Full text of The Merchants' Magazine and Commercial Review : February 1849, Vol. XX, No. II

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THE

MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE,
E s ta b lis h e d J u l y , 1 S 3 9 ,

BV FREEMAN HUNT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

VOLUM E XX.

FEBRUARY,

C O N T E N T S

O F

1849.

NO.

N U M B E R II.

II., V O L . X X .

A R T IC L E S.
ART.

PAG*

I. SU R V E Y OF T H E C O A S T OF T H E U N ITE D S T A T E S ........................................................... 131
IL A SYN O PSIS OF T H E L A W S OF G EO RG IA W IT H RE SP ECT T O CO M M ER CIAL
T R A N S A C T IO N S .— System o f Laws o f Force in that State, and their Origin—Publications
in which Law's o f Georgia are found—O f the Courts o f Georgia—O f actions o f Suits in
the Courts—Actions upon Bonds—Limitation o f Actions—Parties to, and commencement of,
Actions—Pleas o f Usury—O f Evidence—O f Special Liens— Equity jurisdiction o f Georgia—
Contracts required to be in W riting—O f Bills o f Exchange and Promissory Notes—Tim e and
Interest—O f the Execution o f Powers o f Attorney, etc.—O f sales o f Lands—O f the Execu­
tion o f Deeds—O f the Relinquishments o f Dower—O f Deeds o f Land—Seals— Estates— O f
Trust Estates—O f Mortgages—O f Fraudulent Conveyances—O f W ills and Testaments. By
Hon. B enjamin F. P o r t e r , o f the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Bar....................................................... 149
IlL PR O T EC TIO N OF V E SSE L S FROM LIG H TN IN G . By F rancis O. J. S m it h , o f Maine. 156
IV . FR IE N D L Y S O C IE T IE S: W IT H RE FERENCE T O A N N U IT IE S A N D L IF E ASSU
R A N C E FO R T H E POOR. By J. F. E n t z , Accountant, o f New Y ork................................. 168
V . T H E N E W Y O R K B A N K B IL L OF T H E SESSION OF 1848. By Hon. W illiam H.
B o g a r t , o f N ew Y ork.............................................................................................................................. 175
V I. COM M ER CIAL C ITIE S OF EU R O PE —No. X L —D U N K IR K , FR A N C E . S itu a tio n Harbor and Port—Commerce—Cod, W hale, and Herring Fishery— Domestic Trade—Foreign
Trade— Environs—Insurance, etc.............................................................................. ............................. 179
V II.
S T A T IS T IC A L V IE W OF T H E A M E R IC A N W H A L E F ISH E R Y .—Number, Class, and
Tonnage o f W haling Vessels owned at the different ports o f the United States, January 1,
1849—Tim e o f Sailing o f vessels from 1844 to 1848—Vessels employed in American W hale
Fishery at different dates during last twenty years— Amount o f W hale Oil taken in North
Latitude in the Pacific Ocean from 1839 to 1848— Imports o f Oil at Nantucket from 1808 to
1848—Import o f Sperm Oil in United States, and price, from 1815 to 1848—Import o f W hale
Oil, and price, since 1828—Import o f W halebone since 1844—Ships arid Barks from the Pa­
cific and Indian Oceans from 1842 to 1848— Atlantic Sperm Fishery—Right Whalers— Stocks
o f W hale and Sperm Oil on hand. By H enry P. H aven , o f Connecticut......................... 182-187

MERCANTILE

LAW

CASES.

Barbour’s Cases in the Supreme Court o f the State o f N ew Y ork............................................................... 187
Liabilities o f Sureties on the Bonds o f Employers in Banking and other Public Institutions.................. 189

C O M M E R C I A L C H R O N I C L E AND R E V I E W .
Tendency to Speculation in the Markets—Increased demand for Goods—Accumulation o f Capital
—Advance o f Stocks, and Improvement in Prices o f Goods—United States Stock issues on Foreign
Account—Public Creditors residing in N ew York—European Investments in United States Stocks
o f all Descriptions—Demand for Specie— Austrian Credit—The Rothschilds—Price o f Produce in
Great Britain— Imports, Exports, and Duties o f New Y ork in 1848—N ew Y ork Dividends—Boston
Dividends in Bank and other Stocks— Baltimore Dividends on City Loans, Banks, and other Stocks
— Our Commercial Relations with France, etc....................................................................................... 192-199

VO L. X X .-----NO. I I .




9

130

CON TEN TS OF N O. I I . , V O L . XX,
PASS

JOURNAL

OF B A N K I N G ,

C U R R E N C Y AND F I N A N C E ,

History o f the Coinage o f the United States.......................................................................................................
Am ount o f Coinage at the Mint o f the United States in the several Denominations o f Coin from the
Commencement o f its operations........................................................................... ..........................................
Amounts o f Deposites o f Gold at the Mint o f the U. S. and its Branches from Mines in the U. S . ..
Debt and Finances o f Indiana..............................................................................................................................
Value arising from Coinage o f G. Britain from 1837 to 1847.— Silver from Congesberg Mines, Norway
Resources and Liabilities o f the State Bank o f Indiana in November, 1848..............................................
Condition o f the Massachusetts Savings Banks, September, 1848..................................................................
Condition o f the Banks o f the City o f Baltimore on the 1st January 1849 .................................................
Assay o f California Gold at the Branch Mint, N. O. By W m , P. II o r t , Assayer.—Hours o f Protest..

COMMERCIAL

200
201
205
206
207
208
208
209
209

STATISTICS.

Lumber surveyed at Bangor, Maine, during 1848...............................................................................................
Ship-building in Portland from 1845 to 1848, inclusive....................................................................................
Baltimore Arrivals and Clearances o f Shipping in 1848..................................................................................
Exports o f Domestic Produce from Baltimore to each foreign Port in 1848.................................................
Arrivals and Clearances o f the Port o f Boston from 1840 to 1848.................................................................
Domestic Exports o f Boston to foreign Ports in 1848.........................................................................................
Cotton imported into Boston from 1830 to 1848.—Receipts o f Breadstuff's at Boston from 1838 to 1848.
Flour received at Boston from the Western Railroad in each month from 1844 to 1848...........................
Receipts o f Tar, Turpentine, Oil, and Molasses at Boston from 1838 to 1848 ............................................
Inspections o f Pot and Pearl Ashes at Boston from 1845 to 1848..................................................................
Imports o f Coffee into Boston from 1843 to 1848...............................................................................................
Value o f imports into, and duties paid at, Philadelphia from 1830 to 1848...................................................
Receipts o f Cotton at Philadelphia from 1845 to 1848......................................................................................
Philadelphia exports o f Flour, Meal, and Grain from 1841 to 1848.................................................................
Inspection o f different kinds o f T ob acco at Philadelphia from 1843 to 1848 ................................................
Inspection o f Quercitron Bark at Philadelphia from 1842 to 1848.................................................................

210
210
211
212
214
214
215
215
215
215
215
216
216
216
217
217

Philadelphia Grain Measurements from 1838 to 1848.......................................................................................
Vessels and Passengers arriving at New York from 1835 to 1848...................................................................
Import o f Virginia T ob a cco into the Port o f New York from 1839 to 1848...............................................
Import o f Coal into the United States under the Tariffs o f 1842 and 1848 .................................................
Ship-building in N ew Y ork for the year ending January 1,1849...................................................................

217
218
219
219
219

RAILROAD,

CANAL, AND S T E A M B O A T S T A T I S T I C S .

Quantity and Value o f Merchandise which came to the Hudson on all the Canals during years 1847-48
Voyages o f the British Mail Steamers during the year 1848 ...........................................................................
Schuylkill Navigation Company’s rates o f T oll for 1849 .................................................................................
Auburn and Rochester Railroad Receipts for 1847-48.—Progress o f Railroads in Massachusetts in 1849

220
221
222
222

COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.
Appraisal o f Merchandise, a Treasury Circular o f the United States........................................................... 223
Postal Treaty between the United States and Great Britain........................................................................... 225
Rio Janeiro Regulations Enforced.—Seizure o f Vessels at British Ports for Smuggling....................... .... 226

NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.
Great Circle Sailing............................................................................................................................................... .. 227
Protection o f Ships from Damage by Lightning.—-Light-house at Understen in the Bay o f A lo m e l.. . 228
Light on the Norskaren, G ulf o f Bothnia.— Shivering Sand Buoy............................................................... 228
Light house at Darszer Ort.—Light on Heath Point......................................................................................... 228
Hetty Point, or Cape Capstan Light.—Light-boat in the Pass o f W ielingen............................................... 229

J O U R N A L OF M I N I N G A N D M A N U F A C T U R E S .
Gold and other Precious M etals............................................................................................................................ 230
Success o f American Manufactures in India.................................. ................................................................. 231
Method o f Washing Gold dust in California................................................................................................. . . . 232

MERCANTILE

MISCELLANIES.

A Model Warehouse for Fancy G oods................................................................................................................ 232
T h e Philadelphia Mercantile Library Company................................................................................................. 233

THE BOOK TRADE.
Comprehensive Notices o f Thirty-one N ew W orks, or New Editions.................................................. 235-240




MERCHANTS’ MAGAZINE
AND

COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
FEBRUARY,

1 849.

ART. I.— SURVEY OP THE COAST OP THE UNITED STATES.
I t is a singular fact in the history o f our institutions, that whenever
scientific projects have been recommended or entertained by the govern­
ment, they have constantly been resisted by Congress, at least by the
popular branch o f it; that the appropriations for such purposes have al­
ways been granted with reluctance, and their aims and uses discussed
with suspicion and disfavor. Nor has the effect o f such conduct on the
part o f Congress been less uniform than its cause; for, as certainly as
such establishments have once been formed and got footing, so certainly,
notwithstanding the continued resistance o f the Representatives, have they
grown and magnified themselves, until by their own influence, connec­
tions and patronage, they have not only secured their existence, but been
able to defy all opposition. In regard to such institutions, c’ est le premier
pas qui coute— once begun and there is no fear o f their future destiny.
This state o f things has resulted mainly from the jealousy which the legis­
lature always entertain o f executive usurpation, and which has compelled
the latter to advance projects both honorable, necessary, and o f public
utility, under covert and feigned pretences. The first organization o f such
projects has therefore been defective, inasmuch as it has generally been
both inapplicable and inadequate, and the original evil has been aug­
mented and perpetuated by the unavailing opposition o f Congress.
As examples o f the truth o f what has been stated, we may refer to the
Military Academy and the Coast Survey, with its not less important and
expensive accompaniment o f Weights and Measures.
The first o f these institutions was originally a voluntary association of
officers o f the army for scientific improvement, commenced in 1802, under
the patronage and direction o f General Williams, then Chief of the Corps
o f Engineers. It has gradually attained its present rank and usefulness,
but has not been the less an example o f the truth o f our remark, as to
legislative opposition. Its origin was obliged to be masked as a private




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Survey o f the Coast o f the United Stales.

military association, not deriving any support from the government. For
several years its appropriations were trifling and covert, and subsequently
it has more than once been a subject o f legislative censure, and the funds
necessary for its support been in no little jeopardy.
The other scientific work to which we have alluded (the Coast Sur­
vey) escaped notice for several years, owing to the time necessarily spent
in preparation and procuring instruments; to the excitement o f the war,
in which the country was then engaged ; and to the state o f public know­
ledge then existing upon such subjects.* At that time the word “ survey”
conveyed the notion o f a temporary and limited operation; and the gen­
eral idea then might have been, and probably was, that the coast o f the
United States could be surveyed for all practical purposes, in the same
time, and in much the same manner, as Landers’ exploration o f Africa,
or Ross, Wilkes, Parry, and Franklin’s surveys o f the Polar regions. As
soon, however, as the survey o f the coast came under the surveillance o f
the House o f Representatives, it underwent a domiciliary visit, became
the subject o f unfavorable and mistaken animadversion, and was sus­
pended within a year after actual operations had been commenced. After
an interruption o f fifteen years it was recommenced in 1832, under the
patronage o f that President whose will, sometimes following, and some­
times coercing public opinion, has left so many traces among the affairs
o f the time. Since then, the Coast Survey has underwent a scrutiny by
the House o f Representatives, has once had its appropriations refused,
and has maintained its position only by dint o f personal influence and
exertion.
O f the first o f these national institutions it is not now our intention to
speak. It does not fall properly within the line o f our publication, the sub­
jects of which are more especially commercial. No charge or insinua­
tion has as yet been ever brought against it for lack o f proper or economical
management. W e believe it to be essentially necessary to the culture
and reputation o f the country, and heartily wish it continued success.
In regard to the other, the case is entirely different. Although its
proper execution require high knowledge o f the principles o f science and
o f practical methods, with which we do not possess an extensive or inti­
mate acquaintance, yet its purposes and results are decidedly commercial,
and are fairly connected with the interests o f the portion o f the commu­
nity who are our patrons; and we propose in the present paper to take
some notice o f the work in ah economical point o f view, in regard to its
expense, its management, and its results. Until recently, such a notice
would have been premature. While the work was yet struggling for its
existence, with small appropriations, a superintendent, who, though o f
high scientific character, was nevertheless a foreigner, and somewhat im­
practicable in his habits, it would have been found difficult to procure
sufficient data upon which to form an unbiased opinion. Within the last
four years, the case has become entirely different. The annual appro­
* T he language used in the different public documents o f this period, sufficiently indi­
cate the views o f the government. T o survey “ the coast, with the adjacent shoals and
soundings,” (A ct o f 1807,) “ and shall be deemed to provide fo r the survey o f the coasts
o f Florida,” (A ct o f 1832.) This last provision o f the Congress o f 1832, in regard to the
coast o f Florida, seems nonsense now, when without either notice or authority, a party o f
the Coast Survey has been dispatched to California, before any other act o f sovereignty
had been exercised by the government.




Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

133

priation growing regularly, year by year, is now more than eight times
its original amount, making, with the increase derived from the Navy
Department, and the Revenue Bureau o f the Treasury Department, a
gross sum o f near $300,000. In this case, with a fleet of sixteen sail, a
personnel greater than either o f the staff corps of the army, and the super­
intendence in the hands o f a person, whose connections are amongst the
most influential o f the nation, it seems the duty of some one journalist to
give the public notice o f a work in which malversations may be so easily
screened from observation, and the proper execution o f which affects so
deeply the interests o f commerce and the country. It is, perhaps, the
more necessary to present such a notice now, not only because some at­
tempts at an investigation o f the concerns o f the Survey, made during
the last session o f Congress, seem to have been put down in a way
which indicated the exertion o f official and personal influence, and be­
cause, so far as the press has as yet been concerned, the notices have as­
sumed so decidedly the character which is usually denominated puffing,
as to indicate very certainly from what source they have emanated.*
W e shall endeavor to make this notice as brief as possible, relying
mainly, if not wholly, upon the printed documents o f the Survey, or such
equally public information as may at least easily be submitted to inspec­
tion and reference.
The law authorizing the survey of the coast was passed February 10th,
1807. The words indicate distinctly that it was intended chiefly for
maritime purposes, and those o f defence ; and that a geodetique operation,
such as was commenced under its authority, had not been contemplated
or understood by the government.
The law appropriated $50,000 for the Survey, which is to be executed
under the direction o f the President. Nothing was done under this au­
thority till May, 1811, when Professor Hassler xvas sent to England to
procure the necessary instruments. They were made principally in Eng­
land, under his own direction, and he returned with them to this country
in October, 1815.
Much fault seems to have been found with Mr. Hassler, on account o f
the time spent on this mission; but when we consider the state o f the
world at that time, engaged as it then was in a general war, and that
the manufacture o f instruments, o f the delicacy required in such opera­
tions, was then in its infancy, the time consumed does not appear unrea­
sonable. The agent appears also from his correspondence to have been
neglected, and left unfurnished o f means, producing considerable delay
and increased expense. The whole expense incurred in procuring the
instruments amounted to $37,549.
After a good deal o f preliminary discussion, and some delay in waiting
for the appropriation, Mr. Hassler was appointed in May, 1816, to super­
intend the Survey. The rest o f that year was spent in organizing and
reconnoitring, so that active operations in the field did not commence till
May, 1817. In that year a beginning was made in the neighborhood o f
* T he most important o f these notices are an article from the Princeton Review, for
April, 1845, entitled the Coast Survey ; another o f the ensuing year from Silliman’s Jour­
nal ; and a third in the American Almanac for 1849. T he first o f these was written by
Professor Henry., and the two last by Lieut. C. H. Davis, o f the navy. The two first were
printed in a pamphlet form, and circulated very extensively among members o f Congress
a nd others. W e suppose it is intended to make the same disposition o f the last.




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Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

N ew York, and much work done. A large surface o f the most important
part of the coast had been covered with primary and secondary triangles,
pyrometrical experiments made for determining the expansion o f the bars
to be used in measuring the bases, two bases approximately measured,
and a sufficient advance made in the work both to develope what might
have been defective in its conception, and to suggest the proper remedy.
But the work thus done was only preliminary, and showed no actual resuit to the country.
The superintendent had been busily engaged in laying the foundation
o f an extensive building, but the government expected a furnished house.
In consequence, a bill was passed in April, 1818, prohibiting the employ­
ment in the Survey o f other persons than officers o f the army and navy,
which at once deprived the superintendent o f his position, and put an end
to the work. This unfortunate conclusion, though it may be justly attrib­
uted to the misinformation o f the Secretary o f the Treasury, was never­
theless in great part due to other causes. The peace of 1815 had left
large numbers of military engineers, whose corps had been much aug­
mented during the preceding wars o f the continent, without professional
employment; and the governments to which they belonged, particularly
that o f France, with prudent foresight, instead o f diminishing these estab­
lishments, directed their energies into a new channel, and employed them
in works o f public improvement.
A French engineer officer o f high
rank had been engaged by the general government to project a system o f
fortifications on the coast and frontier, and several officers o f inferior grade
were employed upon the public works in N ew York and elsewhere.
Under such circumstances, it was but natural that the officers o f our
own army and navy should look upon a work like the Coast Survey as
their peculiar property, and endeavor to place themselves at its head ;
and there is no doubt that the suspension o f the work at that day, was in
a great measure due to the operation o f such a feeling.
The law o f 1818 authorized the employment o f officers o f the army and
navy, and some detached surveys were made by them ; but there was no
general system. The works done were unconnected, executed by differ­
ent persons and different methods, without any supervision, and, as may
naturally be expected, at great expense, and to little purpose.
The
original project was lost sight o f altogether, and the department having
charge o f it did not, in its annual report, deign a notice either o f its ex­
istence or demise.
For a few years the superintendent was retained in the public employ­
ment as Astronomer, under the commission for fixing the boundary under
the 5th article o f the Treaty o f Ghent; and though in straitened circum­
stances, continued to maintain a high character, both for science and in­
tegrity, throughout the country. In 1818 an account o f pyrometrical ex­
periments, made on the Bars o f the Base apparatus, was published in the
transactions o f the American Philosophical Society without attracting
much attention.* In 1825 there was published, through the same medi­
um, “ Papers on various subjects connected with the Coast Survey,” which,
though communicated in 1820, were not published till that year, and in­
deed would probably not have been published in these transactions at all,
* This volume, though bearing the date o f 1818, was probably not published till a year
or two afterwards.




Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

135

had they not been asked for publication by another journal.
These
papers attracted immediate attention in Europe, as both the instruments
and methods, though ten years had then elapsed since their construction
and adaptation, were confessedly in advance o f the science o f the time.
The Bulletin des Sciences, the Revue Encyclopedique, the Astronomische Nachrichten, immediately noticed, in terms o f the highest commen­
dation, the description o f a work, which in our own country was published
with much reluctance in the only scientific journal then in existence.
During the last years o f Mr. Adams’ administration, the attention o f
Congress had been directed to the great discrepancy existing among the
standards o f weights and measures in use throughout the country; and in
the second year o f the succeeding presidency, (May, 1830,) a resolution
was passed directing an examination and comparison o f the various meas­
ures then in use at the different custom-houses. This examination was
entrusted to Mr. Hassler by the then Secretary o f the Treasury, Mr. S.
D . Ingham, o f Pennsylvania.
Few o f the statesmen o f this or o f other nations, have been men o f
attainments in science. Neither the education nor pursuits o f such men
lead them among material agencies, and when they have to deal with
scientific subjects, the governing motive is generally a regard to their own
popularity and aggrandizement. A secretary who had earned his po­
sition from a regard to economy and thrift, would be apt to strangle pro­
jects o f this character by stinting their means; while a mere politician
would put them more directly to the same use, as opportunities o f exer­
cising patronage and rewarding his adherents. When the project for re­
forming the standards originated, it was fortunate that the country had
such a man as Mr. Ingham at the head o f the Treasury Department.
With more knowledge o f science than usually falls to the lot o f secre­
taries, he was nevertheless practical in all his views, and as a manufac­
turer and a man o f business familiar with the wants and interests o f the
industrial and commercial classes. Had the examination been entrusted
to an uninformed or empirical person, the results would have been un­
satisfactory for ultimate determinations, and the standards might have re­
mained in the same state as at first. The measures used, particularly
those o f the yard, bushel, and gallon, were gross and unequal, not en­
titled to, and scarce susceptible of, the nice comparisons to which they
were subjected. Mr. Hassler, however, was aware o f the importance o f
the subject, and the methods to be employed. There being no sufficiently
accurate balances in the country, he had constructed here sets o f hydro­
static balances, by which all delay in waiting for those o f the ordinary
construction was avoided, and determinations even more accurate were
arrived at. The execution o f this work brought him to Washington,
where his skill, industry, and resources, fell more directly under the eye
of the heads o f government, and he was better able to explain what had
actually been done in the unfortunately pretermitted survey o f the coast.
About this time, too, (or, indeed, several years before,)* the army, by
whom, even according to the law o f 1818, the survey o f the coast might
have been continued, began to fear lest one o f their important privileges,
that o f conducting the survey, might not have become forfeited by disuser.
The survey o f the coast began again to be spoken of, its discontinuance
* Vide Col. Roberdeau’s paper, read before the Columbian Institute December, 1826.




136

Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

regretted. Mr. Ingham, while in office, and even after his retirement,
continued to exert his influence in recommending it to public considera­
tion ; and Mr. Southard, Mr. Clay, and other distinguished persons, also
lent their influence to recommence the work.
The detailed report o f the examination o f weights and measures, made
in January, 1832, showed in a clear light, the science, skill, and resources
o f Mr. Hassler, as well as the injustice which the government had been
guilty o f towards him in 1818. Finally, the project o f renewing the sur­
vey upon the original plan attracted the favorable notice o f the President
and Congress, and in July, 1832, a law was passed removing the restric­
tion which had limited its execution to officers of the army and navy, and
appropriating $20,000 for the expenditure o f that year. Mr. Hassler
was appointed superintendent in August, 1832, and continued in the office
till his death, in November, 1843.
It can easily be conceived, that a project, recommenced under such pe­
culiar circumstances, must be embarrassed at its outset. The army or
navy, or either o f them, had been authorized, under the law o f 1818, to
continue the survey, and to have asked appropriations for such purposes,
which would as certainly have been granted. They had, however, not
done so. They neither recommended any new plan of operations, nor fol­
lowed the one which had been already marked out by the first superin­
tendent ; and when the work recommenced, they found themselves in a
position, which a little foresight on their part might have made less un­
pleasant. They were obliged, for a time, at least, (and after a prepara­
tion o f fourteen years,) to become subordinate, instead o f leading ; and
the aspirations from this quarter were more than sufficient to disturb the
atmosphere about the superintendent at the recommencement of his labors,
and suffered no diminution during its continuance.
In September, 1832, Mr. Hassler commenced the survey with only two
assistants, a lieutenant o f infantry and a passed midshipman. The op­
erations of this year were limited to finding and establishing signals at
the points used in 1817. In the succeeding year he took the field with a
larger party, but much delay was experienced in consequence of the ne­
cessity o f bringing together and repairing the instruments o f the collection
o f 1815, which had been used at different places, and by different per­
sons. In the succeeding year a base was measured on Fire Island beach,
and a naval party, under the command o f Commander Gedney, added to the
work. The personnel o f the Survey went on increasing from year to
year, as the organization improved and extended itself, till 1843, (the year
o f Mr. Hassler’s death,) when there were employed twenty-seven civil
assistants, and about eighteen officers o f the navy, four vessels being then
engaged in sounding.
During the period o f Mr. Hassler’s superintendence, the main triangu­
lation had been carried from Point Judith to below Philadelphia, in the
Delaware ; and the secondary triangulation, commencing at the same
point northward, and covering the sea-coast, as well as the shores of
Long Island Sound and the Delaware, reached southward as far as Capes
May and Henlopen, and to Annapolis in the Chesapeake.
A reconnaissance had also been made in North Carolina, and the site
of a base been selected upon which to ground the work in that quarter.
Four sheets o f the large map o f New York Bay and harbor were fin-




Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

137

Ished, ana' the reduced sheets o f New York Bay and Long Island were
ready for the engraver, as well as the whole o f Delaware Bay.*
The soundings o f the outer coast had been carried far enough seaward
for purposes o f navigation, and the work was progressing in a manner
both efficient and creditable. The weights and measures intended for
the custom-houses had been completed, and preliminary steps taken to
commence those intended for the States. A set o f decimal ounce weights
had been made for the Mint. Copies of the new standards, with a large
balance o f the most delicate construction, had been presented to the Brit­
ish government, in the hope o f procuring copies o f the new English stand­
ards in return ; a hope which, however, has not yet been realized. The
whole amount o f appropriations for the Survey from its commence­
ment being $881,549, to which is to be added about $287,000 for equip­
ments and pay o f the naval parties employed in sounding.f
During the whole o f this period o f eleven years, there seems to have
arisen an uninterrupted series o f misunderstandings between the different
departments to whom the execution o f the work was entrusted, and the
Superintendent o f the Survey. These misunderstandings gave rise to a
vexatious correspondence, generally about matters o f small moment, and
almost always terminating in the department conceding the point which
had occasioned the dispute. The general superintendence o f the work,
as concerning most intimately the commercial interests o f the country,
had originally been assigned to the Treasury Department; but within two
years after its recommencement in 1832, it had been transferred to the
Navy Department, and again at short notice sent back to the Treasury.
These changes were doubtless made to avoid difficulties in the settlement
o f accounts, where the usages’ o f one department having reference to a
particular class o f expenditure, may, in some cases, be more available
than those o f another. This expedient tended, however, rather to em­
barrass then to facilitate. No new branch o f the public service can ever
at once cone fairly under general regulation as to its accounts, and it re­
quires time '.o fix rules which will prevent fraud and abuses, without ham­
pering and rendering inefficient the officers in their more important duties.
Had the suspended accounts o f the Survey been left subject to the decision
o f the Auditors and Comptrollers o f the Treasury, the work would have
been ended ere it had well began.j; At this time, as is the case in all
* Some slight elunge in the conformation o f the shores near Sandy H ook were dis­
covered, and the pines left by Mr. Hassler were altered accordingly. This occasion­
ed a correspondence between the Chamber o f Commerce o f N ew York and the Su­
perintendent o f the Ctast Survey, and made the name o f the new superintendent ne­
cessary upon the sheets o f the old work. A t Sandy H ook, the shores within a certain
limit are never two vtars precisely alike— Spermaceti Cove and Shrewsbury Bay al­
ternately advancing and receding, and occasionally running into each other. It was an
approximation o f this kird that enabled Col. M’ Lane, then o f N ew Jersey, during the
war o f the Revolution, togive N ew Y ork notice o f the approach o f a British fleet.
t Part o f appropriation ixpended for instruments during the following years:—
1807....................
$37,54) 1 1835.....................
$30,000 1840.......... ........ $100,000
1818....................
24,000 1836....................
80,000 1841.......... ........
100,000
1832....................
20,000 1837....................
60,000 1842.......... ........
100,000
1833....................
20.000 11838....................
90,000 1843.......... .......
100,000
1834....................
30,000 |1839....................
90,000
t The following is the opinion o f one o f the most talented officials o f the Treasury in
regard to purchases:—
“ The passage relied upon t* justify the purchase o f horses, carriages, books, instru-




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Survey o f the Coast o f the United Stales.

new services, there were many causes o f difference between the disburs­
ing and accounting officers. The superintendent’s compensation became
early a subject o f discussion. It had originally been fixed at #3,000 per
annum o f salary, and $1,500 for personal expenses, including subsistence,
travelling, and postage.* An additional allowance o f $1,500 was made
with great reluctance, when the superintendent became charged with the
construction of the new standards. Another matter producing difficulty,
was the necessity o f procuring new instruments, for which specific au­
thority was necessary from the department. The instruments o f the col­
lection o f 1815, which had survived the intermission o f seventeen years,
from that time to the recommencement o f the Survey in 1832, were found
insufficient when the work extended itself, and others were required.
Explanations were asked and made, and sometimes not understood ; and
so strict were the rules adopted, that an almanac or a thermometer could
scarce be purchased without an authorization.
The first vessel used for the sounding parties, instead o f being furnished
by the Treasury Department, was charged, with all its equipments, to the
appropriation for the Survey, and that too at a time when that appropria­
tion for the year amounted only to $20,000, presenting a singular con­
trast with the conduct o f the same department now, where vessels and
equipages, constructed and hired for another branch o f the public service,
amounting to at least $240,000, have been transferred to the use o f the
Coast Survey without even a passing remark. Under the superinten­
dence o f Mr. Hassler the case was entirely different. The Department,
the Superintendent, and the Legislature, seem to have been at continual
variance, though the appropriation was "not then half o f what it is now,
and at least as much work was done in eVery year as there has ever been
done since. In 1842, so much discontent was manifested by the public
at this continued bickering, that the House o f Representatives appointed
a committee to investigate the whole subject. This comreittee made
a partial report through one o f its members, accompanied with sundry
recommendations, which was, however, never acted upon. In the suc­
ceeding year the appropriation was at first refused, and only granted upon
condition that it should be expended in conformity with a »lan to be sub­
mitted to the President by a board o f officers who were designated for the
purpose. This board met soon after, and reported a plai, which (except
a few unimportant alterations, attended to only for the succeeding year)
left the matter very much where it was.
It was evident that this lack o f co-operation between the Department
and the Superintendent, as well as the misunderstanding and opposition
o f Congress, did not proceed so much from any opinioi that the work had
been in any way mismanaged, as from the intrigues and ill offices o f ex­
ments, & c., is found in the letter o f the Secretary o f the Treasury, dated 3d August,
1816, and is in the words following, viz:— ‘ Y ou will be prowled with competent assist­
ants o f officers and men from the corps o f engineers and frtm the navy, with tents and
field equipages, wagons and homes, &c. ’ This clause, it would seem evident, does not
authorize the purchase o f anything. Mr. Hassler is to be povided, he is not to purchase
or provide himself.” — L etter o f the 4th Auditor, Oct., 1831. Under the present regula­
tion, the approval o f the Superintendent o f the Survey is til that is required to pass any
account.
* T he salary o f the present superintendent is $7,500, ride official register. This was
contradicted last winter, but an investigation, it is belfeved, will sustain the authority
o f the Blue Book.




Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

139

pedants, who had been disappointed, or aspirants for whom there was
not room. The continued turmoil and disturbance which had beset the
superintendent from the commencement o f his duties, acting upon a tem­
perament naturally mercurial and sensitive, had gradually undermined
his health ; and in November, 1843, in consequence o f exposure in the
field, he died suddenly, in the seventy-third year o f his age, leaving vacant
a situation, which, when he first received it, he was perhaps the only
man in the country fully competent to fill.
As might have been expected, on the occurrence o f so important a va­
cancy, there were a large number o f applicants for the succession.
The assistants in the Survey, some o f whom had been thirty years in
the public service, were overlooked and rated merely as clerks, a race o f
functionaries who have been held from time immemorial as disqualified
for any further advancement, and are merely continued in office as marks
o f reference, and living indicia o f the acts o f the succession o f chiefs under
whom they have served. The successful candidate, or the one who pro­
duced the greatest amount o f personal influence, was Professor Bache,
the present superintendent, who had been for several years the president
o f the then inchoate Girard College, and at that time occupied the chair
o f Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the University o f Pennsylvania.
Doctor Bache was then known as a clever lecturer, but out o f Philadel­
phia, his scientific reputation depended mainly, if not altogether, upon his
preface to Brewster’s Optics, an avowed compilation from works on the
same subject o f more distinguished authors, and a Report on Education,
made to the trustees o f the Girard College, which was published by them
with reluctance, and o f which it may be said, that if the details were
gathered with great expense and labor during a long visit to Europe, the
maxims inferred might as well have been taken from the Parent’ s A s­
sistant. But what might be deficient in reputation and skill, was more
than made up by influence.
The new superintendent, immediately on assuming his position, made
several important changes among the personnel of the Survey, the final re­
sult o f which had then probably been calculated or foreseen only by him­
self. The regulation submitted by the board for reorganizing the Survey
only a year before, which directed a monthly return o f operations in the
field, was dispensed with altogether, and in its stead a return was directed
to be made to the superintendent, resembling very much the monthly re­
turns from primary schools, the uses o f which were not developed until
some time after. Assistants, who had but a few months before been ap­
pointed by the department to perform certain duties, were assigned to em­
ployments with which they were less familiar. These changes, as the
results manifested soon after, could have been made with no pther intent
than to excite discontent and dissatisfaction, and occasion some action or
remark, which, being reported to the department as insubordinate, might
give pretence for a removal, and make room for an adherent. W e re­
frain from saying much on this subject, out o f feelings o f delicacy to those
concerned, and trusting that an investigation may be had before long,
which will give the public some insight into this part o f the subject.
Soon after this, a permission given by the department to have calcula­
tions made by persons not belonging to the Survey, and engaged in other
employments, which permission was not spoken o f till the year afterwards,
allowed the superintendent to increase to almost any extent his official




140

Survey o f the Coast o f the United Stales.

patronage, without making any exhibit either o f the names or functions o f
the auxiliaries.* But a regulation o f still greater importance, and which
cleared the way at once for disbursements o f any description, is described
page 44 o f the Report o f 1845 :— “ The disbursements o f each party are
made by the chief, and the accounts then pass into the hands o f a general
disbursing agent, by whom they are first audited under the regulations o f
the Treasury Department. They then undergo an administrative ex­
amination by the superintendent, and if they have passed these two audits,
are forwarded by the general disbursing agent to the First Auditor o f the
Treasury.” This regulation made the Coast Survey at once a bureau of
the Treasury Department, the method of audit being precisely the same
as that o f any other bureau. W hile under the former superintendent,
even the smallest purchases were objected to, unless made by permission
o f the department; this effectually removed every obstruction, and re­
lieved the auditor entirely from the discussion o f a very complicated budget
o f accounts. The lodgment thus made was speedily fortified, and in the
official register next issued, the Superintendent of the Coast Survey fig­
ures above all the auditors, as the officer of*third rank in the department ;f
giving thus a very incontrovertible evidence that the Coast Survey has
now no fear o f opposition, and is destined to become a permanent estab­
lishment. Indeed, its parties, without any authority but that o f the de­
partment, and leaving seven-eighths o f the older settled and more danger­
ous coasts untouched, have already been sent to the countries only ac­
quired or conquered during the last year, and are triangulating in Mexico
and California— “ On ne arrete pas dans un si heau chem in.'f Congress
may debate upon the propriety o f legislating for their new territories, or
providing them with governments, but to the operations o f the Coast Sur­
vey there is neither obstacle nor end.
In taking the field in 1844, the superintendent assumed the northern
portion o f the Survey, which had been carried to Point Judith by his pre­
decessor, under the immediate charge o f one o f the principal assistants.
The accuracy o f the work thus far had been verified by the last, line o f
the triangulation, agreeing, within a very small limit, (a fraction o f a foot,)
with the same line o f Mr. Borden’ s triangulation, made for the survey o f
Massachusetts, and depending on another base.§ In taking this part o f
the field, instead o f leaving it to the assistant, who had so honorably and
judiciously managed the preceding and more difficult part o f the opera­
tion, the superintendent not only secured himself an easy and healthy
country to operate in, but he had before him the points already established
by Mr. Borden, each marked with a monument. He had also Mr. Bor-*§
* A n example o f the extreme rapidity with which computation is done under the pre­
sent superintendence, it may be stated that the recomputation o f the base of 1844, first
computed by the assistants in the field, while the work was doing, have only been recom­
puted in 1847— P a g e 48, Report o f 1847.
t It may be said o f this as o f the superintendent’s salary, that it is a mistake of the
Blue Book. That book never errs on that side.
t The coast o f California is now more accurately surveyed than any of our own coast,
except what has been covered by the Coast Survey, about one-eighth of the whole, count­
ing from Passamaquoddy to the mouth o f the R io Grande.
§ This close agreement o f Mr. Blunt’s with Mr. Borden’s work is nowhere spoken o f in
the Coast Survey reports ; nor is there a single atom o f credit given to Mr. Borden, though
it. is said that he was one o f the applicants for the superintendence, and withdrew his
claim in Dr. Bache’s favor.




Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

141

den’s results to compare always with such as he might derive himself; and
moreover, he had with him one o f Mr. Borden’s assistants, who knew the
country, and thus spared him any trouble o f reconnaissance. Indeed, it is
known that an attempt made by this assistant to change a principal line
o f Borden’ s triangulation, though made at great expense and loss o f time,
altogether failed ; thus showing clearly the ability with which the points
o f the previous triangulation had been selected. The superintendent, in
the four years o f his personal field-work, has scarce yet passed the limit
in which Mr. Borden had preceded him ; and if it be ever judicious in
such matters to raise questions of economy, it might be well worth ask­
ing whether the work done in the field by the present superintendent, at
immense expense, has been necessary at all.* T o the assistants were
assigned the more southern portions o f the work, and two bases o f veri­
fication, near the extremities o f the triangulation which had been fur­
nished by Mr. Hassler, were measured by them in 1844.
Upon the appearance o f the annual report o f the superintendent in
1844, the system o f management which was to be adopted began to develope itself and the purport o f the new regulations became intelligible.
The most important regulation made by the board o f 1843, and the only
one which materially changed the pre-existing usage in the Survey, was
that which directed monthly reports from the assistants, o f the strength o f
their parties, and the progress o f their w ork.f These reports were re­
commended by the board, for the purpose o f avoiding any loss o f results
from casualty. It was a precaution which had been used in the topo­
graphical bureau since 1825, and was recommended by the second officer
o f that corps, who was a member o f the board of reorganization in 1843,
simply on the ground that it prevented any chance o f loss, and gave to
the superintending bureau at once the details o f the work executed in the
field. Such had been the practice under the reorganization in 1843. The
chiefs o f parties sent their results to the department to avoid loss by accident,
and a statement of the strength of their parlies as a criterion by which the
disbursements for the season might be regulated, and the parties extended or
withdrawn, in proportion to the funds. Under the new system, these reports
were changed, both in their direction and character. They were to exhibit a meteorological journal o f the weather, and an account o f the em­
ployment o f each d ay; and instead o f going to the department, accord­
ing to the regulation, they were sent to the superintendent. From these
data he was to collate, at the end o f each year’s work in the field, the
number o f angles measured, o f square miles reconnoitred, or surveyed or
sounded by each party; and to determine, by arithmetical computation, the
industry or skill which had been used by each assistant in the discharge
o f his duty.
It will be at once evident that such an estimate o f service is scarcely
applicable in a primary school, where the studies prescribed are the same,
* A t the stations o f the main triangulation, under the present superintendence, there
are usually thirty tents, with the corresponding equipage.
+ “ The chiefs o f parties, whether engaged upon the .land or hydrographic operations,
shall make, on the first day o f every month, reports showing the strength o f their respec­
tive parties, and the progress in the work during the preceding month.” — (P lan f o r the
reorganization o f the Coast Survey, A rt. X II.)
“ The reports required by the 12th article o f the plan o f the board, to be made by the
chiefs o f parties on the first day o f every month, will be made directly to the Treasury
Department.” — (Arrangements and Directions, A rt. V II.)




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Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

and the differences to be determined are the quantities either o f tal­
ent or o f diligence which have been applied in their acquirement. But
in a work like the Survey o f the Coast, prosecuted in various localities, a
simple reconnaissance, requiring in one place more skill and time and la­
bor than a triangulation in another. The qualities o f the atmosphere, in
some places reasonably transparent, and in others almost constantly im­
pervious by fog and vapor, aiding or retarding the exertions o f the most
skilful operator, and the means both o f subsistence and o f transportation
varying in a still more unequal proportion, it were the height either o f folly
or imposture to presume that equal means and equal appliances would
produce equal results. Yet such was the standard assumed by the super­
intendent as an estimate of the quantity o f work done by each o f the par­
ties, and o f the relative merits o f the chiefs who had directed their opera­
tions. In his reports to the department, the number o f observations
made, the number o f square miles covered, either by reconnaissance, tri­
angulation, topography, or sounding, are all that are presented for con­
sideration, no regard being had either to health, climate, or the character
o f the season.*
This use o f mere quantity is a favorite arithmetical process, used chiefly
by retired school-masters. It is an exhibition to advantage o f the cumu­
lative power o f numbers, and delights in solving such problems as to de­
termine the length, in inches, of cotton thread, which would encircle
the globe, or how many loaves o f bread a man must eat in seventy
years ; but is too gross and unmeaning to be applied in any case, even o f
common importance. It was not, however, used unwittingly by the Su­
perintendent o f the Coast Survey. He seems to have had a full sense
o f its value, and o f the purposes which it might be made to subserve.
Under this estimation o f character, when an assistant became obnoxious,
it was merely necessary to send him to a bad atmosphere, with an in­
different or defective apparatus, and the monthly report would be taken as
evidence against him, furnished by himself, f This plan o f operation
was made fatal to one o f the assistants, in 1846, and severely affected
another in the succeeding year.
But if this application o f the numerical theory to the work o f the as­
sistants has been productive o f important results both to them and to the
superintendent, there is another application o f the same kind, which is
o f as much importance to the public. In the first report o f the superin­
tendent, it was stated that operations in the past year had been carried
on in nine different States, and that they would be extended in the year
then current, to three or four others.— (Page 3 o f the Report o f 1844.)
They have been further extended in each successive year, till now they
* T he value attached to this numerical estimate will be sufficiently evident by the fol­
lowing extract from the Coast Survey article in the American Almanac for 1849, page
7 1 “ The amount o f results now obtained is double that under the form er plan, fo r an
increase o f 50 p er cent in the cost.”
t This assistant presented journals containing 15,800 readings o f an instrument,
among which were detected twenty-six misreadings, o f one minute. He presented, from
these premises, 1,900 results, o f which he had rejected thirty-seven. T he number o f
misreadings o f one minute (an error usual in such observations) would, in ordinary cases,
have been noted only for its paucity. Nevertheless, these defects were quite sufficient to
answer the purpose o f the superintendent. The assistant was unceremoniously removed,
after a long term, (near thirty years o f public service,) and at a time o f life when this de­
privation involved almost certain ruin.




Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

143

embrace eighteen States ; and we are informed, in the paper on the Coast
Survey in the American Almanac, that this coming year the whole o f the
Atlantic coast will be occupied by detached parties o f the Survey o f the
Coast.— ( Vide American Almanac, p. 77.)
And we learn, from another unprinted authority, that similar parties
have been already sent to Mexico and California. This imposing array
o f States, exhibited as new centres o f operation, is as false a use o f figures
as can anywhere be found. It is intended to mislead the public as to the
quantity o f work actually done, by enumerating a long list o f places, in
which a sextant may have been uncovered, or a lead thrown ; and its only
tendency upon the interest o f the Survey has been to increase the official
patronage o f the superintendent on the one hand, and distract and render
it unproductive on the other. T o strip the statements o f the superinten­
dent o f their fallacy, it is only necessary to state, that in six o f the nine
States enumerated in the first report o f the superintendent, the Survey
might be considered as completed, before his superintendence began ;
while the work done in the nine additional States, during the five years
which he has been in the office, may be stated as follows :—
In Massachusetts, the triangulation o f Mr. Borden has been repeated,
this being almost the only field-work in which the superintendent has
been engaged. O f this we have already spoken as an operation, the ne­
cessity o f which might well be questioned at any tim e; but when seveneighths o f the more dangerous coast is yet unsurveyed, and the only reason
for undertaking this portion o f the Survey at present seems to be the per­
sonal convenience o f the superintendent, it assumes a much more excep­
tionable character. In addition, the Survey o f the Chesapeake has been
continued southward to below the mouth o f the Potomac. The Albe­
marle and Croatan Sounds have been triangulated, (without a base,) and
the topography partially finished. The Mississippi Sound, from Pasca­
goula to Mobile, has been partially surveyed, and a triangulation and
sounding has been commenced in Mobile Bay. O f the reconnaissances
made in South Carolina and Texas, little need be said, as they were
undertaken merely ad captandum; and the expense o f the operations, as
nearly as can be judged from the report o f the superintendent, has only
been about $7,000.
I f the five years’ work o f the present superintendent, with a personnel
at least twice as large as the largest ever employed under the previous
superintendence— an appropriation more than eight times greater than
that with which the work began, and nearly twice as large as that with
which the former superintendence closed— and with vessels and equipages
furnished by the Revenue Bureau o f the Treasury Department to the
amount o f $240,000— be compared with the eleven years’ work done by
his predecessor, it will be seen, even using the superintendent arithmet­
ical process, that there is but little difference in the proportional quanti­
ties o f work done. I exclude from this all comparison o f the area o f the
primary triangulation. The reoccupation of Borden’s triangulation put
the superintendent at once in the possession o f triangles, with sides o f
from eighteen to seventy miles in length ; and superficial square miles
by the thousand were covered with more ease than hundreds in any other
portion o f the Survey.
In the meantime, the outer and more dangerous coast, from Cape Henlopen to Cape Charles, (upon which, a short time since, a vessel o f war




144

Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

was nearly wrecked,) has not been touched. The still more dangerous
coast about Cape Hatteras, for the accurate survey of which the work in
North Carolina was first commenced, has been altogether neglected.*
And while a reconnaissance of the coast o f Texas figures largely in the
annual report of the superintendent, the geographical position o f Galves­
ton Bay is known to be uncertain, to an extent alike shameful and dan­
gerous.
But to arrive more conclusively at the relative expenses and work
done under the two superintendences, and also circumscribe somewhat
the extent o f the paper, which has already exceeded the limits which were
designed for it, we may refer to the following statistics, which are based
either upon documents, or information acquired directly from authentic
sources. And in making any comparison, it must be recollected that the
term o f Mr. Hassler’ s superintendence should be reckoned only at eleven
years, excluding altogether the year 1817, the operation o f that year
having tended actually to retard, and not to advance the w o rk ; while
that o f Dr. Bache’s (up to the term o f his last report) may be reckoned
at about four years. The expenses o f the two terms must be divided into
the actual annual appropriations authorized by law, and the amounts fur­
nished to each from other sources.
The actual appropriations for Mr. Hassler, exclusive o f that for 1817,
amounted to $857,549. The appropriations for each individual year have
already been enumerated.
The appropriations o f the same kind, for the four years o f Dr. Bache’s
superintendence, amount to $449,000. f
The appropriations derived from other sources must be inferred from
the number o f vessels furnished by the Revenue Bureau o f the Treasury
Department, and from the number o f officers and men detailed from the
naval service. In 1843 the vessels employed in the Hydrography o f the
Survey were as follows :—
Brig Washington.

| Cutter Nautilus.

| Schooner Vanderbilt.

| Schooner Jersey.

