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AN ACCOUNT of the BALANCES of the PUBLIC MONEY remaining in the EXCHEQUER on the 31st day of December, 1861 and 1862.

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Societies

Copies of Memorials presented to the Lords of the Treasury from any
or Private Individuals, and copy of any Treasury minute on the subject of
Treasure-trove, and of any Circulars issued by the Secretary of State for the
Home Department on the subject of Treasure-trove. (Lord Talbot de
Malahide.) 1 August, 1861. (290.)

On the 30th April, 1858, the commissioners of supply of the county of Inverness passed a minute, expressing their opinion that it would be desirable that the Treasury should make it known that the finders of historical relics shall, on delivering up the same to the proper officers of the Crown, be paid a sum equal to the actual value thereof. A resolution to the same effect was passed by the county of Renfrew, and made the subject of a petition by the Archeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, by Merton College, Oxford, the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, and several private individuals. Consequently, on the 16th July, 1861, the following Treasury minute was made on the subject:

COPY of TREASURY MINUTE, dated 16th July, 1861.

Write to the solicitor with reference to his report of 15th of November last and subsequent communications upon the subject of treasure-trove, that my lords, agreeing with him in the tenor of his remarks with reference to the Home Office circular, have requested that it may be recalled, and

that it seems desirable now that such a notification should be issued in lieu thereof as will effect the object contemplated by this board when the circular of the Home Office was first suggested.

It appears from the statement of the solicitor that the process by which the right of the Crown to treasure-trove can be established is difficult and expensive, and it would seldom happen that the value of the treasure recovered would repay the cost of recovery.

The object which my lords had in view in their proceedings with reference to this matter was to induce parties who may be the finders of treasure, and who frequently belong to the labouring class (instead of selling the treasure, as is often the case, under the apprehension that it may be claimed, at less than its intrinsic or metallic value, to the nearest public-house keeper or silversmith in whose hands it is likely to be melted down), to bring or transmit it to some person authorized on the part of the Crown to receive it, and to ensure to the finder its ascertained intrinsic or metallic value.

My lords are of opinion that they would not be justified in going further than this.

In many cases it must happen that treasure-trove possesses no value whatever beyond the value of the metal composing it, and even in the case of treasure possessing greater value as an object of antiquarian or historical interest, it would be difficult to ascertain correctly such value, and it would scarcely come within the province of this board to become the purchasers of rare and curious coins.

It seems probable that if it were generally known by the class of persons who usually are the finders of such treasure that, by bringing it to some recognized official, such as an inspector of police, they would be sure to receive the intrinsic value from the Crown, to whom the treasure rightfully belongs, it would in many cases be sold to Government; and, assuming the intrinsic value only to be given for it, no loss would accrue, even if the treasure possessed no value beyond that of the metal.

On the other hand, should it possess antiquarian value, it would remain for this Board to deal with it in such manner as might appear desirable, either by offering it at its intrinsic value to the British Museum, or to some local museum; in which case the treasure would be preserved and become available as an object of interest, without any loss being sustained by the public.

Cases would, no doubt, occur in which persons, finding rare and valuable coins, would dispose of them at a higher price than their intrinsic value. For such cases, it would not be desirable to make provision, as the treasure would find its way into some collection, either public or private.

In any circular to be now issued it will be proper that a correct and plain description should be given of the term treasure-trove, and of the objects which fall within that denomination.

It should be stated that the superintendent or inspector at the nearest police-station has been authorized to receive treasure-trove; that it will be his duty to transmit the same, with a report of the circumstances of the discovery, through the proper channel, to the solicitor of the Treasury; that the intrinsic value of the treasure will then be ascertained at the Mint, and that my lords will remit the amount to the finder through the agency of the police.

MANUFACTURES AND COMMERCE OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

Reports by Her Majesty's Secretaries of Embassy and Legation on the Manufactures, Commerce, &c., of the Countries in which they reside.

DENMARK (ICELAND, GREENLAND, &c.)

