nution in the average yield per acre was: In wheat, 1.7 cwt.; oats, 0.3 cwt. ; rye, 0,1 cwt. Barley and bere gave an increase yield, the former of 0.8 cwt. and the latter of 0.5 cwt. per acre. The cereal crops (wheat, oats, barley, bere and rye) produced 8,776,262 quarters, being a net falling off in the yield of 474,618 quarters in 1866 compared with the previous year. This was owing not only to a diminished acreage, but also to a decrease in the estimated average acreable yield in 1866.

In green crops there was an increase in the produce of turnips, mangel wur zel and cabbage, but a large decrease in the yield of potatoes. Taken together, potatoes, turnips, mangel wurzel and cabbage in 1866 produced 7,487,741 tons, showing a net deficiency in the total yield from these crops of 222,121 tons compared with the previous year. This was caused by a decrease in the acreage under potatoes and also by a considerable diminution in the yield of that crop, amounting to seven-tenths of a ton per acre.

Flax, notwithstanding a less acreable yield, shows a greater total produce of 1,430 tons. This is due to an increased area of 12,074 acres in 1866. Hay exhibits a decrease in acreage of 77,070 acres. We present a table giving the total extent under each of the principal crops in 1865 and 1866, and the increase or decrease in the latter year.

The economical changes which have taken place in Ireland even since 1857 may be perceived at a glance by comparing the estimated total produce of that year with that of 1865 and 1866. The great decrease in the cultivation of wheat and the great increase in that of flax seem to be the most noticeable features:

The interruption of the cotton supply in 1861-2 gave an impetus to the cul

ture of fax in Ireland. This impetus is measured by the number of scutching mil's in operation in 1866 as compared with the number in 1861 :

The number of emigrants who left the Irish ports in 1866 was 101,251, being a decrease of 1,845 on the returns for 1865.

The number of males who emigrated in 1866 was 60,688, being an increase of 4,482 over the previous year. Of females there were 40,563, being a decrease of 6,327 compared with 1865. The suspension of the habeas corpus act doubtless accelerated the emigration of the male part of the population. We present a table showing the numbers contributed by each province to the aggregate emigration:

Of the 1,784 emigrants from Ireland not belonging to Ireland, 1,073 were natives of South Britain, 604 of North Britain, 49 of the Continent of Europe, 55 of the United States, Canada and the West Indies, and three of Africa, Australia and the East Indies.

In respect to age, nearly 75 in every 100 of the persons who left Ireland were between 15 and 35 years of age. In 1865 the proportion per cent for these ages was 64.7.

The same Parliamentary return gives information on the meteorological phenomena of Ireland, as registered at the Ordnance Survey Office in Phœnix Park. Height above the sea, 158.8 feet. The barometer stood highest in 1866, on the 24th of January, at 9:30 a. м —wind S.W.—when it was 30,673 inches; it was lowest at 9:30 P. M. on the 23d March-wind S. E.-when it was 28,663 inches. The highest temperature in the air during the year was 80.7 degrees of Fahrenheit, on the 13th of July, and the lowest 17.5 degrees, on the 1st of March. Rain or snow fell on 216 days. The greatest quantity of rain which fell in a day (twenty-four hours) was 9.75 inches, on the 18th of June-the wind being N. W. The point from which the wind chiefly prevailed was from the westward; it blew from that direction 107 days, with an average pressure 2.83 lbs. per square foot. The strongest wind was from the S. W., on the 6th of December, when the pressure was 25 lbs. per square foot.

LLOYD'S LIST OF WRECKS AND CASUALTIES.

The "Committee for Managing the Affairs of Lloyd's," in London, appointed a Statistical Committee in March, 1866, who have lately published their “ First Annual Analysis of the Wrecks and Casualties reported in Lloyd's List for the year 1866." The object of the publication, which will hereafter appear annually, is to present a comprehensive and careful summary of losses and casualties, containing all available information relating to accidents; and the work cannot fail to be of value to all parties interested in the mercantile marine of the world. The date of this first report is 23d April, 1867, in the preface to which it is stated" that the results of casualties as at first stated are very frequently modified by subsequent events, of which information is only obtained after greater or less intervals, and that a period of three months is allowed to elapse for the purpose of securing all possible accuracy."

It appears from the monthly summary of "Wrecks and Casualties" reported in Lloyd's List as having occurred in 1866, that they were as follows:

The number of salvage cases were: ships, 1,264, and steamers, 116. So far as reported, the lives lost were 2,644.

