Perhaps these estimates are a little below the mark. We have been assured by high mercantile authority, that the entire value of the exports from Trieste to foreign countries is not under 2,000,000Z. a year. Imports.-There is a great difference between the imports into and the exports from Trieste; the value of the former being certainly not less than 4,000,000l. sterling. The excess of imports is explained partly by the fact that large quantities of foreign goods imported into Trieste are subsequently transhipped by coasting vessels to Venice, Fiume, and other ports, partly by the residence of English and other foreigners at Vienna, and partly by there being an excess of exports as compared with imports, from other parts of the empire. The great articles of import are sugar, cotton goods and raw cotton, oil, coffee, wheat, silks, indigo and other dye stuffs, valonia, &c. The following Table contains all the information that can be desired as to the import trade of Trieste in 1829, 1830, and 1831: Statement of the Quantity and Value, in British Money, Weights, and Measures, of the principal Articles imported into Trieste during each of the Three Years ending with 1831, specifying the Quantity and Value of those furnished by each Country. Money-Mercantile accounts are usually kept at Trieste in what is commonly called convention money, from an agreement entered into with respect to it by some of the German princes, in 1763. The current coins that are legal tender are dollars, dollars or florins, and zwanzigers, or pieces of 20 kreutzers. Ten dollars are coined out of the Cologne marc (3,608 gr. Eng.) of pure silver, so that the value of the dollar is 4s. 3d. sterling. The florin, or dollar = 2s. 1d. sterling; zwanzigers, or pieces of 20 kreutzers (60 to the mare), d. sterling. Hence it follows that 1s. sterling 28 kreutzers (60 to a florin); and the pound sterling 9 fl. 24 kr., or, as it is commonly taken, 9 fi. 25 kr. All contracts are either expressly declared, or are understood, to be in silver money; gold coins, not being legal tender, pass only as merchandise. Weights and Measures.-Those chiefly in use at Trieste are those of Vienna and Venice. The commercial pound contains 4 quarters, 16 ounces, or 32 loths: it is = 8,639 English grains. Thus, 160 lbs. at Trieste 123 6 lbs. avoirdupois; or 90 lbs. of Trieste 112 lbs. avoirdupois. The principal dry measure is the stajo or staro2:34 Winch. bushels. The Vienna metzen, which is sometimes used, 1-723 Winch. bushel. The polonick 0.861 Winch, bushel. The principal liquid measure is the orna or eimer = 40 boccali 15 wine or 12 Imperial gallons very nearly. The barile 173 English wine gallons. The orna of oil contains 5 .mperial gallons. The ell woollen measure caffisi, and weighs about 107 commercial pounds. It is 17 wine or 14-16 26'6 English inches. The ell for silk = 25·2 English inches. Tarif.-Trieste being a free port, goods destined for its consumption, and that of the adjoining territory, pay no duties whatever, and are exported and imported without notice by the customs. Goods brought from the interior for export at Trieste, are charged an export duty on passing the Custom-house line. Goods imported at Trieste, to be conveyed through the Austrian dominions to those of any other power, are charged a small transit duty. The principal foreign goods taken for consumption in the interior of the empire, pay the duties specified in the subjoined Table. Statement of the Customs' Duties on the principal Articles imported from Trieste into the Interior of the Austrian Empire. N. B.-It is observable, that in Austria almost all articles (except such as are rated ad valorem) are charged by weight, including even grain, and liquids, wine, oil, spirits, &c. Tariff of the Customs Duties on the principal Articles brought from the Interior of the Austrian Empire to Trieste for Shipment. N. B.-Trieste being without the line of customs, these duties on exportation are payable on goods entering the territory or liberties of the port, whether for consumption or for exportation by sea. The duties on raw and thrown silk are tantamount to a prohibition. Gunpowder, salt, and tobacco, being articles monopolised by government, are not allowed to be imported into Trieste except for sale to the government or its contractors. Vessels arriving with gunpowder on board, deliver it at the arsenal, and on their clearing out it is returned to them free of expense. The utmost vigilance is exerted to prevent the introduction of tobacco; but with very little effect. The only articles, the exportation of which from the Austrian dominions is at present prohibited, are gold and silver in bars, and silk cocoons. Smuggling. In