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Leader (1850-1860), 15th January 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 26

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      90 The Leaded. __ [Ho. 460, January 15,1...

      90 THE LEADED . __ [ Ho . 460 , January 15 , 1859 .

      ... G Q M Meecial

      ... G Q M MEECIAL

      Pkogkress Of Peaceful Inpijstby. Okte Da...

      PKOGKRESS OF PEACEFUL INPIJSTBY . Okte day last week No . VI . of the " Abstracts of Reports of the Trade of Various Countries , for 1855-6-7 , received by the Board of Trade through the Foreign-office from her Majesty ' s Ministers and Consuls , " was published . We find some reason to complain of the slovenly manner in which this BluebooK , of nearly 300 pages , is edited . In the table of contents the number of the page in which Spain is referred to is omitted . In one of the paragraphs

      in that page the amount of duties in a year are confounded ^ with the average duties of five years . At pages 99-100 , a few surplus words make two passages perfectly contradictory . But a more important proof o the slovenliness and negligence of the Board of Trade is to be found by comparing the contents of the volume with Part V . of " Statistical Tables relating to Foreign Countries , " purporting to be for 1857 , and published about three months ago . In this Blue-book of 200 pages * some elaborate tables are jsriven , with much other useful information , of the

      trade of Spain , from which it appears that the iniports and exports of that country , together , had increased from 10 , 800 , 000 / . in 1851 , to 23 , 600 , 000 ^ . in 1856 , which was referred , to b y ¦ . ¦ the Daily News when the volume was published , as one amongst many proofs of the extraordinary progress 6 i trade and wealth in Europe during the fast few years . In the volume now published py this same Board , a brief account is given of the import and export trade of Spain for 1856 only , three months after the account had'been given of the trade of Spain

      for 1851 and 1856 , and as it ; happened that the exports of 1856 were less than in 1855 , this single account might lead hasty readers to infer , quite contrary tb ithe fact , that- the trade of Spain was not rapidly and regularly increasing . Short as this account is , too , occupying only half a page , from the slovenly manner in which the work is sent through the press , the increase of duties , in 1856 , on imports , as compared to 1855 , 204 , S 771 , is described as the increase on the average of five years , while this is also inserted and shown to

      have been 252 , 449 / . The statement has accordingly been misinterpreted by the Times and other journals . Printing for the public costs annually a very large sum , and it might be lessened if the Government did not publish numerous duplicates , triplicates , and even sextuplicates of the same documents ; and those which are published would be more useful if some attention were paid to putting them carefully through the press . Passing , however , from , the negligence and errors of our raiciajs to the more important subject we

      propose briefly to elucidate , we remark that the extraordinary progress of trade in Spain mentioned above , between 1851 and 1856 , 118 per cent , in five vears , continued in the several ports of Alicant , Cadiz , and Seville , of which only the latest published abstracts give us information , in 1857 , and probably in the whole monarchy . The revenue of the Spanish Government , from the inorease of trade , augmented from 11 , 379 , 264 * . in 1852 , to 18 , 126 , 314 / . in 1857 , or 61 per cent , in six years . Similar facts are observable in other countries .

      In Austria , the revenue increased from 21 , 789 , 981 / . in 1851 , tb 27 , 316 , 278 / . in 1856 , ox nearly 26 per cent . In 1860 the value of the imports and exports was 26 , 880 , 299 / ., and in 1856 , 46 , 897 , 3617 ,, — increase 78 per cent , j and in 185 , 7 , the value of the exports and imports , though something less than in 1866 , was no loss than 51 , 295 , 103 / . The value of the imports and exports of Portugal was , in 1843 , 4 , 845 , 766 / . ; and in 1854 , 7 , 417 , 161 / . Small as are the totals , the increase in eleven years , 53 per cent ., is considerable . In Sardinia ( the kingdom ) t & e value of the imports and , exports increasec ( firpW .. 18 77 'Q * 27 i 3 A wl & 53 to $ 8 , 375 , 875 / . in I 860 , —v 5 X per cent , Between 1853 and 1867 the revenue increased fcom , 81 , 114 , 113 / . to 27 , 224 , 201 / .

