merchants from competing with the British, Germans, and French, in the Mexican market. He will learn that trade and sentiment have very little to do with each other. He will understand that neither diplomacy' nor uninterrupted intercourse, socially and commercially, with Mexico,' will harmonize the 'disturbing disagreements between the two countries.'

STATISTICS OF BRITISH TRADE.

SHIPPING, EXPORTS, AND REVENUE OF LEADING PORTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

The subjoined statement, exhibiting at one view a comparison of the shipping, exports, and revenue collected at the following ports, we copy from the Belfast (Ireland) Mercantile Journal:

We here find that London, with 500,000 tons less shipping, and £20,000,000 less exports than Liverpool, yields more than three times the amount of revenue; and that Bristol, with one fourth of the shipping and one-thirtieth part of the exports of Hull, gives three times the amount of revenue. It appears also, that although the value of the exports from Belfast reaches within nearly six millions sterling to those of London, the revenue derived from her port is nearly eleven millions per annum less. These discrepancies seem to show, that the only just way to classify a port is to take a balance of all the circumstances connected with it. The Government have, therefore, determined upon abolishing the present classification of ports, and to deal with them according to their merits, based upon the three considerations, shipping, exports, and revenue, taken as a whole, and to frame the establishments accordingly. Should this principle be carried out, Belfast will rank as the third or fourth commercial port in the three kingdoms.

CUSTOMS DUTIES IN ENGLAND.

From a return just issued, it appears that the number of articles, constituting principal or separate heads, that paid duties of customs, and the number of entries at different rates in 1840 and 1852, were 564 in the former year, and 230 in the latter. Inclusive of those subordinate to the principal heads, the number was 1,052 in 1840, and 466 in 1852. The gross receipts of customs' duties on imported commodities amounted in 1840 to £23,466,117, and in 1852 to £22,187,151; and the net produce thereof was £23,162,197 in 1840, and £22,051,734 in 1852. The loss to the revenue of customs resulting from the alteration of duties on imported commodities, amounted in 1842 to £1,225,875; it was largest in 1845, when it rose up to £3,487,227; and it was lowest in 1852, being confined to the sum of £95,928. The grand total of such loss, in eleven years, from 1842 to 1853, amounted to £8,450,451.

CONSUMPTION OF COTTON IN THE WORLD.

It appears, from Messrs. Du Fay & Co.'s Trade Circular, that the increase in the consumption of cotton was much greater last year, in all countries, than at any former period. The following table, hovever, will show that, whilst the year's consumption of the United States has increased 50 per cent, Russia, Germany, Holland, and Belgium 45 per cent; France 33 per cent, and Spain 30 per cent, that of England has only increased at the rate of 15 per cent; yet, that at this diminished ratio, her total increase in pounds vastly exceeds that of any other country. The excess in England

was from 648,000,000 lbs. to 745,000,000 lbs.; increase, 97,000,000 lbs. In Russia, Germany, Holland, and Belgium, from 118,000,000 lbs. to 172,000,000 lbs.: increase, 54,000,000 lbs. In France and the adjacent countries, from 149,000,000 lbs. to 199,000,000 lbs.; increase, 50,000,000. In Spain, from 34,000,000 lbs. to 44,000,000 lbs. ; increase, 10,000,000. In countries bordering on the Adriatic, from 45,000,000 lbs. to 55,000,000 lbs.; increase, 10,000,000 lbs. In the United States, from 158,000,000 lbs. to 237,000,000 bs.; increase, 79,000,000 lbs. Sundries, from 23,000,000 lbs. to 29,000,000 lbs.; increase, 6,000,000. The total quantity of cotton consumed last year in all these countries was 1,481,000,000 lbs., of which 745,000,000 lbs. were consumed in Great Britain, or one-half of the whole.

COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.

PERUVIAN DECREE RELATING TO DUTIES, ETC.

