of 3s. a day, for every guard boat which the Superintendent of Quarantine may deem it necessary to place over them. **Any vessel in quarantine entering the great harbour, without a justifiable cause, incurs the penalty of 200 dollars imposed by the second article of the proclamation, dated 12th October, 1820. (No. xiii.) 5. Vessels having contagious diseases on board to pay an extra rate in proportion to the expense that may be incurred, but in no case to exceed 20s. a day, in addition to the usual rate. Effects received into the lazaret for depuration to be chargeable with a due proportion of the actual expense thereof, which, at present, on ordinary occasions, is at the rate of 2s. 6d. a day for each guardian, and 1s. 8d. a day for each labourer, whom it may be neces sary to employ. Cattle landed in the lazaret to be chargeable, for each 3. d. Bullock, or other animal of the kind · 3 0 - 2 0 - 10 Persons performing quarantine in the lazaret, to pay at the rate of 2s. 6d. a day, for each guardian employed, but no single individual to be chargeable with more than 1s. 3d. a day. Documents issued under the office seal, 2s. 6d. each. TABLE exhibiting the various Articles, and their Value, in Sterling Money imported into the Island of Malta during each of the Four Years ending with 1837. Species of Imports. Manufactures of all sorts 1834. 1835. 1836. 1837. L. L. L. L. 160,962 121,654 135,969 118,096 23,353 16,603 19,182 16,522 16,969 12,786 19,896 18,741 2,643 1,462 1,190 1,494 1,031 2,150 6,960 3,859 10,418 2,740 27,320 17,461 22,429 17,799 2,458 2,019 2,922 1,171 2,970 2,178 Bullocks, pigs, and sheep Carob-beans Coals and charcoal Cheese Fish, salted and dried Flour Fruits, dried Grain, viz.-Wheat Indian corn Barley Meat, salted, and dried Mules, horses, and asses Give and linseed oil Olives, salted 1,050 431 736 452 4,654 Olive stones and firewood 8,518 6,987 5,703 6,319 5 946 Wood (timber, deals, &c.) 15,335 21,766 20,445 464 221 1,864 8,373 10,457 6,158 8,450 357 2,5-6 1,855 2,985 2,103 2,876 2,664 1,263 14,396 2,175 Wool and cotton wool Miscellanies (raw materials) Beans, peas, caravances, saggina, &c. Biscuit 29,065 28,894 42,529 29,858 100 277 1,515 none List of Vessels belonging to the Island of Malta on the 1st of January, 1838. 6,052 17,629 10,041| 9,463 1,453 282 1,830 827 42,691 40,389 67,722 71,983 1,636 2,037 1,827 834 591,666 570,382 685,531 547,484 Movement of Shipping at Malta, during each of the Four Years ending Average Prices of Wheat in Entrepôt at Malta, during each of the Ten Years ending with 1837, per Salma, in Sterling Money. Spirits (brandy and gin) Vinegar Wines Miscellanies (provisions) Totals Total 1837. Vessels above 40 tons under 40 Total The central position, excellent port, and great strength of Malta, make it an admirable naval station for the repair and accommodation of the men-of-war and merchant ships frequenting the Mediterranean, and render its possession of material importance to the British empire. Since Malta built vessels were admitted into the ports of the United Kingdom on the same terms as those of British built, the trade of ship-building has materially increased in the island. The Maltese shipwrights are diligent expert workmen; and, their wages being moderate, it is a favourable place for careening. Owing to the want of a dry dock, all ships above the size of a sloop of war, that require to have their bottoms examined, have to come to England for that purpose. This, surely, should be obviated. Quarantine is strictly enforced at Malta; but there is every facility for its performance, and the charges are less than at any other port in the Mediter ranean. Malta is now the centre of a very extensive steam-packet system: the steamers from England for the Ionian Islands, Constantinople, Alexandria, and other ports of the Levant, touching here. The French steamers from these ports usually perform quarantine at Malta. 1,263 186,616 12,891 1,351 1,129 157,079 11,673 1,198 L. 3. d. 197,673 13,230 1828 1 16 13-4 18,210 6,074 1829 1 15 10 1-4 215,883 19,301 202,737 13,963 13,530 7,059 216,267 20,922 168,398 12,434 8,624 4,101 1,549 165,354 | 15,597 1,637 177,022 16,535 1832 1 12 3 1-2 1833 1 9 13-4 1834 1 9 10 1-4 1835 1 10 93-4 1836 1 7 11-4 1937 1 6 9 MAN (ISLE OF) is, as every one knows, situated in the Irish sea, at about an equal distance from England, Scotland, and Ireland. It is about 30 miles long, and 10 or 12 broad. The interior is mountainous, and the soil no where very productive. Population, VOL. II.