regions of Pennsylvania; which, at the price above specified, would have a value of $309,000,000. This is one of the striking facts. Another is, that such great results have been reached in so short a time.

But the most speaking of all the facts treasured up in these figures, because it it contains such vast and veritable prophesies of the future, is the rapidly augmenting ratio at which these yearly amounts increase. This is noticeable to a mere glance of the eye. The year 1838, which stands midway between the first and last of the series, shows a production of only one-tenth of the amount which is set down against the year that is just closed, 739,293 to 7,258,891. We must now come to 1846, before finding an amount (2,343,990) that reaches even so much as one-third of the last annual yield. Nay, the last three years sufficed to produce as much coal as was produced by the first twenty-six years of the series. Dividing the amount into thirds, the first third was mined in 26 years; the next third in 7 years; and the last third in 3 years. If there is any just ground for the prediction that in twenty years the iron production of the United States will equal the present iron production of Great Britain, rising from 1,000,000 to 3,500,000 tons, these figures demonstrate that not so many years can elapse before our 10,000,000 of coal (all kinds included) will swell to the 40,000,000, which is the present annual yield of that country. If the same ratio continued, the result would be attained in a much shorter time.

MINING RESULTS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

We gather from statements compiled by ROBERT HUNT, Keeper of the Mining Records of United Kingdom, that in 1855 the number of tons of copper ore sold in Cornwall, and the produce of Cornish and Devon mines, was 195,193 tons, yielding 12,578 tons 11 cwts. 23 lbs. copper, realizing £1,263,739 6s., being a considerable increase over the previous year. In Wales, the ores sold, being the produce of Irish, Welsh, and foreign mines, 43,903 tons, yielding 5,926 tons of copper, and £654,468 11s. in money. Copper ores sold by private contract realized £949,000, making a grand total of £2,867,207 17s. received for copper ores sold in England in 1855.

The average standard of the Cornish sales was £143 2s.; produce, 64; and the average price per ton paid to the miner, £6 8s. 6d. per ton. From January 1 to September 30, 1856, the copper ores sold in Cornwall were 157,843 tons, yielding 10,246 tons of copper and £925,245 11s. 6d. in money. The last quarter, ending September 30, was 4,637 tons of ore less than the previous quarter.

The quantity of lead ores raised in the United Kingdon in 1855 was 92,330 tons, yielding 73,201 tons of lead, 561,906 ounces of silver, and realizing in money for lead ores, £1,311,971, and silver, at 5s. the ounce, £140,746—showing a very considerable increase over the previous year. Of the above, Cornwall yielded 8,962 tons of ore, equal to 5,882 tons of lead, and 211,348 ounces of silver; Devonshire, 4,035 tons of ore, equal to 2,292 tons of lead, and 89,908 ounces of silver; Durham and Northumberland, 22,107 tons of ore, equal to 16,309 tons of lead, and 75,435 ounces of silver; Flintshire yielded 6,273 tons of lead ore, equal to 4,926 tons of lead, and 25,823 ounces of silver; Cardiganshire, 7,043 tons of ore, 5,014 tons of lead, and 28,079 ounces of silver.

The tin ores raised in Cornwall and Devon during the same period were 8,947 tons-(of this, Devon produced 320 tons)—realizing £608,336. The produce in metal was about 6,000 tons, which, at £120 per ton, would yield £720,000.

The iron ore raised in the United Kingdom was 9,553,741 tons-pig-iron, 3,218,154 tons, at £4 4s. per ton, realizing £13,516,566.

If we take the value of copper ore sold in 1855 at £2,867,207 17s., lead and silver at £1,452,447, tin ores at £608,396, it gives us a total of £4,928,030 17s. as the value of one year's mineral produce. In addition to this, there is the iron mentioned above, £13,516,266; coals raised from 273 collieries, 15,431,400 tons.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE DIVIDENDS FROM PROFITS PAID ON BRITISH MINES FROM 1845 TO 1856, INCLUSIVE:

From this it appears that British mines have paid profits in twelve years amounting to £2,908,620 12s.

In the British list, 55 mines have paid £383,418 8s. 8d. in 1856; in 1855, 44 mines paid £340,714 3s. 4d. The year 1856, therefore, shows an increase of £42,704 58. 4d.

MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.