On the 23d of April, 1853, Senor Echenque, President of Peru, issued the following decree :

Art. 1. All merchandise and foreign articles which may be dispatched in the Custom-house of Arica, and in transit for Bolivia, shall pay, as those which are dispatched for the consumption of the republic, the duties laid down in Art. 73 of the Ordinance of Commerce, with respect to the value which the tariff of duties adopted in the Custom-houses of the republic fixes.

2. Articles of Bolivian manufacture, or produce, which are introduced into Peru, shall pay the same duties, and in the same terms.

3. Bolivian goods and products of all kinds which are brought from Bolivia to be exported for foreign parts through Arica, or any other port of Peru, shall pay 40 per cent ad valorem on the value which a special decree of the Minister of Finance may fix upon them.

4. All small coined silver of Bolivia introduced into Peru for any purpose whatever shall also pay 40 per cent.

5. The introduction to Peru by sea of the said small coined silver of Bolivia is prohibited.

6. Gold and silver, in bars, bullion, or dust, which may be introduced into Peru from Bolivia, is free of all duty.

7. Also coined gold and hard dollars are free of duty, provided they suffer no adul teration in Bolivia.

8. Mules, horses, and horned cattle, which may be imported into Peru, through Bolivia, from the provinces of the Argentine Republic, shall continue enjoying the immunities which are now allowed them.

9. Should the Government of Bolivia impose any duty on aguardiente or Peruvian liquors, then the foreign liquors which may be dispatched in transit for Bolivia, as per Art. 1 of this decree, are subject to the duties laid down in Art. 73 of the Ordinance of Commerce, shall pay moreover an additional duty, equal to that put upon Peruvian liquors and aguardiente in Bolivia.

10. All foreign articles, including liquors which are dispatched in transit for Bolivia, shall, under pain of seizure, go with a permit, granted by the Custom-house of Arica or competent authority in Peru; and that permit shall only be valid for 30 days after the date of being granted.

11. All goods and liquors dispatched in transit for Bolivia shall, under the like pains of seizure, go, if destined for La Paz, by way of Tacna or Palca, and proceed by Tacora to Santiago de Machaca; and if destined for Peru, shall pass from Tacora to Cosapilla and Pichaguas. If found taking a different route they shall be confiscated. 12. The produce, merchandise, and articles of manufacture of Peru which go to Bolivia, may take the route most convenient to the parties interested.

13. The duties which are to be paid on foreign articles of merchandise and liquors in transit for Bolivia, shall be paid in the terms laid down by the Ordinance of Com. merce. The duties which are imposed on Bolivian articles and produce shall be paid at the first place through which they shall be brought into Peruvian territory.

14. Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9, of the present decree, shall commence to be in force in forty days after their publication in the towns of the south, bordering on Bolivia, and the remainder will commence to be in force from the date of the said publication,

OPENING OF THE NAVIGATION OF THE AMAZON.

The following is a summary of the document:

ART. 1. Declares that in conformity with the treaty between Peru and Brazil, of 23d October, 1851, and during the time it is in force, the navigation of the Amazon as far as the port of Nauta, at the mouth of the Ucayli, is opened to the navigation, traffic, and Commerce of the vessels and subjects of Brazil.

2. Subjects and citizens of other nations who have treaties with Peru, on the same terms as the most favored nations, are entitled to the same privileges as the Brazilians.

3. For the purposes of the two former articles, the ports of Loreto and Nauta are selected.

4. In conformity to the law of the 20th November, 1852, no duties are to be paid on exports or imports from the said ports, on merchandise or native produce, except the municipal dues, required for the objects of local utility.

5. The exploration of the rivers that run into the Amazon will be made by govern. ment steamers, constructed and employed expressly for the surface.

6, 7, 8, and 9, relate to the subdivision of districts and the appointment of governors. 10. The Governor General has power to grant to all who desire to establish themselves in those localities, grants of land of from two to forty fanegadas of land, in proportion to the means and numbers of the settlers.

