less advanced. The quantity of the grain in both the Provinces is not increased; and on a calculation of different seasons, not half of the grain of Moldavia can be sent to England; the remainder being of too inferior a quality, or in too bad a condition; and for the same reason not more than a fourth of the grain of Wallachia can be shipped to England. Formerly the inferior grain of Moldavia and Wallachia found an easy sale in Constantinople, but since 1842, when the exportation of Turkish grain was permitted by the government, the quantity produced in Turkey has so much increased, that Constantinople is now abundantly supplied from its own vicinity, and the cultivators of Wallachia and Moldavia must find means of improving the grains or they will soon find it difficult to dispose of it. In neither Province is it now customary to put the grain in holes in the ground, as formerly, for safe keeping, and consequently it has not the smell which in former times did so much injury to its sale. It is surprising that though the quality of wheat and barley is generally very inferior, the Indian corn (maize) of Moldavia is considered to be the very best in the world. The quantity produced has greatly increased in the last few years, and if it were needed for England, at the price of 24 shillings, or more, delivered in England, the production would be greatly augmented. The following table will serve to show the quantity of grain, of different kinds, exported from the two chief ports of Moldavia and Wallachia, in the last 12 years:— GALATZ. IBRAILA. IN QUARTERS IMPERIAL. Wheat. 61,524 1842 154,675 1843 1839 148,117 133,762 281,871 143,184 Indian Grand 229,984 435,141 132,596 68,586 80,145 281,227 700,882 84,692 248,206 160,121 26,818 10,221 20,954 152,464 268,708 73,892 244,234 492,440 248,206 322,343 121,309 168,669 612,321 864,208 128,221 211,972 688,081 1,031.508 124,714 175,802 615,456 966,393 177,343 668,014 1,191,649 300,552 1,310,485 1,836,647 1844 166,535 174,023 340,558 347,888 1845 180,032 157,101 337,133 314,940 1846 110,902 336,627 447,529 327,526 163,145 1847 180,860 318,605 499,465 390,818 619,115 1848 113,605 143,727 257,332 159,484 292,115 193,435 645,034 930,812 The quantity of rye and of barley exported from Galatz being of little importance it is not stated in the above; nor is the rye and millet of Ibraila. The preceding table indicates the progress of the exportation of grains in the last twelve years from the two ports mentioned in it; but the increase is rendered more evident by dividing that period into two portions, of six years each, when the following results are shown:— The increase in the six last years is 5 per cent, in imperial quarters. 44,212 ...imperial quarters 597,062 1,270,745 The increase in 6 years, 110 per cent, or, imperial quarters....... 673,688 .quarters 717,305 This table shows an increase in the last six years' exportation of some 50 Increase in last 6 years 180 per cent, or, imperial quarters...... 1,195,090 Indian Corn, 1837 to 1842..... .imperial quarters 224,310 1843 to 1848.. 1,448,619 Increase in 6 years, 545 per cent, or, imperial quarters...... 1,224,309 769,688 3,189,087 Increase in the last 6 six years, 215 per cent, or, imperial quarters.. In the last six years, the exportation has increased 255 per cent, upon that of the preceding six years three-and-a-half times. In drawing a comparison between the exportation of Galatz and Ibraila, we find that during the six first years Galatz exported Grain Imperial quarters. And Ibraila.. 1,412,918 1,250,304 Which shows that the amount of exportation of Galatz exceeds that of Ibraila one-seventh, or, imperial quarters, 161,614. During the second period of six years it is seen that Galatz exported grain to the amount of Imperial quarters.. And Ibralia.. 2,130,313 4,439,319 The latter exceeding the former.. ....quarters 2,309,006 The following table shows the value of the articles exported from Galatz Besides grain, the only article of any importance exported is suet, of which the following is a table for the last twelve years. There is also an establishment at Galatz for the preservation, in hermetically sealed tin boxes, of fresh beef, from which about 300 tons of meat is sent annually to England. The following table shows the number of vessels loaded at Galatz and Ibraila from 1837 to 1848: Galatz. Ibraila 1837. '38. '39. 40. 41. 42. 43. '44. '45. '46. '47. '48. 230 309 327 509 464 644 662 397 238 411 772 875 832 911 1,553 726 431 517 635 645 Total...... 