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    60 T H E L E A. D E B. [No. 459 > Januar...

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    The Mediterranean Extension Telegraph. —...

    I may state it , indeed , as a decided fact , that these two principal tribes of the ancient Khantes of Turkestan areXll but directly subjected to the rule of the insatiable fyrd of the Serfs . Hut yesterday we had the news of a magnificent -white elephant being sent as a tribute and'demonstration ' of respect by the Khan of Bokhara to the Eniperor . " Trade ix France ;—Business in Paris , to which the purchase of Strennes for the Jour de VAn invariably gives a great impetus , was during the past week much impeded by the unfavourable state of the weather , but on a change for the better it became very animated . One branch of industry still continues in a depressed state , that is the jewellery trade , and the sales made

    during the week will be but a slight relief to it . The accounts from the manufacturing districts continue satisfactory . At Rouen and Mulhausen there is still a . good business doing . in calicoes , and yarns , and at fair prices . Printed goods have also found ready purchasers . At Lyons the looms arc actively employed . The manufacturers at Roubaix , Amiens , and liheitns are busily engaged , particularly in mixed woven goods , which go off freely . The raw sugar market in Paris has been firm , anil prices well . maintained . ; refined sugar was in good -demand , with improved quotations . There has been an increased demand for copper , and prices

    continue on the rise . Considerable speculation has taken place in colza oil , and the . advance which had previously taken place has been maintained . A good business has been done in raw wool , which is firm in prices . In the Paris-corn market , during the last week of 1858 , business was" exceedingly restricted , both in flour and wheat . In the former the four marks were quoted at 45 f . 50 c . the sack of 157 kilogrammes . Wheat was held firmly at 25 f . first quality the 120 kilogrammes , and inferior kinds at prices down to 22 f . Perhaps , during the whole year , ho week could boast of less business done .

    Tkadk of Spain . —A second Blue-book , published on , Thursday , contains further reports relative to the trade of various foreign countries . It includes some interesting papers oh Spain and its colonies . The importation of merchandise under the ( Spanish ) national flag shows a sum ( according to Sir . Otway , our Charge d'Aft ' aires in Madrid ) of 989 , 895 , 980 reals ( 9 , 898 , 900 / . ) , paying a . duty of 1 , 570 , 310 / . or 157 , 031 , 038 reals ; under foreign flags to the value of 2 , 009 , 094 / ., paying a duty of 224 , 000 / . ; and by land to the value of 473 , 027 / ., yielding duty to the amount of 00 , 399 / . All this gives a total of merchandise to the value of 13 , 041 , 680 / ., the duties amount to 180 , 711 , 05-1 reals ( 1 , 807 , 110 / . ) . This importation exceeds that of 1865 by 2 , 804 , 007 / ., and

    has produced 201 , 877 / . increase of duties compared with the average product of the last five years ; the importation shows an increase to the extent of 5 , 014 , 900 / -, and the duty an increase of 252 , 449 / . The exportation is less than that of 1855 by 1 , 957 , 403 / ., and presents an increase of duties to the amount of 457 / . With respect to the average of the last five years , the increase of exportation is 2 , 330 , 221 / ., and the duties have decreased by 515 / . Turning to the island of Puerto Rico , it is found that British trade with that colony has increased considerably since 1842 ( the first ' year for which returns were made ) . Yet , notwithstanding the great relative increase , Mr . Consul Hunt reports that our trade witli Puerto Rico is in a very unsatisfactory position , and

    that the yearly amount of our imports is wholly insignificant in relation to the produce exported annually , the value of which varies between 1 , 000 , 000 / . and 1 , 200 , 000 / The reason of this is the absurd restrictions imposed by the Colonial Government of Spain in the West Indies , the result being that thero is no mercantile firm or branch house established in the island , nor nny house receiving goods on commission direct from England . Were the restrictions modified , Mr . Hunt is convinced that the consumption of British goods would increase very rapidly in Puerto Rico . Aa an illustration of its inutility , aa well as the absurdity of fiscal prohibitions , it is stated that boyond the imports of which we possess an exact knowledge , there is introduced