An elaborate tabular analysis of the wrecks is also given, divided into thirty. one geographical sections, with the remark that "the arrangement followed is that of voyages between the ports within the several sections and the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe (between Bordeaux and Hamburg, both included), and does not necessarily indicate the locality of the casualty." With this explanation we subjoin two of the sections:

But, besides the exceedingly valuable series of tables, of which we have here made a very imperfect summary, there is a statement given showing that the whole number of "Casualties" posted in Lloyd's Loss Book during each of ten years were:

It will be observed that the casualties in each of the years 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862 and 1863 were much more numerous than in 1866; while those in 1857, 1858, 1864 and 1865 were considerably less. The reports by months show the following results:

This table shows that the greatest number of reported casualties occurred in the months of November, December and January; the months next in order being October, March and February; the smallest proportion in May, June, July and August. The following analysis shows the ratios:

The document from Lloyd's, to which we have in this summary way called our readers' attention, will, we expect, be improved in some of its features before the time for another issue comes round; and it will be looked forward to with interest as years impart additional value and importance to it. It may not be out of place here to say that while the geographical arrangement, so far as it goes, is a desirable one, an attempt might be made to tabulate the regions where wrecks and casualties happen. For example, one region might be the Gulf and River St. Lawrence, another the North Atlantic coast, a third the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico, a fourth the channels and coasts of Great Britain, &c., limiting the regions to perhaps less than one-half the number of the geographical sections. The labor incident to this addition to the report would indeed be considerable, but its enhanced value to underwriters, ship owners and shippers would compensate for it all; while the mercantile classes would reap the advantages accruing from the modification of rates of insurance which such an arrangement might eventually lead to.

COMMERCIAL CHRONICLE AND REVIEW.

Public Debt Statement-Conversion of Seven-thirties-Crops and Business-Rates of LoansStock Exchange-Prices of Governments-Amount of Coin-Course of Gold, &c.

No statement of the public debt has been published this month, and it is im possible to say precisely what progress the Secretary has made in his funding operations. Enough is known, however, to lead to the conclusion that they are going forward satisfactorily, and that the aggregate of compound notes and of Seven-thirties has received a considerable diminution. As to the compound notes, the amount maturing is so limited as to be easily manageable, especially in view of the large balance in the Treasury, and of the heavy receipts this month from income tax and internal revenue. Hence, the three per cent. certificates will not need to be issued in exchange for compounds during July nor perhaps in the month of August. As to the Seven-thirties, we have repeatedly shown that it is so much the interest of the holders to convert them into gold-bearing bonds, that we shall not be surprised if, during the next six months, they should disappear from the debt statement almost altogether. Of these notes it will be remembered there are three series. Several weeks ago a controversy arose relative to the first series maturing in August next, of which 130 millions were outstanding at the beginning of May, and about 90 millions on the 1st of June. These notes are dated 15th August, 1864, and call for 7.30 per cent. interest in currency during three years from their date. The controversy originated from the fact that at maturity all the Seven-thirties are convertible at par into Fivetwenty gold bearing bonds at the option of the holder. This option gives the notes a value beyond that of an ordinary short security, and causes them to sell in the market at as high a premium as the long gold-bearing Five-twenties themselves. The question raised had regard to the option which confers on these notes their special value. By one party it was contended that the option did not lapse at the date of the maturity of the note, but survived in such a way that at any time after the fifteenth of August the holder could present his note at the Treasury and demand either cash or a bond at his pleasure. One of the inconveniencies of this arrangement would have been that capitalists could combine together to hold a large amount of Seven-thirties, should some unforeseen trouble invade the money market, and could demand payment in cash at any time hereafter. Hence the Treasury would be compelled to keep on hand, at great cost to the country for interest, a large amount of currency for the specific purpose of paying off these matured notes. And the speculators who imposed this permanent and mischievous necessity on the Treasury could do it without the sacrifice of the option to demand bonds in exchange for their notes if at any subsequent date such a conversion might be to their interest. Other objections were urged to this view of the case, which were subjected to discussion in Wall street. In view of all the facts we ventured to refute the prevalent opinion, and urged that the holders of August notes would do well to convert them before maturity into bonds. We called attention to the fact that as each Seven thirty note bears on it the express condition that it is convertible at maturity," the privilige of