11. Governors can, in the same manner, grant from two to four fanegadas.

12. Larger free grants can only be had from the government.

13. All grants made by articles 10 and 11 are void if the lands are not cultivated and settled upon within eighteen months.

14. In larger grants the time for selling and improving will be stated.

15. The Peruvian government binds itself to give to colonists, who arrive at either of the above ports for the purpose of settling in the valleys of the Amazon and its tributaries, free conduct to their destination, as also grants of seeds and implements.

16. A national ship shall be provided to convey settlers and foreign emigrants to the point where they intend to settle.

17. In conformity with the law of the 21st November, 1832, cultivated land and buildings shall be exempt from taxes, and every other privilege conceded to the possessors of uncultivated lands.

18. The new settlers shall pay no contributions for the term of twenty years, nor clergy dues, and shall further be exempt from the use of stamped papers, being permitted to use common paper for petitions and contracts.

19. All the military and civil pensioners of government not on actual service can avail themselves of these privileges.

20. Government will facilitate the passage and establishment of clergy to the new settlements.

21. The new settlers can establish their own municipal regulations, subject to the approval of the governor.

22. Also their judges, until such time as Congress can legislate upon the subject. 23 to 26 relate to the present governors of the districts, the opening of roads from various points, &c.

OF ADULTERATED DRUGS.

The Secretary of the Treasury, under date June 4th, 1853, has issued the following explanatory circular :

It being represented to this Department, that much embarrassment has been experienced by officers of the customs at some of the ports of the United States, in reference to the provisions of the act of 26th June, 1848, "to prevent the importation of adulterated and spurious drugs and medicines," it is deemed expedient, with a view to avoid future difficulties arising from misconstructions of the law, and to secure uniformity of practice at the several ports in carrying out its provisions with precision and efficiency, to furnish you with the additional instructions which follow, explanatory and in modification of the circular instructions addressed to you by the Department on the 8th July, 1848.

To avoid the recurrence of a difference of opinion between the officers of the customs as to what particular articles of Commerce should be considered drugs and medicines,

and as such subject to special examination by the special examiner of drugs and medicines, it is thought proper to state that, in conformity with the evident spirit and intent of the law, it is required that all articles of merchandise used wholly or in part as medicine, and found described as such in the standard works specially referred to in the act, must be considered drugs and medicines, and that all invoices, therefore, of such articles, in whole or in part, must be submitted to the examination of the special examiner of drugs and medicines, before they can be permitted to pass the custom house.

In the examination on entry of any medicinal preparation, the said special examiner is to unite with the appraiser.

With a view to afford a reliable guide to the examiner of drugs and medicines, as well as to the analytical chemist, on appeal, in ascertaining the admissibility of such articles under the provisions of law, founded on their purity and strength, the following list is given of some of the principal articles, with the result of special tests agreeing with the standard authorities referred to in the law, all of which articles are to be entitled to entry when ascertained by analysis to be composed as noted, viz:Aloes, when affording 80 per cent of pure alotic extractive.

Asafoetida, when affording 50 per cent of its peculiar bitter resin, and

Bark, Cinchona, when affording 1 per cent of pure quinine, whether called Peruvian, Calasaya, Arica, Carthagena, Maracaibo, Santa Martha, Bogota, or under whatever name, or from whatever place; or

Bark, Cinchona, when affording 2 per cent of the several natural alkaloids combined, as quinine, cinchonine, quindine, aricene, &c., the barks of such strength being admissible as safe and proper for medicine, and useful for chemical manufacturing purposes. Benzoin, when affording 80 per cent of resin; or

Opium

pure morphine.

40

Rhubarb

soluble matter, whether in root or powder;

none admissible but the article known as East India, Turkey, or Russian rhubarb. Sagapenum, 30 per cent of resin;

66

30

gum; and

volatile oil.

pure scammony resin.
soluble matter.

