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or the Fleet, or remained in prison without petitioning for relief, he continued most probably to enjoy the income arising from that property without molestation.

"The law, no doubt, said that creditors should be authorised to seize the debtor's lands and goods; a description which an unlearned person would be apt to conclude was abundantly comprehensive but the law used to be so interpreted, that neither funded property, money, nor securities for money, was considered goods: if the debtor had a copyhold estate, it could not be touched in any way whatever; if his estate were freehold, the creditor might, after a tedious process, receive the rents and profits, but no more, during the lifetime of his debtor. If the debtor died before judgment against him in a court had been obtained, then, unless the debt were on bond, the creditor had no recourse upon the land left by the debtor, whatever might be its tenure; nay, though his money, borrowed on note or bill, had been laid out in buying land, the debtor's heir took that land wholly discharged of the debt!' *

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In consequence of the facilities thus afforded for swindling, an individual known to have a large income, and enjoying a proportionally extensive credit, was able, if he went to Paris or Brussels, or confined himself within the rules of the King's Bench or the Fleet, to defraud his creditors of every farthing he owed them, without their being entitled to touch any part of his fortune. All owners of funded, monied, and copyhold property, had thus, in fact, a licence given them to cheat with impunity: the only wonder is, not that some did, but that a vast number more did not, avail themselves of this singular privilege.

"But we are glad to have to state, that this preposterous system has been materially changed within the last dozen years. The acts 3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 104. and the 1 & 2 Vict. c. 110. have made copyhold as well as freehold estates, with the monied, funded, and other property, of deceased and living debtors, against whom judgment has been obtained, available for the satisfaction of their just debts. Hence it is no longer in the power of any knave, who might choose to reside abroad or in prison, to preserve his property from the grasp of those to whom he is really indebted. Indeed, there is now little to object to in this peculiar department of the law, unless it be the expensive machinery (Court of Chancery) under which the administration of a deceased debtor's effects is conducted in litigated cases. Speaking generally, however, the various proceedings with respect to bankruptcy and insolvency are still, perhaps from their extreme difficulty, in an unsatisfactory state; and it is probable they will, at no distant date, be materially changed."-(See the Principles of Political Economy, by the author of this work, 3d. ed. pp. 270-279.)

BARCALAO, or BACALAO, the Spanish name for cod.

BARCELONA, the capital of Catalonia, and the principal town of Spain, on the Mediterranean, lat. 41° 22′ 58′′" N., long. 2° 8' 11" E. It is a strongly fortified, wellbuilt city. The population is supposed to amount to about 120,000. Barcelona is eminently distinguished in the history of the middle ages for the zeal, skill, and success with which her citizens prosecuted commercial adventures at a very early period. She would seem also to be entitled to the honour of having compiled and promulgated the famous code of maritime law known by the name of the Consolato del Mare; and the earliest authentic notices of the practice of marine insurance and of the negotiation of bills of exchange are to be found in her annals. † Catalonia has continued, amidst all the vicissitudes it has undergone, to be the most industrious of the Spanish provinces. Several extensive manufactures have been established in Barcelona, especially of cotton, and no fewer than 23 steam engines were erected in Catalonia in 1842, the greater number being in Barcelona. Latterly, however, her commerce, owing to a variety of causes, but principally to oppressive restrictions on the importation of foreign goods, the emancipation of South America, and internal dissensions, has very much declined.

The Harbour, which is naturally bad, is formed by a mole or jetty, which has recently been a good deal enlarged, running out to a considerable distance in a southerly direction, and having a light-house and sone batteries near its extremity. The depth of water within the mole is from 18 to 20 feet; but there is a bar between the mole and Monjui, which has frequently not more than 10 feet water; and which would, it is believed, entirely shut up the harbour, were it not occasionally lowered by means of dredging machines. Vessels in the harbour moor at a short distance from the mole; where, though exposed to the southerly gales, they are so well protected that no accident of any consequence has taken place since the dreadful storm of 1821. Large ships must anchor outside the mole, and in winter are much incom. moded by winds. Vessels entering the harbour are under no obligation to take a pilot on board; but they are always in attendance, and it is generally deemed safest to have their assistance in passing the

bar.

