and as such subject to special examination by the special examiner of drugs and medicines, it is thought proper to state that, in conformity with the evident spirit and intent of the law, it is required that all articles of merchandise used wholly or in part as medicine, and found described as such in the standard works specially referred to in the act, must be considered drugs and medicines, and that all invoices, therefore, of such articles, in whole or in part, must be submitted to the examination of the special examiner of drugs and medicines, before they can be permitted to pass the custom house.

In the examination on entry of any medicinal preparation, the said special examiner is to unite with the appraiser.

With a view to afford a reliable guide to the examiner of drugs and medicines, as well as to the analytical chemist, on appeal, in ascertaining the admissibility of such articles under the provisions of law, founded on their purity and strength, the following list is given of some of the principal articles, with the result of special tests agreeing with the standard authorities referred to in the law, all of which articles are to be entitled to entry when ascertained by analysis to be composed as noted, viz :—Aloes, when affording 80 per cent of pure alotic extractive.

Asafoetida, when affording 50 per cent of its peculiar bitter resin, and

Bark, Cinchona, when affording 1 per cent of pure quinine, whether called Peruvian, Calasaya, Arica, Carthagena, Maracaibo, Santa Martha, Bogota, or under whatever name, or from whatever place; or

Bark, Cinchona, when affording 2 per cent of the several natural alkaloids combined, as quinine, cinchonine, quindine, aricene, &c., the barks of such strength being admissi ble as safe and proper for medicine, and useful for chemical manufacturing purposes. Benzoin, when affording 80 per cent of resin; or

benzoic acid.
colocynthin.
elaterin.
resin;

gum; and

volatile oil.

pure gamboge resin; and
gum.

pure myrrh resin; and

gum.

Opium

pure morphine.

64

40

pure guaiac resin.

resin; and

gum.

pure jalap resin, whether in root or powder. pure mannite.

Rhubarb

soluble matter, whether in root or powder;

none admissible but the article known as Fast India, Turkey, or Russian rhubarb. Sagapenum, 30 per cent of resin;

66

30 64

All medicinal leaves, flowers, barks, roots, extracts, &c., not herein specified, must be, when imported, in perfect condition, and of as recent recollection and preparation as practicable.

All pharmaceutical and chemical preparations, whether crystalized or otherwise, used in medicine, must be found on examination to be pure, and of proper consistence and strength, as well as of perfect manufacture, conformably with the formulas contained in the standard authorities named in the act; and must in no instance contain more than 3 per cent of excess of moisture or water of crystalization.

Essential or volatile oils, as well as expressed oils used in medicine, must be pure, and conform to the standards of specific gravity noted and declared in the dispensatories sanctioned in the act.

"Patent or secret medicines" are by law subject to the same examination, and disposition after examination, as other medicinal preparatious, and cannot be permitted to pass the custom-house for consumption, but must be rejected and condemned, un

less the special examiner be satisfied, after due investigation, that they are fit and safe to be used for medicinal purposes.

The appeal from the report of the special examiner of drugs and medicines, provided for in the act, must be made by the owner or consignee within ten days after the said report; and in case of such appeal, the analysis made by the analytical chemist is expected to be full and in detail, setting forth clearly and accurately the name, quantity, and quality of the several component parts of the article in question, to be reported to the collector under oath or affirmation.

On such report being made, a copy of the same will be immediately furnished by the collector to the special examiner of drugs and medicines, who, if the report be in conflict with his return made to the collector, and he have cause to believe that the appeal and analytical examination have not been conducted in strict conformity with the law, may enter his protest in writing against the reception and adoption by the collector of such report and analysis, until a reasonable time be allowed him for the preparation of his views in the case, and their submission to this Department for its consideration. JAMES GUTHRIE, Secretary of the Treasury.

LAW OF MAINE RELATING TO PEDDLERS.

We give below the several sections of an “Act to amend chapter two hundred of the laws of Maine," relating to hawkers and peddlers, which was passed during the last session of the legislature of that State, and approved by the governor on the 26th of February, 1853.