T o these were attached eighteen naval officers, and about eighty men.
The two first-named vessels were (it is believed) furnished by the Navy
and Treasury Departments, and may be valued at $27,000. This branch
o f the Survey having grown gradually from 1834, when it commenced
with the schooner Jersey, till it reached the above establishment, the
amount o f pay and subsistence cannot now be accurately ascertained, but
may be set down at $260,000.
Under Dr. Bache’s superintendence, the following vessels have been
employed, with about thirty-two officers, and one hundred and fifty men :—
* T he expenses already incurred in the Survey o f the interior sounds o f North Caro­
lina may be estimated at about $80,000. I f this sum had been expended in erecting
light-houses, in lieu o f the light-boats now used in the sounds, the commercial interest
would have been benefitted to a much greater extent than by the survey o f the shoal wa­
ters o f the interior. T he light-house system throughout the country is well known to be
very imperfect; but in North Carolina it seems to have been neglected altogether.
t The amount o f appropriations from 1843 to 1848 are as f o l l o w s 1844, $80,000 ;
1845, $ 1 1 2 ,0 0 0 ; 1846, 111,000; 1847, 146,000; total, four years, $ 4 4 9 ,0 0 0 ; 1848,
165,000.




Brig Washington.
Cutter Nautilus.
“
Phoenix.
Steamer James K. Polk.
“
R . J. W alker.
T w o other schooners, (names unknown,) making a fleet o f 1G sail.

O f these vessels, the steamers, the cutter Phoenix, and the schooner
Wave have been furnished,by the government, and their value may be
set down at $240,000.
The pay o f officers and men, estimated as closely as practicable, for
the whole term o f four years, will amount to $204,000.
The number o f civil assistants o f all classes, in the last year o f Mr.
Hassler’s superintendence, was twenty-seven, o f which three were en­
gravers, and seven artificers and heliotropers.* Under the present head
o f the Survey, as nearly as can be ascertained, the number is sixty-one,
exclusive o f those employed temporarily. In arriving at this number, it
has been necessary to go farther than the official Register, or Blue Book.
But the authority is, nevertheless, authentic, and printed. In examining
critically the reports o f the superintendent, particularly that for 1847,
names enough will appear to make up the number, though excluded from
the printed list o f the corps.
In comparing the work executed under each superintendent, we have
but short data on the part o f Mr. Hassler. The method so advanta­
geously pursued by his successor, o f superficial miles and numbers o f ob­
servations, made no part of his system. There is, in answer to a question
proposed by the Committee o f Investigation in 1842, an estimate given
o f the square miles o f primary triangulation from N ew Haven to Phila­
delphia, (Doc. 43 o f the H . R .) which states it at 3,577. An examina­
tion o f the maps and sketches, which are either part o f his official com­
munications, or can be otherwise obtained, will show that a superficies o f
about 5,760 miles had been covered with primary triangulation during his
superintendence.
The superficial miles o f primary triangulation made by the present
superintendent up to 1847, will, by his estimates, amount to 7,803 ; o f
w'hich 6,532 are in the northern triangulation, the principal part of
which had been previously executed by Mr. Borden, affording, without any
trouble o f reconnaissance, sides o f from twenty to seventy miles in length,
where a single triangle covers more surface than will be found in any
other part o f the Survey in the work o f years. This sort o f comparison,
instituted with great foresight by the present superintendent, is so mani­
festly absurd, as to require no other exposition o f its fallacy than simply to
compare the quantities o f the northern and southern portions o f his own
work. The one is 6,532, and the other 1,271.
If, instead o f this method o f estimating, we compare either the length
o f the shore-lines o f each work, or the surfaces covered by the secondary
triangulation, we shall arrive at a safer judgment o f the mere matter o f
quantity, though even then, such an estimate, made without regard to the
nature o f the country and other circumstances, is entirely useless and un­
certain. A large map o f the United States is the only document neces­
sary to be referred to.
* Heliotropers are persons used in managing an instrument called a heliotrope, for
signals at distant points.
V O L . X X .— N O . I I .




10

146

Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

From this it will appear that Mr. Hassler’s secondary triangulation,
covering the outer coast and shores o f Long Island Sound, and extending
southward to Cape Henlopen, has an area o f 8,100 square miles. Dur­
ing Dr. Bache’s superintendence, according to his own estimate, the sec­
ondary triangulation amounts to 2,723 square miles.
If, leaving these technical and inapplicable methods, we examine merely
the respective lengths o f outer sea-coast which has been surveyed, it
will be seen that, under the first superintendence, there is a length o f two
hundred and sixty miles, comprehending the dangerous and difficult coast
o f N ew Jersey ; while that o f the present superintendent, extending prin­
cipally from Buzzard’s Bay round Cape Cod, shows only a length o f about
eighty miles, and that, too, on a part o f the coast previously better known
than any other o f its whole extent. It was wont to be the opinion that
bold and rugged coasts were usually the safest, as affording capes and
headlands for land-marks, or sites for beacons, warning the mariner o f
danger, or indicating the approaches to his desired harbor. But at pres­
ent we are apprehensive, if the “ north countrie” continue to excel in
the coming years as it has in the past, in luxuries both o f learning and
living— tourists and taulog— savans and salmon— should its summers be
as bracing and its winters as festive as heretofore, there will be no end
to the discovery o f shoals about its rock-bound but blessed shores; and
they will long be considered, by both mariners and hydrographers, as in­
finitely more dangerous than the sunken and sandy beaches o f the South,
where the ship strikes before the land has been discovered ; and which
are, for the greatest part o f the year, literally strewed with wrecks.
I f these data be correct, (and those referring to expense must be very
nearly so,) the following summary will show the relation between the
economy o f the two superintendencies :—
Direct appropriations.........................
Constructive appropriations, vessels.

T o ta l.............................
Average expense o f 1 year.

Mr. Hassler.

Dr. Bache.

$857,549
27,000
260,000

$449,000
240,000
204,000

$1,144,549
104,050

*$893,000
223,250

Vessels...................................

4

16

Civil assistants.....................
Naval officerst.....................

27
18

Cl
33

45

94

5,760
8,100
260

7,803
2,723
80

Total.
QUANTITY OF WORK.

Primary triangulation............................. in square miles.
Secondary triangulation.....................................................
Line o f sea-coast........................................................miles

According to this, the average annual expense o f the first superinten­
dence would be less than half that o f the other, and the actual amount o f
work done, estimated by a plain and strictly just rule, would be in favor o f
Mr. Hassler in about the proportion o f six to five ; while the increased
* T he expense o f Dr. Bache’s superintendence up to the end o f this year will be about

$ 1,112,000.
t Officers o f the Army have also been, and are now, employed in the Survey. T heir
number and terms o f service has recently been so uncertain that no reference has been
made to them.




Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

147

number o f assistants has more than doubled the official patronage o f the
superintendent.
Thus much for the field-work o f the Survey. It remains that we take
some notice o f the publication o f maps and charts, which are the expo­
nents o f its value to the country.
At the time of Mr. Hassler’ s death, four sheets o f the large chart o f
the Bay and Harbor of New York were engraved, and ready for publica­
tion. A reduced chart o f the same was also considerably advanced ; and
the work in the Delaware, o f which the survey and soundings had been
almost completed, had been reduced, and was ready for the copper. Up
to the present time, the following charts have been published:—
6 sheets o f N ew Y ork Bay and Harbor.
3 sheets o f Delaware Bay.
1 sheet o f Harbor o f N ew London.
“
“
N ew Bedford.
“
“
N ew Haven.
“
“
Bridgeport.
.“
“
Black Rock.
“
“
Holmes’ Hole.
“
“
Tarpaulin Cove.

1 sheet o f Harbor o f Edgartown.
“
“
Oyster Bay.
“
“
South o f Cat Island.
“
“
Annapolis.
“
“
Little Egg.
“
N ew South Shoal.
."
“
Fisher’s Island Sound.
“
Horn Island Channel.
“
Entrance o f Mobile Bay.

All these, with the exception o f New South Shoal, Horn Island Chan­
nel, Harbor South o f Cat Island, Tarpaulin Cove, Holmes’ Hole, and the
entrance o f Mobile Bay, are grounded upon surveys o f the first superin­
tendence. The charts o f New York Harbor, o f Delaware Bay, and the
southern shore o f Long Island, are the most important o f the series, and
exhibit the greatest amount both o f topography and sounding. The chart
o f Long Island is still incomplete ; and the sheets o f the Delaware were
much delayed, for a reason which it will be necessary to mention.
Some time between the years 1836 and 1840, the W ar Department
directed an examination to be made o f the defences at the entrances o f
the principal harbors. The officer who made this examination (Major
Hartman Bache) discovered differences, which were deemed to be essen­
tial, in the topography delineated on the maps o f the Coast Survey, and
the shores as actually found at that time. The most important o f these
differences were understood to have been found at Sandy Hook, at the
Narrows o f New York Harbor, and some other points o f Long Island,
which came under the view o f the examining officer. It will be noticed
that the low sandy beaches which characterize the whole line o f coast
south o f Rhode Island, are but half formed, and subject to constant, and,
in some cases, to periodical changes. The shores about Sandy Hook,
particularly, having been more the subject o f observation than any other,
undergo changes which can now be predicted with tolerable certainty.
Charts o f such shores should contain, as a necessary piece o f information,
the dates o f the surveys upon which they are founded. The differences at
Sandy Hook were deemed o f so much importance, that the engraved sheets
were corrected, and communications made public, indicating that the for­
mer survey was erroneous, and o f course laudatory o f the accuracy and
acumen of the present superintendent. The discovery o f these differen­
ces induced an examination o f other portions o f the Survey, when other
differences were discovered. Resurveys were directed, as is understood,
over very extensive portions o f Long Island Sound and the Delaware, and
the charts which had been partially engraved were altered, in conformity
with the new surveys. This, it is understood, has delayed the execution




148

Survey o f the Coast o f the United States.

and publication, both o f the charts o f Long Island Sound and the Bay of
the Delaware.
These resurveys over work which had already been done have been
very extensive, and very slight differences have been made subject to ex­
amination and revision. On this we would remark, that in surveying with
a Plane table, (the instrument used for the topography of the Coast Survey,)
no two operators would produce precisely the same configuration of the shore
or representation o f the topography; and the differences between the two
maps thus produced would be greater in proportion to the irregularities o f
the shore and surface. It cannot be expected that the topography o f the
whole coast should be executed with the accuracy required as preliminary
in military and civil constructions.
Important differences should of
course: be corrected ; but to examine every slight variation is to do what
is both unnecessary and useless, because the second result, though differ­
ent, might be as inaccurate as the first; and the only process by which
satisfactory surveys could be procured, with the plane table, would be to
have each portion of the coast gone over by three different persons. If
superintendents o f the Coast Survey are to succeed each other frequently,
and each is to consider it a principal and primary part o f his duty to re­
view the works o f his predecessor, we apprehend that the survey would
always be confined within the same limits, and that those limits would be
found where the country is most thickly settled, and the climate most
genial.
But another matter, also expletive o f the morale o f the Survey o f the
Coast, is entitled to more decided notice. The sheets o f the Delaware
and Long Island were found erroneous, not only in the representations of
the original field-maps, but in their first reduction to the paper— the reduc­
tion having been made principally by an assistant, then occupying the fifth
place in the Survey. T o such an extent were the reductions found erro­
neous, that going over the work and planishing out the portions o f it which
had been already engraved, has more than doubled the expense o f the
charts, and delayed for about two years their publication. Yet, while
other assistants have been removed or displaced for trifling or pretended
causes, this assistant has been unceremoniously promoted over three o f
his seniors in service and superiors in talent, and now occupies the second
place in the Survey.
W e had intended here to take a brief notice also o f the establishment
for the construction o f weights and measures, in the same points o f view
as we have examined the Coast Survey, that is, regarding the economy of
its execution, but find that this is a subject which cannot be touched now.
The disbursements have all been made under the authority o f a joint
resolution, without either specific appropriation or prescribed method o f
account.
W e will close this notice o f the Coast Survey, which has much ex­
ceeded the limit originally intended for it, with the expression o f a hope
that Congress may, before long, institute a close investigation into the
management o f this important work. W e are aware that its proper ex­
ecution is important, as well to the interest o f science as to those o f com­
merce, and that it opens a wide field for the development and exercise o f
talent. W e should wish to see this field fully occupied, affording space
and opportunity for early exertion, and support and remuneration for long
continued service. These, apart from the main design, are proper objects




Laws o f Georgia with respect to Commercial Transactions.

149

to be kept in v ie w ; and thus managed, it would deserve and receive the
patronage and support o f the country. The case, however, will be dif­
ferent, when these aims are forgotten ; when, for want o f the proper vis­
itation and supervision on the part o f the general government, a great pub­
lic work is monopolized by a particular clique or faction, is used for mer­
cenary or political purposes, for the indulgence o f private pique, or the
aggrandizement o f personal and family influence.
* j.

Art. II.— IAW S OP GEORGIA WITH RESPECT TO COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS.
A SYNOPSIS.*
O F T H E S Y S T E M O F L A W S O F F O R C E I N T H I S S T A T E , A N D O F T H E I R O R IG IN .

T h e laws of force in the State o f Georgia consist o f the Common and
Statutory Laws. The Common Law o f England, and some o f the more
important statutes of that country, form the foundation o f the legal code
o f this State. The Common Law o f England, and all acts,, clauses, and
parts o f acts in force, and binding on the inhabitants o f Georgia, as a
province, on the 14th May, 1776, not inconsistent with the Constitution,
laws, and present form o f government o f the State, were declared o f
force, at an early period in the history o f the State. Many provisions
o f the common law, and o f the statutes of England as then existing,
have been modified and repealed ; but some o f the more important are
yet in full effect, and consequently the expositions o f the English courts
are recognized here. Magna Charta, the petition o f rights and bill o
rights, and the charter o f the province o f Georgia, prompted by George
II. in his fifth year, 1732, are material parts o f the system ; and among
the more important statutes existing in an original state, or nearly so, may
be named the Habeas Corpus act o f 31 Charles II., the 27 and 13 Eliza­
beth, with respect to Fraudulent Conveyances ; the 6 Edward I., regard­
ing D ow er; the 9 and 10 William III., upon the subject o f Protests of
Bills o f Exchange ; the 3 and 4 Ann, upon the subject o f Bills o f Exchange
and Notes ; the 29 Charles II., respecting Leases and Rents ; the 21 Henry
VIII., upon the same subject; the 4 George II., upon the Rights o f Land­
lords and L essees; the 32 Henry V I I I .; the 34 and 35 Henry V I I I .;
the 29 Charles II. ; the 20 Henry III. ; the 25 George I I .; the 4 Ann ;
the 3 William and Mary, upon W ills ; the 25 Edward I I I .; the 13 Ed­
ward I . ; the 4 Edward I I I .; the 6 Edward I . ; the 8 and 9 William H I .;
the 4 Ann, upon Parties and Limitations o f Actions.
O F T H E P U B L IC A T IO N S I N W H IC H T I I E L A W S O F G E O R G IA A R E F O U N D .

The compilation o f English statutes o f force in this State, directed to
be prepared, under the authority o f the Legislature, by William Schley,
* F or the present synopsis o f the laws o f Georgia, and for similar articles in relation
to several o f the Southern States with respect to commercial transactions, we are indebted
to the H on. B en ja m in F. P o r t e r , o f the Tuscaloosa (Alabama) Bar, a gentleman of emi­
nent legal attainments and great moral worth. Judge Porter’s practice o f the law is not
confined to Alabama, but extends to Georgia, and a wide region in the vicinity o f those
States.— Editor o f the M er. Mag.




150

Laws o f Georgia with respect to Commercial Transactions.

Esq., in 1823 ; Prince’s Digest o f Statute L a w ; Hotchkiss’ Digest, prepared in 1845, and the several volumes o f Supreme Court Reports, by
Kelly, consisting now o f three volumes, are the most important. Hotch­
kiss’ work is very valuable, not only from its very recent publication, but
from the faithfulness with which it has been compiled, and the superior
arrangement pursued. O f Kelley’s Reports it must in justice be said,
that in the ability o f the decisions reported, in the excellent manner of
reporting, and in typographical execution, they are equal to the best of
any o f the American Reports.
In addition to these, Howell Cobb,
Esq., has published a most valuable book o f forms, o f great usefulness to
the practicing counsellor, and the various judicial and ministerial officers
o f the State.
O F T H E S E V E R A L C O U R T S O F G E O R G IA .

The courts o f this State are a Supreme or Appellate Court, Superior
Courts of general jurisdiction, Inferior Courts o f general jurisdiction, and
certain courts o f special jurisdiction, embracing Corporation Courts, Jus­
tices Courts, Courts o f Equity, and Courts o f Ordinary.
The Supreme Court o f Georgia was organized in 1845, and consists o f
three judges. It is a court o f correction o f errors, and has no original
jurisdiction whatever.
The Superior Court has a general original jurisdiction, exclusive in all
criminal cases, except in some few cases confined to inferior and special
jurisdictions, in all cases involving title to lands, and a concurrent jurisdic­
tion, in all other civil cases, with the Inferior Courts. It has also power,
by certiorari and new trials, over the Inferior Courts, and appellate juris­
diction in other cases provided by law.
The Inferior Court has a concurrent jurisdiction in civil cases, with
some exceptions, with the Superior Court.
OF T H E C O M M E N C E M E N T O F A C T IO N S O R S U IT S I N T H E S U P E R IO R A N D
IN F E R IO R C O U R T S .

1. All suits o f a civil nature are begun by petition, setting forth the
plaintiff’ s claim. T o this the clerk of the court annexes a process, re­
quiring the defendant to appear at the court to which the process is re­
turnable, and is to be served on defendant seventeen days before the
return day. A copy o f the petition and process is to be served on the
defendant, or left at his place o f residence.
2. O f Bail. Should bail be required, the plaintiff shall be required to
make oath before any judge, justice o f the Inferior Court, justice o f the
peace of the State of Georgia, or judge or justice o f a Superior Court o f
any one o f the United States, to which is to be annexed the seal o f the
particular State, and a certificate o f the governor, certifying that the per­
son taking the affidavit is such judge or justice,— 1. O f the amount o f the
debt claimed. 2. That he has reason to apprehend the loss o f said
amount, or part o f it. The bail may be required on these conditions when
the process is first sued out, or during its progress.
3. O f Attachment. Suits may also be commenced by attachment in the
case o f non-residence, or where both debtor and creditor are beyond the
State ; or when the debtor is removing without the State, or any county
of it, or absconds or conceals himself, or stands in defiance o f a peace
officer, so that the ordinary process o f law cannot be served. These




Laws o f Georgia with respect to Commercial Transactions.

151

facts, or one o f them, must be shown to exist by oath, and a bond and
surety be given. On attachments are grafted the ordinary garnishment
process, answering to the Trustee process o f Massachusetts;
The bond required to be given by the plaintiff in attachment, is to be
in a penalty double the amount sworn to be due, to which there must be
surety. The condition is, to pay all costs and all damages which may
be incurred “ for suing out the same.”
Attachments are authorized when the debt is due in future, and on suits
pending. Property attached is privileged to be replevined. Liens are
created in favor o f those first levied.
A C T IO N S

UPON BON DS, E T C .

The 8 and 9 William III. are o f force, giving full costs in actions of
trespass, and authorizing the assignment o f any number o f breaches in
actions on bonds, covenants, or agreements.
L IM IT A T IO N

O P A C T IO N S .

Ejectment, seven years ; actions on the case, other than slander, actions
o f account, actions o f trespass, debt, detinue and replevin, for goods and
cattle, o f trespass, qua. claus.fr., four years ; trespass, assault, battery, and
wounding and imprisonment, two years ; case for words, six months ; ac­
tions on bonds or other sealed instruments, twenty years; upon notes or
other acknowledgments under the hand o f the party, six years ; upon open
accounts, within four years ; upon penalty, fine, or forfeiture, six months.
P A R T IE S

TO , AND

COM M ENCEM ENT

O P , A C T IO N S .

Co-obligors upon any bond, note, or writing, who reside in several
counties, may be sued in either ; and joint contractors or copartners may
be sued in the same action, and upon service upon either, the plaintiff may
proceed to judgment, as to the party served ; and judgment thus obtained
authorizes execution against the joint, or partnership, or individual estate.
Representatives o f deceased persons may be sued in the same action
with the survivor, on notes or writings, signed or sealed by two or more.
Representatives, however, are privileged to exemption from suit for
twelve months, after the grant o f letters, or probate o f wills.
Suits do not abate on the death o f a party, but are revived by scire f a cias. In the case o f the death o f a plaintiff, his representative has a
scire facias served on the defendant within three months after grant o f
letters or probate o f w ill; and in the case o f the death o f a defendant,
a scire facias issues to his representative after the expiration o f twelve
months. On the death o f one o f several jointly interested, the suit may
proceed against the survivor, the death being suggested upon the record.
The petition being taken out and process served, the defendant is re­
quired to appear at the return term, and on or before the last day thereof
file his defence, in writing, plainly set forth, and signed by the party or
his attorney. The denial of deeds, bonds, bills single, penal notes, drafts,
receipts, or orders, must be accompanied by affidavit. Indorsements are
admissible in evidence, without proof o f handwriting. Copartnerships of
plaintiffs are not required to be proved, unless put in issue by pleas in
abatement.
Mutual debts and sets-off are allowed, provided the defendant files, with
his answer to a suit, a copy o f the subject matter o f the set-off. These




152

Laws o f Georgia with respect to Commercial Transactions.

sets-ofF cover the cases o f open accounts for dealings between the par­
ties to the suit, and o f any bond, note, bill, or other writing for money, or
other thing, held and possessed by the defendant in his own right.
Partial failure o f consideration may be plead upon a contract in such
cases, and between such parties as between whom and which total failure
o f consideration would be pleadable.
PLEAS

OF USU RY.

I f these are filed, the plaintiff, within one month after the filing o f it,
and upon a copy served and notice, is required to discover on oath whether
the facts o f the plea are true. I f the plaintiff fails to make the discovery,
the defendant’s affidavit may be made. These may be read as evidence
on the trial by either party.
OF E V ID E N C E .

When witnesses reside out o f the State, or out o f the county when
his testimony is required, either, party (in civil cases) on ten days’ notice,
and a copy o f the interrogatories, may sue out a commission to examine
such witnesses. Witnesses thus situated may be compelled to appear and
answer. So witnesses going beyond seas, removing out o f the county,
or beyond the jurisdiction of the State, or whose official or other business
require their absence from the county, or from age or bodily infirmity un­
able to attend court, and females, may be examined as above. The same
provisions have been also extended to persons residing out o f the State,
or county, or seamen, patroon o f a boat, stage driver, mail carrier, and to
all other persons whose testimony cannot be duly obtained.
Certificates^protests, and other acts o f notaries public in relation to
the non-acceptance o f any bill o f exchange, draft, or other order, made
for the payment o f money, or other thing, and also in relation to the non­
payment o f any bill o f exchange, draft, order, bond or note, for the pay­
ment o f money, or other thing, are presumptive evidence o f the facts,
without other or further proof.
The statute o f 11 Henry VII., entitling indigent persons to sue with­
out liability for costs and fee, is o f force in this State.
O F S P E C IA L L I E N S .

These are given to masons and carpenters for all debts due for work
done, or materials furnished for building or repairing any house, where
personal security is not taken; and they create an incumbrance upon the
house and premises, superior to any other claim, irrespective o f its nature
or date.
OF T H E

E Q U IT Y

J U R IS D IC T IO N

OF TH E

STATE

OF

G E O R G IA .

The Superior Courts exercise the powers o f a Court o f Equity, in all
cases where a common law remedy is not adequate, in cases between co­
partners and co-executors, to compel distribution o f intestates’ estates, and
payment o f legacies, and for the discovery o f fraudulent transactions, for
the benefit o f creditors. In case either party is dissatisfied with the ver­
dict o f a jury, in any equity case, he has the right o f appeal to a special
jury, selected by alternate challenges, or strikings from the Grand Jury.
The general rules o f chancery pleading and practice, and the leading




Laws o f Georgia with respect to Commercial Transactions.

153

principles of that jurisdiction, seem, with few alterations, to govern the
equity courts here.
It may seem strange, to those who have learned equity from the lumin­
ous interpretations o f the Pretors, o f .Lords Hardwick, Eldon, and Mac­
clesfield, to witness the trial o f chancery suits, by twelve chancellors,
drawn from the country; but however anomalous this proceeding, it is
not half so intolerable as equity administered by chancellors, drawn up,
like forced shoots from an asparagus bed long before their season, from
the hot bed o f political preparation. When to devoted partizans, accus­
tomed to nothing but an obstinate pursuit o f party names, and the malig­
nant exercise of dominant power, is committed the authority which is rarely
safe but in the wisdom o f age, and the most self-denying and impartial
mind.
It may, however, be said, that so far as the writer has had an opportu­
nity o f observing, the exercises o f the chancery jurisdiction, as well as
that o f the common law in Georgia, is kept perfect by the judges o f the
superior courts, who, for these times of political excitement, seem, far more
than is-usual, selected for their legal ability and personal integrity, irre­
spective o f party influences.
OF C O N T R A C T S R E Q U IR E D

TO

BE

IN

W R IT IN G .

The 29 o f Charles II., in original terms, is o f force in Georgia. It
recognizes no contract o f the representative o f an estate to bind his own
estate ; or o f one person for the debt o f another; or upon any agreement
upon consideration o f marriage ; or for the sale o f lands, or any inter­
est in them ; or upon agreements not to be performed within one year, as
binding, unless the agreement be in writing. So no contract for the sale
o f goods, wares, and merchandise, for ten pounds sterling or upwards,
without the receipt o f part o f them, or earnest, is valid, unless also in
writing.
OF B IL L S O F E X C H A N G E , A N D

P R O M IS S O R Y

N OTES.

All bills o f exchange drawn in, or dated at and from any trading city or
town, for the sum o f five pounds or upwards, upon any person o f or in any
trading city or town, or other place, payable at a certain number o f days,
weeks, or months after date, after those days after due, may and shall be
protested by a notary public ; and in default o f said notary, by any other
substantial person o f the city, town, &c., in the presence o f two or more
credible witnesses. (9 and 10 William III.) Such protest within four­
teen days to be sent, or notice given thereof to the party from whom the
bill is received. Protests also allowed for non-acceptance.
No acceptance o f any inland bill is sufficient to charge any party to it,
unless endorsed, or underwritten, thereon.
No protest necessary, either for non-acceptance or non-payment, unless
the value be acknowledged and expressed in the bill, and be for the-payment o f twenty pounds and upwards.
The acceptance o f a bill for a former debt shall be accounted payment
o f it, if due course for acceptance and payment be not taken. (3 and 4
Ann.)
The damages on domestic bills, or bills drawn or negotiated in Geor­
gia, upon any person o f any State, Territory, or District o f the United
States, is five percent upon the principal sum. The same provision ap-




154

Laws o f Georgia with respect to Commercial Transactions.

plies to all bills drawn in Georgia, and made payable at any place out of
the United States, without reference to the residence o f the drawer.
On bills drawn in this State, upon any place beyond the limits o f the
United States, the damages are ten per cent, besides interest, costs, and
premium.
All notes in writing, signed by any person, body politic or corporate, or
agent, banker, goldsmith, merchant, or trader ; and also every such note
payable to such person, or order, shall be assignable and endorsable
in the same manner as inland bills ; and the persons to whom assigned
may maintain action in their own names. (3 and 4 Ann.)
All bonds and other specialties, and promissory notes, and other liqui­
dated demand, whether for money or other thing, is negotiable by en­
dorsement in the same manner with promissory notes.
A demand o f makers o f promissory notes, and notice to the endorsers,
is not necessary to bind them.
Endorsers are placed on the same footing with sureties, and bound as
such, and are suable in the same manner, and in the same action, with
the principal or maker. Exception prevails as to notes in bank.
Endorsers and sureties may require the holder o f any note, or other in­
strument, after maturity, to collect the same ; and a failure to proceed
operates as a discharge.
T IM E

AND

IN T E R E S T .

In computing time and interest, the day increasing in leap year shall
be accounted one year, and be reckoned by calendar months.
In calculating interest, when payments shall be made, the payment is to
be applied, first, to the discharge o f interest due ; and no part of the prin­
cipal is to be considered paid, until all interest is extinguished.
All contracts, bonds, notes, and assurances for illegal interest is void,
but the principal is recoverable.
OF TH E

E X E C U T IO N

OF POW ERS

O F A T T O R N E Y , A N D O T H E R W R IT IN G S I N

OTH ER

STATES.

Bonds, specialties, and letters o f attorney, and other powers in wri­
ting, are admissible in evidence, proved by one or more o f the witnesses
by affidavit, or affirmation in writing, before any governor, chief justice,
mayor, or other justice o f either o f the United States, where they are
executed, certified and transmitted under the common or public seal o f
such State, court, city, or place where proved. The affidavit must, how­
ever, express the addition o f the party making it, and the place o f his
abode.
OF SALES

OF LA N D S B Y

PO W ER S OF A T T O R N E Y .

Sales of lands by letters o f attorney expressly giving power o f sale, if
proved as mentioned in the last clause, or proved in Georgia before a
justice of the peace, by one or more o f the witnesses, is good and valid.
Such powers and sales of lands under them are valid, till the attorney or
agent has due notice o f revocation or death.
OF T H E

E X E C U T IO N

OF

DEED S.

Consuls and vice-consuls o f the United States, duly appointed and re­
cognized, are authorized to receive acknowledgment in writing o f citizens




Laws o f Georgia with respect to Commercial Transactions.

155

o f the United States, or other persons residing in the several consular
districts, of deeds o f conveyance, mortgages, powers o f attorney, or other
legal instruments, touching real estate, or other property, or rights or in­
terest, lying in Georgia ; and their certificates, under their official seals,
are sufficient to authorize their admission as evidence. This power also
extends any lawful contract or engagement to be executed in Georgia,
or any act whatever lawful to be made.
O P R E L IN Q U IS H M E N T S

OP D O W E R .

Alienations and conveyances made by husband and wife by joining in
the deed, or by the wife’s acknowledgment o f consent to the sale, before
justices or magistrates, are good in this State.
OP D EED S

OP LA N D , AN D

T H E IR

R E G IS T R A T IO N .

Deeds o f lands to be by deed o f bargain and sale, deeds o f lease and
re-lease, or by deed o f feoffment; to be underhand and seal, in the presence
o f two or more witnesses, and proved and acknowledged before a justice
o f the peace, chief justice, or one o f the assistant justices, and to be regis­
tered by the clerk o f the inferior court o f the county in which the lands
lie, within twelve months from the date of the deed.
S E A L S -----H O W

C O N S T IT U T E D .

Seals are constituted by scrolls or other representation o f a seal, when
it is expressed in the body or conclusion o f a writing that it is the inten­
tion
execute a sealed instrument. But this intention is sufficient with,
out a scroll.
E S T A T E S -----T H E I R

C R E A T IO N .

All gifts, grants, bequests, devises and conveyances o f every kind, of
real or personal estate, capable o f passing an estate in entail in realty,
by statute, (W est. 2.) vests in the party an unconditional and absolute
fee simple.
All gifts, grants, feoffments, bequests, devises and conveyances o f real or
personal estate, vests in the grantee an absolute fee simple estate, unless a
less estate be expressed.
OP T R U S T

ESTATES.

All creations and assignments o f trusts in lands, tenements, or heredit­
aments, shall be manifested and proved by writing signed by the party, or
by last will. Such trusts are, however, authorized to be taken by impli­
cation from conveyances.
OP M ORTGAGES.

Mortgages o f lands and personal estate are to be registered in the office
o f the clerk o f the Superior Court, within three months from the date o f
the deed.
Mortgages o f personal estate, executed when the property is beyond
the limits o f the State, and afterwards brought into it, must be recorded
within six months after being brought into the State. Judgments obtained
before the foreclosure o f such a mortgage not recorded, have a precedent
lien.




156

Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.
OF FRAU DU LEN T

CON VEYAN CES.

The statutes o f 27 Elizabeth and o f 13 Elizabeth, upon the subject o f
fraudulent assignments, and deeds to defraud creditors, are, in original
terms, o f force here. These provisions are too well known to make it
necessary to copy them.
OP W IL L S

AND

TESTAM EN TS.

Devises and bequests o f lands must be in writing, signed by the devivisor, or by some person in his presence, and by his express directions,
and be attested in his presence by three or four credible witnesses. (25
George II.)
Wills o f personalty only revokable by writing, and proved by three
witnesses at least.
The 29 Charles II., upon the subject o f nuncupative wills, are o f force
here.
Wills and testaments are void, if not registered within three months
from the testator’s death.

Art. III.— P R O T E C T I O N OF V E S S E L S F R O M L I G H T N I N G .
T o F reeman H unt, Esq., Editor o f the Merchants' M agazine.

D e a r S i r :— I have read with great interest the article in your Maga­
zine for December last, on The Protection o f Vessels from Lightning, as
I did, at the time o f its appearance, the article o f the Merchants’ Maga­
zine o f June, 1846, to which it alludes.
For some years I have regarded the subject o f marine lightning rods
as one o f vast importance, and yet, although abundantly understood to
answer the highest ends o f practical utility, in its theoretical affinities far
from being exhausted by the researches o f science. It is replete with
curious and instructive phenomena, alike worthy o f the continued study
o f philosophers, and o f the liberal patronage o f merchants and govern­
ments interested in the floating palaces o f commerce, and navies.
Motives o f humanity, so well urged by your December correspondent
upon the consideration o f your readers, conspire to invest it with power­
ful claims upon the enterprise and means o f the mercantile and naval men
o f our country; and more methodical concert o f action and provision in
its behalf by the general government and ship-owners, may advantageous­
ly be instituted. Nay, it should not be longer neglected.
The federal government has deemed it incumbent upon its constitution­
al and exclusive guardianship o f commerce, to prescribe by law certain
provisions and stores, such as medicine-chests, &c., that every merchant
ship shall possess before clearing from port on a voyage. It has imposed
proper vigilance and penalties upon cases o f neglect in these particulars.
Since the law is as well established that metallic conductors, properly
fitted in respect to form and position, will completely protect vessels and their
crews and passengers from the destructive effects o f atmospheric elec­
tricity, as that medicines, judiciously administered, will relieve the men
who work these vessels, and the passengers who sail in them, from the
effects o f disease ; and since death and destruction can visit neither one




Protection o f Vessels from. Lightning.

157

nor the other, where no precautions are taken, with more certain or ter­
rific power than in the shape o f the electric fluid, why is it that the gov­
ernment o f the United States has thus long neglected to exert its prerog­
ative in behalf of commercial interests, and the seamen, who constitute
their and the nation’s bulwark, in suitable legal enactments on this sub­
ject ? W hy not here, as in other matters, specifically exact the requisite
means o f preservation— the size, form, and number o f electric conductors—
to be provided, and properly adjusted to every vessel that leaves an
American port ?
Can it be that anything problemetical in respect to the sufficiency of
these means to answer the desired ends, remains to be solved ? Is not
the testimony o f Franklin, of Beccaria, o f Cavallo, o f Hare, o f Henry, o f
Faraday, o f Wheatstone, and o f a host o f other philosophers, uniting all of
eminence among either the dead or living since the day o f Franklin’s
earliest discovery o f the fact, sufficient to set at rest all skepticism upon
the subject? The official report o f the Committee o f the British Ad­
miralty, adverted to by your before-named correspondents, sets out with
the incontrovertible truth on the subject o f conductors, thus :— “ The fa c t
o f their efficacy may he considered to be established beyond all doubt by the
experience o f the last eighty years, and the u n a n im o u s o p in io n s op s c i ­
e n t if i c m e n op a l e c o u n t r ie s . ” — Annals o f Electricity, vol. 5, page 1.
An authority thus eminent and emphatic cannot need enforcement or
illustration by quotation of the individual opinions, nor o f the instances on
record o f actual demonstrations, by which it is supported.
I will only remark, that according to the learned Mr. Cavendish, “ the
chances o f escape from lightning is in this way increased by at least four
hundred million to one, even with a conductor o f iron.” — W . Snow H ar­
ris’ Annals o f Electricity, vol. 5, page 213.
T o the ship-owner, and to the national legislator, it must be an equally
sad and comfortless reflection, when they read o f the destruction by fire,
or other disability from lightning, o f some noble ship at sea, carrying hur­
riedly and awfully into an insatiate eternity the confiding crew and pas­
sengers, that a few almost costless strips o f copper or iron rods, judiciously
affixed to the exposed masts and hull o f the otherwise doomed vessel,
would have passed her and her dauntless inmates unscathed from beneath
the fiery shock, and beyond every shadow o f doubt and danger!
I f every vessel that passes into the Gulf Stream in going to or from the
ports o f the United States, were liable, in despite o f all human foresight
and skill, to be carried within the soundings o f some island where grows
nothing but the fabled Bohan Upas tree, and, o f consequence, be exposed
to the fatal strokes o f its effluvia, and yet it were well known that there
existed a very common and cheaply obtained herb, the disinfecting effica­
cy o f which on board o f ships were equal to a perfect counteraction o f
all the noxious influences of the dreaded island, can it be doubted, that
among the earliest sanitary laws which the Congress o f the United States
would throw around her noble mariners, both in the merchant and na­
val service, would be one demanding a supply to every ship o f the in­
valuable herb mentioned ?
And yet, the case imagined and the case that actually exists, are equally
simple in their elements, no less imperative in their claims upon the gov­
ernment, and no less susceptible o f ample and full relief. But the existant one, so far as the guardianship o f Congress over the merchant service




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Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.

o f the country is concerned, is neglected to the same and like degree as
the imaginary one ! Ought it so to be 1
T o the British Admiralty’ s report to Parliament, in all its details, I
have not now opportunity o f recurring ; but from your two correspond­
ents’ articles, and from other sources o f information at hand relating to
that report, I gather the following facts as being contained in the record
o f observations which Sir W . Snow Harris presented to the Admiralty.
“ He reports,” says your December correspondent, “ one hundred and
thirty-three cases o f injury from lightning in the British navy during
twenty-four years o f war, and fifty-five during the same number o f years
o f peace,” while the vessels were mostly laid up in ordinary.
“ In one hundred cases alluded to, sixty-two seamen were killed, and
about one hundred and fourteen wounded. These are exclusive o f one
case o f a frigate, in which nearly all the crew perished, and o f twelve
cases in which the numbers killed or wounded were set down in the ac­
counts given ^as several or many.” — Silliman’s Journal, vol. 38, page 113 ;
also Merchants’ Magazine, vol. 14, page 524.
Mr. Harris reported 174 cases o f vessels struck by lightning, registered
by him up to 1839; and your December correspondent says, “ In a pub­
lication by W . Snow Harris, Esq., F. R . S., in the year 1844, two hun­
dred and ten cases are alphabetically reported in the British navy alone,
o f injury from lightning.” And it is said that “ the injuries sustained in
the British commercial marine” are “ equally or more extensive in pro­
portion to the Royal Navy.”
Your earlier correspondent says, “ I have kept a record o f lightning
storms for a number o f years, and o f the damages done by lightning, and
o f the destruction o f life and property. The catalogue now numbers
more than fo u r hundred cases o f loss o f life.” — Merchants’ Magazine,
vol. 14, page 524. This aggregate includes, I presume, cases on land as
well as on the water.
Looking at these numerous evidences o f constant exposure o f vessels to
lightning, the imagination ought not to be forced to conjure up the ex­
istence o f an island o f Bohan Upas trees, to arouse the sensibilities o f
American merchants, and o f the American Congress, to a just and favor­
able contemplation o f the seafaring man’ s claim upon the further pro­
tection due to his profession, in the matter under remark. The exposure
is imminent— longer neglect will be scarcely short o f criminal, on the
part o f both merchants and Congress.
The genius o f Franklin is venerated, yet its humane admonitions are
disregarded by his countrymen.
Aided by the ingenuity o f Morse, a
worthy disciple o f Franklin, we know they promptly employ the electric
rod everywhere ; that money is to be made by the use o f it. Shall it be
said, that where life is to be saved by its use, its availability is not cared
for ? It would be a national sin, as well as a national shame, for charac­
teristic distinctions, like the ones here put, to become proverbs against
our countrymen.
The different forms o f conductors that have been hitherto used in ves­
sels are—
1st. A copper chain, composed o f rods about two feet in length, and
about one-sixth o f an inch in diameter, with an eye at each end. These
rods are linked together by rings, and the conductor terminates in a rod
o f the same dimensions, which tapers to a point, and is made with a turn




Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.

159

in it near the base, to receive the line, to which it is attached throughout
its whole length, for stopping to the topgallant-backstay when triced to
the mast-head. These were formerly the only ones in use in the British
navy, and are still used there to some extent, as they are in the American
navy.
In some merchant vessels, iron chains, instead o f copper, similarly
made to the above, have been in use.
2d. A metallic rope, composed o f mixed metal wire, attached to the
mast-head immediately under the truck, leading down to the topgallant
cross-trees, and thence by the topgallant-backstay to the channel, and de­
scends into the water. A copper spindle, about three feet in length,
tapering from an inch to a point, is screwed into the mast-head, nine in­
ches o f the upper end being hardened and gilded. These have been in
use in the French navy.
3d. Tw o plates o f copper, rivetted together so as to form an electric
and continuous line o f metal, the inner plate being one.sixteenth, and the
outer one-eighth of an inch in thickness, inserted in dovetailed grooves in
the after part o f the masts, and extend from the truck to the keelson ; a
copper plate o f the same dimensions is led over the caps, and the contin­
uity is preserved at all times by a tumbler on the caps, consisting o f a
short copper bar, with a hinge at the base, by which it leans against the
conductor o f the topmast, whether bedded or housed; a stop is placed on
the exterior, by which the tumbler is prevented from falling backwards.
Copper plates o f equal dimensions to those on the lower masts are placed
under the heels and steps o f the masts, and are thence led along the keel­
son in contact with the copper fastenings. In order to insure connection
with the copper sheathing, bolts are driven transversely through the keel,
so as to meet those passing down from the keelson. Copper plates are
likewise led along the under side o f the beams o f the lower and orlop
decks to the principal copper fastenings, and ultimately terminate in the
sheathing, thereby combining all the chief masses o f metal in the hull
and spars o f a ship with the conductors, and affording, by means o f its
ultimate connection with the copper sheathing, a vast surface in con­
tact with the water for the dispersion o f the electricity.— See Committee
o f British Admiralty Report, abridged; Annals o f Electricity, vol. 5,
page 5.
The last described conductors are the invention o f W . Snow Harris,
alluded to by your correspondents ; and several o f them were for many
years affixed to British naval vessels, with evidences o f an indubitable
character, derived from actual experience and observation, o f their un­
qualified efficacy, prior to the Admiralty report o f 1839, last cited. Your
December correspondent says the Board o f Admiralty finally disapproved
o f them, because o f their leading the electric current into the body o f the
vessel. This decision I have not seen. The committee o f investigation,
appointed by the Board on the subject, came to the opposite conviction,
and upon the most minute testimony, derived from particular examination
made by Professors Farraday and Wheatstone, as from other sources.
In like manner they overruled every objection made to this plan o f con­
ductors, and several were made with earnestness. The conclusion o f
their report was as follows :—
“ W e again beg to state our unanimous opinion o f the great advantages
possessed by Mr. Harris’ conductors above every other plan, affording




%

160

Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.

permanent security at all times, and under all circumstances, against the
injurious effects o f lightning, effecting this protection without any nau­
tical inconvenience or scientific objection whatever ; and we therefore
most earnestly recommend their general adoption in the Royal Navy.”
Other forms o f marine conductors have been suggested, but I am not
aware that they have been reduced to practice in any instance. One o f
these, by Martyn Roberts, Esq., was submitted to the British Admiralty
Committee conjunctively with the plan o f Mr. Harris, and is in its ele­
mentary parts and form similar to the French naval conductors. He thus
describes i t :—
“ Let conductors be made o f a metallic rope, consisting o f some hundreds
o f pure annealed copper wires, laid up as a common hemp rope ; it will
be pliable, may be rove through blocks, and traverse as well as any other
rope. Let this rope be fixed to a copper point at the highest mast-head,
led down the after part o f the mast until it arrives at the lower mast-head,
and from thence led as a backstay to the outside o f the ship, and there
fastened to her copper sheathing. By this means, a perfect metallic con­
ducting channel is maintained for the lightning from the highest point to
the water, without interruption or contact with anything that can possibly
produce ill effects.” — Annals o f Electricity, vol. 1, page 469.
Mr. Sturgeon, the able editor o f the Annals o f Electricity, zealously
contested the efficacy and safety o f Mr. Harris’ plan o f conductors, main­
ly on the ground, first, that their form and adjustment were calculated to
produce lateral discharges o f the electric current, equally dangerous and
destructive as the main charge; second, that conducting the charge into
the hold of the vessel by means o f lateral discharges, the powder maga­
zines and other combustible material would be exposed to additional haz­
ards o f ignition, yielding to the necessity of having fixed and permanent
conductors.
Mr. Sturgeon proposed substituting four cylindrical copper
rods to each lower mast, situated exterior to the shrouds, having one be­
fo r e each fore-shroud, and one aft each after-shroud. The upper extrem­
ities o f these conductors to be attached to the fore, main, and mizzen tops,
as distant from the masts as circumstances will allow, and in any manner
most secure and convenient. The lower ends of these copper rods to be
fixed to the chains on the outside o f the fore and aft shroud o f each mast,
and continued by broad and stout strips o f copper to the copper sheathing
o f the vessel. The topmasts and rigging he proposed to protect in a sim­
ilar manner, with inflexible rods, or flexible metallic ropes, and united at
the lower ends with the first set. For the topgallant-masts he proposed
adopting Mr. Harris’ plan o f strips of copper into grooves o f the wood.
Other minute details were suggested.— See Annals o f Electricity, vol. 4,
page 184. T o avoid objections arising from the interference o f the con­
ductors thus confined to the working o f the ship, Mr. Sturgeon subse­
quently changed the positions o f them in part.
J. Murray, Esq., an electrician o f note in Europe, and the inventor of
the application for electric conductors o f hollow copper tubes, consisting
o f gas piping, rendered continuous by connecting joints, arid somewhat
extensively used abroad for buildings, proposed an application o f the like
conductors to masts of vessels, made in the form o f “ flexible ajid sliding
tubes, like those o f a telescope, a provision readily adjusted to the case o f
a topmast, or topgallant-mast, when struck in a storm.” — Annals o f E lec­
tricity, vol. 3, page 65.