* Brougham's "Speech on the State of the Law," p. 108.

For proofs of this, see the articles MARITIME LAW, INSURANCE, &c. in this Dictionary. The Memorias Historicas sobre la Marina, Comercio, &c. de Barcelona, by Capmany, in 4 vols. 4to, is one of the most valuable and authentic works that has been published on the commerce, arts, and commercial and mari. time legislation of the middle ages. The first volume is the most interesting, at least to the general reader, the others consisting principally of extracts from the archives of the city. There is a brief but pretty good account of the early trade of Barcelona, drawn principally from Capmany, in the work of Depping, Histoire du Commerce entre le Levant et l'Europe depuis les Croisades, &c. tom. i. c. 5.

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Taking the real at 4d., this would be 91. 11. 24. on the Spanish ship, and 557. on the British do.

Compassion is at the rate of 2 per cent. on goods shipped, and 2 per cent on those received on consignment. Goods are sometimes sold for ready money, and sometimes on credit for 3 or 4 months; mercantile discount is 4 per cent. per month. There are no banking establishments in Barcelona.

Insurance on ships is effected by individuals, but insurances on houses, lives, &c. are ur known here.

Tares. At the Custom-house, real tares only are allowed; and the nett weights must be rigorously manifested. A sur.

plus of 3 per cent. Is, however, allowed to cover any inexact. ness in the proportion between foreign and Spanish weights; but if the weight of any parcel should turn out to be 3 per cent. greater than is marked in the manifest, the surplus is seized, at the same time that the importer loses the benet of the 3 per cent. allowed by law, and becomes liable to the penalties of smuggling. The tares usually allowed by merchants are, on Havannah sugar 13 per cent.; on coffee 2 per cent., exclusive of the barrel, bag, &c. in which it is contained; on cocoa and pepper 2 per cent.; Pernambuco cotton 4 lbs. per bale; other cotton 1 lb. per cwt.

Sea-stores of all sorts are dear at Barcelona, but they may always be obtained. Beef costs about 7d. per ib., and biscuit about 8 dollars per cwt.

Money Accounts are kept in libras of 20 sueldos, 210 dineros, or 480 mullas. The libras is likewise divided into reals de plata Catalan, of 3 sueldos each; and into reales ardites, of? sueldos each. Hence, 67 of the former, or 10 of the latter,=1 libra Catalan.

The libra Catalan is 28. 4d. sterling nearly.

The peso duro, or hard dollar, is valued at 37 sueldos Catalan, eight suen dollars making 15 libras.

Weights and Measures. There are endless discrepancies amongst the weights and measures in the different Spanish provinces, and there is a very great discrepancy in the accounts of the authors who have written upon them. The following statements are taken from Nelkenbrecher :

The quintal is divided into 4 arrobas, or 104 lbs. of 12 oz. to the pound. The pound = 6,171 English grains 4 kilog. =325'6 as of Holland. 100 lbs. of Barcelona = 88 215 lbs. avoirdupois.

The yard, named cana, is divided into 8 palmos, of 4 quartos, and is 21 inches very nearly. Hence, 100 ranas=53-199 metres=77.5 yards of Amsterdam = 55:514 English yards.

The quartera, or measure for grain, is divided into 12 cor. tanes and 48 picolins. 100 quarteras = 23-536, or 234 Winchester quarters.

The carga, or measure for liquids, is divided into 12 cortanes or arrobus, 24 cortarinas, and 72 mitudeilas. It is 32-7 English wine gallons. 4 cargas 1 pipe. The pipe of Majorca oil contains 107 cortanes.

Imports. -The principal articles of import are raw cotton; sugar, coffee, cocoa, and other colonial products, principally from Cuba and Porto Rico, salted fish, hides, and horns; iron and hardware, &c. Most species of manufactured goods are prohibited; but it is needless to add that they are notwithstanding largely imported into this as into most other parts of Spain. The trade with the colonies, France, and the coasting trade is pretty active. The imports from England are not very considerable, and the exports little or nothing. In 1842, no fewer than 3,667 vessels entered the port; but these were mostly coasters of small size, the burden of the whole being only 189,117 tons.

