Account of the Quantities of the principal Articles produced in the French Colonies in 1836. 4. Danish Colonies. Cent. 396) 227,728 Cent. 396 Paq. 38 54,145 - In the West Indies, these consist of the islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. St. Croix contains about 100 square miles, and has about 82,000 inhabitants, of whom 27,000 are slaves. The soil is fertile, and it is well cultivated. The principal productions are sugar, rum, and coffee. St. Thomas has long been, and still continues to be, one of the principal emporiums in the West Indies. It owes this distinction partly to its convenient situation, partly to its spacious and safe harbour at St. Thomas, on the S. side of the island, and partly and principally to the moderation of the import duties, which vary from 1 to 14 per cent. St. Thomas has, in consequence, become as it were a depôt for the supply of the neighbouring islands; goods being sent to it to be warehoused till opportunity offers for conveying them to their final destination. The great articles of importation are manufactured goods, principally from England, but partly, also, from other countries of Europe, with provisions, lumber, &c. from the United States. We subjoin an In India, the Danes possess Tranquebar, near Madras; and Serampoor, near Calcutta. The former contains about 20,000 inhabitants, and has greatly improved since the peace, both in commerce and population. Serampoor is a neat but not very considerable place. It serves as an asylum for the debtors of Calcutta, and is the capital station of the missionaries. The Danes have a few forts on the coast of Guinea, 5. Swedish Colonies. The Swedes possess one colony-the small island of St. Bartholomew, in the West Indies. It is only about 25 square miles in extent, but is very fertile. It has no springs, nor fresh water of any sort, except such as is supplied by the rain. Population between 8,000 and 9,000. COLUMBO, the modern capital of Ceylon, on the south-west coast of the island; lat. 6° 56′ 6′′ N., lon. 79° 49′ 48′′ E. It is defended by a very strong fort, nearly surrounded by the sea, in which is a light-house 97 feet high. Population of the town and fort, in 1831, 31,549. The houses, generally only one story high, are of stone, clay, and lime; and the town has more of a European appearance than any other in India. The inhabitants are principally Cingalese. The temperature is remarkable for its equality; and though very humid, the climate may, on the whole, be esteemed salubrious and temperate. There is no harbour at Columbo for large vessels, but only an open roadstead. A projecting rock, on which two batteries are erected, affords shelter to a small semicircular bay on the north side of the fort, having a wooden quay to facilitate the loading and unloading of boats. The depth of water is not sufficient to allow sloops or large dhonies to come alongside the quay; those exceeding 100 tons burden lying at about a cable's length from it. A bar of sand, on some parts of which the water is not more than 7 feet deep, extends from the projecting rock across this bay. The channel where it may be crossed by the larger class of ships is liable to shift; and it is only in the fine weather of the safe season that they venture within the bar. The outer road affords secure anchorage for half the year, from she beginning of October to the end of March, during the prevalence of the N. E. montoon, when the wind blows off the land: during the other, or S. W. monsoon, when the wind blows from the sea on shore, the road is very far from safe; and the ships that frequent it are sometimes obliged to slip their cables and stand out to sea. - (Milburn's Orient. Comm.; Hamilton's Gazetteer, &c.) As respects its harbour, Columbo is, therefore, very inferior to Trincomalee, the harbour of which is accessible at all times, and is one of the best in India: but the country in the vicinity of Columbo is more fertile; and it has the command of an internal navigation, stretching in a lateral direction along the coast, from Putlam, to the north of the city, to Caltura on the south, a distance of about 100 miles, partly obtained by rivers, and partly by canals. Many flat-bottomed boats are employed in this navigation, the families dependent on which reside mostly on board. Nearly all the foreign trade of Ceylon is carried on from Columbo; and it has also a large proportion of the coasting traffic. Moneys. The rix dollars. 6d.; but accounts are kept | Troy weight. The principal dry measures are seers or par in pounds, shillings, and pence, as in England. rahs. The former is a perfect cylinder, of the depth and diameter under-mentioned: The Bank of Ceylon, established in 1810, has its head office in London, its principal office in the island being in Columbo. I. transacts all sorts of banking business, remitting money to and from the island, granting cash credits on the Scotch system, di counting bills, &c. Weights, Measures, &c. - The weights are divided into ounces, pounds, &c., and are the same as in Great Britain. The candy or bahar = 500 lbs. avoirdupois, or 461 lbs. Dutch Depth. Diameter. Seer 4.35 inches. 