AMERICAN TRADE TO SURINAM, AND COMMERCE OF GLOUCESTER. The first vessel ever sent from Gloucester to Surinam, Dutch Guiana, was in 1791, sixty-five years ago, and was fitted out and owned by Col. William Pearce, an eminent merchant of that town. Col. Pearce had transacted a large business with the West Indies and Europe for years previous, and the partial failure of some of these branches of commerce led him to embark in the Surinam trade. The first voyages to that place were very long, and attended with much danger in consequence of the malignant diseases constantly prevailing there. It was not unusual for vessels on these voyages to lose nearly all their crews. The town of Gloucester has ever since 1791 retained nearly the entire American trade to Dutch Guiana, with a partial interest also in the Cayenne trade, in company with the adjacent port of Salem, which noted place for many years has enjoyed an almost exclusive trade to several ports and sections of the world, such as Para, Maranham, Rio Grande, East and West coasts of Africa, Red Sea, Sumatra, New Zealand, Fejee Islands, &c. Gloucester thirty years ago had vessels trading to Porto Rico, St. Domingo, Valparaiso, Malaga, Smyrna, and Sumatra, and bringing cargoes from those places direct to that port. The two large mercantile houses of Wm. Pearce & Sons and W. Sargent, transacted an extensive foreign commerce for many years.

But the commerce of Gloucester, like that of Salem, Newburyport, Ports. mouth, and various other minor seaports, was swallowed up by the great cities of Boston and New York, and it never can be regained. Gloucester in her reverses still held possession of its Surinam trade, and now employs in that business fourteen ships, barks, and brigs. At times the trade is so unprofitable that less than one-half of this number of vessels can be employed. But, prosperous or

adverse, the trade is pursued by the Gloucester people with more or less energy. The decline of the extended commerce of Gloucester was more than made good, in late years, by the great increase of its fisheries, coasting trade and British Colonial business, so that its tonnage had increased in forty years more than three-fold, having in 1810, 11,000 tons; 1855, 34,000 tons; in 1810, 3,000 tons employed in the fisheries; in 1856, 21,000 tons in 300 fishing schooners. The amount of business of various kinds, foreign and domestic, transacted at the Gloucester Custom-house, is only surpassed by that of three ports in the New England States, viz.: Boston, Portland, and Salem.

According to a statement in the Boston Traveller, within one week in 1856, more than one hundred vessels have arrived at Gloucester from the Bay of St. Lawrence, with fares from ten to three hundred barrels. Many of these vessels came home with from fifty to one hundred barrels after an absence of three to four months. The season at one time promising to terminate so favorably, will wind up in many cases in a most disastrous manner, and the crews have but little money coming to them to carry them through a hard winter. Many vessels will have to fit out immediately for Georges, and pursue that hazardous business as long as the weather will permit. The larger part of the fleet have now arrived, and such is the small catch of mackerel that the prices must greatly advance, as the supply cannot meet the usual consumption. The prices of mackerel from some cause have been much depressed, and have made even large trips much less than last year in value.

COMMERCE AND PRODUCTIONS OF AFRICA.

A recent work by Andrew H. Foote, of the Navy, Lieut.-Commanding the brig Perry, upon the coast of Africa, presents some important facts respecting that continent, the condition of which is probably less known than that of any other quarter of the globe. This vessel sailed for the coast of Africa on the 28th of November, 1849, for the west coast of Africa to join the American Squadron there stationed, under a specific treaty, for the suppression of the slave trade. By this volume it appears that the African territory exhibits a vast domain, inhabited almost entirely by barbarians, and the author remarks in reference to their villages, and modes of life, "that if the whole negro nations were swept away, there would not remain a monument on the face of their continent to tell that such a race of men had occupied it." A portion of the work alludes to the productions of Africa adapted to trade. Copper, and some alloys of it, are used for ornaments, and is smelted from ores by the natives, who throughout the south, manufacture their own iron. Gold is collected by elemental waste from disintegrated rocks, the present export from Africa now amounting to about two millions of dollars. Cotton may be produced to a great extent. The Africans weave coarse narrow cloths and dye them; work in wood and metals, and manufacture gold chains of considerable value. African dye-stuffs, are staple articles of export, and indigo is extensively used by the natives. Gums of various kinds constitute a branch of trade which is just commencing, and palm oil is yielded to a considerable extent. The territory is capable of producing most of the tropical products. A portion yields the fruits, and flowers, and grain of Europe, and the finest fruits of the torrid zone abound in the valleys, as well as flocks and herds. On the river Webbe, near Braza. as much fine wheat may be purchased

for a single dollar as will supply one during the year. In Enarea and Kaffa, the whole country is covered with coffee, and it is in fact the original country of the coffee. Two hundred pounds may be purchased in the berry, for about a dollar; and the greater portion of the coffee received from Mocha, is in point of fact African coffee. Another article, which we had supposed was a principal staple of export from Africa, ivory, is not alluded to by the author. A part of the work is occupied by remarks respecting the slave trade upon the coast of Africa. This traffic appears to have been checked if not entirely concluded by the measures which have been taken to prevent it, and the author alleges that the extension of naval enterprise along the coast, will probably tend to the prevention of cruelty, and the future amelioration of that benighted continent.

ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND DRUGS IN ENGLAND.