Protection o f Vessels from, Lightning.

161

It will have probably struck the attention o f the reader who commenced the perusal o f this article with no preconceived and favorite the­
ory explanatory of the laws that govern electric phenomena, as manifested
either where an artificial conductor is or is not present to aid their de­
velopment, that all the before described plans for marine conductors pro­
ceed upon the same theory that pertains to conductors affixed to buildings
on the land in one particular, viz : that o f conducting the electric current
down from the clouds above, into the water below. No other thought
seems to have interposed to suggest any variation from this theory ; and
yet, apart from the efficacy o f artificial conductors to ward off the elec­
tric stroke, by receiving and conducting it away from the vessel, this
downward direction o f the force is the only point o f common agreement
among all the electricians whose plans have been cited.
Views no less dissimilar are entertained by the most eminent philosophers o f the same and different countries, respecting the. nature o f elec­
tric action, the forces which produce it, whether it exists per se, or is the
result o f chemical agency. Some maintain that it combines the opera­
tions o f two distinct forces, called vitreous and resinous; others that it
consists o f one on ly; others that it is independent o f electric matter, and
that all electric phenomena are the effects o f rotatory or vibratory motions
communicated to particles o f common matter, on which they are dis­
played.
These antagonistical opinions have ran almost concurrently with the
history o f electric science from its early dawn. It is not my purpose,
however, to attempt an analysis o f the arguments on which either rests,
nor to offer any solution or adjustment o f them. I aspire to no such sci­
entific eminence. 1 advert to their existence only to shield from the
charge o f presumption the idea I wish to advance, that, while the exact
nature o f the electric action remains in dispute, in respect to its primal
constituency, a general misconception o f the laws o f one o f its important
phenomena may be still entertained, not unworthy o f re-examination, and
possibly of correction, viz : whether the electric force which affects ves­
sels at sea, has its direction upwards to the clouds, or downwards to the
water.
The seeming simplicity and uniformity o f the evidence which furnishes
the generally received answer to this query, which is the ocular demon­
stration made to observers by the running light or flash o f the electric
discharge, and which is rarely otherwise than downward, is not conclu­
sive as to the correctness of that answer; but this may be the very cause
of the long continuance o f its error, even with philosophic minds.
In natural philosophy, nothing is more liable to be erroneous than our
first impressions. For instance, who, at first thought, would not suppose
the hardness o f a substance would be proportionate to its density 1 and
yet, we know that a diamond, the hardest substance in nature, has a spe­
cific gravity three times less than lead, which is so soft that it may be
scratched by the finger nail. So, who would not, at first thought, sup­
pose Indian rubber to be more elastic than glass? and yet, its elasticity is
not comparable to that o f the latter. So we say, at first thought, that
lead is heavy and a feather is light, under the general notion that one is
heavier than the other; whereas, the difference only arises from their
difference in their surfaces upon the retarding a ir ; and in a vacuo, the
largest mass o f lead, and the smallest feather, woidd fa ll through equal
VOX,. X X .-----NO. I I .




11

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Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.

spaces in equal times. So, at first thought, we are disinclined to believe
that any body o f matter once set in motion would continue to move f o r ­
ever, unless stopped by some exterior power. W e are equally incredu­
lous, that there is no such thing in nature as solid matter; that no two
particles o f matter, even in what we call solid metal, are in close contact.
But Newton admits, and reason instructs us to believe, that “ atoms, even
o f the densest solid, are placed at distances from one another, infinitely
greater than their own diameters.”
I might multiply these illustrations, but will content myself with quo­
ting the admonitory remark o f one o f the most distinguished philosophers
o f the day, that “ it is no less necessary to test the accuracy o f our no­
tions derived from common observation and the first impression o f our
senses, than to guard against the careless adoption of ill understood gen­
eralization of the results o f experiment in our after progress ; and we must
be particularly careful to correct the prejudices, which are but too apt to
infect the mind from the first fountain o f our knowledge.” — DanieIVs
Study o f Chemical Philosophy, § 8.
From the tenor o f these latter remarks, the reader will have inferred
that the writer dissents from the generally received theory, that the electrie force which affects destructively vessels at sea, descends from the
clouds to the ocean, instead o f ascending; and that the running light, or
streak of the electric discharge, denotes the direction of the charge. Het­
erodox to the eyes o f admitted scienee as it may appear, the reverse o f
these opinions constitute, in my mind, the preferable theory— a theory
most consistent o f any with the correct appreciation o f the phenomena o f
the instances reported upon by Mr. Harris and Mr. Meriam, your first
correspondent upon the subject.
Among the general facts derived from Mr. Harris’ register o f observa­
tions up to 1839, to which I would direct attention, are as follows.
He
says, “ From about one hundred cases, the particulars o f which have been
ascertained, it appears that about one-half o f the ships struck by lightning,
are struck in the mainmast; one-quarter on the foremast; one-twentieth
on the mizzenmast, and not more than one in a hundred on the bowsprit.
About one ship in six is set on fire in some part o f the masts, sails, or rig­
ging. In these 100 cases, there are destroyed or damaged, 93 lower
masts, principally line-of-battle ships and frigates, 83 topmasts, and 60
topgallant-masts.”
Mr. Sturgeon, who was contesting the efficacy o f Mr. Harris’ plan o f
conductors to guard against what the former alleged to be lateral and
oblique discharges, remarks :— “ By looking over the particulars o f 174
cases, which Mr. Harris has collected, I find only 44 in which the topgallant-masts appear to have been injured ; and as out o f these 44 cases
there are 13 in which the topgallant-masts were lost, broken or damaged,
accidents probably occasioned by the mere falling o f those masts when
the others below them were struck, there would appear to be only about
31 casgs out o f the 174 in which the topgallant-masts have been abso­
lutely struck by the lightning. It is probable, indeed, that the proportion
is even less than this; because of these 31 cases there are 15 in which
the topgallant-masts were shivered only, a species o f damage which, if
occurring near to the heel o f the masts, might easily arise from lightning
striking the ship no higher than the topmast head. Lightning striking
the topsail yard arm, when that sail is set, or the cross-trees at other




(

f

Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.

163

times, would be very likely to damage the lower part o f the topgallantmast.” — Annals o f Electricity, vol. 4, pp. 172-3.
He again says :— “ It appears from Mr. Harris’ list o f cases that the
lower masts are more frequently injured than the topmasts, and the top­
masts more frequently than the topgallant-masts ; hence, although the
Rodney and some other ships have been struck above the topmast, it is
obvious, that lightning more frequently strikes the rigging below the top.
mast head, than above i t ; and by taking into account the damage done by
the mere falling o f the topgallant-mast, as a consequence o f the masts
below it being struck and injured, it is highly probable that the cases in
which lightning strikes the spindle at, or above, the topgallant-mast head,
bear a very small proportion to the cases in which lightning strikes the
sides o f the masts and yard arms.” — Ibid, pp. 177-8.
I wish the reader to note, that Mr. Harris assigns no comparative num­
ber in his cases, to injuries occurring to the hull of vessels struck by
lightning, particularly below the water level. The truth is, the instances
o f this kind are so rare, that no general law has been attempted to be de­
duced from them by any person. And yet, who can doubt that this almost
uniform exemption o f the hull from the electric charge is due to some general law which has been singularly overlooked hitherto by electricians ? Such
a law, if to be found consistently with known laws o f the electric action,
cannot but open the door to yet higher and more perfect knowledge o f
this interesting science. I hope to be able, satisfactorily, to deduce and
establish it, and in harmony with the theory advanced by me, that the di­
rection o f the electric forces affecting vessels at sea are upwards, and not
downwards; that, although instances o f the latter kind may occur, they
are exceptions to the general law o f electrical discharges upon the ocean.
In all the details o f Mr. Harris’ cases that have come to my know­
ledge, there is not one decided case o f the electric fluid having passed in­
to the hold below the water level, unless directed there by a metallic con­
ductor.
The nearest approaches to a statement or description o f such a case by
him, are the following :—
In a controversial letter o f his to the editor o f the Philosophic Magazine
and Journal, in reply to an article by Mr. Sturgeon, this passage occurs :
“ Mr. Sturgeon’s assertion that a conductor on a ship’s mast would
operate on the magazine is therefore quite unwarranted. Besides, we
have many instances o f the masts having been shivered by lightning into
the step, while acting as partial conductors, without any such consequence ;
as happened to the Mignonne in the West Indies, the Thetis at Rio, the
Sweden, Gibraltar, Goiiath, and many others.”
The case o f the Mignonne is thus given to Mr. Harris by Admiral
Hanker. After describing the appearance o f the weather . . . . “ About
midnight the heavens seemed to be one continued flame, and soon after *
the main topmast was shattered into probably fifty pieces, scattering the
splinters in all directions ; the mainmast was split down to the keelson, and
a sulphurous smell came up from the hold, which occasioned some to cry
out that the ship was on fire. T w o men were killed in the maintop, be­
ing burnt black, and having some splinters sticking in them ; and a man
who was sleeping on the lower deck with his head on a bag, near the
armorer’s bench, was found dead, with one black speck in his side ;
another man sleeping by him was not hurt.”




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Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.

In an article by Mr. Harris in 1832, copied from an Edinburgh journal
by Silliman’s Journal, vol. 21, p. 350, is the case o f the French ship
Conquin, struck while at anchor in the bay o f Naples, thus given :—
“ The electric matter passed, in this case, close to the main hatchway,
upon a spare anchor, and from thence through her bottom, a little below
the water’ s edge, on the larboard side.”
The next approximation to a case o f this description, in all o f Mr.
Harris’ cases I have seen, is that o f the British naval ship Snake. The
occurrence is thus detailed :— “ The electric fluid entered main truck,
shivered royal mast, splintered topgallant-mast, then over chain main top­
sail tye without damage, to within eight feet o f the deck, so far as the
topsail halliards. Finding an obstruction here in the ropes, it again sev­
ered on the mast, and became divided on the saddle o f main boom ; one
portion passed out o f quarter deck port to the sea, the other to lower deck
and down the mast, and distributing itself on the hull, affecting persons
below. The mast, on being examined at Halifax, was sprung about the
partners, two inches deep and fifteen inches round, was perfectly burst
asunder at the step, hence the stock had extended to the k e e l; the electric
matter, consequently, must have passed by the metallic bolts in the keelson to the sea.”
The next and last approximation o f a case o f the nature under remark,
was ‘"that o f H. M. ship Hyacinth, which had both the fore and main
topmasts and topgallant-masts destroyed by lightning in the Indian ocean,
in 1833. The electric fluid shivered those masts from the truck to the
heel o f the topmast, where it became assisted by the chain topsail sheet
leading to the deck, and so did no further damage to the mast; thence it
received assistance from the copper pipe o f Hearte’s patent pump, leading
to a small well, and thence by a second pipe through the ship’s side under
water, and by this passed safely into the sea.”
I f the reader will now turn to Mr. Meriam’s article in your Magazine
o f June, 1846, he will see the details o f about fifty cases, in not one o f
which is the evidence to be found, that there exists any general law that
admits o f the electric current manifesting itself below the water level o f
a vessel struck by lightning on the water. It is only necessary for the
anxious student o f electric phenomena to criticise the reported cases, to
become satisfied, that wherever the lightning descends below the water
level in a ship, it furnishes an exception to the general law o f its course,
and is conducted by a foreign influence that overpowers the law, and es­
tablishes an exception. He will find numerous instances o f its reported
descent with destructive violence to all in its way, until within a few feet
o f the water, and there leaving the masts to leap overboard. In the fa­
mous case o f the packet ship New York, the lightning “ struck her main
royal mast, burst asunder three stout iron hoops with which it was bound,
and shattered the mast head and caps. It passed down the mainmast,
one branch entered a store room and demolished the bulk heads and fit­
tings ; thence it went into the cabin, and, conducted by a lead pipe, passed
out through the ship’s side, between wind and water, starting the ends o f
three five inch planks.” — Silliman’s Journal, vol. 37, p. 320. In vol. 21,
p. 351, the other branch o f the fluid is described as having “ passed into
one o f the cabins, and shivered to atoms the plate o f a large mirror with­
out hurting the frame ; after this it fell upon a piano-forte, which it
touched with no very delicate hand, and left it dismounted and out o f tune ;




4

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Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.

165

from thence it passed through the whole length o f the cabin floor, which
was damp at the time, and out o f the stern windows into the sea.”
T o bring more directly to the reader’s view the general direction which
the fluid is described as taking, we will recount a few cases, as fair expo­
nents o f all. He will observe, also, how distinctly it is traced and often
seen to strike downward.
In 1830, the Athol, o f 28 guns, was struck by lightning. “ At this
time the topsails were lowered upon the caps, and the other sails furled.
The ship had chains for hoisting topsails, which lay in the direction o f
her topmasts ; also a chain for topsail sheets, which led along the lower
mast. When the electrical explosion tell on the truck, it shivered the
topgallant-masts into pieces so far as the commencement o f the first chain;
here, being assisted by the chain, it passed on without damage to the top­
mast, to where the chain terminated, thence with damage over the head o f
the mast, until, being assisted by the lower chain, it passed without damage
to the deck ; on reaching the deck, it passed, by means o f a bolt through a
beam in the forecastle, upon the chain cable, and thence into the sea.”
In 1811, the brig Belleisle, o f Liverpool, was struck. “ A vivid flash o f
lightning shivered her fore topmast and foremast, tore up the forecastle
deck, and struck a hole throughout her starboard side, starting several
butts in the bends, where it passed into the sea ”
The United States ship Amphion was struck in 1822. “ The lightning
descended by her mizzenmast, destroyed the compasses and cabin furni­
ture, splintered and tore into pieces the ceiling, bulkheads and ruddertrunks, shivered two hold beams, and passed out through the quarter into
the sea, tearing off part o f the sheathing in its course. ”
The great accumulation and intensity o f the charge that struck H.
M. S. Rodney, on the 7th o f December, 1838, eight or ten leagues to the
eastward o f Cape Passaro, and the minuteness o f details o f the occur­
rence furnished, will serve as an illustration o f a greater variety o f phe­
nomena than any other case on record. And although it be long, it is
well worth a repetition here, and will complete the data o f observed facts
needful for an illustration o f the theory I adduce.
From Annals o f Electricity, vol. 4, p. 167 and seq.— “ Progressive
course o f the electric fluid.— The vane staff, which is six feet long, with a
copper spindle (on which the vane traverses) of about 10 inches in length,
surmounted by a gilt wooden ball, the size o f an orange, shows its first
effect, (the ball and spindle were never seen after the shock,) being split
but not broken, and one side o f it blackened; the copper binder round
the truck was burst asunder, a small piece broken out o f the truck, and
one o f the metal sheaves for signal halyards slightly fuzed. From this,
after leaving the royal pole uninjured, it appears to have passed inside
the copper funnel for topgallant rigging and iron hoop o f the hounds o f
the mast, shivering the topgallant-mast to atoms, from thence to the top­
mast cap, not a piece having been seen the size o f a common walking
cane, and the sea was literally covered with its splinters to a considerable
extent. Its marks are now lost for many feet, notwithstanding the shock
about this spot must have been most terrific, as it was in the topmast
cross-trees where the poor fellows who suffered were at the time, and also
the heel o f the topmast (which was not at all injured below the cap) was
forced upwards into the cap, the fid being raised about eight inches above
the trussel-trees with such force that the top burton block strop was car­




166

Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.

ried away in trying to house it down again, and after all were obliged to
cut it out, not being able to clear it in any other way. Its next appear­
ance is on the main topmast, ten feet above the cap, seemingly attracted
by the iron-bound tye blocks and iron hoops on the topsail yard, (being
under a treble reefed topsail,) from whence it rent an immense splinter
out o f the mast down to the lower cap, going nearly into the core o f the
mast, and set fire to the tarry and greasy gear about the bunt o f the top­
sail yard, after taking this large splinter of nearly one quarter o f the
substance o f the mast away. Its next positive mark is on the starboard
lower trussel-tree, the lower cap, head o f lower mast, and heel o f top­
mast (both iron hooped) having escaped unhurt. It shook and blackened
the trussel-tree, rendering it unserviceable, and then must have entered
the mainmast, spreading and passing down both sides, bursting thirteen o f
the large iron hoops in its course, and knocking out pieces o f the side
tiees and main stick in several places, and escaped from the mast in the
shape o f afire hall, seven fe e t above the deck, and was seen to go over the
starboard (leeward) netting right over the gun abreast o f the mainmast,
rending the hammock cloth in several places, carrying away one rattlin
and stranding another. Its exit, although fiery in appearance, was harm­
less in effect, merely injuring the cloth over a space o f about a foot, and
breaking the two rattlins, when it was seen to strike the water a short dis­
tance from the ship.
“ Effects o f the electric fluid in its course.— Knocked overboard (at
least they were never picked up or seen) the gilt ball, copper spindle, and
calico vane from the top o f the vane staff—split the vane staff—broke
the copper binder round the truck— broke a piece out o f truck, and slight­
ly fused one o f the metal sheaves for signal halyards— cleared away the
whole o f the main topgallant-mast from the hounds o f topgallant rigging
to the topmast cap, not leaving a fragment aloft. Four men who had
been sent aloft to unbend topgallant gear, and prepare for sending the
yard down, were in the cross-trees at the time. John Rowe was struck
dead as he was moving from the weather to the lee side of the mast for
shelter from the rain ; he was just on the aft side o f the mast at the mo­
ment, and fell astride the after cross-tree, where he was held by some ropes
falling round him. He never spoke. Thomas Hollingsworth was stand­
ing on the after shroud o f topgallant rigging, to leeward o f the mast, and
holding on by the after cross-tree. He was so seriously injured as to be
sent down in a chair, and died in seven hours after. Hugh Wilson was
standing on the foremost shroud o f topgallant rigging, holding on by fore­
most cross-tree, and close to Hollingsworth. He states that the shock
threw him forward, and Hollingsworth aft. H e was only slightly hurt,
and only two or three days in the doctor’ s list. The other man, Charles
Prynn, was to windward, standing on the cross-tree, holding on by the
foremost shroud o f topgallant rigging, and received so slight a shock that
he did not even apply to the doctor. Wilson heard no thunder. The
first-named two men had every stitch o f clothes burnt from their bodies,
excepting just the wristbands and lower parts o f the trousers, which was
left on the wrists and ancles. They presented a shocking spectacle ; their
bodies discolored and hair singed from their persons. The next place is
a large splinter out o f the main topmast, from ten feet above down to the
cap, setting fire to the gear about the topsail yard, and then commences
its destructive force about the mainmast, first o f all giving a severe shake




Protection o f Vessels from Lightning.

167

to the starboard lower trussel-tree. It is hardly possible to give a descrip­
tion of its effects on the mainmast; the mast should be seen fully to un­
derstand it ; but some idea may be formed when it is stated that out of
twenty-eight large iron hoops, five inches wide and half an inch thick,
between the deck and trussel-trees, thirteen were burst asunder, and that
for a space o f fifty-three feet its ravaging effects can be traced the whole
way, and the spot whence it made its final escape is several inches deep
in the mast. On the starboard side a large piece o f the mast is broken
out (six inches deep) from the third to the sixth hoop above the deck, and
from the eighth to the ninth hoops. The cheek or side tree, several feet
o f the lower part gone altogether, and the other part nearly shook all to
pieces. The larboard side ekin piece gone from the sixth to the eleventh
hoop, and the mast burst out from the ninth to the eleventh, and from the
thirteenth to the fifteenth, and the cheek very much shook. The hoops
carried away were mostly the clasp hoops o f side trees, but some o f the
body hoops were also burst asunder, and strange to say, the awning hoop
on which the main trysail mast steps and mizzen stays reeve, lost one o f
its forelocks, notwithstanding a piece o f copper had been nailed over
the clasp part, the forelock which was driven downwards was gone, with a
piece of copper, and never seen, while the one which drives upwards was
left in its place, and held the hoop together. There were eighteen body
hoops between the deck and trussel-trees, and ten clasp hoops round side
trees— four o f the body hoops below side trees were broken. None o f the
hoops on the head o f lower mast, or on the head o f the topmast were
touched.
“ Several men assert, that halls o f fire were running about the lower
deck, and that they ran after them to throw them overhoard. This seems
strange ; but if so, and it is hardly possible several could be deceived, it could
be nothing more than flashes or rather Sparks passing down the different
hatchways after the explosion, and less active than in the first descent;
at all events, it is certain there was a strong sulphurous smell below, par­
ticularly in the pump well, and sparks seen by many o f the officers. It
is remarkable that the electric fluid seems to have jumped from metal to
m etal; first the copper spindle, then the copper funnel o f topgallant rig.
ging, and iron hoop round the mast to the head o f the topmast, from thence
to the iron-bound blocks and hoops on the topsail yards to the main cap,
and then to the lower trussel-trees, taking all the hoops downwards, pass­
ing over a gun into the sea.
“ The mast has since been taken to pieces at the naval yard at Malta,
and its interior shows no defect, in fact; not the slightest injury appears
about the mast, except what was exteriorly displayed. It is marked in
some places, even on the spindle, (centre piece,) as if a train o f powder
had been flashed on it, but nothing more.”
In another paper I will present the deductions which result from the
data given in the present article, and from acknowledged principles o f
electrical matter, in exposition o f the new theory o f the electric action
upon vessels upon the water, which I have herein advanced. It may at
least serve the good purpose of exciting more careful observation o f this
class o f phenomena, so important to be thoroughly understood for the pre­
servation o f life and protection o f property, however erroneous my theory
may in itself be hereafter proved.
F R A N C IS O. J. S M ITH .
F o r e s t H o m e , near Portland, Me., Jan. 2, 1849.




168

Friendly Societies :

Art. IV.— F R I E N D L Y S O C I E T I E S :
W IT H R EFEREN CE TO A N N U ITIE S A N D L IF E ASSURANCE FOR T H E POOR.

T h e re are few institutions capable o f being more generally useful, and to
produce more real relief, than friendly societies, provided they are based
on correct principles, and are conducted with zeal, prudence, and economy.
They are particularly so to the laboring classes, in averting, by their own
efforts, the misery which poverty adds to the bed o f sickness, to the in­
firmities o f age, and to the hour o f death. These advantages are greatly
enhanced in value, by the consciousness that they are the fruit, not o f be­
nevolence or the charity o f others, but o f the members’ own frugality and
foresight. Indeed, few things can be conceived more gratifying than tlje
enjoyment o f benefits which are the result o f our own doing. It raises us
in our own estimation— it makes us feel that we are o f some value in so­
ciety— that we contribute to its welfare by our labor, without being bur­
dens upon it in our misfortunes.
Frugality and prudence, in preparing for the future, give to a man a
moral independence and a happiness, of which a mere pauper can scarcely
form an idea. A man with such habits is a better husband, a better
father, a better servant; he is therefore more likely than others to be em­
ployed where confidence is required ; his services will be more productive
to himself and more valuable to others. He will find more pleasure in
the midst o f his family, because he knows that he has done his duty to
them, and consequently has a right to look for their approbation.
Unfortunately, however, unsound calculation, bad management, and
even fraud, too often have been the cause o f thwarting the good inten­
tions of these institutions. Starting with members in the prime o f life,
the claims are in the beginning but few, inducing a belief o f prosperity,
the funds increasing wonderfully in appearance ; but in the course o f a
few years, with advancing age, sickness, gradually increases, claims for
funeral money come in oftener, and it is at last found that the contribu­
tions have not been adequate; that benefits have been promised which
can never be realized, and that ruin and disappointment are inevitable.
The first object must be security. This can only be obtained by fol­
lowing the mathematical rules which are so well established by intelli­
gent men, and the fruits o f the experience made by others, and which
have been published by order o f the British government. The second
object must be justice, in charging to each member neither more nor less
than the true proportion o f risk which he brings into the society, taking
into careful consideration his age, and the probability o f the amount o f
claims he may have to make. T oo little attention is paid to this in the
numerous benevolent societies in which provisions are made in cases o f
sickness, and much less to the probabilities o f paying funeral money for
himself or wife.
McCulloch (who stated that from the 1st o f January, 1793, to the com­
mencement o f 1832, no fewer than 19,783 friendly societies were en­
rolled, o f which 16,596 were in England, 769 in Wales, 2,144 in Scot­
land, and 274 in Ireland) remarks:— “ It should also be recollected that
the progress of these societies, though great and most honorable to the
laboring population o f Great Britain, has been not a little counteracted




W ith reference to Annuities and L ife Assurance fo r the Poor.

169

by the ignorance and mismanagement o f their officers, and by the real
difficulty o f establishing them on a secure foundation. The great error
has consisted in their fixing too high a scale o f allowances. At their
first institution they are necessarily composed o f members in the prime o f
life ; there is, therefore, comparatively little sickness and mortality among
them.
In consequence, their funds rapidly accumulate, and they are
naturally tempted to give too large an allowance to those members who
are occasionally incapacitated. But the circumstances under which the
society is placed at an advanced period are materially different. Sick­
ness and mortality are then comparatively prevalent. The contributions
to the fund decline at the time that the outgoings increase ; and it has not
unfrequently happened that the society has become altogether bankrupt,
and that the oldest members have been left, at the close o f a long life,
destitute o f all support from a fund on which they had relied, and to which
they had largely contributed.”
The rapid and extraordinary increase o f friendly societies in Great
Britain attracted the attention o f the House o f Commons, and a select
committee was appointed, whose reports in 1835 and 1827 prepared the
way for the passing o f several acts, establishing certain rules and regu­
lations, to which all societies have to conform. Every effort has been
made by the said committee, and by the Society for the Diffusion o f Useful
Knowledge, to procure the best materials by which the chances o f sick­
ness and o f life could be accurately ascertained ; and with the assistance
o f highly intelligent men, tables have been computed, which show the
contributions required in single, annual, or monthly payments, to secure
benefits o f various descriptions. The benefits granted by friendly soci­
eties are—
1st. An allowance o f a certain weekly sum during sickness in pro­
portion to the single, annual, or monthly contribution, to cease on arriving
at a certain age.
2d. The payment o f a weekly sum on arriving at that age, and to be
continued until death, whether he be in good or bad health.
3d. The payment o f a certain sum on his death.
4th. Every member is entitled to medical advice and medicine from
the physician employed by the society.
The first of these benefits is well known in this country, and practiced
by our Health Insurance Companies, and by various benevolent societies ;
though I fear that mathematical principles and the true chances o f sick­
ness, in proportion to age and other circumstances, are but seldom ob­
served, and that the errors above alluded to have in many cases been
committed, and must eventually lead to the same disappointment, notwith­
standing the apparent success o f which they may now, in their infancy,
boast.
How important it is to charge each member in due proportion to the
average risk he brings to the society, will appear from the tables estab­
lished by the experience o f the English friendly societies, (see Ansell’s
Treatise on Friendly Societies,) showing the quantity o f sickness experi­
enced by an individual in the year following each age, expressed in
weeks and decimals o f a week, and the single and annual contributions
required to obtain £ 1 a week during sickness, until the age o f 70.




170

Friendly Societies :
INTEREST 4 PER CENT.

AGES.

W eeks...
Single....
Annual..

20.

30.

40.

.776
.861
1.111
£21.69 £24.85 £29.53
1.22
1.56
2.16

45.
1.351
£3 2.26
2.62

50.

55.

60.

65.

69.

1.701
2.256
3.292
5.672 10.086
£34.91 £37.01 £37.25 £30.73 £9.89
9.60
3.24
4.12
5.44
7.54

The observations not having extended beyond the age o f 70, no calculations could be made on the value o f a weekly allowance in sickness
after that a g e ; the English societies, therefore, limit it to that period ;
but, instead o f it, make a constant allowance from that time until death,
the expectation of life being known. It is, therefore, a deferred annuity,
for which a separate charge is made, and may be fixed so as to commence
at 60 or 65. Another extra charge is also made for the sum to be paid
at death, which is equal to a life assurance. The annual and monthly
contributions are so calculated that they cease as soon as the annuity
commences. A single payment entitles the member to all these benefits
without any further payments.
It will be seen that these calculations are based upon true mathematical principles ; that they extend only as far as actual experience has fur­
nished data to measure the risk; and that each party is charged just as
much as he will cost the society, on an average scale.
The great error made by our benevolent societies is, that they put no
limit to the time for which the allowance for sickness is to be paid; and if
a member lives to an age in which disease takes place more frequently,
he will become the recipient o f benefits for which he has given no equiv­
alent, and will therefore be a burden to the society to which he belongs.
Another mistake is, that safety is expected in the accession o f new
members, who, being younger, sustain the funds in proper order, and
make up for any deficiencies caused by the older members. This is true
enough, but it is at their expense ; for it is evident that if the fund is not
sufficient to warrant the promised benefits, the new comer will have to
pay not only to obtain the same advantages, but something extra to cover
the losses by former members. Supposing a society composed o f 200
members, and which has been in existence for the space o f ten years,
without admitting other individuals ; that it is found, that in consequence
o f inadequate contributions, or by greater claims upon their funds than
anticipated, their treasury is exhausted, or at least deficient, and are
therefore unable to continue the same allowances ; they conclude to admit more members, so that their higher initiation fees may restore their
funds to their proper level. Now it is very clear that if the same amount
o f contributions has not been sufficient for the old members, it cannot be
enough for the new ones ; and if they are charged at a higher rate, it is
in order to make up the deficiency caused by the former, and is therefore
a manifest injustice to the latter.
Had no others joined, the society would have gradually expired, prov.
ing that the members had not contributed enough, and that, therefore,
new ones were required to make up the loss; but as these will in the
course o f time be in the same situation, more new members will be want­
ed. Insolvency will not be avoided, but postponed, and the amount o f
deficiency constantly increased ; like the merchant, who, finding himself
behind in his affairs, avails himself of his credit to increase his purchases
and debts; he holds himself up for a little time longer, but the day o f




W ith reference to Annuities and L ife Assurance fo r the Poor.

171

reckoning will at last come, and it will be so much more awful in its con­
sequences.
The principle upon which friendly societies are founded, is to overcome
the effect o f fluctuations to which every individual is exposed. Taking a
great number o f them together in their collective capacity, the quantity
o f sickness and the expectation o f life for each respective age has been
as nearly as possible ascertained, and an average rate has been estab­
lished for each. Some, o f course, will be sick much oftener than others ;
but who will be so, cannot be told beforehand, because all have been
considered equally healthy, otherwise they would not be admitted into the
society.
By the example already given, it will be seen that a man o f the age of
30 will experience, on an average,
part o f a week sickness during
the year, while one o f 50 years will have 1J f j w eek ; and a society may
expect to have to pay in that proportion o f allowances during the follow­
ing year. In a small society, it is impossible that this should be exactly
the case, but the larger the number is, the nearer will be the average ;
and it is particularly desirable that an association should be quite numer­
ous, if it is expected that the principle should work well. For this rea­
son, friendly societies as they are established in England, will answer
much better than our secret societies ; because, if these should have as
many members, as the others may have without the least inconvenience,
their management would become exceedingly difficult, and for many rea­
sons impracticable.
The members or subscribers to a friendly society are not required to
attend any meetings, as they may send their monthly dues to the person
authorized to receive them, and females may therefore become members
as well as males.
The managers alone have certain days fixed on which they meet to
transact business, and a general meeting only takes place once a year,
to make a report to those who choose to attend it. There are, therefore,
no rents to pay, except for a small room for the officers, in a central part,
to be used once a w e e k ; no ornaments, banners, furniture, & c., to pro­
vide, and the whole expense consists in a moderate salary to one or more
o f those officers whose duties are too onerous to be obtained entirely
gratuitously, and for some stationery. The duties o f directors, trustees,
& c., are so light, that public spirited men will be found in abundance to
take charge o f them; who will readily devote a few hours every month
for it, and which is all that is wanted.
The object o f friendly societies goes far beyond the advantages ob­
tained in other benevolent societies and health assurance companies,
because they provide not only for the sick, but also for the aged. In fact,
what have the industrious most to fear ?
1st. T o be incapacitated to earn their daily bread by sickness— here
the society steps in, to supply the food for his family, and to assist him
with medical advice and medicine.
2d. T o be unable to support himself any longer by work, on account
o f old age, and weakness o f body and mind accompanying it— when the
society provides him with a certain income until his death.
3d. T o leave a family unprovided for— when the life assurance, or the
sum to be paid at death, will be found a welcome assistance.
All these advantages are secured by a small monthly contribution,




172

Friendly Societies :

made while he still was able to provide for himself, and which will cease
just at the period when his strength and energy will begin to fail.
T o give a clearer insight into the internal machinery o f these societies,
I offer some extracts from a work o f the Rev. John Thomas Becher,
entitled the “ Constitution o f Friendly Societies upon legal and scientific
principles, exemplified by the rules and tables o f the Southwell Friendly
Institution, & c.,” and hope that they may lead to the establishment o f a
similar association in this country, based upon truly safe and equitable
principles. The above society is composed o f—
Honorary members, contributing by benefaction £ 2 each, or by annual
subscription at least five shillings. Ladies being also admitted at onehalf o f the above contribution.
Ordinary members, being the regular contributors or subscribers for the
benefits.
The management is entrusted to twenty-four directors, including a pa­
tron, a vice-patron, a president, two vice-presidents, eight trustees, and a
treasurer, and who are chosen out o f the male honorary members. Three
directors form the board o f management, and meet once a week for the
transaction o f business. There are besides four stewards, chosen out of
the ordinary members, to investigate and ascertain in their behalf the
state o f the funds and the management o f the institution, and to submit
for the consideration o f the directors and trustees such observations or
suggestions as they may deem calculated to promote the welfare o f the
institution.
An honorary physician, or more, are nominated, if such can be found
willing to give advice gratuitously to such members o f the institution as
may be recommended in writing by the secretary, or by the surgeon in
attendance.
One or more surgeons are appointed, who, on the application o f any
person who may become a candidate for admission, are to ascertain and
certify in writing the state o f his or her health. They are also to visit
every sick member entitled to medical attendance once, at least, in every
week, or at such other times as the board or the secretary may deem
necessary. They are to record the date o f their attendance on the sick
paper o f every member demanding pay in sickness, and to afford medical
attendance, advice, and medicines, as often as needful, to every member
entitled thereto.
Voluntary male and female visitors, o f whom respectively one-half are
honorary and one-half ordinary members, are appointed to visit, from
time to time, all sick or infirm members of their own sex, to certify their
condition weekly to the secretary, to convey to them, severally, their
allowance, and to superintend the application o f the same on behalf o f
every member who may be incapable o f so doing. Stipendiary visitors
may also be employed, if voluntary ones are not found willing to officiate.
The secretary keeps all the accounts and registers, receives proposals
for admission and demands for allowance, collects the monthly contribu­
tions and fines, and pays such sums as the members may severally be en­
titled to claim.
Salaries are only paid to the secretary, the surgeons, the stewards, and
to the stipendiary visitors. The institution grants the following benefits:—
1st. An allowance in sickness, denominated full pay, half pay, (some­
times called bed-laying and walking pay,) and quarter pay. The full pay




W ith reference to Annuities and L ije Assurance fo r the Poor.

173

is due to every member who is confined by sickness or infirmity to his or
her bed or bed-chamber, so long as he or she continues unable to walk
out o f the house, or to perform any work, or to execute any employment,
or to exercise in any manner his or her customary occupation. Half-pay
is due to every sick or infirm member who is able to walk out o f the
house, or to perform any work, or to execute any employment; but not so
as, during any one week, thereby to earn any sum, or to acquire any
emolument equal in amount or value to his or her weekly half pay. Quar­
ter pay is due to every member during any sickness or infirmity which
may entitle him or her to weekly pay, and which shall have been certified
by the surgeon acting in behalf o f the institution to be incurable ; but nei­
ther the full pay nor the half pay shall be reduced to quarter pay until
after the expiration of twenty-six weeks.
Every assurance o f weekly pay in sickness entitles the member to re­
ceive and require from the surgeon, at the expense o f the institution, medi­
cal attendance, advice and medicines.
2d. Annuities to commence on arriving at the age o f 65 or 70, in week­
ly payments, for the term o f his or her natural life.
3d. The payment o f a certain sum on death, not exceeding, however,
the-sum o f £100.
Whoever makes an assurance in sickness, must at the same time assure
an annuity after the age of 65 or 70, together with a payment on death;
which combination has been devised with an intention o f preventing im­
position or inequality. Thus, were a sickly person to effect an assurance,
what was gained in sickness would be lost in the annuity. On the other
hand, should the healthy members receive but a small proportion o f the
pay in sickness, there is a greater probability o f their living to enjoy the
annuities. By a similar arrangement, the annuities and the assurances
on death reciprocally co-operate, so that, by introducing a system o f bal­
anced interests, it seems scarcely possible to defraud the institution, or to
preclude the attainment o f its benevolent objects.
The members are divided into ten classes, and every person may select
the class to which he or she is desirous o f belonging, but not so as to
assure any weekly allowance in sickness, unless it shall appear that the
amount o f his or her weekly earnings or emolument, calculated or esti­
mated upon an average for the year preceding his or her admission, has
been equal to thrice the amount o f the weekly half pay of the class cho­
sen. The table o f the first class is assumed as unity; the tables o f the
higher classes are found by multiplying their numbers with the amount o f
contributions and benefits o f the first class. In the second class, the con­
tributions and allowances are therefore double ; in the third class, three
times those o f the first class, & c., & c., leaving it optional to every one to
select the class which best answers his or her means or wishes.
The contributions may be paid monthly until the period when the an­
nuity commences, when they entirely cease, though the benefits still con­
tinue, or they may be paid in a single sum, which exonerates the mem­
ber from any further payments. The institution grants likewise, uncon­
nected with an allowance in sickness—
4th. Annuities, to commence at the age o f 60, not exceeding, how­
ever, ten shillings a week ; but another annuity o f additional ten shillings
may be added, to commence at 65 ; and still another o f ten shillings, to
commence at 70, making in all thirty shillings a week.




Friendly S ocieties: etc.

174

5th. A life assurance not exceeding £ 500 on any one life.
6th. Endowments for children o f from £ 6 to £ 3 0 , payable on their ar­
riving at the age o f 14 or 21.
I f desired, they may be made payable annually, from the age o f 14 to
21, in the proportion o f £ 1 a year for every £ 7 , payable at 21.
7th. Medical attendance, advice and medicines, may be secured with­
out an assurance in sickness, by agreeing to pay a certain single or an­
nual contribution.
The work from which these extracts are taken, contains a very detailed
explanation of the management, o f the simplest method for keeping the
accounts, and for ascertaining periodically the situation and progress o f
the society, with the various forms of applications, certificates, & c., with
the aid of which no difficulty would be experienced in forming a society
in this country. The tables therein contained, and those found in Ansell’ s Treatise on Friendly Societies, furnish the rules and materials for
the computation o f rates more suitable for this country, the higher value
o f money permitting a reform in the same.
The following table will show the contributions required by the Southwell Friendly Society, payable in a single sum or in monthly payments
until the age of 65, for a weekly allowance of two shillings, (sterling,) full
pay, and one shilling, half pay in sickness ; an annuity o f two shillings a
week, after the age o f 65, and the payment o f £ 2 on death. Class No. I.

15.

25.

80.

85.

40.

45.

50.

In sickness............ £ 1 18 9 £ 2 2 6 £ 2 4 8 £ 2 6 1 £ 2 8 0 £ 2 9 5 £ 2 11 9
After 65.................
1 3 4 1
17 1 2 7 7 3 1 6 4 0 3 5 6 4
7 3 2
On death ............. 0 14 4 0 16 5 0 17 5 0 18 7 0 19 10 1 1 3
1 2 9
Total single pay’t. £ 3 16 5 £ 4 16 0 £ 5
In sickness...............£ 0
After 65.................. 0
On death................. 0
Total monthly........£ 0

02
0 14
01

0
0
0

0 44 0

9 8 £6

6 2 £7

8 1 £ 8 17 0 £ 1 0 17 8

0 2J 0 0 2 f 0 0 34 0 0
0 24 0 0 34 0 0 4J 0 0
0 14 0 0 14 0 0 l j 0 0
0 6

0

0 74 0

3J 0
6J 0
1} 0

0 4J
0 9|
0 2

0 94 0 0 11J 0

14

0 0 5J
0 1 3f
0 0 24
0 1 I lf

It will be seen that a man aged 35 secures the above benefits by pay­
ing £ 6 6s. 2d. in one sum, without further payments, or by paying month­
ly 9 1 pence until he reaches the age o f 65, when all contributions cease,
though he is still entitled to the benefits.
At the above rates, reduced into federal money, a weekly allowance o f
$5 full pay, or $24 half pay in sickness, a weekly annuity o f $5 after
the age of 65, and a payment o f $100 on death, would cost—

20
In sickness.........................................
After 6 5 .............................................
On death.............................................
Total in a single sum............... .........
In sickness.......................................... .........
After 65...............................................
On death.............................................
Total monthly...........................

$2 86

80

40,

50.

74
63
64

$ 1 1 1 57
237 77
43 54

$119 86
401 23
49 61

$129 21
715 68
56 84

01

$3 92 88

$5 70 70

$901 73

71
19

$0
1
0

40

$ 2 17

$ 0 50

$1

$0

61
32
24

33

$1 13
* 6 54
0 52

$ 3 78

$ 3 19

78

2 67

0

In the above calculations, the interest is computed at 34 per cent on ly ;




1

The New York Bank B ill o f the Session o f 1848.

175

at 5 per cent, which we could safely allow in this country, the above rates
would be materially reduced, but to what extent, I have not yet ascer­
tained, it being an undertaking o f great labor to calculate the values of
annuities, though I often intended to prepare such a table, which might
prove an interesting guide to our numerous Odd Fellow, Temperance, and
other benevolent associations, and prevent the danger o f doing injustice
to themselves, or o f jeopardizing their existence.
■Many might think that the management o f such a society would be
very difficult, and involve much labor; but referring to Mr. Becher’s
work, I find that there is only one meeting in every year o f the honorary
members, one every month of the trustees, and one a week o f the board o f
directors.
Most and nearly all the work devolves upon the secretary, who keeps
the correspondence and all the books, which are, however, much more
simple than we might perhaps imagine. He, with the assistance o f the
stewards, has to attend one afternoon o f each week to receive applica­
tions for admission, claims for allowances, and the monthly contributions.
There being scarcely any expenses— no rents for handsome offices, and
heavy salaries to officers, no per centage need be added to the actual cost
o f the granted benefits; the poor and industrious members receive them,
therefore, not only on the very lowest terms, but also in easy instalments.
Females, who cannot become members o f secret societies, and who
would dislike to apply at our health assurance offices, are thus enabled to
participate likewise in these advantages.
The subject certainly deserves the full attention o f our philanthropists,
and should it receive it, as I confidently hope it will, it would afford me
the greatest satisfaction to lend my gratuitous aid, and to furnish further
details and calculations, which it would be superfluous to give in this com­
munication, and encroach upon the limited space allotted in this valuable
Magazine.
j. f. e.

Art. V.— THE NEW YORK BANK BILL OF THE SESSION OF 1848.
I t was a remark o f the celebrated and illustrious George Canning, that
in contradiction o f the popular opinion, if there were any two things es­
pecially that he distrusted, it was facts and figures. No one can study
with attention the history o f the banking system o f the State o f New
York, without conceding to Canning’s maxim more of wisdom than would
at first appear its due. He will find an array o f statistics, supported by
grave and elaborate calculations, careful deductions, and innumerable
problems, all displayed by the advocate o f peculiar systems o f banking ;
and to these arithmetical displays, the testimony o f valuable names added,
and each in its day believed to be the result, the great result, desired, and
for which others had in vain long labored. Yet time and experience, that
go through this world o f ours, discovering the truth where men had for­
gotten or omitted to search for it, and proving the futility o f the clearest
calculations, have demonstrated often that what was best supported by the
statistics o f the past, failed first for the future ; and that the first break in
financial machinery was frequently in the very place on which a wealth




176

The New York Bank B ill o f the Session o f 1848.

o f guard and restraint, check and balance, rule and regulation, had been
lavished.
On no theme has there been so much o f theory poured out, as on the
banking system. It has been the study o f the merchant and the legiti­
mate banker, and in their hands it has, as business usually does in the
guidance o f business men, prospered. It has been the nucleus o f a library
o f essays, all striving to exhibit their profound knowledge on the question,
by going all around it— everywhere but at it. Chiefly it has occupied
the attention o f legislative wisdom, and when committed, as it has often
been, to the care o f the men who knew but little o f the practical opera­
tions o f banking, it created plans and projects which would have crushed
or crippled the very business which it was designed they should benefit.
All this time it has been forgotten that in all business operations, sim­
plicity is a cherished feature, and that whatever is complex, is a departure
from the right; and for years it has been proclaimed as an axiom, that
the business o f banking was one clothed in mystery— a very delicate
machine, in which much o f lever and pinion on wheel was necessary,
and that no rude hand must be laid on the structure.
The State o f New York took banking in “ the natural way.” It did
not come in in a storm o f experiment, but monied institutions were here
and there organized, where the wants o f the business people required. In
the great city, it, o f course, first developed itself, because there, amid the
perplexing and complex turns o f the w’heel o f commerce, it was first man­
ifested that money needed a place o f bargain and sale as necessarily as
any o f the great staples o f trade. A regular and quiet institution that
was which first exhibited to the citizens o f the metropolis the order
and method o f a banking-house.
It had some customs which would
now be considered quaint indeed, and rather ludicrous, but w'hich
then seemed to be only an exhibition o f the obliging character o f the new
“ fiscal agent.” It was a pleasant sight to see the old porter o f the bank
taking round each note, as it became due, to the parties liable, so that,
instead of, as now, hurrying to and through Wall-street, before the fatal
hour o f three shall have struck its death blow to credit, the note was pure
to be brought home, literally, perhaps, a more welcome visitor than now.
A similar simplicity o f manner pervaded the customs o f the old Bank o f
Albany, which was for so long a frontier institution— an outpost o f finance.
Their business was always peaceably done, and no rash ventures were
made. There was a caution as to credit, and a horror as to debt. It
watched its own notes quite as warily as those o f its customers, and was,
in all the community, a synonyme for prudence. The men associated
with these two pioneer banks lingered long among us, as if the business
had been a pleasant one, and conducive to longevity. The writer o f this
sketch held an interesting interview with one o f these old gentlemen
but a few months since, when he pointed out, in State-street, the locality
where he had seen a treaty held with some o f the Iroquois by the colo­
nial governor, prior to the Revolution. The life o f any man is short, yet
the existence o f these early financiers has been long enough to witness
successive mutations in systems o f banking, each in their commence,
ment heralded as the very surest and safest; certain remedies for all the
ills to which credit and currency are heirs, and each in turn inspected,
attacked, and denounced— the adulation o f the morning changed in the
evening to invection.




The New York Bank B ill o f the Session o f 1848.

