even with greater force, apply to the Chinese markets, were these laid open to-morrow. With these countries we may look for a gradual improvement and extension of trade, but nothing immediately great or extensive can be expected. Under present circumstances, these places must always be easily and speedily glutted with European goods.

Turning our eyes to the southern division of the western world, the prospect is equally discouraging. There we see a Continent, but thinly peopled, engaged in a civil war; in many places the savage armed against civilized life; and in every place, peace and security wanting; the cultivation of the country neglected or destroyed; and the sinews of trade forced into the vortex of war. Such is the prospect, and to it there is no immediate prospect of a termination; on the contrary, if Spain is forced to relinquish her dominion over these extensive countries, there is a certain prospect of the people quarreling amongst themselves, and kindling up a contest more fatal and more destructive than that in which they are at present engaged. Whatever is the issue of the present contest, we cannot see any room for great improvement in our trade with these places. It will be found at all times a trade easily overdone, from the small number of inhabitants, and the nature of their manners, customs, and pursuits. If the Independents succeed, the trade must be thrown open to the world; and it is a fact, that the manufactures of Germany would, in South America, command a preference over ours. If Spain is successful, she will look for securing that trade to herself; or where she may be forced to adopt more liberal principles, other nations will be admitted to share that business with us. In the mean time, the swarms of adventurers which the contest has drawn to that quarter of the world, the system of piracy to which it has given rise, with the convulsed state of these countries, has almost annihilated the trade which our merchants in Jamaica carried on across the Isthmus of Darien to Peru and Chili on the south, and to Mexico and California on the north, and, we greatly fear, that the Jamaica trade is gone for ever from that island. Our trade with the Brazils may continue to improve, but from the nature of the population and government there established, it is obvious that the increase must be slow, and that other nations will come in with us for a share of it. Many of the provinces of Spanish America are so desolated, that were peace established at this moment, years must elapse before any considerable and advantageous commerce could be carried on with them.

Our prospects in the United States, though not of that troubled and unsettled kind, are nevertheless at present far from being encouraging. We cannot have the same extended trade with these States that we have had. The markets there have been ruinous and destructive in the highest degree. The cause seems obvious. The imports of any nation must, in some measure, be regulated by their exports. The balance may be against them in one instance, but it cannot be so in others, in order to enable them to carry on trade at all. The balance must be in their favours, or they must lose and become poor. Before her late war with England, and before she put her embargo laws in force, when she had the carrying trade of Europe, the tonnage employed in the trade of the American States was 1,500,000 tons, and the value of their exports nearly 102,000,000 of dollars. If we allow 36,000,000 dollars as the value of her freights, we have the whole export trade of the United States, at that time at 138,000,000 dollars. The value of her exports for last year was only 52,000,000 dollars; and if we allow a similar proportion for the freight of her tonnage, or 18,000,000 dollars, we have 70,000,000 dollars as the value of the whole export trade of the United States. In her exports, therefore, there is a falling off of 68,000,000 dollars, or almost one half. It is plain, that she cannot afford to import at the rate she formerly did; and that, if these imports have, as we believe they have, (if not to a greater amount) been forced upon her in the former degree, then the markets must have been over-supplied, at least one half; and consequently the merchant must have been forced to make sales (even where these sales could be effected) at a still greater depreciation. The consequences must be, that he who was deeply engaged in that trade, and, 18 months ago, was worth an independent fortune, must now be unable to pay his debts, and find himself reduced from affluence to dependence.

The trade which the United States have thus lost they can never regain. After the present dreadful shock, the exertions of their free population, and their own internal resources, will, no doubt, increase and expand; but it is evident that this must be progressive, and the work of time; and consequently, that all improvement in her import trade must go on in a corresponding manner, even where their enactments to encourage their internal manufactures and trade do not interfere with the imports from foreign nations, and by this mode embarass and reduce the demand for these. The severest blow American commerce has sustained is the loss of the supplies formerly carried to our West India colonies. These were very great-gave employment to a great proportion of her tonnage and afforded her specie to go into the East India and Chinese markets upon the most advantageous terms. That trade is completely gone. Our North American colonies are now reaping the fruits of that trade which the wisdom of our government has bestowod upon them. Accordingly, it is pleasing to observe the improvement of their trade since the United States were prohibited, and prohibited themselves, from supplying our West India colonies. We subjoin, in proof, the trade of Quebec in those brances thereof connect with the West Indies, and for the years undermentioned,

VOL. VI.