4:35 inches. The parrah is a perfect cube, its internal dimensions being every way 11:57 inches. The liquid measure consists of gallons, and their multiples and sub-multiples. 150 gallons = 1 leaguer or legger. The bale of cinnamon consists of 92) lbs. very nearly. The great articles of export from Ceylon are coffee, cocoa nut oil, areca nuts, cinnamon, chanks, coir, tobacco, pearls, &c. The island is peculiarly suitable for the culture of coffee, the growth of which has rapidly increased since the reduction, in 1835, of the duty on coffee from Ceylon to the same level as that ou coffee from the West Indies, the imports into the U. Kingdom from Ceylon in the former year having been only 1,870,143 lbs., whereas in 1841 they amounted to 7,098,543 lbs., and the supply appears to be susceptible of an indefinite increase.-(Porter's Progress of the Nation, iii. 357.), The exports of cocoa nut oil, coir, and tobacco might, also, be greatly increased; and it will be seen, in the art. CINNAMON, how the growth of that important staple has been restricted by the enormous duty laid on its exportation. Saiting Directions and Remarks on the Port of Columbo, by James Steuart, Esq., Master Attendant. The land about Columbo is low near the sea, with some hills to the eastward at a distance in the country. The high mountain having on it a sharp cone, called Adam's Peak, bears from Columbo E. 79 S., distant 12) leagues; its height above the le rel of the sea is estimated at about 7,000 feet, according to a rough trigonometrical measurement by Colonel Willerinan. When the atmosphere is clear, it may be seen 30 leagues. During the prevalence of the N. E. monsoon, Adam's Peak is generally visible in the morning, and frequently the whole of the day but it is rarely seen in the S. W. monsoon, dense vapours generally prevailing over the island at this season. anchor, but in most cases the cause has been attributable to some defect in the first anchor or cable, a light anchor, an anchor breaking, a short chain, or the chain coming unshackled: an instance occurred in Columbo road, of two ships receiving cargo during the S. W. monsoon, whose chain cables came unshackled twice; twice did it occur to each ship. CUSTOMS DUTIES.-Account of the Customs Duties payable on goods, wares, and merchandise imported into and exported from the island of Ceylon. Ships approaching Columbo in the night have a brilliant light to direct them, which is exhibited every night from a light-house in the fort; the height of the light above the level of the sea is 97 feet, and may be seen in clear weather as far as the light appears above the horizon. A steep bank of coral, apout a mile broad, with 15 fathoms water on it, lies 7 miles W. from Columbo, extending northward towards Negombo (where its surface is sand), and a few miles to the southward of Columbo; outside the bank the water depens at once to 23 fathoms, and in 2 miles to 28 fathoms, greenish sand, which is not far from the edge of soundings. Within the bank there are 25 fathoms gradually shoaling towards the shore. A bed of sunken rocks, called the Drunken Sailor, lles S. W. by W. W. from Columbo Light-house, distant 1,000 yards. The length of the ledge may be estimated at 100 yards, and the breadth 20 yards; on its N. end a small spot, about the size of the hull of a 20 ton boat, is said to have only 3 feet water on it at low water; but during several recent visits, when some of the coral from its surface was brought up, there did not appear to be less than 7 feet 6 inches water on the shallowest part: on the other parts of the ledge there is 4, 5, and 6 fathoms. The sea breaks on the shallow part of these rocks almost constantly during the S. W. monsoon, but this is very seldom the case during the N. E. monsoon. The Drunken Saitor should not be approached under 9 fathoms during the night, as there are 8 fathoms very near to it, and in its stream to the southward. The passage within the Drunken Sailor is clear, and some ships have sailed through; but no advantage can be gained by approaching the shore so very near at this point. The Drunken Sailor lies so near the land, and so far to the southward of the anchorage in Columbo road, as scarcely to form any impediment to ships bound to or from Columbo. The currents off Columbo are subject to considerable variation; but they are never so strong as to cause inconvenience to ships which may have to cominunicate with the shore in either monsoon without coming to anchor. Colurabo road affords good anchorage, free from foul ground; and is frequente at all seasons of the year. The best anchorage during the prevalence of S. W. winds from April to October, is in from 7 to 8 fathoms, with the light-house bearing S. by E. E., Dutch church E. by S. In the N. E. monsoon from November to April, it is more convenient to anchor in 6 fathoms, with the light-house bearing S. or S. E., and the Du ch church E. S. E. Ships requiring pilots to conduct them to the anchorage should make the usual cignal; the charge for pilotage is 158. The bar is a bank of sand with 7 feet water on its shallowest part, the northern extremity being about 400 yards N. W. of the