly labored to effect
this one purpose. O f no opportunity which any vicissitude in the affairs
o f any one o f the members o f the Union, any particular conjuncture of
circumstances offered, did he fail to avail himself. Aided by his intimate
knowledge o f German things, as well as great world questions, and by
his elevated social position, he was enabled thus, to advantage, to press
this subject upon the attention o f the statesmen who manage the affairs of
the Zoll Verein, and to convince them o f what was their true interest.
N o other man living, we are persuaded, could have completed the nego-
499
y
tiation o f the late treaty, obliged as he necessarily was, to contend against
the intrigues and open opposition o f adverse foreign powers.
Great Britain, that was foremost among these, was greatly displeased
upon learning o f its conclusion. She made angry diplomatic mention o f
it; and in a recent debate in the House o f Commons, Sir Robert Peel
went so far as to intimate that her British Majesty’s Government did not
recognize the right o f the United States to confer favors on Germany, or
any other nation, not shared to an equal extent by Great Britain.
We have, we think, stated already sufficient reasons to explain why
this should be s o ; but one, the chiefest, still needs perhaps to be pointed
out. In the event o f Germany taking our agricultural produce in direct
exchange for her own manufactures, it is too plain to need demonstration,
that we would have taken these in preference to the manufactures of
Great Britain, who does her best to exclude such agricultural produce,
and thus she would have seen herself compelled, under pain o f losing her
trade with us, to abolish her present restrictive system. This action too,
would have taken place to no trifling extent, on account o f the magnitude
o f the market opened to us. The single item o f tobacco is sufficient in
this way to affect her interests to a most injurious extent. W e conceive
it impossible to form a just estimate, which would not appear extravagant,
o f the quantity which, under the treaty, we should have exported o f it
within a few years, when the large tracts o f land at present devoted to
its culture in Germany, would have ceased to compete with our own south
and west. Still, it is not the quantity o f tobacco which the Germans o f
the Zoll Verein alone, are capable o f smoking, chewing, or snuffing,
when prices may be reduced to them, from one end o f the year to the
other, which we have to consider. The contrabandist also, would have
consumed his portion. Cotton fabrics, o f no diminutive bulk are smug
gled so largely into Austria, Russia and Poland, that substantial houses at
Leipzic guarantee to carry them safely beyond the custom house lines o f
these countries, at rates varying from 10 to 12 per cent; and, certain it
is, that Nicot’s plant is more easily transported with secrecy than heavy
tickings, or six cent shirtings. As for Austria, it is a notorious truth, that
scarcely a shawl, glove, or French silk, that the Viennese xvear, ever pays
a cent o f duty to her government; and, as for Russia, the starving Cos
sack douaniers by whom her dominions are belted round, are much too
poorly paid to be able, for one moment, to resist the bribes o f the men,
who may offer to share with them their profit o f $1 50 on every round o f
segars, and 25 cents for the same weight o f stemmed leaves. The cheap
tobacco, once landed in the states o f the Union, it goes from them to
their neighbors as naturally as water runs to find its own level.
Great Britain, then, might well be displeased, as we have said. With
the “ German United States,” for our allies, in the proud contest for the
mercantile supremacy o f continental Europe, in commerce and manu- *
factures, on her own sea, and with her own iron, we would have surpassed
her. But an American Senate has avenged the quarrel o f that proud
empire ; and Prussia and her associates are well rebuked for their ill ad
vised manifestations o f friendship toward us.
It sickens and saddens us to talk o f these things, when we think o f the
treaty’s fate, and that we are but pronouncing its obituary. W e have not
said all that we intended about the rising greatness o f the Zoll Verein
Association. Only a few years will go by, before the twelve millions o f
Germany , and the Commercial Treaty o f Berlin.
500
Germany, and the Commercial Treaty o f B erlin.
German Austria, and the three millions o f Hanover, Oldenburgh, and
Brunswick, will also form part o f it, increasing its population to over fortytwo millions, or more than that o f any European power, save semi-Asiatic
Russia. W e had thought too, o f many more facts to state, which bear
upon the question o f the treaty, particularly as to the manner in which
our shipping interest would have been benefitted by the great carrying
trade it would have opened to us ; but, let all this pass.
One word only, more. Our ancestors came from England. The an
cestors o f our ancestors came from this same Germany. If England is
to be called our mother country, then soberly and without jest, we must
claim Germany for our maternal grandfather-land. W e bear not its
name, but we take our blood from it. And now, that the world is ceasing
to be considered as left by God to his children, only that they may quarrel
about the inheritance thereof, and shed each other’s blood for its appro
priation, shall wo remain as a German calls it, “ thus lonely in the
wide bosom o f the all, encased each o f us in his transparent ‘ ice palace,’
our brother visible in his, making signals and gesticulations to us, visible
but unattainable.” Shall we not embrace our relations and acknowledge
them to be our kin ?
Looking into futurity, are not those connections for our nation likely to
be most profitable and permanent, which nature bids us to form 1 And of
which o f the three great countriesof Europe, nearest us, can this be said,
with most truthfulness, to be the fact?
France is not like us. Notwithstanding all that has happened to draw
us near to her; although we have twice fought together against a com
mon foe, although she gave us La Fayette, although we sheltered her ex
iles, no favoring legislation, no chain o f events, no earnest and honest de
sire we have to do so, have been able to deceive us into the belief that
her people are homogeneous with our own. W e can admire her libe
rality o f sentiment and her noble and generous impulses, but xve cannot
assimilate our people to hers, we cannot make them feel alike. They are,
and ever must be to us, strangers, having to be sure, great claim to our
esteem, respect and good will, but still strangers.
With England, conflicting interests, and the heart burnings o f our sad
quarrels, bid fair, for a long time, for family quarrels last the longest, says
the proverb, to forbid any cordial union.
But, with Germany we obey the laws o f nature in forming a heart and
hand alliance. After the English, no people resemble our own like hers.
W e need not dwell upon their good qualities; upon their perseverance,
their economy, their good-heartedness, their wholesome common sense,
their admirable contentment, their sterling morality, the sound democratic
instincts which seem to flow from this combination o f good qualities, as
their legitimate consequence. The commonwealth o f Pennsylvania, at
* least, knows how they abound in those her invaluable citizens, the chil
dren of the elder branch o f the Teuton family, who differ from her Anglo
Saxon others, in having come to America direct, instead o f via England.
W e were assured some time since, on good authority, that among the con
templated provisions o f the treaty was one which stipulated that a very
onerous tax, which is laid by many German governments on the effects
o f emigrants from home, should not be extended to those emigrating to
the United States ; thereby securing to us an increased number o f them,
and that too, from the more wealthy classes. O f this tie o f Union, we
Commerce o f the Prairies.
501
can only hint at the excellencies. Like many other admirable features
of the rejected treaty, its very existence is matter o f doubt, the Senate
having hid it, and its evidence o f their shame, from the public eye. i . l . k .
A
rt.
II.— C O M M E R C E O F T H E P R A IR IE S .
commercial enterprise o f the United States— a feauture so pecu
liarly national— seems ever to be seeking new avenues for its develop
ment ; not content with the ample range o f its native soil, so exuberant and
prolific in almost every species of natural wealth, it seeks not only the navi
gation o f the seas, and the establishment o f its marts in the several ma
ritime ports o f the civilized globe, but we find also a new class o f hardy
adventurers, daring the perils o f the far-spreading prairies, those “ land
oceans” o f the western world, and penetrating into the very core o f our
vast continent, hazarding their lives, heedless alike o f maurauding Indians,
and the various hardships and privations incident to such adventurous ex
ploits.
An energy o f spirit so dauntless and invincible, unparalleled
among the nations o f the world, if we simply except the elder branches of
tho great Anglo-Saxon family, may well excite our admiration, and be
deemed worthy o f all emulation. The commercial achievements o f the
ancients, the people o f Egypt, o f Babylon, Palmyra, and other renowned
cities o f the East, must yield the palm to those o f our own times. If the
productive wealth o f a nation is to be inferred from its mercantile skill
and industry, to compute that o f the United States, might prove no easy
task; and if the prognosis o f the future may be predicated from the past,
the brilliant successes which, ultimately await us in the destinies o f our
vast republic, would also supply a theme no less delightful to contemplate,
and a. problem no less difficult o f solution.
The recent appearance o f Mr. G regg’s valuable volumes, “ The Com
merce o f the P r a i r i e s which we have perused with much satisfaction
and interest, seems likely to impart a strong impulse to the public mind
on the subject o f which he treats; and as it falls strictly within the pro
vince o f our journal, we propose to present our readers with some extracts
from his entertaining pages, selecting those items o f information most
suitable to the character o f our work, and which will, o f course, prove
most acceptable to our readers. Before, however, entering upon the sta
tistics o f the Santa Fe trade, it may not be amiss to take a brief glance at
some o f the interesting details with which his journal abounds. “ A tour
on the prairies,” says our author, is certainly a dangerous experiment for
him who would live a quiet contented life among his friends and relations
at home ; riot so dangerous to life or health, as prejudicial to his domestic
habits. Those who live pent up in our large cities, know but little o f the
broad, unembarrassed freedom o f the great western prairies. Viewing
them from a snug fire-side, they seem crowded with dangers, labors and
sufferings ; but once upon them, and these appear to vanish and are soon
forgotten.” So singularly evident was this in the experience o f our en
thusiastic tourist, that he confesses his passion for prairie-life he never ex-*
T he
i
* Commerce o f the Prairies, or the Journal o f a Santa Fe trader, during eight expedi
tions across the great western Prairies, and a residence o f nearly nine years in Northern
Pdexico ; with Engravings. By I. Gregg. 2 vols. N ew Y o rk : Henry G. Langley.
502
Commerce o f the Prairies.
pects to survive ; indulging his predilections for the companionship with
the mustang and the buffalo, and fraternizing with the little prairie hogs,
wild colts, and still wilder Indians, “ the unconquered Sabieans” o f the
desert. It was this fondness for adventurous enterprize that induced Mr.
Gregg to repeat his visits to New Mexico, and engage in eight successive
trips across the western w ilds; while but for the fascinations with which
the first inspired him, and which was undertaken with the view o f rein
stating his impaired health, the pleasant and instructive volumes he has
presented us, would have been lost to the world. From his extensive ex
perience, therefore, no less than the scrupulous exactness o f his details,
Mr. G regg’s statements prefer the highest claims to our consideration.
Cradled upon the confines o f the prairies, he became familiar wTith the
habits and features o f prairie life, added to which, his subsequent inter
course with the traders, among whom he has been long a leading proprie
tor, and since a resident o f about nine years in Santa Fe, are facts which
necessarily give to his opinions and observations a high degree o f au
thority. W e can scarcely hope to impart to the reader with the freshness
and vivid picturesqueness o f the original record, a sketch o f the incidents
and progress o f one o f these trips; yet for the better appreciation o f the
subject, we propose to group a few together from his agreeable narrative.
Mr. Gregg commences his work with brief historical notices o f the pro
gressive development o f the Santa Fe trade with the United States, as
follow s:
“ The overland trade between the United States and the northern pro
vinces o f Mexico, seems to have had no very definite origin ; having been
rather the result o f accident than o f any organized plan o f commercial
establishment. For a number o f years its importance attracted no atten
tion whatever. From Captain Pike’s narrative we learn, that one James
Pursley, after much wandering over the wild and then unexplored regions
west o f the Mississippi, finally fell in with some Indians on the Platte
river, near its source in the Rocky Mountains; and obtaining informa
tion from them respecting the settlements o f New Mexico, he set out in
company with a party o f these savages, and descended, in 1805, to Santa
Fe, where he remained for several years— perhaps till his death. It does
not appear, however, that he took with him any considerable amount of
merchandise.
“ Although Captain Pike speaks o f Pursley as the first American that
ever crossed the desert plains into the Spanish provinces, it is nevertheless
related by the same writer, that, in consequence o f information obtained
by the trappers, through the Indians, relative to this isolated province, a
merchant o f Kaskaskia, named Morrison, had already dispatched, as early
as 1804, a French Creole, by the name o f La Lande, up PJatte river,
with directions to push his way into Santa Fe, if the passage was at all
practicable. The ingenious emissary was perfectly successful in his en
terprise ; but the kind and generous treatment o f the natives overcame
at once his patriotism and his probity. He neither returned to his em
ployer nor accounted for the proceeds o f his adventure. His expansive
intellect readily conceived the advantages o f setting up in business for
himself upon this “ borrowed” capital; which he accordingly did, and re
mained there, not only unmolested, but honored and esteemed till his
death, which occurred some fifteen or twenty years afterward— leaving a
Commerce o f the Prairies.
503
large family, and sufficient property to entitle him to the fame o f rico
among his neighbors.
“ The Santa Fe trade attracted very little notice, however, until the
return o f Captain Pike, whose exciting descriptions o f the new El Dorado
spread like wildfire throughout the western country. In 1812, an expe
dition was fitted out under the auspices o f Messrs. McKnight, Beard,
Chambers, and several others, (in all about a dozen,) who, following the
directions o f Captain Pike across the dreary western wilds, finally suc
ceeded in reaching Santa Fe in safety. But these new adventurers were
destined to experience trials and disappointments of which they had formed
no conception. Believing that the declaration o f Independence by H i
dalgo, in 1810, had completely removed those injurious restrictions which
had hitherto rendered all foreign intercourse, except by special permission
from the Spanish Government, illegal, they were wholly unprepared to
encounter the embarrassments with which despotism and tyranny invaria
bly obstruct the path o f the stranger. They were doubtless ignorant that
the patriotic chief Hidalgo had already been arrested and executed, that
the royalists had once more regained the ascendency, and that all fo
reigners, but particularly Americans, were now viewed with unusual sus
picion. The result was that the luckless traders, immediately upon their
arrival, were seized as spies, their goods and chattels confiscated, and
themselves thrown into the calabozos o f Chihuahua, wTiere most o f them
were kept in rigorous confinement for the space o f nine years ; when the
republican forces under Iturbide getting again in the ascendant, McKnight
and his comrades were finally set at liberty. It is said that two o f the
party contrived, early in 1821, to return to the United States in a canoe,
which they succeeded in forcing down the Canadian fork o f the Arkan
sas. The stories promulgated by these men soon induced others to launch
into the same field o f enterprise, among whom was a merchant o f Ohio,
named Glenn, who, at the time, had an Indian trading-house near the
mouth o f the Verdigris river. Having taken the circuitous route up the
Arkansas towards the mountains, this pioneer trader encountered a great
deal o f trouble and privation, but eventually reached Santa Fe with his
little caravan, before the close o f 1821, in perfect safety.
“ During the same year, Captain Becknell, o f Missouri, with four trusty
companions went out to Santa Fe by the far western prairie route. This
intrepid little band started from the vicinity o f Franklin, with the original
purpose o f trading with the Iatan or Comanche Indians ; but having fallen
in accidentally with a party o f Mexican rangers, when near the Moun
tains, they were easily prevailed upon to accompany them to the new em
porium, where, notwithstanding the trifling amount o f merchandise they
were possessed of, they realized a very handsome profit. The fact is,
that up to this date New Mexico had derived all her supplies from the In
ternal Provinces by the way o f Vera C ruz; but at such exorbitant rates,
that common calicoes, and even bleached and brown domestic goods, sold
as high as two and three dollars per vara (or Spanish yard o f thirty-three
inches. Becknell returned to the United States alone the succeeding
winter, leaving the rest o f his company at Santa Fe.
“ The favorable reports brought by the enterprising captain, stimulated
others to embark in the trade ; and early in the following May, Colonel
Cooper and sons, from the same neighborhood, accompanied by several
others, (their whole number about fifteen,) set out with four or five thou-
504
The Commerce o f the Prairies.
sand dollars’ worth o f goods, which they transported upon pack-horses.
They steered directly for Taos, where they arrived without any remarka
ble occurrence.
“ The next effort o f Captain Becknell was attended with very different
success. With a company amounting to near thirty men, and perhaps
five thousand dollars’ worth o f goods o f various descriptions, he started
from Missouri, about a month after Colonel Cooper. Being an excellent
woodsman, and anxious to avoid the circuitous route o f the Upper Arkan
sas country, he resolved this time, after having reached that point on the
Arkansas river since known as the “ Caches,” to steer more directly for
Santa Fe, entertaining little or no suspicion o f the terrible trials which
awaited him across the pathless desert. With no other guide but the
starry heavens, and, it may be, a pocket-compass, the party embarked
upon the arid plains which extended far and wide before them to the
Cimarron river.
“ The adventurous band pursued their forward course without being
able to procure any water, except from the scanty supply they carried in
their canteens. As this source o f relief was completely exhausted after
two days’ march, the sufferings o f both men and beasts had driven them
almost to distraction. The forlorn band were at last reduced to the cruel
necessity o f killing their dogs, and cutting off the ears o f their mules, in
the vain hope of assuaging their burning thirst with the hot blood. This
only served to irritate the parched palates, and madden the senses o f the
sufferers. Frantic with despair, in prospect o f the horrible death which
now stared them in the face, they scattered in every direction in search
o f that element which they had left behind them in such abundance, but
without success.
“ Frequently led astray by the deceptive glimmer o f the mirage, or
false ponds, as those treacherous oases o f the desert are called, and not
suspecting (as was really the case) that they had already arrived near tho
banks o f the Cimarron, they resolved to retrace their steps to the Arkan
sas. But they now were no longer equal to the task, and would undoubt
edly have perished in those arid regions, had not a buffalo, fresh from the
river’s side, and with a stomach distended with water, been discovered by
some o f the party, just as the last rays o f hope were receding from their
vision. The hapless intruder was immediately dispatched, and an invigo
rating draught procured from its stomach. I have since heard one o f the
parties to that expedition declare, that nothing ever passed his lips which
gave him such exquisite delight as his first draught o f that filthy beverage.
“ This providential relief enabled some o f the strongest men o f the party
to reach the river, where they filled their canteens, and then hurried back
to the assistance o f their comrades, many o f whom they found prostrate on
the ground, and incapable o f further exertion. By degrees, however,
they were all enabled to resume their journey; and following the course
o f the Arkansas for several days, thereby avoidiug the arid regions which
had occasioned them so much suffering, they succeeded in reaching Taos,
(sixty or seventy miles north o f Santa Fe,) without further difficulty. A l
though travellers have since suffered excessively with thirst upon the
same desert, yet, having become better acquainted with the topography
o f the country, no other equally thrilling incidents have subsequently
transpired.
“ It is from this period— the year 1822— that the virtual commence-
Commerce o f the Prairies.
505
ment o f the Santa Fe Trade m aybe dated. The next remarkable era in
its history is the first attempt to introduce wagons in these expeditions.
This was made in 1824 by a company o f tracers, about eighty in num
ber, among whom were several gentlemen o f intelligence from Missouri,
who contributed, by their superior skill and undaunted energy, to render
the enterprise completely successful. A portion o f this company employed
pack mules; among the rest were owned twenty-five wheeled vehicles,
o f which one or two were stout road-wagons, two were carts, and the
rest Dearborn carriages— the whole conveying some $25,000 or $30,000
worth o f merchandise. Colonel Marmaduke, the present lieutenant
governor o f Missouri, having formed one o f the party, has been pleased
to place his diary o f that eventful journey at my disposal; but want of
space necessarily compels me to pass over the many interesting and ex
citing incidents which it contains. Suffice it to say, that the caravan
reached Santa Fe with much less difficulty than must have been antici
pated from a first experiment with wheeled vehicles. The route, indeed,
appears to have presented fewer obstacles than any ordinary road o f equal
length in the United States.
“ It was not until several years after this experiment, however, that ad
venturers, with large capital, began seriously to embark in the Santa Fe
trade. The early traders having but seldom experienced any molesta
tions from the Indians, generally crossed the plains in detached bands,
each individual rarely carrying more than two or three hundred dollars’
worth o f stock. This peaceful season, however, did not last very lo n g ;
and it is greatly to be feared that the traders were not always innocent
o f having instigated the savage hostilities that ensued in after years.
Many seemed to forget the wholesome precept, that they should not be
savages themselves because they dealt with savages. Instead u f culti
vating friendly feelings with those few who remained peaceful and honest,
there was an occasional one always disposed to kill, even in cold blood,
every Indian that fell into their power, merely beeause some o f the tribe
had committed some outrage either against themselves or their friends.
“ Since the commencement o f this trade, returning parties have per
formed the homeward journey across the plains with the proceeds o f their
enterprise, partly in specie, and partly in furs, buffalo rugs and animals.
Occasionally, these straggling bands would be set upon by marauding In
dians, but if well armed and o f resolute spirit, they found very little diffi
culty in persuading the savages to let them pass unmolested ; for, as Mr.
Storrs very justly remarks, in his representation presented by Colonel
Benton, in 1825, to the United States Senate, the Indians are always
willing to compromise when they find that they cannot rob ‘ without
losing the lives o f their warriors, which they hardly ever risk, unless for
revenge or in open warfare.’
“ The case was very different with those who through carelessness or
recklessness ventured upon the wild prairies without a sufficient supply
o f arms. A story is told o f a small band o f twelve men, who, while en
camped on the Cimarron river, in 1826, with but four serviceable guns
between them, were visited by a party o f Indians (believed to be Arrapahoes,) who made at first strong demonstrations o f friendship and good
will. Observing the defenceless condition o f the traders, they went
away, but soon returned about thirty strong, each provided with a lazo
and all on foot. The chief then began by informing the Americans that
VOL. x i . —
no.
v i.
39
506
Commerce o f the P rairies.
his men were tired o f walking, and must have horses. Thinking it folly
to offer any resistance, the terrified traders told them if one animal apiece
would satisfy them, to go and catch them. This they soon did ; but find
ing their requests so easily complied with, the Indians held a little parley
together, which resulted in a new demand for more— they must have two
apiece. ‘ W ell, catch them !’ was the acquiescent reply o f the unfortu
nate band— upon which the savages mounted those they had already se
cured, and, swinging their lazos over their heads, plunged among the
stock with a furious yell, and drove off the entire caballada o f nearly five
hundred head o f horses, mules and asses.
“ The fall o f 1828 proved still more fatal to the traders on their home
ward trip ; for by this time the Indians had learned to form a correct esti
mate o f the stock with which the return companies were generally provided. T w o young men named M cNees and Monroe, having carelessly
lain down to sleep on the banks o f a stream, since known as McNees’s
creek, were barbarously shot, with their own guns, as it was supposed,
in very sight o f the caravan. W hen their comrades came up, they found
McNees lifeless, and the other almost expiring. In this state the latter
was carried nearly forty miles to the Cimarron river, where he died, and
was buried according to the custom o f the Prairies.*
“ Just as the funeral ceremonies were about to be concluded, six or
seven Indians appeared on the opposite side o f the Cimarron. Some of
the party proposed inviting them to a parley, while the rest, burning for
revenge, evinced a desire to fire upon them at once. It is more than
probable, however, that the Indians were not only innocent but ignorant
o f the outrage that had been committed, or they would hardly have ven
tured to approach the caravan. Being quick o f perception, they very
soon saw the belligerent attitude assumed by some o f the company, and
therefore wheeled round and attempted to escape. One shot was fired,
which wounded a horse and brought the Indian to the ground, when he
was instantly riddled with balls! Almost simultaneously another dis
charge o f several guns followed, by which all the rest were either killed
or mortally wounded, except one, who escaped to bear to his tribe the
news o f their dreadful catastrophe !
“ These wanton cruelties had a most disastrous effect upon the pros
pects o f the trade; for the exasperated children o f the desert became
more and more hostile to the ‘ pale faces,’ against whom they continued
to wage a cruel war for many successive years. In fact, this same party
suffered very severely a few days afterwards. They were pursued by the
enraged comrades o f the slain savages to the Arkansas river, where they
were robbed o f nearly a thousand head o f mules and horses. But the In
dians were not yet satisfied. Having beset a company o f about twenty
men, who followed shortly after— they killed one o f their number, and
subsequently took from them all the animals they had in their possession.
The unfortunate band were now not only compelled to advance on foot,
but were even constrained to carry nearly a thousand dollars each upon
their backs to the Arkansas river, where it was cached, (concealed in the
* These funerals are usually performed in a very summary manner. A grave is dug in
a convenient spot, and the corpse, with no other shroud than its own clothes, and only a
blanket for a coffin, is consigned to the earth. T he grave is then usually filled up with
atones or poles, as a safe-guard against the voracious wolves o f the prairies.
Commerce o f the P rairies.
507
ground,) till a conveyance was procured to transfer it to the United
States.
“ Such repeated and daring outrages induced the traders to petition the
federal government for an escort o f United States troops. The request
having been granted, Major Riley, with three companies o f infantry and
one o f riflemen, was ordered to accompany the caravan which left in the
spring o f 1829, as far as Chouteau’ s Island on the Arkansas river. Here
the escort stopped, and the traders pursued their journey through the
sand-hills beyond. They had hardly advanced six or seven miles, when
a startling incident occurred which made them wish once more for the
company o f the gallant Major and his well-disciplined troops. A van
guard o f three men, riding a few hundred yards ahead, had just dismount
ed for the purpose o f satisfying their thirst, when a band o f Kiawas, one
of the most savage tribes that infest the western prairies, rushed upon
them from the immense hillocks o f sand which lay scattered in all direc
tions. The three men sprang upon their animals, but two only who had
horses were enabled to make thek escape to the wagons ; the third, a Mr.
Lamme, who was unfortunately mounted upon a mule, was overtaken,
slain and scalped before any one could come to his assistance. Some
what alarmed at the boldness o f the Indians, the traders dispatched an ex
press to Major Riley, who immediately ordered his tents to be struck ;
and such was the rapidity o f his movements, that when he appeared be
fore the anxious caravan, every one was lost in astonishment. The rein
forcement having arrived in the night, the enemy could have obtained no
knowledge o f the fact, and would no doubt have renewed the attack in
the morning, when they would have received a wholesome lesson from
the troops, had not the reveille been sounded through mistake, at which
they precipitately retreated. The escort now continued with the compa
ny as far as Sand creek, when, perceiving no further signs o f danger,
they returned to the Arkansas, to await the return o f the caravan in the
ensuing fall.
“ The position o f Major Riley, on the Arkansas, was one o f serious and
continual danger. Scarce a day passed without his being subjected to
some new annoyance from predatory Indians. The latter appeared, in
deed, resolved to check all further concourse o f the whites upon the prai
ries ; and fearful o f the terrible extremes to which their excesses might
be carried, the traders continued to unite in single caravans during many
years afterwards, for the sake o f mutual protection. This escort under
Major Riley, and one composed o f about sixty dragoons, commanded by
Captain Wharton, in 1834, constituted the only government protection
ever afforded to the Santa Fe trade, until 1843, when large escorts under
Captain Cook accompanied two different caravans as far as the Arkansas
river.”
Himself a valetudinarian, as already stated, our author had ample op
portunities for testing the beneficial effects o f the salubrious atmosphere
of the prairies ; which, together with the peculiarities o f diet incident to
prairie life and its regular exercise in the open air, effectually tended to
reinstate his health ; so that the “ commerce o f the prairies” offers other
immunities beside those o f large pecuniary emolument. The established
post of debarkation is the town o f Independence, situate about a dozen
miles from the Indian border, and two or three south o f the Missouri
river. The caravans generally start in the month o f M ay; the ordinary
supplies for each person are usually as follow s: about fifty pounds o f flour,
508
Commerce o f the Prairies.
as many of bacon, ten o f coffee, and twenty o f sugar, with a little salt,
crackers, beans, & c. ; the plentiful herds o f bufialo to be met with
throughout the journey affording an ample supply o f fresh meat. The
wagons are drawn by eight mules, or oxen, the former being now gene
rally preferred on many accounts to the horse, except when occasionally
used for hunting in the chase. Oxen have been found to retain their
strength far beyond the mules in these expeditions, especially when they
had to pass through muddy or sandy places, yet they tail when the grass
becomes drier and shorter, and on this account, mules have been after all
generally employed. It is usual for the traders at first to move off in de
tached parties, till they reach Council Grove, about ten days’ journey, the
rendezvous where they become organized into a general body or caravan
for their mutual defence and security during the remainder o f their jour
ney. Travellers suffer more loss and annoyance from the straying of
cattle during the first hundred miles, from the neglect in properly looking
after them, than at any subsequent period ; the frequent surprisals o f the
Indians rendering greater vigilance, in tlys respect, afterwards indispensa
bly necessary. After leaving Council Grove, not a single human habi
tation— not even an Indian wigwam, it seems, greets the vision o f the
prairie adventurer. The name given to this spot is slated by Mr. Gregg
to have resulted from the stipulated payment o f some eight hundred dol
lars, in merchandize, having been paid to some bands o f the Osages, in
1825, by the United States commissioners, Reeves, Sibley and Mathas,
for ensuring the suspension o f hostile invasion o f these wild “ sons o f the
soil” upon the traders to Santa Fe. Having entered the name o f every
member o f the company, with the number o f wagons, & c., and elected a
captain for the command, with a lieutenant to its several divisions— a pre
caution essentially requisite, as these expeditions frequently number one
hundred wagons, and a corresponding complement o f men with their
rifles, including some small mounted cannons, they proceed upon their
travel, at the exhilarating cry “ all’s set,” “ catch up.” They meet with
buffalo and Indian in about the same latitude, but their welcome for the
former is far more enthusiastic and sincere, for their stomachs’ sake, than
the latter, dauntless as they sometimes show themselves on the approach of
the “ ferocious foe.” After a few encounters with the Indians, the party
were surprised by the appearance o f the grizzly bear, about which such
exaggerated stories have been given by travellers. One o f the company,
a giant blacksmith, and general repairer o f wagons, named Campbell,
and who was, in short, the most appropriate subject for a regular grizzlybear scrape, had laid himself down upon the shade o f a bush, upon the
brink o f a precipice about ten feet high, was taking a comfortable snooze,
while his companions were sporting in the neighborhood. During the
chase, one o f the young bears, which had been scared from its mother,
was perceived loping down the trail towards the camp, apparently heed
less o f the company. Several o f them seized their guns, and as it sprang
across the ravine through a break near the spot where Campbell lay, they
gave it a salute, which caused it to tumble back wounded into the branch,
with a frightful yell. Campbell, being suddenly roused by the noise, says
the narrator, started up with the rapidity o f lightning, and tumbled over
the precipice upon the bear. “ W haugh!” growled master bruin— “ Mur
der !” screamed the giant— “ Clinch it, Campbell, or you’re g o n e !” ex
claimed his comrades ; for no one could venture to shoot for fear o f kill
Commerce o f the Prairies.
509
ing the man. The latter, however, had no notion o f closing clutches
with his long-clawod antagonist, but busied himself in vain attempts to
clamber up the steep bank ; while the bear rising upon his hinder legs,
and staring a moment at the huge frame o f the blacksmith, soon made up
his mind as to the expediency o f “ turning tail,” and finally succeeded in
making his escape, notwithstanding a volley o f shot that were fired after
him.
Mr. Gregg alludes more than once to those singular animals, the prai
rie-dog, and their habits o f colonization. The prairie-dog bears some
affinity with the marmot, especially so in their torpidity during winter ; a
collection o f their burrows, in some cases extending over an area of seve
ral square miles, and amounting to some thousands in the same vicinity,
has been not inaptly termed by travellers, “ a dog-town.” They seem to
be remarkably social and domestic in their habits. “ Approaching a vil
lage,” says our author, “ the little creatures may be observed frisking
about the ‘ streets,’ passing from one domicil to another, apparently on
visits— sometimes a few clustered together as though in council— others
brushing the little hillock about the door, or cleansing their ‘ houses’— but
all quiet, except when a stranger approaches ; when each streaks it to
his home, while by shrill yelps they convey the note o f alarm to the
whole neighborhood. This done, they dart down into their deep bur
rows and arc seen no more till the cause o f their consternation has
seemed to have disappeared.” But to return to those portions o f the work
of a strictly commercial character; we shall subjoin the continuation o f
Mr. Gregg’s statements on this subject.
“ The Santa Fe trade, though more or less fluctuating from its origin,
continued to present an average increase and growth down to the year
1831. During the same period, the prices o f goods continued to go down
in even a more rapid ratio. Since 1831, the rates o f sales have con
tinued steadily to fall to the latest period o f the trade, although there has
been no average increase in the number o f adventurers, or amount o f
merchandise.”
Some general statistics o f the Santa Fe trade may prove not wholly
without interest to the mercantile reader. With this view, Mr. Gregg
prepared the following table o f the probable amounts o f merchandize in
vested in the Santa Fe trade, from 1822 to 1843 inclusive, and about the
portion o f the same transferred to the Southern markets (chiefly Chihua
hua) during the same period ; together with the approximate number o f
wagons, men and proprietors engaged each year. The table is not given
as perfectly accurate, yet it is believed to be about as nearly so as any
that could be made out at the present day. The column marked “ Pro’s.”
(Proprietors,) though even less precise than the other statistics, presents
about the proportion o f the whole number engaged each year who were
owners. At first, as will be seen, almost every individual o f each cara
van was a proprietor, while o f late the capital has been held by compa
ratively few hands. In 1843, the greater portion o f the traders were New
Mexicans, several o f whom, during the three years previous, had em
barked in this trade, o f which they bid fair to secure a monopoly. The
amount o f merchandize transported to Santa Fe each year, is set down at
its probable cost in the Eastern cities of the United States. Besides
freights and insurance to Independence, there has been an annual invest
ment, averaging nearly twenty-five per cent upon the cost o f the stocks,
Commerce o f the Prairies.
510
in wagons, teams, provisions, hire o f hands, & c., for transportation across
the prairies. A large portion o f this remaining unconsumed, however,
the ultimate loss on the outfit has not been more than half o f the above
amount. Instead o f purchasing outfit, some traders prefer employing
freighters, a number o f whom are usually to be found on the frontier of
Missouri, ready to transport goods to Santa Fe, at ten to twelve cents per
pound. From thence to Chihuahua the price o f freights is six to eight
cents, upon mules, or in wagons. The average gross returns o f the tra
ders has rarely exceeded fifty per cent upon the cost o f their merchandise,
leaving a net profit o f between twenty and forty per ce n t; though their
profits have not unfrequently been under ten per ce n t; in fact, as has be
fore been mentioned, their adventures have sometimes been losing specu
lations.
Years.
1822........
1823,......
1824,.......
1825,.......
1826,.......
1827,.......
1828........
1829,.......
1830,.......
1831,.......
1832,.......
1833,.......
1834,.......
1835.........
1836,.......
1837,.......
1839........
1839,.......
1840.........
1841,.......
1842,........
1843,.......
Amt. Mdse. W ’g's.
15,000
12,000
35.000
26
65,000
37
90,000
60
55
85,000
100
150,000
30
60,000
120,000
70
250,000
130
140,000
70
180,000
105
150,000
80
75
140,000
130,000
70
150,000
80
90,000
50
250.000
130
50,000
30
150,000
60
160,000
70
450,000
230
Men.
70
50
100
130
100
90
200
50
140
320
150
185
160
140
135
160
100
250
60
100
120
350
Pro’s.
60
30
80
90
70
50
80
20
60
80
40
60
50
40
35
35
20
40
5
12
15
30
T ’n to Ch'a.
3,000
5,000
7,000
8,000
20,000
5,000
20,000
80,000
50,000
80,000
70,000
70,000
60,000
80,000
40.000
100,000
10,000
80,000
90,000
300,000
Remarks.
