STATISTICS OF 1855.

$tatistirs of 51Iottra, Vrahurr, 31fattufartarra, rah grahr.

Week ending Satur- day.

Oold in Rank of England.

1

-at

kr°, k u c -,4 ESP

• 3 2 Cash In Bank of France& branch. es : estimated In English Mo- ney. (Monthly.) Price of three per Denteon- sole— highest and lowest. Price of vhest weekly awe- rage 'Wheat and wheattlour imported: stated in quarters. Declared value of Exports. (Monthly.)

£

p. ct.

£

a. d. 1855. 1854. f Jan. 6 12,988,455 5 14,514,000 shut 74 3 142,487 411,067 7.344,473 13 11,880,560

„

914 92

73 9

20 11,509,215 „

72 2

27 11,671,565 „

911 92 90 91 69 9

Feb. 3

12.09e,565 „

91 91 70 11 338,889 537,489 6,464,796 10 12,063,365 „ 16,899,000 91 911 71 1

17 12,313,230 „

Y31 91

70 3

24 12,362,055 „

901 911 69 1

March 3 12,512.985 ,,

68 6 103,213 395,762 5,032,416 10 12,911,880 „ 17,635,000 99 93 68 0

17 13,479,975 „

72 93

66 11

24 14,186,880 „

92 93 66 6

31

14,510,230

,

92 93 68 7

April 7 14,392,500

4.1

92 93

68 5

79,803 738,720 7,311,303 14 14,351,365 „ 17,305,000

68 4

21 14,372,290 „

91 921 89 90 68 8

28 14, 791,785 „

68 4

May 5 14,911,030 4

881 89

881 89

69 5 159,201 614,191 8,065,961 12 15,336,510 „ 16,836,000 88 89 T3 4

19 15,902,550 „

89 89 76 1

26 16,337,685 „

901 91 76 10

June 2 17,083,175 „

911 92 77 7 543,338 661,643 8,049,246 9

17,056,915

,

shut

77 5

16 17,350,395 31 15,924,000 shut 77 5

23 17,429,435 „

shut 76 7

30 17,305,070 „

shut 75 11

July 7 16,893,085 „

shut 76 1 448,616 420,533 8,168,595 14 16,631,890 „ 12,585,000 90 911 75 11

21 15,980,810 „

90 91 76 4

28 15,745,990 „

90 91 77 7

Aug. 4 15,601,590 „

90 911 78 2 429,235 352,510 8,150,383 11 15,650,275 „ 13,550,000 90 91 77 7

18 15,506,690 „

90. 91 75 9

25 14,916,770 „

91 91 73 7

Sept. 1 14,368,010

91 91

T2 7

289,500 263,258 8,891,473

8

13,668,005

1

90 90 74 10

15 13,110,270 44 11,516,000 90. 91 76 9

22 12,695,250

90 90 77 8

29 12,368,255 E

68 90 77 3

Oct. 6 11,765,025 51

87 88 76 6 153,312 117,017 9,072,659 13

11,205,855

9,291,000 86 87 76 7

20 10,682,230

6-7

87 86 76 10

27 10,698,460 „

871 88 78 4

Nov. 3 10,741,320 „

87 88 80 3 169,310 83,823 8,860,591 10 10,646,295 „ 8,469,000 87 88 78 2

17 10,661,760 „

87 88 80 10

24 10,543,545 „

87 88

62 1

Dec. 1 10,580,570 „

88 891 83 1 222,157 127,397 8,759,849 8 10,439,525 „

89 901 81 6

15 10,662,985 „ 8,756,000 shut 79 11

22 10,369,595 „

shut 78 9

29 10,189,465 „

shut 77 2

Jan Ftb March. April May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. NOT. Dec. p. et. p. et. p et. p. et. p. et. p. et. p. et. p et. p. et. p. et. p cL p. ct 5 6 6 41 4 Si 31 31 4-54 of 6-7 64