Exports. The principal exports are wrought silks, soap, fire-arms, paper, hats, laces, ribands, steel, &c. But no vessels, except a few that take on board manufactured goods for the Spanish West Indies, are loaded here; and even this trade is much fallen off. Upwards of 2,000 hands used formerly to be employed in the city in the manufacture of shoes for the colonies; but their export has now nearly ceased. The principal articles of native produce that Catalonia has to export are most conveniently shipped at Villanova, Tarragona, and Salon. They consist of wine, brandy, nuts, almonds, cork bark, wool, fruits, &c. Of these, Cuba takes annually about 12,000 pipes of wine, worth at an average 41. per pipe, and about 3,000 pipes of brandy, worth 87. per do.; South America, 16,000 pipes of wine, and 6,000 do. brandy; the north of Europe, 2,000 pipes of wine, and 2.000 do. brandy. A good deal of brandy is sent to Cadiz and Cette: most part of the former finds its way into the wine vaults of Xeres; and the latter, being conveyed by the canal of Languedoc to the Garonne, is used in the preparation of the wines of Bordeaux. From 25,000 to 30,000 bags of nuts are annually sent from Tarragona to England. Tarragona also exports about 12.000 bags of almonds.

The ships belonging to the port carry on no foreign trade except to the Spanish West Indies; they are few in number, and are daily decreasing. Those engaged in the coasting trade are usually of very small burden.

(We have derived these details from various sources; but principally from Consular Returns, and from Inglis's Spain in 1830, vol. ii. pp. 384-387. and 362.)

BARILLA (Du. Soda; Fr. Soude, Barille; Ger. Soda, Barilla; It. Barriglia; Port. Solda, Barrilha; Rus. Socianka; Sp. Barilla; Arab. Kali), carbonate of soda(see ALKALIFS), is found native in Hungary, Egypt, and many other countries. It is largely used by bleachers, manufacturers of hard soaps, glass-makers, &c. The barilla of commerce consists of the ashes of several marine and other plants growing on the sea-shore. The best, or Alicant barilla, is prepared from the Salsola soda, which is very extensively cultivated for this purpose in the huerta of Murcia, and other places on the eastern shores of Spain. - (Townsend's Travels in Spain, vol. iii. p. 195.) The plants are gathered in September, dried, and burned in furnaces heated so as to bring the ashes into a state of imperfect fusion, when they concrete into hard, dry, cellular masses of a greyish blue colour. Sicily and Teneriffe produce good barilla, but inferior to that of Alicant and Carthagena. Kelp, which is a less pure alkali, is formed by the incineration of the common sea-weed. — (See KELP.)

The Saracens established in Spain seem to have been the first who introduced the manufacture of barilla into Europe. They called the plants employed in its preparation kali; and this, with the Arabic article al prefixed, has given rise to the modern chemical term alkali. Prime quality in barilla is to be distinguished by its strong smell when wetted, and by its whitish colour. Particular attention should be paid to have as little small or dust as possible. The duties on barilla have recently been very considerably reduced.-(See TARIFF.)

The manufacture of artificial soda (soude factice), now very extensively carried on, has occasioned an extraordinary decline in the imports of barilla, the quantity entered for home consumption in 1834, amounting to 237,712 cwt., having been reduced in 1841 to 47,380 cwt.! Considerable quantities used formerly to be imported from Teneriffe, but it now comes principally from Alicant in Spain and Sicily. Thus, of 42,618 cwt. imported in 1841, 20,341 came from Spain, 18,570 from Italy (Sicily), and only 3,696 from the Canaries. The duty on barilla was reduced in 1842 from 27. to 5s. per ton. It remains to be seen what effect this reduction may have on its consumption; but the entries in 1842 were rather less than in 1841.-(See Parl. Papers, No. 261. Sess. 1839, and No. 45. Sess. 1843.)

BARK, the outer rind of plants. There is an immense variety of barks known in

commerce, as cinnamon, Peruvian bark, oak bark, quercitron, &c. The term "bark' is, however, generally employed to express either Peruvian bark, or oak bark; and it is these only that we shall notice in this place.