Pack animals only used.
<t
c<
“
«
and waff’ns.
u
W ag’ns only, henceforth.
3 men killed— (the first.)
1st U. S. Es.. 1 trader k’d.
First ox’n used by traders.
T w o men killed.
1i Party def’d on Canadian,
i> 2 men killed, 3 perished.
2d U. S. Escort.
Arkansas expedition.
Chihuahua
“
Texas Santa Fe exped.
3d U. S. Es., ports closed.
“ From 1831 to the present date, prices have scarcely averaged, for me
dium calicoes, thirty-seven cents, and for plain domestic cottons thirtyone cents per yard. Taking assortments round, 100 per cent upon United
States costs were generally considered excellent sales : many stocks have
been sold at a still lower rate. The average prices o f Chihuahua are
equally low, yet a brisker demand has rendered this the most agreeable
and profitable branch o f the trade.
“ The first attempt to introduce American goods into the more southern
markets o f Mexico from Santa Fe, was made in the year 1824. The
amounts were very small, however, till towards the year 1831. For a
few o f the first years, the traders were in the habit o f conveying small
lots to Sonora and California; but this branch o f the trade has, I believe,
latterly ceased altogether. Yet the amounts transferred to Chihuahua
have generally increased ; so that for the last few years, that trade has
consumed very nearly half o f the entire imports by the Missouri caravans.
“ The entire consumption o f foreign goods in the department o f Chihua
hua, has been estimated, by intelligent Mexican merchants, at frem two
to three millions annually; the first cost o f which might be set down at
nearly one half. O f this amount the Santa Fe trade, as will be seen
Commerce o f the Prairies.
511
from the accompanying table, has not furnished a tenth part; the balance
being introduced through other ports, viz. : Matamoros, whence Chihua
hua has received nearly half its supplies— Vera Cruz via the city o f M exi
co, whence considerable amounts have been brought to this department
— Tampico, on the Gulf o f Mexico, and Mazatlan, on the Pacific, via Du
rango, whence the imports have been of some importance— while nearly
all the west o f the department, and especially the heavy consumption o f
the mining town o f Jesus-Maria, receives most o f its supplies from the
port o f Guaymas on the Gulf o f California ; whence, indeed, several stocks
o f goods have been introduced as far as the city o f Chihuahua itself. In
1840, a large amount o f merchandize was transported directly from the
Red River frontier o f Arkansas to Chihuahua; but no other expedition
has ever been made in that direction.
“ By far the greatest portion o f the introductions through the sea-ports,
just alluded to, have been made by British merchants. It is chiefly the
preference given to American manufactures, w'hich has enabled the mer
chandise o f the Santa Fe adventurers to compete in the Southern mar
kets, with goods introduced through the sea-ports, which have had the
benefit o f the draw-back. In this last respect our traders have labored
under a very unjust burden.
“ It is difficult to conceive any equitable reason why merchants, convey
ing their goods across the prairies in wagons, should not be as much en
titled to the protection o f the government, as those who transport them
in vessels across the ocean. This assistance might have enabled our mer
chants to monopolize the rich trade o f Chihuahua ; and they would, no
doubt, have obtained a share o f that o f the still richer departments o f Du
rango and Zacatecas, as well as some portion o f the Sonora and Califor
nia trade. Then rating that o f Chihuahua at two millions, half that o f
Durango at the same, and a million from Zacatecas, Sonora, etc., it
would ascend to the clever amount o f some five millions o f dollars per
annum.
“ In point o f revenue, the Santa Fe trade has been o f but little impor
tance to the government o f Mexico. Though the amount o f duties col
lected annually at this port has usually been fifty to eighty thousand dol
lars, yet nearly one-half has been embezzled by the officers o f the cus
toms, leaving an average net revenue o f perhaps less than forty thousand
dollars per annum.
“ It is not an unimportant fact to be known, that, since the year 1831,
few or none o f the difficulties and dangers which once environed the
Santa Fe adventurer have been encountered. No traders have been
killed by the savages on the regular route, and but few animals stolen
from the caravans. On the whole, the rates o f insurance upon adven
tures in this trade should hardly be as high as upon marine adventures be
tween New York and Liverpool. W hile I declare, however, the serious
dangers and troubles to have been in general so slight, I ought not to sup
press at least an outline o f the difficulties that occurred on the prairies in
1843, which were attended with very serious consequences.
“ It had been reported in Santa Fe as early as November, 1842, that a
party of Texans were upon the prairies, prepared to attack any Mexican
traders who should cross the plains the succeeding spring; and as some
Americans were accused of being spies, and in collusion with the T ex
ans, many were ordered to Santa Fe for examination, occasioning a deal
512
Commerce o f the Prairies.
o f trouble to several innocent persons. Than this, however, but little
further attention was paid to the report, many believing it but another of
those rumors o f Texan invasion which had so often spread useless con
sternation through the country.
“ So little apprehension appeared to exist, that, in February, 1843,
Don Antonio Jose Chavez, o f N ew Mexico, left Santa Fe for Indepen
dence, with but five servants, two wagons, and fifty-five mules. He had
with him some ten or twelve thousand dollars in specie and gold bullion,
besides a small lot o f furs. As the month o f March was extremely in
clement, the little party suffered inconceivably from cold and privations.
Most o f them were frost-bitten, and all their animals, except fiver perish
ed from the extreme severity o f the season ; on which account Chavez
was compelled to leave one o f his wagons upon the prairies. H e had
worried along, however, with his remaining wagon and valuables, till
about the tenth o f April, when he found himself near the Little Arkan
sas, at least a hundred miles within the territory o f the United States.
He was there met by fifteen men from the border o f Missouri, professing
to be Texan troops, under the command o f one John M ’Daniel. This
party had been collected, for the most part, on the frontier, by their
leader, who was recently from Texas, from which government he pro
fessed to hold a captain’s commission. They started no doubt with the
intention o f joining one Col. Warfield, (also said to hold a Texan com
mission,) who had been upon the plains near the mountains, with a small
party, for several months, with the avowed intention o f attacking the
Mexican traders.
“ Upon meeting Chavez, however, the party o f M ’Daniel at once de
termined to make sure o f the prize he was possessed of, rather than take
their chances o f a similar booty beyond the United States boundary. The
unfortunate Mexican was therefore taken a few miles south o f the road,
and his baggage rifled. Seven o f the party then left for the settlements
with their share o f the booty, amounting to some four or five hundred
dollars apiece, making the journey on foot, as their horses had taken a
stampede and escaped. The remaining eight, soon after the departure of
their comrades, determined to put Chavez to death,— for what cause it
would seem difficult to conjecture, as he had been for two days, their un
resisting prisoner. Lots were accordingly cast to determine which four
o f the party should be the cruel executioners; and their wretched victim
was taken off a few rods and shot down in cold blood. After his murder,
a considerable amount o f gold was found about his person, and in his
trunk. The body o f the unfortunate man, together with his wagon and
baggage, was thrown into a neighboring ravine ; and a few o f the lost
animals o f the marauders having been found, their booty was packed upon
them and borne away to the frontier o f Missouri.
“ Great exertions had been made to intercept this lawless band at the
outset; but they escaped the vigilance even o f a detachment o f dragoons
that had followed them over a hundred miles. Yet the honest citizens of
the border were too much on the alert to permit them to return with im
punity. However, five o f the whole number (including three o f the party
that killed the man) effected their escape, but the other ten were arrested,
committed, and sent to St. Louis for trial before the United States Court.
It appears that those who were engaged in the killing o f Chavez have
Commerce o f the Prairies.
513
since been convicted o f murder; and the others, who were concerned in
the robbery, were found guilty.”
W e have thus far implicitly followed the narrative from Mr. Gregg’s
pen ; for brevity’s sake, we must omit his details o f Col. Snively’s orga
nized company o f 175 men, who about the same year falling in with oth
ers equipped for the like object under Colonel Warfield, commenced an
attack on Mora, a village on the Mexican frontier. These men were
soon seriously worsted by the Mexicans and disbanded. They were, as
it is well known, soon followed by other expeditions, which derived no
unimportant aid from some o f our American citizens ; and the final re
sult o f which has lately caused so much political discussion throughout
the United States.
“ But the most unfortunate circumstance attending this invasion o f the
prairies— unfortunate at least to the United States and to New Mexico—
was the closing o f the northern ports to foreign commerce, which was
doubtless, to a great degree, a consequence o f the before-mentioned expe
dition, and which o f course terminated the Santa Fe trade, at least for the
present.*
“ I am o f the impression, however, that little apprehension need be en
tertained, that this decree o f Gen. Santa Anna will be permitted much
longer to continue, unless our peaceful relations with Mexico should be
disturbed ; an event, under any circumstances, seriously to be deprecated.
With the continuation o f peace between us, the Mexicans will certainly
be compelled to open their northern frontier ports, to avoid a revolution
in New Mexico, with which they are continually threatened while this
embargo continues. Should the obnoxious decree be repealed, the Santa
Fe Trade will doubtless be prosecuted again with renewed vigor and enterprize.”
The features o f character ascribed to the inhabitants o f New Mexico
are far from flattering to their vanity: indolent, intolerant, systematically
cringing, they have no stability except in artifice, no profundity except
for intrigue. The mal-administration o f the laws seems to be another
impediment to their harmonious commercial intercourse with the traders
from the United States. A strong feeling o f jealousy is also observable
towards the American traders, as the following anecdotes illustrative o f
the summary mode o f dealing with them by the present arbitrary gover
nor Armijo.
In the fall o f 1840, a gross outrage was committed upon a physician
from Massachusetts. He loaned a person o f the name o f Tayon, $900,
who afterwards borrowed the amount from another foreigner, in order to
repay the form er; but the individual who had lent Tayon learning that
he was insolvent, applied, and speedily obtained an order from Armijo for
* The following is the substance o f Santa Anna’s decree, dated at his Palace o f Tacubaya, August 7, 1843:
“ Article 1st. T he frontier custom-houses o f Taos, in the department of N ew M exico,
Paso del Norte and Presidio del Norte in that o f Chihuahua, are entirely closed to all
commerce.
“ Article 2d. This decree shall take effect within forty-five days after its publication in
the capital o f the Republic.”
It should be understood that the only port in N ew M exico for foreign goods was nomi
nally Taos, though the custom house was at Sante F e, where all the entrances were
made.
§14
Commerce o f ike Prairies.
compelling the doctor to refund the said amount. He had left for the
south, meanwhile, but was presently overtaken, and at once arrested by
the alcade, in a most unceremonious manner, and imprisoned till a coun
ter order could be obtained from the American consul. The former, however, determined to revenge himself, and he accordingly succeeded in ob
taining a further summons from the governor, and the only escape the
worthy doctor had was by purchasing his liberty with a bribe o f $200 !
“ But, perhaps, the most glaring outrages upon American citizens were
committed in 1841, upon the occasion o f the capture o f the Texan Santa
Fe expedition. In Taos, a poor deaf and dumb United States creole
Frenchman was beaten to death in open day. In San Miguel, the alcalde,
at the head o f a mob, entered the store o f a Mr. Rowland, whom he rob
bed o f a considerable amount o f merchandise. At the same time, the
greatest excitement raged in Santa Fe against Americans, whose lives
appeared in imminent danger; and a most savage attack was made upon
our excellent consul, Manuel Alvarez, Esq., who had always taken an
active interest in the welfare o f American citizens.
“ A few minutes after the governor had departed for San Miguel, to encounter the Texans, a fellow named Martin, his nephew and confidential
agent, aided by a band o f ferocious sans culottes, and armed with a large
knife, secretly entered the house o f the consul, who perceived him in time,
however, to avert the b lo w ; yet he received a severe wound in the face
during the scuffle that ensued : the rabble running in at the same time,
and vociferating, “ Saquenlo afuera! matenlo / ” — Drag him ou t! kill him!
Mr. Alvarez, doubtless, owed his preservation partially to the consternation
with which the failure o f their clandestine attempt at his life inspired the
cowardly ruffians. Instead o f being punished for this diabolical act, the
principal assassin, on the contrary, was soon after promoted in the army.
“ The outrage did not end here, however ; for, on the consul’s demand
ing his passport for the United States, it was refused for nearly a month;
thus detaining him until the cold season had so far advanced, that, of his
party, (about fifteen in number,) two perished from the c o ld ; and not one
arrived without being more or less frost-bitten— some very severely— be
sides suffering a loss o f about fifty animals from the same cause.
“ Although these, and other daring outrages, have been duly represented
to our government, it does not appear that any measures o f redress have
yet been taken.
“ With a view o f oppressing our merchants, Governor Armijo had, as
early as 1839, issued a decree exempting all the natives from the tax
imposed on store-houses, shops, etc., throwing the whole burden o f impost
upon foreigners and naturalized citizens ; a measure clearly and unequivo
cally at variance with the treaties and stipulations entered into between
the United States and Mexico. A protest was presented, without effect;
when our consul, finding all remonstrances useless, forwarded a memorial
to the American minister at M exico; who, although the vital interests of
American citizens were at stake, deemed the affair o f too little impor
tance, perhaps, and therefore appears to have paid no attention to it. But
this system o f levying excessive taxes upon foreigners, is by no means an
original invention o f Governor Armijo. In 1835, the government of Chi
huahua having levied a contribucion de guerra for raising means to make
war upon the savages, who were laying waste the surrounding country,
foreign merchants, with an equal disregard for their rights and the obli
Commerce o f the Prairies.
515
gations o f treaties, were taxed twenty-five dollars each per month; while
the native merchants, many o f whom possessed large haciendas, with
thousands o f stock, for the especial protection o f which these taxes were
chiefly imposed, paid only from five to ten dollars each. Remonstrances
were presented to the governor, but in vain.
“ For a few years, Governor Armijo established a tariff o f his oicn, entire
ly arbitrary, exacting five hundred dollars for each wagon-load, whether
large or small, o f fine or coarse goods. O f course, this was very advan
tageous to such traders as had large wagons and costly assortments, while
it was no less onerous to those with smaller vehicles, or coarse, heavy
goods. As might have been anticipated, the traders soon took to convey
ing their merchandise only in the largest wagons, drawn by ten or twelve
mules, and omitting the coarser and more weighty articles o f trade. This
caused the governor to return to an ad valorem system, though still with
out regard to the Arancel general o f the nation. How much o f these du
ties found their way into the public treasury, I will not venture to assert.
“ The arrival o f a caravan at Santa Fe changes the aspect o f the place
at once. Instead o f the idleness and stagnation which its streets exhibit
ed before, one now sees everywhere the bustle, noise, and activity o f a
lively market town. As the Mexicans very rarely speak English, the
negotiations are mostly conducted in Spanish.
“ Taking the circuit o f the stores, I found they usually contained general
assortments, much like those to be met with in the retail variety stores o f
the west. The stocks of the inexperienced merchants are apt to abound
in unsaleable goods— mulas, as the Mexicans figuratively term them.
“ Although a fair variety o f dry-goods, silks, hardware, & c., is to be
found in this market, domestic cottons, both bleached and brown, consti
tute the great staple, o f which nearly equal quantities ought to enter into
a ‘ Santa Fe assortment.’ The demand for these goods is such, that at
least one-half o f our stocks o f merchandise is made up o f them. H ow
ever, although they afford a greater nominal per centum than many other
articles, the profits are reduced by their freight and heavy duty. In all
the southern markets, where they enter into competition, there is a deci
ded preference given to the American manufactures over the British, as
the former are more heavy and durable. The demand for calicoes is also
considerable, but this kind o f goods affords much less profit. The quantity in an assortment should be about equal to half that o f domestics. Cot
ton velvets and drillings, (whether bleached, brown, or blue, and especially
the latter, have also been in much request. But all the coarser cotton
goods, whether shirtings, calicoes, or drillings, & c., were prohibited by
the Arancel o f 1837, and still continue to be, with some modifications.”
Our paper already transcends the limits we had prescribed, or we might
cite much additional information relating to the geographical peculiarities
of Santa Fe ; the customs o f its inhabitants, & c. A word or two touch
ing its manufactures, and agricultural produce, must, however, suffice.
The valley o f the Rio del Norte, extending about 100 miles north, and
150 south o f the capital named, seems remarkable for its beauty, richness
o f produce, and diversity o f soil. Whatever is thrown into its bosom, says
our writer, if the early autumn frosts permits it to ripen, grows to a won
derful degree of perfection— crops have often yielded over a hundred fold.
This exuberance o f soil is not, however, common to New Mexico, gene
rally, but rather proper to its valleys. The temperature is uniformly
•
•
516
Commerce o f the Prairies.
genial and moderate— a sultry da/rat Santa Fe north, is o f rare occur
rence. The atmosphere is o f extraordinary dryness, owing most probably
to the great elevation o f the plains about the Rocky mountains.
Cotton is but little cultivated here, although it has been considered in
digenous to the country, the early manufactures o f the aborigines proving
the fact, especially in this province. Tobacco is also a native plant; but,
owing to the monopolizing influence o f the government, its culture is not
deemed worthy o f much notice by the inhabitants. Flax is likewise en
tirely neglected, as also the potato, another indigenous plant.
The New Mexicans are celebrated for the manufacture o f coars-s blank
ets, which is an article o f considerable traffic between them and the
southern provinces, as also with the neighboring Indians; and, on some
occasions, with the United States. The finer articles are curiously woven
in handsome figures o f various colors. These are o f different qualities,
the most ordinary being valued at about two dollars apiece, while those
o f the finest texture, especially their imitations o f the Sarape Navajo, will
sell for twenty dollars, or more. There have been also made in New
Mexico a few imitations o f the Sarape Saltillero, the blanket o f Saltillo,
a city o f the south, celebrated for the manufacture o f the most splendid
fancy blankets, singularly figured with all the colors o f the rainbow. These
are often sold for more than fifty dollars each. What renders the weaving
o f the fancy blankets extremely tedious, is, that the variegation o f colors
is all effected with the- shuttle ; the texture, in other respects, being per
fectly plain, without even a twill. An additional value is set upon the fine
sarape, on account o f its being a fashionable substitute for a cloak. Indeed, the inferior sarape is the only over-dress used by the peasantry in
the winter.
Besides blankets, the New Mexicans manufacture a kind o f coarse
twilled woollen stuffy called gerga, which is checkered with black and
white, and is used for carpets, and also by the peasantry for clothing;
which, in fact, with some other similar domestic stuffs, together with buck
skin, constituted almost the only article o f wear they were possessed of,
till the trade from Missouri furnished them with foreign fabrics at more
reasonable prices than thejr had been in the habit o f paying to the traders
o f the southern provinces. Their domestic textures are nearly all of
wool, there being no flax or hemp,* and but little cotton spun. The manu
facture even o f these articles is greatly embarrassed, for want o f good
spinning and weaving machinery. Much o f the spinning is done with
the huso or malacate, (the whirligig spindle,) which is kept whirling in a
bowl with the fingers, while the thread is drawn. The dexterity with
which the females spin with this simple apparatus, is truly astonishing.
Some o f the gold mines o f Now Mexico are said to be very productive
and valuable, although latterly, Mr. Gregg seems to think, they have been
partially neglected. W e must, however, in conclusion, content ourselves
with one more brief extract, remarkable enough for its development of an
* Hemp is unknown in this province; and flax, as has been before remarked, though
indigenous, is nowhere cultivated. “ The court o f Spain, (as Clavigero tells us, speaking
o f Michuacan, N ew M exico, and Quivira, where he says flax was to be found in great
abundance,) informed o f the regions adapted to the cultivation o f this plant, sent to those
countries, about the year 1778, twelve families from the valley o f Granada, for the pur
pose o f promoting so important a branch o f agriculture.” The enterprise seems never to
have been prosecuted, however, at least in N ew M exico-
T he Cotton Trade.
517
anomalous feature o f character among a people trading with the civilized
nations o f Europe, as well as our own continent, respecting their mode of
formerly apportioning the rates o f duties. Says Mr. Gregg, “ 1 have heard
of some still more curious contracts in these measurement sales, particularly
in Santa Fe, during the early periods o f the American trade. Everything
was sometimes rated by the vara— not only all textures, but even hats,
cutlery, trinkets, and so on ! In such cases, very singular disputes would
frequently arise as to the mode o f measuring some particular articles; for
instance, whether pieces o f ribbon should be measured in bulk, or un
rolled, and yard by yard; looking-glasses, cross or lengthwise; pocketknives, shut or op en ; writing paper, in the ream, in the quire, or by the
single sheet; and then, whether the longer or shorter way o f the paper ;
and many others.”
As it may not be generally known to our readers, we will close with a
ludicrous recital given o f the mode adopted by the Cherokees for the vi
sitation o f non-paying debtors. One o f the party, engaged as a teamster,
being overtaken by his Cherokee creditor, whose claim he was utterly
unable to liquidate, found he had no alternative left him but to take the
benefit o f the bankrupt law, after the manner o f that tribe. He was ac
cordingly taken off into captivity o f his claimant, and compelled to under
go the infliction o f a penalty as summary, if not as sanguinary, as that o f
Judge Lynch. It consisted in being reduced to a primitive state o f nudity,
and fastened to a tree; when each creditor was called upon to requite his
forfeited engagement with a cowhide or hickory switch, scoring the amount
o f his respective claim in legible lines upon his bare back— one stripe
per dollar being the ratio usually imposed under this novel system o f
whitewashing; after which process being concluded, everybody declares
himself satisfied ;— and, what is no less singular, not a single red cent
would any receive from the poor delinquent, after this amende honorable,
under any pretenee whatever.
A kt.
m .—THE COTTON TRADE.
I n an article prepared for the Merchants’ Magazine about a yoar since,
the writer o f this insisted very strongly on the speculative character o f the
prices o f cotton at that time. Estimates o f the crop o f the United States,
and o f the supply from other parts o f the world, and o f the consumption
both in this country and in Europe, were at the same time submitted, and
the agreement o f all these with the results since developed, has been suf
ficiently near to induce another attempt for the present cotton season. As
these estimates are based on the statistics o f the cotton trade, and not on
the mere opinions o f the writer, every one interested in the subject may
judge for himself what they are worth. The importance o f the subject,
both to the southern planter and to the mercantile interests o f the whole
country, will justify any attempts o f this kind, even if they only approach
towards accuracy.
The first question o f importance relates to the extent o f the supply.
The crop in the United States promises to be very abundant. In Caro
lina, more land was planted than usual, the season has been very favora
ble for maturing the plant, and thus far, (Oct. 16,) the weather has been
/
i
The Cotton Trade.
518
very propitious for picking. The drought in the upper part o f the state
in August and September, has been the only drawback to a most abun
dant crop. As it is, the receipts will probably exceed those o f any pre
vious year. The same remarks will apply to Georgia. These states
have lost but little by emigration in the last year or two, and the natural
increase o f producers will tend considerably to enhance the crop. The
receipts in Florida will far exceed those of any previous year. The new
lands brought into cultivation in that territory, and along the Chatahoochee, promise large additions to the production. The seasons have been
generally favorable. At some places they have complained o f too much
rain, and at others o f too little, but these complaints have not been se
rious. The plant is forward, and the picking began very early. Many
planters will make as much as they can pick out, and a long season for
gathering the crop is therefore very favorable to a large yield. The cater
pillar has done some harm, and the worm has been busy at some places.
But generally, even where the caterpillar appeared, the injury has been
trifling. In Alabama, the reports have been for the most part favorable.
In the early part o f the season the cut-worm did some damage, especially
in the lower section o f the state, and in the latter part, various slight in
juries have been sustained in almost every county in the state. But the
large amount planted, the natural increase o f hands, and the favorable
season for gathering the crop, promise a large increase over the receipts
o f any previous year. The most important o f all the cotton sea-ports is
N ew Orleans, and the country from which its supply is received, is so va
rious in its character, and so extensive, that it is difficult to form any just
estimate o f the receipts. The floods along the Mississippi and the Red
river were very disastrous. The injuries from the worm have been ex
tensive. In spite o f these, from the favorable concurrence o f the early
season, and the fine weather for picking, and the high price o f cotton at
the time the present crop was planted, and the natural increase o f plant
ers and working hands, a fair average crop may be expected. The fol
lowing estimate o f the receipts is submitted :
N ew Orleans,........................... bales
M obile,...............................................
Florida,..............................................
Georgia,.............................................
South Carolina,..................................
North Carolina and Virginia,.........
1843.
1844.
1845.
1,060,000
482,000
161,000
299,000
352,000
25,000
832,000
468,000
146,000
255,000
305,000
24,000
900,000 to 1,100,000
520,000 to 600,000
190,000 to 220,000
290,000 to 330,000
340,000 to 380,000
20,000 to
30,000
Total......................................
2,379,000
2,030,000
2,260,000 to 2,660,000
Average,.................................................................................................. bales 2,460,000
This is below some o f the estimates that have appeared in the news
papers, but, excepting only the amount received at New Orleans, the rest
may be confided in, as a fair and reasonable estimate. So much for the
supply from the United States.
The receipts from India cannot well be foreseen. But the low prices
in Europe will, o f course, discourage shipments. The imports from India
into England for several years have been various, and the circumstances
which have made them larger than formerly, have been more or less un
derstood.
519
The Cottm Trade,.
1833, ..................................
1834, ...........................................
1835, ..................................
1836, .................................
1837, .................................
1838, .................................
1839.......................................
1840,......................................
1841.......................................
1842, ..................................
1843, .................................
1844, .................................
95,009 bales.
88,000
118,000
“
219,000
“
145,000
“
109,000
“
132,000
“
216,000
“
275,000 “
255,000 “
182,000
“
about the same.
“
English prices moderate.
“
«
“
high.
“
very high.
“
high.
“
moderate.
“
high.
Chinese war.
«
“
Peace, and low prices.
Peace, and moder.prices.
The low prices which will prevail in 1845 will doubtless tend to re
duce the receipts from India, but as the production has much increased
there since 1833, and an outlet for this must be found, there cannot be
much falling off in the supply from this quarter. VVe shall put it at
150,000 bales. The supply from all other countries, except the United
States and India is so small and so nearly stationary, that the average o f
the last five years will be near enough for our purpose.
1839,
1840,
1841,
..........................
..........................
..........................
176,000 bales.
112,000
“
119,000 «
1842, .................................
1843, ................................
Average,................
120,000 bales.
165,000 “
138,000 “
E* Putting together these items, we have the probable supply from all
sources for 1845.
United States,.. . .
India,.......................
All other countries,
2,460,000 bales.
150.000 “
140.000 “
Total supply,
2,750,000 “
Let us now turn our attention to the probable demand. And first, let
us begin with the United States. The increase in our consumption has
been pretty regular.
Years.
1837,.............................................
1838...............................................
1839, .........................................
1840, .........................................
1841...............................................
1842, (11 months,)....................
1843...............................................
1844,..............................................
Bales.
220,000
244,000
276,000
295,000
297,000
268,000
325,000
347,000
Av. bales for 3 yrs.
........
........
247,000
271,000
289,000
295,000
305,000
321,000
Average,..................................................................................................
Inc.p. c.
9.8
6.9
2.1
'3.4
5.2
5.5
Our factories are as busy and active as ever. Their demands will in
crease until the market is overstocked with goods, o f which there is yet
no sign. The increase in the demand, cannot, however, mnch exceed
that o f the last year, which was 7 per cent. This is above the average
increase ; but the low prices and the favorable state o f the trade, warrant
us in putting the increase as large as it was last year. This will give
370,000 bales as the consumption o f the American manufactories for 1845.
The French consumption has been nearly stationary for the last four
years, and there are as yet no symptoms o f any revival in their demand.
The following table contains the French consumption for several years
back.
520
The Cotton Trade.
Years.
1838,...... .
1839,...... .
1840,...... .
Havre, only.
294,000 bales.
240,000
“
353,000
“
France.
392,000 bales.
326,000 “
446,000 “
Years.
France.
Havre, only.
1841,........ 419,000 bales. 347,000 bales.
1842......... 445,000 “
349,000 “
1843,.........................
“
334,000 «
Our exports to France, the total French imports, and the stocks on
hand, on the 31st o f December o f each year, have been as follows :
Years.
1838,
1839,
1840,
1841,
1842,
1843,
1844,
............................
............................
...................
............................
............................
...................
...................
U. S. Exports.
321,000 bales.
242,000 “
447,000 “
.
348,000 “
398,000 “
346,000 «
283,000 “
Imports.
391,000 bales.
339,000 “
467,000 “
459,000 “
447,000 “
........
«
........
“
Stocks.
63,000 bales.
75,000 “
96,000 “
136,000 “
138,000 “
119,000 “
........
«
The stock on hand at Havre on the 15th o f August, 1844, was 117,000
bales against 157,000 at the same time last year. And although the
trade yet exhibits no activity, yet the diminution in their stocks, and the
very low prices which will prevail, will give an impulse to trade in
France, that will carry it higher than it has been for years. Their wants
will, perhaps, exceed what they have been in any previous year. Besides the receipts at Marseilles from Egypt, we may safely put their de
mand o f American cotton as high as 420,000 bales.
The demand on the continent,-out o f France, is small, and though va
riable, it will not be difficult to get at it very nearly. Our exports, and
the stocks on hand, have been as follow s:
Years.
1838.......
1839.......
1840,....
1841,....
.
.
.
.
Stocks.
Exp. from U.-S.
76,000 bales.
89,000 bales.
72,000 “
34,000 “
112,000 “
181,000 «
75,000 “
105,000 “
Years.
Exp. from U. S.
Stocks.
1842,........ 131.000 bales. 104,000 bales.
1843,........ 194,000 “
147,000 “
tc
1844,........ 140,000 “
u
Average, 156,000 “
Taking into account the increase o f stocks, the consumption o f American cotton does not seem in any year to have exceeded 151,000 bales.
T o allow it to reach 180,000 will be about a fair estimate, considering
the extraordinary incitements to a large consumption.
The great market for cotton, is, however, in Great Britain. T o esti
mate this demand with much accuracy, is very difficult. The consump
tion for the last seven years have been as follows :
Years.
1837,
1838,
1839,
1840,
...................................
...................................
...................................
...................................
Years.
Bales.
1,073,0001841,
1,222,000 1842,
1,084,000 1843,
1,276,000
...................................
...................................
...................................
Bales.
1,173,000
1,195,000
1,383,000
For the year 1844, the deliveries to the trade have thus far differed but
little from last year. The weekly consumption for the part o f the year
elapsed, at the following dates, is taken from the usual circulars :
June 14,...........
July 3 ,..............
August 3,..........
1844.
Bales.
21,690
23,100
25,104
1843.
Bales.
24,719
24,920
25,316
August 16,........
September 3 ,...
September 13,.
1844.
[Bales.
25,304
25,452
25,094
1843.
Bales.'
25,425
25,853
25,898
This indicates a slight falling off from last year ; but the stocks in the
hands o f the manufacturers, have, it is said, decreased considerably, so
that the falling off is more nominal than real. The present low prices
T he Cotton Trade.
521
will soon encourage the spinning o f coarse numbers, and thus increase
the demand for the raw material. The operation o f other favorable causes
will probably bring up the consumption by the first o f January to very
near the amount for last year. It may with safety be put at 1,880,000
bales. The following table gives the increase, and the rate o f increase
fc^ several years past, taking two years at a time :
Years.
1837 a n d ’3 8 ,................
1839 a n d ’40,................
1841 and ’42,.............
1843 a n d ’44,................
Average consumption.
1,147,000 bales.
1,180,000 “
1,184,000 “
1,384,000 “
Increase.
........
33,000 bales.
4,000 «
200,000 “
Incr. p. cent
per annum.
1 .5
.2
8 .5
This is certainly very irregular. But it is to be remarked that the
slow increase occurred.at the time o f the war in China, and that the great
increase in the last two years has been partly produced by the sudden
opening o f the immense empire o f the east. Comparing the first two
with the last two years o f the table, the increase is 20.6 per cent, or 3.4
per cent per annum. But even this is too high for the natural increase,
for we compare the demand before the war with the extraordinary de
mand immediately after its close.
But let us recur to the causes now operating to increase or diminish
the natural demand. The English harvests have been good, and the
price o f food is low. This will increase the home demand in Great Bri
tain. There is as yet no glut in the market for cotton goods, and at all
the manufacturing towns the trade is reported to be healthy and prosper
ous. The very low prices will greatly encourage consumption. The
following table o f prices shows this very satisfactorily:
Years.
1837,
......
1838,
......
1839,
......
1840,
.... *1841,................
1842,
......
......
1843,
1844,
......
Eng. consumption.
1,073,000 bales.
1,222,000 “
1,084,000 “
1,276,000 “
1,173,000 “
1,195,000 “
1,388,000 “
1,380,000 “
Increase and
decrease.
........
149,000 inc.
138,000 dec.
192,000 inc.
103,000 dec.
22,000 inc.
193,000 inc.
8,000 dec.
Av. price at
U. S. customhouse.
14.0 cts.
10.1 cts.
14.5 cts.
8 .6 cts.
10.3 cts.
8.2 cts.
6.3 cts.
...
Increase
and deer.
o f price.
........
Decrease.
Increase.
Decrease.
Increase.
Decrease.
Decrease.
Increase.
By this table it appears that a fall in the price has always increased
the consumption in the last seven years, and a rise has always diminished
it. And were it not that the amount consumed in England has been un
naturally increased during the last two years by the opening o f the Chi
nese ports, and the increased demand for cotton goods in India, in conse
quence o f the resuscitation o f their trade with China, we might anticipate
as large an increase in the demand as in any former year. T o suppose
the consumption of the last year at about 100,000 bales over the natural
demand ; and the increase from low prices and other favorable influences,
to reach 200,000 bales, seems to us the fairest estimate that can be made.
This will make the English consumption 1,480,000 bales. W e are now
ready to compare the probable supply with the probable demand.
United States crop,............................................................. 2,460,000 bales.
English import from India,..............................................
150,000 “
English import from other places,...................................
140,000 “
Total supply,........................ ...................
VOL. xi.— no. vi.
40
2,750,000
“
522
Wants
a
a
a
The Post-Office Department.
o f the United States,............................................
a
France from the United States,..............
it
the Continent, from United States.........
a
of England,................................................
Excess o f supply,............. .. ....................
u
it
370,000
420,000
180,000
1,480,000
it
2,450,000
it
300,000
it
As the stocks have been accumulating for years, and are now large
beyond all precedent, this additional burden o f 300,000 bales cannot but
be felt very severely. The following table gives the stocks for the end
o f each year.
Years.
1837,....................
1838 ..................
1839 ..................
1840, .................
1841, .................
1842, .................
1843......................
Liverpool.
430,000 bales.
457,000 “
654,000 “
England.
259,000 bales.
321,000 “
265,000 “
464,000 «
550,000 “
665,000 “
786,000 “
In all the ports.
386,000 bales.
460,000 “
412,000 “
672,000 “
761,000 “
807,000 “
1,052,000 “
And this immense stock will be increased at the end o f 1844, as ap
pears by the following table :
Liverpool,
“
“
“
“
“
June 14,........
July 3 ,............
Aug. 3 , ..........
Aug. 16,........
S ep t 3 ,.........
Sept. 13,........
Stocks, 1843.
931,000 bales.
912,000 «
935,000 “
917,000 «
871,000 “
831,000 “
Stocks, 1844.
917,000 bales.
926,000 “
998,000 “
983,000 “
945,000 “
921,000 “
Price o f fair
uplands.
