1188
necessarily maintained at 728, or $2,13 cents per bushel, To admit the same quantity of wheat at the
same duty, will require, under the present tariff, that the price be maintained at 668. or 81.05 cents, a de celine of 18 cents, or 0 per cent in the level of prices maintained by the new tariff in time of scarcity as compared with the old. The effect of this is to reduce
THE FRIEND OF CHINA AND HONGKONG GAZETTE
in the five months of the years 1843 to 1845, eut. Ethiopti; ship-building, so for improved that some supplied from Europe. All these nfluence bave now been greatly modified. First, in relation to the corning 50th June, was as follows in 1843, 12,748, ships were distinguished for the velocity of their laws, the tariff of 1842 so far modifies the scale that the 350 lbs, 1841, 11,462,390 lbs: 1815, 14,596 101 lbs, motion; writing in a book, and engraving letters level of prices in a time of scarcity cannot be maintain Eggs-1843, 36,078,796; 1844, 32-789,360, 1946, or writing on plates of lead and on stone with iron ed so high as before. As thus during ten years, ending 35,453,506 Shgar-1943, 1,694,688 cut: 1844, pens, and also seal engraving, fishing with hooks, in 1943, 18.000,000 bushels were ailmitted at 6s. 8d. duty or 17 cents per bushel. To do this the price was 1,498,998 cwt: 1845, 2.000,933 wt. Tox-1843, and wets, spears; musical instrumens, the harp 16,586,030 lbs: 1914, 16,635,349 lbs 1945, 19, and organ; astronomy, and names given to par- 169,651 lbs. Wing-1843, 1,947,164 gallons, ticular stars. These notices tend to prove that, 1844, 2,976,509 gallons; 1945, 2.874,500 gallons, although the patriarchial system of making pastur- The total value of manufactured goods exportel, age the chief object of attention was still maintain- ur Greece, Tubal, and Meshech; horsea, slaves was, in 1843, £17,027,190 1844, £19,190,710ed by many of the greatest inhabitants where the 1945, £20,482,579. The number of vessels in the author of the book of Jab sided the sciences foreign trade, entered inwards, was, in 1843, 6,251 were actively coltivated, the useful and ornamental ships, 1,244,186, tons; in 1844, 6,930 ships, 1,180, arts in an advanced state, and commerce prosecuted 280 tons; and in 1845, 642 ships, 1,532.788 tons, with diligence and success; and this at a period The number of vessels in the foreign trade, cleared when, if the chronology of Job is correctly settled. onwards, was,
as, in 1813, 8418, ships, 1,521,936 the arts and sciences were scarcely so far advanced tone in 1814, 7,972 ships, 1,412,624 tons; and in in Egypt, from whence, and from the other coun 1845, 8.288 ships, 1,693,008 tons. The coasting tries bordering upon the eastern part of the Medi. trade, inwards, was, in 1848. 4,174,430 tons in terranean sea, they afterwards gradually found 1844, 4,326,334 tons; in 1845. 5,225.032 tons, their way into Greece, Outwards, it was, in 1913, 4,360,984 ions, in 1844, 4,507,848, tons; and in 1845, 5,398,419 tons,
the cost of wheat alone, to the consumers 21,600,000 or 329 500 000. Embracing the whole cousumption of food, the reduction in the expense to the coffsumer, is at least $60,000 000 in time of scarcity. To this extent, therefore, has the effect of a short harvest in diminishing the consumption of goods been modified, and in the same proportion the fall of cotton has been checked. It may also be taken into consideration that the foreign markets for English manufactures depend now less on those credits, hanging on the discounts of the bank than they formerly did, and therefore are not likely to be checked from the same cause, and the pro- gress of those exports has been immense. On the other hand, we may observe that the position of the Unite States, in relation to the supply of England with bread- stuffs, is very different froin what it was when the har vest of England failed in 1837. Prices of farm produce were so high in the United States that wheat was ac tually imported from England hither in large amounts, At the same time as there had been no demand out of Europe for the space of five years, the grauaries of the Baltic were well stocked and prices had fallen very
dow,
EXPORTS OF BRITISH MACHINERY
The declared value of the British machinery and mill-work exported in 1844, from a parliamentary re turn, was 776 266 The following are the principal Countries to which it was es ported:--Russie, 168,187; Italy, £76,342, Germany, £92,861; France, 284,316; East Indies, £62,080, Spain, 264,081 Holland, 234,117 British West Indies. £24,102 United States, £82,223; Brazil, £19,984; Mauritius,
£14,937.