consequence of the prohibition of tobacco, and ofthe high duties imposed on refined sugar, coffee, &c., these articles are very extensively smuggled into the Austrian dominions. Most part, too, of the cotton goods sent from this country to Trieste and Venice, are sold to smugglers, by whom they are introduced into the interior with very little difficulty. It would be absurd, indeed, to suppose, seeing the extent to which smuggling is practised in England and France-(see antè, p.516.), -that it should not be in a flourishing condition in Austria, whose frontier is so much more difficult to guard. It is, in fact, carried on to a very great extent; prohibited and overtaxed goods being intro duced with the greatest regularity, either by defeating the vigilance of the officers, or, which is said to be the more common case, by making them parties to, and gainers by, the fraud. The transit o. foreign goods through the Austrian states gives considerable facilities to the smuggler. But, independently of this, their introduction is so very easy, that nothing but the repeal of the existing prohibitions, and the effectual reduction of the duties, can give any considerable check to smuggling. We would fain hope that the Austrian government is becoming sensible of this truth. Its commercial policy is, in many respects, far from illiberal; and the alterations recently made in the tariff have contributed to facilitate importation. The slightest reflection must, indeed, satisfy every one, that in such a country, restrictions on importation can be of no real advantage to the home producers; and that their only effect is to divert trade into illegitimate channels, to deprive the public treasury of the revenue it might derive from moderate duties, and to enrich those who despise and trample on the jaw. at the expense of the sober and industrious citizen. Considering the vast variety of valuable and desirable products furnished by Lombardy, Hungary, Austria proper, and the other Austrian States, it is not easy to estimate the extent to which their commerce might be carried, under a free system that should develope all the resources of the country. At present, however, there is, in Austria and most other parts of the Continent, a strong disposition to believe that our recommendations of a freer system of commercial policy are dictated solely by selfish, interested motives. They naturally attach greater weight to our practice than to our professions. So long, indeed, as our present corn laws and timber duties are suffered to pollute our statute book, so long shall we make but few practical converts to our doctrines. Such a modification of the former as would render our ports always open to the importation of corn under reasonable duties, combined with the equalization of the timber duties, and the reduction of the exorbitant duties on olive oil and cheese, would show that we are disposed to practise those liberal doctrines we so freely recommend to others: and would do more to extend our trade with Italy and Austria than any measure it is in our power to adopt. Shipping-Since the loss of Flanders, the mercantile navy of Austria has been confined wholly to the ports on the Adriatic. But it is, notwithstanding, very considerable; and engrosses at this moment a very large share of the trade of the Mediterranean and Black Sea. The oak timber of Carniola and the Dalmatian coast is reckoned about the very best in the world; so that the Austrian ships, being built of it, are very strong, at the same time that they are particularly handsome. They are also well manned and provided. The seamen are expert, temperate, and orderly; and Mr. Money says, that the laws for the regulation of the merchant service are excellent. By far the greater number of vessels of large burden belong to Trieste. The rest belong to Venice, Fiume, Ragusa, and the Bocche di Cattaro. On the other hand, the smaller vessels employed in the coasting trade, which is very considerable, are more equally divided; Venice having, probably, as many as Trieste, while a good number belong to the ports of Istria, Hungary, and Dalmatia. The foreign trade of this port comprises all voyages beyond the limits of the Adriatic; and may be divided as follows: 1. The Levant trade, including the Ionian Islands, Greece, Constantinople, Smyrna, Odessa, &c., the ports in Syria, Cyprus, Candia, and Egypt, more especially Alexandria. 2. The ponente or Mediterranean trade, in the west, comprising the coast of Barbary, Spain, France, and Italy; being principally carried on with Marseilles, Genoa, and Leghorn. 