poor in mineral resources, and has only its soil and some advantages from its geographical position on the delta of the Rhine, which makes it the seaport of a considerable part of Germany, to depend upon. And yet, what a noble position the industry and love of liberty of its inhabitants have raised it to in the scale of nations. That position, although not now equal to that held formerly, may well excite our envy. Holland was at one time very restrictive in her commercial policy, but within the last three or four years she has relaxed her tariff considerably, and made some very important changes in her navigation laws, not only as affecting her maritime commerce, but also her fluviatile, all transit and navigation duties upon her rivers having been abolished. The result of these measures, as may be expected, was very satisfactory, and was even immediate, and there can be no doubt but that the beneficial effects will be still more apparent henceforward. The results of the commerce and navigation of Holland for the year 1852, as compared with 1851, may be thus tabulated : £ £ £ £ 1852 Mean for the Quinquennial Period £ 27,901,795 17,781,575 23,558,567 13,578,322 9,980,244 26,282,734 17,370,084 20,987,311 12,487,233 8,500,078 23,003,088 15,257,938 18,318,747 10,975,442 7,343,304 The relative proportions in which the chief articles of commerce entered into these importations and exportations may be thus stated: General Navigation.-The following table represents the condition of the navigation of Holland for the 22 years ending 1852 : Comparative Table of the Navigation of the Netherlands, during the years from 1831 to 1852, inclusive. This increase on the number of vessels and total tonnage has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in the mean tonnage. Thus, if we compare the mean tonnage for the years 1831 and 1852, we find the following results: Of the total number of vessels engaged in the trade, not quite one-third, repre senting a little more than one-third the total tonnage, are owned by Dutchmen, a sensible increase has, however, recently taken place in both respects, the increase in 1852 over 1851 being 111 vessels, representing a tonnage of 27,358, as the following table shows: Comparative Condition of the Mercantile Navy of the Netherlands, on the 31st of December of the years 1851 and 1852, respectively. In activity on the Put out of ser- Newly con structed in 1852 Kind of Vessel. In activity on the 31st Dec. 1852. Vssls. Tonnage. Vssls. Tonnage. Vssls. Tonnage Vssls. Tonnage. This improvement in the navigation of Holland may, in part, be attributed to the commercial reforms effected in Holland itself, on the one hand, and to the repeal of the navigation laws in England, on the other. Formerly the greater number of the large Dutch vessels had to go to the East Indies either entered in ballast or with insignificant cargoes, and on their return often remained a year in the docks in Holland; at present, as soon as they discharge their cargo in the Dutch ports, they go to England, where they get another for Australia or some port in British India, from whence they go to Batavia. This is a striking instance of the value of freedom of commerce, for while Great Britain and Ireland have derived immense benefits from the repeal of the navigation laws, every other nation has also derived more or less good from the measure. Steam Navigation of Holland.-The following table shows the number of steam-boats which entered the Dutch ports in the year 1852: The number which cleared outwards was the same; in 1852 there was an increase of 72 vessels with cargoes inwards, and 64 outwards. 173 64 55 MANUFACTURES OF HOLLAND. There is a gradual increase taking place in the manufacturing industry of Holland, and many articles are now exported that were, a few years ago, obliged to be altogether imported. The chief articles of manufacture are the following:Machinery, &c.-The factory of the Dutch steam company, at Feyenord, near Rotterdam, for the construction and repairs of steam vessels, employs about 700 persons, and continues to prosper. At Utrecht there is a factory for the repair of the locomotives belonging to the Rhine Railway Company. At Dordrecht there are three factories of some extent for boiler making, castings, &c. Dockyards.-There are 128 small ship-building yards for the internal navigation, and 34 for maritime navigation, the former employ between five and six hundred, and the latter between 1000 and 1100 persons. Spirit.—The manufacture of the spirit called Hollands is of great importance, the chief seat of it is Schiedam, where there are no less than 169 distilleries, all of them being very small compared with ours. White Lead.-The white lead of Schiedam has long been celebrated for its quality, and the trade cotinues to prosper there and at Utrecht. Madder. The growth and preparation of this dyestuff has gradually become a great branch of trade; the chief seat is in the province of Zealand, especially in the neighbourhood of Middelbourg, where there are no less than 59 drying stoves in operation. The following table shows the relative state of this branch of trade, as shown by the quantity of madder, &c., exported in 1852, compared with 1846: Cotton and Woollen Fabrics.—Both these branches of trade are very steadily increasing, especially at Leyden, Tilbourg, where there are 16 factories, with 3,800 persons employed, Ammersfort, where there are 12 cotton-spinning factories, 12 weaving factories, 1 wool-carding establishment, 2 for making carpets, &c., and at Roermond, where about 3,000 persons are employed in both branches. Refined Sugar.