-P 22 in 1831, 40,985. This island used to be one of the principal stations of the herring fishery; but for a considerable period it has been comparatively deserted by the herring shoals,—a circumstance which is not to be regretted; for the fishery, by withdrawing the attention of the inhabitants from agriculture and manufactures, and leading them to engage in what has usually been a gambling and unproductive business, has been, on the whole, injurious to the island. The steam packets from Glasgow to Liverpool touch at the Isle of Man; which has, in consequence, begun to be largely frequented by visiters from these cities, and other parts of the empire, whose influx has materially contributed to the improvement of Douglas and other towns. The feudal sovereignty of Man was formerly vested in the Earls of Derby, and more recently in the Dukes of Athol,-a circumstance which accounts for the fact of the duties on most commodities consumed in the island having been, for a lengthened period, much lower than those on the same commodities when consumed in Great Britain. This distinction, 'which still subsists, has produced a great deal of smuggling, and been in no ordinary degree injurious to the revenue and trade of the empire. During the present century, indeed, the clandestine trade of Man has been confined within comparatively narrow limits; but to accomplish this, a considerable extra force of Custom-house officers and revenue cruisers is required, and the intercourse with the island has to be subjected to various restraints. Nothing, as it appears to us, can be more impolitic than the continuance of such a system. The public has, at a very heavy expense, purchased all the feudal rights of the Athol family; and having done so, it is certainly high time that an end were put to the anomalous absurdity of having a considerable island, lying, as it were, in the very centre of the empire, and in the direct line between some of the principal trading towns, with different duties on many important articles! It might be necessary, perhaps, to make some compensation to the inhabitants for such a change; and this might be done, with advantage to them and without expense to the public, by modifying and improving the internal regulations and policy of the island, which are very much in need of amendment. We do not, indeed, imagine that the island would lose any thing by the proposed alteration; for the temptation which the present system holds out to engage in smuggling enterprises diverts the population from the regular pursuits of industry, and, along with the herring lottery, is the principal cause of that idleness for which the Manx are so notorious. We subjoin an ABSTRACT OF 3 & 4 WILL. IV., c. 60., For regulating the TRADE OF THE ISLE of Man. Commencement.-To commence the 1st of September, 1833.— 1. Duties payable on the Importation of Goods into the Isle of Man.-There shall be raised, levied, collected, and paid unto his Majesty, his heirs and successors, the several duties of customs respectively set forth in the table herein-after contained, denominated “Table of Duties," upon importation into the Isle of Man of the several goods, wares, and merchandise, according to the quantity or value thereof specified in such table, and so in proportion for any greater or less quantity or value of the same; (that is to say,) Table of Duties. A Table of the Duties of Customs payable on Goods, Wares, and Coals, from the United Kingdom Coffee, the duties of consumption in the United Kingdom not having been then paid thereon, the lb. Hemp, the cwt. Hops, from the United Kingdom, the lb. Iron, from foreign parts, for every 1001. of the value thereof. Spirits; viz. Foreign spirits, the gallon Rum of the British plantations, not exceeding the strength of proof by Sikes's hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater strength the gallon Sugar, muscovado, the cwt. Tea; viz. Bohea, the lb. Green, the lb. Tobacco, the lb. Wine; viz. French, the tun of 252 gallons any other sort, the tun of 252 gallons Wood, from foreign parts; viz. Deal boards, for every 1001. of the value thereof Timber, for every 1001. of the value thereof Goods, wares, and merchandise imported from the United Kingdom, and entitled to any bounty or drawback of excise on exportation from thence, and not herein before enumerated or charged with duty, for every 1001. of the value thereof Goods, wares, and merchandise imported from the L. s. d. L. s. d. 0 0 1 0 3 0 · 0 10 0 0 6 001 Except the several goods, wares, and merchandise following, and 16 0 0 - 12 0 0 10 0 0 500 British Goods from the United Kingdom to appear upon the Cockets.-No goods shall be entered in the Isle of Man as being the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United Kingdom, or as being imported from thence, except such goods as shall appear upon the cocket or cockets of the ship or vessel importing the same to have been duly cleared at some port in the United Kingdom, to be exported to the said Isle.- 3. Goods enumerated in the following Schedule importable only under Licence.