In addition to the domestic articles exported thither, there were annually considerable amounts of specie remitted, mostly Spanish silver, which came under the head of "Foreign Merchandise." The aggregate exports and imports were annually thus:

A STATEMENT EXHIBITING A VIEW OF THE DIRECT TRADE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES

EXPORT OF TEA FROM CHINA TO THE UNITED STATES.

TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES WITH MEXICO.

The newly-appointed minister to Mexico, Hon. Mr. Gadsden, has written a private letter upon the subject of his mission, which has found its way into the newspapers, and of which the following is an extract:

"I desire," he says, " to understand thoroughly our commercial relations with that country, and to see to what extent they may be encouraged and extended advantageously to us, under the broad banner of free and unrestricted trade.

'Free and uninterrupted intercourse, commercially and socially, with Mexico, will accomplish more in harmonizing the disturbing disagreements between the two countries than all the treaties and negotiations which diplomacy may accomplish."

In this connection the Baltimore American, in an article written apparently to ridicule the idea that our commercial intercourse with Mexico can be extended, gives the following statistics and explanations upon the subject:

"The following table will show at a glance the condition of our trade for twentytwo years, as we gather it from the official report of our treasury:—

44

.....

By this table, covering nearly the whole period of our intercourse with Mexico, it will be seen that, from having a trade worth in exports and imports about nineteen millions and a half, in 1835, it is now reduced, in 1853, to about three millions. This is a sad picture to contemplate, and can only be resolved upon commercial principles by admitting that European manufactures and producers sell their merchandise to the Mexicans at cheaper rates than we can afford to furnish them. The soil and pasturage of Mexico yield almost all the supplies for food, so that the imports are chiefly confined to linens, woolens, cottons, silks, wines, brandies, ornamental wares, millinery, glass and iron wares, paper, quicksilver, cocoa, oil, wax, and salted and dried fish. The latter commodity is chiefly furnished from this country; but all the finer and coarser fabrics in linen, cotton, silk, and wool, come from Europe. Five-eighths of the linen manufactures come from Germany, while three-eighths are from Irish, Dutch, French, and North American looms. Cotton goods are imported largely from England and France. The importation of the best qualities of silks reaches yearly a million and a half, and is supplied by France and Germany-three-fourths of the trade being appropriated by France. Woolens are divided between France, England and Germany; while the ornamental wares, millinery, jewelry, and articles of personal adornment or fashionable luxury, come almost exclusively from France.

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In casting his eye over this summary of our trade with Mexico, we suppose that Mr. Gadsden, our envoy, will not find much to congratulate the United States upon in regard to the 'broad banner of free and unrestricted trade.' He will probably see that the crushing of American manufactures by Carolina doctrines has prevented our

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merchants from competing with the British, Germans, and French, in the Mexican market. He will learn that trade and sentiment have very little to do with each other. He will understand that neither 'diplomacy' nor uninterrupted intercourse, socially and commercially, with Mexico,' will harmonize the disturbing disagreements between the two countries.""

STATISTICS OF BRITISH TRADE.

SHIPPING, EXPORTS, AND REVENUE OF LEADING PORTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The subjoined statement, exhibiting at one view a comparison of the shipping, exports, and revenue collected at the following ports, we copy from the Belfast (Ireland) Mercantile Journal:—

We here find that London, with 500,000 tons less shipping, and £20,000,000 less exports than Liverpool, yields more than three times the amount of revenue; and that Bristol, with one fourth of the shipping and one-thirtieth part of the exports of Hull, gives three times the amount of revenue. It appears also, that although the value of the exports from Belfast reaches within nearly six millions sterling to those of London, the revenue derived from her port is nearly eleven millions per annum less. These discrepancies seem to show, that the only just way to classify a port is to take a balance of all the circumstances connected with it. The Government have, therefore, determined upon abolishing the present classification of ports, and to deal with them according to their merits, based upon the three considerations, shipping, exports, and revenue, taken as a whole, and to frame the establishments accordingly. Should this principle be carried out, Belfast will rank as the third or fourth commercial port in the three kingdoms.

CUSTOMS DUTIES IN ENGLAND.

