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TABULAR COMPARATIVE STATEMENT, SHOWING THE DECLARED VALUE OF COTTON MANUFACTURES OF ALL KINDS, AND COTTON YARNS, EXPORTED FROM GREAT BRITAIN, FROM 1840 To 1850, BOTH INCLUSIVE.

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FRANCE. Cotton constitutes in value more than two-thirds of the domestic exports of the United States to France. By virtue of the treaty of 1822 it is imported, like all other "articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States," on the same terms, whether in United States or national vessels; but the importation must be direct, and the origin of the article duly authenticated. A ministerial decree of December 17, 1851, enlarges the provisions of the treaty relative to the direct voyage, so far as to extend the equality between the vessels of the two nations when importing cotton, even should the American vessel touch at a British port; but, in that event, the captain is required to exhibit a certificate from the French Consul at that port, stating that no commercial transaction there took place.

The French Government is directing its efforts to the development and extension of the cotton culture in its colonial province of Algeria To that end, in December, 1853, an aggregate value of 20,000 francs, in prizes, was offered by the Emperor to the most successful cultivator of cotton in that province. The result is announced as most favorable. In December, 1854, the entire sum was divided between three rivals, whose merits were judged equal-two of them being French colonists and one an Arab-a gold medal to each being also awarded. To the meritorious of the second rank a silver medal to each was presented.

Next to Great Britain, France is the largest importer of American cotton; and what Liverpool is to the former, Havre is to the latter. At those two points the importations are concentrated, and thence distributed to the different markets of either empire, or are re-exported to foreign countries. The re-exportations of France are chiefly to Switzerland, by railway; next to which country in this trade come Sardinia and Holland; small quantities being sent also to Spain, Austria, and Italy. Next to the United States, France derives her supplies of cotton from the Levant; and the third place is held by South America.

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SPAIN. This kingdom takes from the United States about four-fifths of all her cotton, the quantity, during the last five years, reaching an average of thirty-four

million pounds per annum, and showing an increase on the five years immediately preceding. Next to the United States, Spain imports cotton from Brazil, while her West India possessions hold a third rank in the trade.

HANSE TOWNS. The States of Germany are supplied with the cotton consumed in their factories chiefly through the Hanseatic cities, Hamburg and Bremen. Bremen sent to the Zollverein in 1853 cotton imported direct from the United States to the value of $984,772 14, and to Austria to the value of $156,153 21. The factories of Prussia and Saxony are numerous, and import not only the raw material from these cities, but also large quantities of yarns. The number of spindles in operation in the States composing the Zollverein is estimated at upwards of 1,000,000. This is doubtless an under-estimate, as the industrial enterprise of the Zollverein has made rapid progress since the date of the official document from which these figures are derived. The export of cotton tissues from the Zollverein in 1853, amounted in value to $2,394,497 34, of which amount $2,075,299 68 in value came from the factories of Saxony.

The Hanse Towns, from geographical position, are, and must always continue to be, the great marts from which raw materials of all description will be supplied to the States of the Germanic Commercial Union. Hence exports of American cotton and tobacco to these points are heavy and constantly increasing. These commercial cities receive their supplies of raw cotton not only from the United States in the direct trade, as well as from Brazil and other countries of South America, but also, in the indirect trade, from English ports and other entrepots of Europe. In 1855 the Zollverein sent through the Hanse ports to the United States cotton fabrics to the value of more than a million-and-a-half dol-· lars in return for the raw material.

BELGIUM. Most of the cotton imported into Belgium is from the United States, and is consumed in her own factories at Ghent, Liege, Antwerp, Malines, &c., which are said to employ a capital of twelve million dollars, and more than 122,000 operatives, and to turn out an annual value of seventeen million dollars in fabrics which are in high repute. * *

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SARDINIA. Sardinia imports on an average some four or five million pounds of cotton each year from England and France, and about the same quantity from the United States; although in 1855 the importation from the latter country suddenly rose, from 1,645,372 lbs. the preceding year, to 14,777.765 lbs. There seems no sufficient reason why American vessels should not convey the whole quantity required by Sardinia directly to Genoa, as well as for English or French vessels to carry thither a portion of American cargoes landed at Liverpool or Havre. A similar remark is applicable to the other ports of Italy, and to those of Austria on the Adriatic; and the enterprise of establishing lines of ocean steamers between ports of the United States and those of the Mediterranean will, if successful, tend greatly to encourage, if not secure, such direct importation.

SWITZERLAND. Four-fifths of all the cotton consumed by the factories of Switzerland is estimated to be imported at Havre, whence it passes through France by railway, being burdened with heavy charges in the transit. In 1833 the quantity thus received amounted to nearly 6,000,000 pounds; in 1843 it had reached nearly 17,000,000 lbs. The entire receipt of cotton in 1843 was 22,000,000 pounds. In 1851 it amounted to 27,035,725 lbs., of which 13,729,320 lbs. were from the United States. In 1852 Switzerland received through France 15,816,775 lbs.; in 1853, 15,815,473 lbs. ; and in 1854, 14,978,257 lbs., according to the "Tableau General" of France for those years.