4|d.
5
4g
4J
4J
4|
In anticipation o f the accumulation o f stock, prices have fallen a little
in Liverpool, and still more in this country. They must yet decline still
more abroad, but the fall in this country must be but trifling. As far,
therefore, as the future is foreshadowed by the results o f our investiga
tions, we may expect, after only a slight decline in this country, steady,
but low prices.
A
rt.
IV.— T H E P O S T -O F F IC E D E P A R T M E N T :
CONSIDERED W ITH REFERENCE TO ITS CONDITION— POLICY— PROSPECTS, AND REMEDIES.
T h e administration o f the post-office department o f the United States
has been, for the last fifteen years, a theme o f alternate praise and cen
sure, among more or less persons who have not been, as well as among
those who have been, engaged in party politics.
The ramifications o f it, reaching as well a thousand byways, as a thou
sand highways, in our widely extended territory, and attended by many
thousand active, driving agents, in the capacity o f postmasters, deputy
postmasters and clerks, contractors, stage agents, stage drivers, and lat
terly railroad agents, penny post men, runners, & c. & c., all members and
parts o f one system, and the labors and efforts o f all being guided by, and
concentrating in, responsibility to a single head— these ramifications, thus
The Post-Office Department.
523
numerous and diverse, and searching, have no equality o f extent in the
wide world o f governments, nor among any people upon our globe.*
Upon a smaller scale o f territory, its similitude may be found in the
English post-office system. But the wide extension o f the system here,
among sparsely as well as densely populated communities, renders all at
tempts at running a parallel between them, with a view to guide the ope
rations o f the larger by those of the less, unsafe and deceptive.f
That parts of this great organization should at times become disjointed,
— that a member o f it here and there, should at intervals prove ineffi
cient, or false, is not to be wondered at, and certainly ought not to be
made a serious objection to it, as a whole.
Even great abuses and perversions o f it, in the hands o f political par
tisans, have, undoubtedly, at different junctures, been endured by the
people, without suggesting the idea o f abolishing it altogether for some
* A s far back as 1828, the postmaster-general o f that day stated the number o f persons
employed by the department at about 26,956 ; including, o f course, all classes o f depend
ants in the employ o f contractors. (See Annual Report o f 1828, with President’s M es
sage to Congress.)
t In 1840, the mail service o f the United States, by stage and coach, and hor3e and
sulkey, was, in miles,................ ............................................................................... 32,481,723
In the same year, the mail service in the United Kingdom o f England, Ire
land, Scotland, and W ales, was by coaches, horse and foot posts,................
7,464,250
Excess o f former,..........................................................................................
25,017,473
In the United States, during the same year, the service by steamboat and
railroad was, in miles,...........................................................................................
In the United Kingdom o f Great Britain, it was..................................................
3,889,053
936,590
Excess o f former,.............................................. . . .......................................
2,952,463
In the United States, same year, the number o f post-offices was......................
In the United Kingdom o f Great Britain, the number was...............................
13,468
3,938
9,530
T he system in the United States requires the general post-office at Washington to open
and adjust accounts quarterly with each o f the 13,468 postmasters; while, in Great Bri
tain, the general post-office in London has accounts opened with only 640 offices in E ng
land and Wales, one in Ireland, (at Dublin,) and one in Scotland, (Edinburgh.) Total,
642. The office at Dublin acts to all the other offices in Ireland, and that in Edinburgh
to all the other offices in Scotland, as the general post-office, and accounts over to the ge
neral office at London.
T he above statistics, respecting the British post-office department, are derived from the
report o f the special agent, appended to the annual report o f the postmaster-general, D e
cember 5, 1840. But it is stated in the annual report o f December, 1843, that the total
transportation o f the mails in the United Kingdom is about 20,000,000 miles annually.
W e do not know how the discrepancy arises.
“ Some idea may be formed o f the amount o f business done in this department, from
the fact that the communications o f all sorts received in the different offices, excluding the
auditor’s office, amount to a daily average o f about 860 for the writing days, equal to
269,180 a year; the communications sent, to about 470 daily, equal to 147,110 a year;
and the cases actually decided by the postmaster-general to 48 daily, equal to 15,024
a year.”
“ The magnitude o f the work done by the auditor and his clerks may be estimated from
the fact that they examine and adjust the four quarterly accounts o f each postmaster, ma
king 48,000 a y e a r; and the accounts o f each contractor quarterly, or oftener, making
about 7,090 a year; keeping the mass o f books required in this service; closing each
year the accounts o f about 2 ,0 0 0 ex-postmasters, and carrying on the heavy correspond
ence growing out o f these extensive details.” (P. M. Gen.’s Ann. Rep., Dec. 4, 1837.)
624
The Post-Office Department,
l
substitute, as the great financial organization ol government agencies
was, from kindred objections, abolished. But the only desire excited, in
times past, by such complaints, has been, for a reformation o f the administration of the department, in the obnoxious particulars.
Events, however, have latterly brought the public mind to contemplate
seriously, the possibility o f an utter overthrow* o f the whole system o f mail
arrangements, which has hitherto obtained so much favor in the public
regards, and seriously to entertain the enquiry, what can be done for its
preservation in its present or more improved form ?
It is undoubtedly true, that prejudices and hostile feelings even, towards
the post-office department, have been engendered o f late, and are increasing, among various classes o f people, irrespective o f political partizansbip ; and we think these may be traced primarily, if not entirely, to two
influences.
1st. T o an over rigorous system o f espionage by the department,
through its subordinates, upon letters and packages that are transmitted
by the mails.
2d. T o a popular conviction that the rates o f postage, exacted by law,
are unnecessarily high and oppressive upon the social and business relations o f the people.
The motive that has impelled the first o f these influences, has, un
doubtedly, been two-fold, v iz :
1st. An ambition in each o f the successive heads o f the department to
show off his individual capacities o f administration to the greatest possi
ble advantage to himself, and to the political party with which he was
identified, and, to this end, exercising all the powers o f the department
with despotic energy.
«
2d. A growing conviction, that nothing short o f extreme rigor, and
minuteness, in exacting postage from the people, would maintain the re
ceipts o f the department up to the point o f its current extension and ex
penditures, from which it is found to be rapidly declining.
The ambition that has actuated the heads o f the department, in the
way described, is personal, and its excesses will vary according to the
peculiar temperament of the man at its head, for the time being. They
can only be restrained by a properly careful and minute legislative defi
nition, and limitation o f his powers— leaving as little as may be to the
province o f official discretion and expediency. Within limits thus de
fined, the motive in question will always be laudable, and even essential
to a proper esprit de corps in the department. When stretched beyond
such limits, it naturally begets dissatisfaction and resistance in the public
mind.
But the other motive has less apology. It begets the very evils to the
* A n intelligent writer in this Magazine, vol. 9, p. 440, says o f the opposition mail bu
siness, or private expresses: “ T he ramifications o f that business afford the means o f de
stroying the post-office ultimately altogether.” Another writer, vol. 10, p. 27, says:
" T he post-office department o f the United States is at this moment the subject o f more
public discussion than any other department o f the service. One can hardly take up a
newspaper, or meet an individual in conversation, without reading or hearing complaints.
T he conviction is gaining ground among the people, that the whole system is inefficient,
and oppressive. T he call for reform is almost universal.”
T he postmaster-general, in his annual report o f December, 1843, says, there are those
wbocontend that the post-office system is an odious monopoly, and ought to be abolished.
The Post-Office Department.
525
department which it seeks to remedy, while it aggravates, instead o f cur
ing those which pre-existed from other causes. It has proceeded, how
ever, from one degree o f rigor to another, until every petty postmaster
and attache o f the department, feels himself authorised, and even bound,
by the instructions o f his superiors, to impose postage, ad libitum, and to
mutilate the envelopes, and dissect the packages o f any and all letters, pa
pers and pamphlets that are committed to the mails, not merely to satisfy
well grounded suspicions o f fraud, but to search out grounds o f suspicion,
where no provocation whatever exists.*
When one contemplates the character o f the instructions to deputies
for this purpose, which have emanated from the heads o f the department
within a few years back, and in this connexion considers the practices o f
deputies under those instructions, there is no room left for the supposition
that the administrators o f the department repose the least confidence in the
moral sense o f the people. He is rather led to believe, that they look
upon all who have recourse to the mails as wreckers, and smugglers, and
plunderers, devoid o f patriotism, devoid o f integrity, and requiring to be
hunted and watched, and treated accordingly. Whether it is a habit re
sulting from this low estimate o f the people, produced insensibly by these
extraordinary official instructions, or an active, and abiding conviction o f
the unworthiness o f the people, originating in the same official impulse,
we will not undertake to sa y; but, the fact is observable, that go where
you will, in city or country, and propose to pay postage on a letter, or
package in advance, with the declaration o f its being single, or double,
and the official dignitary with whom you are brought to deal, in a ma
jority o f cases, will pry into it, and twist it into various shapes, while in
the act o f receiving the postage, as if to question you to the teeth respect
ing your veracity and honesty, and regardless o f the insult thus conveyed.
Small as such a procedure may be regarded in its influence upon the pros
perity o f a great department o f government, it has a meaning that does
not escape the popular discrimination, and exerts an influence in no wise
beneficial to the government. T o avoid, or to correct it, the opposite ex
treme o f carelessness, or o f credulity, need not be indulged. When vigi
lance lacks decency, it is thereby proved to be excessive. In truth, there
scarcely need be other evidence than an antagonistical distrust o f the
people, by a department o f the government, in whatever ways betrayed,
to prove, to a reasonable mind, that there is a want o f adaptation to the
public feelin g and interests, in either the spirit o f its policy, or the rules o f
its administration.
The principle o f vis major, is not the proper one upon which to either
frame, or administer, any branch o f government for a free and enlighten
ed people. Search through all history— the history o f every civilized
people that have lived upon the globe, under whatever form o f govern
ment— and it will be found, that popular discontent has never manifested
itself towards any legalised exaction, or exercise of governmental power,
* Upon their part o f the grievances o f the above character, members of Congress hava
taken special notice. The report o f a select committee o f the House, June 15, 1844,
commences thus: “ It has been made to appear that in general instances the franks o f
members o f this House, upon letters written by themselves have been erased, and post
age charged thereon, in disregard o f such franks, and the provisions o f law.” T he report,
after stating other facts, concludes with the resolutions declaring certain regulations, in stituted by the postmaster-general, to be in violation o f law.
526
The Post-Office Department.
so far as to compel the government to plant itself upon the odious princi
ple o f vis major, already adverted to, against the people generally, except
in cases where both reason and the practical result, sooner or later con
summated, proved the government to be in the wrong, and its proceed
ings founded in a mistaken policy.
True it is, local outbreaks in resistance to general laws, at points
where the most onerous sacrifice to the general welfare has been felt, are
found in the history, or have been witnessed in the progress, o f every
people. W e, as a nation, have not been without instances o f the kind, as
in what is known, as Shay’s Rebellion in Massachusetts, the Whisky Re
bellion in Pennsylvania, and the Nullification Storm in South Carolina.
These fell strictly within the classification o f local discontents. The
popular feeling, at this time existing towards the post-office department,
partakes not o f this character. It is not local, but general. It is not con
fined to any one state, or number o f states less than the whole. It is na
tional. It is met with both upon the highways and the byways ; and it is
the same in both, and in all, in the interior and on the seaboard. The com
plaint is universal, that the espionage and rigor o f the post-office depart
ment are oppressive, despotic, and illiberal, to meanness ; and that the postage exacted by law is in amount excessive, and exorbitant— out o f keeping
with the facilities o f our day and generation.* I f there be frauds, or evasions
o f the post-office laws and regulations, as undoubtedly there are many,
in these sources lie the origin, and the incentive o f them all. Fetter a man,
then bid him walk, and is it strange that the thought should occur to him,
how great would be his advantage could he contrive to break his fetters 1
Tax a citizen exorbitantly, and you impose upon him the necessity of
seeking relief in evasions o f the payment. I f the hunger o f his children
does not impel him to do it, the act is nevertheless commended to his own
sense o f justice ; and when a man feels himself pushed to extremities, he
prefers obedience to the dictates o f his own judgment, to submission to
that o f any compulsory influence, if he can see the way open to exercise
a choice without too great hazard. Not one man in ten,f the world over,
* Adverting to the popular feeling on this subject, the minority report o f the committee
on the post-office, in the United States House o f Representatives at the session o f 1843-4,
says :— “ At the present session, petitions are poured in upon us like a flood. T he people
are importunate and determined to be heard. T hey have called in, as an auxiliary, state
legislatures, many o f which have passed resolutions urging the reform, and instructing
their representatives in Congress to sustain it. T he movement seems not to be local, or
partial; it extends over most o f the Union, though there i 3 certainly a difference in the
intensity o f the feeling in different sections o f the country. On no other subject within
our recollection has there been so great a degree o f unanimity.”
t Since writing the above, we have met with the following confirmatory views in the mi
nority report o f the House committee, mentioned in a former note:— “ T he difference o f ex
pense for postage, in conducting an extensive correspondence between these two modes of
sending letters, is very great; and, as was to be expected, many' persons avail themselves
o f the economy o f the opposition line. Man, in his fallen state, is inherently selfish; and
the rejection o f such facilities, when proffered for his acceptance, is, perhaps, more than we
have a right to expect from his frailty— certainly it is more than has been realized from
his patriotism. T he opposition post-office is extensively patronized. W e have no desire
to scrutinize the motives o f its patrons. Many, we have no doubt, are actuated by the
mere selfishness o f g a in ; but there are others whom we believe to be governed by other
and higher motives. Having for years remonstrated in vain against what they deem to
be exorbitant and oppressive rates o f postage, they have at last adopted the conclusion
that it is right to oppose and evade laws which they consider as unjust and oppressive;
and they have accordingly taken redress into their own hands.” * * * “ Our gov-
The Post-Office department.
527
will respect a law that violates his own sense o f even handed, practical
justice and expediency, and at the expense or sacrifice o f his favorite or
essential interests, more especially where no moral guilt, beyond that
created by a temporal government, is involved. Witness, in illustration,
the total, universal indifference, not to say, contempt, o f all classes of
people, towards the laws enacted a few years since in several states,
against the use and circulation o f bank bills under the denomination o f
twenty, ten, and five dollars. Such prohibitions had all the sanctimonial
formalities an 1 moral influence that legislation could impart. Yet, as
well might such laws have had an inscription only upon the moving sands
of the sea shore. They were to the heart, o f even the ordinarily scrupu
lous o f all political parties, like the fruit o f the dead sea upon the lips of
the traveller, as described by the poet— ashes— mere ashes— lifeless, in
effectual, a solemnity o f forms lost in the general feeling o f mockery and
disrespect engendered by them. T o this same extremity do the people
see and fe e l— and the feeling o f the people is far less safely tamper
ed with than their sight, only, may b e ; to ^iis extremity do the people
both see and feel themselves driven by the post-office department, its laws
and exactions.
W e pause here to remark, that if there is any act calculated to engen
der dissatisfaction in the mind o f an individual, and to spread from indivi
duals to the popular feeling, it is the frequent discovery o f a system of
government espionage, under any pretence whatever, upon matters which
are sent, or received by the mails. And, to a people trained with the no
tions o f our people, in respect to the emanation o f government exclusively
from themselves, its constant dependance upon themselves for support,
and the relation o f servants in which all government officers, from the
highest to the lowest, stand to the people, there is nothing short o f inso
lence, and a direct insult, conveyed to their understandings by the pre
tension o f a legal right, on the part o f government officers, to pry into
matters which are regarded as pertaining to private confidence, and thus
to desecrate the sacredness o f personal correspondence.
Returning for a moment to the disposition o f the department to distrust
the integrity o f the people, on the subject o f postage, it may be remarked,
that, to whatever extremity o f evasions popular dissatisfaction towards the
present mail arrangements may be considered as pushed at this time, the
evasions perpetrated by the government’s ovvn officers, are, when com
pared with those practised by all the rest o f community, only as the far
thing rush light to the sun.
At any rate, we hazard nothing against common observation, and what
is notorious matter of fact, in saying, that ten evasions of postage are per
petrated, and the legitimate revenue of the department is ten times avoided,
eminent is entirely based on popular opinion; the House o f Representatives, the laws, and
the constitution itself, are the mere reflection o f the popular will. I f laws are enacted
by their representatives, in opposition to the will o f the people, it is impossible to enforce
them ; the decided resistance o f a respectable minority, is sufficient to nullify a law for all
practical purposes; and so difficult is it to convict even a single individual o f wealth and
influence o f an offence, that it has grown into a proverb, that penal laws are spiders*
webs, in which the small flies get entangled, and the large ones break through. H ow
can it be possible, then, to enforce penal sanctions against the combined power o f wealth,
influence and numbers, sustained by a strong public sympathy? W e do not believe it can
be done, and, under present circumstances we should regret to see the experiment tried,
lest it produce evils more serious than it is intended to cure.” — pp. 4 and 5.
528
The Post.f)Jice Department.
by postmasters, heads o f departments, and o f bureaus, and by members of
Congress, where one instance o f the kind is perpetrated by the mass of
the people not immediately connected with, or “ in the good graces” of,
these official dignitaries. And is it wonderful, that the searching mea
sures and instructions adopted by the department, with legislative pains
and penalties, towards the people— forbidding even the transmission o f a
written name upon a newspaper, without subjecting it to letter postage,
— and as if the people were the chief offenders— are regarded with popu
lar indignation and hostility 1 The case, when stated in unambiguous
terms, stands thus—
The post-office department finds itself sinking under its accumulation
o f expenses. It asserts that the revenue laws o f the department are
evaded and defrauded to a ruinous extent—that its revenues are rapidly
falling below its wants. It issues order upon order, backed by displays
and threats o f pains and penalties, requiring a rigor of adminisiration on
the part o f its subordinates, towards the people, that amounts to both pe
cuniary meanness and odious espionage. All this, while it is known, as
well as any thing short o f a self-evident truth can be known, that ten
times the evasions and frauds upon the department are practised by, and
through the government’s own officers invested with the franking privi
lege, than are practised by the whole community beside. And while it
is also known, that but for the extended use and superadded abuse o f the
franking privilege, the income o f the department, properly administered,
would admit o f a very large reduction o f the tariff o f postage, to the great
interest and convenience o f the people.
finder these circumstances, the people, who discern well the whole
matter, are not willing to be the scape goats o f government officers, and
bear submissively and tamely all the obloquy that should attach only to
the actually offending parties, and bear, also, the chief burthen o f support
ing the department.* They, consequently, are excited and exasperated to
wards it, and prompted by both feeling and interest to encourage and im
prove every other facility o f correspondence that opens to them, the
mails are shunned and neglected by them as an evil, and an unconsciona
ble burthen. Our encouragement against all this lies in the certainty,
that the. cause and the consequence are alike visible, and are not irreme
* T h e following extracts will illustrate and confirm the correctness o f the views we pre
sent above: “ Another source o f detriment to the revenue, the past year, has been the ex
ercise and abuse o f the franking privilege to an unprecedented extent. During the last
three quarters, the free matter constituted a very large portion of the entire mails,” * * *
“ There are facts that have come to the knowledge o f the department, which show that
great abuses have been practised by those enjoying the privilege, in the highest as well as
the lowest stations, in covering the correspondence o f others, to the great injury of its
revenue. This and other abuses o f the privilege, appear to be rapidly increasing, and
imperatively demand a remedy, either by its entire abolition, or such restrictions upon it
as could be enforced by the department.” — Postmaster General’s Report, Dec. 5, 1840.
In three weeks o f the session o f Congress, in 1840, there were sent from the postoffice in Washington, 434,669 free letters, documents and packages, weighing 32,689
pounds, or nearly 64 tons. “ Taking this on the average o f the session of 33 weeks, it
would appear that the free letters and packets sent from the office in Washington during
the session, amounted to 4,781,359, and the two cents allowed to postmasters for delivery
o f the free letters would be $95,627.” “ It may be estimated, that there has been ab
stracted from the revenue o f the past year, in the allowance o f the two cents to postmas
ters for the delivery o f free letters and packets, and the two cents paid for advertising
free letters, the sum o f $150,000.”— Ibid.
The Post-Office Department.
5S9
diable. But we re-admonish those who have the power, and whose duty
it is to appjy a remedy, not to seek it in the vis major principle. I f the
post-office department is to be supported by the direct patronage o f the
people, it must be shaped and administered so as to conform to the prac
tical sense o f right, and economy, and utility, entertained by the people,
and in all these particulars compare favorably with enterprises that are
conducted by themselves. I f this be not done, and the actual offenders
are left to laugh with impunity at the misdirected anathemas o f the de
partment, its condition and prospects will continue to go on from bad to
worse, until the whole system shall either die out from starvation, or be
cast an annual pauper upon the other financial resources o f the govern
ment. It is not in a spirit o f prophecy, but from clearly visible data, that
this conclusion is deduced.*
Suppose it were a provision in the revenue laws, upon which rests the
treasury department, that all its principal officers, and also those o f the
state, navy, war, post-office, and attorney general’s departments, and all
members o f Congress during their respective terms and for months there
after, should exercise the privilege o f importing, dutyfree, as many goods
and articles o f merchandise as they might individually direct; and sup
pose it were found in practice that they were importing in such enormous
quantities as were notoriously designed not merely to supply their own
consumption, but that o f so large a portion o f the community beside them
selves, as to prevent the government from realising revenue from all other
importations sufficient to defray the expenses o f its necessarily distended,
and still distending operations in carrying on the affairs o f government,
and not enough, even, to pay the salaries and perquisites o f the officers
of the treasury department alone, with the contingent expenses o f their
offices ; and suppose the duties were still kept up to a high and onerous
point, and alike upon necessaries and upon luxuries, and at such a crisis
the head o f the treasury should issue order upon order to his numerous
subordinates, declaring that the revenues are falling off, and that this p e
nalty and that penalty must be enforced with invigorated rigor and mi
nuteness, to prevent the people from smuggling and defrauding the reve
nue ; and suppose that these orders in a particular manner indicate that
every package and article that assumes to be imported by a private indi
* T h e writer o f this article was informed at the post-office in the city o f N ew Y ork,
within a few weeks, that the number o f letters that now pass through the mail from N ew
York to Boston, as compared with the number last year, is only as one to five, or 80 per
cent loss !
The minority report o f the House committee, heretofore alluded to, speaking o f the
effect o f the expresses, or private mails, says:— “ Unless an effectual remedy be speedily
applied, the whole establishment must be overwhelmed and prostrated. The revenue for
1843 was less than that o f 1842 by more than a quarter o f a million of dollars, and less
than in any year since 1838; and it is already apparent that the reduction will be in
creased the present year. W e have every reason to apprehend— indeed it amounts to a
moral certainty— that under the present organization of the post-office, there will be a pro
gressive annual diminution o f the revenue ; and as an inevitable consequence, either a
great reduction o f mail accommodations must take place, or the department must bear
heavily upon the public treasury.”
The majority report o f the same committee says: “ Events are in progress o f a fatal
tendency to the post-office department, and its decay has commenced. Unless arrested
by vigorous legislation, it must soon cease to exist as a self-sustaining institution, and
either be cast on the treasury for support, or suffered to decline from year to year, till tho
system has become impotent and useless.”
530
The Post-Office Department.
vidual, and having none o f the ear marks, or franks o f the privileged gov
ernment officers upon it, must be broken open or searched into, and mea
sured, and weighed, and counted, and marked, and certified, and broken
open again, and searched, and measured, and weighed, and counted,
and marked, and certified yet again, to make it certain that the
humble importer is not perpetrating a fraud upon the revenue ; how
very like would be all this, to the present condition o f things—the
orders, privileges, practices and effects, o f the existing post-office ad
ministration in our country! H ow long, is it imagined, if the case
were that o f the treasury department, instead o f the post-office de
partment, would it be endured ? A comparatively few importers would
then pay all the revenue received for the support o f government, and their
customers and consumers, only, would contribute to the burthens o f gov
ernment. The importing government officers, and all their friends and
favorites would be exempted from a just quota o f taxation, and, standing
back, might laugh at the perplexities and expenses that beset the bona
Jide importer, growing out o f the galvanic zeal to prevent smuggling of
the oft instructed revenue officers 1 While such should continue to be the
case, is it difficult to see why there would be felt additional incentives to
smuggling, on the one hand, and concurrently to discourage duty paying
importations on the other hand, except by privileged persons— thus reduc
ing the department to bankruptcy without diminishing its wants ?
It is hardly necessary to follow out the parallel to any greater extent,
either to expose the cause, or suggest the proper remedies o f such a con
dition o f things.
There are undoubtedly some very serious influences and impediments
to a reduction, or restriction o f the franking privilege. These arise from
the peculiar nature o f party politics, and party organization in this coun
try. Besides, we must, in all our anticipations on this subject, have re
ference to the necessity o f taking members o f Congress as they are, not
as they either might, or should be. As geologists, on finding dug from the
far interior embankments o f the earth, fossil remains o f an ante-deluvian
creation, can, aided by certain general principles which science has de
veloped, easily define, from the peculiar shape o f such remains, and the
obvious processes by which their muscles were attached, to what order,
genera and species the living body belonged, and whether its habits led
it to seek food upon the high and solid ground, or the oozy marshes and
beds o f rivers— whether it was characterized for strength, or speed, and
whether provided with hoofs, or claws, & c. & c., so is it easy, aided by
our knowledge o f the general impulses and inclinations o f political parti
sans in Congress, and o f the influences that impart excitement to their
organizations, to define the limits to which they will go in curtailing their
own power and opportunities o f political exertion, and what extent o f re
formation, at their own expense or inconvenience, may be expected of
them. Let one fact suffice— “ o f the twelve acts o f Congress relating to
the franking privilege o f its members and officers, all, with one exception,
have served to enlarge the right.” * In a word, there is very little hope,
that Congress will abolish, or materially curtail, the franking privilege,
unless absolutely forced to do so by an active and commanding public
sentiment. It is the galvanic current that animates the organization of
both political parties ; and neither party is disposed to dispense with it,
Annual Report Postmaster-General, Dec. 1840.
The Post-Office Department.
531
or disarm themselves o f it. It is doubtful whether the people desire them
to do so. And almost every member o f Congress, in the House especial
ly, feels that his re-election is more or less dependant on an active exer
cise o f it. It is an evil, therefore, so far as objectionable, which we may
as well look in the face with the purpose of ascertaining how, if it cannot
be got rid of, its burthen may be endured, and the post-office department
be also made to sustain itself.
It seems not to have been hitherto sufficiently considered, with a view
to an improvement o f the department, to what extent the franking privi
lege, and high rates o f postage act, and react, upon each other. While
it may be said to be “ apparent, that nearly the whole expenditure o f the
mail establishment is thrown upon correspondence, and that it pays the
whole expense o f the free matter, the greater portion o f that o f newspa
pers, periodicals and pamphlets, and the entire additional expense incur
red for accommodating the public travel; and that with all these bur
thens, not properly belonging to it, thrown upon correspondence, the high
rate o f postage on letters cannot be surprising
it may, with equal
truth be said, that it cannot be surprising that so large a portion o f cor
respondence should be thrown upon the franking privilege, or into free
matter, and upon newspapers, periodicals and pamphlets, while the high
rate o f postage on letters is continued. The remedy for each o f these
evils is to be found in one and the same process, viz., a r e d u c t io n of
po stag e.
It is the high rate o f postage that suggests and forces indi
viduals into a compromise and abuse of the franking privilege with their
friends. Take away this incentive, and the ordinary sense o f shame at a
mean act, that characterises men, will resume its proper influence over
both the party who would otherwise give, and the party who would other
wise seek, the frank. Both now find an excuse for the act, each for him
self and each for the other, in the onerousness o f the postage system. The
policy should be to hit upon such a reduction as will convert the present
abuses of the franking privilege into legitimate and certain revenue to the
department; and this by discouraging the abuse o f the mails, on the one
hand, and encouraging a continuance o f as large portion as possible o f the
present use o f the mails, on the other hand, at a satisfactory rate of postage.
One other consideration, directly tending to a reduction of the high
postage system, seems not to have occurred to the administrators o f the
department, or at least not to have been steadily practised upon. It is,
that with a much less degree o f vigilance and rigor, and o f official espion
age and scrutiny, than has been exerted on the receipt side of the depart
ment’s accounts, to increase that, if exerted on the expenditure side to
diminish that, would have essentially improved the condition o f the depart
ment in respect to both its finances, and the popular regard for them.
Without designing to criminate any particular postmaster-general, or any
one administration, it may be truly said, that during the last fifteen years,
the department has been perpetually running deeper and deeper into an
alliance with inflamed and inflammatory party politics. Appointments
and removals have been notoriously made all over the Union with refer
ence to political effect and party organization. The patronage and influ
ence of the department have been doled out, from the smallest homeopa
thy doses up to almost princely stipends, primarily with that view. In a
* Postmaster-General's Annual Report, Dec. 1840.
532
The Post-Office Department.
recent report o f a committee o f the United States Senate, we find it stated
that “ the number o f persons as deputy postmasters and their clerks, con
tractors, and Others, in the employment o f the department in 1840, was
15,257, and in 1842 was 19(727. There being only 14,848 separate
offices in the country, it would appear that within the last two years there
had been 4,617 persons appointed more than there weie offices to be
filled, and, consequently, that there had been at least that number of re.
movals and new appointments to office within that period. ’* If this
branch o f the department’s patronage has been notoriously perverted to
political ends o f a strictly partizan character, is it slanderous to disbelieve
that its contracts, extra allowances, and expensive indulgencies to favor
ites, have been shaped by a higher or purer motive, even though w e are
unable to define the precise facts, and the precise number o f dollars and
cents thrown away, in each case ?
The better to appreciate what the department now is, and the reforms
it needs, let us recur to what it was. In November 1827, before any
will pretend that it had become an auxiliary to party politics, the post
master-general (Mr. M cLean) thus described its operations, capacities
and prospects:
“ In the last four years there has been added to the mail operations of
the country, in revenue, transportation of the mail, and post-offices, more
than one-third. The means o f the department are now ample to meet
the reasonable wants o f the country ; and a vigilant administration of its
affairs, for a few years to come, will place at the disposition o f the gov
ernment an annual surplus o f more than half a million o f dollars. This
sum will be augmented as facilities o f mail intercourse are multiplied.” f
In the course o f this article we have already evolved facts that exhibit
the condition and prospects o f the department, at this time, in a very sorry
contrast with what they were in 1827.
Numerous indisputable facts tend to the same conclusion, o f want of
proper heed to the expenditure side o f the accounts o f the department,
which has rendered proportionably less effective its vigor and scrutiny on
the receipt side. In the postmaster-general’s annual report in Novem
ber 1839, it is admitted that the average prices for the different classes
o f services in the southern section o f the Union, composed o f Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, increased in the
year ending with June 1839, forty-nine per cent in cost, while the increase
o f transportation had been only nine per cent! There could have been
nothing in the difference o f prices o f corn, hay, breadstuffs, labor, and
other essentials o f contractors, to justify any such increase o f cost.
In the postmaster-general’s annual report, December 1840, he states that
the then existing contracts for transportation are at an average advance of
about fifty per cent above the rates o f compensation paid prior to 1836.
By the assistant postmaster-general’s report in November 1837, it ap
pears that in the northern and middle states, the then average constant
price o f carrying the mail per mile, was, for horse and sulky, 5 1-3 cents;
for stage and coach, 8-12' cents ; for steamboat and railroad, 10 cents.
By his report, November, 1838, it appears the average cost in the south
ern states had been, for horse and sulky, 5 cents ; for stage and coach, 9 2-3
* Report o f Committee on Retrenchment, o f U. S. Senate, June 5, 1844.
ment 399, p. 42.
4 Annual Report o f Postmaste-rGeneral, D ec. 1827.
See docu
The Post-Office Department.
533
cents ; steamboat and railroad, 9 cents ; and was to be under new con
tracts, for horse and sulky, 6 3-10 cen ts; for stage and coach, 10 9-10
cents ; for steamboat and railroad, 12 7-10 cents.
By his report in December 1843, it appears the average cost o f transport
ing the mail throughout the Union had been, for horse and sulky, 5 2-5 c ts .;
for stage and coach, 8 4-5 cents ; steamboat and railroad, 12 4-5 cents.
W ill the price currents of the country indicate the necessity o f any such
increase o f compensation for labor, breadstuffs and other elements o f con
tract service ? W e fearlessly aver they will justify no such conclusion.
The average cost for all grades o f mail service, except the railway and
packet, in Great Britain and Ireland, is scarcely 5 cents per mile. The
coach mail pays just 5 cents. In the United States, the average cost,
exclusive of railroad and steamboat transportation, is nearly 7 1-2 cents
per m ile; for mail conveyance in coaches, the cost is 3 4-5 o f a cent
per mile, greater in the United States than in Great Britain.*
By Senate document o f the last summer, No. 399, and tables thereto
annexed, it appears that in the general post-office at Washington there
were employed in 1828, thirty-nine clerks and other persons, at an ex
pense per annum o f $55,270 7 3 ; that in 1842 there were employed one
hundred and fifty-three persons, at an expense per annum o f $191,455 79.
Now, while this difference in the expense is wholly disproportioned to the
difference in the number o f persons employed at the two periods men
tioned, the increase o f both number and expense is wholly disproportioned
to the ratio of augmentation in the business and duties o f the department,
so far as any reasoning can flow from incontrovertible data. For instance,
In 1828 there were 7,651 post-offices in the Union.
In 1842 there were 13,733— less than 100 percent increase.
In 1828 the total number o f miles o f post route established and in ope
ration, was 114,536.
In 1842 the total was 149,732— less than 33 per cent increase.
In 1828 the total receipts o f postage was....................... $1,598,134 43
In 1842 the total was.......................................................
4,546,246 13
Less than three-fold increase, with nearly double the number o f offices to
receive it, as in 1828, and more than four-fold the number o f offices in
the general post-office to keep an account o f it, at an expense nearly four
fold as great as in 1828. But very little reflection will tell any one that
the multiplication o f officers should not be at all in an equal ratio with
the increased revenue o f the department. In 1828, when there were
7,651 postmasters, the general post-office had that number o f quarteryearly accounts to adjust, making a total o f 30,604 annually, and em
ployed 39 persons only to perform that and all incidental service. In
1842, the number o f postmasters being 13,733, and the quarterly ac
counts amounting in the year to 54,932— less than 80 per cent increase,
seem to require, with the incidental service, 153 clerks, & c., or an in
crease o f 299 per ce n t!
It would be useless to go more into details o f fact. Our purpose is not
to criminate, but to reform. And when we are told that the reform which
the great mass o f the people so much desire, cannot be granted, on ac
count o f the impoverished income o f the post-office department, we in
voke a curtailment o f its extravagances, and a reform o f the policy o f its
* Postmaster-General’s Annual Report, Dee. 1843.
The Post-Office Department.
534
administration, as one o f the essential steps towards satisfying the wants
o f the public. W e contend, that the expenditures o f the department ought
to be brought down to an economical scale, in aid o f a reduction in the
postage system. W e mean not to say that it will, “ per sc,” answer the
full extent o f the popular prayer; but, it is one o f the constituent and
important elements in the accomplishment o f it.
It should not be overlooked, that among the difficulties encountered in
reducing the expenditure side o f the account, is, the extravagant cupidity
and power o f monopoly that actuates many o f the railroad and steamboat
companies. There is no earthly reason why the institution o f these fa
cilities o f transportation should not cheapen the transportation o f the mail
service, as well as it does, or can the transportation o f every thing else.
