rich lands at this present remain waste and overgrowne with bushes, receptacles of wild beasts, of theeves and murderers; large territories dispeopled or thinly inhabited; goodly cities made desolate; sumptuous buildings become ruines; glorious temples either subverted, or prostituted to impietie; true religion discountenanced and oppressed; all nobilitie extinguished; no light of learning permitted, nor vertue cherished; violence and rapine insulting over all, and leaving no securitie save to an abject mind and unlookt on povertie."

Those who compare this beautiful passage with the authentic statements of Volneyincomparably the best of the modern travellers who have visited the countries referred to-will find that it is as accurate as it is eloquent.

U. V.

VALONIA, a species of acorn, forming a very considerable article of export from the Morea and the Levant. The more substance there is in the husk, or cup of the acorn, the ⚫ better. It is of a bright drab colour, which it preserves so long as it is kept dry: any dampness injures it; as it then turns black, and loses both its strength and value. It is principally used by tanners, and is always in demand. Though a very bulky article, it is uniformly bought and sold by weight. A ship can only take a small proportion of her registered tonnage of valonia, so that its freight per ton is always high. The price in the London market, in March, 1834, varied from 12/. to 15/. per ton.

The entries of valonia for home consumption in 1831 and 1832 amounted, at an average, to 146,846 cwt. a year. Of 134,307 cwt. of valonia, imported in 1831, 102,226 were brought from Turkey and Continental Greece, exclusive of the Morea; 17,645 cwt. mostly at second hand, from Italy and the Italian islands; 7,461 cwt. from the Ionian Islands; 3,116 from the Morea and the Greek islands; and 3,859 cwt. from the Philippines.

VALPARAISO, the principal sea-port of Chili, in lat. 33° 1′ 48′′ S., long. 71° 31′ 8′′ W. Population uncertain, perhaps 6,000 or 7,000. The water in the bay is deep, and it affords a secure anchorage, except during northerly gales, to the violence of which it is exposed; but as the holding ground is good, and the pull of the anchor against a steep hill, accidents seldom occur to ships properly found in anchors and cables. There is no mole or jetty; but the water close to the shore is so deep, that it is customary for the smaller class of vessels to carry out an anchor to the northward, and to moor the ship with the stern ashore by another cable made fast to the shore. Large ships lie a little further off, and load and unload by means of lighters. The best shelter is in that part called the Fisherman's Bay, lying between the castle and fort St. Antonio, where, close to a clear shingle beach, there is 9 fathoms water. In the very worst weather, a landing may be effected in this part of the bay. (See Miers's Travels in Chili and La Plata, vol. i. p. 440., where there is a plan of Valparaiso.) The harbours of Valdivia and Concepcion are much superior to that of Valparaiso; the former being, indeed, not only the best in Chili, but second to few in any part of the world. But Valparaiso, being near the capital, Santiago, and being the central dépôt for the resources of the province, is most frequented. The town is inconveniently situated, at the extremity of a mountainous ridge; most of the houses being built either upon its acclivity or in its breaches. Large quantities of corn and other articles of provision are shipped here for Callao and Panama, but principally for the former. Exclusive of wheat, the principal articles of export are tallow and hides, copper, the precious metals, indigo, wool, sarsaparilla, &c. It appears from the account laid before the reader in another article (see vol. ii. p. 345.),-—that the produce of the gold mines of Chili, had materially increased during the 20 years ending with 1829, as compared with the previous 20 years. At present, the average produce of both the gold and silver mines may, we believe, be taken at about 175,000l. a year. There is a great want of capital in the country; and the anarchy and insecurity that have prevailed since the commencement of the revolutionary war have been very unfavourable to all sorts of industry. There can, however, be no doubt that Chili has already gained considerably, and that she will every day gain more, by her emancipation from the yoke of Old Spain. The trade we carry on with this distant country already amounts to above 1,000,0007. a year; and there can be no doubt that it will become far more extensive. In 1831, the declared or real value of the exports of British produce and manufactures from this country to Chili amounted to 651,6177; of this sum, the exports of cotton goods amounted to about 460,0007., those of woollens to 158,000l., linen to 19,000l. &c. Chili also imports spices, tea, wine, sugar, coffee, tobacco, &c. A small part, however, of the imports are re-exported • for Peru.

