Imatges de pàgina
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trade in manufactured goods to every part of that extensive quarter of the world; and from a consideration of these documents, they will be enabled to decide how far and how much revolution and rebellion over the southern part of that vast Continent add to our resources, and benefit our trade. There cannot be a doubt but that the progressive and peaceable improvement which always accompanies the increase of human population in colonies descended from civilized nations, or who hold intercourse with these, must be the greatest benefit to all commercial nations, and a much surer, safer, and better road to spread knowledge and improvement, either political or moral, than violent and unjustifiable revolutions, however prosperously these may end for those who commence them. In a very particular manner this will be found to be the case amongst all the human race who inhabit the regions of this globe situate within the tropics. Were violent revolutions also more to be deprecated in one pace than in another of these regions, it would be in Spanish Tropical America, where there is five or six classes and colours of men, differing in their nature and pursuits, whom no free mode of government could ever make coalesce, whom nothing but a despotic government could govern, and whom the arm of power, wielded with a steady hand, can only keep from tearing each other to pieces, and in their fury destroying all property, and banishing confidence and commerce from their lands and their dwellings. Over the greater part of South America, its population know not what freedom means, except it be to indulge in sloth, idleness, and violence.

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16223,248,424 1,719,026 5,098,752 30,066,202

Besides the above, there were exported to these ports, viz:

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In addition to the above, there were exported to these ports, viz:

1,079 Pieces Woollens,

117,727 Yards ditto,

2,967 Dozen Pairs Cotton Hose,

$16 Dozen ditto Woollen ditto,

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(a) This number of Ships is not the true number to the Mediterranean, as, in general, the same vessels which carried the cargoes to Malta and Gibraltar, called also at Foreign Ports during the same voyage. The same is also the case with a few of those to the West Indies.

In addition to the manufactures already

enumerated, the following miscellaneous During the same period, there were exportarticles were exported to the places already mentioned:

629,577 lbs. Cotton Twist and Yarn (234,064 lbs. of which were sent to St Petersburgh)

184,182 lbs. Linen Thread 32,167 do. Cotton do.

67,529 dozen Tapes and Bobbins

11,968 yards Cotton Shawls

4,000 do. Linen Gauze

9,160 do. Cotton Lace

10,717 do. Linen do.

ed to Liverpool :

4,447 Boxes Cottons

448 Puncheons and Trunks do.

692 Trusses do,

171 Boxes Linens

117 Trunks do.

568 Trusses do.

5,174 Pieces Cotton Bagging

632 Trusses Sail Cloth, &c.
124 Woollens

It may not be considered uninteresting to state, separately, the quantity carried out by each of the following ships, for Jamaica:

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The preceding Tables are compiled with considerable care, and we need scarcely add, with very great labour, ship by ship, from the Clyde Commercial List. In such a multitude of separate additions, and a variety of items, it is probable there may be some small entries omitted, some errors in the amount and classification, but we think we may add, there is no error sufficient to alter materially the total quantity. The account extends to one year, and ends 1st May 1818.

We have to observe, that under the head linen is included Osnaburghs, Sailcloth, &c. &c. that under the head cotton is also included all articles of that description, mixed or ornamented with silk.-Under the head woollen is also included baize, blanketing, and cloths of every description.

It must also be taken into account, that we have no return of the quantity of these articles of cotton fabric shipped to the Continent from Leith ;-it is well known, however, that these are very considerable. Of the quantity sent to Liverpool by coasting vessels, and chiefly if not wholly for exportation to foreign ports, it is difficult, from the manner they are returned by the Custom-house books, to form an accurate estimate in yards. But it cannot be less than 15,000,000 yards, which makes the atmount for foreign exportation

65,000,000 yards, exclusive of t' ose exported to the Continent of Europe by way of Leith.

To estimate the value of these articles is attended with considerable difficulty and uncertainty. A great proportion of both the cotton and linen articles are of the cheapest kinds on the other hand, there are many of considerable value. Were we to estimate the whole on an average at 1s. per yard, including all charges when shipped, we should probably not be far from the truth. Taking the whole at this estimated value, the amount would be £3,500,000 Sterling, and all the other miscellaneous articles at least £300,000 more, a sum vast and surprising indeed.

