articles of export are woollens, linens, earthenware, copper, hardware, iron and steel, leather, glass, machinery, &c. The precious metals were, for a lengthened period, one of the most profitable articles of export to the East; but within these few years the tide has occasionally set in the opposite direction, and large quantities have been imported. 3. American Colonies.-The settlements on the inhospitable shores of Hudson's Bay furnish a considerable supply of furs; and Newfoundland is famous for its fish. Our trade with Canada, Nova Scotia, &c., is very extensive; but this has been, in a considerable degree, ascribable to the heavy discriminating duty on timber from the north of Europe, which forced the importation of a dearer and a worse article from Canada. The other imports are wheat, ashes, furs, skins, turpentine, &c. The exports are principally woollens, cottons, and linens, hardware, iron and steel, soap and candles, earthenware, apparel, glass, cordage, coal, butter and cheese, &c. 4. West Indian Colonies.-Sugar forms the grand article of import from these colonies. Next to it is coffee; and then follow rum, cotton, pimento, molasses, mahogany, logwood, fustic, cocoa, cochineal, ginger, hides, &c. The exports are principally cotton-stuffs, linens, woollens, apparel, soap and candles, hardware, iron and steel, fish, earthenware, cordage, beef and pork, arms and ammunition, &c. I. An Account of the Value of the Imports into, and of the Exports from, the United Kingdom, during each of the Years from 1798 to 1852, both inclusive, calculated at the Official Rates of Valuation, and distinguishing the Amount of the Produce and Manufactures of the United Kingdom exported from the Value of the Foreign and Colonial Merchandise exported; exhibiting, also, the Real or Declared Value of the Produce and Manufactures of the United Kingdom annually exported therefrom. N. B.-The account of the declared or real value of the exports was first taken in 1798, having been introduced by the Convoy Act of that year. Table I.-continued. Value of Exports from the United Kingdom, at the Manufactures of Foreign and Colonial Value of Produce and Manufactures of United Kingdom, Exported according to the Real Value thereof. £. Total Exports. £. 1829 43,995,286 56,217,962 10,620,165 66,838,127 35,842,623 1830 46,300,473 61,152,654 8,548,394 69,700,748 38,271,597 1831 49,727,828 60,686,364 10,745,126 71,431,490 37,164,372 1832 44,610,546 65,025,278 11,044,870 76,070,148 36,450,594 1833 45,944,426 69,987,357 9,833,753 79,821,110 39,667,348 1834 49,364,733 73,835,231 11,562,037 85,397,268 41,649,191 1835 49,029,334 78,360,059 12,797,724 91,157,783 47,372,270 1836 57,896,045 85,220, 144 12,391,712 97,611,856 53,293,979 1837 54,702,285 72,544,071 13,255,497 85,779,568 42,069,245 1838 61,258,013 92,453,967 12,711,512 105,165,479 50,061,737 1839 62,048,121 97,394,666 12,795,990 110,190,656 53,233,580 1840 67,492,710 102,706,850 13,774,165 116,481,015 51,406,430 1841 64,444,268 102,179,514 14,723,373 116,902,887 51,634,623 1842 65,253,286 100,255,380 13,586,422 113,841,802 47,381,023 1843 70,214,912 117,876,659 13,956,288 131,832,947 52,279,709 1844 75,449,374 131,558,477 14,398,177 145,956,654 58,584,292 1845 85,297,508 134,598,584 16,279,318 150,877,902 60,111,082 1846 75,934,022 132,312,894 16,296,162 148,609,056 57,786,876 1847 90,921,866 126,131,029 20,040,979 146,172,008 58,842,377 1848 93,547,134 132,619, 154 18,376,886 150,996,040 52,849,445 1849 105,874,607 164,539,504 25,561,890 190,101,394 63,596,025 1850 100,460,433 175,416,709 21,893,167 197,309,876 71,359,184 1851 110,679,125 190,658,314 23,732,703 214,391,017 74,448,722 1852 109,345,409 196,216,610 23,329,089 219,545,699 78,049,367 19 The great increase in the official, and the comparatively stationary amount of the real, value of the exports, has occasioned a great deal of erroneous discussion. The rates by which the official values of the exports are estimated were fixed in 1696, so that they have long ceased to be any test of their actual value, and are of use only as showing the fluctuations in the quantities exported. To supply this deficiency a plan was set on foot by Mr. Pitt, for keeping an account of the real value of the exports from the declarations of the exporters. Now, it has been contended that, while the great increase in the official value of the exports since 1815 shows that the quantity of the articles exported has been proportionally augmented, their nearly stationary real value shows that we are selling this larger quantity for about the same price,- a result which is said to be most injurious. But the circumstance of a manufacturer or a merchant selling a large or a small quantity of produce at the same price, affords no criterion of the advantageousness of the sale; for if, through improvements in the arts or otherwise, a particular article may now be produced for half the cost of its production 10 or 20 years ago, it is obvious that double the quantity may be afforded at the same price without injury to the producers. And this has been most strikingly the case with the great articles of cotton, hardware, &c. The fall in the price of the former enables us to export and sell with a profit (for, unless such were the case, does any one suppose the exportation would continue?) at the same price, more than double the cotton stuffs and twist that we exported in 1815? Surely, however, this is, if anything can be, a decisive proof of manufacturing improvement and commercial prosperity. II. Account of the real or declared Value of the various Articles of the Manufacture and Produce of the United Kingdom, Exported to Foreign Countries, during each of the Six Years ending with 1852; specifying the Countries to which they were Exported, and the Value of those Annually Shipped for each; and showing also the Average Amount of Exports during the said Six Years to each Country, and to each of the Five Great Divisions of the Globe; and the Average Proportion Exported to each, supposing the whole Exports to be 1000. RECAPITULATION. 24,194,172 22,162,957 25,126,202 26,613,781 26,630,049 27,667,955 25,399,195 9,559,052 381 769 143-679 35 940 26,675,036 400*947 37.665 Grand Total 58,842,377 52,949,445 63,596,025 71,307,85 74,448,722 78,076,854 66,530,218 1000 000 III. Description and Value of the Produce and Manufactures of the United Kingdom, Exported from Great Britain to Foreign Parts, according to the Real or Declared Value thereof, in 1850, 1851, and 1852. Account of the Quantities of the under-mentioned Articles of Foreign and Colonial Merchandize Imported into, Exported from, and Retained for Consumption in the United Kingdom, with the Nett Revenue Accruing thereon, during the Years 1850 and 1851. * These quantities cannot be stated except when the articles are charged with duties. |