A country with a scanty population, which imports so extensively, cannot be in the wretched condition that Mr. Miers and other disappointed travellers would have us believe. The candour and good sense of M. de la Perouse are above all question; and every one who compares his remarks on the condition of Chili with what has now been stated, must see that its commerce, at least, has gained prodigiously by the revolution.

The influence of the government is in constant opposition to that of the climate. The system of prohibition exists at Chili in its fullest extent. This kingdom, of, which the productions would, if increased to their maximum, supply all Europe; whose wool would be sufficient for the manufactures of France and England; and whose herds, converted into salt provisions, would produce a vast revenue;--this kingdom, alas! has no commerce. Four or five small vessels bring, every year, from Lima, tobacco, sugar, and some articles of European manufacture, which the miserable inhabitants can obtain only at second or third hand, after they have been charged with heavy customs duties at Cadiz, at Lima, and lastly, at their arrival in Chili; in exchange they give their tallow, hides, some deals, and their wheat, which, however, is at so low a price, that the cultivator has no inducement to extend his tillage. Thus Chili, with all its gold, and articles of exchange, can scarcely procure sugars, tobacco, stuffs, linens, cambrics, and hardware, necessary to the ordinary wants of life.”(Perouse's Voyage, vol. i. p. 50. Eng. ed.)

Instead, however, of 4 or 5 small ships from Lima, in 1831, 43 British ships, carrying 8,281 tons, entered Valparaiso only, besides several at the other ports! All sorts of European goods are carried direct to Chili, and are admitted at reasonable duties. The advantages resulting from this extensive intercourse with foreigners, and from the settlement of English adventurers in the country, have been already immense, and will every day become more visible. It was impossible, considering the ignorance of the mass of the people, that the old system of tyranny and superstition could be pulled to pieces without a good deal of violence and mischief; but the foundations of a better order of things have been laid; nor can there be a doubt that Chili is destined to become an opulent and a flourishing country.

Monies, Weights, and Measures of Chili are the same as those of Spain; for which, see CADIZ. The quintal of 4 arrobas, or 100 lbs., 101 44 lbs. avoirdupois. The fanega, or principal corn measure, contains 3,439 English cubic inches, and is therefore 1-599 Winch. bushels. Hence 5 fanegas = 1 Winch. quarter very nearly. The vara, or measure of length, 33-384 Eng. inches.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, a large island belonging to Great Britain, forming part of Australia, lying between 41° 20′ and 43° 30′ S. lat., and 144° 40′ and 148° 20′ W. long. It is supposed to contain about 15,000,000 acres.

This land was discovered by the Dutch navigator Tasman, in 1642, and was named in honour of Anthony Van Diemen, at that time governor-general of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies. Previously to 1798, it was supposed to form part of New Holland, but it was then ascertained to be an island. It was taken possession of by the British in 1803; and in 1804, Hobart Town, the capital, was founded.

The surface is generally hilly and mountainous; but, though none of the land be of the first quality, there are several moderately fertile plains, and a good deal of the hilly ground is susceptible of being cultivated. On the whole, however, it is not supposed that more than about a third part of the entire surface of the island can be considered arable; but about a third more may be advantageously used as sheep pasture. As compared with New Holland, it is well watered. The climate, though very variable, is, generally speaking, good, and suitable for European constitutions; and it is not exposed to the tremendous droughts that occasion so much mischief in New South Wales. Wheat is raised in considerable quantities. Wool, however, is at present the staple produce of the colony.