-The several sorts of goods enumerated or described in the schedule herein-after contained, denominated "Schedule of Licence Goods," shall not be imported into the Isle of Man, nor exported from any place to be carried to the Isle of Man, without the licence of the commissioners of customs first obtained, nor in greater quantities in the whole, in any one year, than the respective quantities of such goods specified in the said schedule; and such goods shall not be so exported nor so imported, except from the respective places set forth in the said schedule, and according to the rules subjoined thereto; (that is to say,) Schedule of Licence Goods. From the United Kingdom, or from any place from which the same might be imported into the United Kingdom, for consumption therein. Rum of the British plantations, 60,000 gallons. From Great Britain. Bohea tea. 70,000 lbs. Green tea, 5,000 lbs. And such additional quantities of any such several sorts of goods as the commissioners of his Majesty's treasury shall from time to time, under any special circumstances of necessity, direct, from such ports respectively subject to the rules following; (that is to say,) 1. All such goods to be imported into the port of Douglas, and by his Majesty's subjects, and in British ships or vessels of the burden of 50 tons or upwards: 2. Such tobacco to be shipped only in ports in England, where tobacco is allowed to be imported and warehoused without payment of duty: 3. Such wine to be so imported only in casks or packages containing not less than a hogshead each, or in cases containing not less than 3 dozen reputed quart bottles, or 6 dozen reputed pint bottles each: 4. Such brandy and geneva to be imported only in casks containing 100 gallons each, at least: 5. Such brandy and geneva not to be of greater or higher degree of strength than that of 1 to 9 over hydrometer proof: 6. Such goods, when exported from Great Britain, may be so exported from the warehouse in which they have been secured without payment of duty: 7. If the duties of importation have been paid in the United Kingdom on such goods, a full drawback of such duties shall be allowed on the exportation: 8. Upon the exportation from Liverpool of such refined sugar, the same bounty shall be allowed as would be allowable on exportation to foreign parts: 9. Upon exportation from the United Kingdom of any such goods from the warehouse, or for drawback, or for bounty, so much of the form of the bond, or of the declaration, or of any other document, required in the case of exportation of such goods generally to foreign parts, as is intended to prevent the landing of the same in the Isle of Man shall be omitted: 10. No drawback or bounty to be allowed, nor export bond cancelled, until a certificate of the due landing of the goods at the port of Douglas be produced from the collector and comptroller of the customs at that port. 11. If any goods be laden at any foreign port or place, the species and quantity of such goods, with the marks, numbers, and denominations of the casks or packages containing the same, shall be indorsed on the licence, and signed by the British consul at the port of lading, or, if there be no British consul, by two known British mer chants: 12. Upon importation into the port of Douglas of any such goods, the licence for the same shall be delivered up to the collector or comptroller of that port.-Sect. 4. Application for Licence to be delivered to Officers between May and July.-Every application for licence to import any of the goods aforesaid into the Isle of Man shall be made in writing, and delivered, between the 5th day of May and the 5th day of July in each year, to the collector or comptroller of the port of Douglas in the said isle; and such application shall specify the date thereof, and the name, residence, and occupation of the person applying, and the description and quantity of each article for which such licence is required; and all such applications, with such particulars, shall be entered in a book to be kept at the Custom-house at the port of Douglas, and to be there open for public inspection, during the hours of business; and on the 5th day of July in each year such book shall be closed; and within 14 days thereafter the collector and comptroller shall make ont and sign a true copy of such entries, specifying the applicants resident, and the applicants not resident in the said isle, and deliver or transinit such copy to the governor or lieutenant-governor of the said isle for the time being.-) 5. Governor to allot Quantities.-Within 14 days after the receipt of such copy, the governor or lieutenant-governor of the said isle shall allot the whole quantity of each article, in the first place, among the applicants resident in the said island, in case the whole quantity of any article shall not have been applied for by residents; then shall allot the quantity not so applied for among the non-resident applicants, in such proportions in all cases as he shall judge most fair and equitable; and shall cause a report thereon to be drawn up in writing, and sign and transmit the same to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and shall cause a duplicate of such report so signed, to be transmitted to the commissioners of customs.- 6. Commissioners of Customs to grant Licences.