BRITISH HARDWARE AND CUTLERY. In the year 1811, there were exported 22,552 tons of British hardware and cutlery, of the declared value of £2,176,087. Of this, the United States took 3,826 tons, value £287,085; British North American colo-
COMMERCE BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN
ERA. Commerce, in its usual acceptation, means the exchange of one thing for another the exchange of what we have to spare for what we want, in what ever country it is produced. The origin of commerce must have been nearly coeval with the world. As pasturage and agriculture were the only employments of the first inhabitants, so calle, flocks, and the fruits of the earth were the only objects of the first commerce, or that species of it called barter. It would appear that some progress had been made in manufactures in the ages before the flood. The building of a city or village by Cain, however insignificant the houses may have been, supposes the existence of some mechanical knowledge. The musical instruments, such as harps, and organs, the works in brass and in iron exhibited by the succeeding generations, confirm the belief that the arts were considerably advanced, The construction of Noah's ark a ship of three decks, covered over with pitch, and much larger than any modern effort of architecture, proves that any separate trades were at that period carried on. There must have been parties who supplied
The rising prosperity of Tyre soon eclipsed the ancient and long-flourishing commercial city of Sidan. About 600 years before Christ her com mercial splendor seemed to have been at its height, and is graphically described by Ezekiel ( xxvii The imports into Tyre were fine linen from Egypt, bloe and purple from the isles of Elisha; silver, iron, tin, and lead from Tarshish, the south part of Spain; slaves and brazen vessels from Javan
bred to horsemanship, and mules from Togarmah; emeralds, purple, embroidery, fine linen, corals, and agates from Syria; corn, balim, honey, oil, and guns from the Israelites; wine and wood from Damascus ; polished iron-ware, precious oil, and cinnamon from Dan, Javan, and Mezo; magni- ficut carpets from Dedan, sheep and goats from the pastoral tribes of Arabia; costly spices, some the produce of India, precious stones, and gold from the merchants of Sheha or Sabra, and Roma or Regina, countries in the south part of Arabia; The inhabitants of Arabia appear to have avail blue cloths, embroidered works, tich apparel in ed themselves, at a very early period, of their ad corded cedar-chests, supposed to be original India vantageous situation between the two fertile and packages, and other goods from Sheba, Ashar, and opulent countries of India and Egypt, and to have Chilmad, and from Haran, Canneh, and Eden, obtained the exclusive monopoly of a very profit-trading ports on the south coast of Arabia. The able carrying trade between those countries. They vast wealth that thus flowed into Tyre from all were a class of people who gave their whole atten- quarters brought with its too general concomitants tion to merchandise as a regular and established extravagance, dissipation, and relaxation of morals profession, and travelled with caravans between Arabia and Egypt, carrying upon the backs of camels the spiceries of India, the balm of Cannan, and the myrrh produced in their own country, or of a superior quality from the opposite coast of Abyssiniaall of which were in great demand among Egyptians for embalming the dead in their religious ceremonies, and for ministering to the pleasures of that superstitious and luxurious people. The merchants of one of these caravans bought Josheh from his brothers for twenty picces of sil ver, that is about 2. 119. 8d. sterling, and carried him into Egypt. The southern Arabs were emin- ent traders, and enjoyed a large proportion, and in
general the entire monopoly, of the trade between India and the western world, from the earliest ages, until the system of that important commerce was totally overturned, when the inhabitants of Europe discovered a direct route to India by the Cape of Good Hope.
lies, 1,962 tons, value £167.878; Germany. 1.263 tons, Noah and his three sons with the great quantity. Eerdt, inns were established för the accommoda- walne £156,706; France, 1,062 tons, value £121,654 and East Indies and Ceylon, 1,182 tons, value:£115,911,
COMMERCE OF THE EAST INDIES. INDIAN IMPORTS AND EXPOTS DURING NINE YEARS' From a recent parliamentary return, we derive an account of the total value of exports and imports re- spectively from and unto the ports of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, from 1834-6 to 1942-3, converted into sterling money, at the rate of es per sicca rupee
Imports.
1834-5. £2.888.782 1,061,323 2.653,219
Bengal, Madras,
Bombay,
194-12.
