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Commercial Statistics-Emigration and Steam.

251

vain have opposing interests labored for and investigations of scientific men, the a long time to efface the remembrance introduction of machinery and new of this our noble act. In vain have our means of labor, together with a new own errors come in aid of those interests spirit of energy and enterprise, will bless which are opposed to us. The name of all persons with new discoveries of unHenry Clay, as the champion of South bounded usefulness, before unknown. American independence, still survives Thus resting upon those solid foundations among them. It is only necessary to which alone can give a permanent exgive to this remembrance a proper ten- istence to liberty, a new terra firma of dency, and it will revivify and spread prosperity and peace will rapidly loom abroad; it will infuse itself into the up from among the sinking billows of ideas and the manners, into the material discord and civil war, which have so and moral wants of those people who long swept in all their fury over some love us, that we may become the law of of the fairest regions on the face of the their interests; for this is what their earth. sympathies demand.

In conclusion, I wish it to be distinctly Contrast opportunities and feelings understood, though I have made some like these, with the proportionate dislike forcible statements, and made therefrom of the snares of monarchial influences, my own deductions, that I do not desire from which they have suffered so much. to wound the prejudices or the partialiConsider, in addition, the hopeless debt ties of any person whatever. I trust and consequent oppression, in one form that I have spoken in accordance with or another, under the apprehension of the opportunities of information which I which all the nations of South America, have enjoyed, and in conformity to the except Paraguay and Chili, so heavily principles of human progress and hulabor; and our view into the future, of manity. what we ought to do and can do, becomes clear and distinct. The time for talking is over. If we do not wish to be distanced, anticipated, superseded, we must act, and act without delay.

The American people seem to be very desirous at the present moment to extend the area of freedom. Some have gone to Cuba and the Sandwich Islands. Others would like to go to Hungary and If we follow on in the path thus open even to Moscow, notwithstanding its bad before us, emigration and steam will reputation as a winter residence for an speedily call into action those sympa- invading force. And it is only a little thies of which I just now spoke. Incom- of this spirit, differently applied, which parable instruments of peaceful revolu- I have desired to see extend itself to tion, they promise to these magnificent South America. countries the most abundant development for the happiness of the human Under their vigorous impulse solitudes will be peopled, inertness will become action, and the earth will yield its fruits an hundred fold. The travels

race.

NOTE. Mr. Hopkins has used, throughout his memoir, the orthography of the language in which

the different places therein mentioned have been
named. His reasons for declining to anglicize pro-
per names, in reference to geography, may probably
Society.
be made the subject of a future paper before the

ART. VIII.-COMMERCIAL GROWTH OF BOSTON. WE have frequently referred in the pages of the Review to the rapid growth of Boston in all the elements of population and commercial power, and we condensed a great many of our statistics upon this subject into the volumes of Industrial Resources published by us last summer. In order that the subject may be brought down to date, we draw upon the reports of the Shipping List for many interesting particulars, in relation

to the commerce of the year which closed on the 1st January, 1853.

The business of the year, says the Shipping List, shows a good and healthy increase in nearly every department, and, on the whole, has been highly satisfactory. Cotton goods and boots and shoes, the leading articles of our manufacture, have been unusually active throughout the year, and the quantity taken for export and home consumption

largely exceeds that of any previous it fully in force the coming year, we

feel that nearly all branches of our trade will suffer in consequence. It is certainly a new kind of legislation, when the legitimate business of a large number of respectable and upright citizens is interfered with, in order to try a doubtful experiment on the morals of a few erring ones. We hope, however, that our present legislature, while promoting the cause of temperance by all wholesome restraints and laws, will deem it their duty to repeal this unjust and therefore intemperate one.

year. Our Canada neighbors find us so
closely connected with them by rail-
roads, and the means of communication
so easy and rapid, that a larger number
than usual have been induced to visit us,
and have purchased freely of staple ar-
ticles suited to their market; and, in re-
turn, we have consumed and exported
a much larger amount of their produce.
This branch of our trade promises well
for the future. The exports to and the
imports from the British Provinces indi-
cate a very large and healthy increase.
The California trade has been very ac-
tive and prosperous, and attended with
few or none of the disasters of previous ton:
years. A succession of splendid clipper
ships have been promptly dispatched
for that market throughout the year, with 1850.
large and very valuable cargoes of 1849
pro- 1848.
duce and manufactured articles. The
1847
number of clearances will show at a 1846.
glance the extent of our California

The arrivals from foreign ports for ten years past have been as follows at Bos

1852.

1851

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.127....153....524.... 946....1,750

The foreign clearances for the same

1845

1844.

trade:

1843.

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37 period have been as follows:

.98......35.... .166.... .151 1851..

1850.