The number of yards of cotton manufactures used for home consumpt cannot be correctly known it must however be very great. The following data may bring us near the truth. It is known with a considerable degree of accuracy, that the value of the cotton manufactures consumed in Great Britain is more than equal to the value of those exported. It must however be remembered, that the value of the former per yard is much more considerable than the latter; the fabric and ornaments are generally finer and more costly, and the value consequently proportionably enhanced; still, of the cottons consumed in this country, a very great quantity is of the cheaper kinds, and we perhaps do not err far, when we state the quantity consumed as equal to the quantity exported, and their value considerably more. Allowing that 5,000,000 yards are exported from Leith to the Continent of Europe, this would give about 55,000,000 yards cottons as the proportion manufactured in Glasgow for home consumpt. These two added together would make nearly 105,000,000 yards of cottons manufactured in Glasgow for internal consumpt and exportation; and, including linens exported, a quantity little short of 120,000,000 yards as the trade of Glasgow in these articles. The value of these, by the former data, will be £6,000,000 as the prime cost for the trade, including linens exported, and above £5,200,000 as the first cost or the manufacturers' price for cotton articles alone.

Vast as the sum is, still, in all probability, it is below the truth. To these sums also we must add the value of the miscellaneous articles exported, and, as far as regards these, a still greater quantity taken for internal consumpt, and we cannot have a sum less than £300,000 for the former, and a still larger sum for the latter, to add to the former sums. We shall then have a sum nearly equal to £5,800,000 as the value of cottons manufactured in Glasgow, and nearly £4,000,000 as her exports in cottons and linens alone.

Nor is this the whole export trade of Glasgow to foreign parts. Perhaps we do not greatly exaggerate when we take it at only a moiety of the same. First, there are a considerable number of ships not taken into this account. Secondly, in a very great proportion of the ships enumerated, the articles we have mentioned form but a trifling part indeed of the value of the cargo. Such is the case with all the cargoes to our valuable possessions in the West Indies. These articles too, to which we allude, are solely the produce of the British soil, industry, and capital-the raw material is our own, and not purchased from foreign parts.

From these tables the reader will perceive, without much difficulty, the ports and countries with which our chief communication lies. Contrary to opinions most erroneous, but most industriously circulated, he will perceive that these lie in those parts of South America which remain subject to Spain, their parent State. The quantity sent to St Thomas' is confessedly sent, and can only be sent with any degree of security, to ports under the control of the royal authority. From these only any returns can be calculated upon. The trade from any other of the Charibbee Islands is now so trifling that it is not worth taking into account. Grenada and Trinidad are the chief stations, and those who do business there know how trifling that has become. Besides, any business that they do carry on from these places to the Spanish settlements, is with those who remain obedient to the mother country. The revolt of some of these countries, and general insecurity which this revolt has spread, from the Orionoco to the Magdalena, has, it is well known, nearly destroyed the trade; and with the Royalists, all is carried on that is now left.

The trade from Jamaica, which so greatly exceeds all the rest, is almost entirely confined to the Spanish loyal colonies on the Gulph of Mexico, to those parts on the Southern, Western, and North Western shores of the same, under the same authority; but the grand branch of this trade is carried on across the Isthmus of Darien, by Panama, to the Spanish colonies situated on the shores of the Great Pacific Ocean, and which remain in subjection to the mother country. The quantity of goods carried annually from Jamaica to these parts, exceeds a million and a half of our money. It is well known, that the revolt of part of Chili, and the general alarm which has in consequence spread over these places, has diminished the ardour of commerce, and greatly embarrassed the operations of the merchants engaged in, and dependent on, that trade.

