Hemp cables are formed of three principal strands, every strand of three ropes, and every rope of three twists. The twists have more or fewer threads according to the greater or less thickness of the cable. All vessels have ready for service three cables, which are usually designated the sheet cable, the best bower cable, and the small bower cable; but besides these, most ships have some spare cables. The ordinary length of a cable is from 100 to 120 fathoms. The following are the existing regulations as to the manufacture of hemp cables and cordage: No person shall make or sell any cordage for shipping in which any hemp is used, called short chucking, half clean, whale line, or other toppings, codilla, or any damaged hemp, on pain of forfeiting the same, and also treble the value thereof. Cables, hawsers, or ropes, made of materials not prohibited by this act, and whose quality shall be inferior to clean Petersburgh hemp, shall be deemed inferior cordage, and the same shall be distinguished by marking on the tally, staple or inferior. Manufacturers making default herein forfeit for every hundred weight of cordage, 10s. Manufacturers are to affix their names and manufactory to new cordage before sold, under the like forfeiture; and putting a false name is a forfeiture of 207. Persons making cables of old and overworn stuff, containing above 7 inches in compass, shall forfeit four times the value. Vessels belonging to British subjects, having on board foreign-made cordage, are to make entry thereof, on entering into any British port, on penalty of 20s. for every hundred weight. But this is not to extend to cordage brought from the East Indies, nor to materials at present used by any vessels built abroad before this act. (25 Geo. 3. c. 56.) 2. Iron Cables. - The application of strong iron chains or cables to the purposes of navigation is a late and an important discovery, for which we are indebted to Captain Samuel Brown, R. N. It is singular, indeed, that this application should not have been made at a much earlier period. On rocky bottoms, or where coral is abundant, a hempen cable speedily chafes, and is often quite destroyed in a few months, or perhaps days. A striking instance of this occurred in the voyage of discovery under the orders of M. Bougainville, who lost six anchors in the space of nine days, and narrowly escaped shipwreck; a result, says that able seaman, which would not have happened, “si nous eussions été munis des quelques chaines de fer. C'est une précaution que ne doivent jamais oublier tous les navigateurs destinés à de pareils voyages.” — (Voyage autour du Monde, p. 207. 4to. ed.) The work from which this extract is taken was published in 1771; and yet it was not till nearly forty years after, that any attempt was made practically to profit by so judicious a suggestion. The difficulties in the way of importing hemp from 1808 to 1814, and its consequent high price, gave the first great stimulus to the manufacture of iron cables. Iron cables are constructed in different ways (see Encyc. Metrop.); but they are uniformly tried by a machine, which strains them by a force greater than the absolute strength of the hempen cable they are intended to replace. By this means the risk of accident from defective links is effectually obviated; and there are exceedingly few instances in which an iron cable has broken at sea. Their great weight also contributes to their strength, inasmuch as the impulse of the ship is checked before the cable is brought nearly to a straight line, or that the strain approaches to a maximum. Bolts and shackles are provided at every fathom or two fathoms, by striking out which the ship may, if necessary, be detached from her anchors with less difficulty than a hempen cable can be cut. Even in their most defective form, iron cables are a great deal stronger than those of hemp; and as to durability, no sort of comparison can be made. No wonder, therefore, that they should be rapidly superseding the latter; which are now almost wholly laid aside in the navy, and, to a great extent, also, in the merchant service. CADIZ, the principal commercial city and sea-port of Spain, on its south-western coast, on the rocky and elevated extremity of a narrow, low peninsula, or tongue of land, projecting from the Isla de Leon, N. N. W. about 4 nautical miles. It is surrounded on all sides, except the south, where it joins the land, by the sea, and is very strongly fortified. Population, in 1837, 58,525. It is well built, and has, at a distance, a very striking appearance. The tower or lighthouse of St. Sebastian stands on the western side of the city, being, according to Tofiño, in lat. 36° 31′ 7′′ N., long 6° 18′ 52" W. It is a most conspicuous object to vessels approaching from the Atlantic. The light, which is 172 feet high, is of great brilliancy, revolves once a minute, and in fair weather may be seen more than 6 leagues off. Bay of Cadiz.