1849.

1848. 1847

1846.

1845.
1844.

1843..

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95....192. .480....1,214....1,981 102. ..207.. .514....1,344....2,167 92....203. .520....1,166....1,981 78....149....477.... 883....1,587

The coastwise arrivals, and the clearances, as far as known, as many are not entered at the custom-house, for a number of years, have been as follows:

1851.

1848.

Although the number of vessels is less
than in 1850 and 1849, it should be re-
membered that, the past year, they were
nearly all large clipper ships, from 1,000
to 2,500 tons burthen, while in 1850 and
1849 they were generally moderate sized
vessels. Every other leading branch
of our business has also equally increas-
ed during the year. Statements to the
prejudice of our merchants, circulated
south and west, have failed to divert or
embarrass any of our trade. But, while 1852.
our business men are thus successfully 1850.
contending against attacks from abroad, 1849.
and doing all in their power to promote 1847
the interests and prosperity of our city, 1846.
it is to be regretted that they have to
meet with unlooked-for obstacles at
home. Our legislators have deemed it
necessary to enact very stringent laws-
heretofore looked upon as foreign to the
purposes of legislation-having a ten-
dency to interfere with and embarrass
several branches of our manufacture
and foreign trade, and materially injure
the business of the city. The law known
as the "Maine Liquor Law" has as yet
been inoperative and its influence un-
felt; but as there is a disposition to put

1845.

1844.

1843.

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Cotton Trade-Dyewoods-Dry Goods-Coal-Provisions. 253

The exports to foreign and coastwise ports have been as follows:

To Rio la Plata, &c....

Packages.

Value.

782....

36,904 11

"Rio Janeiro..

1,026...

64,181 25

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"Africa

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70,759

1851.

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....22,998.

63,471

"Cape of Good Hope....

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.28,536.

51,574

"Fayal....

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"Pacific Ocean.

28

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1,660 24

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32,194 03

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21,090 40

..25,098...... 116,713

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2,600 00

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"Hayti.

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"Provinces

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"Rio Hache

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.bales....131,877

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66

Mobile....

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42,935

"Turk's Island.

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.... 12,929

"Aspinwall..

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30,660

"Bermuda.

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204,232

1849.

33,309....

1,600,457 65

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155,076

1848.

50,952.... 2,266,392 84

270,693

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239,958 COAL.-The imports of foreign coal at

198,932 this port have been as follows:

193,549

187,619

175,529 From Great Britain.

151,090 46 Provinces.

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1847. 1846.

DYEWOODS. - St. Domingo logwood has been sold during the year at from $11 a $13 25 per ton, duty paid; sapan wood from $30 a $40; and Cuba fustic $34 a $39 per ton. The imports for three years have been as follows:

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7,552.... 19,067

5,050.... 17,800

The imports from domestic ports have been as follows: From Philadelphia.

66 Alexandria.

Tons. 360,869....

Bushels.

8,537..

66

66

66

Baltimore
Other places.
Virginia..

37,219.

24,645..

14,000

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........tons....10,998....7,789 ...12,431 46 1851
463... 675.... 1,466 66
..pieces....12,360....4,693....15,530 66 1849.

1850..

Sapan wood.....tons.... 371.... 449.... 265 66 1848.

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The exports for three years have been:

1847

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1846.

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.289,571.. 52,375

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277
171.
186
205.... 331.... 567

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PROVISIONS.-The receipts of provi

sions have been as follows:

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Packages.

Value.

Pork.

"South America...

26,677.... $1,252,051 08
23,603...

Hams.

"Sandwich Islands..

315

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1,125,205 89
22,771 52 Lard.
77,676 84
35,560 18 Cheese.
37,740 84
2,159 40
3,119 52
36,649 00

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66

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.bbls.. 28,115.... 32,365.... 38,042 .bbls.. 72,016.... 76,004...146,545 .casks.. 7,916.. 7,759.... 12,237 .bbls.. 2,049.... 3,559.... 4,841

bbls.. 37,658..

41,926... 51,333

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........tons.. 607.

730..

Butter.

tubs..199,814.

.169,113.

749 70,104

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"Buenos Ayres.

778

1,200.... 60,110 26 Hogs.......(No. of).. 37,332.... 30,964.... 36,766

bbls.. 1,356..

546.

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..drums.. 2,856.

5,30.

bbls..

321.

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Cheese, foreign..

66 coast wise.....

