1814.]

Chemical Report-Commercial Report.

91

wounded persons, terminates with the following important conclusions:-These observations serve to explain the action of charcoal on pestilential gases and corrupted substances: thus, it purifies putrid water, because it possesses he property of condensing, in great quantity, the pestilential gases generated by their putridity. In this case the charcoal previously saturated with atmospheric air, abandons the latter, and seizes in a much greater proportion the putrid gases generated by the corrupted water. The same phenomenon occurs when the charcoal is applied to purulent and foetid ulcers. It immediately removes the infectious and pestilential effluvia which they emit in abundance. By its contact with the wounds, it absorbs the putrid gases formed in great quantity by the corruption of the flesh and humours. This effect must evidently produce two important advantages: in the first place it checks the emission of the contagious principles which are so dange rous to the attendants of persons afflicted with putrid sores, and must, therefore, be considered as a preservative against infection; and in the second it accelerates their care. The wood of which the charcoal for this use is made, should be perfectly charied in contact with the air, and well cleaned from ashes before it is powdered: it ought also to be kept very dry, as it strongly attracts humidity.

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT.

Commerce within the last month has somewhat revived from the extreme dulness that had prevailed for two or three months preceding; and since the arrival of the fleets from the West Indies, the demand for sugars has been very considerable, at an advance of 7s. to 8s. per cwt with every prospect of the advanced price being maintained, as notwithstanding the apparent great importation, without a great diminution in the consumption compared with an average of three or four years past, the total importation of the present season is not likely to be equal to the demand: a reference to the annexed comparative statement of imports and exports of last years will better confirm such an opin on than any other argument that can be advanced. Coffees, and almost every other article of colonial produce, have also rather improved in price as well as in demand, though not in proportion to sugars. The supplies by the first Jamaica fleet, as well as by the first Leeward Island fleet, announced in our last Number, will be found in the annexed statement; and in addition to the stock of sugar and coffee there represented, as well as in the statement of stock of East India merchandize, there are about 2000 chests Brazil sugars, and 20,300 bags Brazil coffee in the London Docks. A bounty on the exportation of refined sugars, and a draw-back on raw sugars cqual to the first amount of duties paid for home consumption, will be resumed after the 5th instant, which will probably give rise to a further considerable advance on that article.

East India merchandize remains with very little variation in price: a fleet from hina has been expected for several days past; until its arrival the East India Comany cannot make up their usual quantity of teas for the ensuing sale in September. hould the exportation of teas continue to the extent of the preceding part of the resent year, an advance in price to a considerable extent will probably take place. e stock of indigoes is becoming exceedingly disproportionate to the usual conmption, but at present the article remains without commanding much profit on e last sale prices. Piece goods, although they do not give way in price, are in ery trifling demand; nearly the whole of the last sale of Bengal goods still remain the warehouses; the quantity declared for the ensuing sale in September is about one half less than the last, and the Company have declared the price at which they are to be put up to sale the same as those of last sale, which will probably prevent much decline before next season. The quantity of coast goods for the ensuing sale is about equal to the last, and a decline in price of 8 to 10 per cent. may be expected. Spices of all kinds are in very limited demand; the pepper of last sale that sold for 20d. per lb. and upwards, is now current at 12d. and is not likely to recover, but on the other hand will probably experience a further decline.

Cotton-wool, and tobacco, from the state of our political relations with America, excite an increased degree of interest: a considerable demand for cotton yarn has lately, and still continues to prevail, and the exportation of cotton wool, as will be seen by the statement of exports, is now very considerable, whilst the supplies become more inadequate to such a demand. The statement of the supply and consumption of tobacco, for 18 months past, will shew that Europe will very soon be entirely exhausted, without an almost immediate change in the politics of America:

92

Commercial Report.

[Aug. 1,

it should also be held in view, that all kinds of cotton manufactured goods, and East India piece goods, may be considerably affected by a protracted continuance of hostilities with America.