£5 639.046 1.050,028 4,459,052
and variety of materials which they required, and this they would do in exchange for other commo. dities, and perhaps money. That enormous pile of building, the tower of Babel, was constructed of bricks, the process of making which appears to have been well understood. Some learned astro nomers are of opinion that the celestial observations of the Chinese reach back to 2.249 years before the Christian era; and the celestial observations made at Babylon, contained in a calendar of above nineteen confuries, transmitted to Greece by Alex- ander, reach back to within fifteen years of those nscribed to the Chinese. The Indians appear to have had observations quite as early as the Baby loniaus.
"Such of the descendants of Noah as lived near Total £7,553,424 £11,496,350 the water may be presumed to have made use of The statements of imports for the following year vessels bailt in imitation of the ark-if, us some had not been received from Madras; but the following think,that was first the floating vessel ever seen in the ate those from Bengal and Bombay, in 1842-8-Ben-world-but on a smaller scale, for the purpose of gal, £5,67 1,848; Bombay, 25,542,578. The imports into the two presidencies, therefore, are nearly equal.
Bengal
Madras,
Bombay,
Exports. 1834-35. £4,386,867-
1.667,239
3303,615
1841-42 £8,069,533 2,5-4,270 5,170 696
$15,517,499
Total: £9,557;121. There is no return of the exports from Madra: for 1842-43. Those from Bengal were £7,240,080 ; from Bombay, £5,273,996. It appears, from these returns, that, in eight years, the value of the total imports of India had increased by £3:694.702; and that of the to- tal exports by £5,960.378.
crossing rivers. In the course of time the descen. dants of his son Japhet settled in the isles of the Gentiles," by which are understood the islands at the east end of the Mediterranean sea, and those between Asia Minor and Greece, whence their co- lonies spread into Greece, Italy, and other western Janda,
covered with excellent cedar-trees, furnished the
At the period when Joseph's brethren visited tion of travellers in that country and in the not- thern parts of Arabit. The more civilized southern parts of the peninsula would no doubt be furnishe with caravanserais still more commodious,
Daring the residence of the Israelites in Egypt, manufactures of almost every description were car ried to great perfection. Flax, fine liney, garments of cotton, rings and jewels of gold and silver, works in all kinds of materials, chariots for pleasure, and chariots for war, are all mentioned by Moses. They had extensive manufactories of bricks. Li- terature was in a flourishing state; aud, in order to give an enlarged idea of the accomplishments of Moses, it is said he was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.” (Acts xii. 22).
The expulsion of the Canaanites from a great part of their territories by the Israelites under Joshua, led to the gradual establishment of colonies gean sea; they penetrated into the Euxine or in Cyprus, Rhodes, and several islands in the Black sea, and, spreading along the shores of Sicily, Sardinia, Gaul, Spain, and Africa, established nut merous trading places which gradually rose into more or less importance. At this period, mention
first made of Tyre as a strong or fortified city, whilst Sidon is dignified with the title of Great.
No.
3
The subjection of Tyre, the renowned city which was strong in the sea, whose merchants were princes, whose trafficers were the honorable of the earth," by Cyrus, and its subsequent over- throw by Alexander, after a determined and most formidable resistance, terminated alike the gran- dear of that city and the history of ancient com- merce, as far as they are alluded to in Scripture. (Anderson's History of Commerce; Vincent's Com- merce and Navigation of the India Ocean; Heeren's Researches Barnes's Ancient commerce of West- ern Asia, in American Biblical Repository, 1811 )
(Hunt's Magazine.)
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCEL
SHANGHÀL IMPORTS.
Per Marion," Br. Barque, from Hongkong, sr- reved 12th February, 1846.
HOLLIDAY, WISE & Co. 44,417 pieces Grey Shirtings 19,820
600 1,224 160
21
White do
Long Ells
Woollens
Camlets
2 cases - Sewing Thread, value 197 8.
Stationery, Personal stoics,
931 February, 1816
Per ** Dart,” Ain. Sc. from Hongkong, arrived
WOLCOTT & Cb,
980 pieces Long Eils
Woollens
2
++
18 dozens Champrigne 27 pkgs Clocks.
Per Esmerall," Hamburgh Barque, from Liverpool, arrived February, 1848,
BOUSTEAD & Co. 25,070 pieces White Shirtings 17,367
Grey do. Woollens
**
42
529 pairs Blankets 610 pieces Long Fils. 120
Camlets 300 boxes Window Glagg. 14
Lastings
17
**
I
case Stationery.
