Appendix.
Report on the Tea Trade.
[ 60
The consul thinks that about cwt. of tea is consumed by a population of 70,000 inhabitants in Frankfort; but he adds, "This valuation cannot serve as a general basis for Germany, as in some parts of it no tea is drunk, and in others very little, the people being in the habit of drinking coffee for breakfast, and beer or wine at other meals."
+3
It might be supposed that the temperament of the French nation would have made them extensive consumers of tea. Formerly the taste in this particular was improving and extending; and at one time tea found its best market in France. The decline will be best seen by the following statement:-
EXPORTATION of TEA by the French, from Canton, from 1782 to 1807.
YEARS. QUANTITY. YEARS. Lbs. 1782 1795 1783 4,231,200 1796 1784 4,960,000 1797 1785 466,600 1798 1786 382,260 1799 1787 1,728,900 1800 1788 292,100 1801 1789 294,300 1802 1790 442,100 1803 1791 784,000 1804 1792 1,540,670 1805 1793 1806 1794 1807 TOTAL TOTAL Lbs. Exports, first period 15,122,130[61]
RUSSIAN IMPORTATION OF TEA.
YEARS. QUANTITY. VALUE. Poods. Roubles. From 1824 1825 154,197 6,260,429 1826 133,514 4,807,049 1827 130,562 5,675,992 161,958 6,719,166 Total Poods 580,231 Lbs. 23,462,636 Of which exported during four years 3,843 7,75,730 Thus leaving Poods 576,388 22,686,906 353,333 Lbs. Lbs. 15,122,130 Ditto last period 353,333 Decrease 14,708,797At a later period we do not find that peace, and the increasing prosperity of the people, induced them to drink tea extensively, although the duties on importation scarcely differed on a foreign or native ship, viz. about 2d. per pound. In the following years the importation was almost stationary, although a large portion was for re-exportation:-
TEA IMPORTED INTO FRANCE: Kilogrammes *. In 1820 83,366 1821 79,144 1822 83,597 1823 70,057 89,030On an average 144,097 poods, of the value of 5,671,726 roubles; or in English weight and money, 5,187,496 lbs.; value 248,346l.
The trade of Russia with China through Kiachta will be found under its proper head in the section of foreign commerce.
The average annual consumption of Chinese tea in different countries, as nearly as can be ascertained, is now thus :-
Lbs. Great Britain and Ireland 45,000,000 British North America and West Indies 2,500,000 Australasia, Cape of Good Hope, &c. 2,500,000 British India, &c. 2,000,000 Total in the British Empire Lbs. 52,000,000 United States of North America 7,000,000 Russia 10,000,000 France and Colonies- 500,000 Hanse Towns, &c. 150,000 Holland and its Colonies 1,000,000 Belgium 200,000 Denmark, Sweden, and Norway 250,000 The German States 500,000 Spain and Portugal 100,000 Italian States 50,000 South American States 500,000 Eastern Islands, &c. 250,000 1824 - 1844[For the present trade of France with China, see Section China, in published Report.]
of Foreign Commerce with
The consul at Bremen states that the consumption of tea is inconsiderable, occupying a small portion of ship room.
At Lubeck "there is no wholesale trade in tea, and but a very irregular one in the retail line."-(Consul's Report.)
The commerce of Russia with China, as I observed previously, is involved in obscurity. Sir Daniel Bayley, the consul-general at St. Petersburgh, in his despatch to government, 18th December 1828, says,
"From the most authentic sources of information I have had access to, it appears that the importation of tea into the Russian Empire has been as follows:"-
* A kilogramme is 15,434 grains avoirdupois.
RUSSIAN
Total consumption in foreign countries Lbs. 20,250,000
Thus the English consume twice the quantity of tea that is consumed by all the other countries in the world, excepting China and Japan.
It may be useful to compare the price of tea in England with its price at different places on the continents of Europe and America. The accompanying Table is prepared chiefly from the consular returns called for by his Majesty's Government at the termination of the East India Company's charter in 1832. It should be remarked, however, that unless the qualities of the teas quoted were known, the price is a fallacious criterion. In some of the consular returns a lower price is quoted for Souchong and other teas than the most worthless rubbish of Bohea or Congou would cost at Canton. (See Table, pp. 62, 63.)
It will be seen, on referring generally to the Canton Price Currents, that the cost price of tea has increased in Canton since the abolition of the East India Company. The annexed comparison for January 1832 and December 1844, is an illustration of the remark. The prices in both these years were higher than ordinary, especially in 1844, and not until February and March 1845 did prices fall sufficiently to allow of a profitable exportation.
Q
431
Appendix.
Report on the Tea Trade.
Appendix.
Report on the Tea
Trade.