1. Peruvian or Jesuits' Bark (Fr. Quinquina; Ger. Kron-china; Du. China-bast; Sp. Quina, Quinquina; Lat. Quinquina, Cortez Peruvianus). There are three principal species of this bark known in commerce, which have been elaborately described by Dr. A.T. Thomson, from whose account the following particulars are selected.

The first species is the pale bark of the shops. It is the produce of the Cinchona lancifolia, and is the original cinchona of Peru. It is now very scarce. It is imported in chests covered with skins, each containing about 200 lbs., well packed, but generally mixed with a quantity of dust and other heterogeneous matter. It consists of pieces 8 or 10 inches long, some of them being scarcely one tenth of an inch thick, singly and doubly quilled, or rolled inwards, the quills generally being in size from a swan's quill to an inch and a half. It is internally of a pallid fawn or cinnamon hue, but approximates, on being moistened, to the colour of a pale orange. When in substance it has scarcely any odour, but during decoction the odour is sensible, and agreeably aromatic. The taste is bitter, but not unpleasant, acidulous, and austere.

The second species, or red bark, is obtained from the Cinchona oblongifolia, growing on the Andes. It is imported in chests containing from 100 to 150 lbs. each. It consists of variously sized pieces, most of them flat, but some partially quilled or rolled. The internal part is woody, and of a rust red colour: it has a weak peculiar odour, and its taste is much less bitter, but more austere and nauseous, than that of the other barks.

The third species, or yellow bark of the shops, is obtained from the Cinchona cordifolia, growing in Quito and Santa Fé. It is imported in chests containing from 90 to 100 lbs. each, consisting of pieces 8 or 10 inches long, some quilied, but the greater part flat. The interior is of a yellow colour, passing to orange. It has nearly the same odour in decoction as the pale; the taste is more bitter and less austere, and it excites no astringent feeling when chewed. The goodness decreases when the colour varies from orange yellow to pale yellow; when of a dark colour, between red and yellow, it should be rejected. It is needless to add, that bark is one of the most valuable medical remedies. The Indians were unacquainted with its uses, which seem to have been first discovered by the Jesuits. It was introduced into Europe in 1632, but was not extensively used till the latter part of the seventeenth century. According to M. Humboldt, the Jesuits' bark annually exported from America amounts to from 12,000 to 14, 00 quintals. Of these, 2,000 are furnished by Santa Fé, and 110 by Loxa; Peru furnishing the remainder, which is shipped at Callao, Guayaquil, &c.

2. Oak Bark (Fr. Ecorce de la Chêne, Ger. Eichenrinde; It. Corteccia della Quercia; Lat. Quercis corter). The bark of the common oak is a powerful astringent, and is preferred to all other substances for tanning leather. The bark of the larch is now, however, used for the same purpose. Though the importation of oak bark for tanning has somewhat declined of late years, it is still very considerable. It is impossible, however, to state its exact amount, inasmuch as a species of oak bark, called quercitron, the produce of the Quercus tinctoria, imported from abroad, and used to give a yellow dye to silk and wool, is mixed up in the custom-house returns with bark for tanning. The latter, which is by far the most important, is brought principally from Belgium and Holland, Germany, Italy and Spain, Norway and Australia. Quercitron comes principally from the United States. The quality of bark differs according to the age and size of the tree, the season when it is barked, &c., so much that its price varies from 57. to 107. a ton. The duty on bark for tanning and dyeing, which previously to 1842 was 8d. a cwt. on that imported from a foreign country, was then reduced to 3d. We subjoin an

Account of the Quantities of Bark for Tanning and Dyeing imported into the United Kingdom during the 11 Years ending with 1841, specifying the Countries from whence they came, and the Quantities brought from each (from the Tables published by the Board of Trade).