(dis.) 6 6-7

Adverting to the two lines on the left of the diagram, representing the " highest and lowest points in 1854," it may be mentioned that the highest point which bullion reached in 1854 was on the 4th February, when the amount was 15,523,620/. ; the lowest point was on the 20th May, and the amount was 11,779,095/. At the most depressed period, the Bank's rate of discount did not exceed 51 per cent, and by the beginning of August the rate was reduced to 5 per cent. The difference, however, between 1864 and 1855 is this,—in the former year the extreme depression in the supply of bullion did not continue more than five weeks, while in 1855 the extreme depression became visible on the 6th October and lasted to the close of the year, a period of thirteen weeks. During that time, the rate of discount has been 15i, 6= and 7 per cent. The higher rates date from the 18th October : the conditions being, 6 per cent for bills not exceeding 60 days and 7 per cent for bills from 60 to 95 days. On the 15th December, power was given to the Bank by an order in Council to increase the amount of securities in the Issue department to the amount of 475,0001. and to issue additional notes to the like extent. This was to make good the amount of note circulation extinguished since 1844 by the failure or discontinuance of private and joint-stock banking establishments, authorized to issue notes.

The rates of discount charged by Joint-Stock Banks during the tightness of the money-market have ranged from 6 to 8 per cent. Five per cent has been the current rate of interest on deposits ; n some cases 51 per cent has been allowed for deposits to lie for twelve months. Railway Companies have been borrowers at 5 per cent for periods of years.

In the column of the preceding table showing the cash held by the Bank of France and its branches, the details are supplied by the official monthly returns. It will be seen that the drain began in the month of June.

_Declared value of Exports.—For the eleven months ending 30th Novem- ber, the declared value of merchandise and manufactures exported is,

In 1855 £86,847,280 Ditto for 1854, (eleven months ending December 5) 89,738,586 Decrease £'2,891,306

_Diag •aon illustrating the Rise and Fall of Gold in the _Bank of England in 1855.

Highest and Lowest Points In 1864.

Note.-This comparison is defective, the eleven months of 1855 being five days shorter than the eleven months of 1854. The difference, says the Re- turn, will be made up by adding 1,684,685/. to the amount for 1855. This done, the decrease between the two periods is 1,200,0001. The decrease is chiefly observable in the articles of earthenware, haberdashery, and milli- nery, bar and bolt iron, wrought iron, stationery., woollens and worsted stuffs. There is a considerable increase in the export of coals, cotton manufactures, cotton yarn, tin plates, woollen and worsted yarn.

Food Importations.-For facility of comparison, the importations of wheat and wheat-flour are stated in quarters according to the datum of the Board of Trade, namely, that 31 hundredweight of flour is equal to a quarter of wheat.

Wheat and wheat-flour imported during the twelvemonths ending 30th November 1855, equal to quarters 3,079,151 Ditto for 1851 quarters 4,723,110 Decrease in 1855 quarters 1,641,289

There is also a falling-off in the importation of oxen, bulls, cows, sheep, and other descriptions of live animals.

For the eleven months ending 30th November 1855, the

aggregate number imported was 244,963 Ditto for 1854 „, 275,888 Decrease in 1855 30,925

' In salt provisions there is also a decrease : the quantity imported in ele- ven months ending 30th November 1855 was 655,703 cwt. ; in 1854 it was 710,955 cwt.

Progress of Consumption.-The following quantities of the articles speci- led were entered for home consumpsion during the eleven months ending 30th November 1855.

In 1833. ID 1854.

Cocoa pounds 4,261,901 4,225,032 Coffee „ 33,564.607 31,419,375 Sugar cwt. 8,340,142 8,632,460 Tea pounds 58,737,651 56,765,922 Wine gallons 6,188,147 6,615,200

Progress of Shipping.-The following is the comparison between 1855 and 1854 for the eleven months ending 30th November 1855.

FOREIGN TRADE.

Sailing-Vessels. Steam-Vessels. Total.

Entered inwaras kvi Tonnage. Tonnage. Entered 26,285 5,991,739 ,. 4,523 1,371,567 .. 30,808 7,366,306

Cleared Outwarde 30,758 6,629,175 .. 4,235 1,227,575 .. 34,993 7,856,750 Ditto 29,705 6,132,007 .. 4,176 1,269,811 .. 33,881 7,401,8/8

COAS'rINCI TRADE.

Sailing-Vessels. Steam-Vessels.