-The entrance to this noble basin lles between the city and the town and promontory of Rota, bearing N.W. by N., distant about 13 league. The bay is of very great extent, affording, in most places, good anchorage. The port is on the eastern side of the city, where a mole of considerable dimensions has been constructed; but the water is not sufficiently deep to allow large vessels to approach nearer than within about of a mile, where they anchor in from 5 to 7 fathoms. The rocks called the Cochinos, the Puercas, and the Diamante, lie to the north of the city in the entrance to the ba; the first two at about 3-5ths of a mile distant, and the Diamante at rather more than 14 mile from the city. Vessels may enter between the Puercas and the Diamante; but none, except those not drawing more than 15 feet water, and well acquainted with the channel, ought to attempt entering be- History, Trade, &c. - Cadiz is a very ancient city, having been founded by the Phoenicians about 1,200 years before the Christian æra. The temple which they erected in it in honour of Hercules was one of the most celebrated in antiquity. - (Sainte Croix, Des Anciennes Colonies, p. 14.; Pomp. Mela, lib. ¡¡¡. 1846. 1845. cap. 6.) Its excellent port, and its situation, favourable alike for commerce and security, have made it, whether possessed by Carthaginians, Romans, Moors, or Christians, and under every vicissitude, a place of considerable commercial and political importance. It has long been one of the principal stations of the Spanish naval force. In 1720, the commerce with Spanish America, which had previously been exclusively carried on from Seville, was transferred to Cadiz. It enjoyed this valuable monopoly till 1765, when it was partially relaxed by the trade to Cuba, St. Domingo, Porto Rico, and the other islands, being opened to all the greater ports of Spain. The benefits resulting from this relaxation were so very great, that in 1778 the trade to all parts of America was opened to ships from every considerable Spanish port, except those of Biscay, which, not being subject to the general laws of the kingdom, were not allowed to participate in this privilege. In consequence, however, of her situation, the great capital of her merchants, and their established connections, Cadiz continued, notwithstanding the abolition of the monopoly, to preserve by far the largest share of the American trade. But since the colonies achieved their independence, her commerce has been contracted within comparatively narrow limits; nor is there much prospect of its being materially improved, without a total change of policy on the part of the Spanish government. Barcelona is at present the principal seat of Spanish commerce.—(Robertson's America, b. viii. passim; Townsend's Travels in Spain, vol. ii. pp. 395–401. 2d edit.) The white wines of Xeres in its vicinity form by far the principal article of export from Cadiz. The quantity exported may amount to about 30.000 pipes a year. The prices vary from 127, to 654. per pipe; but, as the lower qualities predominate, the price may be taken, at a medium, at about 254., making the total value of the exports 750,0004. More than ths of the whole comes to England. The other articles of export are quicksilver, brandy, oranges and other fruits, oil, provisions, flour, salt, wool, &c. The imports consist principally of sugar and coffee from the Havannah and Porto Rico, cocoa, hemp, flax, linens, dried fish, hides, cotton wool and cotton manufactures, rice, spices, indigo, staves and timber, &c. Statement of the Number, Tonnage, Crews, and Values of the Cargoes of Vessels, belonging to various Nations, which entered and cleared at the Port of Cadiz, in 1845 and 1846. Account of the Quantities of the principal Articles imported from Spain and the Balearic Islands into the U. Kingdom in 1849. In 1850, 625 foreign merchant vessels, with a crew of 6,379 men, and a tonnage of 124.720 tons, entered the port of Cadiz. Of these, 317 vessels, with a crew of 2,889 men, and a tonnage of 52,403 tons, were English; 66, with 727 men, and 10,867 tons, French; 51, with 701 men, and 15,282 tons, Prussian; and 48, with 564 men, and 17,341 tons, American. Money - The monies, weights, and measures, used at Cadiz, are those of Castle. Accounts are kept by the rea? (of old plate), of which there are 10% in the peso duro, or hard dollar; and as the dollar 4. 