Production of Hemp in Missouri.-A report made to the Missouri legislature, on the subject of hemp growing in that state, contains the following statistics :-" The chamber of commerce in St. Louis, in 1842, stated the crop of 1840, which was brought into market in 1841, at 1460 tons. A memorial of the citizens of St. Louis, to the Congress of the United States, made in 1841, states the hemp crop of 1841 at near 10,000 tons, and the crop of 1842 at near 17,000 tons. The crop of 1843, owing to the unfavourable weather, did not exceed that of 1842. These estimates are borne by other facts. The St. Louis Price Current, in summing up the imports and exports of the city for the year 1844, states that 6275 bales of hemp were exported from the city of St. Louis, during the year 1844. In addition to this, there were exported 5007 pieces of bagging, and 15,490 coils of rope. It is believed, says the Louisville Journal, that the exports registered are considerably below the actual amount."

In Hunt's Magazine it is stated

"The Egg Trade in Cincinnati.-Every day develops some new illustration of the enterprise of our people. The ice trade of the east has grown up, in a few years, to importance; employing a considerable amount of tonnage. In the west, the egg trade bids fair to rival it. The business in that fragile commodity, as we gather from the Cincinnati Gazette, is quite an item in the sum of her productive industry. One firm alone, in Cincinnati (Townsend and Co.), during the first six months of 1845, shipped to New York 234 barrels of eggs; to Baltimore, seventy barrels ; and to New Orleans, 3976 barrels! Each barrel contains ninety dozen, which makes the aggregate shipment 4,624,400 eggs! During the year ending as above, the egg trade of this firm amounted to 36,144 dollars 60 cents. There are five other houses in Cincinnati engaged in the business. The foreign egg trade of Cincinnati, the past year, has amounted to 10,700 barrels, which is 963,000 dozen, or 11,556,000 eggs! The aggregate value of this trade, for the year, according to the data here given, is 90,361 dollars 50 cents. The business is a very hazardous one, owing to the great fluctuations in the New Orleans market. In the course of the past year, for example, western eggs have sold there as high as twenty-two dollars per barrel, and as low as three dollars. In addition to this export trade, these establishments do also a heavy home trade. That of Townsend and Co. supplies regularly five steamboats, with thirty-six barrels a trip; which, at twelve trips a year, is 432 barrels. It also furnishes constantly the consumption of several of the largest hotels, which use at least 260 barrels per year, and does a retail business, amounting to not less than thirty-three barrels per year. These several amounts make 725 barrels to add to the 4280 barrels shipped; which gives an aggregate of 5005 barrels, or 450,450 dozen, as the annual trade of this one house. Besides this, the annual city consumption is estimated at 1,213,333 dozen. A further recapitulation shows the following result as to value :

Value of 10,700 barrels of eggs shipped from this port, at eight dollars forty-four cents and a half per barrel.....

dollars cts.

Value of 1,213,333 dozen eggs consumed in this city, at eight cents per dozen...

90,361 50 97,066 64

Total annual value of the egg trade of Cincinnati.........

PROGRESS OF THE NEW ENGLAND WHALE FISHERY.

187,428 14

The annual statement of this important branch of commerce, including the imports and exports of oil and whalebone, average prices, progress of the fishery, &c., as published in the Whaleman's Shipping List, contains matter of much in terest to those engaged in the whale fishery. The imports of sperm oil and whalebone into the United States, from January 1, 1844, to January 1, 1845, in 199 ships and barques, twenty-three brigs, and sixteen schooners and sloops, were 139,594 barrels of sperm, 262,047 barrels of whale oil, and 2,532,445 pounds of bone. See Whale Fishery of the United States.

IMPORTS of Sperm and Whale Oil, from 1838 to 1844, inclusive.

The average price of oil, during the year 1844, has been ninety cents and a half to ninety cents and three-quarters per gallon for sperm, and thirty-six cents and a half to thirty-six cents and two-thirds per gallon for whale oil. Average price of bone, forty cents. January 1, 1845, prices:-Sperm, eighty-eight cents; whale, thirty-one cents to thirty-four cents; whalebone, thirty-eight cents to forty cents. The quantity of crude sperm oil in the country, out of the hands of manufacturers, on the 1st of January, 1845, is estimated at 32,992 barrels ; and the amount of crude whale oil at 32,950 barrels. The number of vessels employed in the whale fishery, on the 1st of January, 1845, was 643 ships and barques, thirty-five brigs, seventeen schooners and sloops-in all, 218,655 tons. In January 1, 1844, the number engaged in the New England whale fishery, were 595 ships and barques, forty-one brigs, nine schooners and sloops-tonnage, 200,147

tons.