4 F

This account was made out to 4th November last year, while 50 ships remained to clear out with cargoes, in the same trade, before the close of 1819, which must greatly add to the above amount. From these and similar reasons, it appears to us, that the United States cannot afford to receive the same quantity of imports; and that those who calculate upon supplying her markets with European, and more particularly with British manufactures, to the same degree as formerly, must only accelerate their own ruin, and embarass and distress her in all her rising manufactures. Of the exports of the United States, we may add, that 26,908,038 dollars goes to Great Britain and her dependencies, consequently it is their interest to remain on friendly terms with us.

With the countries and places which we have enumerated, the chance of any rapid increase of our trade is therefore small indeed. It certainly will increase; but it must be by gradual and slow degrees, and not in a ratio equal to what we have supplied, or can afford to supply. European influence must continue to increase in the Mediterranean, and conse quently European trade, a large share of which we certainly have the best chance to obtain. Sanguine hopes were entertained of a great outlet to our manufactures, by a free trade with France. But even if France were to grant us a reciprocity in trade, (which she will not) there are various reasons which lead us to believe, that the advantages to our manufactures would not be equal to what is at present anticipated. It seems to be a question, whether the introduction of their silks, and other articles, amongst us, might not decrease the consumpt of the finer articles of our Cotton Manufactures, in a way that would entirely overbalance every advantage likely to be gained by us. All the nations of continental Europe will, most assuredly, endeavour to encourage their own internal trade and manufactures, in place of those of foreign countries. Of this we can have no just reason to complain, and our merchants and manufacturers would do well to bear this in mind, and act accordingly. We have two serious things to contend against, and these are, the poverty of other nations, and the industry and skill of other nations. The first must force them to lessen their expenditure for foreign commodities; and the next, to render themselves indepen dent of foreign supply. We may attempt to contend against one or both, and particularly the latter; but we will find it a dangerous and a hopeless contest, and one which, if persevered in, we will throw away all the profits of those years of industry and activity, in which we had almost exclusively the trade of the civilized world. We fear also, that British manufactures, in many instances, have suffered, from more attention being paid to quantity than to quality-to cheapness than to durability.

With all these disadvantages and drawbacks, however, which we have enumerated, still there is no serious ground for despondence or alarm. Great Britain has, in her own posses sions, a wide and a valuable field. A great portion of the trade of almost all nations, must, in defiance of every competitor, still remain hers. The only thing that is requisite, is to regulate her manufactures in a judicious manner, so that at no period they may become overdone or misdirected. There are many markets in the world yet to be opened, and which can be opened to our commerce. Masters of the ocean, we can gain access into every country, and to every land. A vast field is certainly to be found amongst the fine islands in the Eastern Archipelago; in Tonquin and Cochin China; along the vast stream of the Irrawady, Eastern Asia, and the islands in the Southern Ocean. It is true, for a time much of this trade must be carried on by barter, betwixt place and place, island and island, bringing ultimately such part of the produce of each to the European market, as may suit or sell to advantage in it. Still this would be a valuable and a profitable trade, and one in which we might disperse all our coarser manufactures to advantage. There is a great field open in the Persian Gulf, and all along the south west coast of Arabia; and both shores of the Red Sea, and all the eastern coast of Africa, once famous in the annals of commerce. The possession of Suakim and Massowah on the west shores of the Red Sea, would lay open the whole trade to Abyssinia; a country which, from being highly civilized and powerful, is become in some measure barbarous and unchristianized, from being cut off from the Christian world, by these two ports being in possession of its ignorant and inveterate enemies the Turks. A small British force would secure them—a small force maintain them--and a little exertion might obtain from the Turkish government their cession to this country, as they are scarcely of any use to the Sublime

Porte. Possession of the latter place would also lay open to us the trade to Nubia, Sennaar, and countries southward and westward of that place, which would flourish and increase by intercourse with great Britain.

We are happy to learn, that Captain Ashley Maude, of the ship Favourite, in 1816, surveyed the coasts, and took possession of six islands in the entrance of the Gulf of Persia, which completely command that gulf, and consequently the trade of it. It is also said, that Lord Valentia has for several years past been employed by our government in surveying the coasts of Africa from Melinda to Abyssinia, which must be of the greatest advantage to the future navigation of that coast. We learn also, with satisfaction, that the British have taken possession of the island of Sacotora, near Cape Guardafui, which completely commands the entrance to the Red Sea, and enables us to control the trade of the fertile kingdom of Aden in Arabia, and assist its friendly sovereign, surrounded with unprincipled enemies; and in doing which, we may at no distant day, without much trou ble and expense, open up a road, safe and easy, to the centre of Arabia, hitherto almost a blank to Europe. In short, we anticipate, and that soon, a flourishing commerce, and extended knowledge and civilization in these still interesting and once famous countries.