177

It has been a misfortune in the history o f the banking system in this
State, that an ad captandum name has generally been fixed upon the projects submitted to the action o f the community, so that the appellation has
sometimes been oftener a reliance than the intrinsic worth o f the policy.
A Safety Fund, a Free Banking Law, pronounce their own eulogy in
their designation, and anticipate favor, rather than earn it.
The rule to which the community agree in most o f the departments of
life, is departed from too often, in reference to banks. Excellent men—
good lawyers, it may be, or skilful physicians— admirable artisans, saga­
cious politicians, have been the compilers, devisers, inventors o f a bank
law, and of statutes governing and regulating the transactions with the
currency. The legislature has not always chosen from among its num­
ber those best qualified by experience, by practical knowledge, to judge
o f what system o f banking would be surest and safest. It is from the mer­
chant, whose interests are identified with a sound and authentic circula­
tion— the banker, who has passed a lifetime in finance as a business, that
the best suggestions and views must necessarily be obtained ; and stating
this, is only bringing the laws governing money to fhe same guidance
which would be given to any other science or profession. The wants o f
business, and only those, make the necessity for a bank; and business
men know best what is likely to do all that ought to be done, and to do
that well.
It is not for me to undertake the difficult task of a decision, as to what
system o f banking for our State is best. The judgment o f the people
through their representatives will undoubtedly be a wise one ; at least, it
is most comfortable to indulge such a hope. It is fortunate that the com­
mercial interests o f New York are so firm founded and durable that not
even a succession o f novelties in finance can seriously injure them.
W e are approaching a crisis or an era in our banking, for the provis­
ions o f the constitution are paramount, and with the new rule compliance
must be made.
The subject was examined in the last session o f the legislature by a
practical banker, who was at the head o f the Committee on Banks. He
had for a series of years managed an institution, and with results that de­
monstrated the efficiency o f the laborer. His bank had furnished a cur­
rency always sound, and ready to be rendered into Ihe precious metals.
The community in which the bank was situated, its customers and its
stockholders, bore willing witness to the good sense and good judgment
which had characterized its conduct. Mr. Ayrault discussed the subjects
committed by the Senate to his care with ready directness o f purpose, re­
garding banking as a business interest, in which every citizen could look
without machinery or mystery. The doctrine was well stated in the
R eport:—
“ On no question before the public judgment, has there been greater errors of
extremes of opinion, so far apart, and so strenuously advocated, that the true
theory, the sound decision, has been often among the things most difficult to be
attained. It has been vehemently asserted, that all banking was a monopoly,
given to the few against the rights of the many, and that that government alone
had advanced far in the progress of preservation of the happiness and prosperity
of the people, which most discouraged and opposed this pursuit. And by the side
of this error, grew up its antagonist, bolding a doctrine utterly the reverse, and
contending for the giving and the granting of privileges and exceptions, and fran12
V O L . X X .-----N O . I I .




178

The New York Bank B ill o f the Session o f 1848.

chises, inconsistent with that equality and simplicity which is essential in the in­
stitutions under which it is our happiness to live.
“ Banks and banking are conveniences of business which are to be regulated
by the well established common sense practical rules which govern an honest in­
tercourse among men in all the pursuits of trade, and commerce, and labor; that
there is to be neither mystery or privilege about them, but that their duties are
just as clearly defined and definable as those of any other business in life, and that,
when acting within these regulated limits, they are valuable instruments of the
movements of society ; but that, whenever more than this is asked or attempted,
and they are thrown into the combat of political or personal strife, they become
obnoxious, and are worthy of the disapprobation of the people, expressed through
their laws.”
This is such a thorough view o f the subject as will meet, and did meet,
a response in the minds o f the people, for it was new language in the
legislative halls— indeed, it was breaking away at once from the confused
and entangled methods o f other days, and it proved that progress was as
much an attribute o f financial knowledge, as o f political or scientific.
The very best kind o f progress is that which is simple and substantial.
The bill which accompanied the report, and which was examined and
debated by the Senate for several days, was intended, in an enlightened
good faith, to present to the capital o f the State, already engaged, or wil­
ling to embark in the business o f banking, the means so to do with suffi­
cient facilities for all just and honorable enterprises, but guarded doubly
strong against being made a vehicle of fraud or dishonesty.
Its provisions looked to a valid payment o f all the capital— not in the
representative o f currency, but in money ; and, indeed, a redeemable
issue based upon a cash capital, was the doctrine o f the bill. It gave to
the officer designated by the State, a control and a supervision over the
business of each institution, and by a new and wholesome feature, provided
for examinations by disinterested parties, residents o f the vicinity o f the
bank, and likely to be acquainted with all the facts necessary to form a
just judgment of its real condition. A proper reserve fund was directed
to be left with the Comptroller ; and it could be readily demonstrated that,
by the provisions o f Mr. Ayrault’ s bill, it would have been impossible,
within the range o f ordinary contingencies, for a disastrous failure to have
taken place, at least so as to affect the bill holder. The personal guaranty o f
the constitution was recognized and embodied, and the utmost care taken
to identify the bill with all the principles which the experience o f many
years have shown to be reliable in the important department o f finance.
The charters o f many o f our banks are, by the expiration o f the time
allotted to them, ceasing to exist, and the capital employed must be with­
drawn, or forced into other channels. The establishment of a judicious
system was demanded by the circumstances o f the times ; and whatever
may be the diversity o f opinion entertained o f the plan thus proposed, its
ability will not be questioned, nor its integrity. O f this last, the charac­
ter o f its author is a sufficient guaranty. It failed to be successful, it is
true, but such is often the fate o f the best prepared and wisest matured
projects. If a better can be framed, it will be welcomed with satisfaction,
for the only purpose that has been sought, is the good o f the community—
to give to banking capital all proper facilities for doing business, and, at
the same time, holding it strictly to the accountability o f the most rigid
and punctual discharge o f all its obligations.
No man but a practical banker can devise a practical b ill; for it is




Commercial Cities o f Europe : Dunkirk, France.

179

safest and surest to place the moulding of the great measures of finance
in the hands o f those who have made it their business to acquaint them­
selves with all the mutations, the vicissitudes, the different phases o f the
supply o f and demand for money. None theorize so extensively abou
proper restraints and guards, as those who w'ould be puzzled to devise any
worth imposing ; and yet, not seldom has the currency o f the country
been the iast problem given to the solution o f those who had made it the
business o f their lives to discover what that system is, which is at once
active and safe.
Undoubtedly some banking plan will be settled upon as the financial
regulation o f our State. It will be best received, if based upon the prin­
ciples o f the every-day transactions among business men. Commerce and
trade have, o f necessity, their rules, and no devising will be found as
worthy o f confidence as that which shall meet the cordial approbation o f
the business community.
Note.— The necessity for some plan for the establishment o f banks of
capital, is seen in the steady diminution o f the present institutions. There
expire in 1849, 1 ; in 1850, 5 ; in 1851, 2 ; 1853,- 1 0 ; 1854, none ;
1855, 10; 1 8 5 6 ,2 ; 1 8 5 7 ,3 ; 1 8 5 8 ,3 ; 1 8 5 9 ,3 ; 1 8 6 0 ,3 ; 1 8 6 1 ,2 ;
1 8 6 2 ,7 ; 1 8 6 3 ,7 ; 1 8 6 4 ,5 ; 1 8 6 5 ,3 ; 1866,12.

Art. V I.— C O M M E R C IA L C I T I E S OP E U R O P E .
NUMBER XI.

DU N K IR K , F R A N C E .
SITUATION— HARBOR AND TORT— COMMERCE— COD, WHALE, AND HERRINS FISHERY— DOMESTIC
TRADE— FOREION TRADE— ENVIRONS— INSURANCE, ETC.

D u n k ir k , an important seaport o f France, lies upon the Dover Straits,
in lat. 51° 2' 9" north, longitude 2' 22" east from Paris.
Its distance
from Paris is 68 leagues. Its population in 1836 was 25,000. Dunkirk
is the nearest French seaport to London, being but 42 leagues distant
from that city.
H a r b o r a n d P o r t . The harbor of Dunkirk is a circular basin, the
outer edge o f which is formed by a belt o f sand-banks. There being but
two narrow passages through this belt, one to the east and the other to
the west, it furnishes, during war, a defence against hostile cruisers.
Since 1821, much has been done for the improvement o f this harbor.
Among other works, we may mention the reconstruction o f the dam of
Bergue, and the formation of a basin with a sluice, intended to pierce the
bar. In 1836, additional improvements were made, the object o f which
was to clear a channel for the entrance of deeply laden vessels.
Several canals, with numerous branches, terminate at Dunkirk, and
give that place a ready communication with Belgium and with Paris, and
many manufacturing towns o f the interior, such as Arras, Lille, Valen­
ciennes, St. Quentin, & c., &c.
In the harbor is a bed o f English oysters, like that at Ostend, and fur­
nished from the same place. These are sent to all parts o f France, and




180

Commercial Cities o f E urope: Dunkirk, France.

have obtained possession o f many o f the markets formerly supplied by
Ostend.
C o m m e r c e . I f the capital o f Dunkirk was at all proportioned to the
skill, enterprise, and hardihood o f its people, its commerce would attain
the highest prosperity. But, at present, almost all the business o f the
city is conducted on account o f merchants residing elsewhere.
About 600 cargoes (amounting to some 40,000 tons) of coal, from the
mines o f Anzin, Mons, and Fresne, are annually exported from this place.
The products o f the cod fishery also form an important article o f export.
A great number o f cargoes are sent to Caen, Havre, Bordeaux, Mar­
seilles, and especially to Rouen, whence they are forwarded to Paris and
places beyond.
C od , W h a l e , a n d H e r r in g F i s h e r y . The cod fishery is very ad­
vantageous to Dunkirk. It employs from 12 to 1500 sailors, brings large
returns to fitters, and enriches the city by the encouragement it aflbrds to
mechanical industry.
About 100 vessels are engaged in this business. They are fitted out
in February, and return in September or October. Their fishing ground
is off the north-western shores o f the Atlantic. The salt used in curing
the cod is brought from St. Ubes. As soon as the fish are taken, they
are cleaned and packed in casks. Their livers produce fish oil. The oil
obtained from other parts o f the intestines is used in tanning leather.
The annual product o f this fishery is about 4,000,000 kilograms o f cod,
valued at 2,000,000 francs.
The whale fishery, which in 1790 was carried on from this place with
great success, was, for a long time, entirely abandoned. In 1832 it was
resumed, and during the following four years, eight ships were fitted out.
A great obstacle to the success o f this business, is the difficulty o f ob­
taining experienced captains, and skilful and intrepid sailors. Unfortu­
nately the government bounties have been given to those shippers who
employ native seamen, instead o f to those who obtain the services o f skil­
ful foreigners, such as the Scotch and Americans. The whale fishery is
carried on both in the Northern and Southern seas. The northern voy­
ages are only six or seven months in length; the southern are usually
about two years.
In 1790, seventy vessels were sent from Dunkirk on the herring fish­
ery ; but at present, the business is almost abandoned. The ports o f
Dieppe and Boulogne have outstripped all their competitors.
D o m e s t ic T r a d e . Dunkirk sends to Havre gin and glass o f its own
manufacture, chicory, flax, oil, linen, & c. T o Caen it sends coal, cod­
fish, oil and seed-oil cakes. T o Brest and Cherbourg, timber for ship
building, gin, chicory, starch, & c. T o Saint Malo, flax and flax-seed.
Several cargoes o f tobacco are annually shipped by the government
agents to Havre, Morlaix, and Bordeaux.
Fifteen or twenty cargoes o f
flax and other articles, such as chicory, lard, oil, &c., are sent to Bay.
onne every year; from which place two or three loads o f tar, pitch, and
resin, are received in return. Dunkirk receives a large quantity o f wine
from Bordeaux and its neighborhood, and competes with Rouen in the ex­
port of champagne to Russia and Prussia. Its canals, communicating
with the interior o f Belgium, give it great advantages as a place o f ex­
port ; especially, because the charges for pilotage and entry are very
heavy in the ports o f Belgium. Dunkirk also receives from Bordeaux 2




Commercial Cities o f E urope: Dunkirk, France.

181

or S00 casks of brandy and spirits, besides coffee, sugar, cocoa, pepper,
cloves, raisins, primes, Cainpeachy wood, juniper berries, sumac, rice, al­
monds, & c. From Marennes, and the islands o f Oleron and Re, Dum
kirk receives about 150 cargoes o f salt; and from Havre considerable
quantities o f exotic wood and colonial products.
T o Marseilles, this port ships annually about eighty cargoes o f linseed
and other seed oil, the manufacture o f Lille and its environs. In return,
there come nearly thirty.loads o f soap, almonds, wood, liquorice, olive
oil, sumac, & c. Its shipments to Cette consist mostly o f grain and flour,
and the annual returns from that place are about thirty cargoes o f the
wine o f Provence and Languedoc, some Spanish and Italian wine, and a
considerable quantity o f the brandy and spirits o f the neighborhood.
The wheat produced in the neighborhood of Dunkirk and Lille is, in
color and weight, the finest in France, and is always in great demand.
O f late, large quantities have been shipped to the French ports on the
Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
F o r e ig n T r a d e . The commerce o f Dunkirk with foreign countries
is not less active than its domestic trade. It sends to England the wines
of Burgundy, Champagne, and Bordeaux, flax, tow, oil-cakes, and many
small cargoes of apples, purchased by the English in the markets o f Bergues, Bourbourg, & c. It receives from that country, in return, iron in
pigs and bars, lead, grind-stones, mill-stones, litharge, lamp-black, cotton,
sulphur, colonial products, cheese, wool, cattle, cow and calf skins, & c.
Considerable contraband trade is also carried on with England in silks,
brandy, gin, & c.
From Norway, Dunkirk imports great quantities of timber o f all kinds ;
from Russia, linseed, hemp, tallow, tar, pitch, potash, & c . ; from Portu­
gal, salt, oranges, citrons, figs, raisins, and other fruits; from Tuscany,
some cargoes o f potash; from the United States, tobacco, potash, cot­
ton and dye w oods; from Martinique, sugar, coffee, cocoa, Campeachy
wood, &c.
T o Martinique and Gaudaloupe, Dunkirk exports gin, brandy, bottles
and demijohns, peas, beans, potatoes, the products manufactured in the
north o f France, such as cottons, linens, lawns and laces, perfumery, furs,
articles o f dress, such as habits, robes and chemises, nails, iron ware,
cables, small cord, bricks, tiles, candles, brushes, hemp and flax.
A regular line of packets runs between Dunkirk and Hull. The port
has also three lines o f steamboats, running to Havre, Hamburg, and
Rotterdam.
E n v ir o n s . In the environs of Dunkirk there are some manufactories,
such as gin-distilleries, sugar-factories, glass-houses, (producing bottles
and demijohns to be exported to the colonies,) and also a white-lead fac­
tory and a ship-yard, which is in constant activity. But, to a stranger,
the most striking feature o f the surrounding country is the perfection to
which the cultivation o f the soil is carried. The chief agricultural pro­
ducts are grain and the red beet. There are also extensive pasture lands
in the neighborhood, supplying food to an immense number o f cattle.
I n s u r a n c e , e t c . It is difficult to effect marine insurance at this place.
But few o f the merchants take risks, and the business is left to the agents
o f the Antwerp, Havre, and Paris companies. The number o f vessels
belonging to the port is about 200. An entrepot o f prohibited merchan­
dise is established here.




182

Statistical View o f the American W hale Fishery.

Art. VII.— STATISTICAL VIEW OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY.*
T he whaling fleet o f the United States consisted, on the 1st o f Janu­
ary, 1849, o f 580 ships and barks, 20 brigs, and 13 schooners, with atotal tonnage o f 195,598 tons, owned in the following places :—
Ships Sc barks.

Brigs.

Schooners.

246
67
48
49
41

2
1
1

i

W hole N o. o f
vessels.

i
4

20
21

15
8
10
10
6
6
6

16

1

8
10

5

15

2

8
6
10

4

5
4
1

5
4
3

6

10

3
3

3
3

2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

..

Tons.

80,660'
23,477
17,880
15,805
14,649'
6,558
6,414!
4,897
3,315
3,059
2,804
2,408
1,984
1,880
1,615
1,459
1,260
1,106
949
720
709
398
374
256
227

249
69
53
49
41

20
21

i
l

222

175
137
111

90

!

CD
O 1

N ew Bedford......................
Nantucket..........................
N ew London....................
Fairhaven...........................
Sag Harbor.......................
Warren, R. I ....................
Stonington.........................
M ystic............................
Cold Spring.......................
Greenport...........................
W estport...........................
Edgartown.........................
Newport............................
Mattapoisett................. -..
Fall River..........................
Providence.........................
Provincetown...................
Falmouth...........................
Holmes’ H o le ...................
L ynn..................................
Bridgeport.........................
Salem..................................
Wareham...........................
Sippican.............................
N ew Suffolk......................
Bristol.................................
Plymouth.........................
Somerset............................
Dartmouth.........................
Yarmouth..........................
Total.........................

13

20

613

195,595

Average tonnage....

319

The ship Hope, o f New Bedford, sailed in 1843, last reported ashore
at New Zealand, is not included in this list.
The largest vessel in this fleet is the ship South Ameriea, o f Providence, 616 tons, and the smallest the schooner Atlas, o f N ew London, 81
tons.
The time o f sailing o f these vessels is as follows :—
Ships Sc
Sailed in 1844.............
“
1845............. ............................
“
1846.............
“
1847..........................................
“
1848.............
In port............................
Total................. .............................

Barks.

Brigs.

81

1
165

580

Schooners.

.

T o ta l.
ii

i

82

i

123

7

5

170
172
55

20

13

613

2

3

10

3

_

* For an elaborate account o f the American W hale Fishery, embracing a history o f its
rise and progress, see Merchants* Magazine for November, 1840, Vol. III., pp.361 to 394




183

Statistical View o f the American W hale Fishery.

►

The vessel now at sea out the greatest length o f time is the ship Bar­
clay, o f New Bedford, sailed 20th July, 1844.
The ship Alexander, o f Sag Harbor, arrived 19th July, 1848, about
four years ten months and four days, perhaps the longest voyage ever made
by an American ship.
O f the whole number o f vessels at sea (558), about one-half are engaged
chiefly in the sperm whale fishery, the other half making the right whale
the main object o f their pursuit; the vessels o f larger tonnage being gen­
erally right whalers, and the smaller, including the brigs and schooners,
in the sperm fishery.
About 35 brigs, schooners, and small barks are employed in the sperm
whale fishery in the North and South Atlantic; about 85 ships and barks
in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean for sperm and right w hales; and
most of the remainder in the Pacific— those for right whales cruising on
the coasts o f Asia and America from 1st March to 1st October each year
in latitude 35° to 60° N . ; the sperm whalers cruising on the line, and
coasts o f Peru, Japan, and New Zealand during the whole year.
The following table shows the nurrtber o f vessels employed in the Amer­
ican whale fishery at different dates during the last twenty years:—
Ships & Barks.

January 1, 1829.....................................
“
1834.....................................
“
1843.....................................
“
1846.....................................
“
1849

184
414
589
680
580

Brigs.

17
7
55
34
20

Schooners.

Total.

2

203

14
22
13

658
736
613

It will be seen from this table, that while the increase has been very
great since 1st January, 1829, yet the last three years have shown a de­
crease o f 123 vessels, or 17 per cent, being a greater reduction than the
increase of the three previous years. From the tables at the close o f this
article, it will be seen that the ships arriving with whale oil in the years
1843, 1844, and 1845 were absent but little more than two years, and
averaged 2,058 barrels whale oil, with an average price o f 3 4 j cents ;
while the right whale ships arriving in 1846, 1847, and 1848 were absent
an average o f thirty-one months, and obtained only 2,066 barrels o f whale
oil, with an average price o f 33 cents— an addition o f one-fourth to the
time, with no increase o f quantity and with lower prices.
The laws o f profit and loss, which invariably govern all trade, have
caused this great reduction in the whaling fleet; and unless the price o f
whale oil should materially advance, or new and undisturbed grounds (as
the waters frequented by whales are technically called) be found, which
it seems can be hardly hoped for, all oceans, seas, and hays having been
visited, the number o f vessels in this branch o f the whaling business will
probably continue to decrease. Those well qualified by experience and
observation to judge, believe that all the vessels employed in the right
whale fishery the past three years have not, in the aggregate, paid to their
owners 6 per cent interest, without regard to profit, which, from the great
length o f time, hazard, and risk, ought certainly to be looked for.
The diminution in the whaling fleet here spoken o f has fallen on those
vessels engaged in the capture o f the right whale, the prices obtained for
sperm oil affording fairer remuneration for the additional time now required
for a voyage. The right whale ships formerly procured their cargoes en­
tirely in the South Atlantic Ocean, on the coast o f Brazil, where the first




184

Statistical View o f the American W hale Fishery.

vessels were sent about 1774, and were absent from nine to twelve months.
The whole amount o f whale oil then taken was very small. In the year
1826, the whole number o f vessels sailed from the United States for this
fishery was 23, viz :— New Bedford, 13 ships ; Sag Harbor, 6 ; New London, 2 ; Vineyard, 1 ; New York, 1 ; and the whole import o f whale oil
in 1828, twenty years since, was but 46,065 barrels, whalebone 417,966
pounds— whale oil being worth about 26 cents, and bone 37| cents.
About the years 1829 and 1830 the right whalers began to extend their
cruises eastward, and found abundance o f whales in the vicinity o f the Isl­
and of Tristan d’Acunha. Having never been disturbed, the whales here
were tame and easily taken ; and many ships returned from this ground
in 1831 and 1832, absent from seven to nine months, with full fares, and
the old cruises on the Brazil banks were abandoned. As the whales grew
shy and were killed off in the South Atlantic, the ships worked east o f the
Cape o f Good Hope, in the Indian Ocean, off the South Coast o f New
Holland, and finally at New Zealand, around which last island was the
favorite cruising ground for right whalers from 1835 to 1640. Here, too,
the untiring energy o f the whalemen frightened and dispersed the fish
which his skilful hands failed to capture, and new and undisturbed fields
were to be sought out. About this time right whales o f a large size were
found in the North Pacific Ocean, and in the year 1839 the ships Elbe
and Beaver, o f Poughkeepsie and Hudson, took 2,600 barrels o f whale
oil off the north-west coast o f America. Gradually, as the ships resorted
to this ground, they cruised west towards the coast o f Kamtschatka, and
found whales very abundant in the seas on the east coast o f Asia.
The following table shows the amount o f whale oil taken in north lat­
itude in the Pacific Ocean.
Years.

1839............ .........
1840...........
1841........... .........
1842........... ......
1843............ ......

Ships.
2

3
20

29
108

A v. bbls.

1,400
587
1,412
1,627
1,349

Bbls.

2,800
1,760
28,200
47,200
146,800

Years.
1844 .............. ........

1845............ ........
1846........... ......
1847............
1848............ ......

Ships.

170
263
292
150

A v. bbls.

Bbls.

1,528 259,470
953 250,600
869 253,800
1,055 186,650
(Estimated.)

Reports at this date (January 10) have been received from only 8 ships
which had left the coast in 1848, and they had only taken an average o f
704 barrels.
In the year 1846, an adventure was started from New London for the
capture o f the right whale in Davis Straits, where the English have
whaled for 200 years, but which had heretofore remained undisturbed by
Yankee skill and daring since the Revolution ; and it was argued that, as
the Americans had driven the English from the South Sea fishery, they
might successfully compete with them among the icebergs o f the north.
The first fitting and preparation o f a vessel for the ice whaling is at­
tended with much expense not required for any other voyage. The bot­
tom o f the ship must be double covered with oak plank, and her bows
very strongly fortified, without and within, to enable her to force her way
through the ice and resist its pressure. The ship McLellan was pur­
chased, fitted, and sailed for Davis Straits April 8, 1846; since which
time she has made three voyages averaging 6 months and 20 days, with
an average cargo o f 612 barrels whale oil. The success o f this ship has
not been sufficient as yet to warrant the sending of any additional vessels
to the ice, but the McLellan is fitting for another voyage thither.




185

Statistical View o f the American W hale Fishery.

The inhabitants o f the Island o f Nantucket were the first persons to
engage extensively in the whale fishery, and as early as the year 1690,
they made whaling a profitable business, discovering the whale from a
look-out on shore, capturing him in boats, returning to the shore with the
carcass to extract the oil from the blubber. As the whales grew scarce
around the island, they pushed off into the ocean in small vessels, and in
the year 1748 they had 60 sail, from 50 to 75 tons, and caught 11,250
barrels o f oil. The first sperm whale caught at Nantucket, and probably
by Americans, was taken by the schooner Hussey about the year 1712.
The ship Beaver, o f 240 tons, sailed from Nantucket in the year 1791
for the coast o f Peru, and was the first American whaling vessel which
doubled Cape Horn. She cost $10,200 fitted for sea, was absent 17
months, and brought home 1,000 barrels sperm oil, and 250 barrels
whale oil.
IMPORTED AT NANTUCKET IN

Years.
1808....................
1818....................

Sperm oil.
Bbls.

W hnle oil.
Bbls.

7,707
14,864

10,503
13,426

Sperm oil.
Bbls.

Years.

43,174
22,362

1828....................
1848....................

W hale oil.
Bbls.

1,033
7,409

Although the enterprising inhabitants o f Nantucket were the first to
engage extensively in the whale fishery, yet they have not greatly in­
creased their number o f vessels in thirty years; and while New Bedford
and other places have added a large number o f ships, the good people o f
the island seem to have been satisfied to hold on the even tenor o f their
way.
I

Ships

Nantucket owned, January 1 ,1 8 1 9 ........................................
“
“
1829........................................
“
“
1849........................................

8c Barks. Brigs.

57
60
67

Schooners.

1
1
1

1

Showing an increase in twenty years o f only seven ships and one schooner.
New Bedford, which stood but little ahead o f Nantucket twenty years
ago, has made very large additions, and now owns nearly half the whaling
tonnage o f the United States.
Ships &. Barks. Brigs. Schooners.

New Bedford owned, January 1, 1829...............................
“
"
“
1849................................

67
246

8

2

1
1

The following table shows the import o f sperm oil into the United
States, with the average price, for the last thirty-four years, since 1815:—
1815................
1 8 1 6 ................
1817................
1818................
1819................
1820................
1821................
1822................
1823................
1824................
1825 ...............
1826................
1827................
1828................
1829 ...............
1830................
1831................

.........
........
........
........
........
........
........

$ 1 40
1 12

0
0
0
0

72
90
83
92

0 68

........

0 71

........

0 62

........

0 66




Bbls.
2,186
7,343
31,603
17,102
22,716
32,127
43,365
42,839
86,725
92,475
60,052
33,000
92,865
73.000
80.000
106,201
106,436

1832................
1833................ .........
1834 ............... .........
1835................ .........
1836................
1837................ .........
1838................ ........
1839 ............... ........
1840................
1841................ ........
1842................ ........
1843................
1844 ...............
1845................
1846................
1847................
1848................

0 85
0 72
0 84
0 82
0 86

1 05
0 94
0 73

1 01

Bbls.
71,435
90,000
121,700
172,682
128,685
181,724
125,977
142,483
158,431
157,413
165,637
166,985
139,481
157,603
95,219
120,753
107,876

186

Statistical View o f the American W hale Fishery.

Largest import in twenty years in 1837,181,724 barrels ; highest price
in 1839, $1 05.
A table showing the import o f whale oil since 1828, and the average
price since 1840 :—
Bbls.

Bbls.

1828..........................
1829..........................
1830...... ..................
1831..........................
1832 .........................
1833........................
1834................
1835...........................
1836.....................
1837...........................
1838..........................

46,065
64,039
86,294
113,948
179,244
159,166
122,292
125,100
131,157
219,138
225,000

$ 0 36
0 33
0 32

1839..........................
1840
...................
1841..........................
1842..........................
1843..........................
1844..........................
1845..........................
1846...........................
1847..........................
1848...........................

$0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

30£
31J
33f
344
364
32}
33
36
33

227,816
208,688
205,019
161,041
206,727
261,245
272,186
207,481
313,150
280,656

Largest import in 1847.
IMPORT OF WHALEBONE SINCE 1844.

1844...........................
1845...........................
1846...........................

2,532,000
3,167,000
2,276,000

3,341,000
2,023,000

1847............................
1848.............................

4

It is believed that no accurate record was kept o f the import o f whale­
bone for many years previous to 1844, but it is safe to estimate that a right
whale will yield at least 800 pounds of bone to 100 barrels of oil. The
price o f this article has fluctuated from 9 cents in 1821 and 1822, to 55
and 60 cents in 1844.
The following statistical tables, showing the average time and success
o f the whaling vessels for the past seven years, are arranged from the
New Bedford Shipping L is t:—
SPERM W HALERS.
SHIPS AND BARKS PROM THE PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS.

Years.

Ships arrived.

Av. time absent.
Months. D ays.

1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848

.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
................: ....................
.......................................

55
70
69
91
42
52
52

41
41
43
43
41
45
41

Sperm oil.

Whale oil.

Bbls.

Bbls.

1,973
1,641
1,419
1,291
1,350
1,505
1,292

8

13
...
21
6

12
19

135
124
293
387
280
219
192

It will be seen from this table that while the time o f the ships arriving
the past year was about the same as in 1843, five years since, yet the
quantity of oil was diminished nearly one-fourth.
ATLANTIC SPERM FISHERY.
IN SMALL BARKS, BRIGS, AND SCHOONERS.

Years.

1842 .............................................
1843.............................................
1844.............................................
1845..............................................
1846..............................................
1847..............................................
1848..............................................

Vessels arrived.

65
55
42
43
48
34
31

Av. time absent.

Sperm oil.

Whale oil.

Months. D ays.

Bbls.

Bbls.

280
288
248
238
259
228
303

12

13
14

28
20

12

13
14
15
16

7
7
9
21

25
38
76
14
42
18

The vessels employed in this fishery have diminished more than onehalf in the past seven years.




<

187

M ercantile Law Cases.
RIGHT WHALERS.

80IPS AND BARKS WHICH CRUISE MOST OF THE TIME FOR RIGHT WHALE OIL, AND DO NOT RE­
TURN THE NEXT YEAR AFTER THEY SAIL.

Years.

Ships arrived. Av. time absent.
Months. D ays.

1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848

......................................
....................
............
..........
...................................
................
............

74

90
112
101
94
150
122

24
25
25
24
30
31
33

15
10
9
...
2
7
2

Sperm oil.

Whale oil.

Bbls.

Bbls.

1,792
1,937
2,059
2,180
2,034
1,978
2,187

422
311
248
196
225
195
222

STOCKS OF WHALE AND SPERM OIL ON HAND.

Sperm oil.

January 1, 1848.......................................................
“
1849.............................. .......................

MERCANTILE

Whale oil.

Bbls.

Bbls.

5,690
9,590

29,170
20,600

LAW

Whalebone.
Lbs.

921,500
994,600

CASES.

BARBOUR'S CASES IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK*
T h is is the first volum e o f N ew Y ork Suprem e C ourt R eports that ever co n ­
tained cases in E quity, and M r. B arbour has entered upon the new era o f State
reporting, and com m enced the series o f reports under the n ew constitution in an
admirable manner. T h e present volum e is g ot up in very handsom e style, and
the work o f the reporter, in stating the facts, g iv in g the argum ents o f cou n sel
and the opinions o f the court, fully and ably done.
In his p reface, M r. Barbour briefly sketches the chan ges in the ju d iciary o f the
State lately brought about by the ab oli'ion o f the Court o f C hancery, the m erging
o f equity ju risdiction into that o f the Suprem e Court, the increase o f the number
o f Suprem e C ourt ju d ges from three to thirty-tw o, and the division o f the State
into ju dicial districts, with four ju d ges in each, and the consequent breaking up
o f the State (a cco rd in g to those disposed to take the least favorable view o f the
ch a n g e ) into eight local courts, instead o f one really Suprem e Court.
O ne o f the difficulties arising from this supposed defect in the new system , is
obviated by the course w hich w e understand M r. B arbour has pursued in pre­
paring this volum e. A ll the d ecision s m ade during the period o f tflis volum e,
(Septem ber to D ecem ber, 1847,) are not given ; but the reporter was furnished by
the ju d ges with su ch decisions as seem ed m ost important, and harm onized with
each other. U nless this cou rse w ere pursued, the profession and the public m ight
be favored with the edifying spectacle o f the same volum e o f the reports o f one
and the same court, containin g d ecision s directly overruling the one, the o t h e r ;
or i f su ch a thing cannot be supposed o f tribunals, co-ordinate and equal d ecis­
ions neutralizing and ca n cellin g each other.
T h e great feature o f the new ju d iciary system is its elective character. T h e
division o f the State into local districts, (adm itting su ch to be the effect o f this
system ,) is com paratively o f little moment. S u ch , how ever, is not, in fact, the
effect o f the n ew arran g em en t; or rather, the system is so carried out as to pre­
vent this lo ca lizin g effect. T h e new c o d e o f N ew Y o rk requires the governor,
in designating the ju d ges to hold the courts throughout the State, to so assign
them , that “ not m ore than one-half, nor less than one-fourth, o f the courts to

* Reports o f Cases in Law and Equity in the Supreme Court o f the State of New
York. By O l iv e r L. B a r b o u r , Counsellor at Law. Vol. I. A lbany: Gould, Banks, &.
Gould, 104 State-street. N ew Y o rk : Banks, Gould, & C o., 144 Nassau-street. 1848.




188

Mercantile Law Cases.

w h ich each shall be assigned, shall be held out o f the district within w h ich he
was elected .”
By this w ise provision, while the services o f the ju d ge are in the
m ain confined to his constituents, on the other hand, the advantage is secured, to
a degree, o f having ju d ges not immediately appointed by those upon w hose con ­
cern s they decide ; and at the sam e time, the objection is partially obviated, that
the new system is too lo ca lizin g in its tendency, and lacks unity.

We repeat, it is the fact that the Judiciary, the first volume of whose reports
is before us, is an elective one, which gives this volume its peculiar interest. It
contains not many cases of a direct mercantile bearing. But what merchant o f
liberal views can fail to perceive the general and the important bearing of such
great changes as have lately been made in the Judiciary system of the State o f
New York ? Whatever affects the law of remedy on contract, or the tribunals by
which that law is administered, affects the merchant. It must be satisfactory to
the merchant, as well as to the lawyer, to find in this, the first volume of the new
reports, the evidences of that same ability and learning which have hitherto
marked the decisions of New York. Indeed, strange as it may seem, it is ex­
ceedingly doubtful if the most strenuous opponent of the elective system, on taking
up this volume and reading it through, without previous intimation, would know
that it came from an elective, or judiciary, or one appointed in any other way.
A m o n g the decisions o f general interest to m erchants, is the able opinion o f
Ju stice Edm onds, in the m atter o f P rim e, (p ag e 29 6.) M essrs. P rim e, W a r d , &
C o. w ere arrested, shortly after their failure, upon a warrant issued under the
non-im prisonm ent act (so called ) o f 1831, at the suit o f a judgm ent creditor. T h e
statute provides, that on paying the debt for w hich he is arrested, or g ivin g se­
curity to pay it in sixty days, or m aking an assignm ent o f his property, or giving
bond to assign, the debtor m ay be discharged. M essrs. Prim e & W a rd offered,
on their arrest, to m ake a general assignm ent for the benefit o f all their creditors,
and demanded their d isch arge. T h e plaintiffs insisted that they w ere entitled to
a disch arge for their ex clu siv e b e n e fit; and the sin gle question to be decided, and
w h ich , singularly enough, had never been settled, although the statute has n ow
been in force seventeen years, w as w hether the assignm ent entitling the defen­
dant to his discharge, is a general assignm ent, or one for the benefit o f the prose­
cu tin g creditor alone. Justice Edm onds, after a masterly analysis o f the statute,
com es to the con clu sion , contrary to his first im pression, that the debtor m ust as­
sign for the benefit o f the judgm ent creditor alone, w ho prosecutes.
T h e decision in K oppel vs. H en richs, (page 44 9,) is important to foreign con ­
suls and those dealing with them. It is a w ell established and w ell know n rule
o f jurisdiction, that foreign consu ls can only be sued in the federal courts. In
this case, the defendant, after the com m encem ent o f a suit against him in a
State court, w as appointed consul at N ew Y ork for one o f the Germ an states.
T h e c o u r f held that a subsequent appointment o f this kind does not divest a
State court o f ju risdiction previously acquired.
T h e well know n ca se o f M etzg er is also reported in this volum e. M etzger
w as a notary in F ra n ce, w h ence he fled to the United States, charged with for­
geries and em bezzlem ents to a large am ount. T h e F ren ch authorities, upon his
arrest here, demanded his surrender under the entradition clau se o f our treaty
with F rance o f 1843. N o law had been passed by C ongress, since the ratifica­
tion o f this treaty, providing for, or pointing out, the m ode o f carryin g it into
effect. Justice Edm onds, after a most able and elaborate constitutional exam i­
nation o f the question, com es to the con clu sion that this clause in the treaty doeB
not execu te itse lf; that further action is necessary than the m ere ratification o f
the treaty by the President and S enate, to give it legislative infra-territorial e ffe c t ;
and that no su ch act having been enacted by C ongress, there w as no authority
in State or federal officers to hold or surrender the prisoner. H e w as, therefore,
discharged.

Those interested, as victims, or otherwise, in the strange and stringent system
of assessments for improvements, pursued in the city of New York, and in other
cities in the State, will read with interest the decision in the matter of the Flatbush Avenue, (page 286,) in which it is held that in proceedings for the sale o f




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189

property for assessment?, the utmost accuracy must be observed by the Commis­
sioners, and the directions of the statute strictly pursued.
Such are a few of the important cases in this volume; and judging from its
contents, we think all will agree, that in respect to its law reports, at least, the
republic of New York has, as yet, taken no detriment from the establishment of
an elective Judiciary, which, it was anticipated by many, would be attended with
very grave results.
LIABILITIES OF SURETIES ON THE BONDS OF EMPLOYEES, IN BANKINO AND OTHER
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.*

In the Supreme Court of Louisiana, on appeal from the Fifth District Court of
New Orleans. Louisiana State Bank vs. James Duplessis, el al.
Louisiana Slate Bank 1
vs.
>Appeal from the Fifth District Court of New Orleans.
James Duplessis, el al. )
S l i d e l l , Justice.— T h e defendant, L edou x, becam e the surety o f Jam es D u ­
plessis, w ho was appointed note clerk o f the bank on the 26th o f F ebruary, 1840.
T h e bond by w h ich D uplessis and his tw o sureties, L edou x and D urive, bound
them selves join tly and severally, bears date 29th February, 1840, and is for the
sum o f $ 1 2 ,0 0 0 . It d eclares that, “ w hereas Jam es D uplessis had been appointed
note clerk, to continue in office during the will o f the present or any future board
of directors o f said bank. N ow , the condition o f the above obligation is such, that
if the said James D uplessis shall well and truly, and faithfully do and perform all
and singular the duties o f said office o f note c le r k ; shall render a faithful accou n t
of all m onies and effects com m itted to his ch arge, or under his c o n t r o l; and g en ­
erally, shall save the said L ouisian a State B ank harm less from, or on a ccou n t of
any n e g lig en ce or m iscon du ct o f him, the said Jam es D u plessis ; then this obli­
gation to be void, or else to remain in full fo rce and virtue.”
D u plessis em bezzled from the bank, at different times in the years 1841, 1842,
and 1843, an am ount e x ceed in g $ 1 2 ,0 0 0 , and the present action is brought to re­
cov e r from L ed ou x the am ount o f the bond, with interest from ju d icial demand.
T h e re are three grounds o f defence presented by c o u n s e l:—
1 st. T h e petition admits that the first am ount em bezzled by D uplessis w as taken
on the 30th day o f M atch , 1 8 4 1 ; and consequently, that he discharged his duty
faithfully until that time. It is contended, therefore, that under the bond the de­
fendant is not liable, because, at the date o f the first defalcation, his appointment
had e x p ire d ; that his office w as an annual office, and that his sureties w ere
bound for one year only. C onfining our inquiry to the words o f the contract, in
ascertaining its intention, it w ould be im possible to recog n ize the limitation
claim ed. B ut it is said that though the w ords o f the bond m ay cov er an indefi­
nite period, y et i f by an a ct o f the legislature, or the records o f a corporation, it
appears that the office was annual, the obligation m ust be understood as referring
to an office so limited.

The argument presented is mainly deduced from the provisions of the charter,
with regard to the election of directors. It provides that the dirctors of the bank
shall be annually elected, and forbids the re-election of more than two-thirds of
the directors in office at the time of each annual election; permitting no director
to hold his office more than three years out of four in succession. But it does
not follow from this legislation with regard to the board of directors that the mere
clerks and servants of the .corporation should hold their appointments by the same
tenure. If these clerks and servants were to be considered the mere clerks and
* T he following case was tried before a jury, and a verdict rendered in favor o f the
defendants. The decision o f the Supreme Court, on appeal, is a most able and highly
important one, involving the liabilities o f sureties on the bonds o f employees, in banking
and other public institutions. W e give the opinion o f the Court on the points involved,
condensing the report o f the case, which, with testimony, occupies nearly fifty pages.__
Commercial Times.




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Mercantile Law Cases.

servants o f those w h o appoint them , the con clu sion m ight be a reasonable one.
B ut w e do not so regard them. T h e y are the clerks and servants o f the corpo­
ration, and the limited term o f service o f the directors does not control the dura­
tion o f such appointments. T h ere is nothin g in the by-law s o f the bank lim iti
in g the duration o f the p lace o f the note clerk, and his appointment itself w as
general. T h e se view s rest upon high judicial authority. T h e subject w as c o n ­
sidered in the case o f A nderson vs. L angden, (1 W h eaton , 91,) in w hich one
M cL e o d was appointed agent o f a com pan y for the purpose o f en cou ra gin g the
m anufacture and use o f dom estic m erchandise. T h at case is alm ost analagous
to the present one. In the argum ent o f it, the case o f the C om m onw ealth vs.
F airfax is cited, where the words “ s o lo n g as he shall continue in office,” in the
condition o f a sh eriff’s bond, w ere not construed to extend to a second and new
appointment. C h ie f Justice M arshall, in delivering the unanim ous opinion o f the
C ourt, said “ the case o f the sh eriff’s bond is very different. T h e com m ission o f
sheriffs, in V irgin ia, is a n n u a l; o f cou rse his sureties are bound for one year
only. It is true the directors o f a com pany are elected annually, but the com ­
pany has not said that the agent shall be for one 'y ea r o n ly ; his appointment is
during pleasure. T h e sureties do not becom e sureties in con seq u en ce o f their
confidence in the directors, but o f their confidence in the agent, w hose sureties
they are.”
In the case o f the U nion B ank vs. R id g e ly , the suit was upon a cashier’s bond,
w h o had been appointed w ithout an y specific duration o f his office having been
fixed. T h e propositions in that case had been urged ineffectually, and negatived
by the court. S ee 1 H arris & G ill, M aryland reports, p. 432, w herein it is held
that the cashier’s office is limited only by the duration o f the charter, subject to
the rem oval o f the incum bent by the directors, and that he was not necessarily
an annual officer. T h e same doctrine is mentioned in the case o f the Dedham
B ank vs. C hickering, 3d P ick erin g, 340.
T h e coun sel in the present case had laid m uch stress upon the 5th section o f
the charter o f the bank, providing for the appointment by ballot o f the president
and directors, and other officers, agents, and servants. I f the legislature had in­
tended that the clerks and servants o f the bank should be appointed annually,
that the duration o f their offices should be for one year only, it is surprising that
this should have been left to m ere im plication. T h e law giver seem s to us to have
considered the subject o f legislation m utual only, with regard to those w h o w ere
to govern and control the institution, leaving the matter as to the agents and ser­
vants o f the corporation to the discretion o f the g ov ern in g pow er. W e find pro­
vision is made in the charter with regard to the amount o f the cashier’s bond,
but nothing is said as to the duration o f his office ; y et the sam e clause w h ich
grants the pow er to appoint the cash ier, provides for the appointment o f clerks.
It is said, how ever, that in this case there w as a re-appointment o f D uplessis,
and the counsel reply to show the fact, and as indicative o f the construction put
by the directors upon the charter, an entry from the m inutes o f the board, dated
3d M arch , 1841, being a resolution confirm ing the clerks in their respective situ­
ations. T h is is but an approval o f past appointments, and cannot be construed
into a n ew appointment.
W e find nothing in the authorities cited at the bar w h ich conflicts with the
v ie w w e have taken as to this point o f the defence, to w i t : T h e L iverpool W a te r
C om pany vs. A tkinson, 6 East, 5 0 7 ; L ord A rlin gton vs. M erick e, 2 Saunders,
4 1 1 ; the W arden s o f St. Saviones vs. B ostock , 5 B os., and F uller, 1 7 7 ; the
United States vs. K irk p a trick ; the ca se o f the collector o f the poor and church
rates in 2 B ingham (D u dley vs. E v an s) 32, and in B igelow vs. B ridge, 8 M ass.,
267, in all o f w h ich the period o f appointment, or duration o f term o f office, is e x ­
pressly stipulated and averred. T h e defendant could not have m isunderstood the
term s o f the bond, and m ust have considered him self responsible for D u plessis’
honesty as lon g as the bank should think proper to em ploy him in the cap acity
designated in the instrument.
2 d. T h e next ground o f d efence taken by I.ed ou x is, that he is discharged from
all liability to the plaintiffs, becau se the bank, although called on by the defen-




Mercantile Law Cases.

191

dant to take legal steps against D u plessis, refused to do so, and allow ed him to
abscond. D efendant relies on the article 3030 o f the C ivil code, w h ich is the
sam e as the article o f the N apoleon code, and upon the opinions o f certain F ren ch
com m entators and tribunals as to its ju st intendment. Under the R om an law , it
seem s that the refusal o f the creditor to sue upon the request o f the surety, w ould
not operate the surety’s d isch arge, I 62 f f de fide ju ss, and D om et, B ook III. tit.
4 , se c. 2, art 5.
I f w e look to the literal lan gu age o f the article 2037, cod e N apoleon, and the
corresp on d in g article o f our code, it w ould require an act o f the creditor to dis­
ch a rg e the surety. “ T h e surety is discharged w hen by the act o f the creditor
the subrogation to his rights, m ortgages and privileges, can no longer be operated
in favor o f the surety.”
W e are o f opinion, that under the circum stan ces p f the
present ca se, there has not been such an om ission as w ould authorize us to con ­
sider the surety discharged. T h e surety w as prom ptly notified o f the defalcation.
I f he desired to have D uplessis arrested under the a ct o f 1840, it was fully in his
p ow er to have obtained an order o f arrest by p aying the bank. T h e point in
question w as considered in the case o f Borette vs. M artin, 16 Louisiana 36, by
Judge M artin, w h ich fu lly sustains the opinion o f the present C o u r t ; see also
ca se o f C ou g ot vs. Fournier, 4 R ob. 423, and Givil C ode, art. 3026.
3d. T h e next ground o f d efen ce, that L ed ou x has been discharged from all lia­
bility on the bond in consequence o f the gross n eg lect o f the plaintiffs to perform
the conditions, expressed and im plied, w h ich w ere incum bent upon them , and
w hich form ed the consideration o f his con tra ct as surety. In support o f this
point, the defendant relies upon the by-law s o f the bank, and the testim ony o f
th e cashier. T h e by-law s point out the duties o f the cashier in taking charge o f
the cash and exam ining the accou n ts o f the bank, and also require the directors
shall visit monthly the vaults, and cause an inventory to be made, to be com pared
w ith the books, in order to ascertain that they agree therewith, & c . T h e in­
quiry into the effect o f the facts above stated (the testim ony o f the cash ier) upon
the legal right o f the parties, resolves itse lf into tw o branches, o f w hich the first
is, w hether these by-law s o f the bank are to be considered as entering into the
contract o f the surety.