Mr. Grinnell, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, a member of Congress, stated in a speech,

"I have prepared, with great care, a table from authentic sources, to show the consumption of domestic and foreign articles by our whaling fleet, now consisting of 645 ships, barques, brigs, and schooners, tonnaging 200,000 tons; cost, at the time of sailing, 20,000,000 dollars; manned by 17,500 officers and seamen, one-half of whom are green hands when the vessels sail. By this table it will be seen, that the annual consumption by this fleet is 3,845,500 dollars; only 400,000 dollars is of foreign articles. The value of the annual import of oil and whalebone in a crude state is 7,000,000 dollars; when manufactured, it probably is increased in value to 8,000,000 dollars, or 9,000,000 dollars. The whole amount of exports of oil, whalebone, and sperm candles, is only 2,000,000 dollars, leaving 6,000,000 dollars, or 7,000,000 dollars, to be consumed in this country.

"This fleet of whaling ships is larger than ever pursued the business before. Commercial history furnishes no account of any parallel; our ships now outnumber those of all other nations combined, and the proceeds of its enterprise are in proportion and diffused to every part of our country. The voyages of those engaged in the sperm fishery average three years and a half; they search every sea, and often cruise three and four months with a man at each mast-head on the look-out, without the cheering sight of a whale."

NEW SOUTH WALES AND VAN DIEMAN'S LAND WHALE FISHERY.

In 1836 and 1837, sixty-eight ships were employed in the whale fishery belonging to these colonies; in 1844, the number is said to be reduced to thirty ships. The Bay of Islands, New Zealand, has long been the favourite resort of ships engaged in the sperm or deep sea fishery; and it is considered to be the most convenient port which they could touch at in the whole of the South Pacific.

The natives in that neighbourhood, who have revolted against the government, are expert whale fishers; and might, it is said, be advantageously employed. They are good seamen, and one of them is, or was, acting as a mate on board a whaling ship belonging to Mr. Enderby.

NEW POST-OFFICE LAW.

A law was passed by Congress, 3rd of March, 1845, which, though illdigested, and far from sound in all its provisions, constitutes a great reform of the previous law. It diminishes the rate of postage about one-half, and stipulates,

That from and after the first day of July next, members of Congress and delegates from territories, may receive letters not exceeding two ounces in weight, free of postage, during the recess of Congress, any thing to the contrary in this act notwithstanding: and the same franking privilege which is granted by this act to the members of the two Houses of Congress, is hereby extended to the vice-president of the United States; and in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates, viz.: For every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind by or upon which information shall be asked for or communicated in writing, or by marks and signs, conveyed in the mail for any distance under 300 miles, five cents; and for any distance over 300 miles, ten cents; and for a double letter there shall be charged double these rates; and for a treble letter treble these rates; and for a quadruple letter quadruple these rates; and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage. And all drop letters, or letters placed in any post-office, not for transmission by mail, but for delivery only, shall be charged with postage at the rate of two cents each. And all letters which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over in any post-office, shall, when delivered out, be charged with the costs of advertising the same in addition to the regular postage, both to be accounted for as other postages now are.

2. That all newspapers of no greater size or superfices than 1900 square inches may be transmitted through the mail, by the editors or publishers thereof, to all subscribers or other persons within thirty miles of the city, town, or other place in which the paper is or may be printed, free of any charge for postage whatever; and all newspapers of and under the size aforesaid, which shall be conveyed in the mail any distance beyond thirty miles from the place at which the same may be printed, shall be subject to the rates of postage chargeable upon the same under the thirtieth section of the act of Congress, approved the 3rd of March, 1825, entitled "An Act to reduce into one the several Acts for establishing and regulating the Post-Office Department," and upon all newspapers of greater size or superficial extent than 1900 square inches, there shall be charged and collected the same rates of postage as are prescribed by this act to be charged on magazines and pamphlets.