They should come in aid o f the reduction o f postage, instead of retarding
it. And yet the contrary seems to be the fact. And in this respect, the
sympathy and aid o f the people, individually and through their state legis
latures, so far as legitimate control can be exerted, should come up to the
help o f the department, and o f Congress acting with the department,
against these companies. And does any one doubt, that this would be the
case, if the post-office department were but reinstated in the confidence o f
the country ? There is no justification to be found in the general laws of
industry and trade, to warrant the exorbitant exactions referred to. No
more is there in the well ascertained results o f these expenditures and in
crease o f these corporations. The following table exhibits the compara.n n u a lly.
E ng Pish R oads .
^Propor. o
No. miles. Tot. cost. Cost per mile. rec. to ex
$211,909
32
£1,398,552
100.57
1,900,000
94,756
.
971
100.48
A v. per mile,
241,422
. 1 12 4
5,600,000
100.41 ’ $187,706.
608,000
786,347
1 0 0 .6 8
..
3|
A merican R oads.
Boston and Lowell...
.
.
.
.
26
42
44J
15
$1,608,476
1,850,000
1,848,085
353,662
$61,864
41,048
41,530
55,054
100.38
Av. per mile,
100.32
100.54 '
$44,394.
1 0 0 .5 2 .
From these data, it appears that the average receipts o f the English
roads, is in the ratio o f 15 per cent annually on their cost, and their nett
profit 8 per ce n t; and the receipts o f the American roads are 15J per
cent on their cost, and their nett profit is 9 per cent.
W hile it is thus manifest that the mails should be carried as cheaply,
(if not cheaper,) with due regard to the profits o f the contractors, on the
American railroads, as on the English roads, the fact is nevertheless
found to be, that “ the highest rate o f railroad compensation, in Great
Britain, is only $107 50 per mile annually, and the average rate but $90.
In the United States, more than $300 are paid in many instances, and
the average cost o f railroad service exceeds $143 a mile.” * On the
great road from London to Liverpool, on which the great mails for Ire
land, Scotland, the British Provinces in North America, and the United
States are carried, the price per mile is $107 50— distance 210 miles,
and the speed is 23 miles per hour.f
* House Report, U . S. House Rep. No. 483, p. 13, M ay 15, 1844.
t See Appendix to Postmaster-General’s Report, Dec. 1840,
The Post-Office Department.
535
tM
o .
tfl > ~
Termini o f Railroad.
§I s
t—»
00
Iff)
3 °>
H
M aine .
Portsmouth to Portland,
50
24
0
s r&
c o a
<
-
s s -2
■S-Ss
3 1 1
62,400
8 . 0 1 c.
Ann. cost
of transpor
tation.
What will demonstrate again very clearly how unconscionable is the
advantage taken o f the department by these companies, is a comparison
of the different prices paid to different railroads, for transporting the mail.
The following table has been compiled with this v ie w :
$5,000 00
N ew H ampshire .
Concord to Low ell,........
49
24
61,152
4 .8 4
54
45
431
55
26
26
36
26
13.62
13.97
11.09
16.02
1 0 ,0 0 0 0 0
2,958 00
M assachusetts.
Boston to Portsmouth,..
“
Worcester,....
“
Providence,..
Worcester to Springfield,
Springfield to Albany,...
100
12
73,008
60,840
85,410
74,360
62,400
48
12
29,952
2 0 .0 3
6 ,0 0 0 0 0
36
28
52,416
12.05
6,319 00
96
12
59,904
6 .5 8
3,945 00
35
42
45
14
6
12
20
14
25,480
12,104
28,080
14,560
4 .3 2
1 6 .5 2
4 .5 8
6 .8 7
1 ,1 0 0 0 0
2 ,0 0 0 0 0
1,286 0 0
1 ,0 0 0 0 0
36
17
28
24
52,416
21,216
2 2 .4 9
6 .5 3
11,788 00
1,385 00
82
98
28
14
119,392
71,344
13.74
9 .6 3
16,400 00
6,875 00
2 7 .0 2
30,600 00
8 .2 0
10,068
8,500
7,006
8,250
50
00
00
00
R hode I sland .
Providence to Ston’gton,
C onnecticut.
Hartford to N ew Haven,
Bridgep’ t to W est Stockbridge, .........................
N ew Y
ork .
Buffalo to Youngstown,.
Hudson to Pittsfield,....
Piermont to G o sh en ,....
Lockport to Lew istown,.
N ew J ersey .
N. York to N. Brunsw’k,
New Y ork to Paterson,.
P ennsylvania .
Philadel. to Columbia,...
“
Pottsville,...
M ar yla n d .
Baltimore to Philadel- ?
phia,......................... $
Baltimore to Washing- £
“
CumberPd,.
< 2 6 ,8 mo.
1 113,256
( 1 4 ,4 mo.
f 28
59,640
) l t r . 8 mo. i
130,312
14
2 0 .9 6
12,500 00
33 .17
43,225 00
14
14
14
54,600
17,836
46,592
35.71
32 .62
3 2 .6 5
19,500 00
5,818 50
15,200 00
160
14
121,576
30 .86
37,500 00
109 i
14
79,716
3 2 .0 2
25,525 10
99
40
179
V irginia .
Richmond to A q u ia ,....
“
Petersb’g,.
Petersburg to W eld on ,..
75
241
64
N orth C arolin a .
Weldon to Wilmington,.
G eorgia .
Augusta to M adison,....
“ In some cases the amount demanded by railroad companies for trans
portation o f the mails, is more than two hundred per cent higher than is
paid for coach service, upon roads forming connecting links between dif
ferent railroad companies, upon the same main route, and that, too, when
the night service upon the railroads is less than that performed in
coaches.” *
In a very similar spirit are the exactions o f steamboat companies. The
subjoined table will illustrate our meaning and argument.
* Postmaster-General’s Annual Report, M ay 29,1841.
536
The Post-Office Department.
Ann. transportation. Tot. cost
Miles.
per ann.
Route and Termini.
$10,700
78,000
N ew Y ork to Stonington, 125 miles,.........
4,239
88,608
N ew Y ork to Norwich, 142 miles,..............
49,920
8 ,0 0 0
N ew Y ork to N ew Haven, 80 miles,............
39,312
12,752
Virginia— Washington to Aquia, 54 miles,.
124,800
“
Norfolk to Baltimore, 200 miles,
7,157
123,760
N . C.— W ilm ’gton to Charleston, 170 miles,
37,500
31,200
Fla.— Chattahoochee to Apalach., 150 miles,
5,500
43,056
Mich.— St. Josephs to Chicago, G9 miles,.,,.
2,900
95,096
Ky.— Cincinnati and Louisville, 132 miles,.
5,000
#
Cost p. m.
13.0 cts.
4 .9 “
16 .0 “
3 2 .4 “
5 .7 “
3 0 .3 “
1 7 .6 “
6 .7 “
5 .2 “
“ Formerly,” says the postmaster-general in'his annual report o f No
vember 1839, “ the mail was carried six times a week between New York
and New Haven, for $4,000 per annum. At the last regular letting in that
section, it was let for a daily service at $ 6,000, with a proviso that if the
company should be dissolved, the contract should be at an end. Last
spring they gave notice o f dissolution to the department. Their succes
sors refused to continue the service for less than $30,000 per annum. The
department offered $ 6,000 for six times a week service, and $ 8,000 for
daily, but the new company would not reduce their exorbitant demand to
$15,000, with the privilege o f selecting their own hours for the service.
Subsequently a temporary arrangement was made with a gentleman of
great energy, to charter boats and put on another line for the purpose of
conveying the mails. After making several efforts, he reported to the
department, that although boats could be procured for any other service,
so great was the fear o f the principal owner upon the New Haven line, or
so extensive a combination existed, that no suitable boat could be charter
ed, on any terms, to run on that line.”
But the most formidable antagonist o f the department remains to be
considered, although it has been distinctly adverted to already in our
elucidation o f the present depressed condition and prospect o f the depart
ment’s finances. W e o f course mean what are called the express mails,
or private expresses, now organized and conducted with as much spirit as,
and with far more economy than the government’s mails. Various influ
ences have grown up to produce this new arrangement. In fact, the very
causes that have depressed and are still depressing the post-office depart
ment-of the government, constitute the highest encouragements to the
private mail or express system. The high rate of postage o f the former,
— the facilities o f conveyance furnished by railroads— the rigorous and
hair splitting spirit towards the people in which the post-office depart
ment has been administered— the partisan spirit imparted to postmasters,
by the terms upon which alone appointments are known to be either ob
tained, or retained from the department, tend directly to the institution
and support o f the department’s great rival. Without adding other data
to the facts heretofore cited in this article touching the operations and
effect o f the private expresses upon the finances o f the government’s postoffices at each o f the great cities in the eastern and middle states, we
will only quote the emphatic results which both the majority and minority
of the post-office committee o f the House o f Representatives o f the last ses
sion o f Congress announced to the country. The majority describe the
private expresses as “ o f fatal tendency to the post-office department” —
and as having already caused its decay to commence; and that, unless they
are “ assisted by vigorous legislation,” the department “ must soon cease
to exist as a self-sustaining institution,” & c.
The Post-Office Department
537
The minority say, “ it is clear that a crisis has arrived requiring deci
sive action. Temporizing expedients and half-way measures will not an
swer. Pressing evils demand an immediate and efficient remedy. What
remedy shall be applied ? The first object to be accomplished, clearly, is,
to get rid o f the expresses, or private mails. Any measure which will not
accomplish this object, is unsuited to, or at least insufficient for, the occa
sion. We again repeat, that, in our opinion, the first thing to be accom
plished is, to get rid o f the expresses; and any sacrifice that may be ne
cessary to accomplish this object, ought to be made unhesitatingly.”
The majority and minority gentlemen o f the House committee differed
widely as to the modus operandi, in accomplishing the result which they
united in presenting as the sine qua non o f the post-office department’s e x .
istence as a self-sustaining institution. The former proceed upon the
pound o f flesh principle— law-prosecutions, penalties, punishments, are
their sole weapons, excepting, only, an abolition o f the franking privilege.
But in exchange for that, they require the department to recompense the
national treasury for the salaries o f all the officers and clerks o f the gene
ral post-office establishment, heretofore paid out o f the national, and not
the department’s treasury, $165,000 per annum. “ W e propose to pun
ish,” say they, “ the transaction [o f private expresses,] in whatever
form carried on or undertaken. Penalties are provided in the bill we
submit, both against the person who sends, and the person who conveys,
a letter out o f the mail,” & c. They also report adversely to any general
reduction o f postage.
The minority gentlemen adopt what we deem a more practical view o f
this difficulty. They repudiate the terrific system o f force, penalties, & c.,
which the majority gentlemen are so tenacious of. They proceed upon
the more Christian principle o f mild persuasion, blending with that the
more human one o f self-interest that actuates the mass of the people.
“ We believe,” say they, “ there is one way, and only one way,in which
the department can be sustained, its popularity redeemed, its revenue re
stored, and its accommodations and benefits extended; and that is, by
making it the safest, the cheapest, and the most expeditious mode o f trans
mitting letters and intelligence.’ ”
Their panacea by which to accomplish all this lies in a reduction o f
postage down to the popular judgment; and then, say they, “ if attempts are
made to violate or evade the laws, their penalties, however severe, may
be enforced, for the community will unite in their execution.”
W e think the minority gentlemen are much nearer right in these
views, than are the majority in those expressed by them. But we do not
believe the means suggested by either, are equal to the result which both
have in view. I f the Supreme Court o f the United States shall ultimate
ly adjudge to be valid the constitutional power claimed for the depart
ment, to exclude all competition in carrying mail matter in the country,
(o f which we entertain serious doubts, however desirable such power
may be considered in the administration o f government,) the effect will
be to suppress, not to encourage, correspondence, while the rates o f post
age over any considerable routes should be disproportioned to the ex
pense o f private expresses. The business of the department, without the
good will o f the people, will never support it. If the court decides against
the power, then we know there is no alternative but a reduction o f post
age, or an abandonment o f the department, in toto.
V O L . X I . ------ N O . V I .
41
538
The Post-Office Department.
But can the department afford to reduce the postage so low as will
satisfy the people on the great business routes, and at the same time de
rive sufficient income to sustain its mails upon the great number o f un
productive routes in the country ? On this point we reluctantly differ
from the expectations and conclusions o f the minority gentlemen. One
conclusion, then, is, that neither with, nor without, the aid o f penal laws,
and the requisite constitutional power to sustain them, the government
can never compete on the profitable mail routes, with private expresses,
or individual accommodations, at any rate o f postage that shall be requi
site to support the government’s mails on the unprofitable routes, looking
only to the means hitherto employed.
The truth is, the enterprise o f the country has become too active for
the old system o f things. The best facilities the government mails can
afford the densely populated portions o f the country, are both too slow and
too expensive to comport with the improvements and business necessities
o f modern times. New contrivances, and new elements o f administration
must be introduced, or the operations o f government, in many things, and
particularly in the post-office department, will be found quite too sluggish
and expensive for the public taste and spirit, and individual enterprise
will rob it o f its perquisites, by stealing the hearts o f the people from it.
W e all know, that during the late war with Great Britain, the efficiency
o f the government’s vessels o f war would not begin to compare with the
efficiency o f private armed vessels, or privateers, and no more did they in
number. While, too, the latter did double the service o f the former—
made double the number o f prisoners o f war— captured immensely more
o f the enemy’s property— the expense o f them, to their managers, was
not one third, and perhaps not one sixth, o f the expense o f the former.
All this proves, that government enterprise is wholly unable, under its
most advantageous promptings, to compare with private enterprise. It
must be superior in power, and exclusive in the employment o f means, to
be equal in results with individuals. And, a government like ours, must
also have the good will o f the people, to be successful under any circum
stances. This it is impossible to secure, while it makes them feel a
sense o f oppression, or extortion, or o f unnecessary taxation.
What shall be done if this reasoning, and the data furnished, are to be
taken as correct guides? The answer is, let the government bestir itself,
and seize upon the resources which science and genius have developed at
this crisis, and brought to maturityjust at the moment when nothing short
o f an entirely new, and almost super-human agency can save the postoffice department from destruction, and lift it once more above private
competition. Give up the antiquated and anti-republican device o f ruling
the people by force— by penalties and punishments— and attach the people
to the support o f government by a liberal display o f the benefit it is ca
pable o f conferring. The old theory o f ruling tbe people has been sup
planted by the new theory o f serving the people ; and he will find him
self retrograding, and getting farther away from support by the people, who
abandons the principle o f the new theory, to return to that o f the old one.
W e have extended our article too far to demonstrate now, as we think
may be done, the practicability, by recourse to proper agencies, and to
proper reforms in old ones, o f sustaining the franking privilege to the
utmost extent needed— o f reducing the rates o f postage, at the same time,
to the lowest standard hitherto sought by the people—o f supplanting the
British Bounty on Manufactures .
539
whole system o f private mails and expresses—o f placing the post-office
department in a condition to accomplish every desired extension o f mail
transportation, annually, out o f its own proper resources, and, o f retaining
the most complete monopoly o f the whole mail service in the country;
and this, without recourse to a single odious penalty, or act of punish
ment, towards any competitor. But we will return to the subject, and
invoke upon our views the candid judgment o f all business men.
A rt . V.— B R IT IS H B O U N T Y O N M A N U F A C T U R E S .
I n the late excited election, a violent controversy has been carried on
in the papers, relative to a protective tariff. It has been asserted in some
of the leading public journals, the Boston Morning Post, in Boston, and
other papers in New York, that no bounty had ever been paid by Great
Britain upon the exportation o f her manufactures. It is emphatically
stated in those papers, that the bounty was merely a drawback o f an ex
cise, which was levied for revenue, on the exportation o f the manufac
tures. As the tariff will soon be a subject o f discussion in the Congress
o f the United States, it is o f great importance that the truth should be
known. It has a most important bearing upon a great national interest.
It fully shows the policy o f Great Britain, and how she has attained to
such perfection in her manufactures. It explains the causes o f the failure
of so many manufacturing establishments in their infancy in this country.
It shows the absolute necessity o f a protective tariff at some periods o f
their establishment.
In the first instance, we propose to show it by the treaty o f commerce
with Great Britain o f the 3d July, 1815, that these bounties were paid.
In article 2d, it is stipulated, “ that the same duties shall be paid, and the
same bounties allowed on the exportation o f any articles, the growth, pro
duce, or manufacture o f her Britannic Majesty’s territory in Europe to
the United States, whether such exportation shall take place in vessels
of the United States, or British vessels, and in all cases xvhere draw
backs are allowed upon the re-exportation o f any goods, the growth, pro
duce, or manufacture o f either country, respectively, the amount o f the
drawbacks shall be the same.
But the speech o f Nicholas Vonsittart, chancellor o f the exchequer, in
the House o f Commons on the 17th June, 1812, in a debate upon the
supplies, during the war with France, explains most fully the policy of
the British government, with respect to manufactures. It is extracted
from Cobbet’s Parliamentary Debates, vol. 23, page 566.
“ The first article he had to propose, was indeed one which appeared
to him liable to very little objection, for in fact, it was a tax which
would fall upon nobody, (a laugh.) Gentlemen may smile, but if it was
in other respects unobjectionable, he trusted it would not be censured on
that account. His proposition was to discontinue the bounty on the ex
portation o f printed goods. The bounty had grown from a very small
charge to a very large one, amounting upon an average for the last three
years, to the sum o f £308,000 ; a circumstance, in one respect, highly
satisfactory, as it showed the great increase which had taken place in the
exportation o f those goods, but which showed at once, that the necessity
540
British Bounty on Manufactures.
o f granting this bounty had ceased, and that a considerable revenue might
be derived from its suppression. The printed goods in question, from the
improvement o f the manufacturers, and the extensive use o f machinery,
could now be afforded much cheaper, without the bounty, than they formeriy used to be with its assistance.
“ The present state o f the world, with respect to commerce, was pecuiiarly favorable to the discontinuance o f the bounty system. Wherever
British manufactures were permitted to enter, their superiority was uni
versally acknowledged ; when they did not find their way, it was not on
account o f their dearness or inferior quality, but because they were ex
cluded by rigorous prohibitions. Whenever these might cease, the coun
try might expect to see British manufactures spreading themselves over
the continent without the assistance o f bounties. That which it was now
proposed to discontinue, amounted to no more than one half penny a yard
on goods o f the lowest quality, and three half pence on the highest; an
amount much within the ordinary fluctuations from ordinary causes, and
the loss o f which could not operate as any discouragement to trade. To
him, therefore, the proposition appeared free from all reasonable objec
tion. His task would be easy, if he could have flattered himself that what
he had still to propose, was equally unobjectionable ; but o f the remain
der o f his plan, he could only, as he had said before, indulge the hope that
in the Choice o f evils, he had selected the least.”
In this speech, we have the avowal o f the chancellor o f the exchequer,
that four million six hundred and twenty thousand dollars were paid for
bounty on printed goods in three years. A considerable bounty, at the
same time, was paid upon the exportations o f Irish linens, silk goods,
glass, and many other articles. But their manufactures have now ad
vanced to such perfection, that it has become unnecessary, and the law is
repealed. For many years it was the settled policy o f Great Britain to
grant such bounties on the exportation of those manufactures, to which
the industry o f the country appeared to be directed. Many thousand dol
lars o f this very bounty, have been received by the writer o f this article,
and twenty merchants, now resident in Boston, can be referred to, who
have received from two to twenty thousand dollars a year, while the
bounty was allowed.
An excise duty o f 3id. the square yard was levied on printed cottons
for revenue, which was returned to the exporter precisely in the same
manner that a drawback o f duties is now obtained here upon re-exporta
tion. This was repeated some years after the peace with France. The
payment o f this bounty and debenture, which were paid directly to the
exporter in money, stimulated greatly the exportation o f printed cotton
goods. W e hazard nothing in the assertion, that no manufacturing es
tablishment o f the kind could have been sustained in the United States, or
in Europe, where the goods were admitted. The amount o f the bounty
and debenture averaged about one hundred dollars on a case o f printed
cottons containing fifty pieces. In many instances the exporter received
in money one half the value o f the goods.
That the system has contributed to the advancement o f British com
merce and manufactures, there can be no question. It was by no means
uniform, but adopted when pressed by foreign wars, or when necessary
for the encouragement o f a particular manufacture which required it.
Anthracite Coal Trade, by Railways and Canals.
541
The result is, that her manufactured exports much exceed, in amount,
those o f any nation o f ancient or modern times.
However beneficial this system may have been to Great Britain at
times, nothing similar has ever been proposed in this country. Indeed,
the condition o f the United States varies so essentially from that country,
that it is difficult to imagine a case where it might be adopted with suc
cess.
A r t . V I.— A N T H R A C IT E C O A L T R A D E , I3Y R A I L W A Y S A N D C A N A L S .
T h e regular and steady increase in the consumption o f hard coal, with
the importance o f still further reducing the price, to generate steam for
manufactures in the upper part o f the island o f New York, renders it an
interesting enquiry, as to the several avenues for supply.
In 1820, the Lehigh canal first brought to tide water, 365 tons o f coal.
In 1825, the Schuylkill canal to Pottsville, commenced with 5,306 tons ;
the Lehigh canal then having reached 28,393 tons. In 1829, the Dela
ware and Hudson canal was opened to the Lackawana region, and brought
to market 7,000 tons, while the Lehigh and Schuylkill canals furnished
103,403 tons. In 1840-41, the Philadelphia and Reading railroad com
menced its coal business, with 50,000 tons, when the above named canals
had gradually increased these supplies to 958,000 tons. During the last
year, these three channels furnished 1,201,852 tons. It is estimated that
the supply this year will be 1,450,000 tons. O f this quantity, about
450,000 tons come by the Reading railroad, transported, to include
freight and tolls, at $1 25 per ton, a distance o f 93 miles. This quantity
does not supply the steady and increasing consumption.
The reduction in price, during the last year, equals in vaiue
$2,000,000. This saving to the public has been produced by the compe
tition o f the Schuylkill canal, with the Reading railroad. This reduction
in price, with the steady increase in our population, added to the use of
this class o f fuel, in steamboats and by the various manufactories in New
England, and in the interior, from the decrease o f the forest, renders it
probable that the demand will increase as fast, or perhaps faster, than can
be supplied by the canals at present in existence, unless we resort to “ the
better improvement o f the age,” railways. The several avenues from
the anthracite coal fields, may be enumerated as follows :
In the state o f New York, we have the Hudson and Delaware canal,
that for the last two years has increased its supply of Lackawana coal
from 111,777 tons o f coal, to 227,605 tons during 1843, delivered at
Roundout, on the Hudson. This coal is consumed largely by our steam
boats, from its admirable qualities to produce flame and to generate
steam. The improvement in the capacity o f the Hudson and Delaware
canal, and the class o f boats navigating this avenue, 108 miles, with the
railway to the mines, 18 miles, will probably give it a capacity o f trans
porting 500,000 tons per annum.
The next canal, south o f the Hudson and Delaware, is the Morris,
which is 102 miles long. It extends from Jersey City to the Delaware,
opposite to Easton, where it connects with the Lehigh canal. The Morris
542
Anthracite Coal Trade, by Railways and Canals.
Canal has twelve inclined planes, east o f the summit, and eleven west of
it, with numerous locks originally arranged to take pass boats o f 27 tons.
The summit is 950 feet above tide, or equal to 1,750 feet, ascending from
the Delaware, and descending to the harbor o f New York. This work
has been purchased by some rich capitalists, who design to increase the
locks, and to improve the planes and locks, so as to pass boats o f 54 tons
burthen— such as now pass through the Lehigh canal. It is supposed the
demand for coal, to smelt the fine iron ore, on the line o f this canal, will
o f itself pay an interest on its present cost, $ 1,000,0 0 0 ; this sum being
less than one-fourth o f the capital originally invested in this costly under,
taking.
On each side o f the Morris canal, there are two railways projected, and
partially finished, to compete for the same trade. The Morris and Essex
railroad, on the north, is to be extended to the Wyoming Valley, through
the Water Gap ; and the Somerville railway— 26 miles finished— on the
south to Easton. This road is destined to reach the outlet of the Lehigh
Valley, and is to be connected with the Schuylkill Valley. The distance
from tide water, at Elizabethport, to Easton, by a late survey, is within
60 miles, and to Jersey City, 73 miles. The summit, on this route, is
550 feet above tide, and the ascent from Easton, in the first ten miles,
will not exceed, at any one point, 45 feet to the mile. It will then be de
scending with no grade to tide water, greater than 27 feet to the mile.
B y increasing the distance ten miles, (if considered desirable, the policy
o f which may be doubted,) the summit will be reduced to 400 feet, and
with no grade, from the Delaware to the Hudson river, over 27 feet to the
mile.
The Somerville railway, being only 60 miles from the outlet of the Le
high Valley to Elizabethport, and from its communicating direct with the
harbor o f New York, open at all seasons, while the canals are obstructed,
on an average, five months in the year by ice, gives the railway the ad
vantage over the canals, o f one year in four. This, in the employment of
capital, with the extra capacity o f the railway in transportation, is allimportant, to cheapen freights.
The next avenue, in the state o f New Jersey, for the coal trade, is the
Delaware and Raritan canal, 7 feet deep, by 70 feet wide. It has
the capacity to float coasting vessels o f 160 tons, from Brunswick to
Trenton, on the Delaware. This canal has only 112 feet descent, over
come by 14 locks, from Easton to tide water at Brunswick. The feeder,
from the Delaware to Trenton, the inlet o f the Delaware and Raritan
canal, is 223 miles long, 6 feet deep, and 60 feet wide. It is adapted to
the largest boats on the Lehigh canal. These boats average 55 to 60
tons. This important avenue assimilates to the Schuylkill canal, both in
the size o f boats admitted by the feeder, and in the current, favoring the
descending trade.
Next in order, after leaving N ew Jersey, we have the Delaware canal,
from Easton to Bristol, Pennsylvania. A selfish, sectional policy, has
heretofore refused an outlet at Blackeddy’s lock, to connect with the
Delaware and Raritan canal.
The next most efficient canal, for the coal trade, has been the Schuyl
kill, 108 miles from Pottsville to the Permanent Bridge, Philadelphia. It
has transported 584,692 tons per annum. The stock o f this canal has
been about 300 per cent above par, paying dividends as high as 20 per
Anthracite Coal Trade, by Railways and Canals.
543
cent, on a cost of about $4,000,000. It has now intermitted its dividends
three years, in its contest with the Philadelphia and Reading railroad.
The stock has fallen below par, while the railway, still much below
par, owing to its original extravagant first cost, is steadily on the ad
vance. The capacity o f this canal is about 7,000,000 tons per annum.
The most important avenue, in our view, for the coal trade, owing to
its level, or descending grade from the mines at Pottsville, is the Philadel
phia and Reading railroad. It is 98 miles from Pottsville to the depot at
Richmond, on the Delaware, where there are facilities to load daily 30 or
40 coasters, and an equal number o f canal boats to pass up to Trenton,
and from thence by the Delaware and Raritan canal, to New York. The
wharfage room and tracks for turnouts, & c., to save labor, covers 40
acres of land, a consideration o f no small importance to economise labor,
in the handling o f coal, prior to discharging it from the trains into the
holds o f the loading vessels.
Such has been the late improvements in the locomotive engine, also in
the construction o f sheet iron freight cars, competent to carry five tons
each, in trains, over this road, o f 100 to 150 cars, drawn by one loco
motive, that, everything considered, it has been demonstrated this railway
has an advantage, in capacity and for cheap transportation, over the Schuyl
kill canal. From this, we may argue that the Somerville railway, if judi
ciously located and constructed, with a heavy edge road, o f at least 60
pounds to the lineal yard, will, in a sharp competition, be superior and
have advantages over the Delaware and Raritan canal, when it becomes
a question of mere remuneration for labor to the miner, and to those who
transport it, at a period when the supply exceeds the demand. In this
contest, between the railways and canals, it is safe to calculate that the day
is not distant, when the price o f hard coal, delivered in New York har
bor, will not exceed $3 per ton.
That some idea may be formed o f what the Philadelphia and Reading
railway has done, and the Elizabethport and Somerville railway may do,
taking into consideration the difference in grade, and distance to the New
York market, the following statement is made o f the expense o f trans
porting 750 tons, o f 2,240 lbs. each, over the Philadelphia and Reading
railroad.
The expenses are calculated to keep the motive power, cars and
engines, in perpetual repair. The rates are liberal and ample. T o
this estimate o f cost o f haulage, is to be added, first, the cost per mile per
annum, to keep the perishable part of the road, the superstructure,
in perpetual repair, also the road bed. Experience in this country shows
that these items need not exceed $500 to $900 per annum. Then we
have to make an allowance to the stockholders, o f say 6 per cent on their
outlay of capital, for the cost o f the road. It will be perceived the cost
of motive power, for the load o f 750 tons drawn by the Ontario locomo
tive, is only $118 10, a fraction less than 16 cents, for drawing a ton o f
coal 98 miles. Where is the canal that can compete with this ?
W e learn that Messrs. Baldwin & Whitings, and we believe also the
Messrs. Norris & Brothers, have offered to guarantee that their improved
engine o f 164 tons, with six wheels, all rivers, such as the Ontario, will
haul daily, as a regular business, over the Reading railroad, trains o f 100
cars with 500 tons o f coal, at the rate o f ten miles per hour, at twenty-
544
Anthracite Coal Trade, by Railways and Canals.
five cents for the cost o f motive power, keeping the engine and cars in
perpetual repair.
As the Reading railroad has now a double track, and with a view that
some idea may be formed o f the capacity o f this road to furnish coal for
market, when supplied with an adequate motive power, the following cal
culation is made. I f a train is started every hour in the day— 24 hours,
— with 500 tons, the road would transport 12,000 tons per diem. This
313 days, gives the enormous quantity o f 3,756,000 tons per annum.
With Morse’s telegraph, and with surplus motive power at the stations, to
meet contingencies, trains could be safely started every 40 minutes. This
would give about 5,000,000 tons per annum, provided every thing was
kept in order, the coal could be mined, and no accident took place.
The cost o f transporting a load o f 750 tons by the Ontario locomotive
referred to, for motive power, is stated to have been as follows, allowing
two days for the trip, with a single track and turn outs. N ow there is a
double track ; the trip up and down can be performed in one day, although
100 miles is a good day’s work for the engine driver, to keep his engine
and tender in repair. With an increase o f motive power, which we
learn is progressing regularly, under Eastern management and capital,
there will be no difficulty for this company to transport, during 1845,
1,000,000 o f tons, if there is labor to mine that quantity.
C ost
of
M otive P owek , R eading R ailkoad— I tems
of
E xpense .
1 engine driver,2 days, at $ 2
per day,...................................................................
2 firemen,
2
“
1 25 per day,...............................................................
1 conductor,
2
“
1 30
“
. . . . .......................................................
10 brake-men,
2
“
75
“
F u el,...............................................................................................................................
011 for engine and tender, per trip,...................................................
Repairs to do., say 200 miles, at 5 cents per mile,................................................
Repairs to 150 cars, with 750 tons, at 5 cents per ton,..........................................
Oil and grease for cars, with 750 tons, at 1 1-5 cents,...........................................
Supplying water,..........................................................................................................
Proportion o f assisting engine, 1 mile, with 42 feet grades,................................
Extras,...........................................................................................................................
$4
5
2
15
22
3
10
37
9
1
3
Total,.................................................................................................................
M aking 15 J cents for a ton, 100 miles.
$118 10
00
00
60
00
00
00
00
5(1
00
00
00
6 00
I f the above statement is correct, and we believe it to be so, from the
best authority, can the Erie canal, the most favored, compete with
this railway ? W e trust the friends o f the Erie canal, and the canal
policy o f New York, will at all events permit a law to pass, by which the
railways by its side may be permitted to carry freight the entire year,
paying canal tolls, although this is an unjust tax on private enterprise.
Motive power is too costly to provide it for five months’ business in
the winter, after the canal has carried the bulk o f the produce, if they
are to be charged by the state $2 per ton, the present charge on mer
chandise for tolls for each 100 miles, and $1 on agricultural and other
products, for the gross ton o f 2,240 pounds.
j . e . b.
/
Annals o f American Commerce.
545
A rt. V II.— A N N A L S O F A M E R IC A N C O M M E R C E .
NUMBER IV .*
1774. British Government, 'provoked by the destruction o f the Tea,
passes the Boston Port Bill, dpc.— Intelligence o f the destruction o f the
tea at Boston was communicated, on the 7th o f March, in a message from
the throne, to both Houses o f Parliament. In this communication, the
conduct o f the colonists was represented, as not merely obstructing the
commerce o f Great Britain, but as subversive o f the British constitution.
Although the papers, accompanying the royal message, rendered it evi
dent that the opposition to the sale o f the tea was common to all the colo
nies, yet the Parliament, enraged at the violence of Boston, selected that
town as the object o f legislative vengeance. Without giving the oppor
tunity o f a hearing, a bill was passed, by which the port o f Boston was
legally precluded from the privilege o f landing and discharging, or o f
lading and shipping goods, wares and merchandise ; and every vessel
within the points Alderton and Nahant, was required to depart within six
hours, unless laden with food or fuel. This act, which shut up the har
bor o f Boston, was speedily followed by another, entitled “ an act for the
better regulating the government o f Massachusetts.” . The object o f this
act was to alter the charter of the province, so as essentially to abridge
the liberties of the people. In the apprehension that, in the execution o f
these acts, riots would take place, and that trials or murders, committed
in suppressing them, would be partially decided by the colonists, it was
provided by law, that if any person were indicted for murder, or for any
capital offence committed in aiding magistracy, the governor might send
the person, so indicted, to another colony or to Great Britain, to be tried.
These three acts were passed in such quick succession, as to produce the
most inflammatory effects in America, where they were considered as
forming a complete system o f tyranny. “ By the first,” said the colonists,
“ the property o f unoffending thousands is arbitrarily taken away, for the
act o f a few individuals; by the second, our chartered liberties are anni
hilated ; and, by the third, our lives may be destroyed with impunity.”
The port bill arriving in different parts o f the colonies, copies o f it
were multiplied and circulated with incredible dispatch, and excited uni
versal indignation. At Philadelphia, a subscription was set on foot for
such poor inhabitants o f Boston, as should be deprived o f the means of
subsistence by the operation o f the act. The Virginia House o f Bur
gesses resolved, that the 1st day of June, the day on which the operation
o f the port bill was to commence, should be set apart by the members as
a day o f fasting, humiliation and prayer, “ devoutly to implore the divine
interposition, for averting the heavy calamity which threatened destruc
tion to their civil rights and the evils o f a civil w a r; to give them one
heart and one mind, firmly to oppose, by all just and proper means, every
injury to the American rights.” On the publication of this resolution,
the royal governor, the earl of Dunmore, dissolved them ; but, previously
to their separation, eighty-nine o f the members signed an agreement, in
which they declared, “ that an attack, made on one o f our sister colonies,
to compel submission to arbitrary taxes, is an attack made on all British
America, and threatens ruin to the rights o f all, unless the united wisdom
o f the whole be applied.” They also recommended to the committee o f
* Continued from 1773, Merchants’ Magazine, for October, 1844, pp. 350 to 352.