-Upon receipt of such duplicate report the commissioners of customs shall grant licenses, to continue in force for any period until the 5th of July then next ensuing, for the importation into the Isle of Man of the quantities of such goods as are allowed by law to be so imported, with their licence, according to the allotments in such report, and dividing the whole portion allotted to any one applicant into several licences, as they shall be desired and see fit; and such licences shall be transmitted without delay to the collector and comptroller of Douglas, to be by them delivered to the different applicants, after taking bond for the same under the provisions of this act.-7. Before Delivery of Licences, Bond to be given.-Previous to the delivery of any such licences to the persons to whom they are granted, the collector and comptroller of Douglas shall take the bond of such persons to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, with sufficient security, for the importation of the articles for which the said licences are respectively granted, on or before the 5th day of July succeeding the delivery of such licences, with such conditions, and for the forfeiture of such sums, not exceeding the whole amount of duties payable in Great Britain on articles similar to those specified in such licences, as the commissioners of customis shall think fit: provided always, that if any person to whom such licence shall be granted shall not have given such bond prior to the 5th day of January next after the granting such licence, it shall be lawful for the governor or lieutenant-governor of the said isle, if he shall see fit, to transfer any such licence to any other person who shall be desirous to take up the same, and willing and able to give such bond; and such transfer shall be notified by indorsement on the licence, signed by such governor or lieutenant-governor.- 8. Counterfeiting or falsifying Licence, Penalty 5001.-If any person or persons shall counterfeit or falsify any licence or other document required for the importation into the Isle of Man of any goods which would otherwise be prohibited to be imported into the said isle, or shall knowingly or wilfully make use of any such licence, or other document so counterfeited or falsified, such person or persons shall, for every such offence, forfeit the sum of 5001.— 9. Licence Goods not to be re-exported, &c.-It shall not be lawful to re-export from the Isle of Man any goods which have been imported into the said isle with licence of the commissioners of customs as aforesaid; and it shall not be lawful to carry any such goods coastwise from one part of the said isle to another, except in vessels of 50 tons burden at the least, and in the same packages in which such goods were imported into the said isie; and it shall not be lawful to remove any wine from one part of the said isle to another, by and except in such packages or in bottles.- 10. Foreign Goods not to be exported to United Kingdom.-It shall not be lawful to export from the Isle of Man to any part of the United Kingdom any goods which are of the growth, produce, or manufacture of any foreign country.-11. Goods imported or exported, &c. contrary to Law forfeited, &c.-If any goods shall be imported into or exported from the Isle of Man, or carried coastwise from one part of the said isle to another part of the same, or shall be waterborne, or brought to any wharf or other place with intent to be waterborne, to be so exported or carried, or shall be removed by land within the said isle, contrary to any of the directions or provisions of this act, the same, and the packages containing the same, shall be forfeited, together with all ships, vessels, or boats, and ail cattle and carriages used or employed therein; and every person offending therein shall forfeit, for every such offence, the sum of 1007., or the full amount of all duties which would be payable in respect of such or similar goods, for home consumption of the same, in the United Kingdom, at the election of the commissioners of customs.- 12. Goods prohibited to be imported into the Isle of Man.-The several sorts of goods enumerated or de scribed in the schedule herein-after contained, denominated "Schedule of Prohibitions," shall not be imported into the Isle of Man; (that is to say,) Schedule of Goods, the produce or manufacture of places within the limits of the United East India Company's charter; except from the United Kingdom: Cotton yarn, cotton cloth, linen cloth, glass manufactures, woollen manufactures, unless bona fide laden in and imported directly from the United Kingdom: Prohibitions. spirits the produce of the British possessions in America, or of the Cape of Good Hope: British distilled spirits: All goods prohibited to be imported into the United Kingdom to be used or consumed therein, on account of the sort or description of the same. Sect. 13. Spirits of greater strength than 1 to 9 over hydrometer proof except Limiting the Quantity of Spirits, Tea, and Tobacco for Uses of Seamen.