Treasury minute directed the Army, Navy, and Ordnance departments to adopt one uniform principle of estimating for the moneys required for the annual service of those departments, and to apply the same in strict conformity with the votes of Parliament. On the 24th February, 1852, a Treasury minute was made directing the adoption of an uniform principle in the appropriation of the grants for extraordinary military expenditure.

No. XCIX.-SUGAR.

Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 11th July, 1856, for Return of the Quantities of Unrefined and Refined Sugar, of Molasses, and Rum, imported and cleared for consumption in each year ending 5th July, from 1842 to 1856; Amount of Duty received on the same in each year; and Average Price per cwt. of Muscovado and of Havannah Sugars during the same period. (Mr. Wilson.) (396.)

In the year ended 5th July, 1842, there were imported, of unrefined sugar, 4,462,591 cwts.; of which 2,149,853 cwts. were from the West Indies; 721,403 from the Mauritius; and 1,029,426 cwts. from the East Indies. Total of the produce of British possessions, 3,900,682 cwts.; foreign produce, 561,909 cwts. In the year ended 30th June, 1856, there were imported 7,776,129 cwts. sugar, of which 5,522,839 cwts. were the produce of British possessions, and 2,253,290 cwts. foreign produce. Of refined sugar, in the year ended 5th July, 1842, the imports were 16,051 cwts.; year ended 30th June, 1856, 408,397 cwts. The quantity of unrefined sugar entered for home consumption in 1852 was 4,160,606 cwts.; of which 4,160,311 cwts. were from the British possessions, and 295 cwts. foreign. In 1856, 7,141,735 cwts.; of which 5,249,228 cwts. were from the British possessions, and 1,892,507 cwts. foreign.

Of molasses, the quantity imported in 1842 was 436,008 cwts.; and in 1856, 907,171 cwts. The aggregate quantity of sugar and molasses imported was, in 1842, 4,623,978 cwts.; in 1856, 8,486,916 cwts. Of rum, there were imported, in 1842, 3,909,027 galls., including over proof, of which 3,827,159 galls. were of British possessions, and 81,868 galls. foreign; and, in 1856, 9,085,957 galls., of which 8,229,505 galls. were of British possessions, and 856,452 foreign. The quantity of rum entered for home consumption in 1842 was 2,205,304 galls.; and, in 1856, 3,217,970 galls.

The amount of duty received on unrefined sugar in the year ended 5th July, 1842, was 5,243,370l.; of which 5,242,3941. was from sugar of British possessions, and 9761. from foreign. In 1856, 5,106,574l.; of which 3,752,7461. from sugar of British possessions, and 1,353,8281. from foreign sugar. The duty on refined sugar and sugar candy in 1852, was 76.; and, in 1856, 310,756. In molasses, in 1842, 241,5677.; and, in

1856, 218,737. Aggregate sugar and molasses in 1842, 5,485,0134; and, in 1856, 5,636,007. The rate of duty in 1842 and 1843 on unrefined sugar of British possessions was 1. 5s. 23d.; on foreign, 31. 68. 13d. In 1844, from the 10th November, the same rate on sugar of British possessions, and 17. 158. 8d. on foreign sugar, not of slave labour; and 31. 6s. 1 d. other foreign sugar. In 1845, from 14th March, British possessions, 16s. 4d. equal to white clayed, 14s. not equal to white clayed; 17. 88. foreign, equal to white clayed, 1l. 3s. 4d. not equal to white clayed, and not of slave labour, and 31. 38. other foreign. In 1846, from 18th August, same rate on sugar of British possessions, and 1. 48. 6d., 1l. 1s., and 21. 2s., respectively, for foreign. In 1847, from 5th July, same on sugar of British Possessions, and 1l. 3s. 4d., 1l., 2l. 28., foreign. Further reductions were made in 1848 to 1856. At the last date, the rates were of all sorts of whatever growth and whencesoever imported; equal to white clayed, 178. 6d.; not equal to white clayed, 158.; not equal to brown clayed, 13s. 9d.; refined sugar, 17.; molasses, 5s. 4d.