Fresh supplies of Baltic produce are beginning to arrive, and the prices of all articles are progressively yielding to that decline in price so reasonably to be expected. The speculators in tallow appear to give up the point with great reluctance, but there can be no question but that tallow will find its proper level in price as well as other articles: a great quantity of the present scason's importation of tallow was sold several months ago for arrival at 91s. and 92s. per cwt. it is now current at 81s. and 82s. Hemp in the early part of the year was at 801. per ton, and is now at 501. a price from which a decline of more than 51. or 61. per ton may not be expected, whilst tallow has to go down to 60s. per cwt. before it approximates to its fair and legitimate price. Flax maintains a proportionately higher price than hemp, and will be regulated by the supplies for the future. There are about 2,000 tons of flax, and 3,500 tons of hemp of old importations remaining unsold, and a tolerably large importation expected; it will therefore depend much upon the demand in fixing a future price. Bullion is steadily finding its proper equilibrium, and consequently bringing the exchanges of Hamburgh, Paris, and Ansterdam, to their respective pars. The exchange with Paris has been more rapid in its rise than the other places, bat the whole will probably very soon become subject but to little fluctuation. The funds, as will be seen by the annexed lists, remain very steady.

The destruction of the Custom House by fire, with nearly the whole of the books, will prevent the usual exposition of any aggregate report of the importations and exportations of last years compared with preceding years. The following statements have been laid before the House of Commons by the inspector general of the customs, with the information of being unable to present the usual documents required.

FOREIGN WOOL.-The following, according to an official return made to the House of Commons, is the amount of the wool imported into Great Britain since 1808:-In 1809, total 6,345,933 lbs.-In 1810, 10,956,224 lbs.-In 1811, 4,739,972 lbs. In 1812, 7,614,917 lbs.-In 1813, 7, 939,628 lbs.

No return can at present be made of the quantity of wool imported into Great Britain in the year ending the 5th of January, 1814, as required by the above-recited order of the 30th of June last, in consequence of the destruction (by fire) of the documents in the office of the inspector-general of imports and exports; but returns of the importation of that article having been received from the ports, for the year ending the 5th of April, 1814, pursuant to a previous order of the Hon. House of Commons, dated the 6th of June, the acconnt below is submitted, as the best return that can immediately be made of the importation of wool in the last year. In 1814, 8,869,482 lbs.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.-Return to an order of the Honourable House of Commons, dated 29th June, 1814-For an account of the imports and exports of all merchandize of Great Britain, to and from foreign countries, in the years ending 5th of January, 1792, 1804, and 1813; distinguishing the official from the real value

OFFICIAL VALUE OF IMPORTS INTO GREAT BRITAIN,

Year ending 5th January

37,647,874 12 9

All parts of the world, except Ireland, the Isles of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, and the British Whale Fisheries.

Custom house, London, July 18, 1814.

NOTE. The official value of the trade of Great Britain in the year ending the 5th of January, 1814, cannot be stated, in consequence of the loss of the documents by fire; and the amount in the preceding year has therefore been substituted.

The unfortunate destruction of the official books, containing the particulars of the real value of imports and exports, in the years referred to in the above recited order, renders it impracticable to afford that part of the information required.

WM. IRVING, Inspector-General of Imports and Exports.

Imports and Exports to and from London.

93

GINGER COCOA.

Imported in 137 Ships by the first Leeward Island Fleet of 1814 in 111 Ships by the first Jamaica

do. dó.

45,015 5,780 16,470

66,974

11,889 106 5,026 136

242 320

229 5,911 669

NEW MORTHLY MAGAZINE.-No. 7.

[94]

BANKRUPTS.

FROM JUNE 22 TO JULY 23 INCLUSIVF.

Where the address of the Solicitor is not mentioned, he must be understood to reside at the same place as the bankrupt. The Solicitors' names are between Parentheses.

Atkinson A. Crutched Friars, merchant (Tomlin. Fosbery W. Liverpool, and R, Bamber, Dublin,

Coombes J. and J. Shadwell dock, coopers (Lox- Ledger II. jun. Bermondsey, dyer (Vandercom

Duff R. Rosemary lane, mealman (Read, Bishops Monday J. Buckingham court, Charing cross, vicgate street

Duncan J. and J. Young, Huddersfield, woolsta

Edwards S. and W. B. Stamford, bankers (Torkington

Dividends.

Needham J. Hargate Wall, Derby, cotton spinner Stanes R. C. Chelmsford, bookseller (Aubrey and Hewit and Kirk, Manchester

DIVIDENDS.

Abraham J. Barton upon Humber, corn factor, Burbidge W. Cannon street, umbrella manufac.