MR. MANLEY, her Majesty's Secretary of Legation at Copenhagen, gave some account of the productions, material resources, and trade, &c., of the Danish possessions in the North, viz., Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

Iceland. The population of Iceland, which in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries amounted to upwards of 100,000, numbers at this present time about 70,000 only; it has, however, gradually increased again since the beginning of the century. In 1801, it was 47,207; the 2nd of November, 1840, 57,094; the 2nd of November, 1845, 58,558, of which latter number 22,238 in the bailiwicks of the north and east, 21,364 in those of the south, and 14,956 in the bailiwicks of the west. Of these, 45,950 individuals belonged to the agricultural class; 3773 gained their livelihood by. fishing; 588 to the commercial class; and 435 to that of industry.

The area of the island is about 1800 square miles. It is divided into three departments or bailiwicks, viz., Sonder-Amtel, Vester-Amtel, and Norder and Oster-Amtel. The capital is Reikiavik, containing a population of about 50,000 souls. The other principal towns are Stappen and Madruvel. The coast presents innumerable capes and narrow gulfs; of the former, the principal are-North Cape, on the north-west coast; Cape Langoness, on the north-east; Hekla Reikianess and Ouvardness, on the west. The principal gulfs are the Skager fiord and the Hval fiord, on the north; the Isa fiord, the Arnar fiord, the Tseyde fiord, and the Sona fiord, on the west. A vast chain of barren mountains, rising to the height of 6000 feet, covers nearly the entire surface of the island; of these, ten are volcanoes, the principal of which is Mount Hecla. The constant eruptions that have taken place have totally changed the appearance of the surface. Springs of boiling water, mixed with mud and stones, are found in several places; the principal of these are the Great Geyser and the Strok. The chief rivers are, the Laxaa, the Thiorsa, and the Skaptaa; there are also a vast number of lakes. Iceland has an abundance of harbours and places of anchorage; the principal are, on the west coast, Fara fiord (on the banks of which is stuated the capital, Reikiavig), Brude fiord, and Ise fiord; on the north, Hrina floi, Skager fiord, and Of fiord; on the east, Vapna fiord, Reyda fiord, and Bern fiord.

The chief source of revenue of Iceland is sheep-breeding and fishing. Of sheep and lambs, there were in 1845 about 700,000; at the same time, of oxen and cows, about 25,000, and 32,000 horses. The breeding of sheep is the greatest in the north; they produce in general a great quantity of wool. The oxen and cows are principally without horns. The Iceland ponies are very good, though in general small. In some parts pasture, during the summer, is much more fertile than would be supposed from the general aspect of the country; this, in a great measure, is produced by the hot volcanic soil, which throws out in many places warm rushing springs. Little or no grain is produced, and fruit-trees do not in general succeed. Potatoes and other vegetables, chiefly cabbages, are much culti

tivated. A kind of moss, know by the name of Iceland moss, is much used in some parts as food. The mountains contain, sulphur, iron, copper, lead, porphyry, agates, &c. A great quantity of porcelain clay is also produced. Formerly much profit was derived from the sulphur mines, but for some years they have not been worked; but recently, however, I understand some English gentlemen have obtained permission from the Danish Government to work the mines in the south part of the island. The meadows furnish peat, and a kind of carbonized fossil wood. There are no trees in Iceland, only bushes in some places, which do not attain more than a few feet in height.

The principal fish caught on the coast of Iceland are cod and dog-fish. The larger kind of cod-fish, which weighs from 12 to 40 lbs., approaches the west coast in great numbers in the middle of winter, and in still greater numbers in March and April. The most productive time for fishing is from the beginning of February to the 12th of May. From the middle of May till the middle of August, cod-fish are caught by French, Danish, Irish, and Belgian fishing-boats on the exterior banks which surround the island to a considerable distance. I must here remark that foreign fishingboats are not permitted to fish within a certain distance; I believe, about fourteen or fifteen English miles from the coast. Of foreign fishing-vessels, the French are the most numerous, amounting, in general, to about 300. There are always at least two French men-of-war on the station to protect their fisheries and act as police. Of English, or rather Irish fishing-vessels, there are about 100. The rivers produce an immense quantity of salmon, sea-trout, and other fish; of these, a great number are dried, and exported to Denmark and other countries. Some increase in the exports of dried and cured salmon has taken place of late years, in consequence of some Scotch firms, Messrs. Ritchie, and others, having formed large establishments in Iceland for the curing and preserving of fish.

Of wild beasts there are reindeer (introduced some years ago into the island, and said to have multiplied considerably) and foxes. Of birds, eiderdown ducks, wild swans, and other kinds of water-fowl and ptarmigans, &c.