Custom-house Point; small vessels that draw less than 10 feet water, ride within the bar protected from the S. W. wind and sea. When the sea is high, it breaks with great force on the bar, and renders the passage from the shipping in the outer road dangerous for small boats: the native boats generally pass out and in to the southward of the bar, close to the breakers on the rocky point of the Custom-house; but as the passage is narrow, it should not be attempted by strangers when the sea breaks on the bar, it is better to proceed round to the northward of the bar, which may be easily distinguished by the breakers. What is strictly understood by a gale of wind, is a rare occurrence at Columbo; this may be owing to the vicinity of the equator. The strong gales which blow on the Malabar coast are felt in small squalls, and a high sea, but there is scarcely wind to endanger vessels properly found in ground tackling; It is true, ships have sometimes required the aid of a secund Inwards. Ale, porter, and other malt liquors in £ s. d. imp. gall. 0024 doz. quarts 006 - Free. Ib. 003 Horses, mules, asses, neat cattle, and other live stock Iron tanks, casks, staves, headings, and hoops Regimental clothing and accoutrements Specimens ilustrative of natural history Tea Timber : Wearing apparel and personal baggage, Ditto not in bottles Free. 010 bush. 003 Free. bush. 007 Free. imp. gall. 046 lb. 0 0 G Ditto the produce of any British possessions, Ditto, being the growth, produce, or manufacture of 500 - 10 0 0 - Free. lb. 020 010 004 Free. Specimens illustrative of natural history Account of the Quantities and Values of the principal Articles produced in and exported from Ceylon during 1844. land and India, 192,9367.; live stock, 43,344.; haberdashery, 21,1987; machinery and tools, principally from England, 11,5477.; with iron, earthenware, ma't liquor, &c. Imports.-The total imports into Ceylon in 1514 amounted, Including 517,8047. of bullion, to 1,367,501, whereof rice and other grain, principally brought from India, amounted to 358,9251.; cotton goods, nearly in equal proportions from EngValues of Exports and Imports to and from Ceylon from the Year 1830 to 1842 inclusive, distinguishing the Trade with Great Britain from that with other Parts of the World.-N. B. The valuation is made by the officers of customs. Rates of Warehouse Rent chargeable upon all Goods Imported, and remaining in any Queen's Warehouse. 247,065 97,650 344,715 162,574 401,904 564,478 327,285 91,128 421,413 204,986 417,461 622,447 Per cent cent Per week. £ 1. d. -009 - 006 -003 - 003 - 002 - 0014 Crate, cask, or case of hardware, earthenware, or 001 0 0 0 04 004 -002 - 001 - 004 - 008 -001 - 001 - 010 N.B.-A week rent chargeable for all fractions of a week. Port Dues.-4d. per ton of the registered tonnage of any ship or vessel anchoring in any port of the island, excepting chartered transports, and vessels belonging to this government. Vessels employed between one port and another of the island are allowed to compound for port dues for 12 months at 1s. 1. On all sales, purchases, and shipments On all purchases of government cinnamon, on the par- On returns made with the proceeds of goods on which commission has been previously charged; if in coffee or cocoa-nut oil in every description of produce On diamonds, pearls, precious stones, and jewellery On all property withdrawn, shipped, or delivered to 2. On guaranteeing sales, bills, bonds, contracts, or other engagements 9. On the total sum of the debit or credit side of an 12. On delivering up public securities, or lodging them in 13. On the sale of lottery tickets from the other settlements 5 14. On the purchase of fottery tickets, and amount of prizes 1 15. On letters of credit granted 400 tons and under 600 20 tons and under 400 100 tons and under 200 under 100 Back Bay. 4 00 3 00 sary The above rates of pilotage are charged to all vessels going into the Inner Harbour of Trincomalee and the harbour of Galle, whether they make a signal for a pilot or not. In Colombo, and the Back Bay at Trincomalee, the charge is only made if the vessel make the signal, and a pilot actually repair on board. General Rates of Agency Commission and Godown Rent, agreed upon by the Chamber of Commerce of Ceylon, on the 29th April, 15th May, and 12th June, 1839, and recommended for general adoption, viz. — 17. On debts, when a process at law or arbitration is neces And if recovered by such means. 