From a return just issued, it appears that the number of articles, constituting principal or separate heads, that paid duties of customs, and the number of entries at different rates in 1840 and 1852, were 564 in the former year, and 230 in the latter. Inclusive of those subordinate to the principal heads, the number was 1,052 in 1840, and 466 in 1852. The gross receipts of customs' duties on imported commodities amounted in 1840 to £23,466,117, and in 1852 to £22,187,151; and the net produce thereof was £23,162,197 in 1840, and £22,051,734 in 1852. The loss to the revenue of customs resulting from the alteration of duties on imported commodities, amounted in 1842 to £1,225,875; it was largest in 1845, when it rose up to £3,487,227; and it was lowest in 1852, being confined to the sum of £95,928. The grand total of such loss, in eleven years, from 1842 to 1853, amounted to £8,450,451.

CONSUMPTION OF COTTON IN THE WORLD.

It appears, from Messrs. Du Fay & Co.'s Trade Circular, that the increase in the consumption of cotton was much greater last year, in all countries, than at any former period. The following table, hovever, will show that, whilst the year's consumption of the United States has increased 50 per cent, Russia, Germany, Holland, and Belgium 45 per cent; France 33 per cent, and Spain 30 per cent, that of England has only increased at the rate of 15 per cent; yet, that at this diminished ratio, her total increase in pounds vastly exceeds that of any other country. The excess in England

was from 648,000,000 lbs. to 745,000,000 lbs.; increase, 97,000,000 lbs. In Russia, Germany, Holland, and Belgium, from 118,000,000 lbs. to 172,000,000 lbs.: increase, 54,000,000 lbs. In France and the adjacent countries, from 149,000,000 lbs. to 199,000,000 lbs.; increase, 50,000,000. In Spain, from 34,000,000 lbs. to 44,000,000 lbs.; increase, 10,000,000. In countries bordering on the Adriatic, from 45,000,000 lbs. to 55,000,000 lbs. ; increase, 10,000,000 lbs. In the United States, from 158,000,000 lbs. to 237,000,000 bs.; increase, 79,000,000 lbs. Sundries, from 23,000,000 lbs. to 29,000,000 lbs.; increase, 6,000,000. The total quantity of cotton consumed last year in all these countries was 1,481,000,000 lbs., of which 745,000,000 lbs. were consumed in Great Britain, or one-half of the whole.

COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.

PERUVIAN DECREE RELATING TO DUTIES, ETC.

On the 23d of April, 1853, Senor Echenque, President of Peru, issued the following decree :

Art. 1. All merchandise and foreign articles which may be dispatched in the Custom-house of Arica, and in transit for Bolivia, shall pay, as those which are dispatched for the consumption of the republic, the duties laid down in Art. 73 of the Ordinance of Commerce, with respect to the value which the tariff of duties adopted in the Custom-houses of the republic fixes.

2. Articles of Bolivian manufacture, or produce, which are introduced into Peru, shall pay the same duties, and in the same terms.

3. Bolivian goods and products of all kinds which are brought from Bolivia to be exported for foreign parts through Arica, or any other port of Peru, shall pay 40 per cent ad valorem on the value which a special decree of the Minister of Finance may fix upon them.

4. All small coined silver of Bolivia introduced into Peru for any purpose whatever shall also pay 40 per cent.

5. The introduction to Peru by sea of the said small coined silver of Bolivia is prohibited.

6. Gold and silver, in bars, bullion, or dust, which may be introduced into Peru from Bolivia, is free of all duty.

7. Also coined gold and hard dollars are free of duty, provided they suffer no adulteration in Bolivia.

8. Mules, horses, and horned cattle, which may be imported into Peru, through Bolivia, from the provinces of the Argentine Republic, shall continue enjoying the imInunities which are now allowed them.

9. Should the Government of Bolivia impose any duty on aguardiente or Peruvian liquors, then the foreign liquors which may be dispatched in transit for Bolivia, as per Art. 1 of this decree, are subject to the duties laid down in Art. 73 of the Ordinance of Commerce, shall pay moreover an additional duty, equal to that put upon Peruvian liquors and aguardiente in Bolivia.

