The Customs Report for 1870 is exceedingly satisfactory. The total
trade of the kingdom in that year exceeded £600,000,000, an immense increase upon any previous period. Our total exports, bullion included, reached £263,000,000, and our exports to our own possessions £52,000,000. It was a year of war, but our trade increased with almost every country, and more especially, in spite of her protective duties, with the United States. No less than 1,043 new ships of, 362,877 tons were built and registered in the United Kingdom, and the total number of registered ships is now 37,593, with an aggregate tonnage of 7,150,841. Smug- gling has ceased except in one article, tobacco, but as regards that article the Commissioners are evidently suspicious. They think it increasing at outports, and seem inclined to believe that small parcels are pretty frequently brought in amongst free goods. It is to be noted that in some of the most important branches of com- merce very great further increase is hardly likely. For instance, we imported 140,000,000 lbs. of tea, being 23 lbs. for each house, or nearly lb. a week. Would labouring men drink much more, oven if the tax were off ?
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