-If any decked vessel, bound from the Isle of Man to any port of Great Britain or Ireland, shall have on board for the use of the seamen, any spirits exceeding the quantity of gallon for each seaman, or any tobacco exceeding 1 lb. weight for each seaman, or any tea exceeding 2 lbs. weight for the whole of the seaman on board such vessel, or if any open boat, bound from the Isle of Man to any port of Great Britain or Ireland, shall have on board, for the use of the seamen, any spirits exceeding 1 quart for each seaman, or any tobacco exceeding b. weight for each seaman, or any tea exceeding 1 lb. weight for the whole of the seamen on board such boat, all such foreign spirits, tobacco, and tea respectively, together with the casks or packages containing the same, and also every such vessel or boat, together with all the guns, furniture, ammunition, tackle, and apparel thereof, shall be forfeited.-14. Certificate for Goods the Produce of the Isle of Man.-Before any goods shall be shipped in the Isle of Man for exportation to the United Kingdom, as being the produce or manufacture of that island, proof shall be made by the written declaration of some competent person, to the satisfaction of the collector and comptroller of the customs at the port of shipment, that such goods, describing and identifying the same, are the produce or the manufacture, as the case may be, of the said island, and in such declaration shall be stated the name of the person by whom such goods are intended to be entered and shipped; and such person, at the time of entry (not being more than 1 month after the date of such declaration) shall make and subscribe a declaration before such collector or comptroller, that the goods to be shipped in virtue of the entry are the same as are mentioned in such declaration; and thereupon the collector and comptroller shall, on demand, give to the master of the ship in which the goods are to be exported a certificate of such proof of produce, or of manufacture, having been made in respect of such goods, describing the same, and setting forth the name of the exporter, and of the exporting ship, and of the master thereof, and the destination of the goods; and such certificate shall be received at the port of importation in the United Kingdom, instead of the certificate of the governor, lieutenant-governor, or cominander-in-chief of the said island, heretofore required.- 15. Management of Duties.-Section 16. relates to the appropriation of the duties, and is of no commercial importance. MANGANESE (Ger. Braunstein, Glasseise; Du. Bruinsteen; Fr. Manganèse, Magalese, Savon du verre; It. Manganesia; Sp. Manganesia; Lat. Magnesia nigra, Manganesium), a metal which, when pure, is of a greyish white colour, like cast iron, and has a good deal of brilliancy. Its texture is granular; it has neither taste nor smell; it is softer than cast iron, and may be filed; its specific gravity is 8. It is very brittle, and can neither be hammered nor drawn out into wire. Its tenacity is unknown. When exposed to the air, it attracts oxygen with considerable rapidity. It soon loses its lustre, and becomes grey, violet, brown, and at last black. These changes take place still more rapidly if the metal be heated in an open vessel. Ores of manganese are common in Devonshire, Somersetshire, &c. The ore of manganese, known in Derbyshire by the name of black wadd, is remarkable for its spontaneous inflammation with oil. Oxide of manganese is of considerable use; it is employed in making oxymuriatic acid, for forming bleaching liquor. It is also used in glazing black earthenware, for giving colours to enamels, and in the manufacture of porcelain. It is the substance generally used by chemists for obtaining oxygen gas.— (Thomson's Chemistry, &c.) MANGEL WURZEL, OR FIELD BEET (Fr. Betteraves; Ger. Mangold Wurzel ; It. Biettola), a mongrel between the red and white beet. It has been a good deal cultivated in France, Germany, and Switzerland, partly as food for cattle, and partly to be used in distillation, and in the extraction of sugar. Its culture in Great Britain is very recent; and Mr. Loudon questions whether it has any advantages over the turnip for general agricultural purposes. The preparation of the soil is exactly the same as for turnips, and immense crops are raised on strong clays. The produce per acre is about the same as that of the Swedish turnip it is applied almost entirely to the fattening of stock, and the feeding of milch cows. -(Loudon's Ency. of Agriculture.) MANNA (Fr. Munne; Ger. Mannaesche; It. Manna), the concrete juice of the Fraxinus ornus, a species of ash growing in the south of Europe. The juice exudes spontaneously in warm dry weather, and concretes into whitish tears; but the greater part of the manna of commerce is obtained by making incisions in the tree, and gathering the juice in baskets, where it forms irregular masses of a reddish or brownish colour often full of impurities. Manna is imported in chests, principally from Sicily and Calabria. The best is in oblong pieces or flakes, moderately dry, friable, light, of a whitish or pale yellow colour, and in some degree transparent: the inferior kinds are moist, unctuous, and brown. It has a slight peculiar odour, and a sweet taste, with some degree of bitterness not very pleasant, and leaving a nauseous impression on the tongue.