They certainly are not referred to expressly in the bond. It was conditioned
for the faithful performance of Duplessis’ duties; there was no useless qualifica­
tion that the surety would be bound only in case the directors should vigilantly
discharge their duty according to the by-laws of the bank. As between these
parties, we feel bound to say that the by-laws are directory to the managers of
the iqstitution, and do not form a part of the contract with Ledoux. See Angel
and Ames on Corporations, and the authorities cited. The question then remains,
whether, under the terms of the bond itself, and the general principles of law
affecting the contract, the absence of minute vigilance on the part of the directors,
unaccompanied by fraud, discharges the surety ?
Ledoux bound himself for the honesty of Duplessis, and he has been unfaithful—
not a guaranty that he should be honest if closely watched—a bond with such a
clause would not be accepted. The language of Chief Justice Marshall, in the
case already cited on another point, is very pertinent here. See also Trent Navi­
gation Company vs. Harley, 10th East, 4 0 ; Angel and Ameson Corporations,
317 ; 2 d Metcalf, 2 4 1 ; United States vs. Kilpatrick, 9 Wheaton, 737. We must
attribute the verdict of the jury to an erroneous conception of the legal effects of
a want of exact and searching vigilance on the part of the cashier, and per­
haps of the directors; and probably the refusal to have Duplessis arrested, con­
tributed to turn their minds in favor of the surety, whose case is unfortunate.
It is therefore decreed that the judgment of the Court below in favor of Ledoux,
be reversed, and that plaintiff recover of said Ledoux the sum of $12,000, with
interest and costs.




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Commercial Chronicle and Review.

COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW.
TENDENCY TO SPECULATION IN THE MARKETS—INCREASED DEMAND FOR GOODS—ACCUMULATION OF CAP­
ITAL—ADVANCE OF STOCKS, AND IMPROVEMENT IN PRICES OF GOODS—UNITED STATES STOCK ISSUES
ON FOREIGN ACCOUNT—PUBLIC CREDITORS RESIDING IN NEW YORK—EUROPEAN INVESTMENTS IN
UNITED STATES STOCKS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS—DEMAND FOR SPECIE—AUSTRIAN CREDIT—THE ROTHS­
CHILDS—PRICE OF PRODUCE IN GREAT BRITAIN— IMPORTS, EXPORTS, AND DUTIES OF NEW YORK IX
1848—NEV^ YORK DIVIDENDS—BOSTON DIVIDENDS IN BANK AND OTHER STOCKS—BALTIMORE DIVI­
DENDS ON CITY LOANS, BANKS, AND OTHER STOCKS— OUR COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH FRANCE, ETC.

T here has been during the month a continued tendency to speculation in the
several markets.

T h e singular demand for goods w h ich sprung up for California,

on receipt o f the remarkable new s from that rom antic region, gave an im pulse to
business at a season usually dull, and by redu cin g stocks o f goods and im proving
p rices at m oments w hen minds w ere bein g excited by the w onderful accoun ts
that w ere daily received through a thousand avenues o f intelligence, gave a prac­
tical effect to the speculative desire, and prices, w hich have ruled low for a lon g
tim e past, have generally advanced, the m arket presenting an unusual d egree o f
activity and bu oyancy for the season.

T h e im provem ent is m ore particularly

observable in the articles o f ashes, coffee, cotton, corn, flour, m olasses, whale
and sperm oils, beef, pork,

pickled

and sm oked m eats, nutm egs, dom estic

liquors, sugars and w halebone, as w ell as in dry goods, w h ich are probably
som e 15 per cen t higher than at the clo se o f the fall season o f business, with
small stock s and limited im portations.

Both m anufactured and imported goods

g iv e ev iden ce o f the im proving sales and brightening prospects o f the com in g
year, and this feeling is m anifest in the enhanced demand for, and rising prices
of, raw material.

Cotton, m ore particularly, has, under the influence o f improved

trade in E urope, advanced som e 2 0 per cen t on the low er, and 17 per cent on the
high er grades since the early part o f D ecem ber, and this advance has imparted
great confidence to the southern trade.
D u rin g the past year the accu m u lation o f capital in the coun try has been so
rapid, under m any favoring circu m stan ces o f internal prosperity, that property o f
all kinds has steadily im proved in value, notwithstanding the untow ard state o f
the foreig n trade, the disordered condition o f E urope, and the w ar expenditure w e
have encountered.

S tock s, m ore particularly, have felt this influence, and month

by m onth they have im proved, until the rates n o w are m uch over those o f last
year.

G overnm ent stock s, m ore particularly, are som e 8 per cen t higher at the

clo se than at the com m encem ent o f the year, the prosperity o f w h ich is indicated
in alm ost every direction to w h ich the attention is turned ; and there never prob­
ably was a w eek preceding N ew Y e a r in w h ich m oney could be m ore readily ob­
tained on all securities than in the last w eek o f D ecem b er, 1848.

Many articles of goods and produce have improved under the influence of the
California news, as well from direct demand for that destination, as in the case
o f oils, from collateral influences; as it has been apprehended that the with­
drawal of force from the whaling trade to dig gold in the Sierra Nevada, will di­
minish the supply of oil. Provisions were also for a time enhanced in value,
through fear of the effects of the cholera at New Orleans in checking supplies.
All the elements of prosperity are, however, in action both here and in Europe;




Commercial Chronicle and Review.

193

and while cotton and breadstuff's are being exported in considerable quantities at
improving rates, the foreign demand for stocks is large and increasing. In our
number for December, we gave a table of the issues of stocks at Washington on
foreign account, from October 2d to November 18th, inclusive. The following
table brings down the issues to January 13th :—
UNITED STATES STOCK ISSUES ON FOREIGN ACCOUNT.
T o—

Total, Oct. 2 to
Nov. 18.

Nov. 25.

Dec. 2.

Jan. 6.

Jan. 13.

Total.

England........... ... $1,765,550 $346,000 $192,000 $346,500 $137,500 $2,787,550
161,000
G erm any.........
95,700
37,200
157,800
349,500
801,200
France.............
71,000
132,950
49,000
62,000
515,550
16,500
11,000
Switzerland....
40,800
12,000
4,000
84,300
2,000
Cuba................
5,000
7,000
Portugal..........
7,000
7,000
3,800
Canada............
96,100
2,000
101,900
Ireland............
13,000
23,000
Belgium..........
3,000
3,000
Brazil................
28,000
5,000
33,000
.......
Spain...............
62,000
62,000
.......
7,000
Madeira..........
7,000

2,200
T o ta l...... ... $2,574,550 $496,700

3,200

$306,400 $600,800 $457,250 $4,435,700

During the months of June and December a full statement is made out in the
Treasury Department of the amount of interest due to each stockholder of the
several loans, and transmitted to the assistant treasurers, from Boston to New
Orleans, and ready for disbursement on the first day of January and July respect­
ively. This arrangement suspends the transfer of stocks on the books from
December 1st until the 1st of January, and it is therefore not until the reopening
that it is possible to ascertain what investments have been made on foreign account
for three or four weeks ; for, although assignments may continue to be made in
the certificates of stock in the market during that period, the transactions will
remain incomplete until the transfer can be made on the public records.
On the opening of the books it appeared that the following is the number of
public creditors residing in the city of New York, and the amount of each loan
held by them, including the number and amount held by non-residents, whose
agents reside in the city :—
N o. o f creditors.

Of the loan of
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“

1842........
1843........
1846........
1847........
1848........

265

151
328
837
330

Amount held by them.

$2,921,331)
3.323.100
2.676.300
9.492.300
5.667.100

32
00
00
00
00

1,911
$24,080,130 32
This is the number of names on the several dividends payable in New York on
the 1st instant. The whole amount of the several loans, exclusive of coupons,
was, on the 1st instant, $39,936,316 83.
In the first week after the opening, $198,000 was transferred on account of
Messrs. Corcoran & Riggs. It is a remarkable feature that the transfers on
French account have increased, and this arises probably from the fact that im­
proving prices in Paris permit holders to realize from French property for invest­
ment in more profitable if not more safe securities. Among these investmenta
was $13,000 by the Prince de Joinville.
V O L . X X .----- N O . I I .




13

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Commercial Chronicle and Review.

It will doubtless be the case, that such a reaction in the European markets as
will permit of the realization of property at any reasonable rates, will produce as
extensive investments in the United States descriptions. Thus, before the revo­
lution, French 3 per cents were at 74, which gave an interest of 44 per cent. At
the latest dates those three per cents were at 4S, at which rate they yield 64 per
cent, and are exposed to all the frightful evils that flow from a bankrupt and un­
steady government. To realize such a stock, and invest in American securities,
would be but the part of ordinary prudence. Thus a person who held French
rentes, that cost him, at 75 per cent, $3,000 one year since, received $120 an­
nual interest. If he can now realize those bonds at 50 per cent, he may invest
in American stocks and still receive $120; thus he will have sustained no actual
loss in income by the fall of 25 per cent. Active parties abroad are bringing these
facts prominently before the public. In London, United-States 6 per cent stock
may be had at 99J, which will give, clear of all expenses, 54 per cent for 20
years ; at the same time 3 per cent consols were at 87, a rate which will give 3}
per cent interest, only making 50 per cent in the income of a stock in favor of the
American security, and no stock will compare with the United States in point of
safety.
The demand for specie, silver more particularly, for the continent of Europe is
large, and sustains the rates in London in the face of extraordinary arrivals from
America. Since the peace of 1815 it has been the case that industry and com­
merce and paper credits have made great progress upon the continent, and con­
sequently the circulating paper has entered largely into the currency of Austria,
Prussia, and France. In the present time of distrust, the old desire to hoard specie
has returned in double force, and a marked feature in all the great cities is the
desire to exchange notes for silver, and the demand for this purpose absorbs, at
high rates, all that arrives in London. The Austrian credit is in a very hazard­
ous condition, and a new loan of about $40,000,000 is proposed, among growing
republicanism, to support a tottering dynasty. Hitherto, the omnipresent house
of Rothschild has been the focus into which the floating capital of the people of
all European countries has been concentrated and applied to the demands of gov­
ernments. Their efficiency depended upon the allegiance of the monied men to
existing governments. The revenues of aristocracy, gentry, and the better class of
trades people, were freely loaned to the support of governments, which, under the
name of protection, conferred monopoly on capital, and exacted from the laboring
many the means of paying interest on the surplus profits thus derived and loaned
to the state. The house of Rothschild has, for forty years, been the agent be­
tween the governments and these classes. An entire change has now taken
place, and it has become manifest that labor must be emancipated from thraldom and
oppression; hence the classes among whom the Rothschilds retailed the stock they
took from the government have no longer confidence in these securities ; and when
Austria proposes a loan, the means of paying of which depends upon the subju­
gation of two countries like Italy and Hungary to a foreign yoke, in this age of
the world, the hazard becomes too great.
While the demand for specie is thus active for Europe, however, it appears
that the accumulation of gold in the Bank of England is exceedingly rapid, and
the amount is now approximating the highest ever held, being over £15,500,000 ;
and while money continues abundant in face of large importations of breadstuffs




Commercial Chronicle and Review,

195

into Great Britain, those large supplies keep the rate of food down to such a
point as admits of a marked improvement in the home trade of the country, aa
evinced with increased activity of the manufacturing districts and the advance
in cotton. As compared with last year, the exports of certain articles of produce
from September 1 to January 6 were as follows, to Great Britain and Ireland :—
Years.

Flour.
Bbls.

1847 ................
1848 ...............
Increase.........

Price.
Jan. 6.

W heat.
Busk.

Corn.
Bush.

Corn meal. Cotton.
B bls•
Buies.

Price, fair.
Cts.

95,767 $6 06 118,094
639,994 5 75 854,005

606,301 51,715 164,651 6| a 9
5,071,713 45,193 352,400 5* a 6f

544,227

4,465,412

735,911

........

187,749

The increase in value of exports is, for this period, very considerable, and with
every prospect of improving markets for these articles abroad, the commerce of
the year 1849 will probably turn out large and lucrative. The imports and ex­
ports of the port of New York, for the current year ending with December, has
been as follows:—
IMPORTS PORT OF NEW TORE.

1847.
Jan u a ry....
February...
M arch ........
A p ril..........
M ay............
June............
Ju ly............
August.......
September..
O c t o b e r .,..
November..
Decem ber..

Specie.
$90 874
1,235,122
1,329,458
3,397,064
1,326,697
547,813
294,219
195,555
94,546
100.773
58.915
39,712

1848.

Free.
Dutiable.
$478,443 $5,499,082
285.128
5,889,387
786,937
6,000,746
1,987,033
8,339,429
738,755
5,868,261
401,358 5,789,109
861,578 7.950,602
404,290 12,974,190
916,109 8,111,845
312,383 4.753,836
471,142
4,117,164
111,251 3,316,845

1847.

Specie.
Free.
Dutiable.
$42,306 $561,129 $8,941,088
49,502
141,539 9,506,859
22,781 2,199,749
5,971,601
65,917
475,314
6,639.716
133.922 1,283,754 5,087,279
69,532
525,088 4,718.404
64,631
650,055
7,046.389
133,855 1,128,553 9,790,775
197,098
513,749 8,168,294
127,998
439.587 5 130.332
104,971
185.970 4.518,565
70,488
283,755 3,251,940

1848.

Duties.
Duties.
$1,434,836 $2,357,317
1,496,716 2,416,497
1,652,092
1,553,003
2,109,404 i;C86,506
1.487,173 1,312,036
1,460.017 1,143,497
2,068.335 1,794,236
3,337,341 2.532 273
2,096,604 2,119,571
1,232.404 1,328,833
1,024,760 1,122,549
856,576
806 620

T o t a l.... $3,710,748 $7,754,407 $78,571,102 $1,083,001 $8,388,642 $78,843,842 $20,256,204 $20,172,938
EXPORTS.

1847.
January,.. .
February.. .
March........
A p ril..........
June............
July.............
August . . . .
September..
O ctober.. . .
November..
D ecem ber..

Specie.
73,728
4,000
243,885
73,558
158.000
134,333
27,070
66,000
350,925
674,548
1.455,946
1,786,865

Foreign
Dutiable.
49,073
63.697
83 082
77,385
230,7(50
123,358
79,255
114,888
146,332
156,852
207,162
104,242

T o t a l .... $4,833,455 $1,436,286

1848.

Foreign
Domestic.
Free.
26,273 3,043,552
15 379 3.384,733
51,355 3,768,574
45.713 3,737.088
97,711 3,573.393
188,299 6,810,203
42,735 6,687.681
52,357 4,812,063
46,843 2.672.452
81.722 3,151,238
54,558 1.907,879
30,178 1,998,524

Specie.
1,183.517
433.226
452,507
1,176.423
2,449.253
1,971,915
744,!'83
331,031
501,445
832,423
482,156
365,878

Foreign
Dutiable.
222,684
432 909
216,490
183,149
207,382
147,017
89,289
150,244
175.846
231,789
166.874
383,954

$733,123 $45,547,340 $10,734,783 $2,607,582

Foreign
Free.
4.496
15,520
94,639
21,794
3.755
12,213
14,190
38,992
41.421
74,924
34 504
23,311

Domestic.
2,456,615
1,974,428
2,181,194
2350,936
2 600,990
2,235,844
2.J89.125
2,230,909
2 936,293
3.576,051
3,695,287
2,616,787

$334,299 $31,002,379

The importation of dutiable goods has, it appears, been very nearly the same
as last year, while the exports of domestic produce decreased $14,500,000, or nearly
30 per cent, and that of specie was much increased. It will be observed, how­
ever, that in the last four months of the year there was a great excess of domes­
tic exports. Thus the amount was as follows :—
Years.

November.

December.

Total.

1847 ..............
1848 .................

$2,672,452
2,936,293

September.

$3,151,238
3,576,051

October.

$1,907,879
3,695,287

$1,998,524
2,616,787

$9,730,093
2,824,418

Increase........

$263,841

$424,813

$1,787,408

$918,263

$3,094,325

The increased exportable value is 334 per cent, and added to the amount of
stocks sent abroad, as above stated, in connection with diminished imports, irtdi-




Commercial Chronicle and Review.

196

cates the large supply of bills as compared with demand, and the importations
for the spring business are not likely to be large, at least in the early part of it.
The goods imported for the past year have not remunerated the shippers very
well; and although the demand for California has affected many descriptions, and
improved the rates, it is probable that prices will not here rise so as to be remu­
nerative in face of the renewed consumption of, and demand for, goods in most
countries of Europe. The rise in raw materials, wool and cotton more par­
ticularly, under the enhanced demand from manufacturers, who look forward to a
fair amount of business consequent upon the improved condition of the agricul­
tural regions, arising from the prosperous export trade. The dividends earned by
most companies, and payable in January, may be approximated in the following
figures:—
HEW TORE DIVIDENnS.
Interest.
payable.

N. Y ork State debt
United States debt.

tt

tt

Indiana.....................
Illinois......................
Ohio.........................
Maryland................
Aggregate pub. st’k
Tradesmen's B ank.
Mer. Exch’ge Bank
Seventh Ward Bank
North River Bank.
Bank o f A m erica..
Phcenix B ank.........
Bank o f Commerce
Chemical Bank.......

H

24

6
2
3

4

14

N . York & Erie R ’d
Harlem Railroad....
Pater’n & Hud. R ’d
Cam’n & A m ’y R ’d
T o ta l..................

tt
it
it
ttit-

5
8
4
4

it

3
3

tt
tf

4
4

tf

It

it
tt

ft
34 tt
4 tt
6 ft

34

Total banks.........

N. Y ork Ins. Com .

p. c.

6

tt

Owned in
New York.

Owned in
Europe.

Am ount o f
interest.

$23,937,248
6,927,835
44,876,499
5,534,000
12,000,000
16.964,282
11,986,784

$12,330,000
2,323,100
16,757,030
1,600,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
1,000,000

$10,120,000
1.000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
6,000,000
6,507,828
5,600,000

$312,705
173,195
1,346,294
110,680
60,000
581,754
165,175

$122,226,648
400,000
750,000
500,900
655,000
2,001,200
1,200,000
3,447,500
400,000

$32,910,130
325,560
482,550
405,650
477,850
1,028,800
844,420
1,886,280
285,000

$36,227,828 $2,749,803
2,640
20,000
25,500
60,000
1,900
20,000
25,100
26,200
317,200
74,042
68,380
42,000
211,640
137,800
5,000
21,000

$9,353,700
500,000
4,250,000
2,250,000
500,000
3,200,000

$5,776,110
327,300
3,768,100
1,746,500
200,000
1,200,000

$138,586,348

$54,528,140

Capital.

$657,360
54,380
49,200
600,000

$400,042
15,601

20,000
192,000

$36,988,738 $3,376,845

The Erie Railroad dividend or interest is only on the new stock, $3,000,000,
and the Harlem on the preferred stock, $1,500,000.
The proportions of stock owned in New York, as here given, are mostly from
official sources. The stocks owned in other States, and in the interior of this
State, form the balance between the sum of that owned in Europe and in this
city, and the whole capital. That for New York is from a comptroller’s report.
The United States stock is that portion payable to holders in the city of New
York, and we have estimated the proportion of that amount so held on foreign
account. The Ohio stock held abroad is as it stands on the books of the compa­
ny, and the Indiana and Illinois according to the proportions subscribed to the
new loan. The bank and company stocks are according to an official report.
There is a considerable amount of distant bank stock—Clinton Bank, Columbus ;
Franklin Bank, Cincinnati; Bank of Kentucky, and Bank of Mobile, &c., in ad­
dition to Eastern and Western Railroads, Insurance, Trust, Savings, Gas and




197

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

Canal Companies, &c., that are owned in this city, on which the dividends are
receivable this month, as well as many city insurance dividends on mutual insu­
rance scrips, &c., which we have not enumerated, as also interests upon mort­
gages.
The amount of the leading dividends payable in Boston, was estimated as
follows:—
BOSTON DIVIDENDS.

When paid.

Capital.

Stocks.

Dividend. Amount.
$ 1 6 8 ,0 0 0
2 06,000
118,964
8,571
72,000
106,000
86,925
13,500

4
$ 4 ,2 0 0 ,0 0 0
January 1— Boston and Worcester Railroad...................
4
5,150,000
Western Railroad............................................
4
2 ,974,100
Boston and Maine Railroad..........................
.
«
“
int. on new st’ k
1,800,000
4
•“
Lowell Railroad, (paT $ 5 0 0 )...
4
2 ,650,000
Fitchburgh Railroad........................................
2,8 9 7,50 0
3
Boston and Providence Railroad..................
3
45,0 00
Pittsfield and North Adams Railroad.........
2 0 0 ,0 0 0
6
Tremont Insurance Company.......................
300 ,00 0
4
American Insurance Company.....................
300,000
7
Franklin Insurance Company.......................
500 ,00 0
4
Salmon Falls Manufacturing Company.......
480 ,00 0
4
Jackson Manufacturing Company................
Cocheco Mannfac. Com., on 2,COO shares..
Interest on Albany Bonds.............................
On Mass. Bonds, (Eastern Railroad $2,500, Norwich and W or­
cester $ 1 6 ,0 0 0 ) ...................................................... ...........................
On United States Loans......................................................................
On Boston City Stock...........................................................................
On Norwich S tock ..........................................
On Vermont Central Railroad Bonds............................
On Cheshire Railroad Bonds..............................................................
On Vermont and Mass. Railroad Bonds............................................

19,200
42.0 00
30.000

12,500
200,000
13,000
6,000
9,000
13,000
900
$ 1 ,2 0 7 ,5 0 0

Total amount payable January 1.
W hen paid.

1 2 ,0 0 0
1 2 ,0 0 0
2 1 ,0 0 0
2 0 ,0 0 0

Stocks.

January 6— Cabot Manufacturing Company....................
“
8— Fall River Railroad..........................................
“ 15— Eastern Railroad, Massachusetts...... ...........
“
N ew Hampshire................
Boston and Sandwich Glass Company.........
Boston Exchange Company............................
Connecticut River Railroad............................
Interest on Massachusetts scrip, issued for
stock in Western Railroad.............. ......... .
« 20— Old Colony Railroad........................................

Capital. Dividend. Amount.
15,000
500,000
3
36,7 50
1,050,000
3i
2 ,655,700
4
106,220
492 ,50 0
4
19,708
300 ,00 0
9 ,000
3
335,000
10,050
3
1,500,000
60,000
4

1,600,000

3

Total....................... ................................. .

2 4,8 75
4 ,800
$ 1 ,4 9 3 ,9 0 3

The following is an approximation to the capital, dividends, and amount of in­
terest paid in Baltimore, for the last half year:—
BALTIMORE DIVIDENDS,

Banks.

U nion...............................
Farmers and Planters’ ..
Merchants’ ......................
W estern..........................
Chesapeake.....................
Franklin..........................
Baltimore.........................
Mechanics’ ......................
M arine.............................




Capital.
$ 9 1 6 ,3 5 0 0 0
600,625 0 0
1,500,000 0 0
308,280 0 0
3 4 0 ,57 7 0 0
304 ,20 3 0 0
1 ,2 0 0 ,0 0 0 0 0
590 ,84 4 0 0
310,000 00

Dividend.
per cent.
3

Amount.
$ 2 7 ,4 9 0

34

2 1 ,1 2 1

3
3
3
3
3

45,0 00
9 ,2 4 8
10,217
9,126
36,009
20,6 79
10,8 50

34

34

Commercial Chronicle and Review.

^98

BALTIMORE DIVIDENDS— CONTINUED.
Banks.

Farmers and Merchants’ ...........................
Commercial and Farmers’ ........................
Insurance.
firem en ’s ..................................
Baltimore Life.....................................
Miscellaneous.
Baltimore W ater............................
Turnpikes.
Baltimore and Reisterstown...................
Frederick.........................
• “
Y o r k ................................
W ashington....................
“
Harford ..............................
Boonsborough ....................
United States Stocks.
United States 6 ’s ....................
“

5 ’s ........................................

Baltimore City Loans.
Baltimore city 6 ’s ...........
“

5 ’s ........................................

Capitnl.

$ 3 9 3 ,5 0 0 00
512 ,56 0 00

Dividend.
per cent.

Amount.

3
4

$ 1 1 ,8 0 6
2 0,5 02

2 52 ,00 0 00

6i

1 0 0 ,0 0 0 0 0

3

15,750
3,000

500,000 00

4

' 2 0 ,0 0 0

C38.000
5 97,302
279 ,00 0
140 ,00 0

1

00
00
00
00

1 0 0 ,0 0 0 0 0
6 8 ,0 0 0 0 0

i
4
f
24

4

6,380
4,480
1,395
1 ,0 5 0
2 ,5 0 0
3 40

2 ,8 0 0,42 5 00
58,3 00 00

84,012
1 ,458

4 ,4 5 6,71 3 12
905,421 84

66,850
11,3 18

3 ,7 3 8 ,3 3 4
202 ,32 6
1,744,208
1 , 0 0 0 ,0 0 0
500 ,00 0

56,0 75
6,069
2 1 ,8 0 2
11,2 50
3 ,7 5 0

M aryland Stocks.

6’s, payable quarterly..................................
6 ’8

“

5’s
4 £ ’s

“
M

3’s

“

semi-annually.........................
quarterly..................................
«

“
Total .........................................

34
15
27
00

00

$ 5 3 9 ,5 1 8

There are several other companies of which we have no account, and besides
these, there are the loans of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which, with others,
will make the amount of the dividends and interest since the 1st of October, over
$650,000.
The amount of dividends of these three cities, payable in January, is probably
not short of $6,500,000, and it wifi be remembered that these are the January
dividends only. The New York companies pay some of them in almost every
month in the year. Thus, of twenty-five banks, only seven pay in January, as
above. In nearly every instance there has been an increase of earnings for the
last six months of 1848 over the corresponding period of former years. Thus, seven
New York banks declare $356,142, January, 1849, against $320,288, January,
1848, being probably a larger dividend than has ever been earned by the institu­
tions in any previous similar period.
The accumulation of capital in the United States for the past few years has
been exceedingly rapid, both from economy and industry, as well as from immi­
gration, and the unfortunate results of English and European harvests, which
have compelled the expenditure of much money there for those products of agri­
cultural industry which were here in excess, and which, without European demand,
would not have been readily available. It has also been the case during the past
year, that political convulsions have induced the sale of goods abroad at very low
prices for cash, and there was probably never a time when the consumers of goods
in the United States procured so valuable returns for their surplus produce. In
this manner it is that the capital of the old world serves to accumulate that of
the new. In England, when the money price of food is high, the money price




Commercial Chronicle and Review.

,

199

of the products of industry is generally low, and they have in consequence to
give double quantities of their industry for food, and reciprocally the United
States get double prices for breadstuffs. As thus, if with flour at 20s. in Liver­
pool, a certain quantity of cloth will command 10s. per yard, then a barrel of
United States flour will exchange for two yards. If, however, flour rises to 35s.,
and, as a usual consequence of the advance of food, the cloth falls to 7s., then
the LTnited States producer gets five yards of cloth instead of three. In this man­
ner it is that the United States have profited by the events in Europe for the past
two years. It has been the effect of the English corn laws to produce these vio­
lent fluctuations in price, and, as a consequence, to dissipate, in a twofold ratio,
the capital of the country in time of scarcity. In February, 1849, according to
the existing law, the duties on corn will be finally removed in England, and the
English market will be open to the surplus of all countries. The effect of this
will be, probably, not to produce any violent and sudden change in the markets;
but gradually, under the action of rapid steam communication, to keep the Eng­
lish markets so well and steadily supplied with food as to prevent anything like
those serious fluctuations which have been witnessed in the last two years. That
wheat rose in England to some 120 shillings per quarter, grew out of the fact
that imports so large as she then required were unusual, and commerce had
made no provision for the transportation ; hence a large portion of the price was
absorbed in that item of expense.
The events of that year showed, however, what before had not been fully credited,
viz: that with adequate means of transportation there is no limit to the supply which
can be furnished by the United States, and a very considerable portion of this
supply can, by the great railroad communications to be opened this year, in ad­
dition to others already in existence, be promptly placed in a rising market.
Under the new administration of France, there is the best hope that those anti­
quated and monarchical restrictions which have so long clogged the commerce,
and hampered the industry of that country, will be removed, or at least relaxed,
in favor of the United States. Up to this time, France has no commercial trea­
ties ; but the new president, as far as any direct indications have proceeded from
himself, recognizes those sound principles of political economy which alone are
suited to a republican form of government, based upon the actual equality of its
citizens. Peace, and unrestricted and individual enterprise, unbiased by gov­
ernment, are asserted to be the elements of French prosperity, and to attain these
ends, many taxes must be removed. England, as an instance, has found it ne­
cessary to abandon the tax on cotton, and Germany has done so likewise.
France cannot tax the article and expect her people to compete with those spin­
ners who use the untaxed article. The manufacturers of England found 12 per
cent duty too onerous on the raw material, and they repealed it; yet the French
manufacturer continues to pay 30 per cent! That the commercial relations of
republican France and republican America will be drawn closer together, for the
advantage of both, there can be no doubt.




20 0

Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.

JOURNAL OF BANKING, CURRENCY AND FINANCE.
THE COINAGE OF THE UNITED STATES.
T he Mint o f the United States, which has been established for the coinage o f the pre­

cious metals, is one o f the most important branches o f the Treasury Department o f the
General Government. Placed by the Constitution under the supervision o f the Secretary
o f the Treasury, its operations are annually reported by the Director, and laid open by the
President to Congress.

It is our design, in the present paper, to trace the progress o f this

establishment from its origin to the present time, and to exhibit the facts connected with
the kind and amount o f the coins which have been issued from the institution during the
whole period o f its existence.
W hile the colonial dependence o f the country upon Great Britain continued, the earli­
est coins which were here circulated were derived from the parent government. In the
colony o f Massachusetts, however, as well as in other colonial settlements, those were so
scarce that it was customary to prosecute domestic trade and to pay taxes by the transfer
o f the products o f the land, as well as cattle, and also furs and peltry.

In consequence

o f the inconvenience springing from this condition o f things, the former colony, during the
year 1652, passed a law establishing a Mint.

This law provided for the coinage o f shil­

lings, sixpences, and threepences, to be o f the fineness o f sterling silver, and to be 44 two­
pence in the shilling o f less value than the English coin.” This Mint continued in exist­
ence thirty years, and a considerable amount o f coin was issued during that period. The
device o f a pine tree upon one side o f the shilling has given to the entire series the gen­
eral designation o f “ the pine tree coinage.” In the year 1662, silver and copper coin
were also issued by the colony o f Maryland, and those constituted the sole issues o f silver
coin previous to the separation o f the colonies from the parent country. Copper coin was,
however, issued by other colonies. Half-pennies were in 1694 struck for the Carolinas ;
twopenny pieces and pennies in 1723; another emission o f pennies in 1723 was made ;
and during the year 1773, half-pennies were coined for the State o f Virginia. Before the
permanent establishment o f the national Mint, and after the Revolution, there were,
moreover, various species o f silver and copper coin issued both by States and individuals.
W ith the increase o f trade throughout the colonial establishments, however, foreign
coin, both gold and silver, were introduced, and constituted a part o f the circulating m e­
dium. Those were principally composed o f guineas, joes, half-joes, doubloons, and pis­
toles in gold ; and dollars, with their various parts, pistareens, with their parts, British shil­
lings and sixpences, in silver.

After the Revolution, French crowns were extensively cir­

culated throughout the country; but the coin most generally known was the Spanish
American dollar, which, about that period, became so abundant that it was adopted as the
standard o f our own money.

The pound o f the colonies was, moreover, adopted at the

same standard as the British pound, but it w?as soon depreciated in consequence o f ex­
cessive issues.
On the occurrence o f peace, measures were adopted for the purpose o f establishing a
system o f national coinage. The financier o f the confederation, Robert Morris, was di­
rected by Congress to communicate to that body his views regarding the general subject
o f coins and currency, and early in 1782 his report upon the subject was presented. Du­
ring the year 1784, Mr. Jefferson also made a report upon the same topic; and on a basis
at that time proposed and ultimately adopted, it was concluded to issue four coins o f the
following denominations:—
1. A golden piece o f the value o f ten dollars.
2. A dollar in silver.




I

Journal o f Banking , Currency, and Finance.

20 1

3. A tenth o f a dollar in silver.
4. A hundredth o f a dollar in copper.
The policy which was thus pursued respecting the general subject o f coinage had been
exercised under the confederation; but, in 1787, the Constitution o f the United States
prohibited those local issues, and vested the exclusive right o f coinage in the national gov­
ernment.

In accordance with this policy, a code o f laws for the establishment and regu­

lation o f the Mint was enacted on the 2d o f April, 1792, and under that system the coin­
age was executed for a period o f forty-two years, with some unimportant modifications.
The several denominations o f those coins comprised gold eagles o f the value o f ten dol­
lars, gold half and quarter eagles o f the same relative value, silver dollars valued at one
hundred cents, half dollars, quarter dollars, dimes, and half dimes o f the same relative
value, and copper cents and half cents.

In consequence, however, o f certain circum­

stances hearing upon their intrinsic value, modifications have, from time to time, been made
in the standards o f the usual coins by act o f Congress, as they seem to have been required.
T he present organization o f the Mint o f the United States is o f great interest.

Prior

to the year 1835, there existed but one institution, the parent Mint, which commenced
operations in 1793, and is established in the city o f Philadelphia. It occupies a spacious
and elegant edifice o f white marble fronting upon Chesnut-street, and provided with all
the delicate machinery and other appliances required'for assaying, melting, refining, and
the proper coinage o f the precious metals. During that year three branches o f the pa­
rent Mint were created by act o f Congress.

T w o o f these were located in the centre o f

the gold mining region, the one in the town o f Charlotte, North Carolina, and the other
in Dahlonega, within the State o f Georgia, both being exclusively confined to the coinage
o f gold.

The other was established in New Orleans for the coinage o f gold and silver.

During the year 1838 those branches went into operation, their coinage being uniform
with that o f the parent Mint, and is tested at this institution. Each o f the branches is
under the management o f superintendents, whose official duties pass under the general
supervision o f the parent establishment in Philadelphia.

W e subjoin a corrected state­

ment o f the amount o f coinage at the Mint o f the United States, in the several denomi­
nations o f coin, from the commencement o f its operations until the 31st of December,
1847, inclusive :*—
AMOUNT OF COINAGE AT THE MINT OF THE UNITED STATES, IN THE SEVERAL DENOMINATIONS OF
COIN, FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF ITS OPERATIONS UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 1847, INCLUSIVE.
GOLD COINAGE.
Years.

1793
......
1794
...... ... i
1795
...... ... $
1796
......
1797................
1798................
1799................
1800................
1801................
1809................
1803................
1804................
1805................

Eagles.
Pieces.

2,795
8,323
7,974
29,254
8,979
9,795

H alf eagles.
Pieces.

Quarter
eagles.
Pieces.

8,707
6,196
3,609
24,867
7,451
11,622
26,006
53,176
33,506
30,475
33,183

Total gold coinage.
Number.
Value.
Pieces.
D o lls. Cts.

11,502
963
859
614
480
2,612
423
3,327
1,781

14,093
12,791
33,455
25,414
37,587
55,260
70,878
42,908
43,597
34,964

71,485 00
102,727
103,422
205,610
213,285
317,760
422,570
423,310
258,377
258,642
170,367

50
50
00
00
00
00
00
50
50
50

* For this corrected table we are indebted to the politeness o f R. M. P a t t e r s o n , Esq., the
son o f the able and efficient Director o f the Institution, and to the Manual o f Coinage,
issued by the Assayers o f the Mint o f the United States.




202

Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance,
AMOUNT OF COINAGE AT THE MINT OF THE UNITED STATES----CONTINUED.
GOLD COINAGE—CONTINUED.

Years.

Eagles.
Pieces.

180G................
1807................
1808................
1809................
1810................
1811................
1812................
1813................
1814................
1815................

Quarter
eagles.
Pieces.

H alf eagles.
Pieces.

.......

100,287

.......
.......

58,087
95,428

.......

635

Total gold coinage.
Number.
Value.
D olls. Cts.
Pieces.

1,616
6,812
2,710

65,709
90,905
58,288
33,875
100,287
99,581
58,087
95,428
15,454
635

324,505
437,495
284,665
169,375
501,435
497,905
290,435
477,140
77,270
3,175

00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00

......

2,823
100,546
6,784
91,051
21,598
29,814

48,588
51,723
263,806
41,089
17,796
14,485
19,940
33,494
18,829
27,713
38,029
60,845
130,891
145,114
161,887
197,790
849,539
502,939
1,101,133
252,201
340,818
183,412
203,579
78,964
111,908
787,213
353,515
534,303
437,635
1,811,859

242,940 00
258,615 00
1,319,030'00
189,325 00
88,980 00
72,425 00
93,200 00
156,385 00
92,245 00
131,565 00
140,145 00
295,717 50
643,105 00
714,270 00
798,435 00
978,550 00
3,954,270 00
2,186,175 00
4,135,700 00
1,148,305 00
1,622,515 00
1,040,747 50
1,207,437 50
710,475 00
960,017 50
4,062,010 00
1,782,420 00
2,574,652 50
2,234,655 00
13,296,080 00

1,247,626

9,811,732

52,741,350 00

1816 ..
1818....................
1819....................
1820....................
1821....................
1822....................
1823....................
1824....................
1825....................
1826....................
1827....................
1 8 2 8 .,................
1829....................
1830....................
1831....................
1832....................
1833 ...................
1834....................
1835....................
1836....................
1837....................
1838....................
1839....................
1840....................
1841....................
1842....................
1843....................
1844....................
1845....................
1846....................
1847....................

28,248
47,338
63,131
75,462

Total.........

48,588
51,723
263,806
34,641
17,796
14,485
17,340
29,060
18,069
24,913
28,029
57,442
126,251
140,594
157,487
193,630
732,169
371,534
553,147
207,121
286,588
118,143
137,382
15,883
27,578
611,205
340,370
417,099
395,942
919,781
7,203,755

#

6,448

2,600
4,434
760
2,800
3,403
4,540
4,520
4,400
4,160
117,370
131,402
547,986
45,080
47,030
27,021
18,859

AMOUNT OF COINAGE AT THE MINT OF THE UNITED STATES— CONTINUED.

Years.

Dollars. H alf dollars.
Pieces.
Pieces.
1793
........................
1794
\........................
204,791
323,144
1795
........................
1796 .............
72.920
3,918
1797............
7,776
1798............
327,536
1799............
423,515
1800............
220,920
54,454
30.2S9
1801............
1802............
29,890
41,650
1803...........
66,064
31,715
1804........... .
19,570
156,519

S




....

SILVER COINAGE.
Quartej;
dollars.
Dimes.
Pieces.
Pieces.

5,894
252

....
....
6,738

H alf dimes.
Pieces.

22.135
25,261
27,550

10,230
44,527

21,760
34,640
10,975
33,040
8,265

24.000
33.910
13,010
37,850

Total silver coinage.
Number.
Value.
Pieces.
D o lls. Cts.
614,351

370,683 80

115,097
77,816
355 086
423,515
266,680
153,293
95,525
168,669
191,092

79,077
12.591
330,291
423,515
224.296
74,750
58.343
87,118
100,340

50
45
00
00
00
00
00
00
50

I

Journal o f Banking , Currency , and Finance .

20 3

AMOUNT OF COINAGE AT THE MINT OF THE UNITED STATES— CONTINUED.
8ILVER COINAGE— CONTINUED.

Quarter
Years.

Dollars.
Pieces.

1805...........
1806...........
1807............
1808 ..........
1809............
1810...........
1811............
1812...........
1813............
1814.............
1815.............
1816.............
1817...........
1818.............
1819.............
1820............
1821.............
1822.............
1823.............
1824............
1825.............

H alf dollars.
Pieces•
211,722
839,576
1,051,576

dollars.
Pieces.
121,394
206,124
220,643

Total silver coinage.
Dimes.
Pieces.
120,780

H alf dimes
Pieces.
15,600

165,000

1,405,810
1,276,276
' 1,203,644

44,710
6,355
65,180

1,039,075

421,500

/

1827.............
1828.............
1829.............
1830.............
1831.............
1832.............
1833.............
1834.............
1835.............
1836.............
1837.............
18:38.............
1839.............
1840.............
1841.............
1842.............
1843.............
1844.............
1845.............
1846.............
1847.............

.....

1,000
300
61,005
173.000
184,618
165,100
20,000
24,500
110,600
140,750

T o t a l... .

2,320,390

Number.
Pieces.
469,817
1,045,700
1,437,219
1,368,600
1,450,520
1,282.631
1,268,824
1,628,059
1,241,903
1,460,575
169,232
‘ 67J53

47,150

20^003

1,960,322
2,208 000
751,122
1,305,797
1,559,573
1,694.200

361,174
144,000
127,444
216,851
64,080
17,800

2,943,166

168,000

510,000

3.621,166

5,493,400
3,075,200
3,712,156
4,764,800
5,873,660
4,797,000
5,206,000
6,412,004
5,352.006
6,546.200
3,629,820
3,546,000
3,334.561
1,435,008
310,000
2,012,764
3,844 000
1,766,000
589,000
2,210,000
1,156,000

4,000
102,000
398,000
320.000
156.000
286,000
1,952,000
472,000
252,400
832,000
491,146
188,127
120,000
88,000
645,600
421.200
922.000
510,000
734,000

1,215,000
125,000
770,000
510.000
771,350
522,500
485,000
635,000
1,410,000
1,190,000
1,042.000
1.992,500
1,053,115
1,358,580
1,622,500
1,887,500
1,370,000
72,500
1,755,000
31,300
245,000

1,230,000
1,240,000
1,242.700
965,000
1,370.000
1,480.000
2,760,000
1,900.000
2,276,000
2,255,000
1,069,150
1,344,085
1,150.000
815,000
1,165,(H)0
430,000
1,504,000
27,000
1,274,000

6,712,400
3,302.200
5,712,156
6,514.800
8,285,710
6,604,500
7,217,000
8,813,004
11,474.006
10,109,200
7,200,220
8,625,500
5,948,272
4,386,805
3,375.500
4,987,882
7,189,700
2,709,700
4.854,500
2,888,900
3,549,750

10,644,102

24,250,095

25,822,478

171,138,391

108,101,326

2,321,496
2,352,000
1,821,153
2,709,160
1,723,653
2,152,000

942,587
1,186,512
100,000
440,000

Value.
D olls. Cts.
149.388 50
471,319 00
597.448 75
684,300 00
707.376 00
638,773 50
608,340 00
814,029 50
620,951 50
561,687 50
17,308 00
28^575 75
607,783 50
1,070 454 50
1,140.000 00
5(11,080 70
825,762 45
805,806 50
895.550 00
1 752,477 00
1,564,583 00
2 002 090 00
2'809.200 00
1,575,600 00
1,994,578 00
2,495,400 00
3,175,600 00
2,579,000 00
2,759,000 00
3,415,002 00
3,443,003 00
3.606,100 00
2,096,010 00
2,293,000 00
1,949,136 00
1,028,603 00
.577.750 00
1,442.500 00
2,443,750 00
1,037,050 00
803,200 00
1,347.580 00
990,450 00
62,748,211 90

AMOUNT OF COINAGE AT THE UNITED STATES MINT— CONTINUED.
Total copper coinage.
Number.
Value.
Pieces.
D olls. Cts.

.

.

.

.

.

.




. . .

. . . .

. . .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

1,090,180
1,004,558
979,700
916,752
3,033,705
1,362,837
3,449,466
2,569,353
1,812,180
1,755,580
704,000
1,203,221
1,509,000
1,377,439
....................
281,165

1812
1,075,500
10,755 00
1813
418,000
4,180 00
1814
357,830
3,578 30
10,324 40 1815
...............................................
9,510 34 1816
2,820,982
28,209 82
9,797 00 1817
3,948,400
39,484 00
9,106 68 1818
3,167,000
31,670 00
29,279 40 1819
2,671,000
26,710 00
13,628 37 1820
4,407,550
44,075 50
34,422 83 1821
389,000
3,890 00
25,203 03 1822
2,072,339
20,733 39
12,844 94 1823
...............................................
13,493 48 1824
1,262,000
12,620 00
5,260 00 1825
1,524,100
14,926 00
9,652 21 1826
1,751,425
16,344 25
13,090 00 1827
2,357,732
23,577 32
8,001 53 1828......
2,866,624
25,636 24
1,673,800
11829
5,660 00
1,901,500
16,580 00
2,495 95 1830
1,711,500
17,115 09
11,373 00

. . . .

1,208,567

.

. )
. }
. )

.

1793..
17 94..
1795..
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811

Total copper coinage.
Number.
Value.
Pieces.
D olls. Cts.

Years.

.

Years.

204

Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance .
AMOUNT OF COINAGE AT THE MINT OF THE UNITED STATES----CONTINUED.
COPPER COINAGE— CONTINUED.

Total copper coinage.
Number.
Value.
183 1 ...
1 8 3 2 ...
183 3 ...
183 4 ...
1835 ..
1 83 6 ...
1 8 3 7 ...
1838.
1 83 9 ...
184 0 ...

Years.

Pieces.

D olls. Cts.

3 ,361,460
2 ,362,000

33,6 03 60
2 3 ,6 2 0 00
1 fif) 00

1,975,100
4 ,019,400
2,5 0 9,00 0
5,558,300
fi 370 900

19^ 151
39,489
23,1 00
5 5,5 83
fi.3 709
3 1 ,2 8 6
2 4,6 27

3,128,661
2 ,4 6 2,70 0

00
00
00
00
00
61
00

Total copper coinage.
Value.
Number.
D olls. Cts.

Pieces.

1841........
1842........

IR4.3

1,597,367
2 ,383,390
9 498 .3Qn

1844 .......
1 845........
1 846........
1847.........