3d. the real =4d. A real is divided into 16 quintos, or 31 maravedis. The ducado de plata, or ducat of plate, is worth 11 reals. Weights and Measures. The ordinary quintal is divided Into 4 arrobas, or 100 lbs. of 2 marcs each: 100 lbs. Castile 101 lbs. avoirdupois. The yard, or vara =927 English yard, or 100 varas 922 English yards. The cahis, or measure for roen, is divided into 12 fanegas, or 144 celeminus, or 576 quartillas: 100 cahiza =19-7 Winch. quarters, and 5 fanegas = quarter. The cantaro, or arroba, the measure for liquids, is divided into 8 azumbres, and 3 quartillos. There are two sorts of arrobas, the greater and the lesser: they are to each other as 32 to 25; the former being equal to 4 English wine gallons, the latter to 3 do. A moyo of wine 16 arrobas. The botta 30 arrobas of wine, or 384 of oil. A pipe #27 arrobas of wine, or 344 of oil. Hence the botta =127 English wine gallons, and the pipe 1142 do. Port and other Charges at Cadiz. - British vessels pay a tonnage duty of one real de Vellon, or 2d. sterling, and for light duty 24 maravedis, or 1d. sterling, exchange 374d. per dollar of exchange; but Spanish vessels are exempt from the tonnoge duty, and pay for light duty 12 maravedis, or 3) farthings sterling, at the same exchange. Customs Regulations. Art. 1. Shippers of merchandise in foreign countries shall present to the Spanish consul a statement in duplicate, and without corrections or erasures, of the gods they embark, expressing the name and nature of the ressel, and of the master, port of destination, description of the bales, boxes, packages, &c. &c., to be shipped, their marks and numbers, class, quality, and quantity of the merchandise Lunt ined in each, in Spanish weight or measure, the consignees thereof, of what nation the produce and manufacture; if of the country whence stapped, and if not, of what other nation or fabric may be their origin, concluding the statement or note with a declaration that it details the true contents of the packages, and that they contain nothing else. There must be separate notes from each shipper and for each consignee, Art. 3. From all these notes the consul is to form a general summary, with a copy of which, and one of each of the notes of the shippers, he is to form a true register of the cargo, to be delivered to the master in a sealed de patch (with wax and wafer), addressed to the administrador of the custom-house at the port of destination. No merchandise can go on board after delivery of the register to the master, without subjecting all to seizure on arrival in Spain. Art. 8. The master, who in the act of receiving pratique, shall not deliver to the administrador the sealed despatch or register handed to him by the Spanish consul, shall pay a fine of 400 doll., the cargo discharged and stored, until the consul shall remit a cerutied copy of the original notes presented by the shippers, and for which the administrador shall apply. Art. 10. On examination by the administrador, in presence of the master, of these sealed despatches or register, if they manifest marks or evidences of having been previously opened, the master shall be fined 100 doll. for this alone, and Art. 11. In case amendments and alterations are observed in the notes, the master shall answer bef re the tribunal of finance for the crime of forgery, which he may be guilty of. Art. 12. Where no consul resides, shippers must send their notes to the one ne rest resident, and the master shall receive from him these registers, with the understanding that merchandise from a foreign country shall not be admitted to entry which shalt not come with the requisites detailed. Art. 14. The exceptions to the above are cargoes of lumber, staves, codfish, hides, coals, which it shall be evident come to the order of the master in search of a market; but in such cases a document of origin must be presented from the place of loading, specifying the quantity aboard of the ve sel Art. 23. Within twenty-four hours after anchoring (being visited), the master shall present to the administrador of the custon house a manifest of the cargo, &c. Art. 27. Fine of 100 doll. if the manifest be not presented within tweuty-four hours. Art. 38. Fine of 100 doll, for every package in excess, and 50 doll. every one manifested less than what is expressed in the register made up by the Spanish consul. Art. 39. If the manifest does not specify minutely the contents of the packages of prohibited merchandise manifested in the transitu, they