The amount of duty received on rum in the year ended 5th July, 1842, was 1,029,1867.; and, in 1856, 1,305,7721. The rate of duty in 1842 was, on rum, of British possessions, 98. 4d.; on foreign, 17. 2s. 10d.; in 1856, on rum of British possessions in Great Britain, 88. 2d.; Ireland, 6s. 4d.; foreign produce, 158. The average price of Muscovado sugar from the "London Gazette" in 1842, British West Indies, 378.; 1856, 28s. 3d.; Mauritius, 1843, 33s. 10d.; 1856, 278. 6d. ; East Indies, 1843, 328. 8d.; 1856, 30s. 5d.; Havannah sugar, 1842, 19s. 7d.; 1856, 30s. 1d.

No. C.-EXPORTS.

Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 12th June, 1856, for

Return of the Value of the Total Exports of the United Kingdom and the United States in the year 1855; also of the Value of the Exports from the United Kingdom to the United States, and from the United States to the United Kingdom in the year 1855. (Mr. Alcock.) (295.)

THE total exports of the United Kingdom in 1855 amounted to 116,701,045l., exclusive of specie and bullion. The total exports from the United States in the year ending 30th June, 1855, 57,324,343l., including 11,718,1967. of specie and bullion. The total exports from the United Kingdom to the United States in 1855, 18,064,6737., exclusive of specie and bullion, 15 per cent. of total exports. The total exports from the United States to the United Kingdom in the year ending 30th June, 1855, 29,081,8477., including 9,970,4191. of specie and bullion, 50 per cent. of total exports.

No. CI.-NATIONAL DEBT.

Account of the Gross Amount of all Bank Annuities and Long Annuities transferred, and Money paid to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, &c., and Expenses incurred. (169.)

[Presented pursuant to Act of Parliament.]

FROM the 6th August, 1817, to the 20th November, 1855, 72,689,4047. 28. 5d. were received from savings banks and friendly societies; and 36,238,3631. 28. were paid to the same. The gross amount standing in the names of the Commissioners was in Stock, 29,773,454l. 8s. 8d. ; in Exchequer Bills, 3,121,000l.; Exchequer Bonds, 1,765,000l. The sum paid for the purchase of such stock, &c., was 33,273,743. 10s. 2d. The gross amount of interest or dividends received thereon, 25,111,544l. 17s. 9d.; and of interest paid and credited to savings banks and friendly societies, 28,073,749%. 178. The charges of management may have amounted to 5,733. during the

year.

Within the year ending 5th January, 1856, there were transferred and paid to the Commissioners in different annuities, 249,6287. 5s. 7d.; and money paid, including commission, 505,189. 138. 4d. The annuities granted amounted to 68,358. 15s. immediate, and 1,110%. 168. deferred. On account of the fund for the military savings banks there were received by the Commissioners from 19th September, 1845, to 5th January, 1856, 216,668. 1s. 3d. The stock bought and transferred was 242,0487. 128. 10d. The sums paid, 216,668l. 1s. 3d.

No. CII.-NATIONAL DEBT.

Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 26th June, 1856, for Return of the Amount of the National Debt existing on the 31st March, 1856, specifying the description of Stock, the Interest payable on each description, the Reduction or Increase of Interest payable, with the causes of such reduction or increase; and showing the Amount of Stock created or redeemed; also Account of Stock cancelled in exchange for Terminable Annuities in each year from 1809 to 1856. (Mr. Ricardo.) (416.)

THE National Debt on the 31st March, 1856, was 775,312,694l., bearing an annual interest of 23,267,3617. In the year ending 31st March, 1856, a reduction of interest took place of 37,2361.; but on account of stock created there was also an increase of interest of 747,2431. The debt created in the year was 24,908,134l., and the debt redeemed, 1,241,2571. The capital stock cancelled from the 1st September, 1808, to 31st March, 1856, amounted to 50,391,074l. 6s. 4d. The Long Annuities cancelled, 165,8897. 14s. 3d.; annuities of different amounts were granted each year, in exchange for perpetual and other annuities, transferred to the Commissioners for lives and terms of years.

No. CIII.-SUPPLY.

Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 9th June, 1856, for Account of the Sums voted in Supply during the years 1854 and 1855, under

the several heads of Army, Navy, Ordnance, and Miscellaneous Services; and Abstract of Grants for Miscellaneous Services for 1854 and 1855. (Mr. Wilson.) (274.)

THE sum voted for the army services, in 1854, was 8,810,059l.; in 1855, 18,789,532. Navy, 1854, 12,874,505l.; in 1855, 21,394,216. Ordnance, 1854, 4,583,701.; in 1855, 10,647,1037. Vote of credit for war with Russia, 3,000,000l. both years. Civil services, 6,464,122. in 1854; 6,690,4627. in 1855. Revenue department, in 1854, 4,052,803., and 4,385,951., in 1855. Total, 1854, 39,785,190, and 1855, 64,307,264l.