3. The commerce on the ocean, which the Austrian merchants have attempted with considerable success. Several ships sail for Brazil, the United States, England, Hamburgh, &c. The number of Austrian vessels at present employed in foreign trade is believed to be about 780, of the burden of about 153,000 tons, manned by about 15,000 men and boys. In the coasting trade about 200 vessels are employed, averaging 40 tons each. The fishing trade is inconsiderable. There has been no sensible increase or diminution in the tonnage for the last five years; but there is every probability of a gradual increase in future, proportioned to the anticipated improvement of trade in the Mediterranean, which has of late years been interrupted and depressed by political events. The following Table shows the number of ships, and their tonnage, arriving at, and sailing from Trieste during each of the three years ending with 1831, specifying the number and tonnage of those under each flag. Movement of Shipping at Trieste, during each of the Three Years ending with 1831. American 66 16,83 543 67,854 69 JS,122 373 74,165 47 11.629 354 72,764 Ships Tonnage. Ships. Tonnage. Ships. Tonnage. Ships Tonnage. Ships. Tonnage. Ships. Tunnage 48 12,106 341 69,320 Bremer 38 436 I 9,537 88,332 8575 459 90,210 160 Customs' Regulations.-The custom-house at Trieste has nothing whatever to do with the entry, reporting, &c. of vessels. When a ship arrives, she is reported to the Health Office; which publishes a list of arrivals and departures, with a statement of their cargoes, as they appear in the manifests, Ships are cleared by the same office; the masters being assisted by the consuls of the country to which they belong. As soon as a vessel has performed quarantine, she loads or unloads without any interference or inspection by the customs' officers, or by any one else. Goods unsusceptible of contagion may be landed during quarantine. Being a free port, the bonding and warehousing system is, of course, unknown at Trieste. Austrian, and foreign privileged ships Fl. kr. 03 • 0.3 Fl. ir. Anchorage, light-bouse, and cargo as above, per ton admeasurement, and per ton weight of goods 0.10 New tonnage duty, per ton admeasurement - 0 18 Abboraggio, payable by ships departing in ballast, or with less than half a cargo. · 0 Comparative Statement of the Port Charges paid at Trieste, respectively, by a Native and privileged Foreign Ship, and a Foreign Ship not privileged, each of 300 Tons Burden, with mixed Cargoes. Importations and Arrivals of 1833.-The following statement is interesting, as it exhibits the principal articles imported into Trieste from America, the West Indies, and Western Europe, in 1833, specifying the quantities furnished by each country, and the ships by which the same was imported. It shows that Austrian ships are pretty extensively employed in the Transatlantic trade. Principal Importations and Arrivals during 1833. Great Britain.-In 42 British, 1 Sardinian, and 1 Austrian vessel: coffee, 2 tons Jamaica, 162 tons Havannah, 88 tons St. Jago, 163 tons Rin, 7 tons Surinam, 5 tons Mocha, 7 tons Cheribon, and 11 tous Triage; sugar, 146 casks refined, 2,256 casks crushel, 400 boxes white Havannah, 185 cases Bahia, 258 cases Pernambuco, 116 tierces white, and 65 cases muscovado Brazil; cocoa, 15 tons; cassia lignea, 155 tons; cinnamon, 3 tons; pepper, 230 tons; pimento, 52 tons; ginger, 59 tons; cochineal, 4 serous; rum, 628 puncheons; indigo, 269 chests and 8 serons; logwood, 30 tons; Nicaragua wood, 21 tons; tip, 3,769 ingots, 423 barrels bars, 1,544 boxes plates; iron, 377 tons; lead, 151 ingots; cotton, 719 bales American; nankeeus, 21,900 pieces; manufactures, 5,842 packages; her. rings, 1,629 barrels; pilchards, 1,000 barrels; hides, 41,784. United States.-In 21 American and 6 Austrian vessels: coffee, 203 tons Havannah, 111 tons St. Jago, 530 tons Rio, 11 tons Berbice, 76 tons Mocha, 157 tons Porto Rico, 365 tons St. Domingo, and 101 tons Triage; sugar, 47 casks crushed, 300 boxes yellow Havannah, and 497 bags Manilla; cocoa, 2 tons; pepper, 360 tons; pimento, 60 tons; cassia lignea, 27 tons; indigo, 134 chests; rum, 261 puncheons; logwood, 955 tons; Nicaragua wood, 147 tons; fustic, 90 tons; nankeens. 4,300 pieces; cotton, 3,911 bales; hides, 29,656. Brazils. In 42 British, 4 American, 1 Hamburgh, 3 Danish, 1 French, 1 Neapolitan, 3 Sardinian. 3 Spanish, Swedish, and 11 Austrian vessels-(23 vessels from Rio, 29 Bahia, 10 Pernambuco, 1 Para, and 2 from Santos): coffee, 3,704 tons Rio, 124 tons Babia; sugar, 2,203 cases, 267 barrels, 1,511 bags white, and 602 cases mus. covado Rio; 7,191 cases, 145 barrels white, and 2,087 cases musco. vado Bahia; 2,340 cases, 1,806 barrels, 54 bags white, and 127 cases muscovado Pernambuco; and 9,061 bags Santos; cocoa, 116 tons Para; rum, 13s puncheons; cotton, 362 bales Bahia, 50 bales Para; fustic, 45 tons; hides, 39,483. Cuba.