On the west coasts of Africa, but particularly from Sierra Leone, along the Gold Coast, through the Bights of Benin and Biafra, and southward to the Congo, a wide field for commercial enterprise remains to be opened up. From Benin and its adjoining countries, we are convinced that an opening (and that soon) into the interior of Africa will disclose itself, which will astonish the world, and accelerate a trade of the first magnitude and importance. Britain may secure it. We have already alluded to this subject, and may take an early opportunity to go at greater length into it. The reports at present in cir culation (if happily confirmed, as we fondly anticipate) that the discovery ships have penetrated through Baffin's Bay, and gained Copper Mine River in the prosecution of their voyage, for discovering a north west passage into the Pacific Ocean, augur well for ultimate success, and may give a new turn and impulse to the affairs of commerce. If they have reached thus far in safety, and even should they make no farther, still their voyage may become of the utmost importance to this country, for it may disclose a way by which, communicating with the northern extremities of America by sea, we may secure to our country the fur trade, or a great portion of it, at present threatened to be wrested from us by the exertions of our southern neighbours in the United States.

The attention of this country is called forth to our invaluable settlement at the Cape of Good Hope. It is impossible to calculate the advantages which the trade of Great Britain will derive from the increase and prosperity of this colony. It lays all the Eastern World open to us, and makes it dependent on us. We cannot do too much for its prosperity. New Holland continues to advance in prosperity, and most important discoveries, in the interior of that vast country, have lately taken place, and are at present pur sued with industry and skill. We allude particularly to the discovery of a great river beyond the Blue Mountains, which, even in the latitude of 32° South, and at a distance of 2000 miles from the nearest part of the sea coast, where it can possibly disembogue, is found 700 to 800 feet broad; and running North, it is of a depth sufficient to bear a line-of-battle ship. It is impossible yet to calculate what advantages this river may afford to New Holland, to trade and commerce, when its junction with the ocean is ascertained, which, indeed, cannot be long a secret. Every year, the prosperity and trade of this colony must continue to increase; and from the outcasts of British society, a race of men be produced which will do honour to the English name; perpetuate this name and our language to the remotest period of time; and fill with knowledge, and all the arts of civilized life, a mighty country, which had long been a blank amongst the countries of the world.

With these remarks, we proceed to give the Tables of the principal imports into Great Britain; and also the exports and consumpt of colonial produce for the year 1819, which cannot fail to be interesting to our readers.

(a) Of this quantity, 223 tierces and 4,412 cases were imported from the Brazils and South America; 1329 casks and 158,395 bags were from the East Indies; the remainder was the produce of our West India Colonies, viz. :

From Jamaica,
other Islands,
Demerara, &c.

111,700 casks.

124,400

38,600

874,700

The exports of Sugar from Great Britain, in 1819, were 19,892 tons, equal to 24,867 hhds. of 15 cwt. each, being a decrease of 4,133 tons from the preceding year. Of the quantity exported, 5,195 casks were from the West India Warehouses, London.

(a) From Bristol, &c. we have no returns; but we may judge of it in proportion to the imports and consumpt in other places.

Decreased in imports, 106,076 bags, &c. ; increased in consnmpt, 13,500 bags, &c.; Stock on hand in 1819, 349,300 bags and bales, being an increase of 144,500 bags, &c.

The stock of Coffee on hand, January 1st, is about 6000 tons. Last year it was 10,000 tons. The supply would thus appear inadequate to the demand; but we must bear in mind, that the export decreased considerably last year, arising, perhaps, from the introduction of Coffee into the Continent through other channels than Great Britain.

The internal consumpt of Cocoa is increased 900 cwts, and the export is nearly doubled.

26,151 puns. of 110 galls. each, or 2,876,610 galls.

We have no returns from Bristol, &c. The consumpt of Rum in Glasgow is greatly decreased; that in London is considerably augmented; and in Liverpool is perhaps nearly the same, could we learn the different kind of casks.

The import is greatly increased, and the export, in proportion to the quantity, greatly so also.

The imports have decreased very considerably, while the export is nearly trebled; and consequently, the stock on hand very much reduced.