shall be landed and examined. Art. 42. All goods must be inanifested to specified con. signees, in no case to "order." The general term "mer. chandise" is not recognised nor admitted, in which case the goods shall be landed and examined in the presence of the ma ter or his agent, and if they shall be found to be illicn goods, they shall be forfeited, and the master fined twenty-five per cent. if they be worth more than 2,000 doll., and if less, 300 doll. If the goods be of licit traffic, half the sums. Art. 181. Transhipments prohibited. Art. 182. Merchandise cannot be manifested in transitu for the port from which the vessel originally sailed, nor those touched at in the voyage. TREASURY DEPARTMENT-ORDER IN COUNCIL. "Your Excellency will please to notify to H.M. consuls abro¬d that under no pretence they give course to the declarations or notes of shippers, unless exactly in conformity with the customs regulations, nor despatch registers including articles oỂ prohibited traffic, under the understanding that for the confiscations and fines which shall be imposed for defects in consular documentation, the consuls themselves shall be responsible, notifying them also that all the documents which they give course to, must, without exception, be made in the Spanish language." Madrid, September 26. 1850. Spanish Commercial Policy. It is the peculiar misfortune of Spain that every part of her political system has been alike vicious and objectionable. Had her commercial policy been liberal, it would, in some degree, have compensated for the defects in the distribution of property and political power, and would, no doubt, have given a powerful stimulus to industry. But, unluckily, it has been in perfect harmony with her other institutions, and was, in all respects, worthy of the favourite seat and stronghold of the Inquisition. From the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella down almost to yesterday, the grand object of the Spanish government, next to the extirpation of heresy, has been to exclude foreign manufactures from the Peninsula, and to preserve a monopoly of its markets, as well as of those of the colonies, to the home manufacturers. It is, however, almost needless to say, that their efforts to bring about this result have been signally unsuccessful. Oppressive taxes, with the multiplication of fasts and holydays, the government monopolies, and the badness of the roads and other means of communication, made it impossible for the Spanish manufacturers, even if they had evinced greater enterprise and industry than they have done, to produce manufactured articles as cheap as the English, French, and others less unfavourably situated. And such being the case, it is plain that the prohibition of certain descriptions of commodities, and the oppressive duties laid on others, could have no effect except to suppress the legitimate commerce of the country, and to throw it wholly, or almost wholly, into the hands of smugglers. Any one who takes up a map of Spain must be satisfied at a glance that it would be impossible for an army of customs officers to prevent her being deluged with smuggled products, provided they were materially cheaper than her native products; for, besides her extensive sea frontier, they may be introduced by way of France and Portugal, and also through the Basque Provinces, which have distinct laws, and enjoy an exemption from the commercial code inflicted on the rest of the kingdom. We need not, therefore, be surprised that every effort to prevent the clandestine introduction of foreign products completely failed. The severities occasionally inflicted on the smugglers, instead of abating, seem really to have increased, the evil. The contraband trade has long been a favourite occupation, and has been eagerly followed by the adventurous, the necessitous, and the desperate. It is believed that for nearly three centuries from 100,000 to 150,000 individuals have been pretty constantly engaged in this occupation; that is, they have been engaged in trampling on the laws, obstructing their officers, and committing acts of violence and blood. A few years ago about 3,000 actions were annually instituted against contrabandistas and others engaged in illicit trade, which terminated in the ruin of a vast number of families; at the same time that the courts of law were filled with perjury, and the country with bloody conflicts. And yet these atrocities secured no one object government had in view. Notwithstanding their being absolutely prohibited, English and French cotton goods might, in 1848, be bought in every ship in