2 ,397,752
3 ,894,804
4,120,800
6,183,669

Total

118,279,478

15,973
23,833
2 4 283
23377
38,948
41,208
61,836

62
90
20
52
05
00
69

1,145,591 21

AMOUNT OF COINAGE AT THE MINT OF THE UNITED STATES—CONTINUED.
TOTAL COINAGE.
Years.
1 7 9 3 ...
1 7 9 4 ... [
1 7 9 5 ...
1 7 9 6 ...
1 7 9 7 ...
179 8 ...
179 9 ...
180 0 ...
180 1 ...
1 8 0 2 ...
1803...
180 4 ...
180 5 ...
1 8 0 6 ...
180 7 ...
1 80 8 ...
180 9 ...
1810 .
1811..
181 2 ...
1 81 3 ...
1814..
1815..
1816..
1817..
1818..
181Q
1820..
1821 .

Number.

Value.

Pieces.

D olls. Cts.

1,834,420
1,219,270
1,095,165
1,368,241
1,365,681
3 ,337,972
1,571,390
3 ,6 1 5,86 9
2 ,7 8 0,83 0
2 ,046,839
2,260,361
1,815,409
2 ,7 3 1,34 5
2,9 3 5,88 8
2,8 6 1,83 4
3 ,056,418
1,649,570
2,7 6 1,64 6
1,755,331
1,833,859
69,867
2,888,135
5,163,967
5 ,537,084

Years.

453,541 80
192,129
125,524
545 ,69 8
645,906
571,335
510 ,95 6
516 ,07 5
370,698
371,827
333,239
801 .08 4
1,044,595
982,055
8 84 ,75 2
1,155,868
1 ,108,740
1,115,219
1,102,271
642,435
20,483
56,785
647,267
1,345,064

40
29
00
68

40
37
83
53
94
48
00
96
00
53
50
95
50
50
80
00
57
50
50

49^ 39^ HO

^ 074 793

1

6,492,509
3,139,249

1,864,786 20
1,018,977 45

Number.
Pieces.

1822.........
1 823........
1 82 4 ........
1 8 2 5 ........
1 8 2 6 ........
1 82 7 ........
1 8 2 8 .......
1 829.........
1 830........
1831........
1 83 2 ........
1 833........
1 83 4 ........
1835........
1 8 3 6 ........
1837........
1 838........
1 839........
1 840........
1841........
1 842........
1843........
1 844........
1 84 5 ........
1 846........
1 84 7 ........

3.813,788
2 ,1 6 6,48 5
4,7 8 6,89 4
5,178,760
5,7 7 4,43 4
9 ,097,845
6,196,853
7,674,501
8,357,191
11,792,284
9,128,387
1 0 3 0 7 ,7 9 0
11,637,643
15,996,342
13,719,333
13,010,721
15,336,518
9 ,260,345
7 ,053,084
5,051,831
7,483,180
10,405,233
5,460,967
9,283,607
7,447,335
11,545,273

Total

299,229,601

Value.
D oll.

Cts.

915,509
967,975
1,859,297
1,735,894
2,110,679
3,0 2 4,34 2
1,741,381
2.3 0 6,87 5
3,1 5 5,62 0
3 .923,473
3 ,401,055
3,7 6 5,71 0
7 ,388,423
5 ,668,667
7 ,764,900
3,2 9 9,89 8
3 ,979,217
3,0 2 1,17 0
2,2 6 0,66 7
1,304,198
2 ,426,351
6 ,530,043
2,8 4 3,44 7
3,4 1 6,80 0
3 ,623,443
1 4,348,366

89
00
00
00
25
32
24
50
00
60
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
11
50
67
50
20
52
54
00
69

116,635,153 11

By an Act of Congress of February, 1793, all foreign gold and silver coins, (except
Spanish milled dollars, and parts of dollars,) which were received for moneys due to the
United States, were required to be coined anew previous to their circulation; and under
this Act the amount received at the Philadelphia Mint, during the year 1847, was
$9,829,404.
Since all value is regulated by the standard of gold and silver, it may be proper to ex­
hibit a few general facts respecting their production in different parts of the globe. It ap­
pears that for three centuries the greater part of the gold and silver which was used by
civilized nations was drawn from America— Mexico and Peru yielding, the largest amount
of silver, and New Granada, Brazil, and Chili the largest amount of gold. The produc­
tion of the precious metals in Mexico and South America, during the last thirty years,
has decreased, in consequence, probably, of the revolutions which have convulsed those
countries; while within that period the amount produced in the United States has been




Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.
greatly increased.

205

T he quantity produced in Europe and Asia has been vastly augmented

since the commencement o f the present century.

T he largest supply o f gold, exceeding

in amount that which is furnished from all other parts o f the globe, is obtained from the
Russian dominions— the ranges o f the Ural and Altain Mountains containing vast depos­
itories o f the precious metals.

T he total amount o f the production o f gold in America,

from its discovery to January, 1846, is estimated at $6,810,290,000.

Recent discoveries

seem, moreover, to have developed extensive mines in the territory o f California. By the
official report o f the Director o f the Mint, it appears that the total amount o f gold from
the mines o f the United States, which has been deposited for coinage in this institution,
is $12,741,653. W e subjoin the following statement o f the^annual amount o f deposits
o f gold at the Mint o f the United States and its branches, from mines in the United States,
down to the present period:—
STATEMENT OF THE ANNUAL AMOUNTS OF DEPOSITS OF GOLD FOR COINAGE AT THE MINT OF THE
UNITED STATES AND ITS BRANCHES, FROM MINES IN THE UNITED STATES.
DEPOSITED AT THE UNITED STATES MINT.
Years.

North
Carolina-.

Virginia.

1824
1825
1H26
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847

South.
Carolina.

Georgia.

Various United States
Tennessee. Alabama. sources.
Mint.

$5,000
17^000
20,000
2 1 ,0 0 0

$2,500
24,000
26,000
34,000
104,000
62,000
60,400
62,000
52,100
55,000
57,600
38,995
25,736
42,163
48,148
40,595
86,783
55,538
67,736

46,000
134,000
204,000
294,000
458,000
475,000
380,000
263,500
148,100
116,900
66,000

53,500
36,804
76,431
61,629
62,873
194,917
365,886
286,105
99,491

$3,500
26,000
22,000

45,000
66,000

38,000
42,400
55,200
29,400
13,000
6,300
5.319
3,440
223
5,099
11,856
5,386
100,641
1,102

$ 212,000
176,000 $ 1,000
140,000
1,000
216,000
7,000
415,000
3,000
319,900
100
201,400
300
83,600
36,000
1,500
20,300
300
91,113
104
139,796
1,212
150,276
56,619
2,788
30,739
2,240
17,325
3,202
13,601
2,642
10,547
2,511

.___
$ 1,000

&& non
1 7 ftOO
90 OOO
Q1 000
40 000
140^000
466,000
520,000
678,000
868,000

12,000

200

$5 00
4,431
1,863
5,579
3,786
12,298
6,472
7,542

13,717
415
2,377
4,328

2 ,0 2 2

898,000
698,500
467,000
282,000
171,700
138,500
176,766
248,478
273,587
180,728
295,022
489,382
466,069
183,409

$945,294 $3,886,136 $479,866 $2,330,246 $28,899 $45,492 $34,237 $7,750,141
STATEMENT OF THE ANNUAL AMOUNT OF DEPOSITS OF GOLD FOR COINAGE— CONTINUED.

Years.

DEPOSITED AT THE BRANCH MINTS.
Branch mint at Branch mint at
Branch mint
Charlotte,
Dahlonega,
at New
North Carolina.
Georgia.
Orleans.

196,381
344,054

$135,700
113,035
121,858
161,974
323,372
570,080
479,794
498,632
455,149
352,366

$700
6,869
3,835
1,818
5,630
22,573
25,036
20,313
21,758
9,256

$263,400
246,740
249,419
293,639
503,510
864,717
672,178
518,945
673,288
705,676

$435,100
385,240
526,185
542,117
777,097
1,045,445
967,200
1,008,337
1,139,357
889,085

$1,662,764

$3,211,960

$116,788

$4,991,512

$12,741,653

$127,000
126,836
124,726
129,847
174,508
272,064
167,348

1838..............
1839..............
1840...............
1841..............
1842..............
1843...............
1844..............
1845..............
1846..............
1847...............
T otal...... .

Total at
the branch
mints.




206

Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.

In concluding this paper upon the coinage o f the United States, we would remark that
the law to which we have referred, requiring the recoining o f all money paid here for
moneys due to the government, excepting Spanish dollars and their parts, has caused a
vast amount o f this species o f coin to be circulated^

It is also, doubtless, the fact, that the

coinage from our own mines will in future time be greatly augmented. T he reports from
the Mint show that the amount coined during the year 1847 is nearly double that o f any
previous year, and that there was a much greater proportion o f gold to silver. The mi­
ning o f gold in the southern part o f the country, which has been comparatively but re­
cently commenced, is destined, we doubt not, to be rapidly extended ; and to this may be
added the silver from those mines which had recently been discovered upon the shores o f
Lake Superior. T he resources o f the country in the precious metals ore doubtless exten­
sive ; and it is hardly too much to allege that the visions o f the early explorers o f our coasts,
who anticipated the product o f mines o f gold and silver as the reward o f their toil, have
been already, in some small measure, realized.

DEBT AND FINANCES OF INDIANA.
T he report o f the Auditor o f Indiana gives the following statistics o f the State debt:—
Public debt 1st July, 1847, was....................................................................
Surrendered up to 1st July, 1848, under the act o f January, 1846........

$11,048,000 00
9,158,000 00

Outstanding...,..................................................................................
State’s one-half o f principal o f bonds surrendered...................................
State’s one-half o f interest on bonds with 1 per cent o f principal, with
one-half o f the coupons added.................................................................

$1,890,000 00
4,579,000 00
1,642,617 50

Total o f State’s half up to July 1, 1848.......................................

$6,221,617 50

Canal’s one-half o f principal o f bonds......................................................
Canal’s one-half o f interest on bonds surrendered...................................
Canal’s one-half o f coupons belonging to bonds......................................

4,579,000 00
1,351,200 00
9,275 00

Total o f canal’s one-half up to July 1, 1848................................

$5,933,475 00

T he amount o f the several stocks issued under the act for liquidating the public debt up
to July 1, 1848, is as follows:—
5 per cent State stock................. ...................................................................
2J “
“
................................................ .....................................
5 per cent preferred canal stock....................................................................
5
“
deferred
“
.....................................................................
2J per cent special preferred canal stock.....................................................
24
“
“
deferred
“
......................................................
Total o f stocks issued to July 1, 1848............................................

$4,579,000
1,642,617
4,079,500
499,500
1,213,625
146,850

00
50
00
00
00
00

$12,161,092 50

O f the foregoing, the State is paying interest only on her 5 per cent State stock, at the
rate of 4 per cent. After the year 1853, the rate o f interest on this will be 5 per cent.
After 1853, the 2J per cent State stocks will draw interest at that rate.
T h e remaining stocks are thrown upon the canal, and their redemption, principal and
interest, depends upon the receipts from the canal, in accordance with the provisions o f
the act above referred to.
The amount o f interest paid on the State debt in 1847 and 1848 was $269,770. The
amount o f domestic debt $618,270, o f which only $324,820 is to be met by the State
reyenue. The annual revenue of the State, including a portion o f previous arrearage, is
$421,748 70, being $50,401 67 more than the year before. The semi-annual interest
on the State debt was paid on the 1st o f July last, the deficiency in the treasury having
been made up by a loan from the Sinking Fund and the branches o f the State Bank. It is
designed to make up any deficiency that may exist in January and July o f next year in
the same way.
According to the estimate o f the Auditor, after making all the ordinary expenditures




Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.

20 7

during the current fiscal year, and after redeeming the estimated amount o f $ 100,000 of
Treasury Notes, principal and interest, there will be left applicable to the payment o f the
interest on the public debt $206,000, from which deduct the loan for the interest o f July,
1848, $40,000, also the probable sum needed to pay the interest and exchanges for Janu­
ary, 1849, $95,000, and the same amount for July, 1849, $95,000, equal to $230,000.
This would leave a deficit next July o f only $24,000. This small balance, it is safe to
presume, would be overcome by the increased receipts into the treasury by the 1st January
following. But as the revenue is actually payable until the latter part o f the winter, it is
calculated that such would be the result by the 1st o f July, 1850.

COINAGE OP THE BRITISH MINT,
In the Merchants’ Magazine, Vol. X IX ., p. 565, we published a paragraph touching the
coinage o f the British mint in 1847, derived from W ilm er and Smith’s Liverpool Tim es,
but purporting to be “ according to a Parliamentary return.” It struck us at the time
that the statement was erroneous,* and we therefore gladly avail ourselves o f the “ Com­
panion to the British Almanac fo r 1849” — authority that can be relied upon for a com­
plete statement o f the value arising from coinage in Great Britain during the eleven years,
from 1837 to 1847, inclusive.

T he statements, in the paragraph referred to, regarding

silver are equally exaggerated, as will be seen by the following table, derived from the
British Alm anac:—
STATEMENT OF THE VALDE ARISINO FROM THE COINAGE DURING THE ELEVEN YEARS FROM
1837 TO 1847.
TOTAL WEIGHT COINED IN EACH YEAR.
Gold.
Silver.
Copper.
L bs.
Lbs.
Tons. Ciots.

Years.

22
7
32
14
33

127,919
141,420
76,275
90,842
92,775
110,400

23,0 64
60,960
120,980
65,580
2 9,1 44
58,440
83,720
189,900
196,260
196,560
38,100

36
31
29
40

Total......

746,452

1,062,708

Tons........

373

1 83 7 .................
1 83 8 ..................
1 83 9
......
1 84 0
.....
1 8 4 1 ..................
1 84 2 ..................
1 84 3 ..................
1 8 4 4 ..................
1 84 5 ..................
1 84 6 ..................
1 84 7 ..................

26,8 18
61,110
10,793
8 ,1 0 0

4 31 *

15
00
00
00
00

TOTAL VALUE COINED IN EACH YEAR.
Gold.
Silver.
Copper.

17
00
00
00

3 7 8 ,47 2
5,977,015
6,607,850
3,563,949
4,2 4 4,50 6
4 ,334,697
5,158,440

£ 7 6 ,1 1 1
101,168
399,235
216 ,41 4
96,175
204,732
2 7 6 ,27 6
626.670
647,658
559,548
125,730

£ 5 ,0 9 6
1,568
7,168
3 ,136
7,392
1,792
15,344
8,207
6,944
6,496
4 ,9 6 0

322

2

2 9,886,457

2 ,4 4 0,61 4

43,743

3 22

2

8 00
6 8 10

£ 1 ,2 5 3 ,0 7 1
2 ,8 5 5,36 4
504,303

Total value.

SILVER FROM THE C0NGESBERG SILVER AIINES, IN NORWAY.
From the Swedish official paper o f the 27th o f October, 1848, we learn that, on the
14th o f September, the workmen employed in the king’s mine, which is one o f the Congesberg silver mines, in Norway, found a lump o f pure native silver, weighing 208 pounds;
and that, on the 6 th October, another lump o f native silver, equally pure in qu ality o f no
less weight than 436 pounds, was dug out o f the same mine. It is a fact worthy o f being
recorded, that about twenty years ago this mine was offered for sale in London for the
sum o f £ 10,000 ; but the capitalists o f that day had not sufficient confidence in the treas­
ures it was represented to possess, to give this comparatively small price. Subsequently,
the Norwegian government were strongly urged by the scientific o f that country to work
the mine at the expense and for the benefit o f the state. T he operations were commen­
ced and prosecuted with vigor, and for a considerable number of years this mine has an­
nually yielded to the government o f Norway a much larger revenue than the price which
could not previously be obtained in England for the mine itself
* In the Manual issued by Eckfeldt & Dubois, o f the United States Mint, in 1842, it
is shown that the entire coinage o f Great Britain for 25 years preceding 1841 was but
£59,000,000, and that the greatest amount o f gold ever coined in one year was £9,000,000.




I

Journal o f Banicing, Currency , and Finance .

208

CONDITION OF THE STATE BANK OF INDIANA.
W e give below an official, summary statement o f the resources and liabilities o f the
State Bank o f Indiana on the 18th o f November, 1848:—
RESOURCES.
1846.

1848.

Notes discounted.......................................
Bills o f exchange......................................
Suspended debt..........................................
Banking houses, real estate................. ...
United States and Indiana bonds...........
Treasury notes, State o f Indiana...........
Funds in N ew Y ork, Philadelphia, &c.
Due from other banks than eastern.......
Remittances and other resources...........
Branch balances........................................
Gold and silver..........................................
Notes o f other banks...............................
Total...... .......................................

$1,647,622
1,791,321
412,601
382,076
71,000
271,105
394,024
229,039
231,156
148,162
1,273,895
147,451

59
88
91
71
00
00
72
54
03
39
54
00

$6,997,937 31

$1,659,358
1,359,385
577,667
349,787
36,000
419,310
370,383
432,731
113,577
63,534
1,003,647
119,976

40
17
46
74
00
00
87
54
99
19
40
30

$6,510,289 76

LIABILITIES.

Capital stock o f State o f Indiana................................
“
individuals...........................................
Surplus fund to cover losses..........................................
Profit and loss..................................................................
Suspended interest, & c ..................................................
Dividend undrawn..........................................................
Due to banks...................................................................
Branch balances.............................................................
Due sinking fund and canal trustees...........................
Due school fund for tax..................................................
Due depositors..................................................................
Notes in circulation........................................................
Less notes on hand........................................................
T otal....................................................................

$982,404
1,100,506
527,799
105.690
19,763
21,581
. 82,292
71,417
80,265
1,380
452,624
3,708,031
155,821

27
32
32
76
98
85
96
20
69
23
73
00
00

$6,997,937 31

$935,854
1,147,970
413,563
29,954

27

47.886
73,309
89,535
2,861
409,989
3,336,503

42
12
36
80
13
00

10

33
91

$6,510,289 76

J ames M. R a y , Cashier.
S tate B ank

of

I ndiana , Indianapolis, Dec. 2, 1848.

MASSACHUSETTS SAVINGS BANKS.
There are in Massachusetts forty-one institutions for savings.

The returns o f these in­

stitutions are made up to the 30th o f September, 1848, and showr the following aggregates :
Number o f depositors..........................................................................................
69,894
Amount o f deposits............................................................................................... $11,970,447 64
Public funds...........................................................................................................
1,372,622 89
Loans on public funds..........................................................................................
25,600 00
Bank stock..............................................................................................................
2,025,721 91
Loans on bank stock............................................................................................
173,740 00
91,862 44
Deposits in banks bearing interest...... ..............................................................
Railroad stock..................................................................
89,527 99
Loans on railroad stock.......................................................................................
309,925 00
Invested in real estate..........................................................................................
92,935 10
Loans in mortgage o f real estate......................................................................
4,171,483 67
“
to county or tow n.....................................................................................
1,424,086 56
“
on personal security.................................................................................
2,410,171 68
Cash on hand...................................
152,964 41
Rate and amount o f ordinary dividend for last year....................................
461,774 88
Average annual per cent o f dividendfor last 5 years.....................................
5 66
Annual expenses o f the institutions.................................................................
36,404 96




Journal o f Banking, Currency, and Finance.
co n d itio n o f t h e

209

Ba l t im o r e b a n k s .

CONDENSED VIEW OF THE CONDITION OF THE BANKS OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE ON THE FIRST OF
JANUARY,1849.
Capital.
D ollars.

Inv’ t in stocks.
D ollars.

Merchants’ . . 1,500,000 154,983 93
Baltimore... . 1, 200,000 22,126 00
Union.........
916,350 19,258 00
Far. & Plant.
600,625
Mechanics’..
590,844
6,501 53
Com. & Far.
512.560 58,231 67
Far. & Mer..
393.560 133,150 10
Chesapeake.
340,577 122,654 41
M arine.........
310,000 73,138 80
Western......
308,280
Franklin......
301,850 17,183 50
T o ta l...
Jan. 1,1848.
“ 4, 1847.
“ 5, 1846.

6,974,646
6,971,852
6,969,329
6,971,681

607,227
521,116
647,200
856,697

Discounts.
D ollars.

1,898,245
1,534,759
1,223,131
1,028,596
1,011,146
857,210
445,447
463,617
434,689
595,868
304,203

69
95
42
80
61
61
13
80
53
35
32

Specie.
D ollars.

272,267
237,246
136,893
238,992
142,295
227,710
77,700
90,454
73,512
262,331
22,507

49
00
00
79
70
28
44
04
29
62
46

Circulation.
Dollars.

162,225
186,526
147,539
383,357
189,753
162,371
121,582
89,867
104,681
255,489
48,778

94 9,797,417 21 1.781,911 11 1,852,168
00 10,690,903 001,834,167 00 2,104,712
00 10,082,225 00 1,814,308 00 1,986,248
00 10,143,299 00 1,861,500 00 2,159,140

Deposits.
Dollars.

339,164
358,232
306,907
264,889
428,764
351,778
117,911
261,639
177,268
166,824
54,516

28
85
54
24
59
78
37
17
39
42
18

2,827,896 81
3,123,859 00
3,231,999 00
3,113,750 00

ASSAY OF CALIFORNIA GOLD AT THE BRANCH MINT, NEW ORLEANS.
W e published, in the January number o f the Merchants' M agazine, an official letter
from R. M. P a t t e r s o n , Director o f the United States Mint in Philadelphia, to R o b e r t J.
W a l k e r , the Secretary o f the Treasury, giving an account o f the result o f an assay o f
the first deposit o f gold from California. W e also published, in the same number, an as­

say made by Professor E ben eze r N. H osford , o f Harvard University, of a small quantity
o f California gold, from Feather River. It will be seen, by the following extract of a let­
ter from W il l ia m P. H o r t , Esq., dated Mint o f the United States, New Orleans, Decem­
ber 22d, 1848, that that gentleman, an official o f the New Orleans Branch Mint, has made
an assay o f six ounces o f the California gold, which resulted as follows:—
On the 25th November I assayed about six ounces o f the said gold, deposited in the
form o f dust, by T. A . Minard, and when melted and assayed, the total proved to be 895Our standard is 900 thousandths, 21.600 carats, $ 1 8 60.
Theirs,
895
“
21.480
“
18 50.
T he loss in melting 92 oz. 37 dwt., was 1 oz. 63 dwt., or 2 61 per cent. I know no
reason why this result should be considered extraordinary. On the 28th November I as­
sayed Alabama gold dust o f the fineness o f 946 thousandths. On the 10th o f the same
month I assayed another specimen o f 923 thousandths. In short, the title o f the gold
dust from that State, when well washed and unmixed, always exceeds 900 thousandths—
our standard; it falls below only when the gold is alloyed with the quicksilver employed
as a fluex to separate it from the ore. The California lot o f gold was in the form o f flat
spangles; there was an alloy o f 105 parts, o f which 85 thousandths were estimated to be
silver, and 20 thousandths mercury. This mnst have been a natural and not an artificial
combination.
Respectfully,
W m. P. H o r t , Assayer.

HOURS OF PROTEST.
In the case o f King vs. Holmes & Son, lately tried in the Circuit Court at Cincinnati,
it was ruled that a broker had a right to protest a draft at three o’clock on the last day o f
grace, although the usage o f brokers in the city was to keep their offices open until five
o’clock, P. M. T o this charge the plaintiff excepted, and will take the case to the Su­
preme Court. On this decision the New Orleans Commercial Bulletin remarks:— “ Where
a draft or note is held by a bank, the rule and custom is not to prolest it until after bank
hours; but we think there is no doubt, that a private holder o f a bill or note can demand
payment at any time during business hours o f the day it matures, and to protest it forth­
with if such payment is not made.”
V O L . X X .-----N O . I I .




14

Commercial Statistics,

21 0

COM M ERCIA L

STATISTICS.

THE LUMBER TRADE OF BANGOR, MAINE.
T o F reeman H unt, E sq ., Editor o f the Merchants’ M agazine, etc.
D ear S i r :— Annexed, I forward you a statement o f the quantity o f lumber surveyed
at Bangor for the season o f 1848, which will, I hope, be acceptable to you and the read­

ers o f your valuable journal.

Yours, truly,

S amuel H a r r is .

B angor , M e., December 22, 1848.
LUMBER SURVEYED AT BANGOR, ME., DURING THE YEAR 1848.

Boards, Dims, Plank,
Joist, &c.

Surveyors.

Ranging:
Timber.

Ton Timber.
Tons. 40ths.

D. Kimball..................................................
J, Allen........................................................
J. L incoln....................................................
M. Fisher.....................................................
N Pierce.....................................................
J. C. Y o u n g ................................................
G. Hammatt................................................
M. W ebster................................... .............
J. Short...................................- ............... .
J. Norris.......................................................
A . Pratt........................................................
T. Y o u n g ................
J. Oakes..................
A . Smith................................................ .
A . Y ou n g ....................................................
H. Fisher....................................
W . T . Pearson..........................................
H. A tkins...................................................
J. Webster...................................................
S. Emery.......................................
E. H. Burr...................................................
M . T . Burbank...........................................
Z. Rogers.................................. ........... : . . .
B. Goodwin....................
J. McFaden.................................................
N. B. W iggin ..............................................
P. Haines.....................................................
L. B. R icker................................................
M. R o w e .....................................................
T . F. Row e...................
J. Chamberlain...............
G. W . Pierce................................................

8,790,059
10,906,358
6,176,450
7,479,796
7,053,774
11,597,674
10,786,387
11,106,504
5,491,659
12,060,882
8,985,370
12,186,524
4,571,176
7,710,140
10,223,360
5,259,986
10,862,401
3,048,948
7,886,932
6,890,074
2,607,358
2,777,461
3,274,729
3,784,206
382,602
9,161,633
6,304,322
6,311,777
1,228,845
790,029
3,115,303
4,119,780

T otal................................................

212,932,499

..............
.......... .
..............
............
1,304 15
112,184
201 12
984
440 27
9,422
.........................................
68 10
101
26 13
............
..............
............
..............
............
..............
............
..............
............
78 16
29,345
..............
... .....
..............
78 16
5,521
12 04
7,485
..............
............
..............
.........
..............
............
..............
............
..............
............
..............
............
..............
............
..............
............
.........
............
781 05
16,095
..............
............
..............
............
..............
....... .
........... .
............
..............
..........
2,990 38

181,137

SHIP-BUILDING IN PORTLAND.
The number o f vessels o f each class built in the Portland (Maine) district during the
last four years, has been—
Ships..........
Barks.........
Brigs............
Schooners...

1845.

1846.

2
14
14
11

3
22
12
11

1847.
n

18
8
12

184 8.

8
16
13
7

1845.

Sloops..........
Steamboats..
Total......

1846.
l

_

_

41

49

1847. 1848
l
i

_

_

50

45

O f the 12,252 tons built in 1848, all but about 2,000 are owned in that district.




Commercial Statistics.

21 1

TRADE AND C0M3IERCE OF BALTIMORE IN 1848.
In reference to the external character which the city and port o f Baltimore have as­
sumed during the year 1848, its buildings and commercial marine are favorable, as the
editor o f Lyford’s “ Commercial Journal ” infers, from the fact that 1,920 buildings wefe
erected, o f which 1,635 were o f brick and within the limits o f direct taxation. This has
been a greater increase than for any other previous year.
T o her commercial marine have been added 69 vessels, not numerically so large as

in

other years, but the amount o f tonnage exceeded any previous year from the more largfe
vessels that were built. The following shows the result:—
AMERICAN VESSELS ARRIVED.

Swedish W est Indies...............
Danish W est Indies................
Holland.....................................
Hanse T ow n s..........................
England............................... .
Ireland.......................................
British Guiana....... ..................
British West Indies.................
British North American cols..
France........................ ..............
French W est Indies................
Hayti........................................ .
Cuba......................................... .
Other Spanish W est Indies...
Porto R ico.................................
Venezuelian ports....................
Brazilian ports..........................
Monte Video..........................-.
Chilian ports.............................
Peruvian ports.........................
A frica........................................
Honduras.................................
N ew Grenada........- ................
Sicily..........................................
Madeiras................................ ..
Portugal....................................
Spain............................ - ..........
Gibraltar....................................
M exico.......................................
T otal.................................

AMERICAN VESSELS CLEARED.

Ships. Barks. Brigs. Sch’nrs. Ships.
.
...
6
i
4
12
8
i
3
...
2
7
...
30
21
.
...
3
1
1
...
i
3
2
1
28
...
22
1
4
3
1
4
1
....
1
1
...
26
...
2
31
.
...
23
4
39
6
11
...
1
2
1
2
27
32
4
3
...
i
...
1
...
1
2
i
2d
1
5
...
...

4
4

...
...

...

1

...
1

Barks. Brigs. Sch’n
_
...
i
3
5
*
*
2
...
i
14
8
5
8
2
4
3
55
55
2
8
9
1
1
2
3
2
2
2
5
5
3
20
14
3
20
14
1
7
6
27
39
15
7
1
1
3
1
...
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
...
2
...

3
i

...
...
36

69

139

115

2

l

53

80

168

137

FOREIGN VESSELS ARRIVED AND CLEARED AT BALTIMORE.
VESSELS ARRIVED.
Brigs. Sch’ nrs

British.

Ships. Barks.
3
1
17

Hanoverian......... .
Dutch........................
French........... ...........
New Granadian.......

1
...
1

40

31

5

4
1

a.*

.

1

...

•

2

.

i

VESSELS CLEARED.
Ships. Barks. Brigs. Sch’ n » .

4
21
1

•

41
6
1

i
i

2

34

i

"s■

i

Venezuelian.............
Swedish....................

2
8

i
i

i

i
i

i
Total.................
A dd American.........
“ coastwise..........

7
69

50

32

30

36

139

115

53

12
80

51
168

36
137

42

166

233

974

T otal.................

101

242

422

1 ,1 2 1

83

92

219

173




23

\
Commercial Statistics.

21 2

EXPORTS OF DOMESTIC PRODUCE FROM THE FORT OF BALTIMORE TO EACH FOREIGN PORT IN 1848

The following table, prepared expressly for the “ Commercial Journal and L yford’s
T rice C u r r e n t comprises the names o f all the foreign ports to which all the principal ar­
ticles o f domestic produce were exported from the port o f Baltimore during the year 1848:
TO SWEDISH WEST INDIES.

Beef.........
P ork........
Lard........

2,650 Indian meal.bbls.
1,234 Biscuit....
282

15 Butter.
88 Flour..
3,682 Indian corn..bush.

448
20

DANISH WEST INDIES.

Beef..........
P ork.........
Bacon......
Lard.........

504
311
22,664
68,004

B acon......

8,750
116,953

Butter.
Cheese
Flour..
Indian corn..bush.

22,827 Indian meal.bbls.
19,333 Biscuit....
44
23,353
2,294 Rice........

3,594
475
329
149

246 Cotton.... .......lbs.
12,071

20,800

HOLLAND.

Flour..
BELGIUM.

131

T obacco...
HANSE TOWNS.

B eef........
Pork.........
Bacon......

440
1,436
31,340

Lard...
Flour..

159,617 Rice.........
96 Tobacco.. ...hhds.

30
13,918

Indian meal.bbls.
T obacco. . .hhds.
Cotton....

3,012
260
53,053

11,813 Indian corn..bush.
“
meal. bbls.
33.778
5,383 Biscuit....

304,730
3,723
714

40 Rice........
20 Cotton.... ....... lbs.

10
88,313

ENGLAND.

14,001 Cheese
Beef..........
27,353 Wheat.
Pork.........
B acon...... ......lbs. 8,250,688 Flour..
2,255,949 Indian corn..bush.
L ard .........

136,610
139,275
70,701
376,393

IRELAND.

B eef..........
P ork........
Bacon......
Lard.........

205
2,188
278,194
239,569

Cheese
Wheat
Flour..

1,197
6,505

Biscuit

GIBRALTAR.

Flour........ ...bbls.
Indian corn..bush.

44

BRITISH GUIANA.

B e e f.........
Pork.........
Bacon......
Lard.........

295
1,072
3,769
17,814

Butter.
Cheese
Flour..
Indian com...bush.

10,597
8,888
10,665
2,982

Indian meal.bbls.
Biscuit....
R ice.......
Tobacco..

2,650
1,619
55
11

88,357 Biscuit....
44
988
81,865 Rice.........
60,685 Tobacco.. . .hhds.
24,446

6,654
1,020
674
90

BRITISH WEST INDIES.

Beef..........
Pork.........
Bacon.......
Lard.........
Butter......

1,173 Cheese .......... lbs.
5,446
106,834 Flour..
184,294 Indian corn..bush.
(4 meal. bbls.
211,792

RRITISH NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES.

Beef........
Pork........
B acon....
Butter....

228
1,909
20,469
43,963

Cheese
Wheat
Flour.. .........bbls.
Indian corn..bush.

2,134 Indian meal..bbls.
11,548 Biscuit..................
30,366 Rice............... trcs.
9,974

8,898
2,891
10

5,661 | Cotton....................................... lbs.

64,197

FRANCE.

T obacco..................................hhds.




l

/

Commercial Statistics.

213

FRENCH WEST INDIES.

Beef,......
Lard.......
Butter__

341 Cheese...
4,386 Flour....
1,499

Beef.......
Pork......
B acon ...

Lard.......
25 Butter....
1,636 Cheese...

546 Indian com..bush.
3,032 Rice.........

450
89

HAYTI.

11,573 Flour.........
1,903 Rice..........
4,355 Tobacco...

8

1,193
3
8

CUBA.

Pork.........
Bacon.......
Lard.........

41
92 Cheese.
15,455 Flour...
24,667

6,194
2,848 Biscuit......
963 Rice..........

PORTO RICO.
23 Cheese.
39,750
1,225 Flour...
6,980
42,936 Indian corn...bush.
139
207,054
“
meal. bbls.
2,972
45,187
VENEZUELIAN PORTS.
Beef........
9,413
77 Cheese.
10.442
50 Flour..
Pork.........
Bacon.......
10,154 Indian corn.bush.
1,608
Lard........
77,685
“
meal...bbls.
1,574
16,494
Butter.......
BRAZILIAN PORTS.
5,930
Beef.........
265 Butter.
142 Cheese.
4,252
Pork.........
131,442
Bacon...... __ lbs.
104,665 Flour...
400
Lard........ ..........1 191,794 Indian corn.bush.
MONTE VIDEO.
20 Butter.
Beef........
12,658
20 Cheese.
608
Pork........
47,301 Flour..
19,094
Bacon......
47,529
Lard.........
PERUVIAN PORTS.
40 Lard..
3,432
Beef....... . .bbls.
50 Flour..
200
Pork.........
6,264
Bacon......
CHILIAN PORTS.
30,102
128 Lard ..
Beef........
480 Butter..
4,538
Pork........
41,587 Cheese
668
Bacon......

Beef........
Pork.........
Bacon.......
Lard.........
Butter.......

Beef........
Pork........
Bacon......

Biscuit......
u

Rice........
Tobacco...

25
146
157

819
1,476
418
12

Biscuit......
«
Rice.........
Tobacco.. . .hhds.

76
50
171
40

Indian meaL.bbls.
Biscuit....
...kegs
Tobacco. . . .hhds.

200
84
279
62

Biscuit....
«
Tobacco.. .hhds.

100
230
35

Biscuit......
Tobacco. ..hhds.

115
18

Flour....... ...bbls.
Biscuit....
u

356
61
325

4,740 Biscuit....
434 Tobacco. ..hhds.
16

60
132

748 Flour.......
1,400 Rice.........
1,017 Tobacco. ..hhds.

105

15 Biscuit...
10 Tobacco. . .hhds.

50
4

532 | Indian corn........................... bush.

12,711

AFRICA.
343 Butter.
163 Flour..
45,027 Indian meal........
HONDURAS.

Beef........
Pork.......
Bacon....

15 Butter.
10 Cheese
360 Wheat

Pork.......
Bacon.....
Lard.......

8
202

10
10

NEW GRANADA.

Flour.
Biscuit

183
MADEIRA.

Flour.




,bbls.

Commercial Statistics.

31 4

TRADE AND COMMERCE OF BOSTON FOR 1848:
COMPARED WITH PREVIOUS YEARS.

T he arrivals o f shipping from foreign ports at the port o f Boston for the last nine years
have been as follows:—
ARRIVALS AND CLEARANCES AT BOSTON FROM 1840 TO 1848.
/------------------ARRIVALS.-------------------v ,---------------- CLEARANCES.------------------v
Ships. Barks. Brigs. Sch’ nrs. Total. Ships. Barks. Brigs. Sch’nrs. Total.

Years.

1848...........................
1847...........................
J846...........................
1845...........................
1844...........................
1843...........................
1842...........................
1841...........................
1840....................

243
182
146
159
154
127
172
194
162

310
262
213
215
217
153
170
150
117

902
698
531
559
609
524
498
584
598

1,646
1,613
1,172
1,406
1,221
946
910
735
771

3,101
2,755
2,052
2,330
2,199
1,750
1,750
1,743
1,648

159 315 887
116 228 626
95 192 480
102 207 514
92 203 520
78 149 477
93 142 440
104 124 502
80
87 476

1,449
1,556
1,214
1,344
1,166
883
907
839
694

2,810
2,526
1,981
2,167
1,981
1,587
1,582
1,569
1,337

COASTWISE ARRIVALS AND CLEARANCES OF BOSTON.
ARRIVALS.
1848.

1847.

1846.

1845.

1844.

184 8.

1841.

1841.

1840.

6,118

7,125

6,775

5,631

5,372

4,944

4,024

4,574

4,336

3,187

3,198

2,672

3,054

2,497

2,298

2,841

2,815

CLEARANCES.

2,830

DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF BOSTON IN 1848.

There has been a good demand for export during the year, owing to the low range o f
prices which have prevailed, and the operations o f the trade have also been to a fair ex­
tent. By the following statement, derived from the Boston Shipping L ist, it will be ob­
served that a large portion o f the exports have been to the East Indies and Valparaiso,
and the total exports show a considerable increase over previous years:—
Bales and
cases.

Bales and
cases.

Value.

East Indies................. 10,449 $>484,250 26 Fayal....................
Calcutta......................
4,109 197,946 26 Truxillo................
Canton......................... 9,207 413.249 83 Cape Haytien......
H ong Kong................
943
58,710 06 Gonaives...............
Batavia........................
34,407 33 Jacmel..................
S05

100

5,562
575,186
30,925
34,500
15,350
6,666
41,036
67,516
11,356
5,579
43,651
419
19,706
52,426
1,102
42
1,648
513
7
18,002
352
2,400
50
1,469
91,827
242
12,000

Valparaiso................... 15,456
Zanzibar......................
750
W . C. Cen. America. 1,151
River la Plata.............
368
Monte Video...............
150
Buenos Ayres.............
1,033
R io Janeiro................. 1,346
Africa...........................
231
125
Hobart T o w n .............
470
Sandwich Islands.......

Gibraltar......................
Constantinople...........
Cape de Verd Islands.
Vera Cruz...................
Sisal.............................

13
32
27
00
31
93
56
65
77
39
95
20
90
12
67
46
00
83
94

Aux Cayes..........
St. Thomas..........
St. Peters.............
Bahamas...............
Nassau.................
Surinam..............
Belize...................
Turks Island......
Mansanilla..........
Bermuda...............

47
48
19
11
38
76
7
3
70

5
4

1
6

42
Miramachi...........
Yarmouth............
Cumberland.........

2
2
5

Value.

$2,279
10,452
3,518
4,153
1,172
1,150
3,164
218
4,490
1,584
385
256
3,888
540
232
50
409
2,700
42
42
239

42
77
43
56
15
00
08
03
87
61
99
94
00
90
00
82
OO
00
00
00
13

Total...............

In 1847, exports in bales, etc., amounted to 35,010 ; in 1846, to 28,484; and in 1845, to
32,205.




Commercial Statistics.

215

BALES OF COTTON IMPORTED INTO BOSTON.

1848.......
1847.......
184G.......
1845........
1844........

239,958
198,932
193,549
187,619
175,529

151 090
119 670
131 860
138 709
94 ,361

1843.......
1842........
1841.......
1840...... .
1839........

1838.... ..
1837.... ..
1 8 3 6 ... ..
1835....
1834.... ..

96,636
82,684
82,885
80,709
60,312

1833.......
1832.......
1831.......
1830.......

54,139
60,011
53,810
46,203

The exports from this port to foreign ports for three years past have been as follows:—
1848, 7,766 bales; 1847, 6,477 bales; 1846 7,187 bales.
RECEIPTS OF BREADSTUFFS, ETC. AT BOSTON.
Years.

1848...........
1847...........
1846...........
1845...........
1844..........
1843...........
1842..........
1841..........
1840..........
1839...........
1838..........

Flour.

Corn.

Oats.

Rye.

B b ls .

B u sh .

B u sh .

B u sh .

3 ,338,293
2 ,584,528
2 ,374,484
2 ,371,406
] ,960,663
; ,540,306
i ,835,163
2 ,044,129
: ,868,431
! ,607,492
] ,574,038

1,027,719

609,460

451,667

384,368
521,738
414,417
548,583
508,282
468,032
393,474
356,502
437,948
439.141
443,657

65,189
50,256
17,160
24,184
30,352
25,953
39,122
34,128
48,026
48,624
102,473

Shorts.
Bush.
48,988
83,626
96,711
65,530
105,025
40,750
91,723
43,047
57,037
52,755
49,082

FLOUR RECEIVED AT BOSTON FROM THE WESTERN RAILROAD.

January....
February...
March.......
A pril..........
M a y ...........
June...........
July...........
August.......
September.
October......
November..
December..
T o ta l...
Years.

1844.

1846.

322J
2,5511
1,1361
2,162
19,835
15,129
10,7101
15,257
12,141
22,8891
40,325
11,8371

2,624
3,877
2,933
5,726
18,622
7,898
6,6731
11,046
19,001
28,960
57,623
18,0611

154,297

1846.

1847.

11,252
4,639
3,695
3,5574
29,282
27,120
26,112
17,624
16,996
22,556
44,420 •
25,098

183,045

232,9511

5,423
6,947
38,8464
38,838
39,023
25,386
35,275
61,1724
71,3324
18,0904

514,6761

364,3724

RECEIPTS OF TAR, TURPENTINE, OIL, AND MOLASSES, AT BOSTON.
Tar.
Turpentine.
Sperm.
Whale.
B b ls .

1848......
1847......
1846......
1845......
1844......
1843......
1842......
1841......
1840......
1839.....
1838......

16,228
.......
.......

16,597
14,410

.........
.........
.........

12,197
21,214
14,107

B b ls .

B b ls .

23,006
56,729
34,728
40,177
41,579
38,042
19,610
28,078
26,740
25,396
16,362

107,986
121,410
95,217
157.917
139,594
166,985
165,637
159,304
157,791
142,336
132,356

1848.

21,906
20,908
14,228
11,7484
66,469
72,0984
60,629
36,803
47,527
72,904
62,574
26,7014

15,027
9,0114

Molasses.

B b ls .

H h d s.

280,656
320,645
207,493
272,730
262,047
206,727
161,041
207,348
207,908
229,783
226,552

77,675
81,232
71,595
64,631
77,426
57,660
63,675
73,992
78,062
79,545
72.267

INSPECTIONS OF POT ANE PEARL ASHES FROM 1845 TO 1848.
184 8.
Casks.
Lbs.

1,407 597,711

1847.
Casks.
Lbs.

1846.
Casks.
Lbs.

1843.
Casks.
Lbs.

1,225 544,631

1,783 801,094

1,818 793,719

IMPORTS OF COFFEE INTO BOSTON FROM 1843 TO 1848.
1848.

1847.

16,752,353

27,532,522




1846

29,036 337

1846.

1844.

1848.

17,298,700

26,259,989

16,071,665

Commercial Statistics.

216

VALUE OF IMPORTS, AND DUTIES PAID AT PHILADELPHIA.
The following statement, showing the value o f the imports into the port of Philadel­
phia, and the duties accruing thereon to the United States, as prepared from official re­
cords, is derived from the Philadelphia Commercial L i s t :—
Years.

Value o f imports.

Duties.

Years.

Duties.

Value o f imports.

$9,525,893
$1,517,206 70
$3,537,516 10 1840....
$8,624,484
11,673,755
1,983,681 64
4,372,525 98 1841....
9,948,598
1,812,842 82
10,648,195
3,500,292 50 1842....
6,201,177
11,153,757
2,985,095 50 1843....
1.437,837 84
4,916,535
10,686,078
2,981,573 15
2,110,477 32 1844....
8,410,864
11,868,529
2,370,515 71
2,501,621 43 1845....
7,491,497
16
16,116,625
2,608,063
3,146,458 43 1846....
8,308,615
2,904,748 97
10,130,838
1.820,993 21 1847....
12,145,937
10,417,815
2,109,955 30 1848.... ..
unknown.
2,762,093 11
14,753,589
2,884,984 16
Comparative monthly statement o f the cash duties received at this port during the past
th ree years —
1830.......
1831.......
1832.......
18 33......
1834.......
1835.......
1836.......
1837........
1838.......
1839.......

1846.

1847.

1848.

January....
February...
March.......
April.........
M ay..........
June..........
July............
August......
September.
October....
November.
December..

573 98
.......
.......
........

247,991
249,778
179,909
111, .17

98
48
79
88

........
........
........
........
........

371,920
222,061
139, 174
111,669
151, 196

75
15
12
41
58

Total..........................

$218,829
210,410
237,457
275,196
242,273
161,364
389,315
466,635
260,999
141,590
124,398
176,286

$223,161
241,794
207,890
312,593

49
10
81
73
61 >
77 ^
85
14
41
50
25
51

$2,904,748 17

61
17
13
18

xlRl QRO 00
184,353
250,660
176,605
111,894
57,462
172,166

75
89
62
22
05
14

$2,420,661 78

RECEIPTS OF COTTON AT PHILADELPHIA.
The following is a statement o f the amount o f cotton received at the port o f Philadel­
phia during the last four years:—
1845.

New Orleans........................
Mobile..................................
Savannah.............................
Charleston............................
Apalachicola....................... ............
Other places........................

2,741

Total................................

1846.

1847.

184 8,

12.932
2,807
5,804
9,557
941
5,404

13,582
3,205
2,575
17,377
864
2,824

17,552
1,199
6,882
16,752
654
2,140

37,637

40,427

45,149

PHILADELPHIA EXPORTS OF FLOUR, MEAL, AND GRAIN.
W e have compiled from the Philadelphia Commercial L ist the following table o f the
exports o f wheat and rye flour, corn meal, wheat, and corn from the port o f Philadelphia,
annually, for the last eight years:—
W heat flour.
Years.
Rye flour.
Corn meal.
W heat.
Corn.
Bbls.

1841.....................
1842.....................
1843.....................
1844.....................
1845.....................
1846.....................
1847.....................
1848.....................




...............
..............
..............

195,555
161,866
128,617

..............

201,956

'Bbls.

Bbls.

26,886
22,530
22,303
21,904
17,098
19,730
20,407
15,537

108,822
97.884
106,484
101,356
115,101
144,857
300,531
140,014

Bushels.

56,571
87,953
32,235
23,375
86,098
245,136
523,538
207,092

Bushels.