I
546
Monthly Commercial Chronicle.
correspondence, to communicate^with the several committees of the other
colonies, on the expediency o f appointing deputies to meet annually in
general Congress, to deliberate on those measures which the united in
terest o f America might from time to time require.
On the day designated by the port act, business was finished at Boston,
at twelve o’clock at noon, and the harbor shut up against all vessels. The
day was devoutly kept at Williamsburgh, in Virginia, as a day o f fasting
and humiliation. In Philadelphia, it was solemnized with every manifes
tation of public grief; the inhabitants shut up their houses, and, after di
vine service, “ a stillness reigned over the city which exhibited an ap
pearance o f the deepest distress.” In other places, it was observed as a
day o f mourning.
1775. Bill fo r restraining the Commerce o f New England.— The prime
minister, Lord North, moved for leave to bring in a bill to restrain the
trade and commerce o f the provinces o f New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, and Connecticut, to Great Britain, Ireland, and the British
islands in the West Indies; and to prohibit those provinces from carry
ing on any fishery on the banks o f Newfoundland, and other places to be
mentioned in the bill, under certain conditions, and for a limited time.
After much opposition, in both houses, the bill was ratified by a great ma
jority.
MONTHLY
T
he
COMMERCIAL
CHRONICLE.
state o f the markets, generally, has been powerfully affected during the month of
November; in part by the result o f the elections, assisted by the position of the cotton
market, and the movement o f the government funds with the deposit banks, simultane
ously with the quarterly contraction o f the N ew Y ork banks, preparatory to their return
o f November 1. W e have remarked, in former numbers, that money has, for eighteen
months, been generally plenty; and that the banking institutions, in justice to themselves,
have uniformly struggled to obtain a high rate for money.
succeeded.
In this, they have occasionally
In November, 1843, money was at 3J a 4 per cent; in February, it was
worked up to 7 per cent. It subsequently fell to 4 per cent. In June, it was again at 7
per cent. It again became easy; and, in November, 7 per cent was again the rate. These
fluctuations arose from the fact that, when the banks succeeded in obtaining a high rate,
individual capital and funds from the neighborhood immediately flowed in for employ
ment, and the increased supply reduced the rate.
In the course o f this struggle, however,
the liabilities o f the banks have been considerably increased.
I mmediate M eans
Deposits,...................
Nett circulation,......
Due banks,..............
Canal fund,...............
United States,..........
Total,...........
and
L iabilities
of the
N ew Y
ork
B anks.
Immediate Liabilities.
August, 1843.
Nov., 1843.
$24,679,230
$27,389,160
9,383,534
12,952,055
4,941,514
9,611,940
741,389
1,157,203
4,033,385
1,645,320
August, 1844.
$28,757,122
15,349,205
7,744,118
1,210,794
3,674,171
Nov., 1844.
$30,391,622
17,647,182
5,664,110
1,534,553
3,786,261
$48,449,471
$56,735,410
$58,023,728
$48,085,252
Immediate Means.
S pecie,......................
Cash items,...............
$14,091,779
2,734,417
$11,502,789
3,102,856
$10,191,974
4,916,862
$8,968,092
6,047,528
T otal,...........
Loans,......................
$16,826,196
58,593,081
$14,605,645
61,514,129
$15,108,836
71,643,929
$15,015,620
73,091,788
547
Monthly Commercial Chronicle .
From August, 1843, to 1st November, a gradual extension o f loans took place, amounting
to <$>14,498,707, or 25 per cent o f the loans then outstanding; while cash means have di
minished near $2,000,000, or 12 per cent.
The nett circulation of the banks, or the
actual amount o f money put afloat by them, has increased $8,300,000— a very considera
ble increase. The loans o f the state banks, on the 1st November, were higher than ever
before, with the single exception o f the January return for 1837, just prior to the suspen
sion.
W hile this increase o f business has been going on, the import trade has considera
bly increased ; creating a demand for money, to some extent, for mercantile purposes, at
the same time that it has drawn from the importers o f N ew Y ork, into the federal trea
sury, over $20,000,000 ; o f which $13,820,251 was on deposit with government banks
on the 1st o f November. This government money was, to a considerable extent, employ
ed by the banks in making their loans; and, as it was deposited in four banks alternately,
the successive contractions each was obliged to make, as the money was withdrawn, ena
bled others to advance the rate on their old loans “ at call.”
New Y ork have been, for ten months, as follow's:—
I mports
January to July,....................
Ju ly,........................................
August,....................................
September,.............................
October,..................................
Total,.........................
into the
P ort
of
N ew Y
Dutiable Goods.
$32,023,702
6,543,331
9,537,279
7,846,050
3,913,283
$59,863,645
The imports into the port of
ork .
Free Goods.
$6,656,260
707,952
1,121,221
825,843
697,384
$10,008,660
Total.
$38,679,962
7,251,283
10,658,500
8,631,893
4,610,667
$69,832,305
T he fall trade did not meet the anticipation o f the importers, and the imports o f goods
fell off very rapidly— notwithstanding which, the demand for bills, for remittance, con
tinued good, and the rate o f sterling bills firmly maintained. M oney, however, being
much higher in value in the United States than in England, leading houses were disposed
to supply the market with bills at 10 per cent. From September to December, is usually
the season o f the year when the supply o f bills is the smallest, and the demand the
greatest.
Therefore, i f at any period o f the year shipments o f specie take place, it is in
that quarter.
A t this juncture, the continued fall o f cotton abroad occasioned a failure,
and the return o f some bills.
These, although o f small amount, and promptly taken,
served to make remitters cautious o f cotton bills, and rather disposed to give a higher rate
for specie than to risk the inconvenience o f return bills. T he demand for remittance was
also increased by the foreclosure o f the Holland lien upon the Morris canal.
This loan,
amounting to $900,000, was contracted several years since, and secured by a mortgage
upon the canal, and the whole franchise o f the company. T he canal cost over $4,000,000,
and was sold out, under the foreclosure o f this mortgage, for some $ 1 , 0 0 0 ,0 0 0 , and pur
chased by some sagacious capitalists o f N ew Y ork, who appreciated the value of the
work. The amount paid over to the Holland agent being promptly remitted, occasioned
an important demand for bills at a moment when the supply was the most lim ited; and
specie, to some extent, was sent forward, probably reaching an excess o f export, for the
year ending November, o f $1,000,000.
This rise in bills, and export o f specie, took
place simultaneously with the usual contraction o f the N ew Y ork banks, preparatory to
making up their November returns, and also with a removal o f the deposits o f the federal
government; which, having ranged as high as $ 6 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 , were suddenly removed to
other quarters, (mostly to Boston,) in alleged preparation for the redemption o f the stock
due in January, 1845.
That stock consists as follow s:—
Date o f Loan.
September, 1841,..........
September, 1841,...........
Redeemable.
January, 1845.
January, 1845.
Rate o f Interest.
5J
6
Total,............................................................................................................
Amount.
$3,213,000
2,439,000
$5,652,000
Monthly Commercial Chronicle.
548
This loan was taken mostly in N ew Y ork and Boston, at a time when the government
distress was very great, and when exchanges were adverse, in consequence of the large
imports o f the year ending September 30,1841. During the past year, as is well known,
the revenues have been large, and a considerable surplus has accumulated in banks; and,
by official returns, has been distributed as follow s:—
U nited S tates D eposits.
Oct. 28.
June 24.
Banks.
July 29.
Sept. 23.
Aug. 26.
N ew Y ork,.................. $4,388,161 $5,274,229 $6,103,501 $6,335,135 $5,372,005
1,772,685
1,989,116
2,138,297
Boston,........................
1,516,585
1,403,321
917,125
Philadelphia,..............
1,036,885
927,711
688,843
944,254
1.310,382
803,081
Washington,...............
455,757
477,916
495,719
949,974
Corcoran & R iggs,...
1,199,996
N ew Orleans,.............
253,314
254.966
296,379
92,668
264,951
Detroit,........................
243,031
195,024
96,096
131,488
170,748
A ll other,....................
2,384,515
2,380,457
1,213,326
1,532,623
1,836,491
Total,..............
$8,747,463 $10,029,612 $11,520,995 $13,875,291 $13,820,251
In June, the N ew Y ork banks held one-half the whole, which was less than their pro
portion ; because the importers o f N ew Y ork pay into the federal treasury two-thirds of
the whole customs.
T he duties so paid are an advance to the government, by the im
porters, o f the duties intended to be levied upon the goods when consumed. It is money
taken directly from the capital employed in commerce. If, therefore, a surplus accumu
lates beyond the immediate wants o f commerce, it is clearly an act o f justice that that
surplus should be placed in a position to be re-loaned to those that paid it in.
T o do this
in a just manner, the money should be deposited, ^tro rata, among all those banks o f the
city, the customers o f which pay the duties. Instead o f pursuing this evidently just and
easy course, the department has placed the deposits with four banks, only— two chartered,
and two free banks.
T he chartered banks are restricted in their loans, by a law of the
state o f N ew Y ork, to a sum equal to twice and a half their capitals.
unrestricted. These deposits have been made as follow s:—
U nited S tates D eposits
in
N ew Y
ork
The free banks arc
C it y .
Chartered Banks.
F ree Banks.
Total.
B. Com’rce. Am. Ex. B.
Total.
B ’kofA m er. Merchants’ .
066,890 $2,494,409 $1,870,472 $119,280 $1,989,750
June 24,......... $1,327,519
1,881,426 3,070,682
1,206,277
997,280
2,203,557
July 29...........
1,189,256
1,275,356 870,583
2,105,939
Aug. 26,.........
1,257,436
1,440,126 2,697,662
2,001,847 1,999,867 4,001,716
Sept. 23,.........
1,263,312
1,070,104 2,303,416
1,480,876 956,432
2,437,308
Oct. 2 8 ,.........
1.552,551
1,382,146 2,934,697
T he amount with the two chartered banks has remained very uniform; while that with
the free banks has fluctuated to a very great extent; probably owing to the fact that they
were the recipients o f the customs for August and September, when the duties were un
commonly large.
T he loans o f these banks have been as follow s:—
Chartered.
F
ree. .
Free.
Total.
B'k o f Amer. Merchants’.
Total.
B’k Com’rce..Am. Ex. Bk.
Capital,............. $ 2 ,0 0 1 ,2 0 0 ;$1,490,000 i$3,491,200 i$ 3,271,000 j$1,155,400 $4,426,400
5,265,519
July, 1841,...... 1,168,636 2,012,300 3,180,936 4,104,882 1,160,637
January, 1842,. 2,029,002 1,713,659 3,742,661 2,539,164 1,008,164 3,547,328
1,890,106 1,811,000 3,701,106 4,476,139 1,374,382 5,850,521
July, 1849,......
January, 1843,. 3,058,149 1,960,923 5,019,072 2,777,997 1,458,904 4,236,901
August, 1843,.. 3.646,443 3,786,240 7,432,683 2,848,265 2,349,175 5,198,440
N ov’r, 1843,.... 3,213,398 3,637,713 6,851,111 3,005,514 2,457,597 5,463,111
February, 1844, 3,312,032 3,763,523 7,075,555 3,754,747 2,515,217 6.269,964
M av, 1844,......
4,037,292 3,763,713 7,801,005 4,602,942 2,614,846 7,217,788
August, 1844,. 4,566,147 3,768,323 8,334,470 3,918,658 2,861,320 6,779,978
N ov’r, 1844..... 4,384,852 3,381,354 7,766,206 4,275,113 2,821,979 7,097,092
T he American Exchange bank became a deposit bank in July last; and it appears that,
in September, the government deposits with the two free banks nearly equalled their ca-
Monthly Commercial Chronicle .
pitals.
549
T he same was the case with the two chartered banks, in July and in October.
The loans o f these two latter banks, in August last, reached the utmost limits of the state
laws, viz: twice and one-half the capitals.
The deposits with the American Exchange
bank, in August, exceeded it3 capital by 30 per cent. N ow , when the deposits in an in
stitution like this fluctuate from $119,280 to near $ 2 ,0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , in three months, a convul
sion in the market is inevitable, because such a bank will not receive the money without
using i t ; and, by pouring $ 2 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 into one channel o f business, it affects the price o f
m oney; and, when again withdrawn by government requisitions, distress is the result.
N ow , based upon government deposits, these four banks have, within the year, increased
their loans 16 to 25 per cent.
During the last quarter o f the year, a competition sprang
up among individuals and banks, for the possession o f the public money. The four N ew
Y ork city deposit banks, at the close o f the last session o f Congress, procured the pas
sage o f a bill making them the exclusive depositories for the city of N ew York.
Hence,
as the surplus accumulated, near $4,000,000 was drawn from the city of N ew Y ork, and
placed elsewhere. It appears, in the above table, that the deposits at Washington in
creased from $455,000 in June, to $2,510,378 in October; o f which amount, near onehalf was deposited with an individual broker’s house.
A t the same time, in consequence
of reduced imports, the customs had considerably diminished.
The means o f the N ew
Y ork banks to sustain their loans were thus gradually diminished, until, in November, a
considerable portion o f the remaining deposits were removed to Boston, to meet that por
tion o f the loan due in January. This removal o f the deposits, contraction of the banks,
and export o f specie, occurred at a moment when the result o f the elections had been such
as to induce large sales o f stocks, that had been previously purchased on speculation.
These events produced a kind o f panic, and stocks fell heavily; contributing to the gloomy
feeling among a portion o f the community, consequent upon the disappointment o f the
bright anticipations they had entertained from a different result o f the elections.
The revenue and expenditure o f the federal government, during the past year, have
been, from official quarterly statements, as follow s:—
R evenue
and
E xpenditure
of the
U nited S tates ,
Customs,...............................
Lands,..................................
Miscellaneous,.....................
Loan o f 1843,.....................
Treasury notes,...................
Six months, to
April 1.
$11,470,416
1,137,814
70,537
4,241
1,919,800
T otal,......................
$14,602,798
for the y ear ending
S ept . 30, 1844.
Quarter end Quarter ending
ing July 30.
Sept. 30.
$8,471,000
$10,750,000
500,500
450,000
50.000
25,500
25.000
$9,046,500
Total.
$30,691,416
2,088,314
146,037
4,241
1,944,800
$11,225,500
$34,874,798
$5,708,399
7,592,487
6,032,169
1,171,091
234,600
4,790,530
$25,529,176
9,345,622
Expenses.
Civil, mis., foreign,.............
Military,...............................
Naval,..... ..............................
Interest o f debt,..................
Paid loan o f 1841,..............
Treas. notes and interest,...
$3,016,569
3,621,513
2,825,482
551,879
$1,280,778
1,692,978
1,300,481.
537,808
3,403,963
1,063,983
$1,411,052
3,277,996
1,906,206
81,404
234,600
322,584
T otal,......................
Excess revenue,..................
$13,419,406
1,183,392
$5,876,038
3,170,462
$7,233,844
3,991,656
This abundant revenue was derived from the customs almost altogether, which continued
large up to the close o f September, being near $11,000,000 in the last quarter. The im
ports, however, then suddenly declined, and the receipts for October were about $1,400,000
only, or near $1,000,000 less than the current expenses. Should this rate o f decrease
continue, the available surplus, after paying the outstanding loans and treasury notes, will
be entirely absorbed; and, in November, a farther falling off was manifest. T he state o f the
markets now, is by no means such as to warrant a renewal o f imports to any considerable
Monthly Commercial Chronicle.
550
extent; and, therefore, the diminution o f the revenue may lead to the modification o f those
duties which now act in a prohibitive manner. N o great and radical change is to be ap
prehended in the general policy o f the country.
It is to be hoped that the great desideratum
o f permanency will be the object aimed a t; and, to attain it, it is undoubtedly necessary
that such portions, if any there be, o f the present regulations, as are ultra in their general
character, should be modified; taking great care not to run into the opposite extreme, in
order to induce renewed clamor for change. W ith these single exceptions, we do not see
anything in the political horizon likely to interfere with the general advance in commercial
prosperity. So far as M exico is concerned, its government is in some shape bound to its
people to retake Texas. The executive, a military chief, depending upon his popularity,
is placed in an awkward position, when his whole power is unequal to the conquest of a
revolted province. T he annexation o f that province to a powerful neighbor is, therefore, to
him, only an extrication from a difficult position.
On the other hand, it is known that Great
Britain has long been insidiously advancing to the possession o f Cuba.
France is continu
ally extending itself in A frica; and the advance o f the United States boundary to Mexico
proper, may be looked upon as a good pretext for the acquisition o f Cuba, by England,
either by purchase or otherwise— an event which would, indeed, involve serious conse
quences.
It is, however, remote in its results, and dependent for its consummation upon
many contingencies.
Cuba is the garden o f the world ; and, under an independent, repub
lican government, would ultimately rival even England, in power and wealth. Its resources
are now drawn from it in tribute to its European oppressors, to the extent o f some $5,000,000
per annum ; an operation which, in time, would exhaust even the exorbitant wealth of Bri
tain. T he progress o f Cuba has, notwithstanding, been as follows, in the last 14 years:—
Years.
Imports.
Exports.
Tot. im. and ex.
Customs.
Pop.
1826,................
$14,925,754 $13,809,838
$28,735,592 $3,244,000
704,487
1842,................
24,637,527
26,684,701
51,322,228
6,005,632 1,008,624
Increase,....
$9,711,773
$12,874,863
$22,586,636
$2,761,632
303,137
T he currency o f the island is metallic, and its quantity may be estimated from the fact
that, in 1841, the government, to remedy the evils incident upon a depreciated currency,
passing at a nominal value, called in all the outstanding pistareens, and stamped them to
pass at five to the dollar, instead o f four to the dollar. The amount called in in conse
quence, was as follow s:—
At Havana.
$3,413,531
R e ce ive d ,....
2,761,512
Paid out,.......
Principe.
$963,840
794,321
Santiago.
$775,717
632,507
Total.’
$6,153,088
4,188,340
$652,019
$169,519
$964,748
$143,210
L oss,___
T he excess o f imports over exports, o f the precious metals, for the eleven years, up to
1843, was as follow s:—
Imports.
$9,543,876
G old,.............
7,107,818
Silver............
Exports.
$3,077,487
7,617,599
Excess exp?ts.
Excess imp.
$6,466,389
$509,781
$5,856,608
$16,651,694
$10,795,086
T otal,...
This excess o f imports, added to the pistareens, gives a currency o f $10,044,948.
There was probably two to three millions o f gold in the island when this table of imports
commenced ; in which case, the coin o f the island would be full $12,000,000, or $24
per head o f the free population— an immense proportion.
The United States has pro
gressed, in the same time, in the following proportion:—
Import.
Export.
Total.
Years.
1826,........... . $84,974,477 $77,595,322 $162,569,799
104,691,534
104,853,621
1842,........... . 100,162,087
Increase,.... .
Decrease,... .
$15,187,614
........
$27,096,212
Customs.
$26,093,373
15,865,913
Population.
11,392,423
18,264,514
6,872,091
$42,283,822
$10,227,460
551
Monthly Commercial Chronicle.
The population o f the United States increased in a greater proportion than that o f
Cuba; but the wealth o f Cuba, which consists in its exportable productions, increased
nearly 100 per cent, while those o f the United States increased but 30 per cent
The
population o f the United States is now 19,000,000, and the specie in the country has
been estimated as low as $80,000,000.
It is, however, fully $100,000,000, or $ 6 per
head for the free population— about one-fourth that o f Cuba.
This comparison serves to
show the vast and growing importance o f the island o f Cuba, and the great temptation
it presents to the proverbially grasping ambition o f E ngland; whose emissaries, last spring,
convulsed the island by their machinations, and brought hundreds o f their wretched dupes
to the scaffold. T he possession o f Texas by the United States will be resisted by E ng
land only to enhance the importance o f the precedent, when events shall have given her
the opportunity to seize Cuba.
This attempt will lead to difficulties that are now remote,
and cannot be brought to bear upon the current o f commercial events. The reckless and
unscrupulous ambition o f English statesmen will lead them to make the attempt; but the
onward progress o f human liberty and popular rights must prevent Cuba from becoming
the vassal o f England, when it shall have cast o ff the yoke o f Spain.
T he internal na
tural wealth and resources o f Cuba are equal to those o f England; and time, and good
government, will make it her equal— not her vassal.
Apart from political movements, everything presents the appearance o f a more lasting
season o f greater prosperity than ever before in this country. Its actual capital is greater
— the commercial debts o f individuals, at home and abroad, were never less. The means
of internal communication are numerous, cheap, and continually improving.
There exist
no systematic means by which immense imports o f goods can be made for successive
years, until the accumulated credits burst in an avalanche, sweeping everything to insol
vency.
On the other hand, produce o f all kinds is exceedingly abundant, and at prices
which cannot now well be decreased; while the state o f affairs in Europe is such as to
warrant the expectation o f a largely increased consumption o f American produce.
N o
thing is more indicative o f reviving trade, and increased consumption o f goods in E ng
land, than the improvement in indirect taxes, or those taxes imposed on consumable goods.
These are o f two classes— the customs duties, or those levied upon foreign goods brought
into the country; and excise, or internal taxes, levied upon articles produced in England.
Whenever, through a failure o f the crops, money becomes scarce, and the demand for labor
diminished, the consumption o f these articles is lessened, and the government revenue
sensibly affected. In the years 1836-38, the revenues o f Great Britain yielded a surplus.
The failure o f the harvest o f 1838 immediately wrought a change, and there was a yearly
deficit so large, as to induce the imposition o f new duties, estimated to yield £5,000,000
per annum.
From the causes mentioned, however, v iz : diminished consumption o f the
dutiable articles, the taxes failed to increase the revenue.
In the succeeding year, the
government was compelled to resort to the unpopular expedient o f a direct tax upon in
comes, which has yielded the desired am ount; and during the last year, in consequence
of the improving state o f business generally, a surplus has again been produced, and ap
propriated to the payment o f the public debt T he progress o f the taxes has been as
follows:—
R evenues
Years.
1836,................
1839,................
1841..................
1842,................
1843.................
1844,................
Customs.
£23,045,668
22,365,340
19,485,217
19,656,495
18,520,340
20,243,505
of
G re at B rita in .
Excise.
£15,719,423
14,750,521
12,868,014
12,124,566
11,786,044
11,959,942
Taxes.
Prop. Tax.
£2,722,601
none.
2,718,847
none.
4,389,692
none.
4,297,439 £313,844
4,207,792 5,052,057
4,204,855 5,258,470
Stamps.
£7,350,377
7,212,488
6,687,575
6,547,863
6,464,256
6,533,385
A very marked improvement is perceptible in the customs, and the excise has again
resumed its upward tendency, after the important decline o f 20 per cent since 1839, show
552
Monthly Commercial Chronicle.
ing a very great improvement in the condition o f the people, generally— an indication o f
a continued increased consumption o f manufactured goods. T he exports o f British ma
nufactures have been still more marked, as fo llo w s:—
E xports
of
B ritish M anufactures
from
G re at B rita in .
1841.
£451,209
11,038,895
4,599,976
413,618
312,740
1,129,455
2,379,910
622,474
1,996,483
1,021,441
132,771
30,076
257,559
585,648
371,725
374,313
299,086
4,177,187
1842.
£556,676
9,410,035
4,909,030
382,451
216,494
' 934,268
1,640,268
703,933
1,742,280
1,197,848
243,957
127,681
238,065
415,764
295,277
351,146
350,223
3,461,707
1843.
£476,260
10,702,438
4,760,443
405,134
230.273
1,099,766
1,852,709
571,249
1,700,703
1,153,729
200,225
77,084
273,827
448,088
272,779
283,199
371,991
4,574,212
1844.
£417,095
12,792,034
4,733,764
528,436
275,947
1,438,298
2.111,821
664,730
2,326,828
1,214,198
204,271
47,123
344,564
547,164
230,892
377,048
612,393
6,152,880
Total, to Sept 5 ,........ .
“
Aug. 5,.........
£30,404,468
25,965,693
£27,177,123
23,407,117
£29,456,109
25,269,977
£35,019,488
29,630,439
Month o f August,...... .
£4,438,775
£3,770,006
£4,186,132
£5,389,049
Coals and culm ,..................
Cotton manufactures,..........
“
yarn,.........................
Earthenware,.......................
Glass,.....................................
Hardwares and cutlery,......
Linen manufactures,...........
“
yarn,..........................
Iron and steel,....................
Copper and brass,...............
L e a d ,....................................
T in, in bars,.........................
T in plate,.............................
Silk manufactures,..............
Sugar, refined,......................
W ool, sheep and lamb’s ,,..
W oollen yarn,.......................
W oollen manufactures,.......
T he business for the month o f August was 25 per cent larger than even in the year 1841.
T he most marked improvement has been in woollen and cotton goods.
T he progress of
the exports o f cotton goods and yarns has been as follow s:—
1841.
1842.
First six months,....................
Ju ly,........................................
August,....................................
£11,199,736
2,356,797
2,082,338
Total, 8 months,...........
£15,638,871
£10,506,378
1,864,651
1,948,036
£14,319,065
1843.
1844.
£11,282,826 £12,107,444
2,045,663
2,577,631
2,134,387
2,840,723
£15,462,876
£17,525,798
T he exports o f cotton goods have, it appears, for the last eighteen months, continually
increased ; having risen from an average o f £1,860,435, in the first six months o f 1843,
to £2,840,723, in the month o f August.
T he raw cotton taken for consumption has, in
the meantime, been as follow s:—
C otton
taken for
C onsumption
in
G re at B rita in .
1841.
1842.
British possessions.........lbs.
Foreign,..................................
33,068,866
282,847,171
45,571,026
312,223,404
30,315,405
430,774,458
1843.
43,378,403
359,133,720
1844.
T o ta l............................
315,916,037
357,794,430
461,089,863
402,512,123
Notwithstanding the largely increased consumption o f cottons, the purchases o f the spin
ners, it appears, have been less than last year— a fact which would indicate that the stocks
in spinners’ hands must be very low, and that they must soon recommence the purchases;
and, with the abundance o f money there, a rise in prices may he expected.
M ercantile Law C ases.
MERCANTILE
UNITED
STATES- CIRC U IT
553
LAW DEPARTMENT.
COURT, (N E W
Y O R K ,) BEFORE
EDWARD WIGHT, WILLIAM STURGIS, AND WILLIAM SHAW,
VS.
JUDGE BETTS*
EDWARD CURTIS.
No act o f Congress having designated any form or mode o f proof to be made, of damage
to goods on the voyage o f importation, to lay the foundation for an appraisement, the
collector is bound to order it on reasonable evidence o f such damage.
I f he does not object to the form o f proof when presented, he cannot raise such objection
at the time when sued for not calling such appraisement.
A request to the collector to have an appraisement by merchants, appointed pursuant to
the act o f 1799, is to be regarded an application to have it made according to the ex
isting law.
The. 52d section o f the act o f March 2 , 1799, does not require a survey o f goods, damaged
on the voyage o f importation, to be made previous to an appraisement o f damages for
the purpose o f an abatement o f duties.
I f such survey is necessary, the master and wardens o f the port are not “ the proper of
ficers,” within the meaning o f the act, to make it.
After a collector has ordered goods to a public store, because o f damage on the voyage o f
importation, he has no authority to require a survey o f such goods, in order to their ap
praisement
W hen an appraisement is refused, the deterioration o f the goods may be proved by wit
nesses ; and the collector is liable, in an action for damages, to pay the difference be
tween the duties exacted by him, and those the goods ought to have been charged with.
I n the decision o f this case, I shall forbear the review o f several topics, discussed with
great fulness and learning. Under the construction I give the 52d section o f the act of
1799, it does not become necessary to consider the origin o f the powers of the port-war
dens o f this port, or the just extent o f those powers under the statutes o f the state, or the
conveniency or fitness o f the usage prevailing with the custom-house here, to call for their
official certificates in cases o f goods damaged on the voyage o f importation, for which a
deduction o f duties shall be claim ed; nor to investigate and determine the right o f marine
surveyors, under private appointment, to perform that service.
The facts presenting the question in contestation between the parties, are, that the ship
Sheffield, when coming into this port in November, 1843, and in charge of a pilot, grounded
in a heavy wind, and filled and sunk. She was subsequently raised, and towed to the
city, and her cargo unladen ; and, by consent, and at the instance o f the parties interested,
it was ordered by the collector to be deposited in a public store-house.
T he dutiable
goods o f the libellants, on board the ship, were damaged by sea-W'ater on the occasion, to
the amount o f 60 per cent on their value.
T he libellants'produced certificates o f the port-
w’ardens o f surveys o f all their packages, except o n e ; and asked, and had allowed them
by the collector, an appraisement o f the damages so incurred by those packages. In re
spect to the package in question, the libellants offered to the collector the sworn survey
nnd appraisement o f Alexander Cartwright, (representing himself to be a person “ select
ed by the parties interested, to survey, appraise, arbitrate, and judge o f vessels and goods
arriving damaged, or becoming damaged in the port o f Y e w Y ork,” ) certifying that he
had taken a strict and careful survey o f the goods in question, and found them to have
been damaged on the voyage o f importation. Also, the deposition o f the master o f the
ship, provmg the wreck, and injury to the cargo in consequence.
A n exception was taken, on the argument, to the admissibility of this deposition, be
cause the attestation was taken before a state magistrate, not authorized to administer oaths
to be used in the United States tribunals.
I think this objection cannot prevail; for the
attestation on oath, to such a document, is not required by any act o f Congress; and
H had been, the collector should have refused to receive the affidavit, because o f defect
V O L, X I .---- NO. V I .
42
if
of
554
M ercantile Law C ases.
authority in the officer taking the oath, so that the irregularity might have been rectified
at the time } and he cannot be permitted to start the objection on the final argument. His
acceptance o f the deposition will be deemed a waiver o f any informality in the jurat, par
ticularly as the paper was addressed to him, and was to have no other operation than to
guide the decision on the claim o f the importer to have his goods appraised.
T he collector, by his letter o f November 23, 1843, to the plaintiffs, stated that, accord
ing to the instructions which he had received from the Secretary o f the Treasury, the
certificate o f damage must be given by a port-warden; and added “ that, if within ten
days after the landing o f the goods, such certificate shall be presented, orders will be given
for an appraisement” T he particular certificate not being furnished, the appraisement
was refused, and the libellants paid the full duties charged ($ 103 14) on this package,
making their protest at the time, and then brought this action in a state court, to recover
back 60 per cent thereof, (being $ 6 7 05,) with interest from November 25, 1843. The
action wras removed to this Court pursuant to the act o f Congress o f March 3, 1833,
( 8 Laws U. S., 792, sec. 3.)
A letter o f the Secretary o f the Treasury, dated July 13, 1843, to the collector, ratified
his decision in a previous case, rejecting the certificate o f damage given by the marine
surveyors appointed by the Chamber o f Commerce and Board o f Underwriters of the port
o f N ew Y ork, and approved the practice o f requiring the certificate of damage to be given
by the port-wardens, as not only in accordance with the 52d section o f the act o f 1799,
but as that which most nearly conforms with its provisions.
Some criticism was addressed on the argument, to forms o f the proofs o f damage; and
their sufficiency to establish the fact was questioned— but, as the objection on the trial re
ferred essentially to their admissibility, and the fact and extent o f damage was not made
a prominent point, I shall regard the testimonyr if competent, sufficient to have justified
the jury in finding for the plaintiffs; and the Court, on a case made, will draw the same
inferences from the evidence that a jury would be warranted in drawing.
(14 Johns., 215.
15 ib., 409. 6 Cowen, 632.)
It was also suggested that the collector rightfully refused the request o f the plaintiffs,
because they asked the appointment o f merchant appraisers, conformably to the act of
1799, when the act o f 1823 had abolished that mode o f appraisement, and designated
official appraisers, who alone possessed authority to make this appraisement.
This was
clearly a mere misapprehension in the form o f application— a mistake which the collector
did not regard; for he avowed his readiness to act under the application, on being fur
nished the particular certificate he required ; and, accordingly, the error o f the plaintiffs,
in the designation o f the appraising officers, can stand in no way against their rights in
the matter.
T he Court will regard it as the collector did— a request to have the appraise
ment made conformably with the law.
T h e essential question to be disposed o f is, then, whether the plaintiffs, on the facts and
circumstances o f this case, were bound to produce a certificate o f the port-wardens before
an appraisement and a deduction o f duties, because o f such damages, could be claimed
by them.
This inquiry turns upon the construction to be given the 52d section o f the act
o f March 2, 1799.
It enacts that all goods, wares, or merchandise, o f which entry shall
be made incomplete, or without the specification o f particulars, either for want of the ori
ginal invoice or invoices, or for any other cause, or which shall have received damage
during the voyage, to be ascertained by the proper officers o f the port or district in which
the said goods, wares, or merchandise shall arrive, shall be conveyed to some warehouse
or storehouse, to be designated by the collector, in the parcels or packages containing the
same ; there to remain, with due and reasonable care, at the expense and risk o f the owner
or consignee, under the care o f some proper officer, until the particulars, cost, or value, as
the case may require, shall have been ascertained, either by the exhibition o f the qriginal
555
M ercantile Law Cases.
invoice or invoices thereof, or by appraisement, at the option o f the owner, importer, or
consignee, in manner hereafter provided; and until the duties thereon shall have been
paid, or secured to be paid, and a permit granted by the collector for the delivery thereof.
And for the appraisement o f goods, wares, and merchandise, not accompanied with the
original invoice o f their cost, or to ascertain the damage thereon received during the voy
age, it shall be lawful for the collector, and, upon request o f the party, he is required, to
appoint one merchant, and the owner, importer, or consignee, to appoint another, who
Bhall appraise or value the said goods, wares, or merchandise, accordingly; which ap
praisement shall be subscribed by the parties making the same, and be verified on oath
or affirmation, before said collector— which oath or affirmation shall be in the form follow
ing, to wit,” & c., &c.
T he usage at the custom-house, under this section, has always been, to exact a certifi
cate preliminarily to ordering an appraisement on damaged g oods; and the wardens of
the port have been held “ the proper officers” to give such certificates.
On the part o f the
plaintiffs, it is contended that the act supplies no authority for either o f these requirements.
The section recited directs goods, wares, and merchandise, to be conveyed to some ware
house or storehouse, on arriving in port, in either o f two conditions:— First, when the
entry o f them shall be made incomplete, for any cause ; and, second, when they “ shall
have received damage during the voyage, to be ascertained by the proper officers,” & c.
In the first instance, it is plain, the collector acts on his own view o f the state o f the entry,
and without any extraneous evidence; but as, in the second instance, the cause for order
ing the‘ goods to a public store would not be apparent on the entry, or one which the col
lector would be supposed prepared to decide on his own inspection, there would seem to
be the occasion for designating by law the circumstances which would require or authorize
the order. This designation is supposed to be supplied by the statute.
The terms employed in the act may probably admit this construction; and if the first
clause is read by itself, such might be its more natural interpretation, because the inquiry
which is to lead to the action o f the collector, is, whether the goods have received damao-e
during the voyage ; and the expression, “ to be ascertained by the proper officers,” rnmht
well be regarded as having reference to the general proposition or idea o f damage during
the voyage,” and not to damage simply in respect to it3 amount or extent
But the same
expression is again taken up in the subsequent clause o f the section ; and Congress, by
the application o f it there, would seem to regard the language as calling for a valuation of
damages, and not merely the finding o f the fact that damage had been received. This
understanding o f its import is again distinctly indicated in the form o f the oath; for the
appraisers are required to swear that “ the packages have received damage, as w e believe
during the voyage o f importation; and that the allowance by us made for such damage
is, to the best o f our skill and judgment, just.”