Madrid, and generally throughout Spain; the former at from 20 to 30 per cent, above their price in Gibraltar, where they are about as cheap as in Manchester; and the latter at from 20 to 30 per cent. above their price in Bayonne, which is nearly identical with their price in Rouen! While Cadiz was a free port, about 6.000 persons are said to have been employed in it twisting cigars, which, as soon as finished, were forthwith smuggled into the interior. Three fourths, in fact, of the foreign trade of Spain were then in the hands of the contrabandistas, who carried it on in defiance of the law. And when such was the case, need we wonder at the low state of industry, or at the prevalence of those predatory and ferocious habits that uniformly mark the character of the smuggler? And, strange to say, notwithstanding the ruinous influence of this wretched system was long since exposed by Ulloa, Campomanes, and other distinguished Spaniards, and by Mr. Townsend and other foreigners, who had visited the country, and notwithstanding all the vicissitudes Spain has undergone during the last half century, it continued to maintain its ascendancy down to 1849. But the leading Spanish statesmen having been, at length, satisfied of the disastrous influence of the old system. a vigorous effort was made, in the year now mentioned, to introduce a more rational tariff; and not with standing the selfish and short-sighted opposition of the Catalans and others, the new tariff was happily passed into a law. It is true that it leaves much to be desired; but it is, at the same time, a vast improvement on the system by which it was preceded; and it is especially valuable as being the first step in the introduction of a new and more liberal and rational policy. In a few cases the duties on importation have been increased, but in the great majority of instances they have been reduced, and the greater number of the articles that were formerly prohibited are now admitted on payment of duties. The following are the bases of the new tariff, viz. : "Machines and instruments necessary for agricultural, manufacturing, and mining operations, to pay a duty of from 1 to 14 per cent. ad valorem. "Raw material not abundantly produced by Spain, and used in the operations of the national industry, whatever be the form or the increase of value that it may acquire, to pay from 1 to 14 per cent. "Raw material similar to that abundantly produced by Spain, productive agents in the same case, such as coal and coke, and articles of merchandise of foreign manufacture which may compete with those of the same kind and quality manufactured in Spain, to pay from 25 to 50 per cent." N. B. Cottons and silks come under this class. The duties on the former are generally about 35 per cent. ad valorem. "Foreign produce and manufactures required for consumption, and not supplied by the national industry, to pay a maximum of 15 per cent., and at the utmost 20 per cent. in every exceptional case. "The duties hitherto levied on the colonial produce of foreign countries to be suitably increased. "A discriminating duty of 20 per cent. to be charged on articles imported in foreign bottoms; and on those articles which contribute most to the support of the national navigation the discriminating duty may be raised to 53 per cent." The prohibited imports are arms, projectiles, and munitions of war, including all kinds of gunpow der, quicksilver, charts published by the Admiralty, and reprinted abroad; maps and plans by Spaniards, during copyright; cinnabar; vessels constructed of wood of less burden than 300 tons, of 20 quintals each; grain, flour, biscuit, bread, and macaroni, &c., for soup, not admitted by the corn law; books and prints in Spanish, by Spanish authors, if not imported by those individuals during copyright; missals, breviaries, and other books of liturgy (dictionaries, vocabularies, insignias, devices, and military ornaments are not included in this prohibition); pictures, &c., offensive to morality, or ridiculing the Catholic religion; common salt, tobacco, shoes, and ready-made clothing, except for the private use of travellers; chemical preparations forbidden by the sanitary laws. Moderate export duties to be levied on antimony or galena, not argentiferous; black copper, roughly melted; litharge containing less than an ounce of silver per quintal; pig lead, raw silk. Prohibited exports. — Cork in the bark of the province of Gerona; litharge containing an ounce and upwards of silver per quintal; argentiferous galena; lead containing 24 drachms and upwards of silver per quintal; cotton, hempen, and