10. All foreign articles, including liquors which are dispatched in transit for Bolivia, shall, under pain of seizure, go with a permit, granted by the Custom-house of Arica or competent authority in Peru; and that permit shall only be valid for 30 days after the date of being granted.

11. All goods and liquors dispatched in transit for Bolivia shall, under the like pains of seizure, go, if destined for La Paz, by way of Tacna or Palca, and proceed by Tacora to Santiago de Machaca; and if destined for Peru, shall pass from Tacora to Cosapilla and Pichaguas. If found taking a different route they shall be confiscated. 12. The produce, merchandise, and articles of manufacture of Peru which go to Bolivia, may take the route most convenient to the parties interested.

13. The duties which are to be paid on foreign articles of merchandise and liquors in transit for Bolivia, shall be paid in the terms laid down by the Ordinance of Commerce. The duties which are imposed on Bolivian articles and produce shall be paid at the first place through which they shall be brought into Peruvian territory.

14. Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9, of the present decree, shall commence to be in force in forty days after their publication in the towns of the south, bordering on Bolivia, and the remainder will commence to be in force from the date of the said publication,

OPENING OF THE NAVIGATION OF THE AMAZON.

The following is a summary of the document:

ART. 1. Declares that in conformity with the treaty between Peru and Brazil, of 23d October, 1851, and during the time it is in force, the navigation of the Amazon as far as the port of Nauta, at the mouth of the Ucayli, is opened to the navigation, traffic, and Commerce of the vessels and subjects of Brazil.

2. Subjects and citizens of other nations who have treaties with Peru, on the same terms as the most favored nations, are entitled to the same privileges as the Brazilians.

3. For the purposes of the two former articles, the ports of Loreto and Nauta are

selected.

4. In conformity to the law of the 20th November, 1852, no duties are to be paid on exports or imports from the said ports, on merchandise or native produce, except the municipal dues, required for the objects of local utility.

5. The exploration of the rivers that run into the Amazon will be made by government steamers, constructed and employed expressly for the surface.

6, 7, 8, and 9, relate to the subdivision of districts and the appointment of governors. 10. The Governor General has power to grant to all who desire to establish themselves in those localities, grants of land of from two to forty fanegadas of land, in proportion to the means and numbers of the settlers.

11. Governors can, in the same manner, grant from two to four fanegadas.

12. Larger free grants can only be had from the government.

13. All grants made by articles 10 and 11 are void if the lands are not cultivated and settled upon within eighteen months.

14. In larger grants the time for selling and improving will be stated.

15. The Peruvian government binds itself to give to colonists, who arrive at either of the above ports for the purpose of settling in the valleys of the Amazon and its tributaries, free conduct to their destination, as also grants of seeds and implements. 16. A national ship shall be provided to convey settlers and foreign emigrants to the point where they intend to settle.

17. In conformity with the law of the 21st November, 1832, cultivated land and buildings shall be exempt from taxes, and every other privilege conceded to the possessors of uncultivated lands.

18. The new settlers shall pay no contributions for the term of twenty years, nor clergy dues, and shall further be exempt from the use of stamped papers, being permitted to use common paper for petitions and contracts.

19. All the military and civil pensioners of government not on actual service can avail themselves of these privileges.

20. Government will facilitate the passage and establishment of clergy to the new settlements.

21. The new settlers can establish their own municipal regulations, subject to the approval of the governor.

22. Also their judges, until such time as Congress can legislate upon the subject. 23 to 26 relate to the present governors of the districts, the opening of roads from various points, &c.

OF ADULTERATED DRUGS.

The Secretary of the Treasury, under date June 4th, 1853, has issued the following explanatory circular :—

It being represented to this Department, that much embarrassment has been experienced by officers of the customs at some of the ports of the United States, in reference to the provisions of the act of 26th June, 1848, "to prevent the importation of adulterated and spurious drugs and medicines," it is deemed expedient, with a view to avoid future difficulties arising from misconstructions of the law, and to secure uniformity of practice at the several ports in carrying out its provisions with precision and efficiency, to furnish you with the additional instructions which follow, explanatory and in modification of the circular instructions addressed to you by the Department on the 8th July, 1848.

To avoid the recurrence of a difference of opinion between the officers of the customs as to what particular articles of Commerce should be considered drugs and medicines,