It is not to be supposed that Congress would, in this clause and the oath, impose on ap
praisers the duty o f ascertaining the fact o f damage during the voyage, if, by the previous
clause, other officers were appointed to perform that very service; and it seems to me that
the entire section, taken with the form o f oath, denotes that it was intended to provide
for no more than one ascertainment o f damage in this behalf; and that, in this respect,
the first clause in the section is to be considered subordinate to, or more completely ful
filled by the subsequent one. Although the language may be susceptible, and most natu
rally, o f the interpretation given it by the collector, and the Secretary o f the Treasury,
yet plainly no violence is done it, by understanding it in the other sense; and the latter
would most effectually harmonize all the provisions o f the section.
In aid o f this expo
sition, it is to be observed that the language is prospective, having relation to an act after
wards to be done, and that not necessarily before the action o f the collector, in ordering
the goods to a public store.
“ Damage to be ascertained,” and “ to ascertain the damage,”
556
M ercantile Law C ases.
arc correlative expressions, and indicate one and the same procedure; and that they are
so used by Congress, is plainly imported by the terms o f the oath, " to ascertain and ap
praise the damage.” This latter act must necessarily follow the deposit o f the goods in
a public store ; and the language o f the first section may very well be satisfied, even on
the interpretation o f the defendant, by having the survey posterior to the deposit in store.
If, then, this ascertainment o f damages by proper officers must not indispensably be had,
previous to the deposit o f the goods, and as the statute having provided for only one pro
ceeding therein, subseqent to such deposit, the entire section would most appropriately be
read as having reference -to the one act o f ascertaining and apprising, designated and
directed in the latter clause.
I think, therefore, that, upon the true construction o f the 52d section, the damage re
ceived during the voyage to be ascertained by the proper officers o f the port or district,
mentioned in the first clause, is the same matter directed to be inquired into and deter
mined in the after branch o f this section ; and that, accordingly, there is no authority in
the act for requiring any other survey or appraisement.
A more minute analysis o f the terms o f the section will conduce to the support o f this
construction.
I f the provisions o f the first clause call for a survey o f .the goods, by proper
officers, as it is understood at the custom-house, it stands in singular contrast with the
after provision in that respect, in not naming the officers who are to perform the duty; in
not exacting the sanction o f an oath from them ; and in not rendering it obligatory on the
collector to take the proceedings. The importer is supplied with no authority to compel
the action o f the collector; and if the first branch o f the section is read as complete within
itself, it would seem that the merchant is placed entirely at the discretion of the collector,
or can have no relief because o f his refusal to call a survey, and the consequent deteriora
tion o f his property, unless through the tedious and precarious prosecution o f the collector,
for mal-feasance in his office.
Congress deemed the matter worthy o f precise legislation, when they came to consider
the equitable consequence o f such injury to goods, on the rights o f the .importer and the
interests o f the revenue; and provided specifically for enforcing and preserving their re
spective interests, by clear and precise enactments in the after branch o f the same section.
Such incongruity would be reluctantly implied in the provisions o f the same section; and
the construction, therefore, which regards the whole subject matter one and the same, and
as provided for in a common regulation, seems best adapted to uphold the rights of all
parties, and fulfil the purposes o f Congress.
This same course is pursued in the 60th section, in relation to vessels coming into port
in distress.
The regulation is minute and specific, in the description o f the officers who
may make surveys, ard as to the time and manner in which kindred services are to be
obtained and rendered; and, whether state officers or merchant appraisers are employed,
the act points out definitely when and how they are to act.
This latter section supplies
also a forcible argument against the application o f the term “ proper officers,” used in the
52d section, to port-wrardens; because it names them, or calls for other state officers,
«4 usually charged with, and accustomed to ascertain the condition of ships or vessels arri
ving in distress.”
It is not to be supposed, if Congress adopted in the previous section 44 port-wardens,”
under the general appellation o f “ proper officers,” as well known to possess and exercise
within the states the functions there called for, that in legislating further, on like subject
matters, they would, in the 60th section, name them specifically, or describe the qualifica
tions o f the other officers who might be used. But it is to be remarked that the term
«« proper officers” is tw ice used in the same paragraph o f the 52d section; and, in the
latter case, must necessarily refer to some custom-house officer, or one appointed under
M ercantile Law Cases,
557
the authority o f the revenue laws, because he is officially to take care o f the goods ordered
by the collector to be taken in store.
It is not unworthy o f observation, that the phrase, “ proper officers of the port or dis
trict in which the goods, & c., shall arrive,” does not apply to any public officers known
to the laws o f this state at the time the act o f Congress was passed; nor is it probable
that such officers were created in any o f the other states.
T he powers o f port-wardens do not, under the colonial or state statutes, extend beyond
the port o f N ew Y ork, (A ct March 7, 1759; 2 Smith and Livingston, 160; Act 14th
April, 1784, 1 Greenl., 8 6 ,) whereas the district o f N ew Y ork was, by the fifth section of
the act o f Congress o f March 2, 17*99, (as it had been by the act of July 31, 1789,) made
to embrace nearly all the coasts, rivers, bays, and harbors o f the southern part of the state,
including those on the North river.
T he city o f N ew Y ork is, in the act o f 1789, and all subsequent ones, made the port
o f entry ; but it is manifest that there must be officers created under the acts whose pow
ers extend over the entire district
It may be as important to have proper officers of the
revenue in other harbors on the coast within the district, to take care o f goods deposited
there by the collector, as in that o f N ew Y o r k ; and it may become of equal importance
to have appraisements made at such places, because the whole regulation has reference to
wreck or disasters at sea, and will necessarily be ample enough to meet the exigencies
that are likely to rise in this behalf,.in every part o f the district.
A gain: the argument in favor o f construing the 52d section, so as to have the expres
sions “ proper officers o f the port or district” apply to port-wardens, rests upon the as
sumption that that class o f officers notoriously possessed and exercised, under the state
laws o f the different states, the power o f making surveys o f goods alleged to be damaged
on the voyage o f importation, and determining the fact whether such damage has been
received. There may be ground to doubt the entire correctness of this assumption. By
the colonial act o f March 7, 1759, section 9, the master and wardens of the port of N ew
York,, for the time being, are appointed surveyors, for surveying o f all damaged goods
brought into the said port in any ship or vessel; and in like manner, with the assistance
o f one or more able carpenters, to survey all vessels deemed unfit to proceed to sea, &c.
(2 Livings, and Smith, 163.)
A n act was passed September 11,1761,.with a preamble that “ whereas goods imported
here, and insured in Great Britain, and elsewhere abroad, are sometimes sold in this city
for the account o f the insurers, and some persons, taking the advantage o f their absence,
have frequently made fraudulent sales, to the great prejudice o f the insurers, the undue
gain o f the assured, and detriment o f the commerce o f this colon y : for a remedy there
for, it is enacted, that hereafter, all damaged goods to be sold for account o f the insurers
shall be surveyed by the master, or one or more o f the wardens o f the port o f N ew Y ork
for the time being, and such sale shall be made in his or their presence, & c., &c. (Van
Schaick’s ed. Laws N. Y ., 394.)
This act was continued in force to January 1, 1775,
(Ibid., 498.)
I f this act is to be regarded as suspending or superseding that of 1759, during its con
tinuance, on its expiration, the latter probably revived; and, under the 35th article o f the
state constitution, o f April 20, 1777, continued in force until the passage o f the act of
April 14, 1784, by the state legislature.
The 8 th section o f the latter act is a re-enact
ment o f the 9th section o f the act ®f 1759, above recited.
122.
1 Greenlf., 89.)
(Jones and Varick, L. N . Y .,
T he latter law, in substance, was continued under the various
revisions o f the statutes, till a revision and consolidation o f the laws on this subject, by
the act o f February 19, 1819.
(5 Laws N. Y ., 11.)
By the 5th section o f the act, it is
enacted that the master and wardens o f the port o f N ew Y ork, or any two of them, with
the assistance o f one or more skilful carpenters, shall be surveyors of any vessel deemed
M ercantile Law Cases.
558
unfit to proceed to sea, & c., & c .; and in all cases o f vessels and goods arriving damaged,
and by the owner or consignee required to be sold at public auction, on account of such
damage, and for the benefit o f underwriters out o f the city o f N ew Y ork, such sale shall
be made under the inspection o f the master and wardens, or some or one of them ; which
master and wardens shall, when required by the owner or consignee aforesaid, certify the
cause o f such damage, & c .; and an after clause gives them $ 1 50 fees “ for each and
every survey on board o f any ship or vessel, or at any store, or along the docks of the city
o f N ew Y ork, on damaged goods,” &c.
This is, in substance, a re-enactment o f the provisions o f the colonial law o f 1761,
above recited; and the language o f the section clearly indicates that it was based upon
like reasons— and, as the existing law o f 1784 must necessarily have been in view o f the
legislature, the implication is strong, if not conclusive, that the latter act was intended to
limit the authority o f port-wardens, in making surveys o f damaged goods, to the single
case therein designated.
I am aware the vice-chancellor in this circuit has put a different construction upon the
act o f 1819, and has held, from the grant o f fees for surveys on damaged goods, that the
intention o f the legislature to make the powers o f port-wardens the same they had been
under the act o f 1784, is to be implied. This decision, it is understood, is in course of
review before the chancellor, and it is not, therefore, to be regarded as authoritative on
the p oin t; and, with great respect for the learning o f the distinguished judge who pro
nounced the opinion referred to, I think it must be at least matter o f doubt whether so
important an interpolation to the act o f 1819 can be authorized, upon the presumption
afforded by the mere grant o f fees, and when also that provision may be reasonably satis
fied by applying it to the particular surveys designated by the section.
It is enough, how
ever, in the case before me, to say that it is not made clear, upon the laws o f this state,
that the port-wardens are now possessed o f authority to make surveys on all damaged
goods brought into this port in any vessels, and certify the cause of such damage ; and
that, accordingly, i f Congress intended to refer this service to state officers, the defendant
fails to show that the port-wardens are “ the proper officers o f the port or district,” com
petent to perform such services.
But it is to be furthermore observed that, on the construction o f the 52d section, con
tended for by the defendant, a preliminary survey and certificate by port.wardens can only
be necessary for the purpose o f guiding his discretion in ordering the goods to be deposit
ed in a warehouse or storehouse.
It is not urged that the port-wardens have any autho
rity to ascertain and appraise the dam age; and there is nothing in the section importing
that after the collector, for either cause indicated therein, has commanded the deposit of
goods, that he can do less or more, respecting them, than pursue the precise directions of
the act
The act is express and explicit in declaring that, when the condition exists re
quiring the goods to be conveyed to a warehouse or storehouse, they shall remain there
until the particulars, & c., shall have been ascertained, in the manner afterwards provided
in the same section.
It seems to me clear, therefore, that i f the collector might, under the act, exact the cer
tificate o f a proper officer on survey o f the goods, before he would order their deposit in
public store, because o f damage incurred on the voyage o f importation; yet that, if he
acts upon the assumption o f such damage, and orders the deposit for that cause, he is then
bound to proceed, and have the damage ascertained and appraised by the public appraisers;
who, by the act o f 1823, supersede in this behalf the authority o f merchant appraisers,
referred to in the 52d section.
tled to judgment on this verdict
I am, accordingly, o f opinion that the plaintiffs are enti
I
Com mercial Statistics.
COMMERCIAL
TOBACCO
559
STATISTICS.
TRADE
OF
FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, FROM
VIRGINIA,
1835 TO 1844.
1835,.
1&36,.
1837,.
1838,.
1839,.
1840,.
1841,.
1842,.
1843,.
1844,.
17,021
15,213
9,555
12,321
13,350
12,223
16,563
18,655
11,424
6,961
2,185
3,997
2,026
1,170
2,463
1,064
2,785
2,818
5.400
1,075
1,017
1,636
1,970
1,903
2,317
876
3,843
2,294
1,543
1,935
__
___ 25,871 2,251
785
400
578
.270
___ 2,084
— 29,722 3,186
977
840 1,455
— 18,991 4,332
2,542 1,924
724
536
60
—
— 20,828 2,036
319
128
925
734
—
— 18,729 4,031
1,236 919
57
329
— 27,195 2,189
3,828 1,177 2,023 136 1,621
— 34.442 6,076
2,497 2,013 2,026 218 1,672
— 1,515
— 32,765; 3,245
7,637
395 1,820
—512 136 36,236: 2,000
6,975
321 4,814
3,810
63 20,494 2.687
689 1,817
— 1,061
47,520
45.445
36,201
44.845
28,502
58,186
56,141
52,156
56,788
45,886
Stock.
T oba cco.
T o b a c c o . | In sp ’ d.
T ota l
t o b a c co .
Shipped .
T o t . st’ m s.
|
653 4,131 1,077
710 5,166
800
378 2,387 1,221
— 4,743
616
738 1.115 236
— 5,268 1,159
— 7,395 1,504
556 3,747 4,573
— 4,093 3,013
605 5,165
—
Stem s.
Q
| T oba cco.
T oba cco.
n
1
02
Steins.
1 T oba cco.
Italy,
A n tw erp . Spain, and
sundries.
T oba cco.
H olla n d.
S tem s.
F ra n ce.
S
o
m
B rem en.
T oba cco.
C o w e s,
and a
m a rk e t
T oba cco.
A . D.
E n glan d ,
S cotla n d ,
and Ireland .
A Statement showing the quantity o f Tobacco inspected in Virginia for ten years past,
say from 1835 to 1844; the quantity exported, and the markets to which it was ship
p e d ; the stocks left on hand on the 1st o f October o f each year, and likewise the quan
tity o f Stems shipped during the same period, and the markets to which they were
shipped.
15.801
14,024
10,475
12.397
4,896
13.829
8,719
11,100
13,420
14,363
To the Editor o f the Merchants’ M agazine : —
I refer you to the above tabular statement o f the tobacco trade o f Virginia.
By re
ference to this table, you will find that the export for the year ending 30th ultimo, is the
smallest made in any year during the last ten years, excepting those o f 1837 and 1839,
and the export to Great Britain far less than it was even in those years.
Indeed, the ex
port of last year to Great Britain is the smallest for many years, unless we include the period
of the war, when the trade between this country and Great Britain was, o f course, inter
rupted. O f this export to Great Britain, only about 3.500 hhds. o f stemmed tobacco, and
700 hhds. o f leaf tobacco, were o f the last crop. T he remainder o f the shipment was
composed o f old tobacco, o f the previous crops.
T o France, but a single cargo has been sent this year; the agent o f the contractor for
the supply o f that government not deeming it to the interest o f his principal, under his
existing orders, to comply with the contract, in consequence o f the high price which good
and fine tobacco commanded, and the difficulty or impossibility o f procuring good and fine
tobacco at any price, because o f the inferiority in the quality o f the crop.
The table does not present the true quantity (ship) o f tobacco and stems shipped to
Bremen. Several cargoes, destined for that port, were sent round to northern port3 for
direct re-shipment; and although this was chiefly the case with shipments destined for
Bremen, yet, in a limited wav, those circuitous shipments, for various reasons, were made
to other European ports.
W e give, in those tables, the direct shipments only.
O f the stock o f 14,363 hhds. tobacco, now ascertained to be in the warehouses in this
state, there are about 1 ,0 0 0 hhds. belonging to planters, and not yet offered for sale ; and
the manufacturers are supposed to hold about 1,500 hhds.
The factors have on hand, for
sale, about 3,000 hhds., and speculators and shippers the remainder; a large portion o f
whidi :is held by capitalists, awaiting a favorable change in the tide of prices. In the
whole quantity on hand, there are about 8 ,0 0 0 hhds. o f lugs and low lea f; the remainder,
common and middling leaf.
There is scarcely any good or fine tobacco in stock.
The crop o f tobacco just matured, and maturing, is generally estimated at 40,000 hhds..
560
Com mercial Statistics.
and in this opinion I concur.
A s to the quality o f the crop, there is no doubt o f its being
far superior, in the main, to any o f its predecessors, for many years past.
Our manufacturers have done a large and profitable business the past year, and it i3
supposed will increase their operations the year to come.
Under this impression, it is
generally believed that prices next year will rule comparatively dear; for the stock on
hand being mean, and the crop small, and the manufacturers requiring fully 2 0 ,0 0 0 hhds.,
there will be but a small quantity o f useful tobacco left to supply the remaining regular
demand for Virginia tobacco.
A t present, there is nothing doing in tobacco. Flour, .$4 25. T he crop o f wheat
yields poorly, and falls short o f all the estimates; yet the crop is a fair average one, and
o f excellent quality.
T he crop o f Indian corn is an average one.
I remain, dear sir, truly yours,
C H A R L E S F. O SBORN E.
Richmond, (Va.,) October 1, 1844.
S P E R M O IL T R A D E O F T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S .
A n “ Oil Merchant,” at N ew Bedford, the port most extensively engaged in this branch
o f productive commercial industry, has furnished some interesting statistics in relation to
the importation o f sperm oil at the several ports in the United States, which have been
carefully revised from a comparison with several different accounts, kept by some o f the
most intelligent merchants engaged in the whale fishery, for many years past, in order to
ascertain, as exactly as possible, the quantity o f crude oil that has arrived, and is to arrive
in the United States, in 1844; the amount now on hand; and the number o f barrels to
arrive in 1845.
T he average annual importations o f crude sperm oil, for the last nine years, is 157,000
barrels.
T he importations, in 1843, were.....................................................................
There remained over from the year 1842, and on hand January 1st, 1844,
167,421 bbls.
50,000 “
Deduct the quantity remaining on hand, for sale, on 1st January, 1844,.
217,421 bbls.
3,000 “
214,421 bbls.
Showing that there was actually taken by manufacturerers, and shipped out of the coun
try, 214,421 bbls. o f crude sperm oil, in the year 1843.
There arrived into the United States, up to the 1st October, o f the pre
sent year,....................................................................................................
114,000 bbls.
A nd there will arrive, as near as possibly can be computed, in the re
mainder o f this year........................................ ........................................
16,000 “
W hole importation for the year 1844, o f crude sperm oil,.............
130,000 bbls.
Number o f barrels taken from importers, by manufacturers, and for
shipment abroad, in 1843,........................................................................
Quantity on hand, and imported in 1844,................................................
214,421 bbls.
133,000 “
81,421 bbls.
M aking 81,421 bbls. short o f what was imported, and on hand, in 1843.
There is another interesting feature in the state o f the sperm oil market, in regard to
the average for nine years, as follow s:—
T he average importation, for nine years past, has been.........................
Deduct the quantity imported for 1844,...................... .............................
157,000 bbls.
130,000 “
27,000 bbls.
*
561
Commercial Statistics.
There will, therefore, have been imported this year, 27,000 barrels o f natural sperm oil,
less than the average for the last nine years. T he quantity o f crude sperm oil on hand,
lor sale, in this country, is much less than usual at this season; while, at the same time,
our manufacturers are very scantily supplied, there being only tw'O out of the twenty-one
manufacturing establishments in N ew Bedford and Fair Haven, who have much stock,
and eleven o f them have no crude sperm oil whatever. It is estimated, by those engaged
in the sperm whale fishery, and who, for years, have been in the practice of making cal
culations in regard to this fishery, that there will be many thousand barrels less imported
in 1845 than in all this year*
Let it be remembered that, during a greater portion o f the last nine years referred'' to
above, the business o f this country has been very much depressed; and, owing to the
stagnation in all the manufacturing districts, oil was not in such demand as it has been
for the last eighteen months ; in which period the consumption has greatly increased, and
will continue to, in case the prosperity o f the manufacturing interest is not overthrown by
a change o f the tariff o f 1842.
T R A D E
AND
N A V IG A TIO N
FOR THE YEARS ENDING
5TH OF
OF
JANUARY,
1843
ENGLAND,
AND
1844.
have received, from a valued correspondent in London, the documents annually
“ presented to Parliament by Her Majesty’s command,” embracing accounts of the imports
W
e
o f the principal articles o f foreign and colonial merchandise, and the custom duties re
ceived thereon; the exports o f the principal articles o f British and Irish produce and ma
nufactures ; the gross and nett produce o f the duties o f customs; the number and tonnage
o f vessels, distinguishing the countries to which they belonged, which entered inwards
and cleared outwards; the number o f vessels, & c., employed in the coasting trade of the
United Kingdom— all for the year ending 5th o f January, 1844, compared wTith the year
ending 5th o f January, 1843.
This document, which is laid before Parliament early in
January o f each year, is usually printed and distributed before the 15th o f February, of
the same year. It only occupies eight foolscap pages, and presents a very comprehensive
glance o f the commerce o f the last year, as compared with the previous.
This prompt
ness is worthy o f the imitation o f our Treasury department, at Washington. In our in
troduction to the annual statements o f the Commerce and Navigation o f the United States
for 1843, we referred to this subject, and expressed the hope that Mr. Bibb, the new Se
cretary o f the Treasury, would take measures to lessen the time that intervenes between
the close o f the commercial year and the appearance o f the annual statements. T he
present commercial year, our readers are aware, commenced on the 1st o f July, instead
o f the 1st o f October, as heretofore.
T he change, heretofore stated, was made last year,
by an act o f Congress, passed 26th August, 1842.
The annual report for the year com
mencing July 1 st, 1843, and ending June 30th, 1844, should be ready to lay before C on
gress at the commencement o f its next session, in December, 1844; and, instead of its
occupying six or eight months in the printing, we see no reason why it should not be ready
for delivery in thirty or sixty days after the meeting o f Congress.
The summary state
ments, all that is really important, and which would not occupy more than forty or fifty
octavo pages, should at least appear in a week or ten days after it has been presented to
Congress.
W e now proceed to lay before our readers, in a compressed form, the accounts relating
to trade and navigation, customs duties, & c., embraced in the British report. Hereafter,
through the courtesy o f several distinguished correspondents in England, we trust we shall
be able to furnish our readers the official statements o f British trade and navigation in a
few weeks after they are laid before Parliament, and printed*.
562
Com mercial Statistics.
I mports
into the
U nited K insdom.
A n Account o f the Imports o f the Principal Articles o f Foreign and Colonial Merchan
dise. and o f the Customs Duties received thereon, in the year ended Oth o f January,
1844, compared with the Imports and Receipts o f the preceding year.
1843.
1844.
1843.
1844.
3,156
1,033
70
634
1,114
367
40
210
£3,327
813
38
99
£1,167
275
18
23
10
7
359
710
2,860
838,887
98
165
1,440
13,426
69
191
892
11,255
15,509
45,382
60
152,260
179,568
3,613,952
263
2,806
39
188,025
99,444
13,363
237
447
14
151,903
91,656
11,137
C offee—
O f British possessions^..... ...... lbs. 20,481,655 18,238,560
Foreign,....................... ........ ............ 20,962,759 2 0 ,6 6 6 ,8 8 6
£355,337
414,248
£353,170
344,818
£769,585
£697,988
Animals, living, v iz :—
Oxen and bulls,.................... ...N o.
C ow s,.....................................
Calves,..................................
Sheep,.....................................
Lambs,.................................. .
Swine and h ogs,...................
Bacon,........................................
Barilla and alkali,....................
Bark, fortanners’ & dyers’ use,. . cwts.
-Beef, salted, not corned—
O f British possessions,.........
Foreign,............. ....................
Beef, fresh, or slightly salted,...
Butter,........................................
Cheese,......................................
C ocoa,........................................ .
Total, o f coffee,...........
410
520
2,165
645,747
6,219
23,702
1 02
175,197
179,748
3,172,351
'
38,905,446
1
C om —
W heat,.................................. .
940,666 £1,112,510
2,717,454
Barley,....................................
22,298
73,335
179,484
Oats,.......................................
85,082
301,272
85,010
7,687
4,872
R y e ,........................................
14,508
Peas,........................ .............
27,229
92,938
48,634
B ean s,....................................
19,042
126,443
47,999
8,476
Maize, or Indian corn,.........
35,806
518
Buckwheat,...........................
2
9
2
M alt,.......................................
115
Beer, or bigg,.........................
Wheat-meal, or flour,...........
93,287
1,129,852
439,832
........
Barley-meal,..........................
Oat-meal,..............................
1,254
19,069
5,811
Rve-meal,...............................
Indian-meal,..........................
1
1,934
1
Dyes and dyeing stuffs, v iz :—
Cochineal,.............................
284
11,776
10,359
Indigo,....................................
15,871
83,823
68,415
Lac dye,..............................
879
10,689
6,534
2,642
L ogw ood...............................
18,481
20.892
M adder,.................................
5,217
86,382
139,143
1,858
Madder root,.........................
102,216
82,879
Shumac,.................................
490
9,122
12,917
E ggs,...........................................
32,652
89,548,747 70,448,250
Fish, o f foreign taking—
Eels...............................ships lading
72
81 )
ggj
“ ...... - ................................. cwts.
........
It
Turbots,.............................................
64
86
17
Oysters,....................................bush.
........
1
........
Salm on,................................... cwts.
80
955
13
S oles,................................... ...........
........
15
......
Turtle................................................
157
327
42
Fresh, not otherwise described,....
126
766
7
Cured, do.,........................................
36
543
4
£604,742
76,695
12,958
898
17,139
23,832
3,233
1
23,571
342
389
1,8 6 8
364
2.146
3,936
1,343
671
25,684
j jgg
23
........
445
4
86
41
54
563
Commercial Statistics.
Imports of Foreign and Colonial Merchandise into United Kingdom* etc.— Continued.
1843.
Articles.
Flax and tow, or codilla o f hemp and
flax,......................................
1,145,759
Fruits, v iz :—
Currants,..............................
267,086
Figs,....................................
29,854
c chests or bxs.
377,380
Lemons & oranges, { .N o. (loose)
27,884
,at value
£2,045
Raisins,...............................
212,218
Gloves, leather,......................
1,623,713
Hams,.....................................
7,835
Hemp, undressed,..................
585,905
Hides, untanned,....................
610,428
Mahogany,..............................
16,938
Meat, salted or fresh, not otherwise
described,............................
36
Molasses,................................
486,463
Metals, v iz:—
Copper ore,.........................
49,856
Copper, unwrought,..........
6,180
Iron, in bars, unwrought,..,
18,701
Steel, unwrought,..............
13,080
Lead, pig and sheet,..........
2,461
Spelter,.................................
6,072
Tin in blocks, ingots, etc..
1 1 ,1 1 2
Oil, v iz :—
Train, blubber, and sperm. ,....tuns
17,473
Palm,....................................
424,242
Cocoa-nut,..........................
49,742
Olive,...................................
14,095
Opium,.....................................
72,373
Pork, salted—
O f British possessions,......
15,242
Foreign,...............................
38,921
Pork, fresh,..............................
n
Quicksilver,.............................
2,006,911
R ice,........................................
511,414
Sice in the husk.....................
41,420
Saltpetre and cubic nitre,......
417,722
Seeds, v iz :—
C lover,................................
109,090
367,700
Flaxseed and linseed,........
R ape,....................................
65,686
Silk, viz:—
Raw,.....................................
3,951,773
Waste, knubs and husks,...
12,824
Thrown, o f all sorts,..........
397,407
Silk manufactures o f Europe, v iz :—
Silk or satin, plain,............
140,716
94,256
“ figured or brocaded,...
Gauze, plain,.......................
2,230
“
striped, fig’d, or brocaded-.
4,665
“
tissue Foulards,....
397
Crape, plain,.......................
2,829
“
figured,....................
130
Velvet, plain,......................
15,637
“
figured,....................
2,983
Silk manufactures o f India, v iz :—
Bandannas, and other silk handkerchiefe,.........................
Other sorts,..........................
345,776
1844.
1843.
1844.
1,442,467
£5,053
£6,318
238,414
34,033
337,986 )
35,904 5£1,295 ^
216,526
1,882,182
6,991
732,077
587,130
20,407
228,705
18,073
296,461
25,556
71,596
60,570
147,014
27,465
3,859
2,687
26,489
14,136
186,990
28,567
2,592
3,057
7,695
10,368
191
616,656
5
255,513
9
214,750
55,598
2,550
12,809
31,951
2,774
10,173
31,230
15,689
4
17,233
25
60
2,067
146
64,343
5
12,687
57
113
223
644
23,859
420,277
68,577
12,139
244,215
11,057
13,641
1,226
28,347
2,513
33,752
10,056
1,209
21,793
1,730
11,663
15,304
879
4,157
439
832
1
2,090,507
453,379
19,877
624,006
1,134
10,305
391
9,084
1,108
8,036
6,825
10,125
76,253
469,642
88,091
163,839
5,217
941
37,047
2,072
381
3,464,873
13,312
384,805
17,226
673
40,080
15,967
701
17,941
153,831
97,838
4,433
9,103
632
2,923
69,677
70,297
1,741
6,413
360
1,908
34
16,374
4,028
41,213
83,046
73,951
2,442
9,373
610
2,174
73
15,450
3,679
43,144
2,660
2,494
4,058
3,280
2?6
16,084
2,615
440,301
\
564
Commercial Statistics.
I mfores or F oreign
and
C olonial M erchandise
Articles.
Skins, v iz :—
Goat, undressed,....................... No.
Kid,
“
..............................
Kid, dressed,................................. ..
Lamb, undressedr ...........................
“
tanned, tawed, or dressed,.
Spices, v iz :—
Cassia L ignea,...........................lbs.
Cinnamon,.......................................
Cloves,..............................................
M ace,................................................
Nutmegs,..........................................
Pepper,...............................................
Pimento,..................................cwts.
Spirits, v iz:—
R um ,......... galls, (incl. over proof,)
Brandy,..............
“
Geneva,..............
“
Sugar, unrefined, v iz :—
O f the British possessions in Am erica,...................................... cwts.
O f Mauritius,...................................
E. I. o f British possessions,.........
Foreign, o f all sorts,........................
1843.
into
U nited K ingdom , etc.— Continued.
1844.
1843.
1844.
455,521
81,510
480,343
822,042
7,728
515,115
91,595
446,772
1,292,310
10,391
£559
13
1,906
150
27
£351
1,312,804
223,166
32,421
13,770
169,241
6*021,290
16,250
2,363,643
406,387
120,874
28,112
208,461
4,082,955
18,920
1,701
• 327
2,380
2,496
22,019
70,3761,847
1,745
264
2,628
2,674
20,562
73,252
942
4,619,804
1,674,436
323,744
3,729,673
2,396,340
360,220
979,237
1,236,065
16,632
982,034
1,186,102
15,836
2,508,910
689,335
940,452
617,314
2,503,577
477,124
1,101,751
939,696
2,822,060
882,562
l,179iS63
347
3,191,731
573,948
1,331,246
252
Total o f sugar,.........................
4,756,011
5,022,348
4,884,832
5,097,177
T allow ..........................................cwts.
T ar,................................................ lasts
1,011,370
10,618
1,169,864
13,973
171,105
1,979
4,089,531
194,981
1,747
4,408,024
6,677
68
107,606
2,823
Timber and wood, v iz :—
Battens and batten ends, foreign,
entered by tale,........................C.
Battens and batten ends, o f British
America, by tale,.................... 6 .
Boards, deals, deal ends, and
plank, foreign, ent’ d by tale,.C.
Deals and deal, ends o f Br.. America, by tale,................................. C.
Deals, battens, boards, or other
timber, or wood sawn or split
O f Br. possessions,.........loads
Foreign,....................................
Staves................................... j loag
250
21,044
110.319
4S,715
17,147
35,804
234
35
2,242
2,156
15,15-7
12
1,200
341,873
268,618
56,583 |
352,270
6,071
23,896
.......
17,947
111,394
36,453
421,873
27,597
24,023
Timber or wood, not being articles
sawn or split, or otherwise dressed, except hewn, and not other
wise charged with duty:—
O f Br. possessions,.........loads
377,994
583,448
Foreign,....................................
102,117
126,252
Tobacco—
Unmanufactured,....................... lbs. 39,526,968 43,744,893
Manufactured, and snuff,...............
811,064 1,137,531
Turpentine, common,................ cwts.
408,474
473,447
74,166
260,961
31.906
179,919
3,488,967
106,470
19,826
3,605,107
124,007
2,085
W ine, viz >—
C ape,.................................... gallons
F rench,..............................................
Other sorts,.......................................
303,223
508,942
6,403,948
116,580
480,406
6,176,809
53,621
110,099
1,245,426
48,054
99,927
1,618,135
Total o f w ine,.........................
7,216,113
6,773,795
1,409,146
1,766,116
Commercial Statistics.
565
Imports of Foreign and Colonial Merchandise into United Kingdom, etc.—Continued.
1843.
1844.
1843.
1844.
591,581
5,428,035
£10,949
557,507
£ 7 .3 7 4
736,528
6,019,616
568,456
743,902
W ool, sheep and lamb’s,...............lbs. 45,881,639 49,324,924
Other articles,..........................
95,213
555,434
98,797
502,025
Articles.
W ool, cotton, v iz :—
O f Br. possessions,..............
Foreign,............................... ............
3,913,388
Total o f cotton wool,.. ...........
4,747,769
Total,.
'E xports
£22,596,263 £22,636,659
of
F oreign
and
C olonial M erchandise
from the
U nited K ingdom.
An Account o f the Exports o f the Principal Articles o f Foreign and Colonial Merchan
dise, in the year ended 5th January, 1844, compared with the E xports o f the preceding
year, ended 5th o f January, 1843 and 1844.
1843.
1844.
Articles.
Cocoa,.................. lbs.
635,125
568,470
Coffee, v iz :—
Prod. Br. poss.,.lbs.
62,857
125,824
Foreign,................. 9,442,777 12,557,619
Corn, v iz :—
Wheat,.............qrs.
45,930
48,040
Barley,...................
13,755
4,445
Gats,......................
54,955
41,998
Wheat meal and
flour,.........cwts.
66,094
45,288
Dyes and dyeing stuffs, viz:—
Cochineal,.... cwts.
5,390
5,626
Indigo,..................
36,960
45,795
Lac dye,................
2,597
3,279
L o g w o o d ,__ tons
2,649
3,834
Metals, v iz :—
Steel, unw’t ,. cwts.
19,162
29,137
Copper, unw’ght,..
1,759
6,824
Iron, in bars or unwrought, ...tons
2,159
3,986
1,836
2,440
Lead, pig,..............
Spelter,..................
1,910
6,445
T in ,............... cwts.
12,412
13,007
Oil, olive,...........tuns
696
399
Opium,................ lbs.
126,515
320,947
Quicksilver,............. 1,457,443 1,286,922
Rice, (not in the
husk,)...........cwt3.
207,329
311,180
Spices, v iz :—
Cassia Lignea,.lbs. 1,247,496 1,986,413
E xports
of
B ritish P roduce
and
1843.
Articles.
Spices, v iz :—
368,554
Cinnam on,......lbs.
Cloves,...................
54,556
M ace,....................
2 ,6 8 8
Nutmegs,..............
85,174
Pepper,.................. 5.573,820
Pimento,....... cwts.
12,701
Spirits, v iz :—
Rum ,.............galls.
723,423
Brandy,.................
702,638
Geneva,.................
316,180
Sugar, unrefined, v iz :
O f the Br. possess.
in A m er.,. .cwts.
4,531
O f Mauritius,........