-(Thomson's Dispensatory.) MANIFEST, in commercial navigation, is a document signed by the master, containing the name or names of the places where the goods on board have been laden, and the place or places for which they are respectively destined; the name and tonnage of the vessel, the name of the master, and the name of the place to which the vessel belongs; a particular account and description of all the packages on board, with the marks and numbers thereon, the goods contained in such packages, the names of the respective shippers and consignees as far as such particulars are known to the master, &c. A separate manifest is required for tobacco. The manifest must be made out, dated, and signed by the captain, at the place or places where the goods, or any part of the goods, are taken on board.-(See IMPORTATION AND EXPORTATION.) MANILLA, the capital of Luconia, the largest of the Philippine Islands, and the principal settlement of the Spaniards in the East, in lat. 14° 36′ 8′′ N., lon. 120° 53′ E. Population about 40,000, of whom from 1,200, to 1,500 may be Europeans. Manilla is built on the shore of a spacious bay of the same name, at the mouth of a river navigable for small vessels a considerable way into the interior. The smaller class of ships anchor in Manilla roads, in 5 fathoms, the north bastion bearing N. 37° E., the fishery stakes at the river's mouth N. 18° E., distant about a mile; but large ships anchor at Cavita, about 3 leagues to the southward, where there is a good harbour, well sheltered from the W. and S. W. winds. The arsenal is at Cavita, which is defended by Fort St. Philip, the strongest fortress on the islands. The city is surrounded by a wall and towers, and some of the bastions are well furnished with artillery. Though situated within the tropics, the climate of the Philippines is sufficiently temperate; the only considerable disadvantage under which they labour in this respect being that the principal part of the group comes within the range of the typhoons. The soil is of very different qualities; but for the most part singularly fertile. They are rich in mineral, vegetable, and animal productions. It is stated in a statistical account of the Philippines, published at Manilla in 1818 and 1819, that the entire population of the islands amounted to 2,249,852, of which 1,376,222 belonged to Luconia. There were, at the period referred to, only 2,837 Europeans in the islands, and little more than 6,000 Chinese. The natives are said to be the most active, bold, and energetic, of any belonging to the Eastern Archipelago. "These people," says a most intelligent navigator, "appear in no respect inferior to those of Europe. They cultivate the earth like men of understanding; are carpenters, joiners, smiths, goldsmiths, weavers, masons, &c. I have walked through their villages, and found them kind, hospitable, and communicative; and though the Spaniards speak of and treat them with contempt, I perceived that the vices they attributed to the Indians, ought rather to be imputed to the government they have themselves established.”—(Voyage de M. De la Perouse, c. 15.) The principal articles of export consist of indigo, sugar, rice, sapan wood, birds' nests, tripang or biche de mer, dried beef, hides, ebony, gold dust, &c. The principal articles of import are stuffs for clothing, iron, hardware, furniture, fire-arms, and ammunition, &c. Account of the Trade of Manilla for the Year 1831, from the Official Report. In 1832, 136 ships arrived at Manilla, of which 35 were American, 34 English, and 53 Spanish. The imports during the same year were, goods 1,204,894 dollars, and treasure 464,300 do., being together 1,669,194 dollars. The exports were, goods 1,531,540 dollars, treasure 317,990 do., together 1,849,530 dollars. It was believed that the crop of sugar in Luconia in 1833, would amount to about 28,000 000 lbs. At this moment, the imports of British goods into the Philippines are estimated to amount to from 80,000l. to 100,0001. a year; but we have no doubt that the opening the trade to China will very materially increase our intercourse with Manilla. Considering the great fertility and varied productions of the Philippines, and their peculiarly favourable situation for carrying on commerce, the limited extent of their trade, even with its late increase, may excite surprise. This, however, is entirely a consequence of the wretched policy of the Spanish government, which persevered until very recently in exclud ing all foreign ships from the ports of the Philippines-confining the trade between them and Mexico and South America to a single ship! Even ships and settlers from China were excluded. "Provisions," says La Perouse, "of all kinds are in the greatest abundance here, and extremely cheap; but clothing, European hardware, and furniture, bear an excessively high price. The want of competition, together with prohibitions and restraints |