3. That all printed or lithographed circulars and handbills or advertisements, printed or lithographed on quarto, post, or single-cap paper, or paper not larger than single-cap, folded, directed, and unsealed, shall be charged with postage at the rate of two cents for each sheet, and no more, whatever be the distance the same may be sent; and all pamphlets, magazines, periodicals, and every other kind and description of printed or other matter (except newspapers), which shall be unconnected with any manuscript communication whatever, and which is or may be lawful to transmit by the mail of the United States, shall be charged with postage at the rate of two cents and a half for each copy sent, of no greater weight than one ounce, and one cent additional shall be charged for each additional ounce of the weight of every such pamphlet, magazine, matter, or thing, which may be transmitted through the mail, whatever be the distance the same may be transported; and any fractional excess of not less than one-half of an ounce, in the weight of any such matter or thing, above one or more ounces, shall be charged for as if said excess amounted to a full ounce.

4. That the postmaster-general be, and he is hereby authorised, upon all mail routes over or upon which the amount of matter usually transported, or which may be offered or deposited in the post-office or post-offices for transportation, is or may become so great as to threaten materially to retard the progress, or endanger the security of the letter mail, or to cause any considerable augmentation of the cost of transporting the whole mail at the present rate of speed, to provide for the separate and more secure conveyance of the letter mail, at a speed at least equal to that at which the mail is now transported over such route, taking care to allow in no case of any greater delay in the transportation of the other matters and things to be transported in the mail on any such route, than may appear absolutely necessary, regard being had to the cost of expediting its transportation, and the means at his disposal, or under his control for effecting the same.

7. That the Act of Congress, entitled "An Act authorising the governors of the several states to transmit by mail certain books and documents," approved June the thirtieth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, shall remain and continue in full force, any thing hereinbefore to the contrary notwithstanding: and the members of Congress, the delegates from territories, the secretary of the Senate, and the clerk of the House of Representatives, shall be, and they are

The average price of oil, during the year 1844, has been ninety cents and a half to ninety cents and three-quarters per gallon for sperm, and thirty-six cents and a half to thirty-six cents and two-thirds per gallon for whale oil. Average price of bone, forty cents. January 1, 1845, prices :-Sperm, eighty-eight cents; whale, thirty-one cents to thirty-four cents; whalebone, thirty-eight cents to forty cents. The quantity of crude sperm oil in the country, out of the hands of manufacturers, on the 1st of January, 1845, is estimated at 32,992 barrels ; and the amount of crude whale oil at 32,950 barrels. The number of vessels employed in the whale fishery, on the 1st of January, 1845, was 643 ships and barques, thirty-five brigs, seventeen schooners and sloops-in all, 218,655 tons. In January 1, 1844, the number engaged in the New England whale fishery, were 595 ships and barques, forty-one brigs, nine schooners and sloops-tonnage, 200,147

tons.

Mr. Grinnell, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, a member of Congress, stated in a speech,

"I have prepared, with great care, a table from authentic sources, to show the consumption of domestic and foreign articles by our whaling fleet, now consisting of 645 ships, barques, brigs, and schooners, tonnaging 200,000 tons; cost, at the time of sailing, 20,000,000 dollars; manned by 17,500 officers and seamen, one-half of whom are green hands when the vessels sail. By this table it will be seen, that the annual consumption by this fleet is 3,845,500 dollars; only 400,000 dollars is of foreign articles. The value of the annual import of oil and whalebone in a crude state is 7,000,000 dollars; when manufactured, it probably is increased in value to 8,000,000 dollars, or 9,000,000 dollars. The whole amount of exports of oil, whalebone, and sperm candles, is only 2,000,000 dollars, leaving 6,000,000 dollars, or 7,000,000 dollars, to be consumed in this country.

"This fleet of whaling ships is larger than ever pursued the business before. Commercial history furnishes no account of any parallel; our ships now outnumber those of all other nations combined, and the proceeds of its enterprise are in proportion and diffused to every part of our country. The voyages of those engaged in the sperm fishery average three years and a half; they search every sea, and often cruise three and four months with a man at each mast-head on the look-out, without the cheering sight of a whale."

NEW SOUTH WALES AND VAN DIEMAN'S LAND WHALE FISHERY.