woollen rags, and worn-out articles of those materials. The high discriminating duty on goods imported on foreign bottoms is the most objectionable feature in this tariff; though we can hardly be surprised at the Spaniards continuing to act on a principle that was acted upon down to a very recent period by the English and the Americans. We believe, however, that it will be far more injurious to themselves than to any one else; and that its effect will be to lessen and embarrass their trade without really providing employment for Spanish merchantmen. To the other facilities for smuggling in Spain must be added the venality and corruption of the customs officers. Notwithstanding his espanolism, Mr. Ford bears testimony to its universality. He says, Every lock in Spain is to be picked with a silver key, and every difficulty smoothed by a properly administered bribe. The customs empleados have been defined to be gentlemen, who, under the pretence of searching portmanteaus, take money on the highway without incurring the disgrace of begging or the danger of robbing; and practically they worry honest travellers who won't pay them, as much as they facilitate those who will." But in truth, this venality is not confined to the revenue officers, but pervades and debases all classes, from the highest to the lowest. We incline to think that, allowing for smuggling, the import and export trade of Spain might each be estimated, previously to the late change in the tariff, at about 4,000,000. sterling, or, perhaps, a little more. And, e nsidering the vast, and, as it were, unexplored resources of the country, and the infinite variety of desirable products she could supply to others, we have no doubt, that, under a really free commercial system, her commerce would speedily be doubled, and that, at no very distant period, it would be increased in a much greater proportion. It would appear, indeed, as if this anticipation were already in the way of being realised. An official return recently published shows that the total customs revenue of Spain in 1850, including the 6 per cent. additional duty, port and light dues. &c., amounted to 165,529,451 reals, being an increase of no less than 39,263,162 reals on the total customs revenue of the previous year. Of the above sum 17,386.740 reals were received at Cadiz. The great articles of export from Spain consist (exclusive of silk manufactures) of raw products. Of these, wine, olive oil, wool, fruits of various kinds, lead, quicksilver, brandy, cork-wood, salt, raw silk, wheat, &c. are the most important, and are almost all susceptible of an indefinite increase. The great articles of import are colonial products, obtained principally from Cuba, Porto Rico, &c. ; cottons and cotton wool; linens, and hemp and flax woollens; salted fish; hardware, glass, and earthenware; timber, rice, hides, butter and cheese, &c. Subjoined is An Account of the Quantities and Values of the principal Articles of Native Produce exported from Spain in 1849, showing, also, the proportional Value of each Article. The importance of the trade that Spain formerly carried on with her vast possessions in the New World, was, at all times, much exaggerated; and she, in truth, was little better than an agent in the business, the greater part of the goods sent on Spanish bottoms to the colonies being, in reality, the property of foreign merchants. Spain, notwithstanding the emancipation of Mexico and South America, has still some very valuable colonies; and, if nothing else can, the astonishing progress made by Cuba and Porto Rico, since the abolition of the prohibitive system, should satisfy her of its ruinous tendency. P Wool used to be a leading article of import into this country from Spain; but now, though our imports of wool have vastly increased, they are principally supplied by the colonies in Australia, and by Germany, Russia, India, etc. The quantities brought from Spain have, indeed, become quite inconsiderable; so much so, that while in 1849 she supplied us with only 127,559 lbs., our total imports amounted to the immense quantity of 75,768,647 lbs. Wine, quicksilver, and raisins are at present the principal articles of importation from Spain. At an average of the 6 years ending with 1847, the declared value of the exports from the U. K. to Spain amounted to 570,8261. a year. But a considerable portion of the exports to Portugal, Gibraltar, and Malta find their way into Spain by the intervention of the smuggler, and some portion, also, of the exports to France. The direct exports to Spain, in 1849, amounted to 676,6364., not a third