SEC. 1. The two hundredth chapter of the laws of Maine, approved on the thirtieth day of July, eighteen hundred and forty-six, is hereby amended by striking out the first section, and inserting the following, so that the same, when amended, shall read as follows:

SEC. 1. Every hawker, peddler, or petty chapman, or other person, not having been five years a citizen of this State, who shall hereafter travel from town to town, or from place to place in this State, or from place to place within any of the cities or towns in this State, on foot or with a horse, carriage, or by any other public or private conveyance, carrying for sale, or exposing or offering for sale, any goods, wares or merchandise whatever, or carrying, exposing or exhibiting samples or specimens of any goods, wares or merchandise, for the purpose of selling goods, wares and merchandise similar to, or of like kind or description to such samples or specimens, shall forfeit for each offence the sum of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars, together with all articles and merchandise thus as aforesaid carried or exhibited or exposed for sale, to be recovered by complaint or indictment, one half to the town where the offence is committed, and the other to prosecutor.

SEC. 2. The fourth section of said chapter is amended by adding after the words "United States," the words " and of this State;" so that the same, when amended, shall read as follows:

SEC. 4. No person shall receive license under the provisions of this act, until he shall have proved to the satisfaction of the county commissioners that he sustains a good moral character; that he has been five years a citizen of the United States and of this State; and that he has resided in some city, town or plantation in the county where he shall apply for license as aforesaid, for the term of one year, next preceding the time of such application; and no license granted by this act, shall be assigned or transferred without the consent of the county commissioners by whom such license was granted.

SEC. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after his approval by the governor.

OF MOCK AUCTIONS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

We give below a correct copy of an act passed at the last session of the Legislature of the State of New York, relating to mock auctions in the city of New York:

AN ACT TO PUNISH GROSS FRAUDS AND TO SUPPRESS MOCK AUCTIONS.

SEC. 1. Whereas a failure of justice frequently arises from the subtle distinction between larceny and fraud, and whereas certain evil disposed persons, especially in

the city of New York, by means of certain fraudulent and deceitful practices, known as Mock Auctions, most fraudulently obtain great sums of money from unwary persons, to their great impoverishment,-there being no law to punish said offences.

SEC. 2. Each and every person who shall, through or by means of the afore-recited deceitful and fraudulent practices, or by means of any other gross fraud or cheat at common law, designedly or with intent to defraud, obtain from any other person any money, or any goods, wares, merchandise, or other property, or shall obtain with any such intent the signature of any person to any written instrument, the false making whereof would be punishable as forgery, shall, on conviction, be punishable by im prisonment in the state prison for not more than three years, or in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment, provided always, that if upon the trial of any person indicted for such fraud, it shall be proved that he obtained the property or money in question in any such manner as to amount in law to a larceny, he shall not by reason thereof be entitled to any acquittal, and no person tried for such fraud shall be liable to be afterwards prosecuted for larceny upon the same facts.

SEC. 3. Any person doing business in the city and county of New York as an auctioneer, is hereby required to procure from the Mayor of said city a license for the same, and the said auctioneer is required before receiving said license, to file with the Mayor a bond in the sum of five thousand dollars, to be approved by said Mayor; and all auctioneers doing business in said city after the passage of this act, are required to procure said license, or have the same renewed by the said Mayor, between the first and the fifteenth day of June, 1853.

SEC. 4. Upon satisfactory evidence being produced before the Mayor, or any Police Justice of the city of New York, establishing the committal of any fraud or deceit by any auctioneer, or the clerk, partner, agent or assignee of the same, by which any person is defrauded or cheated of any goods, wares, merchandise or money, the said Mayor shall have power to annul and cancel the license of said auctioneer,-and provided the said auctioneer, his clerk, partner, agent or assignee, shall attempt to do business as such auctioneer, after the annulling and canceling of said license by said Mayor, he or they shall be subject to punishment acccording to the provisions of the second section of this act.

SEC. 5. All laws conflicting with any of the provisions hereinbefore contained, are hereby repealed.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect immediately.

REDUCTION OF POSTAGE TO BRAZIL AND JAVA.