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1831. 1832. 1833. 1834. 1835. 1836. 1837. 1838. 1839. 1840. 1841.
Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. Cwt..
15,583 3,972 4,122
1,633 1,401
52,257 32,327 20,014 17,484 16,856 24,468 31,79% 25,967 9,731
7,266 4,937 12,515 20,738 13,219 10,851 14,252 11,310 6,772,
110,832 79,535 60,238 72,630 50,686. 44,712 62,452 35,153 16,974
162,699 215,822 164,273 185,167 213,403 186,786 194,163|171,735 178,229,
267,111 310,968 340,355 318,065 335,794 257,978 209,361/191,511|185,457

5,492 15,253 48,150 47,058 21,755 8,000 62,437 76,416

608,304 440,483{

78,067 10,758

9,309 29,696| 95,163 105,684)

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-931,071 774,406 The quantities of Bark entered for consumption,

Years.

1840

1841
1842

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13,400 16 1
(Parl. Paper No. 45. Sess. 1843

We are indebted for the discovery and application of the useful properties of quercitron to Dr. Bancroft. The doctor obtained a patent for his invention in 1775; but the American war breaking out soon after, deprived him of its advantages. In consideration of this circumstance, parliament passed, in 1785, an act (25 Geo. 3. c. 38.) securing to him the privileges conveyed by his patent for 14 years. At the expiration of the latter period the House of Commons agreed to extend the doctor's privilege for an additional 7 years, but the House of Lords rejected the bill. Like too many discoverers, Dr. Bancro.t profited but little by his invention, though it has been of great use to the arts and manufactures of the country. (See Bancroft on Permanent Colours, vol. ii. p. 112., and the Report of the Committee of the House of Commons on Patents, Appendix, p. 175.)

Oak bark, the produce of Europe, is not to be imported into the United Kingdom for home consumption, except in British ships, or in ships of the country of which it is the produce, or in ships of the country from which it is imported, on pain of forfeiting the goods, and 1001. by the master of the vessel. (3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 54.)

BARLEY (Fr. Orge; Ger. Gerstengraupen; Du. Ryg; It. Orzo; Sp. Cebada ; Rus. Fatschmea; Lat. Hordeum; Arab. Dhourru; Hind. Jow), a species of bread-corn (Hordeum Lin.), of which there are several varieties. It is extensively cultivated in most European countries, and in most of the temperate districts of Asia and Africa. It may also be raised between the tropics; but not at a lower elevation than from 3,000

to 4,000 feet, and then it is not worth cultivating.

Large quantities of barley have been, for a lengthened period, raised in Great Britain. Recently, however, its cultivation has been supposed, though probably on no good grounds, to be declining. In 1765, Mr. Charles Smith estimated the number of barley consumers in England and Wales at 739,000; and as a large proportion of the population of Wales, Westmoreland, and Cumberland continue to subsist chiefly on barley bread, we are inclined to think that this estimate may not, at present, be very wide of the mark. But the principal demand for barley in Great Britain is for conversion into malt, to be used in the manufacture of ale, porter, and British spirits; and though its consumption in this way has not certainly increased proportionally to the increase of wealth and population, still there does not seem to be any grounds for supposing that it has diminished. Barley is also extensively used in fattening black cattle, hogs, and poultry. It now generally follows turnips, and is a very important crop in the rotation best adapted to light soils. The principal barley counties of England are Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Bedford, Herts, Leicester, Nottingham, the upper parts of Hereford, Warwick, and Salop. The produce varies, according to soil, preparation, season, &c., from about 20 to 60 or 70 bushels an acre. The most usual crop is from 28 to 36 or 38 bushels. The Winchester bushel of good English barley generally weighs about 50 lbs., but the best Norfolk barley sometimes weighs 53 or 54 lbs. Its produce in flour is about 12 lbs. to 14 lbs grain. Barley is a tender plant, and easily hurt in any stage of its growth. It is more hazardous than wheat, and is, generally speaking, raised at a greater expense; so that its cultivation should not be attempted except when the soil and climate are favourable for its growth. —(For details as to the prices of barley, the quantities imported and exported, &c., see CORN LAWS AND CORN TRADE. And for further details as to its consumption and culture, see Smith's Tracts on the Corn Trade, 2d ed. p. 182.; Brown on Rural Affairs, vol. ii. p. 42.; Loudon's Encyc. of Agriculture, &c.)