All medicinal leaves, flowers, barks, roots, extracts, &c., not herein specified, must be, when imported, in perfect condition, and of as recent recollection and preparation as practicable.

All pharmaceutical and chemical preparations, whether crystalized or otherwise, used in medicine, must be found on examination to be pure, and of proper consistence and strength, as well as of perfect manufacture, conformably with the formulas contained in the standard authorities named in the act; and must in no instance contain more than 3 per cent of excess of moisture or water of crystalization.

Essential or volatile oils, as well as expressed oils used in medicine, must be pure, and conform to the standards of specific gravity noted and declared in the dispensatories sanctioned in the act.

"Patent or secret medicines" are by law subject to the same examination, and disposition after examination, as other medicinal preparations, and cannot be permitted to pass the custom-house for consumption, but must be rejected and condemned, un

less the special examiner be satisfied, after due investigation, that they are fit and safe to be used for medicinal purposes.

The appeal from the report of the special examiner of drugs and medicines, provided for in the act, must be made by the owner or consignee within ten days after the said report; and in case of such appeal, the analysis made by the analytical chemist is expected to be full and in detail, setting forth clearly and accurately the name, quantity, and quality of the several component parts of the article in question, to be reported to the collector under oath or affirmation.

On such report being made, a copy of the same will be immediately furnished by the collector to the special examiner of drugs and medicines, who, if the report be in conflict with his return made to the collector, and he have cause to believe that the appeal and analytical examination have not been conducted in strict conformity with the law, may enter his protest in writing against the reception and adoption by the collector of such report and analysis, until a reasonable time be allowed him for the preparation of his views in the case, and their submission to this Department for its consideration. JAMES GUTHRIE, Secretary of the Treasury.

LAW OF MAINE RELATING TO PEDDLERS.

We give below the several sections of an "Act to amend chapter two hundred of the laws of Maine,” relating to hawkers and peddlers, which was passed during the last session of the legislature of that State, and approved by the governor on the 26th of February, 1853.

SEO. 1. The two hundredth chapter of the laws of Maine, approved on the thirtieth day of July, eighteen hundred and forty-six, is hereby amended by striking out the first section, and inserting the following, so that the same, when amended, shall read as follows:

SEC. 1. Every hawker, peddler, or petty chapman, or other person, not having been five years a citizen of this State, who shall hereafter travel from town to town, or from place to place in this State, or from place to place within any of the cities or towns in this State, on foot or with a horse, carriage, or by any other public or private conveyance, carrying for sale, or exposing or offering for sale, any goods, wares or merchandise whatever, or carrying, exposing or exhibiting samples or specimens of any goods, wares or merchandise, for the purpose of selling goods, wares and merchandise similar to, or of like kind or description to such samples or specimens, shall forfeit for each offence the sum of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars, together with all articles and merchandise thus as aforesaid carried or exhibited or exposed for sale, to be recovered by complaint or indictment, one half to the town where the offence is committed, and the other to prosecutor.

SEC. 2. The fourth section of said chapter is amended by adding after the words "United States," the words " and of this State;" so that the same, when amended, shall read as follows:

SEC. 4. No person shall receive license under the provisions of this act, until he shall have proved to the satisfaction of the county commissioners that he sustains a good moral character; that he has been five years a citizen of the United States and of this State; and that he has resided in some city, town or plantation in the county where he shall apply for license as aforesaid, for the term of one year, next preceding the time of such application; and no license granted by this act, shall be assigned or transferred without the consent of the county commissioners by whom such license was granted.

SEC. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after his approval by the governor.

OF MOCK AUCTIONS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

We give below a correct copy of an act passed at the last session of the Legisiature of the State of New York, relating to mock auctions in the city of New York:

AN ACT TO PUNISH GROSS FRAUDS AND TO SUPPRESS MOCK AUCTIONS.

SEC. 1. Whereas a failure of justice frequently arises from the subtle distinction between larceny and fraud, and whereas certain evil disposed persons, especially in