Van Diemen's Land, like New South Wales, was originally intended to serve as a penal colony, and convicts are still sent to it; latterly, however, it has received a very considerable number of free settlers. In 1830, the total population of the island, exclusive of aborigines, amounted to 23,169, of whom about 10,000 were convicts. The disparity between the sexes is not quite so great here as in New South Wales.

The prosperity of the colony was formerly a good deal retarded by the enormities committed by a banditti of runaway convicts, known by the name of bush-rangers; and more recently by the hostilities of the natives. Vigorous measures have, however, been adopted for the suppression of such outrages, by confining the natives within a limited district; and it is to be hoped that they may be effectual.

Hobart Town is situated in the southern part of the island, on the west side of the river Derwent, near its junction with Storm Bay, in lat. 42° 54′ S., lon. 147° 28′ E. The water is deep, and the anchorage good. A jetty has been constructed, accessible to the largest ships. The situation appears to have been very well chosen; and the town has been judiciously laid out. In December, 1832, the district of Hobart Town contained 10,101 inhabitants, of which were, free, males 3,850, females 2,776; convicts, males 2,699, females 776. The population of the town itself, at the epoch referred to, was about 9,600. The houses are supposed to be worth, at an average, 501. a year. There are several printing establishments in the town, and no fewer than 9 or 10 newspapers, some of them very well conducted. There is also a Book Society, a Mechanics' Institute, and several respectable schools and academies. The Van Diemen's Land Banking Company, the Derwent Bank, and the Commercial Bank, have each offices in Hobart Town. They are joint-stock companies.

Launceston, the second town in the island, is situated in the northern part, at the head of the navigable river Tamar, which falls into Port Dalrymple. Its population may amount

to about 5,000. It has a considerable trade with Sydney and Hobart Town, and recently it has begun to trade direct to England.

Trade of Van Diemen's Land.-Imports.-Malt liquors, rum, brandy, and wire, form the principal part of the imports into the colony. Next to them are piece goods, hardware, tea, sugar, &c.

Account of the Exports from the United Kingdom to Van Diemen's Land during each of the Five Years ending with 1831.

❤

Exclusive of the imports from the mother country, Van Diemen's Land imports sugar from the Mauritius, wine and fruit from the Cape, tea from China or Singapore, piece goods from India, tobacco from Brazil, and beef, bacon, cheese, horses, &c. from New South Wales. According to the statement in the papers published by the Board of Trade (vol. i. p. 251.), the total value of the imports in 1830, was 255,2981.; of which, 153,4781. was supplied by Great Britain, 93,2511. by British possessions, and 8,5691. by foreign states.

Exports.-Wool forms by far the principal article of export, and next to it is wheat, principally sent to Sydney, whale oil, whalebone, timber, mimosa bark, live stock, potatoes, &c. The increase in the exports of wool is quite extraordinary. It is almost wholly brought to England.

Account of the Imports of Wool from Van Diemen's Land into the United Kingdom from 1827 to 1833,

In 1831, the imports of whale oil from Van Diemen's Land amounted to 848 tuns; and during the same year, 39,264 cwt. of bark were imported. The total real value of the articles exported in 1830 was estimated at 170,000l., distributed as follows:

Coins, Weights, and Measures, same as in England. The Spanish dollar circulates at 48. 4d.

Shipping, &c.-In 1830, there belonged to the island 26 vessels, of the aggregate burden of 2,151 tons.

Arrivals at Hobart Town in 1832.-There arrived during the year, 51 ships, of the burden of 18,214 tons; 25 brigs, of 4,201 tons; and 29 schooners, of 1,948 tons; making in all, 105 vessels, of the burden of 24,363 tons. Of these, were from England 41, New South Wales 35, India and China 3, Swan River 3, New Zealand 6, fishery 2, Mauritius 5, Launceston 10, and Desolation Island 1.