BARRATRY, in navigation, is, in its most extensive sense, any fraudulent or unlawful act committed by the master or mariners of a ship, contrary to their duty to their owners, and to the prejudice of the latter. It appears to be derived from the Italian word barratrare, to cheat. It may be committed by running away with a ship, wilfully carrying her out of the course prescribed by the owners, delaying or defeating the voyage, deserting convoy without leave, sinking or deserting the ship, embezzling the cargo, smuggling, or any other offence whereby the ship or cargo may be subjected to arrest, detention, loss, or forfeiture.

It is the practice in most countries to insure against barratry. Most foreign jurists hold, that it comprehends every fauit which the master and crew can commit, whether it arise from fraud, negligence, unskilfulness, or mere imprudence. But in this country it is ruled, that no act of the master or crew shall be deemed barratry, unless it proceed from a criminal or fraudulent motive.

"Barratry can only be committed by the master and mariners by some act contrary to their duty in the relation in which they stand to the owners of the ship. It is, therefore, an offence against them, and consequently an owner himself cannot commit barratry. He may, by his fraudulent conduct, make himself liable to the owner of the goods on board, but not for barratry. Neither can barratry be committed against the owner with his consent; for though he may be liable for any loss or damage occasioned by the misconduct of the master to which he consents, yet this is not barratry. Nothing is more clear than that a man can never set up as a crime an act done by his own direction or consent."-(Marshall on Insurance, book i. c. 12. §6.)

When, therefore, the owner of a ship is also the master, no act of barratry can be committed; for no man can commit a fraud against himself.

It is a maxim in law, that fraud shall not be presumed, but must be clearly proved; and it is a rule in questions of insurance, that he who charges barratry must substantiate it by conclusive evidence.

It is not necessary, to render an act barratrous, that it should be committed with a criminal intent as respects the owners, in order to injure them, or to benefit the captain or crew. It may even be committed with a view to promote the owner's interests; for an illegal act done without the authority or privity of the owners, and which proves detrimental to them, is barratry, whatever be the motives in which it originated. Lord Ellenborough, in an able judgment, has laid it down as clear law," that a breach of duty by the master in respect of his owners, with a fraudulent or criminal intent, or ex maleficio, is barratry; that it makes no difference whether this act of the master be induced by motives of advantage to himself, malice to the owner, or a disregard of those laws which it was his duty to obey; and that it is not for him to judge or suppose, in cases not intrusted to his discretion, that he is not breaking the trust reposed in him, when he endeavours to advance the interests of his owners by means which the law forbids, and which his owners also must be taken to have forbidden."

The circumstance of the owners of ships being permitted to insure against the barratry of the master and mariners can hardly fail, it may be not uncharitably presumed, of rendering them less scrupulous in their inquiries with respect to their character than they would otherwise be. Perhaps, therefore, it might be expedient to prohibit such insurances, or to lay some restrictions upon them. They were, indeed, expressly forbidden by the Ordinance of Rotterdam; and Lord Mansfield, whose authority on all points connected with the law of insurance is so deservedly high, seems to have thought that it would be well to exclude barratry entirely from policies, and to cease" making the underwriter become the insurer of the conduct of the captain whom he does not appoint, and cannot dismiss, to the owners who can do either." But though it were expedient to prevent the owners from making an insurance of this sort, nothing can be more reasonable than that third parties, who freight a ship, or put goods on board, should be allowed to insure against such a copious source of loss. (For a further discussion of this subject, see the article MARINE INSURANCE; and Marshall on Insurance, book i. c. 12. § 6., and Park on Insurance, e. 5.)

Owners, masters, or seamen, who wilfully cast away, burn, or destroy ships, to the prejudice of freighters or insurers, incur the penalty of death. (See SEAMEN.)

BARREL, a cask or vessel for holding liquids, particularly ale and beer. Formerly the barrel of beer in London contained only 32 ale gallons=324 Imperial gallons: but it was enacted by 43 Geo. 3. c. 69. that 36 gallons of beer should be taken to be a

barrel; and by the 6 Geo. 4. c. 58. it is enacted, that whenever any gallon measure is mentioned in any excise law, it shall always be deemed and taken to be a standard Imperial gallon. At present, therefore, the barrel contains 36 Imperial gallons. It may be worth while observing that the barrel or cask is exclusively the produce of European ingenuity; and that no such article is known to any nation of Asia, Africa, or America, who have not derived it from Europeans.