Ships. Tonnage. Ships. Tonnage. 1855. Entered Inwards

(British) 100,164 7,651,308 .. 15,555 1854. Ditto 103,630 7,892,730 .. 16,357 1855. Cleared Outwards (British) _114,819 8,568,582 .. 15,402 1854. Ditto 119,167 9,106,898 16,367 1855. Entered Inwards (Foreign) 247 1854. Ditto 327 1855. Cleared Outwards (Foreign) 236 35,609 .. 13 2,279 .. 249 37,888 Note-Foreign vessels were admitted to the coasting trade on the 23d March 1854.

Progress of Taxation. 1854. First year of war.-The Income-tax doubled-5d. to 10d., 7d. to 14d. per pound ; the duties on Malt, on Scotch and Irish Spirits, on Sugar and Molasses, increased. Estimated revenue from the increased rates alone, 10,157,0001.

18.55. Second year of war.-The Income-tax increased 2d in the pound (making ls. 4d. and 12d.) ; increased duties on Sugar (3s. per cwt.), Coffee (1d. per )ound), Tea (3d. per pound), and Spirits. From all these sources an additional 52300,000/. revenue was estimated. The equalization of the duties on English and Scotch Spirits has put an end to smuggling between the two countries, and to the expense and inconvenience of Excise surveil- lance at the Border. The successive additions since the war to the duties on whisky, combined with the rise in the price of barley, have raised the price in Scotland to an-average of 148. 6d. per gallon, instead of 9s. One effect has been to enhance the national cordial of "toddy " by one fourth; but from the operation of Forbes Mackenzie's Act, which requires the public- houses to be cleared at eleven o'clock in the evening and entirely closed on Sunday, it is calculated that the national expenditure has actually de- creased, even under the enhanced price of the article consumed.

Diminished Taxation.-Newspaper Stamp-duties : compulsory

stamp abolished. Estimated loss, Stage-carriage-duties : reduction of mileage (from 11d. to ld. per mile). Estimated loss,

£250,000 Progress of the Funded Debt.-16,000,000/. borrowed : rate, 3 per cent and bonus of 14s. 6d. per cent for thirty years. When peace is restored, a million a year is to be set aside towards the liquidation of the loan.

Progress of Naval and Military E.rpenditure.-For 1853-'4, the last year of peace-Army, b avy, and Ordnance .... £16,500,000

For 1854-'o, the first year of war 30,000,000 For 1865-'6, the second year of war (as estimated, in- cluding from 2,000,000/. to 3,000,0001. for contingencies) 49,800,000

Progress of War Obligations.-To advance 2,000,0001. by way of loan, in four half-yearly instalments, to the King of Sardinia.

To guarantee conjointly and severally with France a loan of 6,000,000/. to Turkey.

.Progress of the Revenue.-

Net produce for the year ended 31st Dec. 1855 £64,457,993 „ „ for the year ended 31st Dec. 1854.... 66,324,597 Increase in 18.55 £8,133,396

Progress of SINeulation.-Two Acts passed during the last session, one for

the abolition of the Newspaper Stamp, (except for Postal p ) and the other to provide for the non-liability of members of Joint-Stoek ompanies beyond the amount of their subscriptions, gave an impetus to corresponding speculations. Under the Newspaper Stamp Act, which received the Royal assent on the 15th June 1855, newspapers to be sold for a penny sprung up in numerous towns. In the course of a few weeks many of them ceased to appear, and at the close of the year only a few were surviving in the larger towns. The Limited Liability Act received the Royal assent on the 14th August 1855. It has given rise to upwards of a hundred schemes ; but up to the 1st of December none of them had reached the point of complete registra- tion. This is accounted for by the short time that the Act has been in force, combined with the tightness in the money-market. Amongst the larger schemes are two for carrying on the business of warehousemen ; one

1855. 1854. 1855. 1854.

Total.

Ships. Tonnage.

3,562,228 .. 115,719 11,213,536 3,909,355 .. 119,987 11,802,085 3,462,418 .. 130,221 12,031,000 3,803,780 .. 135,534 12,910,678 45,181 .. 9 1,259 256 46,440 43,325 .. 327 48,325

£200,000 50,000 for working Hamilton'spatents for improved cooperage; another for work- ing coal-mines in the valley of the Damoodah, Bengal; two for establishing hotels on a large scale in the Metropolis.