The single rate of letter postage between the United States and Brazil, via England, will be 45 cents, instead of 87 cents, as heretofore-prepayment required.

A direct communication by British mail packets, running once in two months between Singapore and Batavia, having been established in connection with the overland mails to India and Australia, all letters, newspapers, &c., addressed to Java, or to any of the Dutch possessions in India, will in future be forwarded by these packets, unless specially directed to be sent by other conveyance. The regular mails for Java are to be made up in London for transmission via Marseilles, on the 8th of each of the months of January, March, May, July, September, and November, but letters and newspapers may also be sent, if so addressed, by the route of Southampton on the 4th of each of the months above mentioned. The rate of postage to Java (to be prepaid on letters sent from, and collected on letters received in the United States) is sixtyfive cents per letter of less than a quarter of an ounce via Marseilles, and forty-five cents per letter weighing less than half an ounce via Southampton.

CALIFORNIA INCORPORATION LAW.

A new and important law has recently gone into effect in California. Its provisions are such that any three or more persons may make, sign, and acknowledge before some officer competent to take the acknowledgement of deeds, a certificate in writing, which, being placed on file in the office of the Secretary of State, confers upon them all the necessary powers as a corporate body.

A copy of the certificate will be received in any court as presumptive evidence of facts stated in the certificate, and confers upon them the rights specified in the law. The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sections of the law regulate the management and

authority, and the mode of election. The stock shall be deemed personal property, with the usual rights. No dividends are allowed, except from surplus profits, and no part of the capital stock can be withdrawn for the purposes of dividend.

A peculiar provision is inserted against fraudulent bankruptcy; the debts of the company being at no time allowed to exceed the amount of capital paid in; nor are these new kind of corporations allowed to invest themselves with the worst character and powers of a bank, by the issue of paper currency in any form.

TONNAGE DUTIES ON SPANISH VESSELS.

In the MERCHANTS' MAGAZINE for July, 1849, (vol. xxi. page 121-2,) we published, under the above head, a circular of instructions to Collectors and other officers of the Customs, the same that is referred to in the following circular on the same subject:

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS TO COLLECTORS AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS UNDER Acts OF 13TH JULY, 1832, 30TH JUNE, 1834, AND 13TH AUGUST, 1846, CONCERNING TONNAGE

DUTIES ON SPANISH VESSELS FROM CUBA AND PORTO RICO.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, June 15th, 1853. The Department has had under consideration a question presented by his Excellency the Minister of Spain, in reference to the liability to tonnage duties of Spanish vessels from the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico, on arriving in ports of the United States.

It appearing to the satisfaction of the Department that no change or modification on the part of the Spanish authorities, of the regulations granting certain privileges to vessels of the United States entering and departing from ports of said island of Cuba, has taken place since the date of the circular instructions from this Department of the 13th June, 1849, superseded by the instructions of my predecessor, dated June 30th and August 10th, 1852, it is deemed expedient and proper, in view of existing treaty stipulations and the laws of the United States, that the said Circular Instructions of 13th June, 1849, a copy of which is hereto annexed, should be revived and continued in full force, with the additions and modifications which follow, to wit:The exemption from the liability to tonnage duty of Spanish vessels coming from ports in the Island of Cuba to extend to such vessels arriving in ports of the United States, either in ballast, or laden with molasses taken in at any of the said ports, together with such quantity of fresh fruit, the production of said island, as may be deemed by the Collector and Naval Officer, under the provisions of the forty-fifth section of the act of 2d March, 1799, to be admissible as surplus stores: Provided, the said vessels depart from the United States in ballast, or with their cargoes of molasses, or cargoes of the staple productions of the United States, under the restrictions contained in the third section of the act of 30th June, 1838; And provided further, That the master of such vessel produce to the Collector, at the time of entry, a certificate from the chief officer of customs at the port in the Island of Cuba from which the vessel last departed, certified by the American Consul, showing the continuance in said Island of the exemption from tonnage duties of American vessels, under the circumstances above stated.