Revenue, &c.-The customs duties collected in the colony amount to about 50,000l. a year, and the whole ordinary revenue is about 70,000.; to which has to be added, the revenue derived from the sale of land, and other sources. Government contributes about 120,000l. a year in aid of the colonial revenue, to defray the expenses of the convict establishments, &c. For the regulations as to the granting of land in Van Diemen's Land, &c., see SYDNEY. Immigrants. Of these there arrived at Van Diemen's Land, during 1832, men 926, women 769, children 416; in all, 2,131.

*The imports of wool from New South Wales in 1833, were 1 969,608 lbs,; making the total imports from Australia in that year, 3,516,869 lbs.

Beef, per lb.
Mutton, do.
Veal, do.

Pork, do.

Goose

Turkey

Bread, the quartern loaf

By comparing these prices with those of Sydney (ante, p. 576), the greater cheapness of the principal necessaries of life at the latter is obvious; house rent is also higher at Hobart Town. But it would appear that wages are rather higher in Van Diemen's Land than in New South Wales. Drunkenness is the great vice of the free, as well as of the convict population; and it is this, and not the facility of acquiring land, that renders it so difficult to procure good servants in Australia. Lieutenant Breton says, that the free women sent to the colony by government have proved no great acquisition, except by increasing the population; but we hardly think that this can be the case.

Encouragement to Emigrants.-Government has recently come to a resolution to advance, by way of loan, a sum not exceeding 201. each, to a given number of young and married agricultural labourers, intending to emigrate to Australia with their wives and families. The following are the conditions as to this advance:

Conditions under which Government will make advances to Emigrants to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land.-No advance will be made except to young and married agricultural labourers, who intend taking their wives and families with them; and a strict inquiry will be instituted into their character and habits of industry, before the assistance they solicit will be granted to them. No 1 family will be allowed an advance exceeding 201.; and it will be useless therefore for parties, who may not possess the remain-made, before the officer appointed for that purpose; and they shal der of the sum requisite for defraying the expense of their passage, to apply for assistance.

Every person desirous of receiving the proposed advance must fill up, and send back to the Under Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, the Return hereto annexed. (Copies of this Return may be had from any of the agents for emigration mentioned below.) If the information contained in this Return, and the answers to the inquiries which may be addressed to the parties who certify the correctness of the return, shall be considered satisfactory, the applicant will receive notice to that effect. He may then proceed to make his agreement with the owners or masters of ships proceeding to New South Wales or Van Diemen's land; and as soon as any ship owner er master shall notify (in a form which will be provided for that pur. pose) that the emigrant has taken the other necessary steps for en gaging his passage, an order will be granted for the payment, in the colony, of 201. to the agent or master of the vessel in which this emigrant may arrive. The emigrant will of course be able to obtain a corresponding deduction from the amount to be paid by himself in this country.

The order for payment will be intrusted to the master of the vessel in which the emigrant is to proceed, and will consist of a sealed de

CUSTOM-HOUSE REGULATIONS, RATES
Custom-house Regulations.

(Hours for public business from 10 to 3 daily, excepting on Saturday,
from 10 to 12.)

On the rexistry of vessels not exceeding 40 tons

L. s. d.
009

.0 9 0
-03 0
-0 20
003
-0 3 0

0 10

spatch to the governor, containing the name and description of the party on whose account the money is to be paid, and enclosing a promissory note, which he will be required to sign in acknowledguieu! of his debt;-which note must be witnessed by the captain and chief mate of the vessel. But arrangements will be made, by which the payment of this order will not take place in the colony, until the captain shall have produced the parties, on whose account it is to be have entered into a fresh obligation for the repayment of the advance made to them. For it is the intention of his Majesty's government, and cannot be too clearly understood by all persons who may accept this loan, that repayment of the debt (in such proportions, and at such intervals, as may not be unsuitable to the circumstances of each emigrant) shall be strictly enforced, by means of the ample powers which the laws of the colony render available for that purpose.