      and the equally backward states of Home , Naples , and Greece . It is scarcely necessary to remind our readers that the value of our imports and exports together increased from 208 ^ 210 , 145 / . in 1854 , to 334 , 018 , 472 / . in 1857 , —nearly 25 per cent . ; that in the same period the value of the imports and exports of France increased from 151 , 880 , 000 / . in 1854 , to 213 , 120 , 000 / . hi 1 S 57 ,- ^ 40 per cent ., and the value of the imports and exports of the United States increased from 582 , 803 , 445 dols , in 1854 , to 723 , 850 , 823 dols . in 1857—2-i per cent . These are tolerably well-known facts , and their importance is scarcely diminished by the general , though by no means large , decline in the value of trade in these several countries in 1 S 58 . ' :

      In the statistical " Abstracts" referred to , we find such illustrative and corroborative facts as the following . The foreign trade of Belgium , says Sir T . W . Waller , has nearly doubled itself in . the last ten vears . The annual average of the imports from 1 S 45 to lS 49 was 376 , 000 , 000 fr . ; in 1855 the imports amounted to G 79 , 00 Qr 000 fr . The annual average of the exports from lSi 5 to lS 49- was 362 , 006 s 000 fr ., in 1 S 55 the exports amounted to 698 , 000 , 000 fr . Although the value of the export and impoi-t trade of Bavaria scarcely exceeds 4 ; 000 , 000 fl ., it has much increased of late years ;

      such is the testimony of her . Majesty ' s' Secretary of Legation , Mr . Botiar , The whole import and export trade of Denmark was 9 , 402 , 108 / : m 1853 , and 11 , 463 , 621 / . in 1855 , and the imports in 1 So 6 , says her Majesty ' s consul at Elsinore , again show an augmentation in value of 2 S 3 , 33 G / ., though the export iii , 1856 fell . off 758 , 942 / . owing to the limited supply , of agricultural produce to export in that year . , One illustration--more , and we will cease quotations . The , trade of . the Zollverein , embracing the larger part of Germany , was valued at 432 , 831 , 700 thalers in 1 S 50 , and at 791 , 368 , 286 thalers in 1855 , —an increase in five years of 83 per

      and approbation of the growing , the influential , and the wealth-creating portions ot society . We refer to the condition of trade as an index to national prosperity . It is never well with commerce ( as Sir Josiali Child long ago remarked ) but it is well with land ; the two " wax arid wane together . " Representing production and exchange , these are tests of progress and welfare . On . them , in the main , Government depends for its revenue , and it cannot lessen them without weakening its own power . It can pay no more civil and nmitary servants than these provide it with the means of remunerating . It may determine the

      mimber and rewards of its servants , but its means of carrying put its designs arc derived from the labour employed in production and exchange . Government and its agents do not add directly to the wealth of society . They are consumers , devourcrs , and destroyers , and to live must be sustained by others . It is not , therefore , the progressive povrer . The condition of Government is only indirectly an index to welfare , as its power , derived from the pro ductive classes , tells of their well-being . On this account we how advert especially to . the progress of trade , for , whatever be the skill of Government in diplomacy or war , it depends for the sinews of its strength on the progressive powers of society . These

      must and will ultimately determine its fate . Our country is riot influential in the councils of the world by the wisdom of her Ministers , but by the ' mighty power which her rapid and continual progress' in wealth places in the hands of the least skilful administrator . It is of importance , therefore ,. no \ y to remind the public of the progress of foreign nations in peaceful industry and wealth . It gives us a more certain . clue to the general conduct of Governments than the movements of their diplomacy or the organisation of their military forces ; and assures us that "the trading and industrious people of England will now find an increasing mass of trading and industrious people in every country of Europe , desirous , like themselves , of preserving and cultivating peace .