Imports from the United States into Switzerland are made for the most part through the customs frontiers of Berne, Solcure, Basle, and Argovic, bordering on France and the southern part of Germany.

A severe restriction on the importation of cotton and also of tobacco to Switzerland, as well as on the reception by the United States of Swiss wares and manufactures in return, is the vexatious and expensive transitage especially through France. The oppression of this system may be inferred from the fact that the annual aggregate value of merchandise on which transit tolls are paid

proceeding from Switzerland is [1853] nearly thirty millions of dollars, and the value of that proceeding to that republic more than half as much. Switzerland sent, in transitu to France, cotton tissues to the value of nearly three millions of dollars in 1852, and to the value of nearly four millions in 1853. By the French tariff such fabrics are excluded from France for consumption. Since 1845 Switzerland is stated officially to have quite superseded, in the markets of Germany and Austria, the yarns of Great Britain. În 1830 that republic had in operation 400,000 spindles; in 1840, 750,000; and in 1850, 950,000, the number being more than doubled in twenty years.

According to Swiss official custom-house reports that Republic received cotton from the United States as follows the years specified :

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In return, cotton stuffs, as follows, were sent to the United States:

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In 1855 Switzerland returned to the United States, in exchange for raw cotton, the same article manufactured to the value of $212,700.

RUSSIA. Before the breaking out of the late war the manufacture of cotton in the Russian Empire was progressing with extraordinary activity. The number of spindles exceeded 350,000, producing annually upwards of 10,800,000 pounds of cotton yarns. The barter trade with the Chinese at Kiachta stimulates this branch of manufactures in Russia, as the article of cotton velvets constitutes the leading staple of exchange at that point for the teas and other merchandise of China. In former years this article was supplied almost exclusively by Great Britain, but the Chinese prefer the Russian manufacture, and hence the steady progress of that branch of industry. Thus the annually increasing importations of the raw material, and consequent diminution in the quantities of cotton yarns imported, is accounted for. Were raw cotton admitted, as in England, free of duty, the United States would most probably supply, in the direct trade, the whole quantity consumed in that empire. As it is, the commercial reforms in Russia, already announced officially and now in progress, comprehending as they do the establishment of American houses at St. Petersburgh, must necessarily tend to that result.

There are at present in Russia, or there were previously to the war, 495 cotton factories, employing 112,427 operatives, and producing annually 40,907,736 pounds of yarns and corresponding amounts of textiles.

SWEDEN. The importation of cotton in 1851, according to Swedish official authorities, amounted to 7,989,428 pounds, against 1,832,431 pounds in 1841, and 794,434 pounds in 1831. In 1843 these authorities show an importation of 2,600.000 pounds, against 9,883,572 pounds in 1853, which latter amount exceeded that of the importation of 1852 by 1,247,041 pounds, and that of 1850 by more than 5,200,000 pounds, being the largest of any preceding year. In 1848 the amount was 8,074,020 pounds.

The value of cotton manufactures exported from Sweden in 1850 was $46,000, against $7,500 only in 1851.

PORTUGAL. This kingdom imported 1,911,451 pounds of cotton in 1855, of which quantity 144,006 were exported from the United States and the residue from Brazil. In 1853-54, according to Brazilian official reports, Portugal received thence 2,673,766 pounds of cotton. Her imports of yarn in 1855 were 1,213,157 pounds, valued at $171,817 07, and paying an aggregate of duties of $61,142 84. BRAZIL. The exportations of cotton from Brazil in 1843-4, and 1853-4, are stated by Brazilian official authorities as follows :—

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In 1852-53 the exportation amounted to 31,933,050 pounds, of which quantity Great Britain received 26,881,201, Spain 2,291,578 pounds, Portugal 1,896,286 pounds, and France 889,048 pounds. Of the total exportation in 1853-54, Great Britain received 22,575,122 pounds, Spain 2,351,279 pounds, Portugal 2,673,766 pounds, and France 543,611 pounds.

There are insuperable drawbacks to the extension of cotton culture in Brazil, among which may be reckoned the ravages of insects, the peculiarities of the climate, and the expense and difficulties attendant upon its transmission from the interior to the coast. It has long since been ascertained in Brazil that the cotton plant will not flourish near to the sea, and the plantations have in consequence receded further inland, as well to avoid this difficulty as to seek new and fresh lands. Pernambuco is the principal cotton-growing province of Brazil. The exports were, according to Brazilian authorities:

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EGYPT. The cotton culture in Egypt commenced in 1818. The comparative tabular statement subjoined, derived from official sources, showing the quantities exported at the port of Alexandria, and the countries to which exported, respectively, for a period of three years, from 1853 to 1855, both inclusive, would indicate an increase in the culture by no means rapid in successive years :—