In 1836 and 1837, sixty-eight ships were employed in the whale fishery belonging to these colonies; in 1844, the number is said to be reduced to thirty ships. The Bay of Islands, New Zealand, has long been the favourite resort of ships engaged in the sperm or deep sea fishery; and it is considered to be the most convenient port which they could touch at in the whole of the South Pacific.

The natives in that neighbourhood, who have revolted against the government, are expert whale fishers; and might, it is said, be advantageously employed. They are good seamen, and one of them is, or was, acting as a mate on board a whaling ship belonging to Mr. Enderby.

NEW POST-OFFICE LAW.

A law was passed by Congress, 3rd of March, 1845, which, though illdigested, and far from sound in all its provisions, constitutes a great reform of the previous law. It diminishes the rate of postage about one-half, and stipulates,

That from and after the first day of July next, members of Congress and delegates from territories, may receive letters not exceeding two ounces in weight, free of postage, during the recess of Congress, any thing to the contrary in this act notwithstanding: and the same franking privilege which is granted by this act to the members of the two Houses of Congress, is hereby extended to the vice-president of the United States; and in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates, viz.: For every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind by or upon which information shall be asked for or communicated in writing, or by marks and signs, conveyed in the mail for any distance under 300 miles, five cents; and for any distance over 300 miles, ten cents; and for a double letter there shall be charged double these rates; and for a treble letter treble these rates; and for a quadruple letter quadruple these rates; and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or additional weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage. And all drop letters, or letters placed in any post-office, not for transmission by mail, but for delivery only, shall be charged with postage at the rate of two cents each. And all letters which shall hereafter be advertised as remaining over in any post-office, shall, when delivered out, be charged with the costs of advertising the same in addition to the regular postage, both to be accounted for as other postages now are.

2. That all newspapers of no greater size or superfices than 1900 square inches may be transmitted through the mail, by the editors or publishers thereof, to all subscribers or other persons within thirty miles of the city, town, or other place in which the paper is or may be printed, free of any charge for postage whatever; and all newspapers of and under the size aforesaid, which shall be conveyed in the mail any distance beyond thirty miles from the place at which the same may be printed, shall be subject to the rates of postage chargeable upon the same under the thirtieth section of the act of Congress, approved the 3rd of March, 1825, entitled "An Act to reduce into one the several Acts for establishing and regulating the Post-Office Department," and upon all newspapers of greater size or superficial extent than 1900 square inches, there shall be charged and collected the same rates of postage as are prescribed by this act to be charged on magazines and pamphlets.

3. That all printed or lithographed circulars and handbills or advertisements, printed or lithographed on quarto, post, or single-cap paper, or paper not larger than single-cap, folded, directed, and unsealed, shall be charged with postage at the rate of two cents for each sheet, and no more, whatever be the distance the same may be sent; and all pamphlets, magazines, periodicals, and every other kind and description of printed or other matter (except newspapers), which shall be unconnected with any manuscript communication whatever, and which is or may be lawful to transmit by the mail of the United States, shall be charged with postage at the rate of two cents and a half for each copy sent, of no greater weight than one ounce, and one cent additional shall be charged for each additional ounce of the weight of every such pamphlet, magazine, matter, or thing, which may be transmitted through the mail, whatever be the distance the same may be transported; and any fractional excess of not less than one-half of an ounce, in the weight of any such matter or thing, above one or more ounces, shall be charged for as if said excess amounted to a full ounce.

4. That the postmaster-general be, and he is hereby authorised, upon all mail routes over or upon which the amount of matter usually transported, or which may be offered or deposited in the post-office or post-offices for transportation, is or may become so great as to threaten materially to retard the progress, or endanger the security of the letter mail, or to cause any considerable augmentation of the cost of transporting the whole mail at the present rate of speed, to provide for the separate and more secure conveyance of the letter mail, at a speed at least equal to that at which the mail is now transported over such route, taking care to allow in no case of any greater delay in the transportation of the other matters and things to be transported in the mail on any such route, than may appear absolutely necessary, regard being had to the cost of expediting its transportation, and the means at his disposal, or under his control for effecting the same.

7. That the Act of Congress, entitled "An Act authorising the governors of the several states to transmit by mail certain books and documents," approved June the thirtieth, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, shall remain and continue in full force, any thing hereinbefore to the contrary notwithstanding: and the members of Congress, the delegates from territories, the secretary of the Senate, and the clerk of the House of Representatives, shall be, and they are