18. On bills of exchange, notes, &c. dishonoured 19. On overdue debts collected for absentees Extent, Population. Revenue, &c. of Ceylon-The area of Ceylon is estimated at 24,448 sq. miles. Its population, according to a census taken in 1831, amounted to 950,000, of whom about 6,600 were whites. And if this statement may be depended upon, it would seem that the population has increased very rapidly in the interim, for it is said to have amounted in 1842 to 1,337,032, of whom 7,500 were whites. It appears, from a statement in the Ceylon Almanac (p. 205.), that during the 5 years ending with 1842, the colonial expenditure exceeded the colonial income about 20,000l. a year. In fact the whole income of the island, including land rent, customs, cinnamon duty, and everything else, amounted in 1841 to only 341,9377. But looking at the extent of the island, its fertility, its favourable situation for commerce, and the advantage it enjoys in the possession of cinnamon, can any one doubt that its trade and revenue should be far greater than they really are? The rapid extension of the culture of coffee will, no doubt, contribute in no ordinary degree to introduce a better state of things; but we incline to think that nothing would do so much to increase the wealth and importance of the island, as the reduction of the export duty on cinnamon to 3d. or 4d. per lb. (See CINNAMON.) COLUMBO ROOT (Du. Columbo wortel; Fr. Racine de Colombo; Ger. Columbowurzel; It. Radice di Columbo; Port. Raiz de Columba; Sp. Raiz de Columbo; Mosamb. Kalumb), the root of the plant of that name. It is a staple export of the Portuguese from Mosambique. It is not cultivated, but grows naturally in great abundance. It is imported in circular pieces, from an inch to 3 inches in diameter, generally from to of an inch thick; the bark is wrinkled and thick, of a brownish colour without, and a brightish yellow within; the pith is spongy, yellowish, and slightly striped: when fresh, its smell is rather aromatic; it is disagreeably bitter, and slightly pungent to the taste, somewhat resembling mustard that has been too long kept. Choose the largest pieces, fresh, and of a good colour, as free from worms as possible, rejecting that which is small and broken. The freight is calculated at 16 cwt. to a ton. —( Milburn's Orient. Com.) COMMERCE, from commutatio mercium, is simply, as its name imports, the exchange of commodities for commodities. (1.) The Origin of Commerce is coeval with the first dawn of civilisation. The moment that individuals ceased to supply themselves directly with the various articles and accommodations they made use of, that moment must a commercial intercourse have begun to grow up amongst them. For it is only by exchanging that portion of the produce raised by ourselves that exceeds our own consumption, for portions of the surplus produce raised by others, that the division of employments can be introduced, or that different individuals can apply themselves in preference to different pursuits. Not only, however, does commerce enable the inhabitants of the same village or parish to combine their separate efforts to accomplish some common object, but it also enables those of different provinces and kingdoms to apply themselves in an especial manner to those callings, for the successful prosecution of which the district or country which they occupy gives them some peculiar advantage. This territorial division of labour has contributed more, perhaps, than anything else to increase the wealth and accelerate the civilisation of mankind. Were it not for it, we should be destitute of a vast number of the necessaries, comforts, and enjoyments which we now possess ; while the price of the few that would remain would, in most instances, be very greatly increased. But whatever advantages may be derived · - and it is hardly possible to exaggerate either their magnitude or importance · from availing ourselves of the peculiar capacities of production enjoyed by ethers, are wholly to be ascribed to commerce as their real source and origin. We do not mean to say any thing in this article with respect to the practical details connected with the different departments of commerce. These will be found under the various titles to which they refer. Our object, at present, is merely to show the nature and influence of commerce in general, and of the restrictions that have sometimes been imposed upon it. We shall begin by endeavouring, first of all, to give some account of the nature of the services performed by the individuals by whom commercial undertakings are usually carried on. In the second place, we shall consider the influence of the home trade, or of the intercourse subsisting amongst individuals of the same country. In the third place, we shall consider the influence of foreign trade, or of that intercourse which subsists amongst individuals belonging to different countries. After these topics have been discussed, we shall offer a few remarks on what has been termed the restrictive system; or on the principles involved in the regulations enacted at different times, in this and other countries, for the government and direction of commerce. (2.) Mercantile Classes. While the exchange of different products is carried on by the producers themselves, they must unavoidably lose a great deal of time, and experience many inconveniences. Were there no merchants, a farmer wishing to sell his crop would be obliged, in the first place, to seek for customers, and to dispose of his corn as nearly as possible in such quantities as might suit the demands of the various individuals inclined to buy it; and after getting its price, he would 'next be obliged to send to 10 or 20 different and, perhaps, remote places, for the commoditics he wanted to get in its stead. So that, besides being exposed to a world of trouble and inconvenience, his attention