Trade.-The Icelandic trade, which up to the year 1774 was let by the Danish Government to different commercial companies, was in that year redeemed by King Christian VII. for the sum of 308,000 rix-dollars, and carried on for his own account till 1788, when a so-colled free trade was introduced into Iceland; this was, however, limited to the Danish European States, foreign vessels being subject to heavy dues, almost amounting to prohibition.

By the law of the 15th April, 1854, these dues were repealed, and the 'foreign trade with Iceland placed nearly on the same footing as the Danish monarchy; the only duty to which all vessels, whether foreign or native (with a few exceptions, viz., those countries in which reciprocity is not shown to Danish vessels), are now subject being 2 rix-dollars (about 4s. 6d.) per commercial last (two English tons) on every vessel entering Icelandic ports, whether in ballast or cargo, and on whatever description of cargo. By this law also, foreign vessels over thirty tons burden are permitted to participate in the coasting trade, and in the trade between Iceland and the other portions of the Danish monarchy.

The chief articles of export are fish, salted and dried, wool, train-oil, tallow, eiderdown and swans' quills; of import-rye, meal, cakes, and

biscuits, coffee, sugar, brandy, and other spirits. The principal foreign countries that take part in the Icelandic trade are England, Norway, Hamburgh, and Spain.

The annual average value of the Icelandic export trade before the introduction of free trade with foreign countries was estimated as follows:Fish, 400,000 rix-dollars; wool, 230,000 rix-dollars; woollen goods, 70,000 rix-dollars; tallow, 130,000 rix-dollars; oil and fat, 150,000 rixdollars; salt meat, 50,000 rix-dollars; skins, 20,000 rix-dollars.

The official value of goods exported from Denmark into Iceland in 1849 is estimated at 437,470 rix-dollars; and the official value of the exports from Iceland into Denmark in the year at 699,913 rix-dollars. In 1850, at 479,691 rix-dollars and 775,461 rix-dollars. In 1851, 467,775 rixdollars and 851,603 rix-dollars.

The Icelanders possess great industrial and mechanical skill, and manufacture not only the greater part of their own clothing, but, as it appears by the annexed returns, even export a certain amount of woollen goods, such as stockings, jackets, &c., to Denmark.

GREENLAND.-Greenland is divided into two portions or inspectorates, the Northern ("Egedesminde ") and Southern Inspectorate (" Julianahaal"). This country has from time immemorial been inhabited by the Esquimaux race. The population, according to the census of the 1st October, 1855, amounted to 9,644 natives, and 248 Europeans, principally Danish. Of these, 3,516 in the Northern Inspectorate, of which 3,388 natives, and about 128 Danes; and about 6,128 natives, and 120 Europeans, in the Southern Inspectorate. The inhabitants of Greenland, till the foundation of the Danish commercial establishment about 100 years ago, had no regular commercial intercourse with Europe, but provided themselves with their own necessaries. The late trade maintained with the Danes has not worked so great a change in their material condition as might have been expected. Their principal food is still, and will, probably, always continue to be flesh, and their clothes hides. The greater facility with which they have, by trade, been enabled to procure timber has, in some cases, been the means of increasing the number of dwellings, but has not otherwise in the least changed their mode of construction. One article alone, firearms, can be said to have had any material influence, viz., with regard to the chase, and consequently upon their economy.

With respect to clothing, it is true that woollen and cotton wares are pretty generally used; and European articles of food of a farinaceous description, bread, groats, also coffee, sugar, tobacco, are consumed, to a certain extent; none of these, however, can be said to have become an article of necessity with them, but are rather considered as luxuries. The Greenlanders have no other means of procuring the necessaries of life than are afforded them by fishing and the chase. The necessary implements for these are so simple, that each producer generally makes his own; it is only here and there that a few old and infirm people are to be found who build canoes, &c., for other people. The same is the case with regard to their dwellings, and the preparation of skins for clothing, the latter of which are usually prepared by the women of each family.

NORTH GREENLAND.-The whole of North Greenland extends from about 68° to 73° north latitude. The climate is consequently various; in many parts it depends a great deal on the winds froni Baffin's Bay and Davis' Straits; this is so much the case, that sometimes during the most severe

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