-The refining of raw sugar at Rotterdam is also a considerable branch of trade, and appears to be in a prosperous condition, although subject to considerable fluctuations of late. A great deal of the refined sugar used in Dublin comes from Holland. The other branches of trade which seem to be extending are paper, glass, oil, cigars, soap, brick tiles, &c.-Chiefly derived from Annales du Commerce Exterieur, No. 759, April, 1854. Peat Charcoal. [WE have received the following letter from Mr. J. W. Rogers, in reference to some observations made on his process of making peat charcoal, which appeared in the last number of this Journal. We are glad to be able to afford him an opportunity of correcting any statement which he thinks erroneous. He is correct in stating that in the system of turfcutting practised at Derrymullen, in the County of Kildare, there was no wheeling, but it is our impression, that at the period of our visit to that place, a considerable time ago, the bricks of peat, when cut and laid upon the hurdles, were carried to the drying ground upon hand-barrows, a method which, it appears to us, would be perhaps quite as expensive as wheeling the turf to the drying ground. We were also told that wheeling was sometimes substituted for the method just noticed. There are few questions of greater importance to this country than the introduction of a good economical system of turf-cutting, and Mr. J. W. Rogers would confer a benefit upon the Irish public if he would give such a detailed account of his system of turf-cutting as would enable it to be compared with other systems, and its advantages and disadvantages to be fully understood. With regard to the per-centage of charcoal obtained, and which we stated upon data obtained at Derrymullen, we find, since the article was written, that it corresponds exactly with that given by M. Payen in a report of a visit to Derrymullen, which he made to the French Agricultural Society, about two or three years ago. Mr. Rogers must, however, be the best authority upon such a point.] 66 TO THE EDITOR, JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS. "SIR,-Permit me to draw your attention to the article in your last publication on Peat Charcoal for deodorizing purposes.' In it you say that you 'doubt' the validity of the patent granted to me for this purpose, because many years ago, the distinguished Irish chemist, Richard Kirwan, suggested the use of peat mould, and semi-charred peat, for absorbing fœtid fluids.' "It is true you do not mention my name as the patentee, and I am quite satisfied you have no desire to damage my rights, but as I am the only party to whom a patent has been granted for the use of peat charcoal for deodorizing animal excrements,' and am the sole originator of that proposition, (which, when brought forward, was not only doubted but ridiculed, even by scientific men,) I feel that you will do me the justice to insert this letter. "First, allow me to say, that neither the use of 'peat mould' nor semi-charred peat' can interfere with my rights for the use of Peat Charcoal. Next, I believe it will be found that no publication is extant until the date of my first one on the subject, which points out the application of Peat Charcoal to deodorize animal excrements and convert them into a mnnure. Since that time, and since the deodorizing powers of peat charcoal have been incontestibly established, it has been more than once stated by my opponents, that 'the powers of charcoal in this respect were long known;' but I have always failed to obtain from those parties specific information as to the name and date of any publication which even remotely suggested the conversion of the peat of Ireland into a pure charcoal, in order to deodorize and make perfectly free from evil to mankind the refuse of all towns. And I have the statement of the first chemist, perhaps, in the world, DUMAS!' made in the presence of the Emperor of France, to this effect- that he had taught his pupils that animal charcoal had decolouring and deodorizing properties, but till then he did not know that Peat Charcoal possessed such powers.' "If, then, I am the originator of the preparation of Peat Charcoal for such purpose, why should the knowledge that animal charcoal might effect the same end, but in which, from its price, it could never be availed of, deprive me of a just return for my labours? whether of mind or body is immaterial; and I may add, that the antiputrescent and absorbent powers of Peat Charcoal, properly prepared, far exceed similar powers in animal charcoal. "With regard to the process of making peat, and the produce of charcoal under my patents, let me state the realities:-Immediately on being cut, the peat is piled on wicker hurdles, one above the other, and there remains till dry. You will see, therefore, there is no wheeling at all. The operation you have described was not under my patent; but your description of the drainage is perfectly accurate. By my process I have cut peat in November and December, and have made it into charcoal in February and March. "The quantity of charcoal obtained by my mode of manipulation varied, at the Derrymullen works, when under my direction, from 33 to 36 per cent., not 23 to 25 per cent., and you are, no doubt, aware that, in fact, peat properly prepared will yield even a larger return of charcoal. |