    was 109 , 688 , 134 roubles , whilst in 1856 it was 160 , 247 , 872 roubles . The importation by the European frontier was 117 * 94 . 1 , 761 roubles to 90 , 171 , 961 ; by the Asiatic frontier , 19 , 347 , 199 roubles to 17 , 002 , 189 ; from Finland , 56 4 , 022 roubles to 564 , 828 ; from Poland , 13 , 833 , 817 roubles to 14 i 823 , 464 . In all , 151 , 686 , 799 roubles to 122 , 502 , 442 . The increase in the exportation was 9 , 438 , 202 roubles , iri the importation 29 , 124 , 357 roubles . Of gold and silver specie the import was

    3 , 775 , 727 roubles , and of gold and silver ingots the export was 23 , 670 , 076 roubles . The exportation of grain diminished about 5 , 000 , 000 roubles , in consequence of the good crops obtained in foreign countries . The exportation of hemp , tallow , iron , copper , bristles , and linseed also diminished , but that of wood , skins , wool , and potash increased . The customs in 1857 yielded in Russia 33 , 522 , 491 roubles , being 5 , 059 , 998 more than in 1 S 56 ; and in Poland , 2 , 2 V 6 , 090 roubles , Or S 8 . 458 more .

    Agricultural Insurance in France . —A philanthropic association is about to be established for assuriug farmers against losses by fire , hail , frost , disease among their cattle , and inundations . This institution has been approved by the Council of State . The capital is fixed at a million francs , which has been subscribed by individuals holding a high position as politicians , financiers , and agriculturists . The subscribers advance their money gratuitously , and they do not intend to derive any benefit from their advance , which is to be returned to them without interest . The subscribers propose to establish a community of interest among the proprietors of landed property—the farmers and labourers throughout France , each of whom is to subscribe a sum in proportion , to his means . Each branch of assurance will have a separate bank , and each bank will be provided with a reserve to meet every contingencv . ¦

    Stock Exchange . —The . following . gentlemen have been elected members of the Committee for the administration of the Fund for decayed Members , for 1859 : — Barber , J . E . E . ; Brown , Charles John ; Capel , James ; Cohen , Louis ; Corthorn , Charles ; Flower , M . ; Iloghton , A . A . ; Paravicini , J . P . de ; Peckett , George ; Pember , « J . E . ; Pulley , S . H . ; Rairicock , G . D . ; S . alk eld , Joseph ; Simon , L . M . ; Tudor , Henry ; Tyrie , Pavid ; Vardpn , Arthur ; Vile , Thomas ; Williams , John ; Bostock , Samuel ; Jones , John ; Mark , " Henry ; Paine , Hammon ; . Paj-ne , J . N " . ; Samson , Louis ; Slous , F . T . ; Spurling , Stephen ; Wagg , John ; Wilkinson , Xorman . .

    New Russian Steam Packet Link . —At a general meeting held some weeks ago , the shareholders of the Great South Russian Society for Xavigation and Commerce passed the resolution to emit a new series of 10 , 000 shares more , for the purpose of establishing a line of steamboat communication between Odessa , Leghorn , and London . Russian Improvements . —A splendid iron bridge is to supersede the present clumsy wood construction over the Vistula at Warsaw . The works will commence early in the spring .