The manner and extent to which various kinds of food are adulterated, can scarcely be imagined by those who have not paid attention to the subject. Many of the articles that we constantly eat or drink, such as coffee, tea, chocolate, pepper, and mustard, are manufactured, to a certain extent, of deleterious, if not poisonous materials. Some time since, a special committee was appointed by the British House of Commons, to inquire into the adulteration of food, drink, and drugs, and their Report, which occupies a volume of three hundred pages, has just been published. Some of the facts are truly startling. It is stated that "almost everything that enters the human stomach, for the maintainance of life, or the restoration of health, is wilfully or deliberately adulterated, and these vile mixtures sap existence like slow poisons." Of death in a glass, we are told: "The adulteration of drinks deserves also special notice, because your committee cannot but conclude that the intoxication so deplorably prevalent is in many cases less due to the natural properties of the drinks themselves, than to the admixture of narcotics or other noxious substances intended to supply the properties lost by dilution."

The list of adulterated articles is formidable indeed, and includes arrow root, with potato and other starches; bread, with potatoes, plaster of Paris, alum, and sulphate of copper; bottled fruits and vegetables, with certain salts of copper; coffee, with chicory, roasted wheat, beans, and mangel worzel; chicory, with roasted wheat, carrots, sawdust, and Venetian red; cocoa, with arrow root, potato flour, chicory, and some ferruginous red earths; cayenne, with ground rice, mustard husk, &c., colored with red lead, Venetian red, and turmeric; gin, with grains of paradise, sulphuric acid and cayenne; lard, with potato flour, mutton suet, alum, carbonate of soda, and caustic lime; mustard with wheat flour and turmeric; marmalade with apples or turnips; porter and stout (though sent out in a pure state from the brewers) with water, sugar, treacle, salt, alum, cocculus indicus, grains of paradise, nux vomica, and sulphuric acid; pickles and preserves with salts of copper; snuff with various chromates, red lead, lime, and powdered glass; tobacco with water, sugar, rhubard, and treacle; vinegar with water, sugar, and sulphuric acid; jalap with powdered wood; opium with poppy capsules, wheat flour, powdered wood, and sand; scammony with wheat flour, chalk, resin, and sand; confectionary with plaster of Paris and other similar ingredients, colored with various pigments of a highly poisonous nature; and acid

drops, purporting to be compounded of Jargonelle pear, Ribstone pippin, lemon, &c., with essential oils containing prussic acid, or other dangerous ingredients. The adulteration of drugs is also extensively practiced. The more costly the article, the greater is the temptation. But what is the remedy? As a means of prevention, the Committee recommend that muncipal or other local authorities should be empowered to appoint an officer or officers, who, on complaint made, or in cases of reasonable suspicion, shall procure portions of any article supposed to be adulterated, with a view to their examination or analysis by some duly qualified person appointed for the purpose. If the report of such person confirms the suspicion, a summons shall be issued, and the case investigated before justices, who shall have power to inflict summary punishment, and publish the names of the offenders. They recommend, also, that one or more scientific analyzers should be appointed under the authority of the Board of Health, to whom the local authorities may refer suspected articles.

The subject is one that concerns every civilized country. Perhaps no where is this system of fraud and murder carried on to a greater extent than in the United States. The villanies that are practiced in this form, are truly frightful. Many persons, indeed, labor for years under some mysterious disease, produced by the process of adulteration or poisoning, through the agency, either of food or drugs. Only a short time since, a distinguished chemist of this city found it necessary to prosecute a house in New York, for counterfeiting his labels to a very valuable medicine. Similar frauds are of constant occurrence.

THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN COMMERCE.

Commerce is a power and an index of power, as well as a necessity; it is a channel whereby nations communicate ideas and customs, principles and charac ter. Each distinct and limited portion of mankind becomes more human, through the mutual influences of a world-wide intercourse. No nation has yet garnered into its character all the nobilities and energies of the "kind;" but each needs all that it can obtain from the others.

In commerce our nation has but one superior; and in all probability will ere long have none. No nation builds half as many vessels as this. Its foreign trade has trebled since 1815, and doubled since 1842. The vessels which annually flock to our shores from foreign ports, measure their tonnage in millions; and the net value of commodities exchanged in the internal trade, is estimated in billions.

The commerce of the United States “has elements of increase unknown in any former period, or in any other nation. A new country, a virgin soil, the precious metals in unprecedented abundance, coal, iron, copper, zinc, gypsum, lime, and most of the useful metals in profusion, her coast indented with bays, her northern border washed by nearly 2,000 miles of inland seas navigable by vessels of any tonnage, her great interior traversed by the Mississippi, receiving tributaries from 1,000 miles to the east and to the west; with nearly 5,000 miles of canal, and soon to have 30,000 miles of railroad; with a large annual immigration; with schools and a teeming press to spread intelligence and quicken enterprise; with unbounded liberty of action to stimulate exertion; with new regions opened daily to market by iron roads-what is there to set a limit to the extension of commerce, as far beyond present, as the present has gone beyond past conception ?"