here more exclusively to strict Church of England doctrines. No justice could be done in so brief a notice as this must necessarily be, to the various subjects treated, and the manner of treatment; but the names which appear among the list of contributors are a sufficient guarantee for the solidity and worth of its contents. It is decidedly superior in all points to the volume which prompted it, and, as an answer to it, quite sufficient, although leaving untouched many of the more abstruse and learned arguments which might have been adduced in support of its assertions. Yet, whether skeptical arguments are answered or unanswered, men, afraid of the truth, will always be found, trying to silence their fears in the writing and publishing of books similar to "Essays and Reviews." The reverend editor, in the last clause of his excellent preface to “Aids to Faith," very truthfully says: “While the world lasts, skeptical books will be written and answered, and the books, perhaps, and the answers, alike forgotten. But the Rock of Ages shall stand unchangeable; and men, worn with a sense of sin, shall still find rest under the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." Constitution of the United States-Declaration of Independence— Washington's Farewell Address. Boston: T. O. H. P. BURNHAM, 143 Washington-street. Price 10 cents. The little book containing these valuable documents is issued by the publishers in a very neat form, and of a convenient size. It will be sent by mail, post paid, on receipt of the price at the office of publication. DOCUMENTS RECEIVED. We are indebted to Elizur Wright, Esq., Insurance Commissioner, of Mass., for a copy of the last Annual Report to the Legislature. H. H. VAN DYCK, Esq., Supt. Banking Department of New-York, has kindly furnished us with the Report on the Savings Banks. IV. ADVANTAGES OF UNIFORM POSTAGE. BY PLINY MILES,.... 448 V. NATIONAL ARMORY, PEORIA, ILLINOIS,.. STATISTICS OF TRADE AND COMMERCE. 496 1. Wheat Trade. 2. The British Wool Trade. 3. Annual Review of the Trade in Saltpetre. 4. Trade and Commerce of Rio Janeiro. 5. Trade and Commerce of the Russian Empire. 6. New-York Cattle Market. 7. Brighton Cattle Market. 8. Foreign Commerce of the United States,.. 449 RAILWAY, CANAL AND TELEGRAPH STATISTICS. 1. The Railways of the World. 2. Annual Report of the Illinois Central Rail-Road. 3. Report of Mr. NATHANIEL MARSH, Receiver of the New-York and Erie Rail-Road. 4. Annual Earnings and Expenses, New-York and Erie Rail-Road, for the Years 1852-1861. 5. The Long Dock Company. 6. Rail-Roads of Pennsylvania,.. STATISTICS OF POPULATION. 1. French Statistics. 2. Census of British North America. 3. Census of the United Kingdom, 1861. 4. The British Colonies in 1888 and 1839,.... 462 472 COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. 1. Loan and Treasury Note Bill. 2. Bill authorizing Certificates of Indebtedness. 3. Supple- mental Act as to Certificates of Indebtedness. 4. Official order as to Certificates of In- debtedness. 5. Trade on the Cumberland and Tennessee-Order of the Secretary of the Treasury. 6. Convention between United States and China for the Adjustment of Claims, 7. Rights of Belligerents in British Ports-Letter of Instructions from Earl RUSSELL 8. Masters of American Vessels-Act of Congress requiring Oath of Allegiance,... 1. Mutual Fire Insurance Companies-Important Decision. 2. Life Insurance--New Scheme of Survivorship Annuities. 3. American Steam Fire-Engine in London,. 1. City Weekly Bank Returns, New-York City Banks, Philadelphia Banks, Boston Banks, Providence Banks. 2. Weekly Statement Bank of England. 8. Savings Banks State of COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW. No Depreciation of Paper-Quantity not Increased-Gold Demonetised-Lost its Currency Faculty-Small amount of Currency-Government slow to pay-Specie Movement-In- crease of Exports-Comes from the Interior faster than Exported-Paper to Increase- Small Bank Notes-Payment of interest due Banks in coin-The future demand for Coin defined-$80,000,000 per annum-Control of Specie-Holders of Stocks Profit by it-Tax- payers lose Slow issues of Government Paper-Six per cent. Certificates-Issues of Pa- per-Prices of U. 8. Securities-Duties received-Effect of Tariff-Imports and Exports- Cash duties-Exchange-Decline in Flour-Rates of Exchange-Rates Money-Bank loans-Deposits-Banks borrow more than they lend-Pennsylvania Legislature-New- THE BOOK TRADE. THE MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL REVIEW. JUNE, 1862. TOBACCO HISTORICAL, STATISTICAL, DIPLOMATIC, AND LITERARY. NOTWITHSTANDING, that since the introduction of tobacco to civilization, its use has been strenuously opposed by all possible means, governmental, legislative, and literary-notwithstanding that counterblast after counterblast has succeeded that in which James the First vociferated an anathema against the "precious stinke," it has worked its way all over the world, insinuated itself into the pipes of all peoples, fumigated every atmosphere, filled the mouths and