1,525
E. I., o f B .poss.,...
4,515
For’gn, all sorts,...
391,315
Tobacco—
Unmanuf’d,....lbs. 12,320,272
Foreign manuf’d,
and snuff,...lbs.
611,954
W ine, v iz :—
Cape,.............galls.
3,387
French,..................
147,439
Other sorts,............ 1,360,606
W ool, cotton, v iz :—
O f Br. poss.,.cwts.
196,591
O f other parts,......
207,438
W ool,
sheep and
lamb’s,.............lbs. 3,637,789
M anufactures
from the
1844.
422,505
26,504
9,701
36,365
2,651,650
2 1 ,2 0 0
1,079,250
767,460
'317,706
4,937
197
4,922
563,587
8,702,769
764,270
1,624
143,554
1,207,973
160,510
193,240
2,961,282
U nited K ingdom.
An Account o f the Exports o f the Principal Articles o f British and Irish Produce and
Manufactures, in the year ended 5th January, 1844, compared with the E xports o f
the preceding year, (year ending 5th o f January, 1843 and 1844.)
r Articles.
Coals and culm ,.....................
Cotton manufactures,.............
“
yarn,...........................
Earthenware............................
Glass,........................................
Hardwares and cutlery,.........
Linen manufactures,...............
“
yarn,..............................
Metals, v iz :— Iron and steel,.
1843.
1844.
£734,000
13,907,884
7,771,464
555,430
310,152
1,398,487
2,346,749
1,025,551
2,457,717
£685.331
16,248,759
7,191,870
629,585
336,910
1,744,037
2,816,111
873,164
2,574,494
Com mercial Statistics,
566
Exports of British Produce, etc., from the United Kingdom— Continued..
Articles.
Metals, v iz :— Copper and brass,.
“
Lead,......................
“
T in, in bars,&c.,.
“
T in plates,............
Salt,.................................................
Silk manufactures,.......................
Sugar, refined,..............................
W ool, sheep or lamb’s..................
W oollen yarn,................................
W oollen manufactures.................
Total o f the foregoing articles,....................
■ V essels
employed in the
F oreign T rade
1843.
£1,810,742
354,590
200,956
347,781
201,311
590,189
440,175
509,822
637,305
5,185,045
1844.
£1,652,991
258,660
109,943
480,407
208,207
664,661
415,812
417,835
697,354
6,784,432
.£40,785,350
£44,720,563
of the
U nited K ingdom.
A n Account o f the Number and Tonnage o f Vessels, distinguishing the Countries to
which they belonged, which entered inwards and cleared outwards, in the year ended
5th January, 1844, compared with the Entries and Clearances o f the preceding year;
stated exclusively o f vessels in ballast, and o f those employed in the Coasting Trade
between Great Britain and Ireland, (year ending 5th J a n u a ry 1843 and 1844.)
E ntered I nwards .
Countries.
U . Kingdom and its dependencies,...
Russia,....................................................
S w eden,................................................
N orw ay,................................................
Denmark,..............................................
Prussia,..................................................
Other German States,........... ............
H olland,................................................
Belgium ,................................................
France,...................................................
Spain,.....................................................
Portugal,................................................
Italian States.........................................
Other European States,......................
United States o f A m erica,..................
Oth. States in Amer., Africa, or Asia,
T o ta l,........................................
1843.
Ships.
Tonnage.
13,823
2,680,838
65,249
220
32,222
207
107,429
679
54,066
756
711
138,431
863
74,338
40,509
481
256
35,819
801
39,256
78
10,955
31
3,544
182
43,732
6
1,727
574
325,814
6
1,301
1844.
Ships.
Tonnage.
13,964
2,919,528
160
45,506
190
32,476
698
111,402
938
65,254
809
157.935
657
60,736
432
38,456
236
33,487
590
29,791
9,179
64
32
3,982
40
11,176
926
4
405,278
748
2
310
19,674
19,564
3,655,230
3,925,422
C leared O utwards .
1843.
r Countries.
U. Kingdom and its dependencies,...
Russsia,..................................................
S w eden,................................................
Norway,.................................................
Denmark,..............................................
Prussia,..................................................
Other German States,.........................
H olland,................................................
Belgium ,...............................................
France,...................................................
Spain,.....................................................
Portugal,................................................
Italian States,........................................
Other European States,......................
United States o f A m erica,..................
Oth. States in Amer., Africa, or Asia,
Ships.
15,197
127
198
264
1,092
605
967
512
354
1,250
T otal,........................................
1844.
Ships.
15,206
138
206
342
1,431
835
1,127
575
297
1,053
63
34
58
576
5
Tonnage.
2,734,983
38,269
27,054
30,929
87,457
108,917
91,752
49,475
53,118
93,533
9,089
3,217
38,016
944
323,329
1,492
2
Tonnage.
2,727,306
39.281
30,855
38,810
107,609
154,457
100,468
56,673
44,966
87.845
8.479
3.842
14,679
1,829
335,696
574
21,402
3,691,574
21,980
3,753,369
66
27
159
3
8
605
567
Commercial Statistics,
V essels
employed in the
C oasting T rade
op the
U nited K ingdom.
An Account o f the Number and Tonnage o f Vessels which entered inwards and cleared
outwards with cargoes, at the several ports o f the United Kingdom, during the year
ended 5th o f January, 1844, compared with the Entries and Clearances o f the prece
ding yea r; distinguishing the Vessels employed in the intercourse between Great Bri
tain and Ireland from other Coasters, (year ending 5th January, 1843 and 1844.)
E ntered I nwards .
1843.
1844.
Ships.
Tonnage.
Ships.
Tonnage.
Employed in the intercourse between
Great Britain and Ireland.................
Other coasting vessels,..........................
9,060
118,780
1,148,907
9,636,543
10,104
121,357
1,255,901
9,566,275
Total,...........................................
127,840
10,785,450
131,461
10,822,176
C leared O utwards .
1843.
1844.
Ships.
Tonnage.
Ships.
Tonnage.
Employed in the intercourse between
Great Britain and Ireland,.............
Other coasting vessels,........................
17,453
123,557
1,682,828
9,619,829
16,760
124,937
1,670,574
9,650,564
T otal,........................................
141,010
11,302,657
141,697
11,321,138
P roduce
of
C ustoms D uties
in the
U nited K ingdom.
An Account o f the Gross and N ett Produce o f the Duties o f Customs, in the year ended
5th January, 1844, compared with the Produce o f the preceding year, (year ending
5th January, 1843 and 1844.)
1843.
1844.
Gross receipts o f duties inwards...............................
“
duties outwards,............................
£22,596,263
114,424
£22,636,659
137,081
Total gross receipts o f customs duties,........
£22,710,687
£22,773,740
Payments out o f gross receipts:—
For bounties,.............................................................
“ drawbacks,.........................................................
“ all’nces on q’ntities over-ent’d, damages, &c.,
£4 80
176,366
68,002
£2 08
134,138
65,291
Total payments out o f gross receipt,............
£244,848
£199,637
Nett receipt o f customs duties,....................
£22,465,839
£22,574,103
IM P O R T A T IO N O F F L O U R A N D G R A IN IN T O G R E A T B R IT A IN .
The Brighton (Eng.) Gazette gives the following statement o f the amount o f wheat
and other grain exported into Great Britain in the last twelve years, and entered for home
consumption, with the average price and amount o f value, compiled from the annual ac
counts laid before Parliament by the Board o f Trade and Navigation; the estimate o f
price being averaged from parliamentary documents or from the London Gazette, with the
exception o f some which are taken from the London Price Current:—
Q u a n t it y .
A
verage
P rice.
V alue .
Quarters.
s. d.
Wheat.........................................
14,739,503
57 1
Barley,.......................................
2,097,925
33 1
Oats,..........................................
2,422,845
21 1
R y e ,...........................................
237,482
33 9
Peas,..........................................
935,268
35 8
Beans,..............................
988,234
35 3
Buckwheat, & c.,......................
82,500
33 1
Flour, charge for grinding, estimated...................................................
Oatmeal,....................................................................................................
£42,431,115
3,260,523
2,587,088
400.666
1,667,894
1,741,762
136,146
382,618
2,721
Total grain,.................. .............................................................
£52,610,535
5G8
R ailroad Statistics.
RAILROAD
STATISTICS,
R A I L W A Y S IN F R A N C E .
Until the commencement o f the present session, France had only a few completed railways.
These were the Rouen, the Orleans, and the Alsace lines; the lines from Lyons
to S t Etienne, from Alais to Beaucaire, and from Andrezieux to Roanne, and some small
lines, such as those from Montpelier to Cette, from S t Etienne to the Loire, from Paris
to Versailles and to S t Germains, from Mulhouse to Thann, &c.
Besides these, the fol
lowing lines were in course o f c o n s t r u c tio n F r o m Rouen to Havre, from Orleans to
Tours, from Avignon to Marseilles, from Paris to Lille and Valenciennes, from Dijon to
Chalons, from Strasburg to Hommarting, from Orleans to Vierzon, and from Montpelier
to Nismes, being in all 900 kilometres.* T he total extent o f railways terminated, and in
course o f construction at that time, was about 2,000 kilometres. T o this number, the acts
passed during the present session add 147 kilometres from Lille to Calais and Dunkirk,
124 from Amiens to Boulogne, (for which, without doubt, a company will offer on the
terms proposed by the Chamber,) 437 from Paris to Hommarting, besides 87 for the branchcs to Metz and R heim s; 450 kilometres from Paris to Dijon, and from Chalons to Lyons,
with 102 kilometres from Montereau to Troyes ; 358 kilometres from Tours to Bordeaux;
192 from Tours to N antes; 60 from Vierzen to Chateauroux; 87 from Vierzen to the
A llier; and 74 from Versailles to Chartres.
This makes a total of 2,118 kilometres, to
which is to be added the trunk railways upon which the works have been going on since
the beginning o f last January, at the expense o f the state, or with its concurrence, in con
formity with the law o f 1842, which raises the whole extent to 2,828 kilometres; and,
with the Rouen and Havre line, to 2,918 kilometres.
N ext year, it is certain that to this
extent will be added the line from the Mediterranean to the Rhine, (205 kilometres,) and
that frorri Lyons to Avignon, (249 kilometres,) being together 454 kilometres. The rest
o f the lines comprised in the act o f 1842 will be afterwards proceeded w ith; namely, from
Nevers to Clermont, from Chateauroux to Limoges, from Chartres to Renues, from the
Atlantic to the Mediterranean, and from Bordeaux to Bayonne ; being, in all, 1,320 kilo
metres. The works are cither about to commence, or have already commenced, on 2,821
kilometres; which, at an average expense o f 300,000 francs per kilometre, will amount
to an outlay o f 850,000,000 francs, o f which about 500,000,000 are at the expense of the
state. W ith the probable votes o f next year, the general expense o f the railroads will be
1,540,000,000 francs, (61,600,000Z. sterling; and in seven years the whole system will
be completed.
T he Courrier Francais, o f a late date, publishes the following return o f the amount of
capital, in railroad shares, to be issued by the companies o f the different lines, o f which
the construction will be authorized by the French Chambers, during the present session:—
-The Paris and Belgian Railroad, not including the
branch road between Amiens and Boulogne,.........
I Paris and Strasburg,..................................................
Paris and Lyons,..............................................................
Lyons and Avignon,........................................................
Orleans and Vierzon,.......................................................
Orleans and Bordeaux,.....................................................
Tours and Nantes,...........................................................
Versailles to Chartres,.................................
Total,
Francs.
Dollars.
75,000,000
70,000,000
100,000,000
60,000,000
40,000,000
70,000,000
30,000,000
10,000,000
14,062,500
13.125.000
18.750.000
11.250.000
7.500.000
13.125.000
5.625.000
1.875.000
455,000,000
85,312,500
* A kilometre is about 1,094 yards— an English mile is 1,760 yards.
R ailroad Statistics.
569
The execution o f these contracts with the companies will, moreover, require on the
part o f the state an outlay o f about 800,000,000 francs, equal to $150,000,000; or, ad
ding the two sums together, we have 1,255,000,000 o f francs; or, in our currency,
$235,312,500.
B R IT IS H R A I L W A Y S T A T IS T IC S .
At a recent meeting o f the London Statistical Society, Mr. Porter, the Treasurer of
the society, read “ an examination o f the returns made by the various railway companies
of the United Kingdom, with respect to their traffic, during the year ending 30th June,
1842.”
From Mr. Porter’s paper, which is c f high statistical value, we gather the follow
ing particulars:—
T he returns for 1843, o f 53 lines o f railway, o f which 41 are in England and W ales,
10 in Scotland, and 2 in Ireland, demonstrate that there were conveyed of passengers of
the first class, 4,223,249 ; o f the second class, 10,968,061; o f the third class, 6,429,225 ;
and that, with reference to the divisions o f the kingdom, the proportions were, for E ng
land and W ales, o f passengers o f the first class, 3,882,171; o f the second class, 8,951,070;
of the third class, 4,060.321. For Scotland, o f the first class, 245,757; of the second
class, 877,055; o f the third class, 1,529,717.
For Ireland, o f the first class, 95,321; c f
the second class, 1,139,936 ; o f the third class, 839,187.
The money received from the
whole, was 3,063,032/.; and the average charge to each passenger in England and W ales,
o f the first class, was 8 2 d .; o f the second class, 31 J d .; o f the third class, 19^1. In Scot
land, o f the first class, 40£d .; o f the second class, 16^1.; o f the third class, 9Jd. In
Ireland, o f the first class, 10^d.; o f the second class, 7 d .; o f the third class, 5£d.
The
great difference that exists between the average fares paid in England, Scotland, and Ire
land, is occasioned by the greater length o f the English lines o f railway beyond those of
Scotland and Ireland, and the greater length o f the Scottish lines beyond those c f Ireland.
In the short period between 1838 and 1841, Mr. Porter states the amount of railway tra
velling throughout the kingdom to have been quadrupled.
The amount of receipts from
63 railroads, for 1843, for the conveyance o f carriages, horses, cattle, minerals, and gene
ral merchandise, was, in England and W ales, 1,393,2912.; in Scotland, 104,839/.; in Ire
land, 6,802/. T he average cost per mile o f the various railways in England, has been
31,522/.; in Scotland, 22,165/.; and in Ireland, 22,1872. Mr. Porter concluded his paper
by drawing a comparison o f the working o f English railways w ith those of Belgium, the
only country in Europe, besides England, in which such works have hitherto been carried
on as a system, and where the results have been published.
At the end of 1842, there
were in operation in that kingdom 282 miles o f railway, the average cost of constructing
which was 17,120/. per mile, about half the cost in the United Kingdom.
results from a variety o f causes.
This difference
In the first place, the works being undertaken by the
government, there were no expensive parliamentary contests; no opposing interests to be
bought o f f ; no unreasonable compensations to be paid for lan d; and, from the nature of
the country, there were comparatively few engineering difficulties to be overcome.
B e
sides these circumstances, there has been much present saving effected in the manner of
executing the works, which have been performed in a less perfect manner than would
satisfy the magnificent ideas o f an English engineer.
The number o f passengers convey
ed along the various lines in Belgium, in 1842, was 2,724,104, there being in Belgium o f
the first class, 9 p e rce n t; o f the second class, 25 per cent; of the third class, 6 6 per
cent; whereas, in the United Kingdom, the per centage was, for the first class, 19 ; the
second class, 5 1 ; the third class, 30.
T he receipts for passengers were, in Belgium,
Is. 4id . for a distance o f 19 miles, against 2s. 2Jd. in the United Kingdom, for a distance
o f 13$ miles.
Y O L. X I .-----NO. V I .
43
570
N autical In telligen ce,
NAUTICAL
INTELLIGENCE.
L O SS OF V E S S E L S O N T H E B A H A M A B A N K S .
C ollector ’ s O ffice , Port o f Perth Amboy.
To the Editor o f the Merchants' M agazine :—
T he recent losses o f vessels and lives, on and near the Bahama banks, have awakened
much sympathy in every breast, and produced as much wonder at the apathy o f the com
mercial world in regard to these events. It is well known that nearly all vessels bound
for ports in the W est Indies and the G ulf o f M exico, avoid as much as possible the gulf
stream, between the latitudes o f 25 and 35 deg. N., and that those bound westward o f 80
deg. W . longitude, make the “ Hole in the W all,” on Abaco, and then have, in thick
and stormy weather, a ticklish and anxious navigation', until they get ofF the Bahama
bank, and ascertain their relative situation, when steering westward through the gulf
stream, coursing between Cuba and the Florida Keys. T he dangers commence after
leaving the light at the “ Hole in the W all.” The currents between the south end of
A baco and the Berry islands, are strong and diverse. On the Berry islands, which have
so often proved the fatal end o f many a voyage, there is no light. From them, when
seen, the navigator takes his departure for his course over the Bahama bank. I f wind
and weather favors, all is well— for the lead, that faithful friend to the sailor, can easily
guide the course ; but the danger, and a great one it is, is in missing the course, and
touching on the Orange Keys. M y recommendation to merchants would be, induce the
government to unite with England, and other governments most concerned in the naviga
tion o f those seas, to place a good light on the northern Berry island. Put a light-ship,
well furnished with fog-bell, and other usual appurtenances, midway the channel from the
Jlcrry isles to the Orange Keys, in three fathoms water, in about lat. 25 deg. 20 min., and
then a beacon, with light, on the Orange Keys. W ith such a range of lights and precau
tions, the navigator could cheerfully run his vessel, and merchants and insurers have bet
ter hope o f safety. I have often wondered, when anxiously going over the track above
alluded to, how it could be that the merchants o f our country could be so easily induced
to trust their vessels, and the lives o f their friends, over a navigation so beset with dan
gers, and yet make no effort to point out to the notice o f the government the necessity of
some appropriation to meet the case. Vessels and property, it is true, may be insured,
and the loss made up ; but no insurance can recover back life, experience, and energy;
and to this positive loss, insurers should direct their thoughts. A government loses much,
indeed, when, by shipwreck, the veteran seaman— the enterprising youth— the man of
business, and the fond family, are hurried together to eternity. T he late gales in the
W est Indies have done vast dam age; but the damage sustained by loss o f life in naviga
ting a critical, yet neglected course, is a reproach on owners, insurers, and government.
Awaken the attention o f our mercantile community to this subject; and, ere Congress
shall convene, something may be done to forward public energy on this important matter.
Our growing southern trade demands prompt attention.
Y o u rs , in the cause o f hum anity.
“ A
n
O ld S a lt .”
S U N K E N R O C K N E A R T H E IS L A N D O F R O C K A L .
M r. Bartlett, o f the brig Guide, o f Hull, arrived in the river, from Montreal, reports
that oif the small island o f Rockal, lat. 57. 39. N ., long. 13. 31. W ., there is a clump of
hidden rocks, about 80 or 90 feet in length, and 30 feet in breadth; the main rock, on
Rockal, bearing from the outer one W . by N. by compass, distance 8 miles.
“ On the
15th April, 1844, at 4 A . M ., sighted Rockal, bearing N. W ., ship lying N. \V. by W .,
strong gales from the S. W . by W ., clear weather. W as desirous to keep m y reach to the
N. W . N ot being able to weather Rockal, bore away to round the north end— had my
mate aloft, and m yself on deck, to look for breakers.
Suddenly I found the vessel be
tween the outer rock and the main one, at least eight miles distant.
W ith difficulty I
cleared, by hauling the ship suddenly on the starboard tack, being not more than one sea
from the broken water— breaks occasionally. T hey are bad to discern aloft, but their lo
cality may be seen much more readily o ff deck, by the color o f the water.
being clear, was able to obtain the bearing and distance pretty correctly.”
The morning
Com mercial R egulations,
571
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.
M E X IC A N L A W R E L A T I V E T O F O R E IG N E R S .
T he following circular regulations, relative to the entrance o f foreigners into M exico,
by the northern frontier, emanating from the office o f Foreign Relations o f Government
and Police, are republished in this Magazine for the benefit o f the citizens of the United
States, and all whom it may concern.
It is signed by John Granja, the Mexican Consul-
General to the United States:—
C ircular .
His Excellency, the Constitutional President, taking into consideration that the law of
May 1,1828, and the ordinances subsequently issued, relative to the admission o f foreign
ers by the northern frontier into the republic, have not answered the ends for which they
were dictated:
That through the said frontiers a considerable number o f foreigners have fraudulently
fritroduced themselves into the country, without being provided with the requisite pass
ports, and without complying with the formalities o f the laws relating to their immigration :
That the extent to which this immigration has been carried, imperiously requires that
strict measures be taken to supply the defect existing in the said regulation, and to pre
vent the evils caused by this abuse, has decided, in cabinet council, and by advice o f the
council o f government, that the following rules shall be observed:—
1. In order that a foreigner may be permitted to enter the territory o f the republic by
the northern frontier, he must observe the following regulations:— 1st. H e must enter by
either o f the places designated for land commerce with the United States. 2d. H e must
present his passport to the collector o f the custom-house o f the place where he shall enter. %
That document, in case it shall have been received from the government, or any func
tionary authorized to deliver it to persons arriving in M exico for the purposes o f trade,
shall be countersigned by the diplomatic agent or consul o f the Mexican republic. The
supreme government o f M exico may also give passports at the request o f persons inte
rested ; in which case, it shall not be necessary to be countersigned by the said Mexican
agents. 3d. The said foreigners shall make, before the said collector o f the custom-house,
a formal avowal o f submission to the laws and authorities o f the nation, and pledge them
selves to say, do, or write nothing contrary to the said avowal, during the time they shall
reside in the territory o f the nation, agreeably to the rules prescribed by the laws o f nations.
2. One passport shall not serve for more than one person, except given to the heads o f
families, which may comprehend the wife, and children under sixteen years o f age.
3. T he preceding rules will be enforced against every foreigner entering by the said
northern frontiers, either as merchant, servant, or driver, companion, or member o f an
escort, or in any other capacity, whatever.
4. No passport shall be given except for a place designated for land commerce with the
United States, and shall serve only for the place mentioned in said document.
5. The collectors o f frontier custom-houses shall state on the passports that the persons
interested have made the avowal required by article 1 st o f these regulations; and, after
having received the declaration mentioned in the articles 2d and 3d o f the law o f M ay 1,
1828, they shall send the originals to the foreign office, through the governor o f the de
partment.
6 . Foreigners who shall enter M exico in violation o f any o f the formalities or rules
hereby established, shall be expelled from the territory o f the republic.
7. The law o f M ay 1, 1828, relative to foreigners arriving by the northern frontier,
shall remain in force in all respects that are not contrary to the present rules.
8 . A s the object o f all treaties o f commerce is to protect lawful trade, foreigners who
have already entered the republic by the northern frontier, without having complied with
the law o f M ay 1, 1828, may continue to reside in the country— provided, always, that
they have not forfeited the confidence o f the government by their conduct; provided that
they follow avocations o f commerce or industry, and that they obey the laws relative to
the residence o f foreigners; but, if not devoted to such avocations, and by their conduct
cause suspicion to rest upon them, they may be expelled within a reasonable time, (never
exceeding six months,) by the governors o f the departments in which they reside; the
governors giving due notice to the supreme national government.
The regulations o f the 22d o f July last shall continue in force in relation to the intro
duction o f slaves through any place, whatever, in the republic.
M ercantile M iscellanies,
572
C O N S U L A T E O F T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A T R IO D E J A N E IR O .
REGULATIONS AT RIO DE JANEIRO RELATIVE TO TOSTAGE ON LETTERS, BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS, ETC.
T he following notice, transmitted to the Department o f State, at Washington, by Geo.
W illiam Gorden, Consul o f the United States at Rio de Janeiro, in relation to postage on
letters, newspapers, and other mail matter forwarded to Brazil from this country, was re
ceived at the Department on the 10th November, 1844, and is officially published for the
information o f whom it may concern.
It is dated Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 23d, 1844:—
Newspapers and other printed matter, forwarded to Brazil, should be enveloped with
one end o f the packet open, or the corners uncovered. I f a packet containing such mat
ter be wholly closed, it is subjected here to the same late o f pottage as letters, and esti
mated by weight, though the same be brought by vessel from over sea, and delivered from
the office o f deposit. T he privilege o f opening packets at the post-office, as in the Uni
ted States, and paying for what they contain, i3 not permitted; but the full letter rate of
postage taxed upon a closely enveloped packet must be paid, or the package is withheld.
Letters should never be closed with newspapers, pamphlets, or other printed matter—
when thus closed, the whole pocket is subjected to letter rates o f postage, without remedy.
Letters or packets forwarded to the care o f resident merchants, or the American con
sul, should bear the whole address on the face o f them, without their being re-enveloped,
as additional wrappers increase the weight, and consequently the postage.
T he postage charged on letters from the United States, delivered at the port o f arrival
in this empire, is 150 rcis, or about 8 cents, for each sheet. On newspapers, properly en
veloped, 30 reis each paper.
On books, bound or unbound, one quarter the amount o f letter postage, rated by weight.
Books should be entered on the manifest o f the vessel bringing them, and passed through
# the custom-house; in which case, the amount o f duties charged, if for personal use, is
very trifling.
Attention to this notice, by individuals sending mail matter to this country, is impor
tant ; otherwise parties addressed may be obliged to pay several, perhaps five or ten dol
lars, for a package o f newspapers; or, by refusing to do so, be subjected to the loss of the
papers, and the risk o f the packet’s containing something more valuable.
MERCANTILE
MISCELLANIES.
M E R C A N T IL E L I B R A R Y A S S O C IA T IO N O F B O S T O N .
T he President o f this Institution has favored us with the Twenty-Fourth Annual Re
port, which furnishes fresh evidence o f its substantial and elevated condition.
Previous
to the appearance o f the report o f last year, it became obvious that the condition of the
institution demanded, at the hands o f its members, additional exertions to increase its
means, and extend its usefulness. Accordingly, the lecture system was adopted ; which
has, we are pleased to learn, been carried through, with the most satisfactory results. The
amount received from the sale o f tickets, the first year o f the experiment, was $1 ,329 ;
and the expenses incurred, $ 1 ,003 17— being a profit o f $ 3 2 5 83.
T he lectures com
menced with the celebration o f the twenty-third anniversary, by an admirable address
from Hon. Philip Hone, o f N ew Y ork, and an appropriate poem, by Hon. George Lunt,
o f Newburyport. A strong array o f names completed the course thus commenced, viz:
Hon. Levi W oodbury, John Neal, Elihu Barrett, John O. Sargeant, Hon. Josiah Quincy, jr.,
W endall Phillips, Ralph W aldo Emerson, William Sturgess, Rev. II. Bellows, Henry
Giles, & c., and others no less distinguished in the walks o f public usefulness.
The di
rectors, in their report, pay a just tribute to William Sturgess, o f Boston, through whose
influence a donation o f one thousand dollars was made to the institution, in sums o f $ 1 0 0
each, from the following eminent merchants o f Boston, viz: William Sturgess, Nathan
Appleton, Abbott Lawrence, W illiam Appleton, John P. Cushang, John Bryant, David
Sears, W illiam Lawrence, Robert G. Shaw, and Amos Lawrence.
A contribution was
also made to the institution o f $ 5 0 0 , from the Boston Society for the Diffusion of Useful
M ercantile M iscellanies.
Knowledge, through their President, Daniel Webster.
573
The library now contains 3,850
volumes. “ In the selection o f books,” says the report, “ we have endeavored to consult
the interests o f every reader, by purchasing works o f an entertaining, a3 well as o f an
instructive character; and to avoid, as much as possible, those ephemeral popular fictions,
which so profusely flood the land; being convinced that their influence upon the mental
and moral condition o f the young is most pernicious— insomuch as, by familiarizing their
minds with imaginary scenes o f degraded and brutalized humanity, or a tissue o f sickly
sentimentality, they produce a species o f mental intoxication, having a direct tendency to
impair the finer feelings, and render the soul callous to lofty and noble sentiments, and
unprepared for the realities and duties o f every-day life.”
The exercises in declamation, debate, and composition, by members, have been, it ap
pears, conducted in a manner creditable to the institution; and the other exercises con
nected with commercial education, which are justly regarded o f paramount importance,
have been well sustained.
“ Although,” says the report, “ it is not to be expected that
those who aim at mercantile eminence will become profound scholars, yet, by a judicious
application o f their leisure hours, to the rational culture o f those faculties which are pos
sessed in common by every individual, they may become intelligent, and therefore re
spectable ; useful, and therefore honorable ; and, with the advantages o f a large and well
selected library, we know o f no way by which young men can better fit themselves to be
good citizens, and cherished members o f society, than by participating in exercises similar
to those o f this association.”
The whole amount o f receipts, during the past year, for assessments and fines, has
been twelve hundred and seventy-five dollars; for dividends on stocks, fifty dollars; and
the amount expended, eleven hundred dollars— leaving a balance, from the year’s receipts,
of two hundred and twenty-five dollars; which, in addition to a balance at the commence
ment of the year, o f sixty dollars, now leaves a total balance in the treasury of two hun
dred and eighty-five dollars, independent o f the funds received by donations, which
remains in the hands o f the “ Committee on the Purchase o f Books.”
The report— a clear, comprehensive, and business-like paper— reflects credit on the
President and Board o f Directors, and concludes with urging the claims o f the association
upon the attention o f the members:—
“ Every member should take a personal interest in the welfare o f the institution, and
labor as he artily to promote its prosperit/, arid extend its influence, as if he were an offi
cer. It would require but little effort to double the number o f our members, if all o f those
now enjoying its advantages would put forth their strength in it3 behalf. W e hope to see
the time come, when all tho mercantile young men o f B rston will be banded together
under the constitution o f our assoerti n , intent to promote their mutual interests, ambi
tious to increase the mean3 and materials o f their mutual benefit; meeting as companions
and friends in a league o f hearts and fellowship o f m ind; meeting for self-culture, for
improvement in all which will advance their worldly interests ; for progress in intellec
tual and moral excellence ; for everything that will tend to make them good merchants,
and intelligent and conscientious men.”
T H E Q U E S T IO N F O R A C C O U N T A N T S .
To the Editor o f the Merchants' M aga zin e:—
S ir — On the solution o f “ The Question for Accountants,” your last number presents
a voluminous communication from Mr. W . B. H eriot; the object o f which is to disprove
the oropricty o f my “ views” on the subject under consideration.
W hile, with marked deference to the judgment o f Mr. II., I decline to adopt a prece
dent which would diet te the prop-ioty o f occupying nearly three pages to arrive at an
issue which may be adduced in half ns many lines; namely, whether the wares drawn
out of company should he valued at cost, or present worth, this being the only point in
dispute;—.while, I repeat, I decline n course like this, I would fain inquire by what au
thority, or for what reason, does he dw w the same wares out o f company at a less value
M ercantile M iscellanies.
574
than their cost, when put into company?— thus exhibiting an apparent loss on merchandise
not yet sold ! and which, foi all he knoivs to the contrary, may, by the constant and al
most ever-varying fluctuations in trade, either rise on the morrow, far above cost, or fait
far below even their present worth, and thus place the author o f the “ critique,” if mana
ger, under the indispensable necessity o f closing his previously opened account of mer
chandise in books prop er; and, as a consequence, thus compelling him to re-open it under
a different valuation, to accommodate his notions o f book-keeping.
Again— suppose the wares sold in partnership had produced $ 1 2 0 per piece, would the
practice be not equally correct, on Mr. H.’s plan, to charge those drawn out o f company,
and taken to private account, at their present value ? This being unavoidably so, an op
ponent gain would be shown on what was never sold ! — a fact which w’ould be completely
reversed by a fa ll in price, previous to a sale ; thereby showing the absolute folly o f any
other adjustment than that which I have offered, (as all competent accountants know,)
and thus properly leaving the ultimate gain or loss on the sales to be determined as cir
cumstances may warrant.
Taking, I hope, a final farewell o f this subject, I conclude by informing Mr. H. that
his extremely simple question is answered by giving to A $7 00 o f the amount paid by
C , and to B the sum o f $100.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obliged servant,
J. W . W R IG H T .
A N S W E R T O M R . H E R I O T ’S Q U E S T IO N .
A s I understand it, A ’s interest in the ship is f , and B ’s f , up to the time o f their trans
action with C ;* after which, the three interests are to be equalized.
This will be ac
complished by the following
JO U R N A L E N T R IE S .
C rs.
Ship to sundries, for original investment,..
to A ,.......................................................
to B ,.......................................................
A to ship,...............................................................................................
for amount received from C , in payment for J share,.............
Ship new acc. to ship,........................................................................
F or this amount transferred, as the value o f A and B ’s present
interest,...............................................................................................
$500 00
300 00
800 00
1,600 00
Ship to sundries,.....................................
F or balance o f profits on this accountT o A , his § ,........................................
T o B, his |,...... ..................................
B to A , amount paid the latter in cash,...............................................
For balance due, to equalize their present interests, (which answers
the question,).........................................................................................
Ship new acc. to C,..
For his J share,.........
1,000 00
600 00
100 00
800 00
W hen the above entries are posted, the result will be—
D ebits,
or
A ssets.
Ship new acc.,..............................
C redits,
$2,400
or
C laimants .
A, h B, h -
C, h $2,400 I
800
800
$2,400
Perhaps the following may he considered, by some, as a simpler view o f the case:—
Without any regard to cost, let us begin by supposing A to own f , and B to own § of the
ship, which is, in fact, the case ; but we need make no account of their respective ad
vances.
Then A is entitled to £, and B f o f the proceeds, v iz: $8 00.
A t this period,
* This part o f the question is quite ambiguous ; but if A and B are to share the profits
equally from the first, then A will have to pay B $ 3 0 0 , instead o f $100.
M ercantile M iscellanies.
A will own o f the remaining § o f the ship f , and B f .
575
But before we proceed further,
it is necessary to know what this § is worth ; for on this the answer to the question de
pends.
They sell
it is true, for $800 ; but it does not necessarily follow that they may
value the remainder at so high a rate. This question is hfere important, and should have
been stated by Mr. Ile r io t; for A must now sell B ^ o f his §, to make them equal. I
have valued the § at $1 ,600 , the J o f which is $200.
But Mr. Heriot must see that as
this is an actual sale from A to B, any other valuation would make a difference to A and
B, which would not, as in ordinary cases, be rectified in the next ship’s account. I f we
now make out A and B’s accounts, they will stand thus:—
Dit.
T o cash received for
A
........... ........
By f-, proceeds o f sale ........... .......
“ 13, for £ o f rem. § ,..............
“ balance,.................................
$800
200
1 00
$800
$800
Dp..
T o A , for J o f rem. § ,............. ........
“ balance,................................
C r.
$500
B
$200
By §, proceeds o f sale § , ......... ......
$3 30
O k.
$3 00
$800
T H O M A S JO N E S.
C O M M E R C E A N D M A N U F A C T U R E S IN G R E E C E .
It is stated by Boeck, in his “ Economy o f Athens,” that commercial occupations were
never in great esteem among the ancient Greeks. N o person o f ancient nobility ever
condescended to them, although conversely a manufacturer might raise himself to the head
o f public affairs, such as Cleon, Hyperbolus, and others.
T he early statesmen, however,
encouraged industry, especially Solon, Themistocles, and Pericles, partly with the inten
tion o f improving the condition o f the lower classes, and partly o f increasing the popula
tion o f the c ity ; as well as advancing the cause o f commerce, and o f manning the
numerous fleets by which, after the time o f Themistocles, the Athenians held the mas
tery o f the sea. And it was this circumstance that rendered the resident aliens indispen
sable for Athens, who carried on manufactures and commerce to a great extent, and were
bound to serve in the fleet.