-In 2 British, 6 American, I Belgian, and 2 Spanish vessels(9 vessels from St. Jago, and 2 from Matanzas): coffee, 1,192 tons St. Jago, 231 tons Matanzas; sugar, 172 boxes white, 1,621 boxes yellow Matanzas, 168 boxes white, 819 boxes yellow St. Jago: logwood, 15 tons; fustic, 117 tons. St. Domingo.-In 1 British vessel: coffee, 158 tons; cotton, 41 bales; Sumatra.-In 2 American vessels: pepper, 550 tons. Gibraltar and Malta.-In 6 British, 9 Austrian, and 1 Roman vessel : Spain.-In 9 Spanish, 1 Austrian, and 1 Russian vessel: coffee, 18 tons Porto Rico; lead, 8,761 ingots; hides, 500. Portugal.-In 2 British, 7 Austrian, I Danish, and 2 Sardinian vessels coffee, 91 tons Rio; sugar, 167 cases Bahia, 153 cases Pernambuco, 121 cases Rio, and 201 barrels white, 180 cases musco. vado Brazil; cocoa, 220 tons; cotton, 3,303 bales; cassia lignea, 1 ton; hides, 13,397. Hamburgh.-In 3 Austrian, and 3 Bremen vessels: sugar, 12 casks refined; fish oil, 1,744 barrels; calf skins, 231 bales; zinc, 14,492 bars; herrings, 51 barrels. Holland.-In 2 Austrian, and 1 Danish vessel; sugar, 113 casks refined, 176 casks crushed; tobacco, 154 bales; cheese, 117 pack. ages; sandal wood, 3,127 pieces; tin, 50 ingots. Norway-In 1 British, 4 Hanoverian, 1 Danish, and 1 Dutch vessel: Sweden-In 2 Swedish vessels: tar, 2,314 barrels. Quarantine is strictly enforced at Trieste, and the establishments for facilitating its performance are complete and efficient. The Board of Health at this port is the central or principal one for the Austrian States; and maintains an active correspondence with all the principal ports, both in the Mediterranean and elsewhere. There are 2 lazarettos,-that called St. Teresa, or Lazaretto Nuovo, is appropriated to vessels from the Levant and Egypt, which are, for the most part, subjected to the long or full quarantine of 40 days. It is spacious, and properly guarded; having a sufficient number of military and medical officers and assistants; with extensive quays and magazines for housing and airing goods, dwelling houses and apartments for resident officers and passengers, &c. It is, in fact, one of the most perfect establishments of the kind in existence. The other, or old (Vecchio) lazaretto, contiguous to the great mole, is appropriated to ships and passengers performing a quarantine of not more than 28 days; and, though inferior to the former, is sufficiently capacious and convenient. The sanitary offices, including that of harbour master, are near the centre of the port; where also are moored vessels under observation for a term not exceeding 8 days. Here also are facilities for communicating vicâ voce with persons under quarantine; and spacious warehouses, with adequate guards and other officers. But, notwithstanding these conveniences, if a vessel arrive having an infectious malady on board, she is not allowed to enter either lazaretto at Trieste, but is sent to an island near Venice, fitted out for the purpose, where assistance may be afforded with less risk of propagating infection. The ordinary Board of Health consists of a president; two assistants, one of whom is a doctor of medicine; and three provisors, two of whom are merchants. Quarantine Charges payable at the Port of Trieste, by all Ships. Quarantine Dues payable on Goods.-Non-susceptible goods pay ad valorem at the rate of 6 kreutzers per 100 florins or 1 mille. Susceptible goods pay an extra charge, according to tariff, or to circumstances. Besides the above ad valorem duty, goods not susceptible pay 4 kreutzers (lid.) per every 1,000 lbs. weight of Vienna. Grain is subject to an extra charge of about 4 per cent. Brokers, Commission Merchants, Brokerage, &c.-There are a few exceptions to the freedom generally enjoyed of settling and exercising any trade at Trieste. Brokers, for example, are limited in number, and appointed by the Chamber of Commerce. They are obliged to give security, are under various regulations, and may not themselves trade as principals. They are of 3 classes: 1st, brokers for the sale and purchase of merchandise, who are again subdivided into particular classes, according to the articles they are conversant with, as grain, oil, cotton, drugs, hides and leather, colonial pro duce, manufactures, &c.; 2d, bill brokers, or exchange agents; and, 3d, ship and insurance brokers. Such authorised brokers are alone allowed to extend contracts, certificates, surveys, or other documents; and they are considered as public functionaries, whose depositions are received as legal evidence. Any one may be a commission merchant or factor, but he may not issue