Per Janet Winson," Br. Barque, from Clyde and Singapore, arrived 29th February, 1916.
GILMAN & Co.
19,402 pieces Grey Shirtings
6,095 1,859
White do.
་་
do Twills
13
550
Valveta
**
300 piculs Saltpetro
212 905
Ta
"
Sandal wood
39
80 1,184
17
Kaftans
fron wire.
EXPORS.
Per Mary Anna Webb." Br. Borque, for Cork,
Sidon, which afterwards became so celebrated
During the reign of David, king of Israel, that for the wonderful mercantile exertions of its inha obtained by his conquests in purchasing cedar-tim- powerful monarch disposed of a part of the wealth
ber from Hiram, king of Tyre, with whom he kept. bitants, was founded about 2,200 years before the Christians era. The neighbouring mountains, being up a friendly correspondence while he livel. Ho hest and most durable timber for ship-building The also hired Tyrian masons and carpenters for carry- inhabitants of Sidon accordingly built numerous ing on his works. Soloman, the son of David, cul-
magnificence and luxury to a great extent. BRITISH TRADE IN COTTON MANUFACTUREs ships, and exported the produce of the adjoining tivated the arts of peace and indulged his state for is the great staple product of the United country, and the various articles of their own ma- employed the wealth collected by his father in works Cotton States, and the leading manufacture of Great Bri-nufacture, such as fine linen, embroidery, tapestry of architecture, and in strengthening and improving tain. Burns's Commercial Glance, for the first metals, glass, both colored and figured, cut, or cary his kingdom. He built the famous temple and for six month of the present year, is published, and, cd, and even mirrors. They were unrivalled by
tifications of Jerusalem, and many cities, among the inhabitants of the Mediterranean coasts in which was the celebrated Tadmor or Palmyra. as usual, it contains a large amount of important works of taste, elegance, and luxury. Their great From the king of Tyre he obtained ecdar and fir, safle information, and forms an almost indispensable re.
and universally acknowledged pro-eminence in the ference for the merchant and manufacturer con.
or cypress timber, and large stones cut and pre- rerned in the sale, purchase, or manufacture of the arts, procured for the Phenicians, whose principal great staple of British industry. It exhibits the scaport was Sidon, the honor of being esteemed, pared for building, which the Trians conveyed by total exports of yarn, in the first six months of every tors of commerce, ship building, navigation, the apter of workmen to assist and instruct Solomon's the Greeks and other nations, as the invent water to the most convenient binding-pizes in 80. laman's dominions. Hiram also sent a vast nam- year, from 1837, inclusive, to the present year.
plication of astronomy to nautical purposes, and The exports of yarn, in the last six months, (54, 692,551 lbs.) exhibit a decrease, as compared with particularly as the discoverers of several stars people, none of whom had skill go hew timber like the corresponding period of 1844, (35,914,131 lbs.) nearer th the north pole than any that were known the Sidanians." Solomon, in exchange, furnishe, l of 351,593 tbs. The principal sources of the deto other nations; of naval war, writing, ardhmetic, the Tyrians with corn, wine, and oil, and receivest have subsequently entered into a trading apesula. crease are in the export to India, (deer., 3,400.000 book-keeping, measures and weights; to which it a lance in goht. Solomon and Hiram appear to Jbs. and Russia, 2,400,000 lbs.) On the other probable they might have added money, hand, the exports have increased to Holland, Egypt appears to have excelled all the neighbor. on or adventure upon a large scale. Tyrian ship.. (1,800,000 lbs.) Belgium, the Hasse Towns, Naing countries in agriculture, and particularly in its wrights were accordingly sent to build rescis for both kings at Eziongeber, Solamen's part on the ples, and Sicilly, (1,200,000 bec) Sardinia, Tusca abundant crops or corn. The fame of its fertility Red Sea, whether he hitself went to animate then induced Abraham to remove thither with his nu with his presence (2 Chron viii. 17). These ships, merons family, (Gen, zi. 10.)
ninong
Fely. 5. 16. THOS, RIPLEY & Co.
Tea Black, Congon 100,926 bls
Souchong
Grem
Gunpowder Imperial
*4.943
211,869
39,715
18,011
Hygon Young Hyson
9,702
65,152
50,026
15,012 101,708
406,577
Twankay Dyson Skin
20 bales Tayanam Raw Silk
* picot Wax,
Per • Ort,” Am. Sc.
for Hongkong, sailed WOLCOTT & Co..