part of what they would be if Spain adopted a really free commercial system. Owing to the baduess of the roads, and their unfitness for carriages, the principal carriers of merchandise are the arrieros, or muleteers, who traverse the country in all directions along beaten tracks, many of which are accessible only to them. They form a large portion of the provincial population, and, on the whole, have a good character for honesty to their employers, though they are nearly all, more or less, engaged in smuggling transactions. The extent of this traffic may be estimated from the fact, that about three fourths of the entire inland traffic in corn is carried on by their means. Recently, however, waggons have begun to be introduced on all the practicable roads, and should the latter be improved, the business of the arrieros will proportionally fall off. There can be no reasonable doubt that, but for the system of misrule to which Spain has been subjected, her commerce would have been very extensive. Her natural advantages, superior to most, and not inferior to those enjoyed by any other kingdom; her wines. brandies, fruits, &c.; her wheat, of which she might produce the largest supplies; her wool; her iron, which is of the best quality, her lead and quicksilver mines, respectively the most productive in the world; the number and excellence of her harbours; the enterprising and adventurous character of her inhabitants, and her favourable situation; would, were she permitted to avail herself of them, raise her to a very high rank among commercial nations. Let the government follow up what it has so well begun, by ceasing to counteract the intentions of nature; let moderate duties take the place of prohibitions, and freedom of regulation, and all sorts of industrious pursuits will revive from the deadly lethargy in which they have been so long sunk. CAGLIARI, the capital of Sardinia, on the north-east shore of a spacious bay on the south coast of the island, lat. 39° 12′ 13′′ N., long. 9° 6′ 44′′ E. Population, in 1838, 27,989. The city stands on a rising ground, and has an imposing effect from the sea. The public buildings and churches are numerous, and some of them splendid; but the streets are, for the most part, narrow, steep, and filthy. The Gulph of Cagliari extends from Pula on the west to Cape Carbonara on the east, a distance of about 24 miles across, and about 12 in depth, with good anchorage every where after getting into soundings. A mole projects from the Pratique office, and ships usually lie about 1 mile S. W. by S. from it, in 6 or 8 fathoms water, on an excellent bottom of mud. There is a very convenient pier harbour at the south angle of the tower wall, capable of containing 14 or 16 vessels of a tolerable size, besides small craft. Altogether, Cagliari is one of the best and safest ports in the Mediterranean. Imports and Exports. Almost all the trade of Sardinia is carried on by strangers; and even the fish on its coast and in its harbours is caught by Sicilians, Neapolitans, Tuscans, and Genoese. Corn is the principal article of export. In good years, the exports from the whole island may amount to 400,000 starelli, or about 500,000 bushels, of wheat, 200,000 starelli of barley, C,000 ditto of maize, 100,000 ditto of beans, 200,000 of peas, and 1.000 ditto of lentils. The culture of vines is gradually becoming of more importance; and about 3,500 Catalan pipes are exported, principally from Alghero and Ogliastro. Cheese is an important object in the rural economy of Sardinia, and considerable quantities are exported. Salt is a royal monopoly, and affords a considerable revenue. Until recently, Sweden drew almost all her supplies of this important necessary from Sardinia, and it continues to be exported in considerable quantities. Flax, linseed, hides, oil, saffron, rags, alquifoux, &c. are among the articles of export. The tunny and coral fisheries employ a good many hands; but, as already observed, they are almost wholly managed by foreigners. Almost every article of dress, whether for the gentry or the peasantry, is imported. Soap, stationery, glass, earthenware, and furniture, as well as sugar, coffee, drugs, spices, &c., are also supplied by foreigners; and notwithstanding the Sards possess many rich mines, several of which were successfully wrought in antiquity, they import all their iron and steel. The only manufactures carried on in the island are those of gunpowder, salt, tobacco, and woollen caps. Account of the Value of the Goods imported into and exported from Cagliari in 1839, with the Amount of the Duties on each. |