FISH.-The inspection returns of mackerel have not yet been completed, but as far as received indicate a material falling off compared with the last few years. This is owing in part to the impediments thrown in the way of our fishermen by the British authorities. Prices have ruled unusually high, in consequence of the limited supplies and the increased demand for consumption. The current rates for mackerel, early in the year, were $8 25 for No. 1; $6 50 a $6 75 for No. 2; $5 for No. 3, large sizes; and $4 25 and $3 75 for No. 2 and 3, small sizes; but prices soon advanced, and the bulk of the sales during the year have been made at $2 a $4 per bbl. advance on the opening prices. The highest and lowest prices obtained the past two years were as follows:

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Pollock..

66

Hake.

66

Haddock...

Fish..

66

66

...bdls.. 729.

The export of fish for three years past has been as follows:

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Lemons...... ..bxs.. 49,711. 32,570
Oranges......
1851.
.bxs.. 94,626.
Figs. ......drums..296,891.

34,661

...108,877

65,043

.325,707

.244,793

66

cases.. 2,521....

2,114.

1,523

46

Raisins. ......casks.. 16,402. 28.374..
......drums.. 9,171. 5,518.
........bxs..164.753.

20,678

4,683

.180,802... 187,679

11 00... 8 75... 6 50... 625
8 00... 5 25... 5 00... 4 25
66
year

FLOUR.-The receipts have been as follows:

By rail-road-Western.

Codfish have been sold during the from $2 50 a $4 25 for large, and $1 87 a $3 for small, an unusually light stock, in May last, causing prices to run up to the highest figures. The principal sales have been at $3 a $3 50 for large, and $2 a $250 for small, which is from 25 a 50c. per qtl. higher than the current rates By of last year. Hake and haddook have been sold from $1 25 a $2 25 per qtl.

The import of mackerel from the Provinces, for six years past, has been as follows:

66

46

Northern.
Fitchburg.

Boston & Maine....bbls..

water-From New-York.

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bbls.. 250,811

.bbls..

45,669

.bbls.. 148,292

98,817

.bbls.. 57,997

Albany.

.bbls..

15,065

New-Orleans....bbls..
Fredericksburg....bbls..

67,460

32,483

Georgetown. ..bbls..

19,410

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Alexandría.. .....bbls..

17,996

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Richmond.

bbls..

67,364

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Other ports in Va.. bbls..

5,120

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Philadelphia.... .bbls..

14,038

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Baltimore...

..... bbls..

40,721

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bbls..

15.211

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bbls.. 896,454

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..41,856

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The imports of other kinds of fish from the Provinces show a very large increase compared with previous years, as follows:

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.bbls.. 773,512

.bbls.. 761,148 .bbls..1,026,309 .bbls.. 935,578 bbls..1,027,719

66 1846.

..bbls.. 750,432

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..bbls.. 686,586

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..bbls.. 610,964

1852.

1851.

1850.

1849.

1848

1847.

Receipts and Exports of Flour-Tobacco and Molasses.

From the records of the Western Railroad, we copy the following comparative monthly statement of the receipts of flour for the past five years:

255

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COMPARATIVE MONTHLY STATEMENT OF THE RECEIPTS OF FLOUR FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

Jan.

Feb

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March.

5,423 ..

4,580%.. 4,950

April

6,947

4,739%..

1,448%..

1.461%..
6,372.

9,060

4,236

May.

38.846.

27,011

.. 38,893.. 39,305 ..

17,836

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.. 38,481
9,606 22,690 %.. 15,436
.. 22,791%.. 13,329%.. 17,151
.. 31,807.. 11,778

.. 34,759

.. 28,346

20,537

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70,396. 77,357%.. 30,151.. .. 51.805

71.332..101,2743%..106,700%.. 51,169

Dec..... 18,090.. 33.784.. 36,495.. 11,887

Total....364,372

343,507% 367,808 242,466

.. 21,500.

23,1311

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.. 31,120

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MOLASSES.-The quantity taken by distillers during the year comprises 39,000 hhds. of all kinds, of which about

The exports of flour have been as fol- 27,500 hhds. were sour Cuba at 16 a 19 c.,

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the principal sales from 16 a 181c. In 1851, 35,000 hhds. were taken, sour Cuba selling from 17 a 20; in 1850, 31,500 hhds. at 17 a 23c.; in 1849, 29,000 hhds. at 17 a 21c.; and in 1848, 26,650 hhds. at 15 a 20c. for Cuba. The import 115,316 of the year shows a considerable falling 153,933 off compared with last year. The stock 186,728 of all kinds now at hand is 1,500 hhds., 159,117 against 3,100 hhds. in 1851, 5,000 hhds. TOBACCO.-The stock of leaf tobacco 1850, and 3,500 hhds. in 1849. The imin first hands is 700 hhds. against 900 ports have been as follows: hhds. in 1851, 600 hhds. in 1850, 800 hhds. in 1849, 1,250 hhds. in 1848, and 1,500 hhds. in 1847. The imports have been as follows:

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1848.

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