directed the digestion of the most diverse races, and brought a similar solace to the dweller of the torrid and the frigid zone. It has quietly, and as "noiseless as smoke," turned the tables on all attempts to defame it, until it now has, to a great extent, all races, creeds, and climates, under tolerable subjection. It is the most universally acknowledged ruler, or tyrant if you will, that custom has ever put in power. Ethnologists may discuss with learned length the question of the unity of the human race, but there is no question as to its unity on the subject of tobacco. Asiatic, African, European, American, with all there interesting subdivisions, form a unity of races, if such a phrase may be used, on the tobacco question. Burly fanatics may demand a millenium at the hands of Providence, and dreamy philosophers may expect that harmony which the polemical susceptibilities of their more energetic allies must eternally postpone; but in the homage all creeds and persuasions pay to tobacco, they might behold a symbol of their much sought for universal harmony. From the monk to the Mormon; from the "papist' pagan; from the Episcopalian Bishop to the "unbelieving Jew;" from lawn sleeves to old clo';" from the sinecure to the synagogue; from Delhi to Dublin; from Rome to the Plymouth Rock, and from "frog pond" to the Salt Lake, the worshipers and faithful followers of all religions and forms of faith are only identical in their faith in tobacco. Smoke is the atmosphere of the millenium. A clever writer twenty-five years ago, glancing over the tobacco field, truly came to the conclusion, that all the branches of the human family, however they may differ in color, speech, manners, and opinions, concur in the love of tobacco-remarking that it is the solace of the slave; the pastime of the idler, and the sedative of the busy bustling trader, who in six days does all that he hath to do, and on the seventh posteth his books. It tranquilizes the overlabored mind of the man of letters; makes the toil-worn laborer forget his aches; is the sailor's delight, the soldier's joy, and contemplative man's recreation. Above all other plants, tobacco best deserves the name of the "peacemaking herb." In quarrels between friends, the offer of a pinch of snuff is generally the first step towards a reconciliation; a sailor's enmity is soothed by a couple of inches of pigtail; the present of a cigar, or the loan of a tobacco-box, often prevents the outbreak of angry feelings; the North American Indian buries his tomahawk when he smokes the pipe of peace; and in Europe, the treaty which stills the voice of war, is concerted by diplomatists amid the friendly interchange of snuff-boxes. If judged by the vicissitudes through which it has traveled, it must indeed be acknowledged a hero among plants; and if human pity, respect, or love should be given it for "the dangers it has passed," the inspiration of Desdemonia's love for Othello, then might its most eloquent opponent be dumb, or yield it no inconsiderable meed of homage. Dr. PARIS, in the Historical Introduction to Pharmacologia,* speaks of it as a remarkable plant, and as having suffered romantic vicissitudes in its fame and character, notwithstanding its powers of fascination. It has been successively opposed and commended by physicians-condemned and eulogized by priests and kings-and proscribed and protected by governments, but at length it has succeeded in diffusing itself through every climate, and wining the suffrages of the inhabitants of every country. The Arab cultivates it in the burning desert-the Laplander and Esquimaux risk their lives to procure a refreshment so delicious in their wintry solitudes; the seaman, grant him but this luxury, and he will endure with cheerfulness every other privation, and defy the raging of the elements; and in the higher walks of civilized society-at the shrine of fashion, in the palace, and in the cottage, the fascinating influence of the singular plant, commands an equal tribute of devotion and attachment. The very Treatises which have been written against the use, or rather, it should be stated, the abuse of tobacco, is sufficient proof of the celerity with which it traveled round the globe. Tobacco was largely used on this continent long before it was introduced to Europeans. Of course it cannot be positively stated how long, but we have proof that the first discoverers found its indulgence universal. On his first discoveries, COLUMBUS noticed that the inhabitants of Cuba and Hispaniola carried a torch with them for the purpose of lighting the leaves of an herb, which he supposed was ignited by way of pertume. The account of the first voyage of COLUMBUS, in the Historia del Nuova Mundo, by MUNOZ, gives us more particularly a glimpse at the plant, and the manner in which it was used. "Not less strange appeared to them the custom of the men, who generally walked abroad, both in the fields and in roads, with a lighted torch in their hands, and rolls of certain * American edition. + Introduction to "Pharmacologia." |