Government agents for emigration have been appointed at Liverpool, Bristol, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Belfast, and Greenock; who have been instructed to afford gratuitous information to all persons applying to them, as to the best means of carrying their schemes of emigration into effect. Parties, therefore, who may reside in the neighbourhood of these agents, are requested to apply to them either personally (or if by letter, post paid) for information on this subject. All applications for the assistance of government must be made by letter only, addressed to R. W. Hay, Esq., Under Secretary of State, London; and should the number of applications be greater than the funds at their disposal will enable them to comply with, priority of date will form the rule of selection among applications in which there shall appear no other ground of distinction.

Downing Street, 6th April, 1834.

OF PILOTAGE, HARBOUR DUES, ETC.

3dly. The amount of all such warehouse rent, in respect of any cask or package required to be delivered, must be paid before the same can be so delivered.

4thly. No allowance whatsoever will at any time be made, in respect of, nor will the government he answerable for, any loss by fire, leakage, robbery, or casualty of any kind.

Government Order, 28th of February, 1829.-Representations having been made to the lieutenant governor, of the inconvenience and delay attending the stowing and unstowing of goods in the bonded warehouses, a gang of men has been appointed to be employed under the storekeeper for this purpose exclusively, and the following scale of charges will be required to be paid :

For Spirits.-Per pipe, 3-4 pipe, or puncheon, each, stowing 9d. unstowing 1s. 6d.

Per 1-2 pipe, hogshead, or barrel, stowing 6d., unstowing 2. Per case containing 3 or more dozen bottles, stowing 3d., unstow. ing 4d.

Per case containing a less quantity than 3 dozen, stowing 2d, upstowing 3d.

For Tobacco.-In large serons, each, stowing 6d., unstowing 9d.
In cases, each, stowing 3d., unstowing 4d.

In kegs, each, stowing 24., unstowing 3d.

In baskets, rolls, or small serons, stowing 1d., uostowing 1d.

In consequence of this arrangement, it is to be understood that no labourers are to be admitted into, or employed at, the bonded warehouse, except the storekeeper's gang.

Goods intended to be warehoused under bond must be landed before 12 o'clock.

Hours of attendance at the Custom house quay, from 8 o'clock till 4 from the 1st of September to the 30th of April, and from 9 till 4 from the 1st of May till the 31st of August.

The appointed days for opening the bonding warehouse for the delivery of goods, are, Mondays and Thursdays in every week, at 1 o'clock, on which days the duties must be pait prior to 12 o'clock. Tobacco is issued on the same days, from 10 to 12 o'clock.

Rates of Pilotage at the Derwent.

Draught of water.

10 feet and under

11 ditto

12 ditto

L. s. d.

13 ditto

-0 1 0

14 ditto

-0 1 0

15 ditto

16 ditto

17 ditto

-006
-200

Colonial produce, when landed or shipped, is not subjected to any charge, except for a suilerance.

Fect.-A sufferance to land or ship goods

On landing each cask or package of spirits or wine

On the rexistry of vessels above 40 tons, per ton
To the chief clerk, on the registry of vessels
On indorsing change of master

Warehouse Rent and Charges -A government order published the 7th of February, 1826, fixes the following rents on spirits and tobacco, in the king's bonded stores, viz.

1st. All spirituous liquors, 1s. 3d. per tun of 252 gallons, for every week, or any period less than a week, during which the same shall he deposited.

2diy. Tobacco, 6d. per ton for every week, or any period less than week, during which the same shall be deposited.

- 13 3 3

.

:

L. s. d.
256
066

10 4 9

Remaining below Whirlpoo! Reach, L. s. d.

the Heads at George Town, or the weather not permitting his going outside, if he be not ready to show the channel by keeping his boat in the fair way until the ship can be boarded, he shall forfeit 1-2 the pilotage inwards.

For every number of inches below 6, no charge is to be made; for 1-2 a foot and upwards, 1 foot is to be charged.

Colonial vessels are exempted from the payment of pilotage, unless the master shall make the signal for a pilot and accept his service. Harbour Dues at the Derwent.