Thus it is obvious, that our whole trade to independent South America, amounts to the enormous quantity of 380,015 yards cotton, and 112,152 yards linen, exported to Buenos Ayres. Yet we are incessantly told how much South American revolutions have benefited our trade, and for a trade in this proportion we are called upon to plunge into an unjust, unnecessary, and expensive war, in order that we may assist rebellion, robbery, murder, and desolation. For this we are called upon to trample upon the laws and solemn treaties

of civilized nations, by attacking a friendly power without any cause of complaint, and by allowing our sons and our brothers to be decoyed away by the agents of rebellion, to mingle with hardened adventurers and demi-savages, and to finish their days despised and unknown, amidst the gloomy forests, uncultivated plains, mighty rivers, and sickly swamps of Terra Firma. The Independents, as they are called, have no trade but war and violence. Insecurity attends their footsteps, desolation marks their progress, injustice guides their actions, and peaceful commerce has fled, must consequently fly, from their distracted abodes.

Our smaller West India Colonies take from us 5,777,187 yards cottons and linens. This, as has been already noticed, may be set down as their internal consumpt. If we add an equal quantity for the internal consumpt of Jamaica, we shall have, in round numbers, 11,500,000 yards, as the quantity which our West India Colonies require from Glasgow for their internal use. These colonies send us in return for these and still more costly articles of exportation, 25,000 hhds. sugar, 5,000 puncheons rum, 9,700 bags cotton, and 10,700 bags and barrels of coffee, besides other produce to a very considerable amount. The whole, including freight and charges, worth £2,000,000, which shews the vast importance which these Colonies are of to the trade of this place.

Of the linen exported to the British North American Colonies, a great quantity is sail cloth-the remainder chiefly of the better kinds.

The quantity marked for "Other Ports," under the head" Foreign Ports," in the tables, went chiefly to Petersburgh, Hamburgh, Libson, and other European ports, and a part to St Domingo.

With regard to the quantity of cottons and linens returned as exported to Liverpool, we must observe, that a considerable quantity of cottons, of different fabrics, we presume, are brought from that city to Glasgow. It is not however half the quantity which Glasgow sends to Liverpool, and the former is besides, in all probability, chiefly for home consumpt, while the latter is certainly nearly all, if not all, for exportation to foreign parts.

The imports from the United States last year into the Clyde were 30,612 bags of cotton. This could not cost less than £1,400,000. These States take from us, in round numbers, 6,500,000 yards cottons and linens, worth, say £320,000, and with miscellaneous articles, we shall say £400,000, thereby leaving a balance of £1,000,000 that we have to pay them in money. Their ships carry away but few articles beyond those we have enumerated. According to official authority, the United States exported last year cotton to the value of 23,127,614 dollars, or five millions sterling, most of which came to Great Britain.

Great as is the trade of Glasgow in the articles we have mentioned, that of Liverpool greatly exceeds it. The exports of cottons from Liverpool for six months, ending the 5th April, amounted to nearly 54,000,000 yards. But, to make a fair comparison, it must be borne in mind, that a good deal of this is on Glasgow account. Liverpool only exports, and is the great outlet of the whole manufacturing districts of England, whereas Glasgow manufactures all the cottons which she exports.

Ex.

Course of Exchange, July 7. Amsterdam, 37. B. 2 Us. Antwerp, 11:11. Hamburgh, 34: 5. 24 Us. Frankfort 143. Ex. Paris 24: 30. 2 Us. Bordeaux, 24:50. Madrid, 39 effect. Cadiz, 39 effect. Gibraltar, 34. Leghorn, 514. Genoa, 47. Malta, 51. Naples, 44. Palermo, 128 per oz. Rio Janeiro, 66. Oporto, 59. Dublin, 11. Cork, 11. Agio of the Bank of Holland, 2.

Foreign gold, Silver, in bars,

Prices of Gold and Silver, per oz.-Portugal gold, in coin, £4, 1s. 6d. in bars, £4, 1s. 6d. New doubloons, £4, Os. 6d. New Dollars, 5s. 6d. 5s. 5d.

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ALPHABETICAL LIST OF ENGLISH BANKRUPTCIES, announced between the 1st and

30th June 1818, extracted from the London Gazette.

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