BARWOOD, a red dye wood brought from Africa, particularly from Angola, and the river Gaboon. The dark red which is commonly seen upon British Bandana handkerchiefs is for the most part produced by the colouring matter of barwood, saddened by sulphate of iron.—(Bancroft on Colours.) The imports of barwood, in 1841, amounted to 2,012 tons. It brought, in January 1843, from 31. to 41. a ton (duty 2s. included) in the London market.

BASKETS (Fr. Corbeilles; Ger. Körbe; It. Paniere; Sp. Canastas, Canastos; Rus. Korsinu) are made, as every one knows, principally of the interwoven twigs of willow, osier, birch, &c., but frequently also of rushes, splinters of wood, straw, and an immense number of other articles. They are used to hold all sorts of dry goods, and are constructed of every variety of quality and shape. Besides the vast quantities produced at home, some of the finer kinds are imported under an ad valorem duty, which, previously to 1842, was 20, but has since been only 10 per cent. In 1841, the old duty produced 2,0601., showing that the value of the foreign baskets entered for home consumption in that year had been 10,300.

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BATAVIA, a city of the island of Java, the capital of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, and the principal trading port of the Oriental islands, lat. 6° 12′ S.. long. 106 54' E., on the north-west coast of the island, on an extensive bay. The harbour, or rather road, lies between the main land and several small uninhabited islands, which, during the boisterous or north-western monsoon, afford sufficient shelter and good anchorage. Ships of from 300 to 500 tons anchor at about 1 mile from shore. A small river runs through the town, which is navigable for vessels of from 20 to 40 tons, a couple of miles inland; a number of canals branch off from it into different parts of the town, affording great conveniences for trade. Batavia was formerly so very insalubrious, that General Daendels was anxious to transfer the seat of government to Sourabaya; but being thwarted in this, he set about building a new town, a little further inland, on the heights of Weltevreden, whither the government offices were immediately removed. Most of the principal merchants have now their residences in the new town, repairing only to the old city, when business requires it, during a portion of the day. In consequence, the old town is at present principally occupied by Chinese, and the descendants of the ancient colonists, several of its streets having been deserted and demolished. More recently, however, the Baron Capellen, whose enlightened administration will long be gratefully remembered in Java, sensible of the superior advantages of the old town as a place of trade, exerted himself to prevent its further decay, by removing the causes of its unhealthiness; to accomplish which, he widened several of the streets, filled up some of the canals, and cleaned others, demolished useless fortifications, &c.; and the effect of these judicious measures has been, that Batavia is now as healthy as any other town in the island. The population, according to an accurate census taken in 1824, consisted of 3,025 Europeans and their descendants, 23,108 natives, 14,708 Chinese, 601 Arabs, and 12,419 slaves; in all, 53,861 persons, exclusive of the garrison. As the population has increased since, it may at present be estimated at from 60,000 to 70,000, independently of the military, of which there are always a considerable number. Among the principal merchants are Dutch, English, Americans, French, and Germans. The island of Java forms the most important portion of the Dutch possessions in the East, and is, in fact, one of the finest colonies in the world. It contains an area of 50,000 square miles, with a population of (probably) about 7,000,000 individuals, or 140 to the square mile.

During the year 1841 the total imports into Java and Madura, on account of private parties, amounted to

Merchandise

Specie

20,156,276 f.
1,207,005 fl.

The goods and specie imported on account of governinent amounted to

Total amount of imports

21,363,281 A. 8,119,552 a. 29,483,163 f.

The merchandise imported consisted of the produce of Europe and America, 12,987,724 fl. West Indies and Bengal, 610,94) China, Manilla, and Siam, 1,758,714 fl. Japan, 4,986 fl. Eastern Archipelago, 4,794,611 8.-Total Merchandise, 20,156,2.6. The produce of Europe and America chiefly consisted of

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