printed circulars or lists of prices; nor will his books, however regularly kept, be considered as evidence in a court of justice, unless he is matriculated, for which the possession of a certain amount of capital is required. This, however, is little more than mere form, and a great deal of business is done by persons acting both as merchants and brokers, without being duly authorised. The usual rate of a merchant's or factor's commission on the purchase of goods is 2 per cent. On sales, per cent. ; del credere is sometimes added. A merchant's commission for collecting freights, and doing other shipping business, is 2 per cent. on the inward cargo; and by custom of the place, the house to which a ship is consigned or recommended by the charterers, is entitled to a commission of 2 per cent. on the outward cargo, whether it has or has not been instrumental in procuring the goods that are laden outwards. A broker's commission for freighting a ship, or procuring a charter, is 2 per cent. This does not include the charge for writing charter, or for any other services performed in the clearance. In case of general cargoes, when the broker has to collect goods from different merchants, he charges 3 per cent. commission. A bill broker's commission (courtage) is sometimes 1 per mille, more commonly } per mille. Brokerage for the sale or purchase of merchandise varies from per cent. to 1 per cent., according to circumstances, and the nature of the article. Insurance. The insurance of ships is carried on to a considerable extent at Trieste. The security is unexceptionable, the terms more moderate than in England, and losses are said to be adjusted promptly and liberally. The oppressive duties on policies of insurance in England have been the cause that most insurances on ships for the Adriatic, that were formerly effected in London, Liverpool, &c., are now effected at Trieste. The insurance of houses is universal; and that of lives is also, of late years, practised to a considerable extent. House insurance is carried on by joint stock companies, of limited responsibility. Bankruptcy is not of very frequent occurrence at Trieste. The laws with respect to it do not differ much from those in force in most other countries. Frauds are punishable by imprisonment; but here, as elsewhere, they are very difficult to detect. Honest bankrupts are discharged, on making a complete disclosure of their affairs, and a surrender of their assets. Property settled on a wife is not affected by the debts of the husband; a regulation which, it is evident, must lead to fraud. Communications by Land.-The intercourse between Trieste and Austria, Hungary, &c. is necessarily all carried on by land. The roads leading to Vienna, and to the Hungarian towns, particularly the first, are kept in good repair, and the tolls are moderate; but owing to the rugged nature of the country, the ascent is in some places very considerable. The diligence from Trieste to Vienna, 340 English miles, performs the journey in 72 hours. The draught horses employed on the roads are excellent; but, in some of the mountainous districts, bullocks are used. Repeated surveys have been made of the country between Vienna and Trieste, in the view of forming a canal. But the difficulties in the way of such a project seem to be all but insuperable. The ground is not only rugged, but the subsoil of the country stretching northwards to a considerable distance from Trieste is so very porous, that, unless precautions were taken to obviate it, the water in the canal would speedily escape. A rail-road has been proposed, and it might, no doubt be accomplished. But the expense would be so very great, that it is extremely problematical whether it would ever yield any thing like a return. We subjoin a statement of the Rates of Land Carriage from Trieste to various Places. Careening, Stores, &c.-Timber at Trieste is excellent, workmen good, and their wages moderate; so that it is a very favourable place for careening and repairing. Water is very good, but rather scarce; so that, if a large supply be required, due notice must be given. Ships are served in regular rotation. Beef is very good, but rather high priced. Butter and cheese are dear; and fuel is excessively so. On the whole, therefore, Trieste cannot be considered as a favourable place for the provisioning of a ship. Subjoined is an account of the Average Prices of the principal Articles of Provisions at Trieste in 1831. Average Prices of Wheat, and other sorts of Grain, at Trieste, during each of the Ten Years ending with 1831, per Imperial Quarter, and in Sterling Money. 7 0 0 14 0 4 0 21 0 220 11 30 13 0 1 30 030 080 Vegetables (assorted), do. 3 0 |