No CIV.-TRADE AND MANUFACTURES (SCOTLAND).

Return to an Order of the House of Commons, dated 1st February, 1855, for Return of the Income and Expenditure of the Board for the Encouragement of Trade and Manufactures in Scotland, for the years 1843 to 1854. (Mr. Archibald Hastie.) (120.)

THE annual receipt and expenditure for the Board is from 4,000l. to 5,000l., the receipts proceeding from annuities settled by Act of Parliament, dividends, rent, &c. The expenditure, consisting of salaries, compensations, purchases of examples of works of art, &c. From 1849 to 1855 the amount received for the building of the National Gallery, Edinburgh, was 39,2661. 28. 9d., and the amount expended 38,243l. 16s. 8d.

No. CV.-AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS (SCOTLAND).

Copy of Report of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland for 1855, and Copy of Supplementary Report.

[Presented to Parliament by Her Majesty's Command.]

THE number of occupants in Scotland in 1855 was 43,467; the acreage under tillage 3,530,068 acres, viz.: 191,300 in wheat, 186,082 barley, 933,662 oats, 3,692 rye, 17,2631 bere, 37,3081 beans, 5,456 peas, and 15,038 vetches, 449,404 turnips, 146,969 potatoes, 2,299 mangold, 1,191 carrots, 1,209 cabbage, 3,461 flax, 1,998 turnip seed, 1,223 any other crop, 22,462 acres bare fallow, and 1,510,0444 grass and hay under rotation. There were in Scotland 121,190 horses for agricultural purposes above 3 years old, 32,100 for the same purpose under 3 years old, 23,939

all other horses, 298,463 milk cows, 469,309 other cattle, 207,044 calves, 2,707,950 sheep of all ages for breeding, 1,138,521 sheep of all ages for feeding; lambs' produce of 1855, 1,848,429; swine, 134,350; total stock, 6,901,295 in 1855, against 6,043,384 in 1854.

The estimate of gross produce was 5,063,074 bushels wheat, 6,092,679 bushels barley, 30,081,351 bushels oats, 556,957 bushels bere, 1,183,647 bushels beans and peas, 6,461,988 tons turnips, and 732,170 tons potatoes. The average acreable produce per county varies in wheat from 22 bushels in Dumfries to 34 bushels in Sutherland; barley from 27 bushels in Perth to 46 bushels in Haddington; oats from 26 bushels in Inverness to 45 bushels in Haddington.

No. CVI.-BRITISH FISHERIES.

Report of the Commissioners of British Fisheries for the year ended 31st December, 1855.

[Presented in Pursuance to Acts.]

The returns of the herring fishery for 1855 show both an important and a prosperous trade. A great quantity of fish has been taken with few interruptions or casualties, whilst the prices to all classes engaged have been remunerative. In 1855 the gross cure of herrings was 766,703 barrels, against 636,562 in 1854. Of this vast cure there have been branded 280,581 barrels, or more than a third of the whole quantity. The exports to the Continent are on the increase; and, in 1855, there were exported 344,029 barrels, against 237,893 in 1854.

The total quantity of herrings cured during 1855 was 766,703 barrels, the total quantity branded 280,581 barrels, and the total quantity exported 442,264 barrels; being an increase over the preceding year of 130,141 barrels in the quantity cured, of 68,737 barrels in the quantity branded, and of 80,567 barrels in the quantity exported; and the number of barrels of herrings assorted after the Dutch mode, and branded accordingly, was 224,782"full," and 640 "maties;" being an increase over the preceding year of 47,094 "full," and 283 "maties." The account of the herrings caught, but not cured, shows that the quantity in 1855 amounted to 130,759 barrels or crans, being an increase over the preceding year of 26,970 barrels or crans; and, when this account is added to the account of herrings cured, the total produce of the herring fisheries for 1855 amounts to 897,462 barrels, being an increase over the preceding year of 157,111 barrels or crans.

In the cod and ling department the returns show that in the year 1855, 113,561 cwts. were cured dried, and 6,3163 barrels cured in pickle, and that the total quantity exported was 29,154 cwts. cured dried, and 25 barrels cured in pickle, being an increase in 1855 as compared with 1854