      pent . . Such facts show an irrepressible tendency of society everywhere , not merely in England and in the United States , but ill France , Austria , Holland , Russia , & c . & c , to cultivate and extend trade . Every year , too , this tendency becomes stronger . Every extension of trade in one direction , every increase of trade in one commodity , begets a necessity to increase the trade in spine other commodity , or extend it in some other direction . Every new production and every new invention multiplies exchances or trade between individuals . No new art

      is called into existence without requiring other arts , or encouraging old arts . All trade , in fact , implies two or more persons , and one cannot thrive but another must thrive too . The increase in trade , then , and the tendency of society now noticed , proceed in a compound ratio , and they must carry all the subordinate parts with them . In old times , when nations were yet migratory or lived in a state of war , the chiefs who led the hordes to new countries or led them in battle , acted according to the teudenoies of society , and wero heroes in those ages . It cannot be otherwise now ; aud those

      Governments oarmot succeed which' by continually using violence or engaging in war thwart ; the tendenoy of society . Soldiers , and similar instruments of destruction , cannot bo the heroes of an ago in which the bulk of society is struggling to create , to form , to gain , and to preserve . With this increase in peaceful industry , the interests of society connected with it acquire a predominancy , and will gradually more" and more ourb -the action or dictate the course of Government . Resting on thorn , and

      interpreting theii * wishes and desires , the press—itself a peaceful industry , the influence of which is already great in all oiviUsod -countries—may now exercise a salutary control over those Govornmoufcs which are disposed for their own petty purposes to kindle war in Europe , arid tun counter to the progress of society . The sinister offoot of the wars of Governments in these great and growing interests may bo known by the disastrous consequences on national securities of oven the rumours ol' dissonsions . Tho funds have already everywhere fallen , and brought ruin on many speculators . "Were tho press , therefore , now zealous-in promoting and enforcing the preservation of poaoo , it would have tho support

      The value of t ] be exports and imports ot Tuscany wm , in 1868 , 8 , < 999 $ e 9 t .,. « nd in 1855 , 6 , 8 ^ 907 / . There was tt like increase in . the trade of the island of Sardinia as distinct from the kingdom ; in Switzerland , Egypt , Turkey , Moldavia WaUaohia , & o . The only foreign oountxaos referred to in tho statistical tables , Part V ., of whichthe trade has » ot increased very considerably , are tho Barbary States ,

      General Trade Report.

      GENERAL TRADE REPORT .

      London, Friday Evening. The Contrast Bet...

      London , Friday Evening . The contrast between the condition of the general produce markets and the Stock Exchange is very great . In the latter , all lias been through the week panic anil dismay ; in the former , strengthening confidence ami some increased activity . The corn market has been firm and closes firm . Importations have declined . Stocks are short in the metropolis , and the price accordingly looks up . A rise in the price of com makes people expect a rise in other things , and there is a tendency to more activity . Seeds generally have followed com . Tallow , too , is dearex * . In Mincing-lane not much -was done to-day , but tea is dearer . Thp only thing which shows a considerable depression j » silk , which hus fallen in consequence of the apprehension of war . For silk tho market is quite disordered . Otherwise tho aspects oi trade this week are extremely favourable , and if war do not intervene the revival of trade is now likely to bo

      steady and continuous . The rumours of disturbances on tho Continent havenot had much effect in thp manufacturing diatnets . Tha manufacturers are npt so credulous on these topics as are moneyed men , and the . result is that thoy seldom allow business to bo interfered with until thoy have something more tangible than sunnisos to influence thorn , 'lho manufacturers have been very well oroploycd during _ tho week in executing orders thoy havo on hand , and it is not expected that any pauso in present activity win tako place—at loast in tho Manchester trado—for a couple of months at loast . It must , however , not be left out of eight that tho uneasiness and uncertainty which prevails on tho subject of continental to havo

      movements are likely , in tho long run , an injurious action on trade If jnaniifuctureru ami exporters oonaldor that thoy have reason to binovo that tho warlike powors of tho Gontinont aro but waiting for some pretext to make war , and possibly to light » P ft general-continental war , they will naturally , as a measure of protection to themselves , refrain- —tho oho from accumulating heavy fltookn , tho other from giving ordow for continental supply . It 1 b to bo hoped that thp present ferment which has suddenly sprung « P » " » ld wWeh has had , florae countenance from the sayinga and doings oj foreign monarchy will as suddenly subside , ami illlx » commerce , in all branches and directions , may bo ailoweu to resume Us peacoful activity .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 15, 1859, page 26, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_15011859/page/26/