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If to the aggregate exported be added from five to six millions of pounds worked up in the country, a liberal estimate of the annual amount of the cotton crop of Egypt will have been made. The factories established by Mehemit Ali are, it is stated, going rapidly to ruin. The cotton goods manufactured are coarse "caftas," or soldiers' "nizam" uniform. Much cotton is used also in making up divans, the usual furniture in Egypt. The Egyptian bale is estimated at Alexandria at 300 lbs. The United States Consul General at that port, in a dispatch dated the 1st instant, from which are derived the above facts, says :-" crop is now coming in, and is supposed to be a little above the average." CAPACITY OF THE COTTON BALE. The commercial standard of quantity in the cotton trade is generally the bale. The weight of the bale, however, is by no means uniform. Indeed, scarcely any weight, measure, or standard of capacity may be considered less so. It varies, from different causes, in different countries, and in different sections of the same country, at different periods, and according to the different kinds or qualities of the article. Improvements in pressing and packing, to diminish expense in bagging and freight, tend constantly to augment the weight of the bale. Thus, in 1790, the United States bale was computed at only 200 lbs. In 1824 the average weight of bales imported into Liverpool was 266 lbs,; but, increasing constantly, twelve years later the average was 319 lbs. McCulloch, however, in 1832, considered 300 to 310 lbs. a fair average, and Burns 310. At the same time the Upland cotton bale was estimated at 320 lbs., and the Sea Island at 280 lbs. According to Pitkins, the Egyptian bale weighed at one time but 90 lbs., though it now weighs more than three times as many. At the same period the Brazilian bale contained 180 lbs., though it now contains but 160 lbs.; while the West Indian bale weighed 350 lbs., and the Columbian bale 101 lbs., or the Spanish quintal. According to Burns, the United States bale at Liverpool averaged 345 lbs.; the Brazilian 180 lbs.; the Egyptian 220 lbs. ;

One bale weighs 160 pounds.

the West Indian 300 lbs.; and the East Indian 330 lbs. At the Lowell factories in 1831, according to Pitkins, the bale averaged 361 lbs. In 1836 the bale of the Atlantic cotton States was estimated at 300 and 325 lbs., and that of the Gulf States at 400 and 450 lbs. In Liverpool, at the same time, the estimate for the bale of Upland or short staple cotton was 321 lbs.; for Orleans and Alabama 402 lbs.; for Sea Island 322 lbs.; for Brazil 173 lbs.; for Egyptian 218 lbs.; for East Indian 360 lbs., and for West Indian 230 lbs. ; while, according to Burns, bales imported into France were computed at only 300 lbs. each. Waterstone's "Manual of Commerce," a reliable British publication, (1855,) gives the Virginia, Carolina, Georgia, and West Indian bale at 300 to 310 lbs.; that of New Orleans and Alabama at 400 to 500 lbs.; that of the East Indies at 320 to 360 lbs.; that of Brazil at 160 to 200 lbs.; that of Egypt at 180 to 280 lbs.

Alexander's "Universal Dictionary of Weights and Measures" gives the bale of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi at 500 lbs.; that of Georgia at 375 lbs. ; and that of South Carolina at 362 lbs. At Rio de Janeiro the Brazil bale is estimated at 160 lbs.

Prior to 1855 the United States, "Commerce and Navigation," gave exports of cotton in pounds only. They are now given in bales as well as in pounds, the aggregate amount the year ending June 30, 1855, being 2.303,403 bales, or 1,008,424, 601 lbs. the bale accordingly averaging about 438 lbs. Some bales, however, are evidently much heavier and some much lighter than this. For example, the 210,113,809 lbs. of cotton exported to France, give 446 lbs. to each of the 470,293 bales; and the 955,114 lbs. exported to Austria, give 492 lbs. to each of the 1,939 bales; while the 7,527,079 lbs. exported to Mexico, give only 290 lbs. to each of the 25,917 bales in which they were contained.

The relative average weights and cubical contents of bales of cotton imported into Liverpool in 1852, are thus given :—

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These figures show not only the great variety of bales that enter Liverpool, but that the most eligible form of bale is that of the East Indies-double the weight being packed within the same compass in any other description of bale.

In the great cotton marts of Liverpool and Havre, as in those of New Orleans and Mobile, the article is almost invariably treated of by merchants, brokers, and commercial men by the bale. Thus a report on the trade of Liverpool gives the imports of cotton into Great Britain in 1852 at 2,357,338 bales. The aggregate of cotton imported that year is given in the official report by the Board of Trade at 929,782,448 lbs., the bales averaging accordingly 395 lbs. each.

The annual Commercial" Revue" of Havre gives the number of bales of cotton imported into France the same year (1852) at 462,300, in round numbers. The "Tableau General" gives the imports at 188,917,099 lbs., the bales averaging accordingly about 409 lbs. each.

The following table, compiled from the Havre Commercial " Revue," (1855,) referred to, shows the quantities of cotton in bales, imported into France, and the countries whence imported, for a period of five years, from 1851 to 1855, both inclusive:

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Estimating the bale at 400 pounds, we have the following statement, some of the figures of which, contrasted with those derived from official sources in the statement already given, (III,) present striking discrepancies :—

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