It even appears that the useful art3 were encouraged by ho
norary rewards, though even by these means they could not gain in the public estimation.
There were prizes for the common people, for which the higher ranks did not compete
with them.
A t the same time, the respectable citizens, who had none o f the higher aris-
tocratical notions, like Pericles, Alcibiades, or Callias, the son of Hipponicus, whose pride
yielded in nothing to the haughtiness o f the modern nobility, were not ashamed o f super
intending extensive manufactories, worked at their own expense. The inferior citizens
were as much reduced to the necessity o f manual labor as the poor aliens and slaves. It
was not until after the balance had been turned in favor o f the aristocracy, that measures
o f severity w’ere brought forw ard; as, for example, Diophantus proposed that all the ma
nual laborers should be made public slaves.
There was again another reason why no
restriction should have been imposed upon the freedom o f industry, v iz : the little impor
tance that was attached to it. A n alien was allowed to carry on any trade, although be
was prohibited from holding any property in land.
W ith regard, indeed, to the sale in
the market, strangers were on a less advantageous footing than natives, as they were
obliged to pay a duty for permission to expose their goods there.
The law o f Solon, that
men should not deal in ointments, was only founded on principles o f education, in order
to withdraw men from womanish labors— subsequently, howrever, it became a dead letter,
for Eschines, the philosopher, had a manufactory o f ointments.
576
M ercantile M iscellanies.
T H E B O O K O F T H E E X P L O R IN G E X P E D IT IO N .
W e are gratified to learn that the very natural curiosity expressed by the public, both
at home and abroad, in regard to the “ Narrative o f the United States Exploring Expe
dition, during the years 1838, ‘39, ’40, ’41, and ’42, by Charles W ilkes, U. S. N .,” of
which but little or nothing has been published, is soon to be gratified.
From Lea &
Blanchard, the enterprising publishers, o f Philadelphia, we learn that considerable pro
gress has been made in that city in printing the work. It will consist, first, o f five demiquarto volumes, o f about five hundred pages each, illustrated very superbly, with sixtyeight steel plates— about forty-six steel vignettes worked on the pages o f letter-press, and
two hundred wood-cuts scattered through the work, with four very large im ps, and se
veral smaller ones.
This edition is ordered by Congress for distribution to foreign powers
and a few libraries— it will be a very small one. A second edition, (if such it may be
called, when both are simultaneously printed,) o f octavo size, will be published, and will
be under the control o f Lea & Blanchard, o f Philadelphia.
The copy-right o f this be
longs to, and has been secured by, the author.
It will contain the same illustrations, the
whole o f which are in a very fonvard state.
Nearly two volumes o f both editions arc
actually printed, and the whole will probably be ready for publication in three months.
More attention has been given to the mere “ getting-up” o f this work, than to any other
published in this country. It is purely, in all it= parts, an American production— the illus
trations are highly creditable to cur artists and draftsmen, and may be classed with the
best that have appeared in Europe.
A portion o f these, we have seen.
W e shall, after
the publication, endeavor to convey to our readers a correct account o f the literary execu
tion.
Great labor has undoubtedly been bestowed by author, artists, and the scientific
gentlemen attached to the expedition, to make this a truly elegant work. It will, un
doubtedly, be a work o f great interest to merchants, and those engaged in an extended
commerce, as well as the general reader.
IR O N T R A D E O N T H E C O N T IN E N T O F E U R O P E .
W e learn, says the London Railway Chronicle, from an official return, that the iron
trade on the continent has been rapidly extending, and that the following is very nearly
the relative proportion o f the pig and bar iron manufactured in different states:— Prussia,
199 furnaces, worked with charcoal, employ 8,674 workmen, and produce about 120,000
tons o f cast iron, equal in value to £730,000.
Wrought iron, in bar and plate, is made
at 538 forges, employing 6,049 workmen, and producing 73,000 tons, o f the value of
£239,000. Bavaria, 44 furnaces, producing 9,000 tons o f cast iron, and 141 forges, pro
ducing 5,750 tons o f wrought iron. Wurtemburg, 6,400 tons o f cast, and 2,500 tons of
wrought iron.
iron.
Grand Duchy o f Baden, 7,000 tons o f cast, and 4,750 tons o f malleable
Saxony, 7,500 tons o f cast, and 4,650 tons o f wrought iron.
4,150 tons o f cast, and 900 tons o f malleable.
Electorate o f Hesse,
Grand Duchy o f Hesse, 7,150 tons of
cast, and 2,400 tons o f malleable. Duchy o f Nassau, 14,330 tons o f cast, and 1,300 tons
o f bar iron, and 2,375 tons o f different other sorts o f iron, in bam, cast and wrought iron
work.
Duchy o f Brunswick, 2,150 tons o f cast, and 7,180 tons o f w'rought iron, or
works in cast iron.
United States o f Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Saxe-Meinengen, Anhalt,
Scharzbourg-Hohenzollern-Siegmaringen, Reuss, W aldeck, produce 4,035 tons of cast,
and 2,240 tons o f bar iron, or works in cast iron.
cast iron.
German Luxembourg, 7,700 tons of
Total production o f the States o f the Zoll-verein: Cast iron, 191,156; wrought
iron, or works in cast and wrought iron, 107,324 tons.
In proportion to the population,
these quantities are net great, since it only amounts to about 15£ lbs. for each person
throughout the confederation. In France, where this manufacture is even yet but imper
fectly developed, it amountp to above 22 lbs.
In Belgium, it is about 36 lbe.; while in
England it is as high as 55 to 56 lbs. for each person.
577
M ercantile M iscellanies.
L A T E H O U R S O F B U SIN ESS.
The following remarks, though intended for England, are not without application to the
retail trade o f our commercial cities.
T hey are from a little work, recently published in
England, entitled “ T he Evils o f the Late Hour System, by Ralph B. Grindrod, L L. D .”
“ The unreasonable conduct o f a numerous class o f purchasers makes the employment
of assistant drapers, in particular, and o f all engaged in the traffic of goods, more weari
some and fatiguing than it would be under more favorable circumstances. Every hour,
nay, every minute, requires constant attention to the same monotonous round o f minute
and uninteresting details. T o this, is too frequently superadded those perpetual trials of
the patience and temper, which those alone can realize who have been subjected to the
unreasonable demands o f inconsiderate customers. It matters not how often the drawers
and shelves may have been arranged during the night. They must again and again be
disarranged to accommodate the whims o f customers, who too often, after almost endless
trouble, make but slight purchases. The young men o f our mercers’ shops, however mi
nute the order, are required, under all circumstances, to exhibit the same bland and obse
quious attention to those upon whom they w ait
“ A n assistant draper, o f long experience, informs the writer that after customers have,
late in the evening, so pulled about various articles o f dress, the after arrangement of
which would give employment for a considerable portion o f time, it is generally the case
that they conclude by a remark to the following effect:— ‘ It is impossible to tell what sort
of color it may be by daylight; so I will call again in the morning.’ This wonderful
discovery, unfortunately for the poor assistant, is only made after a tedious trial of the pa
tience and temper, although probably the light o f day had given place to that of gas at
least an hour previously.
“ T he modern spirit o f competition has induced a numerous class o f tradesmen to adopt
a plausible but fictitious appearance o f traffic— a practice which, we may readily suppose,
does not diminish the hard lot o f assistants. N o leisure moments, consequently, must be
devoted to other than the business o f the shop— no intervals o f rest are permitted in the
absence o f persons to purchase. A n appearance o f business is enforced; the hurry and
bustle o f a thriving trade is exhibited ; in lack o f other duties, articles must be packed and
repacked ; ribbons again and again rolled— every specious means, in short, is put into ope
ration to impress the public with an opinion o f extensive traffic. T he already overtaske-d
assistants suffer the penalties o f this system o f delusion.”
M IS S O U R I IR O N M O U N T A IN S .
Professor Silliman and Forest Shepherd, o f N ew Haven, recently made a mineralogicai exploring tour in Missouri.
The first-named gentleman, in his college course o f lec
tures, just closed, stated the following facts in regard to the Missouri iron mountains, as
communicated to the N ew Haven Palladium:— “ There are two o f these iron mountains,
he said, situated not far distant from each other, and forty or fifty miles west of the river
Mississippi. One o f them, I understood him to say, was about 700, and the other some
thing more than 300 feet in height; that is, above the level o f the surrounding plain. T he
iron with which they abound i 3 a peroxyde, consisting o f twenty-eight parts iron, and
fourteen parts oxygen— thus constituting a very rich ore o f iron.
As you approach either
of these mountains, and before you get to them, you find lumps and masses o f this form
of iron, scattered much like the stones o f N ew England. Advancing, you find the masses
in larger numbers and greater size; and so on up the mountains, till you approach their
summits, where you find one vast capping to the mountain o f these iron rocks and stones,
whose depth has never been explored!
O f course, how far they go down, we do not
know, nor what proportion o f the substance o f these mountains is iron, but we perceive
the quantity there to be immense, almost beyond calculation— enough, I understood the
professor to say, to supply the whole human race, even under the present vast consump
tion o f iron, with that metal for ages to come. T he base and sides o f the mount' in, Dr.
Silliman said, are thickly and beautifully wooded— even after you come to the. immense
cappings with which the mountains are rounded off, you find the trees everywhere shoot
up among those rocks, although you can discover scarce a trace o f soil.”
578
M ercantile M iscellan ies.
S E L F -R E L I A N C E IM P O R T A N T T O T H E M E R C H A N T .
Self-reliance, to the merchant, and indeed to all who would succeed in the accomplish
ment o f a laudable purpose or pursuit, is indispensable. It was this trait, perhaps, more
than any other, that enabled an Astor, a Girard, a Gray, in our own country, to work out
for themselves vast fortunes— to accumulate millions.
A n eminent writer has somewhere
said, if o\ir young men miscarry in their first enterprise, they lose all heart.
I f the young
merchant fails, men say he is ruined. I f the finest genius studies in one of our colleges,
and is not installed in an office in one year afterwards, in the city or suburbs of Boston or
N ew Y ork, it seems to his friends and to himself that he is right in being disheartened,
and in complaining the rest o f his life. A sturdy lad from N ew Hampshire or Vermont,
who in turn tries all the professions, who teams it, farms it, peddles, keeps a school,
preaches, edits a newspaper, goes to Congress, buys a township, and so forth, in succes
sive years, and always, like a cat, falls on his feet, is worth a hundred o f these city dolls.
He walks abreast with his days, and feels no shame in not studying a profession, for he
does not postpone his life, but lives already.
H e has not one chance!
Let a stoic arise
who shall reveal the resources o f man, and tell men they are not leaning willows, but can
and must detach themselves; that, with the exercise o f self-trust, new powers shall ap
pear ; that a man is the word made flesh, born to shed healing to the nations; that he
should be ashamed o f our compassion ; and that the moment he acts from himself, tossing
the laws, the books’ idolatries and customs, out o f the window, we pity him no more, but
thank him and revere him— and that teacher shall restore the life o f man to splendor, and
make his name dear to all history.
It is easy to see that a greater self-reliance— a new
respect for the divinity in man— must work a revolution in ail the offices and relations of
m en : in their religion; in their education; in their pursuits; their modes o f livin g; their
association; in their property ; in their speculative views.
A D V IC E T O T R A D E R S IN A F R IC A .
There is, says an intelligent correspondent o f the Nautical Magazine, a Hottentot vil
lage about forty miles on an east-by-south course from the head of Spencer’s Bay, Africa,
containing about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, and situated in a fertile valley, water
ed by several springs o f excellent fresh water.
between the village and the bay.
There are also four refreshing springs
T he interior o f the country abounds in cattle, sheep,
deer, bucks, wolves, gray foxes, elephants, and ostriches, in greater numbers than it does
farther south, which may be had for any price you please to give, in the way o f barter ;
for money would be o f no more use to them, than an equal weight o f sand would be to
us. Offer them such articles as their circumstances require, and they will trade in the
most liberal and honest manner.
“ I am aware that most people have imbibed the mistaken idea that these natives are
treacherous and cruel, and blood-thirsty, and everything that is bad. They are not so. I
make the assertion on personal experience and practical knowledge. There is no more
danger in travelling two or three hundred miles in the interior o f this country, for purcha
sing cargoes, than there is in travelling among our own Indians in the state o f N ew York,
provided you take no temptations with you, and no other arms than a musket. Whatever
you purchase o f the natives is sold in good faith, to be paid for according to contract, on
the delivery o f the articles at the beach, and not before. Under this arrangement, they
could not defraud you, were they so disposed; and, were there no other safeguard for
your person, the prospect o f this payment would be amply sufficient. But their natural
dispositions are friendly and humane; and, if you treat them with kindness, they will
repay your favors more than ten to one. W hen they deliver the cattle and other articles
at the beach, give them the articles in return for which they stipulated, and they are satis
fied ; but I would recommend a little extension o f courtesy on these occasions, by pre
senting their chiefs a few tasteful trifles, which may attract their attention. Whatever
you bestow in this way, will not be thrown away, but returned to you seven-fold in some
ot her shape, or on some other occasion.”
579
T he B ook T rade.
T HE BOOK T R A D E .
1. — The American Almanac, and Repository o f Useful Knowledge, fo r 1845.
James Munfoe &■ Co.
Boston:
T he sixteenth volume o f this standard work has just appeared, and seems fully to sus
tain the high character acquired by its predecessors. A great amount of information is
condensed within a small compass, indispensable for present use, and valuable for preser
vation, and future references. It is the only work in the country which furnishes com
plete lists o f the names, residences, and salaries o f all the officers of the executive and
judiciary, not only o f the national government, but o f all the individual states and terri
tories.
Full particulars are also found in it, collected from official sources o f the latest
date, respecting the finances, common schools, internal improvements, and benevolent in
stitutions o f the several states.
W e notice, also, complete list3 o f the colleges, medical
and theological, and medical schools, and statistics o f all the religious denominations.
The astronomical computations in the present volume, furnished by one of the most dis
tinguished men o f science in the country, (Professor B. Peirce, o f Harvard University,)
appear o f more than usual extent and value ; and the collection o f meteorological tables
is very curious, as showing the climate and weather at all important points in our exten
sive territory.
Each volume o f the almanac is a new work, no part being reprinted with
out extensive alterations and additions, and most o f it being altogether original. W e find
in this number the returns respecting the commerce o f the United States, similar to those
published in this Magazine, distinguishing its various branches, and showing its compara
tive state for more than twenty years. There are also full particulars respecting the re
venue and expenditure o f the general government,’ ever since it was established.
A
curious article o f criticisms on the late census for 1840, contains some valuable sugges
tions for the statistical inquirer. Separate chapters are allotted to the judiciary, army,
navy, post-office, mint, and public lands; the essence o f all the important public docu
ments published at the last session o f Congress being given in the most succinct form.
Another novel feature o f the work, is the abstract o f all the public laws passed at the last
session o f Congress, which is to be continued for future sessions; so that the Almanac
will contain a record o f the legistation o f the country, in a form very concise, and admi
rably adapted for reference. T he full obituary register, containing a brief, but carefully
prepared sketch o f the lives o f distinguished men, who have died during the past year,
will be found interesting for immediate perusal, and o f much use for preservation, as con
taining valuable materials for the history o f our own times.
A s a whole, the American
Almanac may well be commended, as being what its name imports— a national work ;
the high character o f which, for fulness and accuracy, is now generally acknowledged.
2.
— American W ild Flowers, in their Native Haunts. By E mma C. E m bu r y . W ith
twenty plates o f Plants, carefully colored after nature, and Landscape Views o f their
localities, from Drawings on the spot. By E. W hitefield . pp. 256. N ew Y o rk : D.
Appleton & Co.
T he large and highly gilded quarto volume, whose title we have quoted, is another
contribution to what may be properly termed the fine arts o f literature.
It is richly adorn
ed, and its letter-press, paper, and all it3 embellishments, are elegant.
It appears, indeed,
as if the gorgeous flowers o f our own country had been transplanted from their native
fields, with portions o f the landscape where they had flourished, to the pages of this book,
whose covers are also emblazoned with vases o f flowers o f gold. T he painted designs
of the volume are illustrated with descriptive papers and poems, by some of our most
popular authors ; and it forms, altogether, the most splendid and appropriate gift-book o f
the season.
T he Book T rade.
580
3.
— The Rose o f Sharon. A Religious Souvenir fo r M D C C C X L V .
S. C. E dgarton. B oston: A . Tompkins & B. B. Muzzy.
Edited by Miss
T he frontispiece, “ Excelsior,” is happily chosen, to indicate the onward and upwrard airn
o f the fair editor o f this beautiful annual, which has now reached its sixth volume.
Wo
have all but one o f them, and it affords us pleasure to note the improvements that have cha
racterized each successive issue. That in the engravings is perhaps the most prominent;
and we think, too, we discover in the constant contributors a more matured style, and
higher aim s; the articles, to say the least, exhibit a vein o f Christian thought and senti
ment, more in harmony with the principles o f a spiritualized, active, philanthrophy. In
“ Glimpses o f a Better Life,” Horace Greely has given utterance to some of the highest
and best thoughts o f our tim e; thoughts which seem to occupy the attention of the loftiest
intellects Christendom over; i f we can rely upon the expression they find in periodical
literature, the speeches o f the statesman, and the efforts o f those who would advance
man’s social destiny on earth.
E. H . Chapin, an eloquent divine, and one o f the most
popular Lyceum lecturers in N ew England, has contributed an admirable essay on
“ Unity,” a little word, but a subject o f deep significance to the Christian philoso
pher.
On the whole, we may commend the present volume, as one well calculated to
strengthen and encourage every noble and generous impulse o f our nature.
4.
— The Novels o f Frederika Bremer. The Neighbors— The Home— The President's
Daughters— Nina— Sketches o f E very-D ay L ife— The Id------ Family,
<f-c. Trans
lated by M a r y H o w itt . N ew Y o rk : Harper & Brothers.
W e are glad to welcome these works, included in a single volume. Their appearance
marks, we may almost say, a new era in English literature.
T hey have at least opened
to English and American readers a new literary world— one before almost entirely un
known to the great mass o f the people, and scarcely explored even by literary men. They
have also done not a little to open new fields for the exercise o f the imagination, in in
vesting with the colors o f fiction the daily and hourly occurrences of domestic life.
But
most o f all is their influence to be prized for the spirit o f love and brotherly sympathy
which they display, and for the irresistible charm which they throw around the domestic
virtues, and the sweet charities o f common life.
N o series o f novels, in the compass of
English literature, can be compared with them in this respect.
Their influence must al
ways be salutary, and they will never cease to be read so long as delightful narrative, fer
tile and graceful imagination, and the most delicate taste, render literary productions
attractive. T hey have been published in one large octavo, very handsomely issued, and
forming a most desirable work.
5.
— Revolutionary Orders o f General W ashington, issued during the years 1778, ’80,
’81, end, ’82. Selected from the M SS. o f J ohn W hiting , Lieutenant and Adjutant of
the 2d Regiment Massachusetts Line, and edited b y his son, H en ry W hiting , Lieu
tenant-Colonel U. S. Army. 8 vo., pp. 255. N ew Y ork and L ondon: W iley &
Putnam.
T he correspondence o f such a man as Washington, upon any topic, will attract respect
and interest; and especially his orders upon subjects regarding his military career.
In
the very valuable series o f volumes, embracing the correspondence of Washington, which
has been compiled by Mr. Sparks, this part has been om itted; and it accordingly forms a
proper supplement to those volumes.
T he various subjects which these orders embrace,
are many o f them m inute; yet they serve to show the principles which guided the public
conduct o f this upright man, which induced him to be as scrupulous in his regard for the
smallest, as the greatest o f his concerns.
T hey also exhibit his reliance upon a superin
tending Providence, and his watchfulness respecting the'Condition even o f the most ob
scure soldier in the ranks o f his army. A s indicating the military character o f the com
mander-in-chief upon the field, and the discipline which he preserved, they are a very
valuable contribution to the revolutionary history o f the country.
The B ook T rade.
581
6.
— The Child's Picture and Verse-Book, commonly called Otto Speckter’s Fable-Book.
Translated from the original German. By M ary II owitt , author o f “ Love and M o
ney,” “ Work and W ages,” “ Alice Franklin,” “ Hope On, Hope Ever,” “ W ho Shall
be Greatest,” etc. New Y o rk : D. Appleton & Co.
7. — M y Uncle, the Clock-Maker. A Tale. By M a r t H o w itt .
Mary Howitt has contributed liberally to our stock o f juvenile literature, and her books
are not only unexceptionable in their tone and tendency, but they are absolutely excel
lent ; and, as moral and social teachers, they deserve a high rank, if not the highest
There is, in her truthful fictions, none o f the false sentiment, the erroneous judgments
concerning character, principle, and duty; the exaggerated coloring of life and manners,
and human prospects, which falsify and debase the common romance ; and, we are sorry
to add, render worthless and enervating so many o f the little works written for the im
provement o f the young. W e love to read well written books for children— there are
few o f Mary Howitt’s works from which we have derived more pleasure titan from those
intended for the young ; and we feel no shame in confessing that w e have read several
o f the works enumerated in tile titles above quoted, with interest and pleasure.
8.
— Clever Stories, fo r Clever Boys and G irls; containing “ Think Before Y ou A c t ; ”
“ Jack, the Sailor B o y ;" “ D u ty is Safety." By Mrs. S herwood, author o f “ Henry
Milner,” “ Little Lucy,” etc., etc. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton.
“ Clever Stories” — a very good title, and followed by very good “ w o r d s t h e better
because designed for children and young persons.
I f we could ever advocate a censor
ship o f the press, it would be for the purpose o f preventing the publication o f “ grown-up
romances in miniature.” W e rank them with baby balls and boys’ parties, in which the
evils o f mature life and artificial society are made to come down to the innocent and pure,
and torment them before their time. I f we were compelled to regulate morals and trade
by human laws, we would allow no traffic but in “ things true, honest, lovely, pure, and of
good report” Under such laws, the author o f “ Clever Stories” would have no cause to
fear. There i3 nothing in her pages but what is true and healthful, tending to impart and
sustain a high tone o f moral sentiment; to build the character on elevated principle, and
to raise up for us sons and daughters who shall adorn and bless society.
9.
— The P rize Story B ook; consisting chiefly o f Tales translated from the German,
French, and Italia n ; together with Select Tales from the English. Embellished with
numerous designs. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton.
T he sources from which this collection o f tales has been deipved, were ample ; and the
author or translator has brought together, in an accessible form, a variety o f pieces, scat
tered throughout voluminous works, mixed up with ethers o f less interesting, and even
objectional character.
There is not, however, in the present volume, anything fairly open
to objection on the score o f principle, or which may be thought to countenance a ques
tionable morality.
instruction.
Every story in the book does not, perhaps, contain a direct lesson of
It does not profess to be more than a mere book o f recreation; and, in many
cases, o f mirthful recreation, too.
It seems, on the whole, to be the design that, i f any
moral is deducible, it should not be a bad one.
10. — The Book o f the Indians o f North A m erica; illustrating their Manners, Customs,
and Present State. Edited by J ohn F rost , L L . D., author o f the “ Book o f the Arm y,”
“ Book o f the Navy,” etc., etc. 12mo., pp. 283. N ew Y o rk : D. Appleton &■ Co.
The editor o f the Book o f the Indians has heretofore won deserved credit in preparing
two works illustrating The history o f two prominent arm3 o f the public defence.
In the
present volume, he has embodied much interesting matter connected with the character,
history, and customs o f the Indian tribes.
T he habits o f many of the remote western
Indians, who are little known to white men, are here described; and the book is enli
vened with numerous engravings, w'hich present the customs o f those tribes in a visible
form.
W e are glad to perceive that there is an evident improvement in the style c f thia
species o f our historic literature, as well as in the form o f its publication.
The B ook Trade.
582
11.
— Richard III., as D uke o f Gloucester and K in g o f England. B y C a r o l i n e A . H a l
author o f the “ Life o f Margaret Beaufort,” and “ Obligations o f Literature to
the Mothers o f England.” Complete in one volume. 8vo., pp. 472. Philadelphia:
Carey & Hart.
T he work whose title we have here quoted, is an attempt to rescue the character of
stead,
the Duke o f Gloucester from the aspersions cast upon it by early historical records, as
well as by the great dramatist Shakspeare. W e have been accustomed to view him as
a diminutive hunchback, although an accomplished warrior; possessing mighty energy,
and all-absorbing ambition, yet having a soul black and malignant as, according to popu
lar belief, his body was deformed.
to this personage.
These traits are denied, in the volume, as belonging
It is alleged that the imputations o f this sort, resting upon his cha
racter, are unfounded, being based upon unauthenticated tradition and inaccurate history.
W e can easily imagine that the unenviable position which he sustained toward the public
o f his own time, exposed him to many popular rumors, as malicious as they were exag
gerated.
Historical facts are referred to for the purpose o f showing that the nation was
indebted to him for many salutary statutes; that he was distinguished for the administra
tion o f justice, and for acts o f beneficence towards the arts, and seminaries o f learning;
and that he was innocent o f that long catalogue o f crimes which, it is to be regretted,
disfigured the stormy age in which he lived.
12. — A nastasis; or, The Doctrine o f the Resurrection o f the Body Rationally and Scripturally Considered. B y G eorge B ush, Professor o f Hebrew, N ew Y ork University.
N ew Y o rk : W ile y & Putnam.
This is a remarkable work, and has already created considerable interest among Chris
tian theologians; and will, we predict, increase and extend its interest and influence, as
it shall become more widely known in the religious world.
o f momentous import to the interests o f revealed truth.
T he results announced, are
T he conclusions to which Pro
fessor Bush has arrived, as embodied in the present volume, must, “ if built upon sound
premises, present the grand future under an entirely new aspect.” “ T he resurrection of
the body,” he says, “ i f my reasonings and expositions are well founded, is not a doctrine
o f revelation.” T he almost universally admitted idea o f human progress, he applies to
Scripture ; maintaining, with great perspicuity and force, that the knowledge o f Revela
tion, like that o f Nature, is destined to be continually on the advance.
T he elevated
character o f the author, intellectually and morally, cannot fail o f commanding for his in
vestigations a profound respect, and the most marked consideration.
13. — The Complete W orks o f M rs. Hemans. Reprinted entire, from the last London
edition. Edited by her sister. In two volumes. N ew Y o r k : D. Appleton & Co.
T he reputation o f Mrs. Hemans as a poetess, is too well known to require commenda
tion.
T h e present volumes are given to us in a compressed form.
T he entire body of
her poetic efforts, althocgh they appear in a small but clear type, are more valuable on
that account, to those who may wish to carry them on occasional travelling excursions,
when a more bulky edition would be inconvenient and cumbrous. T he edition is, how
ever, adorned with engravings; and, we doubt not, will amply compensate the publishers
in their reprint o f it in the present elegant form.
It is from the latest London edition,
and the most complete and perfect heretofore published.
14.
— The Settlers in Canada.
W ritten fo r Y oung People.
B y C aptain M a r y a t t . In
2 volumes, 18mo., pp. 170-179. N ew Y o rk : D. Appleton & Co.
T h e design o f these two little volumes is to depict the circumstances connected with
the first settlement o f emigrants in Canada.
Captain Maryatt uses a ready and graphic
pen, and he is doubtless conversant with the scenes he has described.
T he narrative
portion is conveyed in a style easily intelligible by the youthful mind, to which it is espe
cially addressed; and it is also interesting to the mature reader, in so far as it exhibits some
o f the most prominent events connected with the life o f an emigrant, in the yet new ter
ritory o f Canada.
T he B ook T rade*
583
15.— The Library o f American Biography. Conducted by J ared S parks . Second se
ries. Vol. III. 12mo., pp. 438. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown.
The public are much indebted to Mr. Sparks for perpetuating, in permanent forms, the
most important portion o f the documentary history o f the country. T he present volume
contains the life o f John Sullivan, by Oliver W . B. P eabody; o f Jacob Leisler, by Charles
F. Hoffman ; o f Nathaniel Bacon, by W illiam W are ; and that o f John Mason, by George
E. Ellis. These biographical sketches appear to be well compiled— a remarkable degree
of industry is exhibited in consulting ancient records, and in developing new facts; and
the entire work is presented to us in a very elegant shape.
W e hope that the series may
meet the success which its substantial merits richly deserve.
1G.— The Illustrated Book o f Christian Ballads, and other Poems.
R ufus W . G riswold . Philadelphia: Lindsay &, Blackstone.
Edited by the Rev.
One o f the most prominent features o f the literary enterprise of our own country, at
the present time, is the improved style in which the volumes that daily issue from the
press now appear. That improvement is doubtless owing alike to the advanced state of
this department o f the arts with us, and to the requirements o f the public, which call for
more elegant books than formerly- Here is a collection o f devotional poetry, not more
remarkable for the pure and elevated religious spirit which it is adapted to inspire, than
for the splendor o f its embellishments, both upon its cover and its pages. T he spirit of
genuine piety which many o f its pieces breathe, is worthy o f the present style of its
publication.
17. — Elements
For the use o f
J. R. B oyd , A .
& Brothers.
The numerous
o f Rhetoric and Literary Criticism, with Copious Practical Examples.
Common Schools and Academies, <$-c.,
Compiled and arranged by
M ., Principal o f Black River L . and R. Institute. N ew Y o rk : Harper
testimonials appended, relating to the merits o f this work, from gentle
men long engaged in the business o f instruction, or occupied in superintending the ma
nagement o f public schools, while it renders any opinion we might express valueless, so
far as the public are concerned, convinces us that the treatise may be relied upon as wor
thy of confidence. Besides the elementary principles laid down, we are presented with
a brief but succinct history o f the English language, and o f British and American litera
ture from the earliest to the present times, on the basis o f the recent works of Alexander
Reed and Robert Connel.
18. — The Philosophy o f Rhetoric. B y G eorge C ampbell , D. D., F. R. S., Edinburgh,
Principal o f the Marischal College, Aberdeen. A N ew Edition, with the author’s last
Additions and Corrections. 12mo., pp. 435. N ew Y o r k : Harper & Brothers.
From the examination we have been able to give this work, we should deem it a pro
found philosophical treatise upon rhetoric.
It is a new edition, and it appears to have
been prepared as early as 1757. Some o f the doctrines advanced by former rhetoricians
are met and refuted, and some very satisfactory views are put forth upon the principles of
the science.
It abounds with the results o f learning and deep thought, and could be stu
died with great advantage by all those who desire to become acquainted with the subject
of which it treats.
13.— The M oss-Rose, fo r a Friend. Edited b y Rev. C. W . E verest . Hartford: Bunn
& Parsons.
29. — The H are-B ell, a Token o f Friendship. E dited by Rev. C . W . E verest .
T w o elegant little books, uniform in size and appearance, designed as gift-books for the
approaching Christmas and N ew Year, but possessing a standard perennial value, suited
to all times and seasons. T hey consist o f original pieces, and choicest gems, in prose
and verse, (chiefly the latter, however,) from our purest and most accomplished writers.
Mr. Everest, the editor, and the author o f several o f the best articles, we know and es
teem, for his pure life and manners; and those who purchase will admit and admire the
eiegance and correctness o f his taste, as evinced in these delightful volumes.
594
T he Book Trade*
21.— Oracles from the P o e ts ; a Fanciful Diversion f o r the D r anting-Boom*
l i n e (O i l m a n .
N ew Y o rk : W iley
Putnam.
By
C aro
This very pretty and pleasant volume is designed to be used as a fortune-teller, or a
round game for forfeits, or examined as a treasure-house for the thoughts o f poets on par
ticular subjects, from Chaucer down to the minor poets o f our own time and country.
Questions are propounded ; as, “ W hat is the character o f him who loves you?” “ What
is your destiny ?” and a hundred others, and answers given from the poets, which are
numbeicd. T he literature o f the volume is o f the highest order, and the most exquisite
descriptions and sentiments are contained in the answers. It is, altogether, an elegant
book, suitable for a Christmas or N ew -Y ear’s present to one’s “ lady-love.”
22. — The American Poulterer's Companion; a Practical Treatise on the Breeding, Bear
ing, Fattening, and (general Management o f the Various Species o f Domestic Poul
try, with Illustrations and Portraits o f Fowls, taken from L ife. By C. N. B ement.
N ew Y o rk : Saxton-& Miles.
Mr. Boment, from the interest he has-taken in the subject o f the present volume, and
his practical experience as a poulterer, possessed advantages for the preparation o f such a
work rarely enjoyed by persons capable o f imparting their knowledge or experience in
such matters.
tVe liaVe accordingly, in the volume before us, a thorough and systematic
treatise, lucid and clear, embracing alt the facts and circumstances connected with the pro
duction o f the “ feathered-tenants o f the farm-yard
and showing, moreover, how poul
try, under proper management, may be made as commercially profitable, according to the
capital invested, as any other branch o f agricultural industry.
23. — A Treatise on the Forces which Produce the Organization o f Plants. W ith an
Appendix, containing several Memoirs on Capillary Attraction, Electricity, and the
Chemical Action o f L ig h t By J ohn W tilliam D ra per , M. D ., Professor o f Chemistry
in the University o f N ew York. 4to., p p .216. N ew Y o rk : Harper & Brothers.
T he present volume is a philosophical treatise, exhibiting the causes which produce the
organization o f plants, not only in their connection with the light and the air, but in the
development o f their various parts, as produced by chemical forces.
The science o f vege
table and animal physiology has recently been enriched by valuable and brilliant contribu
tions from Germany, France, and E ngland; and it is the avowed object o f the author to
add this to the rich fund o f knowledge which has been, from those sources, thrown upon
the subject abroad.
There are, moreover, some new facts, which he has himself disco
vered, presented in its pages.
“ T he great idea,” says the writer, “ which it is designed
to illustrate, is that which connects the production and phenomena c f organized beings
with the imponderable principles.”
It is furnished with plates, one o f which is highly
colored, and i3 an important acquisition to this interesting department o f science.
24. — A Plain System o f Elocution; or, Logical and M usical Beadings and Declama
tion, with Exercises in Prose and V erse distinctly marked, fo r the Guidance o f the
E ar and the Voice o f the P u p il B y G. V andlnhoff, Professor o f Rhetoric in the city
o f N ew Y ork. N ew Y o rk : C. Shepard.
W e have many books on the subject treated o f in this volume y and although, in the
present, Mr. Y. makes no pretension to profundity, and not much claim to originality, ex
cept in that it is simple and intelligible, and, as far as it goes, correct in thcory,-apd easy
o f practice, which he considers (and we agree with him on that point) rather ^>npve!ty id,
works on elocution.
T he author, we may add, is an accomplished eldcutiqnhl' hirpeelf; -
and it is but fair to suppose that he has imparted a correct idea o f the attain which l.c
has attained proficiency.
k' '•j* r
25.
— Mora Carmody ; or, Woman s Influence.
A Tale.
£
.
N ew Y ork : Edwrrfd.Dynigan.
A well written story, illustrating the influence o f ivoman over the mind of'tb.e author;
who, it seems, became a convert to the ancient, or Roman Catholic faith, throughJhe me
dium o f that influence.
T he writer seems to possess a loving and liberal spirit
@FedFRASER