80,266
83,772
74,613
110,068
129,256
279,820
1 ,1 0 2 ,2 1 0

817,051

217

Commercial Statistics.
INSPECTION OF TOBACCO AT PHILADELPHIA.

T he following statement o f the Annual Inspection o f Tobacco at the port o f Philadel­
phia from 1832 to 1848, excepting in 1837 and 1838, during part o f which time there was
but little tobacco received, and o f which no account was kept, is derived from the “ P hiladelphia Commercial L ist
Nears.

—

Kentucky.

1833..................
1834....................
1835....................
1836...................
1839................
1840................
1841..................
1842..................
1843................
1844................
1845..................
1846.................
1847................
1848.................

1,386
3,075

6,299

Ohio.

Virginia.

Maryland

1
16

96
157
592
30
437
82
Kinds unknown.
233
17
83
478
901
138
264
67
236
198
41
125
31
29
206
470
300
50

10
8
65

i

Total.

Stocks.

1,700
2,021
3,597
2,960
2,552
5,298
6,210
3,540
6,733
4,418
4,182
2,527
5,934
3,218

1,178
1,168
3,260
2,511
2,511
2.674
3,090
1,355

The stock o f tobacco in warehouse on the 1st o f January, 1849, was 1,355 hogsheads;
namely, 1,134 hhds. Kentucky, 50 hhds. Ohio, and 171 hhds. Virginia.

INSPECTIONS OF QUERCITRON BARK AT PHILADELPHIA.
John W . Ryan, Esq., o f Philadelphia, furnishes the following statement o f the amount
o f Quercitron Bark inspected at that port during the year 1848, to which C. G. Childs,
Esq., o f the Commercial L ist, adds the amount inspected annually since 1832:—
Years.

Hhds.

Tcs.

Bbls.

Years.

Hhds.

Tcs.

1832............
1833............
1834............
1835............
1836............
1837............
1838............
1839............
1840............

2,233
3,414
3,230
3,689
3,648
4,109
5,724
8,636
7,118

3
1
45
126
8
10
60
572
213

159
169
414
127
128
7
45
124
12

1841............
1842............
1843............
1844............
1845............
1846............
1847............
1848............

5,437
3,852
2,173
2,872
2,889
2,826
4,161
3,241

84

5

25
27
5
26
4
54
331

11
1
1
.
.
33
8

Bbls.

PHILADELPHIA GRAIN MEASUREMENTS.
The following table, showing the quantity o f grain, including wheat, rye, com , barley
and oats, seeds, beans, coal and salt, annually, for the last eleven years, is derived from
the statements o f the Public Measurers in Philadelphia:—
Years. W heat.
Bush.

1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848

Corn.
Bush.

Rye.
Bush.

Barley.
Bush.

Oats.
Bush.

Seeds.
Bush.

Beans. Coal, Bit.
Bush. Bush.

Salt.
Bush.

319,513
593,296 163,085 48,162} 272,104} 22,944} 1,401} 138,712 356,407|
449,9804 455,370}
115,933J48,152} 302,274} 11,5934327-}86,452 291,568
770,205
602,8584
133,891} 36,5424298,4734 18,24846984165,740257,143
467,243} 781,278}
51,371} 44,336 167,508419,704} 3,040} 118,108326,132
462,770
492,951 36,334 35,9784194,908
25,198} 1,61649,068151,250
484,384} 518,671} 68,013} 20,012 372,713} 27,773} 1,580} 131,909 174,134}
526,6671 640,459
95,2274 58,600 375,578} 42,358 1,402} 97,000 217,815}
792,502} 768,486} 85,357} 46,630} 357,677} 31,434 3,930f 261,838 146,451
983,923 665,178 30,829 40,339 350,942 15,864 3,895 348,261 237,463
947,598 1,093,264 78,972 38,210 369,171
7,528
676 268,760 246,438
723,6944 1,302,318} 46,900} 62,554} 327,733} 9,770f 459 357,827 200,474




218

Commercial Statistics.
VESSELS A M PASSENGERS ARRIVING AT NEW YORK IN 1848,

According to a statement made by Mr. Thom e, the boarding officer attached to the
United States Revenue Department, it appears the number o f vessels and passengers ar­
riving at the port o f New Y ork from foreign countries during the year were as follows:—
Countries.

American......................
British..........................
French..........................
Brem en........................
Swedish.....................
Norwegian....................
Hamburgh.....................
Danish.......................
Dutch.........................
Belgian.........................
Portuguese................
Prussian................
Spanish.....................
Austrian.......................
Hanover......................
Sicilian.........................
Russian.........................
Olden burgh..................
Neapolitan...................
Genoese.......................
Brazilian....................
Oriental.......................
Venezuelian................
Sardinian.......... ........
Knyphausen................
Lubec...............
Granadian..................

Ships.

Barks.

552
138
14
17
2
1

422
160
15
45
15

7

15

9

5

5

14

6

7

2

9

1

6
3
2
1
2
1

3
11
2
2

10

1
1
1
2

Brigs. Galliots. Sch’ ners. St. Ships.

670
260
16
31
23
16

2

3
1
1
3
1
3

274
164
2
3
4
3

17
36
1

Total.

1,935
754
42
98

44
30
31
25
13
14
12
11

i
1
2

6

1
2

2
6
3
2

3

6

1
4

5

4

2

1
1

1
3
1
1

1

1
1
2

2

4

8

3,060

Total..............

The annexed schedule shows the number o f vessels and passengers arrived at the port
o f New York in each year since 1834:—
Years.

1835......................
1836......................
1837......................
1838......................
1839......................
1840......................
1841......................

No. o f
arrivals.

No. o f
passengers.

2,094
2,291
2,071
1,790
2,159
1,953
2,118

35,303
60,541
57,975
25,581
48,152
62,797
57,337

Years.

1842..............
1843..............
1844..............
1845..............
1846..............
1847..............
1848..............

No. o f
arrivals.

No. o f
passengers

1,960
1,832

74,949
46,302
61,002
82,960
115,230
166,110
191,909

2,044
2,293
3,147
3,060

From this it appears that the number o f arrivals during the last year is 87 less than in
1847, but 767 greater than in any previous year. The tonnage is probably greater than
in 1847. T he proportion o f American to foreign vessels arrived is greater than in 1847
— the American being only 11 less than in that year, and the foreign 76 less.

The num­

ber o f British vessels is 18 more than in 1847 ; French 15 less, Swedish 18 less, Bremen
6 more, Dutch 29 less, Belgian 8 less, Spanish 10 less, & c.
The number o f passengers arrived during the past year, chiefly immigrants, 25,799 more
than in 1847, and more than double that o f any previous year.

The number o f passen­

gers arrived in the country at large during the year 1847 was about 250,000.

During the

past year (1848) it was nearly 300,000.
ID” For a tabular statement o f the value o f the imports o f specie, free and dutiable
merchandise, and o f the exports o f specie, and foreign and domestic merchandise from
the port o f New York for each month o f the years 1847 and 1848, see “ Commercial
Chronicle and Review,” p. 195, o f the present number o f the Merchants’ Magazine.




219

Commercial Statistics.
IMPORT OF VIRGINIA TOBACCO INTO THE PORT OF NEW YORK.

W e are indebted to C h a r l e s M. C o n n a l l y , Esq., o f the Virginia Tobacco Agency in
N ew York, for the following statement o f manufactured tobacco imported into the port
o f New York from the 1st o f January to the 31st o f December, 1848:—
IMPORTS AND STOCKS ON HAND IN 1848.
Number o f
packages.

Same time last
year.

Probable stock
now on hand.

From Richmond....................
Petersburgh..................
Norfolk..........................
Other places.................

62,476
46,796
495
3,669

75,817
53,586
730
7,918

............
............
............
............

.........
.........

Total..................

113,336

30,000

36,000

138,051

Same time last
year.

.........

RECEIPTS IN FORMER YEARS FROM 1ST JANUARY TO 3 1 s T DECEMBER IN EACH YEAR.

Years.

Packages.

1839
.........
1840
.........
841....................

Years.

Packages.

51,579 1842.............
63,805 1843.............
84,779 1844.............

97,536

Years.
1845.............. ....
1846.............. . ...
1847.............. . ...

Packages.

105,689
112,118
138,051

IMPORTS OF COAL INTO THE UNITED STATES:
UNDER THE TARIFFS OF 1842 AND 1846.

The following is a statement exhibiting the quantity and value of coal imported under
the tariffs o f 1842 and 1846, together with the amount o f duty which accrued on the same,
prepared in obedience to a resolution o f the House o f Representatives o f the 14th De­
cember, 1848:—
Tons.

From October 1, 1842, to June 30 ,1843...
Year ending June 30, 1844..........................
“
“
1845..........................
“
“
1846........................
From July 1 to November 30, 1846...........
December 1, 1846, to June 30, 1847
July 1, 1847, to June 30, 1848..........

41,163
87,073
85,776
156,853
66,272
82,749
196,251

Value.

$116,312
2.36,963
223,919
378,597
157,636
213,349
461,140

per ton.

$ 1 75
1 75
1 75
1 75
1 75
30 p. c.
«*

Duties.

$72,035
152,377
150,108
274,492
114,226
64,004
138,342

25
75
00
75
00
70
00

Note.— The tariff o f 1842 commenced operating August 30, 1842: and the tariff o f
1846, December 1, 1846.
SHIP-BUILDING IN NEW YORK.
The following table shows the amount o f tonnage launched and remaining on the stocks
for the year ending January 1st, 1849:—
Tonnage launched.
W . H. W ebb’s yard.............................

W . H. Brown’s......................................
Westervelt and M cK ay’s....................
Perrine, Paterson and Stack’s............
Jacob Bell’s ...........................................
Dunham and Dimon’s..........................
Bishop and Simonson’s........................
Jabez Williams’ ....................................
Lawrence and Sneeden’s ....................
Barclay and Townsend’s......................
W . H. Collyer’s.....................................
Total, 1849.........................
Total, 1848......................




crease ................

Tonnage on stocks.

6,770
4,800
4,590
4,189
460
3,900
4,000
1,350
3,800
1,240
1,450

1,850
4,800
2,900
1,850
3,000

36,649
39,718

15,710
29,870

3,609

14,160

400
580
330

22 0

Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.

RAILROAD, CANAL, AND STEAMBOAT STATISTICS.
TRADE AND COMMERCE OF TIIE NEW YORK CANALS.
W e give below, in advance o f the publication o f the usual annual report of the Canal
Commissioners, a summary statement o f the quantities and estimated value o f each arti­
cle which came to the Hudson River, on all the canals o f the State o f N ew York during
the years 1847 and 1848:—
STATEMENT SHOWING THE TOTAL QUANTITY AND THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF EACH ARTICLE WHICH
CAME TO THE HUDSON RIVER, ON ALL THE CANALS DURING THE YEARS 1847 AND 1848.
QUANTITIES.

THE FOREST.
1847.
1848.
Far and peltry..........
556.000
557,271
Product o f Wood.
Boards and scantlino-__
299,078,633 262,279,116
Shingles.................
104,270
101,527
T imber.............................cubic feet
1,613,943
2,098,777
Staves........
95,104,000 113,656,951
W o o d .............
13,331
13,861
.cords
A s h e s .................
37,538
38,229
AGRICULTURE.
Product o f Animals.
Pork.................
76,179
87,830
Beef...................
71,266
60,570
Bacon.....................
4,902,000
48,183,285
Cheese.....................
40,844,000
23,298,526
Butter..........
22,724,000
3,729,997
Lard................
4.348,000
9,925,663
W o o l.....................
12,044,000
8,529,331
Hides........................
172,000
174,925
Vegetable Food.
rlo u r....................
3,952,972
3,131,095
W heat.......................
4,243,832
3,116,134
•bush.
R ye........................
295,119
286,919
Corn.........................
6,053,845
2,953,963
Barley.....................................
1,523,020
1,548,197
Other grain............................
2,040,052
2,077,724
Ship stuffs.............................
1,437,287
2,093,681
Peas and beans....................
75,808
106,088
Potatoes...........................
108,369
115,629
Dried fruits................................bbls.
1,828,145
3,558,000
A ll other Agricultural Products.
Cotton................
174,700
474,000
T obacco...............
350,935
1,228,000
Grass seed............................
1,667,030
3,308,000
Flax seed........................
1,763,393
4.128.000
Hops..............
1.948.000
1,597,342

ESTIMATED VALUE.

4847.
$690,150

1848.
$695,838

5,078,564
405,548
169,160
1,239,677
79,986
1,135,288

3,931,277
338,861
300,798
511,463
69,462
1,146,870

1,104,673
718,344
' 416,738
2,860,354
3,408,751
434,780
3,599,963
21,611

967,230
605,700
490,997
3,029,169
3,359,391
761,767
2,304,046
17.494

27,057,037
5,833,901
259,950
5,170,970
1,279,337
977,967
293,117
106,088
51,755
320,364

17,471,401
3,677,020
200,310
1,834,388
1,037,293
747,930
172,578
75,801
58,109
164,633

35,498
150,735
231,518
103,219
188,179

11,356
43,127
116,693
35,268
159,695

473,651
965,204
197,251
19,288
660,896
340,496
123,808
2,369,187
740,901
133,836

385,471
608,842
153,536
3,875
744,687
172,981
80,993
882,851
632,652
106,522

MANUFACTURES.

Domestic spirits.................... •galls.
Leather...................................
Furniture.................
Bar and Pig lead..................
Bloom and bar iron...............
Pig iron.................................
Iron ware...............................
Domestic woollens................
“
cottons.................
Salt.........................................




1,693,076
5,168,000
1,972,000
482,005
26,348,000
21,608,000
3,014,000
1,756,000
2,396,090
382,390

1,606,131
4,538,951
1,545,365
86,100
29,787,506
11,528,683
2,314,064
1,103,563
2,493,561
343,618

Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.

221

OTHER ARTICLES.

Stone, lime, & c .........................lbs.
Gypsum...........................................
Mineral coal...................................
Sundries...........................................

59,094,000
8,518,000
32,580,000
147,988,000

65,246,669
3,715,980
48,291,417
97,796,493

63,129
17,584
81,453
2,944,914

92,379
8,336
108,356
2,001,252

STATEMENT SHOWING THE AGGREGATES IN TONS, AND THE ESTIMATED VALUE, UNDER THE DI­
VISIONS SPECIFIED IN THE ABOVE TABLE.
184 7.

T he forest................................. tons
Agriculture.......................................
Manufactures...................................
Merchandise....................................
Other articles...................................
Total.............................. .

1 84 8.

1 84 7.

1848.

666,113
897,717
51,532
4,831
124,090

615,325 $8,798,373 $6,994,469
685,996 54,624,849 37.336,390
37,330
6,024,518
3,834,360
6,343
517,594
593,619
107,527
3,127,080
2,210,623

1,744,283

1,452,521 $73,092,414 $50,969,461

STATEMENT OF THE TONNAGE AND VALUE OF ALL THE PROPERTY WHICH WENT FROM THE HUD­
SON RIVER ON ALE THE CANALS IN 1847 AND 1848.
1847.

Tonnage........................... ............................................................
Value.............................................................................................

288,267
$74,352,812

1848.

333,985
$76,760,766

AGGREGATE MOVEMENT FROM AND TO THE HUDSON RIVER DURING THE YEARS 1847 AND 1848,
AND THE AGGREGATE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY TRANSPORTED.
1847.

Tonnage...............................................................................
Value....................................................................................

184 8.

2,032,550
$147,445,226

1,814,014
$127,983,961

VOYAGES OF THE BRITISH MAIL STEAMERS.
STATEMENT OF THE VOYAGES MADE BY THE BRITISH ROYAL MAIL STEAMERS DURING THE YEAR
1848, SHOWING THE DATE OF THE ARRIVAL, LENGTH OF PASSAGE, PASSENGERS BROUGHT, ETC.

Names.

Caledonia...
Acadia........
Britannia....
Caledonia...
Acadia.........
Britannia....
Caledonia...
Niagara......
Am erica__
Cambria......
Niagara......
Europa.........
A cad ia.......
Britannia....
Hibernia....
Acadia.........
Cambria....
Niagara......
Hibernia....
A cadia........
Britannia....
Niagara.......

Passage. Passengers from Left at
Day of arrival. Days. Liv’ poc>1. Halifax. Haliiax.
27
8
January
4 17
i
February
38
6
5
1 I 64
2
0
4
36
13
4
2
March
if
15
26
7
27
14
23
15
40
14
April
11
16
5
May
7 14$
8
U
14|
42
21
7
7
2 124
48
10
10
June
tf
71
3
13 184
6
a
30 124
60
7
36
15
27
July
12 104
(i
114
60
20
27
43
12
August
14 15
it
36
21
26 14
4
56
24
September 8 1 24
3
ft
24 144
68
21
3
6 124
66
21
October
ti
86
17
ii
19 12
51
5
7
November 3 124
tt
23
5
2
19 14
16
9
1
December 6 17$
ti
55
7
4
16 1 34
■■ ■

T o ta l....

-

1,000

■
257

-

Day
Passengers to
o f departure. Liv’ pool. Halifax.
January
15
22
8
February 12
20
5
March
11
19
2
April
5
34
4
May
3
60
6
tt
17
35
8
tt
31
35
5
June
14
54
16
Cl
28
90
14
July
12
41
5
tt
26
35
7
August
9
33
19
ft
23
8
11
September 6
23
6
ft
20
24
14
October
4
22
10
if
18
61
17
November 1
49
6

«
tt

15

December 18

ii

27
- ,

126

7
9

12
10

29

10

2

31

2

■_

738

-

183

Average passages from Liverpool, 14 days 1 hour. The America made the shortest
passage during the year, and the Britannia the longest.




Railroad, Canal, and Steamboat Statistics.

22 2

SCHUYLKILL NAVIGATION COMPANY'S RATES OF TOLL ON COAL.
The following are the rates o f toll charged on coal transported on the Canal and W orks
o f the Schuylkill Navigation Company for the year 1849:—

To
Orwigsburgh . p. ton
Hamburgh..............
Mohrsville..............
Alhouses’ ................
Reading...................
Unionville...............
Laurel Hill..............
Pottstown Landing.
Rogers’ Ford.........

/------------- From--------------\
Mount Schuylkill Port
Carbon. Haven. Clinton.
Cents. Cents. Cents.

15
25
35
40
45
55
55
55
55

12
22
32
37
42
52
52
52
52

i3
23
28
33
43
43
43
43

To
Phcenixville...p. ton
Lumberville.........
Paulding’s Dam.
Valley Forge....
Port Kennedy....
Norristown..........
Conshohocken...
Spring Mill........
Manayunk..........

,--------------From---------- —%
Mount Schuylkill Port
Carbon. Haven. Clinton.
Cents. Cents. Cents.

48
48
48
48
53
53
58
58
63

57
57
57
57
62
62
67
67
72

60
60
50
60
65
65
70
70
75

The toll to Philadelphia will be as follow s :—
March, April, and M ay....
.
June, July, and August......
September, October, Novem., and Decern.

Mount Carbon.

Sch. Haven.

Port Clinton.

65 cents.
75 “
85 “

62 cents.
72 <(
82 ((

53 cents.
63 ti
73 f t

The coal shipped from Port Carbon to the above points will be charged one and a half
cent per ton more-than the said rates.

The charge will be made per ton of 2,240 lbs.,

and an allowance o f five per cent will be made on the weight shipped to cover wastage.
AUBURN AND ROCHESTER RAILROAD RECEIPTS,
The earnings o f the Auburn and Rochester Railroad, during 1848 to December, show
a large increase over the previous year, when the gross receipts were $395,767, and the
nett receipts $241,153, or 12 per cent on the cost o f the road.

T he comparative receipts

o f 1847 and 1848 have been as annexed:—
AUBURN AND ROCHESTER RAILROAD RECEIPTS.
1847.

$17,770
16,995
17,601
34,285
39,637
36,832
42,538

January..
February.
March ...
April......
M a y .......
June.......
July.........

1847.

184 8.

67 $24,105 01 August................... $48,392
89 21,678 91 September............. 48,084
87 23,266 15 October.................. 37,246
80 45,835 07 November.............. 25,111
16 53,137 60
38 39,262 28
Total............. 364,506
16 39,670 41

1848.

74 $51,612
42 51,085
47 39,529
03 31,389

46
71
89
07

59 420,732 62

Excess in eleven months o f 1848, $56,226 03— equal to 15J per cent. T he nett
eamings this year promise to be about $300,000— equal to 15 per cent on the cost o f the
road.
PROGRESS OF RAILROADS IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 1849.
The following railroads and sections o f railroads leading towards Boston, or connect­
ing with Boston lines, will have been opened during the year ending January 31, 1849:—
Cape Cod Railroad...................... miles
South Shore Railroad..........................
Norfolk County Railroad......................
Milford Branch Railroad......................
Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad
Connecticut River Railroad.......... .
Cheshire Railroad..................................
Sullivan Railroad...................................
Vermont Central Railroad...................
Bristol Railroad.............................
Northern Railroad................................




27J
llj
26
12
35
11
37
28
65
12
4

Boston, Concord, and Montreal Roil’d
Passumpsic Railroad.............................
Worcester and Nashua Railroad........
Portland to Lewiston............................
N ew York and New Haven Railroad
to Harlem Railroad...........................
Section o f Ogdensburgh Railroad. . .
Stony Branch Railroad.........................
Lowell and Lawrence Railroad.........

36
40
45
27
60
12

14
12

Total miles...................................... 515

Commercial Regulations.

COMMERCIAL

22 3

REGULATIONS.

APPRAISAL OF MERCHANDISE.
T

he

Secretary o f the Treasury has issued the following circular, touching the Appraisal

o f Merchandise, under date o f the Treasury Department, December 26th, 1848:—
Differences o f practice existing in the several ports relative to the appraisement of mer­
chandise, the following additional instructions are issued for the government o f collectors,
appraisers, and other officers o f the customs, under the 25th section, A ct 30th of August,
1841, which is in these words:— “ That it shall be the duty o f all collectors and other offi­
ce rs o f the customs, to execute and carry into effect all instructions o f the Secretary o f the
Treasury, relative to the execution o f the revenue la w s; and in case any difficulty shall
arise as to the true construction or meaning o f any part o f such revenue laws, the decision
o f the Secretary o f the Treasury shall be conclusive and binding upon all such collectors
and other officers o f the customs.”
The interests o f the country and o f fair and honorable merchants, require that this De­
partment should, by every means in its power, secure not only the revenue against loss,
but should maintain such merchants in their business against sales o f imported articles at
diminished rates, arising from fraud or under-valuation.
T o appraisers the government looks for correct valuations o f foreign imports. On these
officers, more than any other, does the success o f the ad valorem depend. Their respon­
sibilities are great, and it is expected that their efforts will not be relaxed to check every
under-valuation or fraud upon the revenue by whomsoever attempted. In the strict and
faithful performance o f their duty, at times necessarily disagreeable, their judgment should
have great weight with other officers o f the revenue service, and especially with the col­
lectors o f ports, who should, in all cases, render them every aid and co-operation in their
power.
The intent o f the 17th section o f the act o f 30th o f August, 1842, in the appointment
o f merchant appraisers, is evidently to give the merchants an opportunity to appeal from
one class o f appraisers to another. But it is clear that Congress did not design to relin­
quish the power in the government to select the merchant appraisers, to whom the case
might be referred, nor to give the parties appealing any more voice in the selection o f such
appraisers than o f any other government officers. T o consult the parties concerned, or al­
low them a voice in the selection o f merchant appraisers, would soon result in permitting
the importers to control the appraisement o f their own goods, and it is presumed is not
permitted at any port.
Merchant appraisers should be particularly instructed, that when acting in that capacity,
they are to be governed by the same rules and regulations as provided by law for the direc­
tion o f regular appraisers, and are to act upon the principle that the invoice price, or even
the price actually paid for an article o f merchandise, is by no means a true criterion of the
fair market value as prescribed by law. Adopt a contrary principle, and one who is so
fortunate as to have a quantity o f merchandise given him, would be entitled to receive it
free o f duty, or at a nominal duty, if purchased at nominal prices; and different rates
would often be assessed by appraisers by articles o f the same value. The fair market
value intended by law, is the general or ruling price o f the article “ in the principal mar­
kets o f the country from which the same shall have been imported.” The Treasury cir­
cular o f August the 7th, 1848, declares that “ forced sales in foreign markets at reduced
prices under extraordinary or peculiar circumstances, cannot be taken as the true market
value o f such goods.”
T o secure uniformity o f action at the different ports, the merchant appraisers are to be
selected, and their appraisements made in the following manner:— W hen the appraisers
all concur, they may designate five names, or when such concurrence does not exist, the
appraiser making the advance, may designate five names o f impartial merchants, citizens
o f the United States, familiar with the value o f merchandise, and of the highest credit for
integrity and fair dealing, from whom it is recommended that the collector select two as
the merchant appraisers, to act under the law, who shall be duly sworn as provided for in
the Treasury Instructions o f July 6th, 1837, omitting in the oath the name o f the im­
porter. In the notice to be sent to the appraisers selected as provided in the same in­
structions, the name o f the importer is also to be omitted. The names o f the merchant
appraisers selected shall also be withheld from the importers, until such appraisers assem­
ble for the performance o f their duty, as it is important that no ex parte statements be per-




224

Commercial Regulations.

mitted, the sole object being to obtain a fair and disinterested examination and valuation
o f the merchandise. When the collector has fixed the time and place for the merchant
appraisers to assemble, he will notify the importer o f such time and place, but not the
names o f the merchant appraisers. Such importer may be present if he desires, and every
proper facility should be given him for a thorough examination and ascertainment of
value.
T o facilitate collectors in settling their accounts, this re-appraisement should take place
immediately, or at all events, not be delayed beyond six days from the time the re-ap­
praisement is demanded, unless, in the opinion o f the merchant appraisers, there are ex­
traordinary circumstances requiring an analysis, or proof not to be procured within that
period. Should such delay extend beyond ten days, a statement of the case by the col­
lector must be forwarded to this department for its examination. The collector, in such
cases, shall also call on the regular appraisers for a statement, and transmit it to the de­
partment. In all cases where the merchant appraisers assess a lower value than the reg­
ular appraisers, the collector will report to the department a full statement of the case, to
be recorded here, together with the names o f the merchant appraisers. He will also
transmit at the same time to this department for record here, a statement, which he will
obtain o f the case, from the regular appraisers.
In case the merchant appraisers are at variance with each other in their appraisements,
and the collector compelled according to law to decide between them, it is expected that
he will, without delay, or within five days from the time the re-appraisement is made, de­
cide the question o f value ; and if he adopts the lowest appraisement made, he will give
the reasons for the same in his statement, to be forwarded to this department for record as
directed above.
This department earnestly invites the co-operation o f collectors, appraisers, and other
officers o f the customs, in enforcing correct valuations, and will also be glad to receive
information and assistance from all honorable merchants and citizens who desire to pro­
tect the revenue, to guard the rights of the honest trader, and to insure the faithful exe.
cution o f the laws. The selection o f “ merchant appraisers” should not be confined ex­
clusively to those connected with foreign imports, but, when the requisite knowledge ex­
ists, should be extended so as to embrace domestic manufactures, and producers and other
citizens acting as merchants, although not dealing in foreign merchandise.
In all cases where the advance by the regular appraisers is short o f the penalty, they
shall report to this department the names o f the importer, consignee, and consignor, to­
gether with the invoice value and rate advanced.
The law requiring importers to give notice “ forthwith” to the collector o f a demand
for re-appraisement, no such re-appraisement shall take place unless notice is given to the
collector, in writing, o f such demand within a period not longer than the day succeeding
the notice o f such appraisement, which the regular appraisers shall give in all cases as
soon as the appraisement is made.
In all cases where the goods are advanced by the regular appraisers twenty per
cent more than the invoice, and no re-appraisement is called for, the said appraisers,
on ascertaining that fdct, shall report to the collector in writing whether the interests
o f the government will best be promoted by taking the duty with the penalty, as pre­
scribed by the law, or by taking the duty in kind, as authorized by the 18th section
o f the Act o f 30th August, 1842, as enforced by the circular o f this department o f
the 28th o f November, 18 46; and if the appraisers advise the duty to be required in
kind, it shall so be taken by the collector. In all such cases also, when the goods
are advanced by the regular appraisers twenty per cent above the invoice value, and
a re-appraisement is made by the merchant appraisers, the collector shall make a state­
ment o f the duty thus ascertained and fixed by him, including the penalty, if any, to
the regular appraisers, who shall thereupon report in writing to the collector whether
it is the interest o f the government to take the duty thus ascertained, or require the
duty in kind ; and if the regular appraisers advise the duty to be required in kind, it
shall so be taken by the collector.
In all cases where the duty is taken in kind, it i9 to be thus assessed under the
law according to the several schedules, viz:— I f the duty be 100 per cent, the whole
o f the goods shall be taken; i f 40 per cent, two-fifths; if 30 per cent, three-tenths;
i f 25 per cent, one-quarter ; if 20 per cent, one-fifth; if 15 per cent, three-twentieths;
i f 10 per cent, one-tenth; i f 5 per cent, one-twentieth; and the goods so taken in
kind, are to be sold as provided in the Treasury circular of 28th o f November, 1846.
These regulations, whilst protecting the revenue against fraud, or under valuations,
will insure correct invoices, inducing a compliance, where necessary, with the 8th section
o f the A ct o f 30th July, 1846, and guard the interests o f the fair and honorable merchant.




Commercial Regulations.

225

Whenever it is found necessary by the regular appraisers or merchant appraisers to
guard against fraud or under-valuation, they will carry into effect the following pro­
visions o f the 2d section o f the A ct o f the 10th August, 1846, declaring that “ in ap­
praising all goods at any port o f the United States heretofore subjected to specific
duties, but upon which ad valorem duties are imposed by the A ct of the 30th July
last, entitled ‘ A n A ct reducing the duty on imports and for other purposes,1’ reference
shall be had to values and invoices o f similar goods imported during the last fiscal
year, under such general and uniform regulations for the prevention o f fraud or under­
valuation, as shall be prescribed by the Secretary o f the Treasury,” as enforced by
the circular instructions o f the 11th o f November, 1846, and 26th o f November, 1846.
“ The last fiscal year” designated in this section intended by Congress, was “ the last
fiscal year” preceding the enactment o f that law, which was the fiscal year ending the
30th o f June, 1846, to which reference is required by the law to values and invoices
o f similar goods, when necessary to prevent fraud or under-valuation.
Where goods are advanced in price by appraisement, the estimates o f the per centage
advance, to ascertain whether the same are liable to the penalty as provided for in the 8th
section o f the A ct o f the 30th o f July, 1846, must be made only on the article so raised
in price, and such additional duty and penalty must be so levied and collected. In no
case will the advance be estimated on the entire invoice, except where the goods are the
same in quality, description, and value, and the same advance of price is made on the
whole.
R. J. W a l k e r , Secretary o f the Treasury.

THE POSTAL TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN,
W e publish below the official notice o f the Postmaster General, to the public, with in­
structions to Postmasters. It embraces the rates o f postage established on foreign letters
by the two governments, and all the regulations necessary for postmasters and the public.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC, AND INSTRUCTIONS TO POSTMASTERS.

I. A Postal Treaty has been entered into between Great Britain and the United States,
placing the correspondence between the two countries, the mail packets of each Govern­
ment, and the postage charges upon an equal and reciprocal footing.
II. Letters posted or charged in the United States will be rated at half an ounce to the
single letter, over a half and not exceeding an ounce as a double letter, over an ounce
and not exceeding an ounce and a half as a treble letter, and so on, each half ounce or
fractional excess constituting a rate. In England the half ounce limits the single letter, the
full ounce the double letter, but on letters exceeding the ounce and not exceeding two ounces
four rates are charged; also, on letters exceeding two ounces and not exceeding three ounces
six rates are charged; that is, two rates are imposed for each excess over an ounce.
III. The single rate to be charged on each letter posted in the United States addressed
to any place in Great Britain or Ireland is 24 cents, the double rate 48 cents, the triple
rate 72 cents, and so on according to the United States scale o f progression in weight.__
See No. 2.
IV. Like single, double, triple, & c., rates will be collected on each letter according to
its weight, which is posted in Great Britain or Ireland without being prepaid, and is re­
ceived at any office in the United States for delivery.
V. Said postage on letters going to any place in Great Britain or Ireland may be pre­
paid, if the whole amount is tendered at the office in the United States, when mailed, at
the option o f the sender.
VI. Newspapers may be mailed at any office in the United States to any place in the
United Kingdom on the payment o f 2 cents, and may, on receipt from any place in Great
Britain or Ireland, be delivered at any office in the United States on payment o f 2 cents.
Note.— Each Government is to charge 2 cents on each newspaper. These are to be sent
in bands or covers, open at the sides and ends, or to contain no manuscript whatever.
V II. On each pamphlet to be sent to any place in the United Kingdom, and on each
pamphlet received therefrom, there is to be prepaid in the first place, and charged and
collected in the second, one cent for each ounce in weight, or a fractional excess o f an
ounce. These are to be sent in bands or covers, open at the ends or sides, so as readily
to be examined, and to contain no manuscript whatever.
V III. On letters addressed to any place in British North America, not to be conveyed
by sea, there shall be charged a postage equal to the United States postage and the Pro­
vince postage combined; but, as this Department is yet uninformed of the British Province
rates, the United States postage to the lines will be charged, and prepayment thereof re*
V O L . X X .-----N O . I I .




15

Commercial Regulations.

226

quired, until the details are ascertained and settled, as required by the 21st article o f the
Treaty. United States postage on newspapers to Canada and other British Provinces is
to be prepaid.
IX. On letters to be sent to any foreign country or British possession, and mailed for
that purpose to any Post Office in the Island o f Great Britain, there must be prepaid, if
sent by a British packet, 5 cents the single rate, and if by an American packet, 21 cents
— to be doubled, tripled, & c., according to weight.
X. On letters received from foreign countries or English possessions, through the L on­
don or any other Post Office in Great Britain, to be delivered in the United States, the
foreign and British postage is to be prepaid, and what remains to be collected on delivery
here in such cases as simply the United States postage— 5 cents, single, if brought by a
British packet; 21 cents if brought by an American packet; 40 cents if such letters are
delivered at San Francisco, Astoria, or any other place in the territory o f the United
States on the Pacific, when brought to an Atlantic port by a British steamship, and 56
cents if brought by an American steamship.
XI. On British or foreign letters received in the United States to be forwarded to the
W est Indies by American packets, or any place on the Gulf o f Mexico, to Chagres or
Panama, in the United States mails, the single postage charged will be (as the British
postage and the postage arising in its transit to Great Britain must be prepaid) 12£ cents
if to Havana, 20 cents i f to any other place in the W est Indies cron the Gulf of Mexico,
or to Chagres; 30 cents if to Panama, with 16 cents added if brought to the United States
from Great Britain in an American packet.
XII. Care is to be taken to see that all American postage on letters from Havana, from
other places in the Gulf o f Mexico, from our Pacific possessions, and from the British
North American provinces, is paid in the United States before the same is dispatched by
mail to Great Britain.
XIII. Newspapers for countries beyond Great Britain may be sent on the prepayment
o f two cents each— also pamphlets as stipulated under No. 7— and newspapers and pam­
phlets received from countries beyond Great Britain are to be delivered on payment o f
the two cents for each newspaper, and one cent per ounce in weight o f each pamphlet.
XIV. Postmasters are cautioned to write on their post-bills, opposite each entry of a
foreign letter, newspaper or pamphlet posted by them respectively, the word u foreign,”
the better to enable the Postmasters o f N ew York and Boston, and any others that may
be designated, to make a separate quarterly report o f the amount o f foreign postage.
XV. The Postmasters o f Boston and New Y ork will be specially instructed as to the
closed mails contemplated by the treaty, the mode o f keeping their accounts o f foreign
postage, and o f mailing and acknowledging receipt o f foreign matter.
C. Johnson, Postmaster General.
P ost Office D epartment, January 8,1849.

RIO JAJVEIRO REGULATIONS ENFORCED.
Rio Janeiro, November 1, 1848.
A new inspector has taken charge o f the custom-house, and being determined to carry
out all the laws to the strict letter, has given great trouble, annoyance, and detention.
Almost every vessel has been fined more or less for errors in their manifests, which are
oftentimes very incorrectly made out in the United States. W e would, therefore, remind
our friends that two manifests are required, containing all the marks and particulars in con­
formity with the bills o f lading; and should there be a shipping mark in addition to the
manufacturer’s, it would be well to obliterate the latter. T he manifests should be certified
by a Brazilian consul, and filled for R io and a Market, as, without the latter clause, a ves­
sel cannot proceed to a foreign port without paying an extra duty, or to a Brazilian port
except in ballast.
The captain should carefully compare the manifest with the bills o f lading on the pas­
sage, and should he discover any errors, either in quantity or marks, & c., endorse them
on the manifest before delivering it to the boarding officer, acquainting him with the same.
This will prevent all fines. Also endorsing a certain number o f packages in dispute when
there is a doubt o f the quantity, is always advisable.

SEIZURE OF VESSELS AT BPJTISH PORTS FOR SMUGGLING.
In answer to numerous remonstrances from merchants and ship-owners against the hard­
ship and injustice o f placing large vessels under seizure, on account o f individual instances
o f smuggling small quantities o f tobacco by sailors, and this, too, when the real culprits




Nautical Intelligence.

227

were seized and made amenable to the law, the Commissioners o f Customs have issued
an order authorizing the principal officers o f the customs at Liverpool to release any ship
now legally seized— 1st, whenever the contraband tobacco or liquor is found on the person
o f the offender; 2dly, whenever in a ship o f 500 tons, or under, the quantity concealed
does not exceed 20 lbs. tobacco, or five gallons o f spirits; and, 3dly, when in a ship up­
ward o f 500 tons, it does not exceed 30 lbs. o f tobacco, or 10 gallons o f spirits. By an­
other order, vessels from foreign ports, on arrival, and subsequently, are to be allowed from
surplus stores, placed under the custom-house seal, reasonable quantities of tobacco, wines,
spirits, and other stores, with the exception o f segars and raw coffee; while to ships in
the river, the privilege is to extend to segars.

NAUTICAL

INTELLIGENCE.

GREAT CIRCLE SAILING.*

T he rules of Middle Latitude and Mercator’s Sailing have been so universally followed
by navigators, that until lately they have been taken as undisputed, and scarcely any one
would be listened to who presumed to call their truth in question. But they are very far
from being correct, and especially in long distances give erroneous results. Bowditch
says (p. GG, note) that in Plane Sailing the error may be made less than any assignable
quantity, and (p. 67) Mercator’s Sailing is perfectly accurate; yet he gives in appendix,
Prob. X V III., a case in spherics exactly in point, which disproves these rules.
The shortest line between any two points on the earth’s surface is an arc of a great
circle; a north and south line everywhere, and an east and west line only on the Equator,
are such arcs; an east and west line o f latitude is an arc o f a small circle, consequently
is not the shortest line, and every other course, by compass, forms a compound spiral curve,
constantly approaching the pole but never reaching it. Every case of course and dis­
tance, with the two former exceptions, is a problem in spheric trigonometry, having the
same elements which astronomical calculations have, and is solved in the same manner.
A nd all the cases o f Plane, Parallel, Middle Latitude, and Mercator’s Sailing, where
courses or distances are in question, are erroneous.
The principle may be illustrated by stretching a thread upon a globe between any two
places which will evidently lie upon the shortest line.

I f this line is transferred from the

points o f latitude and longitude which it cuts upon the globe to the corresponding points
on Mercator’s chart, it will form a curve, o f which the straight course by chart will be
the cord ; yet the apparent curve is the true course and distance, and vice versa.
For further illustration, divide the curve into several parts, and having the latitude and
longitude of each, find the distances by Mercator’s or Middle Latitude rules; the sum will
be much less than a single distance found by the same rules, and will be little more than
that found by a spheric calculation.
The difference which may be saved in sea room between New Y ork and Liverpool is
nearly one hundred miles ; between Matanilla R eef and Cape Clear about one hundred
and forty; and in these instances the error in first shaping a course is over two points.
The reason why this principle has not been more generally understood and acted upon
by navigators is, that it is not taught in the common books, nor has it ever been presented
in such a simple manner that practical men can work it out with a common day’s reckon­
ing. A problem in spherics is to most a difficult and far o ff thing, only to be touched by
learned professors at observatories, who construct tables and get up the Nautical Alma* Chart o f the North Atlantic Ocean, with the (Jreat Circle lines between the usual
points o f departure and arrival, intended practically to assist the navigator in shaping his
shortest course. By A ndrew S cott. Published by D. Eggert & Sons, New York.




Nautical Intelligence.

228
nac.

It is for practical men that this chart is especially intended.

O f convenient nfzev

and answering all the purposes o f a general chart, the Great Circle lines are drawn in
such approximation that whatever the navigator’s position may be upon the ocean, he will
find himself near some one leading towards his destination, and he can shape his course
at a glance, without going into any calculation.

PROTECTION OF SHIPS FROM DAMAGE BY LIGHTNING.
T o F keemak H unt, Esq., Editor o f the Merchants' M agazine.
Since I wrote a communication under this head, published in the Merchants’ Magazine
for January, 18 49,1 have received a model o f a mast, with a lightning plate attached,
from Dr. Johnson, o f Charleston, S. C., referred to by him in his communication in the
December number o f the Merchants' Magazine for 1848, and subsequently I have re­
ceived from R. B. Forbes, Esq., o f Boston, a small volume entitled “ Harris on Thunder
Storms,” published in London in 1843, together with a pamphlet o f 64 pages, from the
same author, published in London in 1847, entitled “ Remarkable instances o f the pro­
tection o f certain ships o f Her Majesty’s Navy from the destructive effects o f Lightning,”
& c., &c.
It is due to Dr. Johnson and to Mr. Forbes, that I should examine the matters they
have placed in my hands, before I send a communication to the Merchants’ Magazine for
the February number, and as the time necessary is not at my command, I am, therefore,
under the necessity o f delaying the “ further remarks on this subject,” mentioned in the
last paragraph o f my January communication.
Yours, &c.
E. M ekiam.

LIGHT-HOUSE AT UNDERSTEN, IN THE BAY OF ALORNEL.
Stockholm, November 17, 1848.
The Royal Marine Board hereby announce the erection, during the past summer, o f a
new light-house— which was lighted for the first time on the 11th o f the present month—
on the rock Understen, in the Bay o f Alornel, in north latitude 60° 46', and longitude 37®
4 ' 30 " east o f Ferroe, or 18° 54' 45” east o f Greenwich. In the tower, which is white,
and rises (eighty feet) above the water, is placed a revolving light, which illuminates the
whole horizon from N. N. W . i W ., East and South, to W . S. W . by the compass, and
can be discerned, in clear weather, from an ordinary ship’s deck, at the distance of 3^
German (14 English) miles.
The “ Beacon” heretofore standing on Understen has been removed, leaving nothing
on the summit o f the rock but the W hite Tower mentioned, and two houses, both of which
latter are painted red.
............. ........ ...... ..........

LIGHT ON THE NORSKAREN, GULF OF BOTHNIA,
,
Hydrographic Office, November 28, 1848,
Information has been received by her Majesty’s Government, that on the 13th o f July,
1848, a Revolving Light was established on the largest and Southernmost Islet o f the
Norskaren Group, in the Gulf o f Bothnia.
This Light revolves in one minute, and at each revolution shows a flash which lasts from
five to ten seconds. These flashes are preceded and followed by short intervals o f dark­
ness, which,however, will not appear to be total at the distance of a few miles.
The Light-house stands in latitude o f 63° 13' 4 5 " N., and longitude 19° 37' 39" E. o f
Greenwich; the height o f the Tower is 62 feet, but the Light stands 104 feet above the
level o f the sea, and may be seen at the distance o f about 16 miles from all points o f the
compass, in clear weather.

SHIVERING SAND BUOY.
The Shivering Sand Buoy, which was moved about two cables’ lengths to the W . i N .,
lies in 3| fathoms at low water spring tides, with the following marks and compass bear­
ings:—
W est end o f Cleve W ood, in line with St. Nicholas’ Eastern Preventive Station-house,
S. by E. J E .; Whitstable White Mill, in line with the Western Coke Chimney, at the
same place, S. W . J S .; East Oaze Buoy, N . W . ; Mouse Light Vessel, N. W . J N . ;
Nob Buoy, N. E. by E. } E . ; Girdler Light Vessel, S. S. E .; East Gilman Buoy, S. W .
I S .; Red Sand Buoy, W est Northerly.




(

Nautical Intelligence.

22 9

NEW LIGHT-HOUSE AT DARSZER ORT.
A t Darszer Ort, in the peninsula o f Darsz, a Light-house with two Lights has been
erected, which will burn throughout the whole year, to begin from 1st January, 1849.
Both Lights will be lighted every day at sunset and extinguished at sunrise.
The first Light is one hundred and five Prussian feet above the level of the sea, and
consists in Fresnel’s apparatus o f lenses o f the second order o f rotatory light with dark­
ness per minute. The upper and lower part o f the star remain in sight during the dark­
ness, in order that navigators may not lose their direction while it prevails. It is, there­
fore, only the centre o f the star which is subjected to the darkness. The Light illumin­
ates the entire horizon, and serves the navigators, who lose sight of the Light o f Arcona
in the East, on approaching the shore, clearly to mark the promontory point o f Darszer Ort.
T he second is a fixed Light, forty Prussian feet above the level of the sea, and is formed
by three Argand Lamps, with reverberatory reflectors. This Light, in connection with
the Gyedser Light on the Danish Coast o f Falster, marks the passage between the sand
banks near Darszer Ort and the rocky reef Trendelen, and lightens an angle of forty de­
grees from W est £ North to North-west by compass.
Darszer Ort, where the Light-house is erected, is situated 54° 29' Northern latitude,
and 12° 31' Eastern longitude from Greenwich.
This Light-house is situated at a distance of 57 rods, or 114 fathoms, from the sea, the
Tow er being 100 feet high, built o f red brick and not plastered, on which the Lantern is
placed, and serves also for a landmark.

HETTY POINT, OR CAPE CAPSTAN LIGHT.
The new Light-house on Hetty Point, or Cape Capstan, in lat. 45° 35' N., Ion. G4°
42' W ., being the north side o f the entrance o f Apple River, on the south shore o f Cum­
berland Bay, about six leagues above Cape Chignecto, is also in operation, and shows two
lights horizontally, when approaching it from the westward or seaward side. The lights
are about forty feet above high water, (rise and fall about 55 feet.) The building is square
and painted white, and is a conspicuous beacon in day time to mark the entrance of Apple
River, a place o f resort for vessels o f 100 tons and under. The following bearings are
given from the light:—
T o the Sisters’ outermost head....................................................................................S. 61° W .
Salmon River................................................................................................................. N. 9 ° W .
Cape Enrage Light.......................................................................................................N. 41° E.
Grindstone Island.......................................................................................................... N. 51° E.
Along shore, easterly.................................................................................... .•.................N. 62 E.