    of foreigiv guanos ; and , if care be taken , at such a pric e as to leave a good profit . Instead of making ridiculou propositions in Parliament to force Peru , to sell her guano for less than it will fetch , we should like to see so me agricultural members-zealously adopt and direct in the right path of economy and truthfulness a project so evidently valuable to the farmer and the povertystricken Irish of the seaboard as would be a fishery mar nure society on a large , scale . The Lesseps Scheme . — A Paris letter says : —" The unhappy Isthmus of Suez Company seems to be already in a worse state than might have been expected . A short time ago we were oflicially told that the number of

    applications for shares in France had been infinitely greater than could be allotted . It now appears that this is not the case . All that have been asked for will be granted , we are assured . Here we have the most convincing proof that the scheme has failed to enlist anything like general sympathy . It has evidently met with a certain amount " of success in France ; but only just enough to cover its failure in every other country . Sensible people see that in the reluctance of English capitalists to bury their money in the shifting sands of Egypt is the very best proof that the operation can lead to " no good , by whoever , performed . If the canal had been practicable as a commercial undertaking , England would not have waited for France to dig it , say they ;

    and they speak wiselv . ' . .. A New Warlike Engine . —We give the following on the authority of the Tunes : — " An American invention has just been brought to this country , with a view to its being disposed of either to this or any other European Government , and which , if it does one-half of what the patentee guarantees can be done with it , will make such a change in the mode of carrying on a naval war as will put steamers out of the question , and render of no avail the tremendous forts of Cronstadt or Cherr bourg . It is nothing less than a submarine boat made only for working under water , in . form much resembling the shape of a porpoise , but capable of being made large enough to ; contain 8 , 10 * or even 15 men , if necessary , with a proportionate quantity of explosives . The gentleman who has come over here with this invention , who is part proprietor of the patent , was instructed not to offer it to the British Government until it had first been

    offered to the Emperor of the French , frojn the notion which our Transatlantic cousins entertain of the redtape system of the English Government , and their slowness to adopt any sudden or great improvements . The Secretary of the United States Navy-merely wrote to the inventor to say that American ships were required on the water and never wanted to go under if . The proffer to the Emperor of the French received even less attention , as no answer was returned to the letter at all . When the invention was brought a few days since under

    the notice of the English Board of Admiralty it received full and prompt attention , and Sir Baldwin Walker has already had interviews with the gentleman to whose care the disposal of the patent is entrusted . Nothing definite has yet resulted from these audiences , though , as the cost of building the submarine boat is very small , ¦ we believe that one will eventually be constructed in this country , and if it only fulfil half what the patentee expects of it , the invention will be purchased by tho British Government .

    The Napoleon Docks . " —M . Emilo de Girardin has accepted , without salary , the post of manager of the unfortunate Napoleon Docks , which he hopes to resitscitate . He proposes to buy the old shares of ,. 125 fr ., which have lately been fetching only 40 fr . in the market , at 65 fr . for money , or to give shares in the newlyorganised company at the rate of 80 fr . French Commercial Prospects . —The Constltutionnel publishes a long article on the present position of France , commercially and financially considered , as compared with that which was to bo seen at the commencement of 1858 . The object of the statements made is to show that tho present year opens with infinitely better

    pro-Chixesb Emigration . —Arrangements arem progress for the introduction of 11 , 000 Chinese coolies on tho sugar estates at the French Island of Martinique , West Indies . The British possessions of Demerara and Trinidad have subscribed about 60 , 000 / . for a similar purpose , half of which has already been forwarded to Chinn . The first instalment of coolies is expected in March , and authority has been given to their special agent to incur an extra expense as a bonus , or otherwise , in procuring women to accompany them to the extent of about 20 per cent . ; this forms a leading

    disspects than the last . It touches on one of tho principal episodes of the year— 'the monetary crisis- ^ -which led to such heavy failures in many countries , but left Franco comparatively uninjured , and concludes thus : — - " Wo begin the your 1859 under the most favourable auspices — 'With a great abundance of disposable capital , 300 $ 000 , 000 fr . more specie in tho Bank , a rate of interest as low as it has ever been , bread cheap , a Treasury amply provided , and a surplus rovetiuo of 75 , 000 , 000 fr . over the estimates . These are certainly the best guarantees of a great and durable improvement . There is no exaggeration in saying that we aro now entering upon a now , era of prosperity . '

    tinction in this order as compared with those from Cuba : thero is . also another , viz ., that the rate of wages is to be that current in the . respective islands , a guarantee being given in China that , in any case , they are not to have loss than five dollars ( 22 s . 6 d , ) per month , and their food ; a free passage back to China is also to be given at the expiration of six years , or a bonus equal to the cost of passage should tho coolies decide on remaining . On their arrival , they will bo appointed to tho vnrjous ostatos , but will havo the privilege of changing each year according to their fancies . —China Telegraph .