would be continually diverted from the labours of his farm. Under such a state of things, the work of production, in every different employment, would be meeting with perpetual interruptions, and many branches of industry that are successfully carried on in a commercial country would not be undertaken. The establishment of a distinct mercantile class effectually obviates these inconveniences. When a set of dealers erect warehouses and shops for the purchase and sale of all descriptions of commodities, every producer, relieved from the necessity of seeking customers, and knowing beforehand where he may at all times be supplied with such products as he requires, devotes his whole time and energies to his proper business. The intervention of merchants gives a continuous and uninterrupted motion to the plough and the loom. Were the class of traders annihilated, all the springs of industry would be paralysed. The numberless difficulties that would then occur in effecting exchanges would lead each particular family to endeavour to produce all the articles they had occasion for society would thus be thrown back into primæval barbarism and ignorance; the divisions of labour would be relinquished; and the desire to rise in the world and improve our condition would decline, according as it became more difficult to gratify it. What sort of agricultural management could be expected from farmers who had to manufacture their own wool, and make their own shoes? And what sort of manufacturers would those be, who were every now and then obliged to leave the shuttle for the plough, or the needle for the anvil ? A society, without that distinction of employments and professions resulting from the division of labour, that is, without commerce, would be totally destitute of arts or sciences of any sort. It is by the assistance cach individual renders to and receives from his neighbours, by every one applying himself in preference to some peculiar task, and combining, though probably without intending it, his efforts with those of others, that civilised man becomes equal to the most gigantic efforts, and appears endowed with almost omnipotent power The mercantile class has generally been divided into two subordinate classes - the wholesale dealers, and the retail dealers. The former purchase the various products of art and industry in the places where they are produced, or are least valuable, and carry them to those where they are more valuable, or where they are more in demand; and the latter, having purchased the commodities of the wholesale dealers, or the producers, collect them in shops, and sell them in such quantities and at such times as may best suit the public demand. These classes of dealers are alike useful; and the separation that has been effected between their employments is one of the most advantageous divisions of labour. The operations of the wholesale merchant are analagous to those of the miner. Neither the one nor the other makes any change on the bodies which he carries from place to place. All the difference between them consists in this, — that the miner carries them from below ground to the surface of the earth, while the merchant carries them from one point to another on its surface. Hence it follows that the value given to commodities by the operations of the wholesale merchant may frequently exceed that given to them by the producers. The labour or expense required to dig a quantity of coal from the mine, does not exceed what is required for its conveyance from Newcastle to London; and it is a far more difficult and costly affair to fetch a piece of timber from Canada to England, than to cut down the tree. In this respect there is no difference between commerce and agriculture and manufactures. The latter give utility to matter, by bestowing on it such a shape as may best fit it for ministering to our wants and comforts; and the former gives additional utility to the products of the agriculturist and manufacturer, by bringing them from where they are of comparatively little use, or are in excess, to where they are of comparatively great use, or are deficient. If the wholesale merchant were himself to retail the goods he has brought from different places, he would require a proportional increase of capital; and it would be impossible for him to give that exclusive attention to any department of his business, which is indispensable to its being carried on in the best manner. It is for the interest of each dealer, as of each workman, to confine himself to some one business. By this means each trade is better understood, better cultivated, and carried on in the cheapest possible manner, But whether carried on by a separate class of individuals or not, it is obvious that the retailing of commodities is indispensable. It is not enough that a cargo of tea should be imported from China, or a cargo of sugar from Jamaica. Most individuals have some demand for these articles; but there is not, perhaps, a single private person, even in London, requiring so large a supply for his own consumption. It is clear, therefore, that they must be retailed; that is, they must be sold in such quanti |