LIGHT-BOAT IN THE PASS OF WIELINGEN,
Information has been received through the Belgian Consul General at New York, that
a light-boat will hereafter be moored in the Pass o f Wielingen, near the shoal known as
the Paarde-market, in the river Scheldt, from which the following are the bearings:—
The Tower o f Flushing E . 8 ° 26' S .; the Tower o f Ecluse, S .; the Light-house of
W est Capelle, N. E. 5° 37' E .; and the Tower of Lisseweghe, S. W . £ W . The light
will be placed thirty-four feet above the water, and will contain eight argand lamps, show­
ing a constant red light, which will appear every night from sunset to sunrise. At the
•same time, the light-house o f Ileyst, in latitude 51° 20' 22", and longitude 3° 14' 13"
E. o f Greenwich, will show a white light.

LIGHT ON HEATH POINT.
Hydrographic Office, November 22, 1848.
Information has been received at the British Admiralty, that on the 14th o f October,
1848, a Fixed Light was established on the eastern end o f the Island o f Anticosti, in the
River St. Lawrence.
The Light stands 100 feet above the level of the sea, and may, therefore, be seen at
the distance o f about 16 miles, in fine weather. It was extinguished on the 15th Decem­
ber, 1848, and will be again lighted on the 1st of April, 1849.
W hen standing in towards South Point, the Light-house should not be shut in behind
Cormorant Point, as some dangerous reefs project from the former.




Journal o f Mining and Manufactures.

230

JOURNAL OF MINING AND MANUFACTURES.
GOLD AND OTHER PRECIOUS METALS.
T he Boston “ Bank Note L ist” o f Willis & Co. furnishes, in a late number, some spec­

ulations and statements touching the value o f the precious metals, which will doubtless be
read with interest, when, as at the present time, the gold mania seems to have, in a greater
or lesser degree, taken possession o f most o f our countrymen.

The statements are un­

doubtedly derived from the most authentic data; the speculations we quote as the views
o f the editor o f the Bank Note List, without, however, endorsing his opinions:—

Precious M etals. The amount o f gold and silver in the world is generally estimated
at ten thousand million o f dollars, whilst the annual consumption, or rather demand, is
supposed to be one-half o f one per cent o f this sum— that is, fifty, millions o f dollars.
There appears to be no accurate data as to the annual production o f these metals; the
whole is a subject o f speculation. From the best sources o f information that are open to
us, the yearly production o f silver may be set down at twenty-five millions, and o f gold
from fifteen to twenty millions. Starting from this point, which may be considered as ap­
proaching accuracy, the expected yield o f the California mines will only about keep the
stock in the world going. N o perceptible change in the value o f gold has ever been pro­
duced by the large quantities which have been hitherto acquired, amounting to one hun­
dred and twenty-five millions from Russia alone, within a quarter o f a century. W hat­
ever may be the amount raised from California, the result will be to enlarge the consump­
tion for purposes o f art and luxury, whilst its value for commercial uses will remain
unchanged.
There is unquestionably a scarcity o f gold among the nations o f the world for currency.
The coins o f one government are constantly being recoined at the mints o f another. A
large amount in new sovereigns, which came out to this country a few years since to
adjust the balance in our favor, were recoined at Philadelphia, so that soon after, when
the state o f trade changed the account in favor o f England, and it became necessary to
export specie, sovereigns commanded a premium o f nearly one per cent, although the
number so recently imported greatly exceeded that required for the export, to say nothing
o f those on hand formerly. United States, as well as foreign coins, are being constantly
melted down by our manufacturers, for the want o f bullion. The following article we
have prepared with considerable care ; the statements may be strictly relied on, and we
trust it may be found both useful and entertaining in the present absorption of the public
attention in regard to the subject o f which it treats.
Gold. Gold is the only metal o f a yellow color, and affords a resplendent polish; it isthe most malleable o f metals, but o f great tenacity; its hardness is almost equal to lead
and tin, but inferior to iron, copper, platinum and silver. It may be exposed to the at­
mosphere for any length o f time, without suffering change; it is remarkable for its beauty ;
it is nearly twenty times heavier than water, and next to platinum the heaviest known
substance; gold is worth sixteen times as much as silver, and nearly three times as much
as platinum. It is easily wrought and stamped, or melted, and does not waste by the
operation; and when alloyed, its proportions can readily be ascertained.
The degree o f alloy in gold and silver, in currency, is various. A prevalent proportion
is one-twelfth; but the decimal proportion o f one part alloy in ten, is gaining favor, and
is the present standard o f all Spanish coins, and coins o f various parts o f Germany, o f
France, Belgium, Rome, and the United States. Copper and silver are the alloys o f gold
in the United States— the proportion is 900 parts gold, 25 silver, 75 copper, a fraction
over 21 carats fine. The weight o f an eagle is 258 grains, (parts in proportion,) o f which
232 grains must be fine gold.
The heaviest coin o f modern times is the golden five moidore piece o f Portugal, which
weighs 828 grains, and is worth $ 3 2 7 0 ; the smallest is the Turkish para, weighing 1&
grains, partly silver, and worth one-third o f one cent. Russia is the only nation where
platinum is used in currency. They use three denominations, 12, 6, and 3 roubles. The
objection to platinum for coin, is its scarcity, unsteady price, and the inability to melt it
by furnace heat; it can only be wrought by welding. Its value is rated at $ 6 70 the
troy ounce ; the annual product, $400,000.
Bullion, in commerce, is applied to gold or silver reduced from the ore, but not manu­
factured. Gold bullion, at the mint o f the United States, is considered as o f two kinds—




Journal o f Mining and Manufactures.

231

U n wrought and M anufactured. O f the first kind there are four descriptions. 1.
Washed grains, or gold dust. 2. Amalgamated cakes and balls. 3. Laminations. 4.
Melted bars and cakes.
F irst. The washed grains are the shapeless particles, or masses, which are collected
from the washings o f rich alluvial sands. They are o f all sizes, from the massive lump to
the minutest spangle. In North Carolina a lump was found which weighed, in the crude
state, 28 pounds. It was found near the surface ; its value was $4,850. In Peru, the
largest lump found weighed 26£ pounds; and a lump found in New Granada, 27£ pounds;
a lump in the possession o f the French Academy weighs 37£ pounds troy, and is 992
thousandths fine, worth $9,200. This is the description o f gold found in North and
South Carolina, and Georgia. The latter is the best g o ld ; the average fineness is 950
thousandths; it occasionally reaches 995 thousandths, which is the nearest approach to
absolute purity ever discovered. Mexican and African gold comes in this shape, and
averages from 900 to 950 thousandths fine.
Second. Amalgamated gold is found with quicksilver. Gold in this form is very
variable, and suffers a loss o f nearly 5 per cent in melting. This description is brought
from Virginia, Western Mexico, and N ew Granada.
T hird. Laminated gold is largely alloyed with silver, apparently in layers, plated
together. It is found in Central America. The metals are sometimes separated before
they are sent to the market, by adding silver till the gold forms about one-fourth o f the
mass, when the whole is rolled or beaten into thin sheets, and exposed to the action of
nitric or sulphuric acid, which removes the silver without destroying the cohesion of
the gold.
F ourth. Bars and Cakes.— In our mining regions the usual form is a neat ingot, six
inches long, by one-half to one inch in breadth and thickness. From Western Mexico,
Peru and Chili, gold comes in cakes, called tiges, frequently bearing an assayer’s stamp,
varying from 25 to 50 per cent in fineness. A fraud is practised in this kind of gold, by
a process called picrling, which consists in plunging a bar into an acid, which dissolves
other metals, and removes them from the surface, leaving the gold alone visible.
The most important class o f gold bars from London and Paris, (chiefly the latter,) bear
the mark o f the government or private assayer. They are styled pure gold. The French
indemnity, in 1835, was paid to this country in upwards o f 600 bars, the aggregate value
o f which was $3,500,000. A bar o f fine gold, six inches long, three inches wide, and
one and a half thick, which is the medium size, would weigh 275 ounces. Its value would
be about $5,900.

SUCCESS OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURES IN INDIA.
A late Liverpool paper, says the Washington Union, in an article upon British and
American commerce, has the following remarks. The writer attempts to show that the
recent change in the English navigation laws has been detrimental to the British interests
in that quarter, but that it has been highly favorable to American shipping and American
manufactures. W e copy his statement to show the course o f business in relation to Amer­
ican and British manufactures in India, where it would seem, from this authority, that our
fabrics have nearly a fair chance as compared with their British rivals, and thus supersede
them in the market.
“ One o f the earliest measures o f Lord Dalhousie, the present Governor General of
India, was, in wild anticipation o f the repeal o f the navigation laws here, to sweep away
all the counterparts o f those laws there. This has, o f course, conduced to the benefit of
American shipping. It seemed to * the powers that be,’ not enough that a special act of
Parliament, for reasons we could never discover, ■empowered the shipping o f the United
States to supersede our own shipping in our own English ports, and to carry cargoes o f
British manufactures to British India on the self-same terms as British shipping.
“ The authorities in India have hastened the adoption o f a navigation policy which pe­
culiarly plays the game o f the American shipping. English vessels cannot carry one six­
pence worth o f freight coastwise from port to port in America; yet American vessels can
now carry freight coastwise from port to port in an Indian empire! This, with facilities
for carrying cotton to China, and the favorable terms on which they can import American
manufactured cottons in India, are already yielding their natural and bitter fruits.
“ In unfortunate conjunction with this relaxation o f the navigation laws— a relaxation
which already crowds our India ports with a remarkable increase o f American vessels—
there was the ill-considered assimilation, as nearly as possible, between British and Amercan cotton goods. The import duty into India, on British, was raised from 3 to 5 per
cent, and was simultaneously lowered on American fabrics from 20 to 10 per cent.




Mercantile Miscellanies.

232

“ It needs no seer to predict the fatal consequences. Only the other day, the Peel organ
talks glibly o f American manufacturers girding up their strength to enter on the race o f
competition with our own manufacturers, in our own markets of the East. W ith all def­
erence, we assert that the political prophet is 4 too late’ in the field. His predictions had
previously become history. On high mercantile authority, intimately connected with the
East, we learn that in certain descriptions o f cotton goods the Americans have already
beaten our manufacturers hollow. W e allude especially to the. heavier kind, called 4do-,
mestics’ and 4drills.’ It is well known that in tropical climates, cottons are the chief
clothing. W e hasten to inform the free-trading cotton spinners o f this country, that they
are superseded in these staple articles, and that it is ‘ a great fact that American cotton
manufacturers are already clothing our own Indian army.’ ”

METHOD OF WASHING GOLD DUST IN CALIFORNIA.
R ichard M. S herman, a member o f the Society o f Friends, formerly a resident o f Fall
River, but now in the gold region o f California, under date, San Francisco, 10th month,
(8th October,) gives the following account o f the method o f washing the gold from the
dust and dirt:—
There have been many machines invented for the purpose of washing the gold dust
from the dirt and sand ; but the most general, and they say the best way is, to wash it out
with a common tin pan. The mode of washing it out is this: take a quantity o f the soil
selected from spots appearing to contain much o f the 44 dust,” and put it into the pan ; the
pan is then filled (or nearly so) with water, when by the motion of the pan, or action of
the hand in the water, the dirt becomes saturated; the gold dust then, being so very heavy,
settles to the bottom, and the water with the dirt is poured off, leaving the dust with a lit­
tle sand at the bottom. The gold dust is washed with so much facility, that, as yet, very
little quicksilver has been used, though several quicksilver mines have been discovered
within sixty miles o f this place, one o f which has been worked, yielding 80 to 90 pounds
per day. T o give you some idea o f the quantify o f 14 dust” produced, people are daily
arriving from the gold region with from 10 to 100 pounds of the gold dust, worth here
$192 per pound, or say from $1,920 to $19,200; and some trading concerns have brought
down $25,000 worth at once. I yesterday weighed out and paid away $18,000 worth
in transacting the business o f myself and partner.

MERCANTILE

MISCELLANIES.

A MODEL WAREHOUSE FOR FANCY GOODS.
f

have been struck with the beautiful architecture o f the Fancy Goods and Comb
Warehouse lately erected by Messrs. William H. Cary & Co., at number 243 and 245
Pearl-street, and 18 and 20 Cliff-street, in New York. For elegance and fine effect, this
edifice presents one o f the most striking store fronts in the city. Edifice, we say, for cer­
tainly its dimensions, and the style and scale o f all its arrangements entitle the building
to no less dignified a name. Running through from Pearl to Cliff-street, with a depth o f
two hundred feet, being the entire depth o f the block, it has a front o f fifty feet on each
street, and covers more than four full lots o f ground, having good right, therefore, to its
four street numbers. The merchandise sales-room embraces an area of over ten thousand
square feet, and the effect upon the visitor on entering, o f the long vista of iron columns,
and of shelves loaded and crowded with valuable goods, is really imposing. The first
story, on both Pearl and Cliff-streets, is adorned with cluster columns of the brown Port­
land stone. These columns support a structure five stories high, carefully built of the
same beautiful stone, and terminating in a heavy worked stone cornice, which gives a fine
effect to the whole.
In short, the new warehouse o f Messrs. Cary & Co. adds another proof to the many
which the streets of Boston, New York, and our other large cities afford that an im­
proved taste in building is not confined to church architecture. A n increased attention to
what is called ecclesiology has often been remarked o f late; no proof, perhaps, of in­
creased piety. But whether the increased beauty o f our churches indicates increased piety
in church-goers or not, there cannot, certainly, be better evidence of ample means united
W

e




Mercantile Miscellan ies.

233

to good taste, a better indication o f a well established business, than a warehouse like
that o f Messrs. Gary & Co., in which, while every convenience in the business arrange­
ments is provided, beauty o f appearance is not neglected.
These arrangements are very complete. Connected with the salesroom is a well lighted
basement, o f the same ample dimensions. Here may be found the modern conveniences
(which become rather indispensable in such a building) of gas and Croton fixtures, and
hot air furnaces o f the most approved style. Under the street in Cliff-street is a vault de­
tached from the building, affording the amplest security against fire.
One would think that a warehouse so large would afford 14 ample room and verge
enough” for a business o f any extent in articles o f no greater bulk than combs, brushes,
buttons, thread, needles, beads, pins, pens and perfumery. But did the reader ever con­
sider how many varieties there are o f the single article, a brush, varieties not merely use­
ful but necessary ? In the catalogue o f Messrs. W . H. Cary & Co., we find fifteen or
sixteen different kinds, without reference to the different materials of brushes of the same
kind. Of what a vast variety o f materials are combs manufactured ! In the catalogue
are mentioned tortoise shell, ivory, horn, German silver, brass, iron and wood, and styles
varying from the plainest to the most exquisitely finished. There are beads of every
style and material, o f coral and o f glass, suited alike for the most fastidious child of luxury
and for the rude taste o f the savage, such ns the African trader finds a ready market for.
Here is a vast storehouse, a museum, in which are to be found in every variety o f mate­
rial, size, ornament and finish, all those many articles which we term fancy goods, but
many o f which are as necessary to comfort, decency, and even health itself, as the bulkier
staples. When we consider how numerous these articles are, we feel no surprise that it
takes one o f the largest warehouses in the country to hold them all.
Tim e and space will not allow us to enumerate one-half o f the articles to be found
there. W e should have to copy at length one o f their catalogues, which are printed in
English, French, and Spanish, to give a complete idea o f the extent of Cary & Co.’s es­
tablishment. W e will only add that almost every travelling merchant in the country
might drive up his wagon, or bring his pack to this warehouse, and fill them there with
everything to suit the varying tastes and necessities to be met with on the longest trading
peregrination, without going farther, or a second call.
Messrs. Cary & Co. are not only dealers in, but also manufacturers of, many o f their
articles, such as combs, o f every kind. They also supply other manufacturers with tor­
toise shell, ivory from India and Africa, pearl shell, and materials o f the kind.
Nor are their operations confined to the home market, including the south and west,
and (since the treaty with Mexico) not excluding California. They send their valuable
merchandise to the West Indies, to South America, and to Africa.
Next to the satisfaction o f conducting one fcf the largest, if not the very largest busi­
ness o f the kind in the country, must be that o f having so beautiful an edifice to conduct
it in, a building uniting every convenience in its business arrangements, with all the ele­
gance and ornament compatible with the rules o f store architecture, and giving evidence
at once o f the good taste and wealth o f the proprietors. But a personal inspection of
the building and premises will afford a much better idea o f the utility and beauty o f
the structure, and o f the extent o f this branch o f trade, than any statements, with pen
or pencil, that we can give in the pages o f the Merchants’ Magazine.

THE PHILADELPHIA MERCANTILE LIBRARY COMPANY.
T he twenty-sixth anniversary o f this flourishing, well-managed institution took place
on Tuesday, the 9th o f January, 1849— T homas R obbins, E sq., presiding, and W illiam
B orgh acting as secretary.
The report o f the Directors, an able, business-like docu­
ment, which we shall endeavor to publish in the next number o f the Merchants’ M a g ­

azine, was read and accepted, and the following gentlemen were elected directors for
the ensuing year:— Thomas P. Cope, Isaac Barton, Charles S. W ood, Joseph Patterson,
Robert F. Walsh, John J. Thompson, J. L. Erirnger, William L. Schaeffer, William E
Bowen, Joseph C. Grubb, Marmaduke Moore, William Ashbridge, W . C. Patterson.
Treasurer, John Fausset.
The President o f the Company, T homas P. Cope, E sq., one o f the most eminent and
worthy merchants o f Philadelphia, has, we believe, occupied the chair of this institution
for many years, if not from its start; and we rejoice to notice, by the following resolusion, adopted at the annual meeting, and the correspondence between that gentleman




234

Mercantile Miscellanies.

and the committee, whicii we also subjoin, that the services o f the venerable President
are fully appreciated.

T he compliment paid to him in procuring two portraits, to be pre­

served among the members o f the Company, is alike creditable to him and his associates.
The following resolution, presented by Samuel C. Morton, Esq., was unanimously
adopted, to w it:—
Resolved, " That the thanks o f the members be, and they are hereby tendered the
Board o f Directors, for their having caused to be placed in the Library Room the ad­
mirably executed portrait, by John Nagle, of our highly valued President, T homas P.
Cope, E sq., and that they be requested to furnish for publication with the proceedings
o f this meeting, any correspondence which may have taken place in connection
therewith.”
The following is the correspondence referred to in the resolution:—
Philadelphia, A ugust 18/A, 1847.

T homas P. Cope, Esq.
Dear Sir :— The undersigned have been appointed a committee, in behalf o f your CoDirectors o f the Mercantile Library Company, to request you to sit for a portrait, to which
the Directors purpose assigning a permanent place in the Library Room.
W e trust, esteemed sir, that you will respond favorably to the wish o f your fellow Di­
rectors, who, through the undersigned, have made the necessary arrangements with the
distinguished artist, Mr. John Nagle, who is prepared to carry out their wishes at any
time that may best suit your convenience.
It has long been a desire o f the Directors to procure for the institution the lineaments
o f one who is so intimately connected with its history.
This desire is largely shared by the members, who, in common with the directors, are
solicitous that those who come after them may possess the pictured resemblance o f one
whose career as a Philadelphia merchant illustrated for more than half a century all the.
eminent qualities that should ever accompany that time-honored appellation.
The cheering example which your career affords the young, showing, as it does, that
intelligence, industry, and probity beget, as their legitimate fruits, the prosperity o f their
possessor, and the esteem o f mankind, will not be lo$t upon future times, when your name
will have become an honored tradition, indicative o f all the virtues. Then the struggling
and care-worn merchant, surrounded by business perils, and beset by insidious tempta­
tions, may nobly surmount his difficulties, and stand erect in stainless integrity at the re­
collection o f departed excellence.
It is, however, unnecessary for us to dwell upon those traits which for more than fifty
years have identified your name, not only with the mercantile enterprise, but with every
scheme o f general usefulness, and with every benevolent institution o f our fair city. A s
your co-directors in the “ Mercantile Library Company,” we would, however, bear testi­
mony to the zeal with which you have uniformly promoted the welfare of the Company.
As one o f its founders, and during the greater part o f its existence, its respected Presi­
dent, your kind countenance and judicious counsel have greatly aided to place the Com­
pany in its present flourishing condition. Your fellow members o f the board have noticed
with constant admiration, that neither advanced age nor inclement weather, nor varied
engagements, have ever detained you from its meetings; thus evincing your deep interest
in the association, and affording an example which has not been without its proper
influence.
Your answer at an early day is respectfully requested by
Your friends,
Kobert F. W alsh,
) n
...
W illiam L. Schaffer, [ ^ommittet.
The subjoined is Mr. Cope’s reply:—
Calcin Hook, Eighth Mo. 23d, 1847.
M y D ear F riends :— Your letter o f the 18th instant came into my possession yesterday,
at this my quiet retreat, and I can truly say that I am deeply affected by the flattering
kindness o f its contents.
Unambitious and undeserving o f the distinction you propose to assign me, permit me to
add that, if the possession o f my portrait can confer pleasure on gentlemen with whom I
have been so long and so agreeably associated, I should, in my own estimation, justly in­
cur the odium o f ingratitude, were I, from any fastidious notion o f my own, to refuse com­
pliance with your request
I expect soon to return with my family to the city, when I will cheerfully submit my­
self to your disposal.
Your sincere friend,
T homas P. Cope.
T o R obert F. W alsh, W illiam L. Schaffer, Committee.




The Book Trade .

THE

^

235

BOOK T R A D E .

4 — The H istory o f England from the Accession o f James II. By T . Babington
M acauley. N ew Y ork : Harper & Brothers.
The Brothers Harper have brought out, simultaneously with its appearance in England,
Macauley’s history o f that kingdom from James II. to the beginning o f the present cen­
tury. The London Athenaeum thus speaks o f this great work:—
“ Great expectations were raised by the announcement o f this work, and assuredly they
will not be disappointed. I f the author exhibits here less o f that sparkling brilliancy
which lends such a charm to his historical and biographical essays, he compensates for its
absence by displaying greater power in the analysis o f evidence, and in detecting the im­
port o f facts which had stood isolated, and had, therefore, to a great extent been neglected.
As in his former works, Mr. Macauley shows skill and acuteness in the delineation o f
character. He seizes not merely on those salient points which serve to trace the outline
o f mental feature, but on the more minute and delicate traits which give to the portrait
individuality and expression. He renders us as familiar with the men o f the Revolution
as if they had been personal acquaintances. W e estimate this quality highly, because the
course and the consequences o f the Revolution o f 1688 were guided and molded more by
the character o f the persons engaged in it, and less by the mere force of circumstances,
than any event o f equal magnitude recorded in history.
— History o f Alexander the Great. By Jacob A bbott. W ith Engravings. 18mo.,
pp. 278. N ew Y ork: Harper & Brothers.
This volume, the third o f Mr. Abbott’s historical series, is devoted to the life o f A lex­
ander the Great, who, in the brief period o f twelve years, ran through a series o f exploits
“ which were so bold, so romantic, and which led him into such adventures in scenes of
the greatest magnificence and splendor, that all the world looked on with astonishment
then, and mankind have continued to read the story since, from age to age, with the greatest interest and attention.” This admirable series o f histories is designed for young per­
sons between the ages o f fifteen and twenty-five, who wish to become acquainted with
the leading events in the history o f the old world and o f ancient times, but who, coming
upon the stage in this land and at this period, have ideas and conceptions so widely differ­
ent from those o f other nations and o f other times, that a mere republication o f existing
accounts is not what they require. The story o f Alexander, as here told, is peculiarly
well adapted to answer the purpose intended by the author.
3. — Benjamin Franklin: his Autobiography; with a Narrative o f his Public L ife and
Services. By Rev. H. Hastings W eld. W ith numerous Designs by J. G. C hapman.
8vo., pp. 512. N ew Y o rk : Harper & Brothers.
2.

f

The first number o f this illustrated Life o f Franklin, comprising his Autobiography and
a Narrative o f his Public Life and Services, by H. Hastings W eld, has just been publish­
ed. The Autobiography o f Franklin is replete with lessons o f wisdom and instruction for
young men setting out in life ; the publishers could not, therefore, render a more accept­
able service to the rising generation than that o f re-producing the work in its present beau­
tiful and attractive form ; for, to use the language o f Lord Brougham, “ his memoir is the
most natural, ingenious, and interesting autobiography in our language.” The illustra­
tions are the best o f the kind we have ever seen, and the engraver has done full justice to
designs o f Chapman. The work will be completed in eight parts, and altogethelfform a
beautiful octavo volume o f more than five hundred pages.
4.

— The American Ladies' and Gentlemen's Manual o f Elegance, Fashion, and True
Politeness. By C harles W illson D ay . l8m o., pp. 154. Buffalo: George H. Der­
by & Co.

This work, the production o f an American, was originally published in London, where
it passed through twenty-two editions, and has, we are credibly informed, been made the
standard o f modern society in England. It has been attributed to Count d’Orsay. T o
settle this erroneous statement, the real author has been induced to put his name to this
American edition. W e agree with the author in his brief prefatory address to the
American public, that “ it can hurt no one, but benefit many, for them to compare the
usages o f polished nations with their own ; and to consider whether a common sense
application o f the ordinary observances o f good society, as practised in older countries,
cannot materially elevate, in the social scale, the aspiring and the successful.” W e com­
mend it to all who are desirous o f rendering themselves acceptable to fashionable society.




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5. — The American Statesman.

Edited by A bijaii I ngraham and W illiam J. T enny.

The plan o f this paper, which' was commenced on the first week o f the present year,
differs essentially, in many o f its features, from any other journal published in this or any
other country. Although neutral in party politics, its editors discuss with fearless ability
every great question o f political and social reform that engages the attention of the states­
man, or agitates the minds of the masses. The editors, whatever may be their views, have
no fear o f truth, but lay before their readers the strongest arguments brought forward on
all sides o f all important questions; so that a “ subscriber to the *American Statesman’
will have before him in a single sheet all the important political matter that he would get,
should he subscribe for the principal leading and influential journals of both parties.” It
includes in its plan the record o f “ important documents relating to National Legislation ;
also, the annual Messages o f the Governors o f the several States, and other documents
relating to State Legislation.” Another valuable feature o f this journal is, the full infor­
mation it gives o f the condition o f the arts and sciences, especially such as relate to the
practical affairs o f daily life. Indeed, no journal heretofore published in this country,
covers so broad a field o f investigation, or is so comprehensive in its scope. The editors
and proprietors, Messrs. I ngraham and T enny , are gentlemen of large experience, liberal
views, and great industry ; and if merit, moral and intellectual, are.the requisites of suc­
cess and we believe they are, when properly understood and appreciated, the circulation
o f their journal will not be surpassed by that o f any other in the United States.

6.

— Modern Accomplishments, or the March o f Intellect.
clair, author o f “ Modern Society,” “ Charles Seymour,” etc.

By Mrs. C atharine Sin­
l2m o., pp. 276. New

Y o r k : Robert Carter & Brothers.
It was scarcely necessary for Mrs. Sinclair to apologize for the employment o f an ima­
ginary history to illustrate and enforce religious duty, by reference to the Great Teacher,
who sanctioned it, by his use o f parables. A pure mith may embody as great a truth,
ns the most undisputed solution o f a mathematical problem. The design o f this domes­
tic story, which we state in her own language, is to separate the essentials of religious
conduct from its excrescences,— to distinguish feeling from imagination,— to contrast the
hypochondriacal fanaticism o f a disordered fancy with the purifying influence o f what
she considers an enlightened faith,— to show how frequently well-intentioned persons
“ know not what manner o f spirit they are of,” — how the Christian temper may be sub­
stantially contravened, while its dictates are. professedly obeyed;— and finally, how the
language o f scripture may be perversely misquoted to support a line o f conduct, which its
benign and gentle principles uniformly condemn. Its teachings, if heeded, will doubtless
benefit the morals o f many readers.
— American Text-Book fo r Letters. By N athaniel Dearborn. Boston: Nathaniel
Dearborn.
The design o f this beautiful work is to furnish the most correct method of producing
the various letters now in use with the pen, brush, chisel, or graver ; and may, therefore,
be considered an indispensable handbook for the penman, the painter, the sculptor, and
the artist. Mr. Dearborn is one o f the oldest and best engravers in the city o f Boston ;
and the present work, which has cost him much time and money, reflects great credit on
his industry and skill. It has already passed through several large editions, and received
the highest commendations o f the press, and o f distinguished individuals o f taste and dis­
crimination. It is at once a copy-book for schools, and a manual, more perfect in its kind
than anything we have ever seen for all persons engaged in any o f the arts which require
the formation o f letters. It also embraces Pitman’s system of Phonography, and complete
rules for a correct understanding o f all the principles evolved in the work.
7.

— Grayslaer; a Bomance o f the Mohawk. By C harles F enno Hoffman, author of
“ A Winter in the West,” “ W ild Scenes o f the Forest and Prairie,” etc., etc. Fourth
Edition. 12mo., pp. 539. New Y ork : Baker & Scribner.
In this work, which has already passed through four editions, Mr. Hoffman has succeed­
ed in blending the historical novel with the domestic love tale, stamping “ the unity o f a
dramatic poem by a continuous moral purpose, devolved through the action of sentiment
wrought up to a climax o f passion.” The wild border annals o f the State o f New Y ork,
it seems, afforded the historical materials, and the criminal trials o f Kentucky furnished
the elements o f a strange tale o f ill-regulated affections. W e have long desired to pos­
sess this, and the other volumes o f Mr. Hoffman’s writings, in a form worthy o f preser­
vation in our library; and we thank the enterprising publishers for the handsome style o f
its publication.

8.




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9.

— University Sennons.

237

Sermons delivered in the Chapel o f Brown University. By
12mo., pp. 328. Boston: Gould,

Francis W ayi,and, President o f the University;
Kendall &. Lincoln.

This volume contains twenty-one sermons, written at various intervals during a period
o f four years, and with the exception o f two, originally prepared for, and delivered in the
college chapel, before the officers and students o f Brown University. The exception
treats o f subjects at present o f universal interest, and consists o f two sennons on the
revolutions in Europe, written immediately after the accounts were received o f the events
to which they relate. The design o f the learned author in the preparation o f most o f the
discourses was “ to present a plain exhibition o f the way o f salvation by Christ.” They
bear the impress o f the able logician, the accomplished scholar, and the sincere Christian,
and contain views on some points o f Christian doctrine and ethics, that Christians o f
most o f the sects into which Christendom is divided will gladly accept, although differing
with the learned divine in regard to some o f the prominent dogmas inculcated in the col­
lection.
The Christian and philanthropic views o f the preacher touching the revo­
lutions of Europe will command the respect o f many who do not sympathize with his the­
ological sentiments.
10. — The Journal o f the Pilgrim s at Plymouth, in N ew England, in 1620. Reprinted
from the Original Volume. W ith Hisiorical and Local Illustrations o f Providences,
Principles, and Persons. By G eorge B. C heever, D. D. 12mo., pp. 369. New
Y o rk : John W iley.
This is an interesting and valuable contribution to the New England historical litera­
ture. The Journal o f the Pilgrims, which occupies the first one hundred pages o f the
volume, is a fa c simile reprint from the London edition o f 1622. In the “ historical and
local illustrations o f Principles, Providences, and Persons,” occupying full two-thirds of
the volume, Mr. Cheever attempts “ to trace the wonderful providential discipline o f God
with the colony o f Plymouth, and to some extent with that o f Massachusetts, showing
the constant action o f those principles o f piety for which they suffered, under the suprem­
acy o f which they labored, and by whicli they were successful.”
11. — The Young P atroon; or Christmas in 1690. A Tale o f New York. By the A u­
thor o f “ First o f the Knickerbockers.” Pp. 142. New Y ork : George P. Putnam.
This story, we are told, was written prior to its recent predecessor, “ The First o f the
Knickerbockers,” noticed in a former number o f this Magazine. The scene o f the storv
is laid in the city o f N ew York ; the time, more than a hundred and fifty years ago. The
author is evidently a lineal descendant o f the Knickerbockers, and describes his “ worthy
fathers, the founders o f the great metropolis, the explorers o f these majestic rivers, the
hospitable, humane, generous, stubborn, obstinate 1old smokers of Manhattan,’ ” with a
vividness that would almost convince the sceptical that the author was a resuscitated Knick­
erbocker. W e trust he has more o f the same sort for “ home consumption.”
12. — The Universal Guide to Wealth, by a Rational Course o f Food and Diet. By
A ndrew Combe, M. D., author o f “ Combe’s Physiology,” etc. 12mo., pp. 310. Buf­
falo : George H. Derby & Co.
The works o f Dr. Combe enjoy, deservedly, a world-wide reputation. N o writer has
done more to advance the moral and physical interests o f mankind in our time. The
present work, which, since its appearance in 1836, has passed through seven American
editions, is essentially a continuation o f the work first published by Dr. Combe in 1834,
under the title o f “ Principles o f Physiology applied to the Preservation of Health and to
the Improvement o f Physical.and Mental Education;” and the object the same, namely,
“ to lay before the public a plain and intelligible description o f the structure and uses o f
some o f the more important organs o f the human body, and to show how information of
this kind may be usefully applied in practical life.” It is a handsome, readable edition of
a very excellent and useful work.
13. — The Prisoner's F rien d : a Monthly Magazine devoted to Criminal Reform, P hilosophy, Literature, Science, and A rt. Charles Spear, Editor and Proprietor. Bos­
ton : Published by the Editor.
This work is now published monthly in the octavo form. Its design is indicated in the
title quoted. Its editor is deeply imbued with the reformatory and philanthropic spirit o f
the nineteenth century, and he brings to bear, upon all matters pertaining to criminal re­
form, a deep and abiding faith in that Gospel, which teaches us that the only efficient
method to overcome evil is by doing good. Philosophy, literature, science, and art, in the
head, hands, and heart o f the editor, are all consecrated to the cause o f Humanity. God
speed and prosper his noble mission!




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14.— Proverbs for the P eop le; or, Illustration o f Practical Goodness, drawn from the
Book o f Wisdom. By E . L. M agoon, author o f “ The Orators o f the American Rev­
olution. 12mo., pp. 272. Boston : Gould, Kendall & Lincoln.
The design o f this work is “ to discuss the exalted principles o f Christian morality in a
manner adapted to the comprehension o f the great mass of mankind.” The work is di­
vided into seventeen chapters, each o f which is devoted to a distinct virtue or vice. For
instance, one chapter is entitled “ Captiousness; or the Censorious M a n a n o t h e r , “ Kind­
ness, or the Hero who best C o n q u e rsa n o th e r, “ Frugality, or the Beauty o f Old A ge
and so on, including in the catalogue the virtues o f Integrity, Industry, Perseverance, Sin­
cerity, and the vices o f pride, extravagance, vanity, idleness, falsehood, deceit, flattery,
etc. The author has grouped the teaching o f the Christian and Jewish Scriptures, as well
as those o f ethical writers, ancient sages, and modern poets, and woven them into the
symmetrical essay with the web o f his own thoughts, suggested by the subject or the ex­
perience o f a life o f observation and reflection.
15.— Theory and Practice o f T eaching; or M otives and Methods o f good School Keep­
ing. By D avid P. P age , A . M., Principal o f the State Normal School, Albany, New
Y ork. 8vo., pp. 349. New Y o rk : A . S. Barnes &. Co.
This is the tenth edition o f this work, a fict which affords pretty conclusive evidence
o f the estimation in which it is held by the public. For further evidence o f its utility, it
is only necessary to refer to the work itself— to “ read, learn, mark, and inwardly digest”
its pages, which contain not only the theory, but the practice o f teaching, derived by Mr.
Page from the realities o f the school-room during some twenty years o f actual service as
a teacher. The spirit, responsibility, habits, and literary qualifications of the .teacher are
described; the modes o f teaching, conducting recitations, and exciting an interest in study,
are pointed o u t; school government and school arrangements, and the relations o f the
teacher to his scholars, to parents, and the members o f his profession, are not omitted, but
are treated in a clear and logical manner. It seems to cover the whole subject: and ap­
pears to us an indispensable vade mecum for all who assume the responsible duties of a
teacher, either in the family, the common school, or the higher academy.
16.

_Outlines o f a New System o f Physiognomy. Illustrated by numerous Engravings,
indicating the Signs o f the different Mental Faculties. By J. W . R edfield, M . D.
8vo., pp. 96. New Y o rk : J. S. Redfield.
W e are not prepared to accept, much less to reject, Dr. Redfield’s system o f physiogno­
my, as partially laid down in this manual, which gives “ but a brief outline o f the subject
so far as relates to the face.” But we must confess that the theory is not only plausible,
but, as explained and illustrated by Dr. Redfield, appears in the main quite natural. Per­
haps that is admitting almost as much as the learned author would desire, as he does not
“ claim to have discovered the whole o f Physiognomy,” or that he “ has not made some
observations that will need correcting.” His illustrations are ingenious, and many of them
accord well with our rather superficial observation. The work, to say the least, is highly
suggestive, and we commend it to all who believe that the “ proper study of mankind is
man.”
17.

_D isturnett's Railroad, Steamboat,and Telegraph Book.

N ew Y o rk : J. Distumell.

This little manual o f Mr. Disturnell embraces full and correct information in reference
to all railroads, and steamboat routes, and great lines o f travel diverging from the cities of
Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Y ork, Boston, Portland, Albany, Troy, Buf­
falo, Montreal, etc., with other information useful to travellers, emigrants, etc. It includes,
moreover, that new and wonderful improvement o f the age, the Magnetic Telegraph, em­
bracing all the principal lines in the United States and Canada, giving the regulations and
charges, tables o f distances, etc. Mr. Distumell is indefatigable in his exertions to procure
correct information, by applying, either by letter or personally, to the fountain head : and
the work, a new edition o f which is published every other month, brings the information
down to within a day or two o f its publication.
]g .__M erry-M ount; a Romance o f the Massachusetts Colony. 12mo., pp. 471. Bos­
ton: James Munroe & Co.
This romance is founded on the early history o f N ew England, or, as the author styles
it, the crepuscular period which immediately preceded the rise o f the Massachusetts colo­
ny, a period with more o f the elements o f romance than any subsequent epoch. The in­
terest o f the story is well sustained throughout; and as illustrative o f the early colonial
history o f the country, it will be read with interest, while it undoubtedly throws some light
over the Pilgrim past.




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239

19. — History o f the W ar between the United States and M exico, from the Commence­
ment o f Hostilities to the Ratification o f the Treaty o f Peace. By John S. Jenkins,
author o f “ The Generals o f the Last W ar with Great Britain,” etc. 12mo., pp. 506.
Auburn: Derby, Miller, & Co.
During the progress o f the war between the United States and Mexico, and near its
close, the public were favored with numerous histories o f the events, as well as with bi­
ographies o f the men who figured in its brilliant scenes and stirring events; but most of
these accounts were hastily prepared, an<J necessarily incomplete and imperfect. The au­
thor o f this volume seems to have waited for the final closing o f that war, a circumstance
more favorable to the preparation o f a complete and full history, and one which enabled
him to avail himself o f all the documents, as well as o f the labors o f other compilers and
authors; and on the whole, we should say that he has succeeded in furnishing a more reliable and complete account o f the war than any o f his predecessors. The volume is
handsomely printed, and copiously illustrated with portraits o f distinguished officers and
battle scenes.
20. — Young M en Admonished; in a Series o f Lectures.
tor o f the Broadway Tabernacle Church. 18mo., pp. 278.
& Co.

By Joseph P. T hompson, Pas­
New Y o r k : Leavitt, Trow,

This volume contains seven lectures, delivered by the author in the Broadway Taber­
nacle, and were listened to with deep interest by large audiences, composed, for the most
part, o f young men. The three first are devoted to a consideration o f the temptations to
dishonesty, to intemperance, and to gambling; the fourth, to “ profaneness and Sabbath­
breaking the fifth, “ living for p le a s u r e t h e sixth is entitled “ life progressive
the
seventh, “ the Bible the young man’s guide.” The evils and dangers o f dishonesty, in­
temperance, and gambling, are forcibly and eloquently depicted, in strong but truthful lan­
guage. The volume should be read by every young man in our commercial cities, and the
merchant would do well to place it in the hands o f every clerk in his employ. W e have
marked several passages for a place under our “ Mercantile Miscellanies.”
21. — The A rt Journal; Art-U nion Monthly Journal o f Arts. London: Chapman &
Hall. N ew Y o rk : John P. Ridner, Art-Union Building, 497 Broadway.
The present number (December) o f the Art Journal completes the tenth volume, and
although there would seem to be little room, we notice, by an advertisement on the cover,
that the work is to be improved, and enlarged in size the ensuing year, commencing with
January, 1849. A s a consequence o f this enlargement and improvement, the price is to
be increased to eight dollars and a half per annum. W e have often spoken in terms of
the highest commendation o f this work, and we see no reason to withhold or measure our
praise. The engravings alone are richly, worth the subscription price. W e know o f no
similar work that will compare with it in artistical beauty or literary excellence.

22. — The Vision o f Sir Launfal.

By James R ussell L owell.

12mo., pp. 27.

Cam­

bridge: George Nichols.
A small book this, but with far more true poetry than many a larger volume. The plot
is founded on the mythology o f the Romancers, the Holy Grail, the cup out o f which Je­
sus partook o f the last supper with his disciples. W e hope soon to have a beautiful illus­
trated edition o f Lowell, after the style o f Cary and Hart’s editions o f Longfellow, Willis,
Sigourney, or Muzzy’s splendid edition o f Whittier’s poems.
23. — Rhymes o f Travel. Ballads and Poems. By B a yar d T a y l o r , author o f “ View 3
A-foot,” etc. l2m o., pp. 152. N ew Y ork : George P. Putnam.
A collection o f the poetical effusions o f a young and promising writer. The Rhymes
o f Travel “ give expression to thoughts and emotions inspired” by the author’s journey in
Europe. Simplicity and naturalness, combined with a smooth and graceful verse, are here
rendered subservient to pure and gentle thoughts. A pleasant portrait fronts the title-page.
I rving ’ s W orks .— George P. Putnam published on the first o f January, 1849, the sec­
ond volume o f “ T he Life and Voyages o f Christopher Columbus,” forming the fifth vol­
ume o f the splendid edition o f Irving’s Works, now in course o f publication. This volume
contains one hundred pages more than was originally estimated as the average o f the
series, and therefore the price is necessarily increased to $ 1 50. The next volume will
comprise, the whole o f the “ Companions o f Columbus,” and the Appendix. This is pro­
bably the last revised edition o f Irving’s complete works, and the most beautiful that has
yet been published. It is illustrated with a chart o f the West Iudies, with the adjacent
coast o f South America, showing the tracks o f Columbus.




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24. — Elements o f Chemistry. W ith Illustrations o f the Chemical Phenomena o f Daily
L ife , and a series o f Practical Experiments. By D. B. R eid , M. D., F. R . S. E.
Chambers' Educational Course, enlarged and improved. By D. M. R eese, M . D.,
LL. D. N ew Y ork : A . S. Barnes & Co.
T he design o f this volume, like all in this series o f “ educational works,” is to acquaint
the young with all the physical or natural sciences, by placing in their hands a separate
volume devoted to each. The design o f the present volume is to “ facilitate the intro­
duction o f a course o f Chemistry, as an elementary branch o f education, in all schools
and academies, and to lay a foundation for the young people’s future progress in science.”
W e have no hesitation in saying that the work is well calculated to answer the objects
contemplated by the learned Scotchman who compiled, and the American editor, who has
improved and adapted it to the use o f schools in the United States.
25.— Elements o f Geology. By D avid P age. Chambers' Educational Course, enlarged
and improved. By D. M. R eese, M. D., L L. D. N ew Y ork : A . S. Barnes & Co.
T he facts o f the science o f Geology, which must ever constitute the chief features o f
an elementary work, are here presented “ in a form o f simplicity and attractiveness which
admirably adapts the subject to the young,” thus “ rendering it a most agreeable and use­
ful study.” The handsome and substantial style o f publication adopted by the liberal and
enterprising house o f A . S. Barnes & Co. is worthy o f all imitation.
26. — Posthumous W orks o f the Eev. Thomas Chalmers, D. D., L L . D. Edited by the
Rev. W illiam H anna , L L. D. Vol. V. Sabbath Scripture Readings. 12mo., pp.
507. New Y o rk : Harper & Brothers.
The present volume, the fifth o f the series, consists o f practical comments on various
passages in the books o f the Old Testament. The piety, learning, and ability o f the au­
thor, it is scarcely necessary to say, impart to all his thoughts, opinions, views and feelings
an interest and an importance, that must command the respect, if not the common con­
sent o f the entire Christian world.
27.

— The A rt- Journal; A rt- Union M onthly Journal o f Arts.

N ew Y ork : J. P. Ridner.

The last number o f this work contains three beautiful line engravings in the best style.
o f the art, viz: Pilgrims in Sight o f Home, engraved by C. W . Sharp, from the picture
by C. L. Eastlake, R. A . ; Eve at the Fountain, engraved by W . Rolfe, from the statue
by E. H. Baily, R. A .; and Innocence, by C. W . Wagstaffe, from the picture, by G. B.
Greuze. T he number is embellished with a great number of fine illustrations, the finest
specimens o f wood engraving we have ever seen.
28. — The Oak Openings; or the Bee-Hunter. By J ames F enimore C ooper. 2 vols.
12mo. N ew Y o rk : Burgess, Stringer, & C®.
I f the author o f the “ Pioneers,” the “ Last o f the Mohicans,” “ Path-Finder,” etc., etc.,
has lost any o f his vigor, it is more than we can discover. Certainly this last effort, if we
do not greatly err in our estimate, is equal to any o f the author’s earlier productions. Coop­
er, after all, is a novelist o f which his countrymen may well be proud.
29. — The Memoirs o f a Physician. By A lexandre D umas, author o f “ Monte Cristo,”
** The T w o Dianas,” “ George the Planter,” “ The Three Guardsmen,” etc. etc. 8vo.,
pp. 347. New Y o rk : Stringer & Townsend.
One o f Dumas’ most exciting tales, from the English edition, said to be translated with
remarkable fidelity. It is interspersed with a great number o f engraved illustrations, co.
pied from those o f the French edition o f the work.
30. — The Legends o f M ont auk. By J. A . A yres . W ith an Historical Appendix. 8vo.,
pp. 128. New Y o rk : George P. Putnam.
An attempt o f the author, who visited the peninsula of Montauk during the summers
o f 1846-7, to recall the pleasant hours spent on that romantic spot. The legends are
told in easy and graceful verse, and are well calculated to create an interest in the histo­
ry, the traditions, and the scenery o f this peculiar country.
31. — The Triad; or Atheism, Polytheism, and Infidelity.
Boston: James French.

By Rev. T imothy A . T a y l o r .

This little volume is designed by its author as a companion o f “ The Triune,” noticed
above, in which he presented evidence o f the Divine existence, and proof that the Bible
is the word o f God. The concise and comprehensive form in which the subjects are pre­
sented, will recommend them to many who cannot find time to peruse more elaborate works.




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