    Progress of , Russia in Asia , t-A letter from St . Petersburg says { r— " Thoso of your readers acquainted with tho intimate connexion existing botweon tho commercial progress and political extension of Russia in Central Asia , will bo not a little interested to hear that ( ho caravans despatched from Orenburg and Trotek to Bokhara , between the dates of October 1 st and November 18 th , consisted of ho fewer than 6000 camels and about 200 carriages . The value transported by those mercantile monster-processions amounted to "about 90 , 000 / ,. —anonormous sum , when wo consider how Irtrgo a quantity of their raw produce tho inhabitants of Bokhara aro compelled to givo In exchange for tho various articles of olvlliaod life received from Russia . Owing to their being limited to this single market , tho proud aboriginal Turks of Khlwu and Bokhara already fool ho , w entirely dependent they aro on tho will of the Oznr .

    Pout ov Lonpon . —Tho general business of tho port contlm ^ es Inactive . The number of ships reported Inward , during the past weok was 171 , and those cleared outward , amounted to 109 , including 28 in ballast . Of thoso on tho berth loading outwards , 55 aro for tho Australian colonies , 9 for China , 2 for San Francisco , and 2 for , Vancouver ' s Island . Tun Trade ov Russia , — 'The Russian Government has published a report on Russian commerce in 3 » 857 ; which shows a considerable Increase over 1856 ., Tho exportation was—by tljq European frontier , 141 , 868 , 189 roubles in 1857 , to 180 , 492 , 808 roubles in I 860 5 by tho ABiatic frontier , 11 , 945 , 508 roubles in 1867 , to 10 , 698 , 882 roubles In I 860 5 to Finland , 4 , 882 , 508 roubles , and 2 , 884 , 090 roubles respectively 5 ana to fcoloncl , 12 , 060 , 784 to 10 , 879 , 490 . The totnl for , 1857

    annually , byway of contraband , fostared by the high tariff " in force , an amount of goods fairly estimated as equal to 20 per cent , of tho gross annual returns ! Coffee and the oano are cultivated generally in tho island , while cotton and tobacco aro grown only in certain districts . There is no export duty except on timber . A moro enlightened policy appears to bo pursued in tho Philippine Islands , tho Governor of Manilla informing Sir J . Uowring ( in April , 1857 ) that ho considorqd ono of his principal duties on tho assumption of office to bo tho development of the ' rich resources " of tho islands , tho chief of which is tho production and sale of tho oxquisito tobacco so

    thoroughly appreciated by smokers of tho " choroot . Tho Governor has ordered that no efforts shall bo spared to improve tho cultivation of tho tobacco plant . Thoro is along report from Uolo on tho trado of , tho island of l * nnay . Returning to thq mother country ) . it appoars that in 1857 the imports Into Seville woro 1 , 785 , 720 / , and the exports 1 , 072 , 106 / , ; 140 Enfa'Hsli vessels of 15 , 809 tons entered the port , and 118 of 10 , 786 tons oloAiod out . The trado in British vossols at Alicante >> us increased considerably sinco 1850 , principally owing to tho formation of a railway from Madrid to Almanza , Tho general trado of tho district in 1857

    60 T H E L E A. D E B. [No. 459 > Januar...

    60 T H E L E A . D E B . [ No . 459 > January 8 , 1859 .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 8, 1859, page 28, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_08011859/page/28/