[ 60
The consul thinks that about cwt. of tea is consumed by a population of 70,000 inhabitants in Frankfort; but he adds, "This valuation cannot serve as a general basis for Germany, as in some parts of it no tea is drunk,' and in others very little, the people being in the habit of drinking coffee for breakfast, and beer or wine at other meals.'
+3
It might be supposed that the temperament of the French nation would have made them extensive consumers of tea. Formerly the taste in this particular was improving and extending; and at one time tea found its best market in France. The decline will be best. seen by the following statement:-
EXPORTATION of TEA by the French, from Canton, from 1782 to 1807.
YEARS.
QUANTITY.
YEARS.
Lbs.
1782
1795
1783
4,231,200
1796
1784
4,960,000
1797
1785
466,600
1798
1786
382,260
1799
1787
1,728,900
1800
1788
292,100
1801
1789
294,300
1802
1790
442,100
1803
1791
784,000
1804
1792
1,540,670
1805
1793
1806
1794
1807
TOTAL
-
Lbs.
15,122,130
TOTAL
Exports, first period
1
[61]
RUSSIAN IMPORTATION OF TEA.
YEARS.
QUANTITY.
VALUE.
Poods.
Roubles.
-
From 1824
1825
1826
18 27
154,197
6,260,429
133,514
4,807,049
130,562
5,675,992
161,958
6,719,166
QUANTITY.
Total Poods
580,231
Lbs.
Of which exported during four years
3,843
23,462,636
7,75,730
Thus leaving Poods
576,388
22,686,906
353,333
Lbs.
353,333
Lbs. 15,122,130
Ditto last period
353,333
Decrease
Lbs.
14,708,797
At a later period we do not find that peace, and the increasing prosperity of the people, induced them to drink tea extensively, although the duties on importation scarcely differed on a foreign or native ship, viz. about 2d. per pound. In the following years the importa- tion was almost stationary, although a large portion was for re-exportation:--
In 1820
1821
- 1822
1823
TEA IMPORTED INTO FRANCE:
Kilogrammes *.
83,366
79,144
83,597
-
70,057
89,030
On an average 144,097 poods, of the value of 5,671,726 roubles; or in English weight and money, 5,187,496 lbs.; value 248,346l.
The trade of Russia with China through Kiachta will be found under its proper head in the section of foreign commerce.
The average annual consumption of Chinese tea in different countries, as nearly as can be ascertained, is now thus :-
Great Britain and Ireland -
British North America and West Indies Australasia, Cape of Good Hope, &c. British India, &c.
Total in the British Empire
United States of North America Russia
France and Colonies-
Hanse Towns, &c.
Lbs.
45,000,000
2,500,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
Lbs. 52,000,000
7,000,000
10,000,000
500,000
150,000
Holland and its Colonies
1,000,000
Belgium
-
200,000
Denmark, Sweden, and Norway
250,000
The German States
500,000
Spain and Portugal
100,000
Italian States -
50,000
South American States
500,000
Eastern Islands, &c.
250,000
1824
- 1844
[For the present trade of France with China, see Section China, in published Report.]
of Foreign Commerce with
The consul at Bremen states that the consumption of tea is inconsiderable, occupying a sinall portion of ship room.
At Lubeck "there is no wholesale trade in tea, and but a very irregular one in the retail line."-(Consul's Report.)
The commerce of Russia with China, as I observed previously, is involved in obscurity. Sir Daniel Bayley, the consul-general at St. Petersburgh, in his despatch to government, 18th December 1828, says,
"From the most authentic sources of information I have had access to, it appears that the importation of tea into the Russian Empire has been as follows:"-
* A kilogramme is 15,434 grains avoirdupois.
RUSSIAN
-
Total consumption in foreign countries Lbs. 20,250,000
Thus the English consume twice the quantity of tea that is consumed by all the other countries in the world, excepting China and Japan.
It may be useful to compare the price of tea in England with its price at different places on the continents of Europe and America. The accompanying Table is prepared chiefly from the consular returns called for by his Majesty's Government at the termination of the East India Company's charter in 1832. It should be remarked, however, that unless the qualities of the teas quoted were known, the price is a fallacious criterion. In some of the consular returns a lower price is quoted for Souchong and other teas than the most worth- less rubbish of Bohea or Congou would cost at Canton. (See Table, pp. 62, 63.)
It will be seen, on referring generally to the Canton Price Currents, that the cost price of tea has increased in Canton since the abolition of the East India Company. The an- nexed comparison for January 1832 and December 1844, is an illustration of the remark. The prices in both these years were higher than ordinary, especially in 1844, and not until February and March 1845 did prices fall sufficiently to allow of a profitable exporta-
tion.
Q
431
Appendix.
Report on the Tea Trade.
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