28,400 lbs.
Tea Congou
Hyson Skin Young Hyzon
7,130
21,7HI
2,219
Imperial
Hyzon
Cupowder
12 hales Elaw Silk
I case Mereandiże,
1,020 1,840, 41,971
be, 70,407
Per Annie,” Be. Barque, for Liverpiad, enter!= Bath February, 1940,
ny, &c. On the other hand, there has been a vas increase in the exports of plain calicoes, viz --from 270,722,671 yards in the frat six months of 1844, The earliest accounts of bargain and sale reach | conducted by Tyringa navigators, sailed in company February, 1846. to 300,038,150 in the corresponding period of this higher than the thing of Abraham, and his trans to some rich countries called Ophir and Tarshist, action with Ephron. He is said to have weighed regarding the position of which the leamed have year-increase. 23,315,479 yards, Or this increase, 20,000,000 gards are due to China, 4,000,000 yards unto him “four hundred shekels of silver, current maltiphed conjectures to butle purpose. The va to Chili and Pern, 7,090,000 to the Cape, 10,000,000 money with the merchant (Gen. xiii, 10) The age occupied three years; yet the returns in this new found trade were very great and profitable. to Colombin, and 2000009 each to the foreign chant implies that the standard of money This fleet took in apes, ebony, and partors on th West Indies Malte, and the louinn islands, Sargis fixed by usage among merchants, who com. pia, &c., Turkey and the Levant; and 3,600,000 Prised a numerous and respectable cless of the cast of Ethiopia, gold a. Ophir, or the place of traffic whither the people of Ophir resorted; it On the other hand, community. Monetictures were by this tire so far traded on both sides of the Red Ses, on the coasts yards to the United States there is a decrease of 11,000,000 yards in the ex-conected wah agriculture, such as daar ground beyond the straits when i had entered the necun
advanced, that not only those more immediately of Arabia and Ethiopia, in all parts of Ethiopia port to India, and a large decrease in those from corn, wine, oil batter, and also the most ace it pass up the Persan Crulf, and might Egypt, India, &c. Z
cessary articles of clothing and fumitere, but eves visit the phares of trade upon bath is shores, and those of luxury and inagnificence, were mosch in use, as appears by the earrings, bracelets of gold run up the Tigris of the Euphrates as far as thoas
rivers ante navigable and of siver, and other precious things prevent by Abrahama's neward to Rebecca, (Gen axir 35.) of the most learned commentators, resided in Art: bis, and was contemporary with the sum of Abra ham, much light is thrown upon the compere confesures, and science of the age and country in which be livet. There is mine of cell inn, endoset. 12 dor not appear that they ti ag estiveras fisa the Pirtienos in firing hasta led, crystal pets, the art of caring the fox Grex whore wore harfe by the curthants, gul bougle from ich implo Copto excel the commeren of their conn- commence with a reacte castry, wnd togass er, some which, on the jare consiambia, was * The big pumped by the mat Cisne i may the userabut stumpa in dusarvet a cumal Din seo ba shat sie sing by the cod code : ide dispers 11h2 Now ya the Arabian Qeff
COMMERCIAL PROSPERITY OF
ENGLAND,
The English papers give, from an important do coment, just issped from the salsical departe of the board of trade, under the signature of fir G R. Porter, amongst other interesting matter, then following data, for forming an estimate of the io creasing prosperity of Great Britain. We only wish the commercial prosperity would produce as it should, a corresponding social progres-that the conscites of the Breuh notion were thevagtly awakened to the importance of improving the eas plition of the famaking milites, wao are the cheer Instrumente at the nation's wealth.
The quantity of coffee entered for consumptive
In the book of Joby whose author, to ine ensaint
After the reign of Solmen, the commerce at the
teraliter seems to have very materially declinat. An attecost was mately Jeb skajet king of fatih. and Abaziah, king of fuel to effect its revivals let the stijg which they had hailt at Rabergeber: ane bere wrecked as the barber, the userat,
PLATN HARGREAVEN & Co.
157625
Souchong Fy. Pekoe
Port Clentaner m Be, Darius, for long houga sailed its March, 1945.
PLATE WARGREAVES & Co. Tlf tony Fale.
Edited, Prinbat and Published by Jous CaRD, At The Prisut of China and timglong Sucette, Polding filee, Flocon. Fružat, VICTORIA, Buscaa30, 1610,
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