HUNT'S

MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER, 1842.

ART. I.-TRADE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE.*

PROGRESS OF RUSSIAN COMMERCE-IMPORTS INTO RUSSIA IN 1838-EXPORTS-NAVIGATION -TRADE WITH EUROPE AND AMERICA-ST. PETERSBURGH-LOCALITY-CRONSTADTWHARFS-WAREHOUSES-THE BRAACKS-SHIPMENT OF EXPORTS HEMP-FLAX-TALLOW-BRISTLES-LINSEED, ETC.

THE trade of Russia has risen to a great height, since the organization of the country was first commenced by Peter the Great, at the beginning of the preceding century. Considering the shortness of the period that has since then elapsed, the results attained are surprising to every reflecting observer, and there is every reason to presume that they will continue to grow in a progressively increasing annual ratio, from the steady measures pursued by government for improving agriculture and manufactures, the ways and means of interior communication, and the general state of the lower and middle classes of the natives, as well as of the numerous purely commercial towns in the interior, in order to keep their population aug. menting.

Russia has a considerable annual balance of her trade with foreign countries in her favor, producing a constant influx of wealth, the diffusion of which amongst all classes of society, with a systematical propagation of knowledge by the continual augmentation of well adapted scientific establishments throughout the empire, ensures a further rapid progress of civilization, with its beneficial reaction as a stimulation to the demand for the comforts and luxuries of life. In 1838 the settled population of the empire, (exclusive of Poland and Finnland,) numbered 50,585,857 registered inhabitants, (whereof 25,460,645 of the male sex ;) amongst these, 244,993, or 1 in 210, received instruction at 6 universities, 76 higher, 430 lower, 873 parochial, and 485 private schools, attended by 6,462

For a comprehensive view of Russia and her commercial strength, embracing a de. scription of her population and territory, physical, agricultural, and commercial resources, manufactures, and the commercial qualifications of the Russian people, see Merchants' Magazine for October, 1841, Vol. v. No. 4-page 287 to 321.

teachers, (against only 4,628 teachers in 1834.) In 1837 the increase by births gave 858,911. The number of glebæ adscripti does not now exceed 10 millions, and keeps on the decrease; while the mass of free peasantry and townsmen is augmenting fast. With the addition of the American and transcaucasian dominions, Poland and Finnland, the total number of Russian subjects reaches about 62 millions.

The following is a catalogue of the articles imported into Russia in 1838, which shows the nature of the imports of that country :

1. Articles of Consumption.-Corn, flour, rice, wines, champagne, brandy and rum, porter, refined sugar, coffee, tea, lemon and other juices, fruit, spices, cocoa, herrings, oysters, table oil, salt, caviar, cheese, vinegar, tobacco, apothecaries' drugs, etc.

2. Articles of Manufacture.-Card paper, cotton wool, cotton yarn, raw silk, sheep's wool, woollen yarn, goats' wool, indigo, cochineal, madders, dyewoods, olive oil, drugs and drysalteries, chalks, hides, lime, raw sugar, unwrought metals, lead, grindstones, tortoise shell and ivory, cork wood, wood, seeds, brimstone, foil, pit coal, teasels, amber and mother of pearl, sundry dyes, glass pearls, watch work, utensils, machinery, and sundry articles.

3. Manufactures.-Paper, cotton, linen, and silken manufactures, woollen cloth and shawls, etc., lace, ladies' dress, leather articles, soap, scythes and sickles, cutlery, corks, mathematical instruments, musical instruments, watches, strings, earthenware, scented waters, straw hats, pencils, pearls, corals, precious stones, tiles, prints, printed books, furs, fish, curiosities. 4. Quadrupeds and Birds.-Cattle, horses, and birds.

The total value of these articles, embracing the total imports into Russia in 1838, amounted to

£2,655,528

5,688,291

2,589,956

The following is a list of the articles of export from Russia in 1838, which will serve to show the character of the exports of that empire; the quantity of many of the articles is necessarily small:

1. Articles of Consumption.-Wheat, rye, barley, oats, peas, flour, corn, brandy, spirits and wine, spices, salt, caviar, fish, meat, butter, honey, molasses, refined sugar, fruit, coffee, tea, tobacco, drugs, etc.

2. Articles for Manufactures.-Flax, flax codilla, flaxen yarn, hemp, hemp codilla, hempen yarn, timber and deals, potashes, tallow, train oil, linseed, hempseed, hemp and linseed oil, drugs and dyes, bristles, horse hair, isinglass, glue, dressed and dried hides, leather, hare skins, bones, dyes, pitch and tar, beeswax, cotton yarn, raw silk, sheep's and other wool, goats' hair, feathers and downs, horns and hoofs, copper, iron and other metals, spun gold and silver.

3. Manufactures.-Hempen cordage, sail cloth, flems, ravenducks, linens, sundry manufactures of hemp and flax, cotton, silk, and woollen manufactures, woollen cloth, cloths and shirts, writing paper, wax candles, tal

low candles, soap, manufactures of leather, silver and gold, and other metals, earthenware, trunks, glass, musical instruments, wooden articles, furs, pearls, corals, glass pearls, books and prints, mats, and precious

stones.

4. Quadrupeds.-Oxen and cows, swine, etc., horses, and camels. The total value of these articles exported from Russia in 1838, amounted to

Total, 5,897 ships of 1,050,632 tons burden.

Of this number the import trade employed 2,433 ships of 428,464 tons.

66 the export

1,030,148 "

1,458,612

For which the freight paid must have exceeded three millions of pounds sterling, and was chiefly gained by foreign ship-owners. The coasting trade of Russia afforded employment to―

66

66

1,465 vessels, carrying goods for £521,971 between the northern ports, 5,655 £730,179 66 southern ports. From the undermentioned dates, showing when the first ship arrived at, and the last sailed from each port, an idea can be formed of the duration of the navigation at each port, viz:—

N. B. In 1838 the navigation of the twelve northern ports opened later, and closed earlier, than usual.

In the foregoing statement the valuation of exports may pass for a pretty exact amount of invoice cost, paid for by foreign countries. The valuation of the imports from Europe and America, rather exceeds the probable invoice cost with insurance, freight, and sound dues, remitted for by Russia, and in a few cases includes the duty paid in Russia: this excess of valuation is, in all probability, more than sufficient to cover the contraband importation, which must be taken into account in striking the balance of trade. The contraband import trade in Russia is not extensive, the risk and expense connected with it being very great, and we cannot at any rate assume it to exceed the allowance we make for it, in estimating the overvaluation of the imports at about £200,000. In other respects the year 1838 affords a fair general criterion of the state of the Russian trade in latter times, as well as for some time to come.

From official tables we are enabled to obtain the following results, viz: 1. Relative to the trade with Europe and America:

Which was probably required for paying the interest due to foreign holders of Russian stock and other sums wanted abroad.