L. . d.

400 tons and under 500

For mooring and unmooring a vessel within the harbour, per register ton

001

2 10 0

Each vessel entering the harbour will be charged with 2 removes.
Vessels belonging to the port are not to pay harbour dues.

No vessels to be deemed colonial that are not registered in Van
Diemen's Land.

For each removal of the ship within the harbour, per re. gister ton 001 Colonial vessels under 80 tons per register, to be exempted from These details have been principally derived from An Account of Van Diemen's Land, published at Hobart Town in 1833; and partly from Lieut. Breton's book, and different Parliamentary Papers.

(Population.-Including military, the total population of Van Diemen's Land amounted, in December, 1838, to 45,846, of whom 18,133 were convicts. The males are to the females in the proportion of about 3 to 1, and the free to the convict population nearly as 27 to 18. The total estimated value of the articles of colonial produce exported from the colony in 1838 was 581,475/.; the value of the imports during the same year being 702,9561.

Statement of the Value of the different Articles exported from Van Diemen's Land in 1835.

The progress of the colony during the last few years has been singularly rapid, particularly in the breeding of sheep, its staple branch of industry. In 1828, for example, the stock of sheep amounted to 553,698 head, whereas in 1838 it had increased to 1,214,485 head! The export of wool has increased in a like proportion, having advanced from 99,415 lbs. in 1820, to 993,979 lbs. in 1830, and to 2,609,520 lbs. in 1838! The revenue of the colony was 52,4837. in 1827, and 138,5917. in 1838. In the latter year there belonged to the colony 101 vessels, of the aggregate burden of 8,382 tons.-Sup.)

VANILLA, the fruit of the Epidendrum Vanilla, a species of vine extensively cultivated in Mexico. It has a trailing stem, not unlike the common ivy, but not so woody, which attaches itself to any tree that grows near it. The Indians propagate it by planting cuttings at the foot of trees selected for that purpose. It rises to the height of 18 or 20 feet; the flowers are of a greenish yellow colour, mixed with white; the fruit is about 8 or 10 inches long, of a yellow colour when gathered, but dark brown or black when imported into Europe; it is wrinkled on the outside, and full of a vast number of seeds like grains of sand, having, when properly prepared, a peculiar and delicious fragrance. It is principally used for mixing with and perfuming chocolate, and is, on that account, largely imported into Spain; but as chocolate, owing to oppressive duties, is little used in England, vanilla is not much known in this country.

Vanilla is principally gathered in the intendancy of Vera Cruz, in Mexico, at Misantla, Colipa, Vacuatla, and other places. It is collected by the Indians, who sell it to the whites (gente de razon), who prepare it for the market. They spread it to dry in sun for some hours, then wrap it in woollen cloths to sweat. Like pepper, it changes its colour in this operation--becoming almost black. It is finally dried by exposing it to the sun for a day. There are four varieties of vanilla, all differing in price and excellence; viz. the vanilla fina, the zacate, the rezacate, and the vasura. The best comes from the forests surrounding the village of Zentila, in the intendancy of Oaxaca. According to Humboldt, the mean exportation of vanilla from Vera Cruz may amount to from 900 to 1,000 millares, worth at Vera Cruz from 30,000 to 40,000 dollars.-Vanilla is also imported from Brazil, but it is very inferior. The finest Mexican vanilla is extremely high priced. All sorts are subjected in this country to a duty of 58. per lb.-(See Humboldt, Nouvelle Espagne, 2d edit. tome iii. pp. 37. 46.; Poinsett's Notes on Mexico, p. 194. &c.)

VELLUM, a species of fine parchment.-(See PARCHMENT.)

(VENEZUELA.-An account of the trade of La Guayra, the principal port of this republic, in 1829, 1830, and 1831, is given under the article LA GUAYRA. The following details with respect to the foreign trade of the republic in 1833-34, are taken from the official statements contained in the Report of the Secretario de Hacienda, published at Caraccas in 1835.

Exports.-Account of the Quantities and Values of the principal Articles exported by Sea froni Venezuela in 1833-34.