Official information being in possession of the Department that, under regulations established in the Island of Porto Rico on the 1st November, 1851, no tonnage duty is levied on vessels of the United States entering the ports of said Island and departing thence in ballast, or with cargoes of molasses, the same privileges and exemptions accorded to Spanish vessels arriving in ports in the United States from the Island of Cuba are to be extended to such vessels coming from the Island of Porto Rico, under the like restrictions and requirements, on entering and departing from ports of the United States.

JAMES GUTHRIE, Secretary of the Treasury.

REGULATIONS OF THE TOBACCO TRADE.

The British customs authorities being of opinion that all tobacco, whether unmanufactured or manufactured, (except cigars,) and also snuff detained for having been illegally imported, and for which no application has been made by the parties within six

• See Merchant's Magazine for July, 1852, page 121-2.

VOI. XXIX.-NO. I.

8

months from the date of detention, and all tobacco and snuff (except cigars) brought to the Queen's warehouse for the security of the duties, if not cleared therefrom within one year, should be destroyed, instead of being offered for sale; they have directed their officers in London, and at all the ports throughout the kingdom, to govern themselves accordingly in future in the matter, observing that it is not intended to disturb the practice which exists with reference to the 35th sec. of the Act 8th and 9th Vic. cap. 86, and the 16th sec. of the act 8th and 9th Vic. cap. 91, relative to surplus stores of vessels warehoused.

NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

THE WINDS AND CURRENTS OF THE SEAS.-FAST SAILING. Although pressed for room, we cannot forego the pleasure of placing, as matter of history, in the pages of the Merchants' Magazine, the official paper of Lieut. Maury, communicating to the Secretary of the Navy at Washington, an account of the extraordinary voyage of the "Sovereign of the Seas," one of the glorious fleet of a thou sand sail that is voluntarily engaged in making observations for the Wind and Current Charts of Lieutenant MAURY. Indeed it is to the theoretical deductions of that gentleman, that this ship, in a great measure, accomplished her voyage so successfully. NATIONAL OBSERVATORY, WASHINGTON, May 10, 1853.

SIR:-The clipper-ship "Sovereign of the Seas" (McKay) has made such an extraordinary run that I beg to make it the subject matter of an official report. It is due to builders, owners, and masters, as well as to navigation, that such an achievement should be made known.

This ship is one of the glorious fleet of a thousand sail that is voluntarily engaged in making observations for wind and current charts. She it is, it will be recollected, who, taking them for her guide, made the extraordinary run of of 103 days from New York to San Francisco, both crossing the equator in the Pacific and arriving in port on the day predicted.

Returning from the Sandwich Islands to New York in the remarkably short run of 82 days, she passed through a part of the Great South Sea which has been seldom traversed by traders-at least I have the records of none such.

Little or nothing, except what conjecture suggested, was known as to the winds in this part of the ocean. The results of my investigations elsewhere with regard to winds and the circulation of the atmosphere had enabled me to announce, as a theoretical deduction, that the winds in the "variables" of the South Pacific would probably be found to prevail from the westward with a tradewind-like regularity.

Between the parallels of 45 degrees and 55 degrees S., from the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope eastward around to that of Cape Horn, there is no land or other disturbing agent to interrupt the wind in its regular circuits. Here the winds would be found blowing from the west with greater force than from the east in the tradewind region, and giving rise to that long rolling swell peculiar to those regions of the Pacific, they would enable ships steering east to make the most remarkable runs that have ever been accomplished under canvas.

The Sovereign of the Seas has afforded the most beautiful illustration as to the correctness of these theoretical deductions.

Leaving Oahu for New York, via Cape Horn, 18th of February last, she stood to the southward through the belts both of the northeast and southeast trades, making a course good on the average through them a little to the west of south. She finally got clear of them March 6th, after crossing the parallel of 45° south upon the meridian of 164° west.

The 8th and 9th she was in the "horse latitude" weather of the southern hemisphere. So far her run had been good, but there was nothing remarkable in it.

Having crossed the parallel of 48° south, she found herself on the 10th fairly within the trade-like west winds of the Southern ocean, and here commenced a succession of the most extraordinary day's runs that have ever been linked together across the ocean.