879 968 1,208 1,306 468 720 1,099 1,384 1,296 1,555 2,215 1,123 A comparison of the first six years of this period with the six last years, I find the following results: Having an increase during the last six years of 3,130 vessels. It may be remarked that the vessels which visited the Danube during the latter period were of a larger size, and of a better class, than those of the preceding term. During the first, 5,539 were loaded with 2,663,222 imperial quarters, whilst during the second, 8,669 vessels were loaded with 6,536,632 quarters, and in deducting from the above stated number of vessels those loaded with planks, staves, &c., the medium cargoes of grain of each ship during the first period were about 550 quarters, whilst in those of the second the medium cargo was at least 850 quarters. There are many small vessels under Turkish and Greek colors which fre quent the Danube, and which never go further than Constantinople. The following table will show the number of vessels which have loaded at Galatz and Ibraila during the past twelve years :— Greek..... Flag. 1837. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. '44. '45. '46. '47. *48. 272 259 320 477 196 329 457 561 587 645 589 432 282 358 377 412 87 133 216 367 317 500 629 247 The following also states the number of vessels which took in cargo at Galatz and Ibraila for England, from 1837 to 1848: Galatz... Total....... and the following, of those which loaded there direct for England, from It is necessary to remark that, for some time past, half of the grain loaded directly for England, is generally sent to Constantinople and Malta, expressly for the purpose of being there reembarked for England; and this too besides what is sent to these ports for sale, and then purchased for the same destination. The change made in the navigation laws of Great Britain will not probably make much difference in the number of vessels seeking freight in the Danube for England. Besides English vessels, the Austrians may, by treaty, load directly for England also the Greeks, but the latter must touch at a port in Greece before proceeding on to England,-which, however, occasions them but little delay or extra expense. All vessels are now equally favored. The only flag which frequents the Danube in large numbers is the Sardinian; but as there is a high protection for the trade of their country, it is not probable that it will come into much competition with the English flag for the transportation of grain to Great Britain. The change in the navigation laws of Great Britain will not cause, but for a short time, a reduction in the freights. It is known that it suits English vessels to come out from England in ballast, and to load them with wheat and Indian corn at eleven shillings per quarter, and making two voyages to England, without any difficulty, each year; but Austrian and Greek vessels do not seek after cargoes for England under fourteen shillings per quarter. It is true that during the present year, 1849, several Austrian vessels loaded at Galatz and Ibraila at 10s. 6d. and 11s. 6d., but the position of Austria explains sufficiently the reason which made her merchant vessels to accept freights at a rate lower than usual,-and at present English vessels do not obtain more than 9s. 6d. the quarter; no Austrian ship will accept such a freight. There are a few Greek vessels of a size suitable for a voyage to England; and as the risk is greater with Greek ships than English, the latter always have the preference, and a freight of one shilling per quarter greater. Greek vessels do not seek for freight to England under thirteen shillings per quarter. The exportation from Bulgarian Turkey, by the Danube, does not increase, as will be seen from the following note of the exports during the first months of the present year. The greater portion of the grain is loaded from the Bulgarian ports in the Black Sea: Wheat.. Barley... ..imperial quarters 25,422 40,670 12,976 The Danube is obstructed by ice during a portion of the winter season, and it is necessary for masters of vessels to be careful not to arrive so late as to run the risk of being compelled to pass the winter there. The following table shows the period of the ice during several years: It is the general opinion that the Commerce of the Danube must become still more important at its mouth; of this its development has, thus far, been retarded by political reasons or on account of its having been neglected to remove the accumulation of sand at the mouth of Sulina. It is certainly much desired that this mouth should be cleaned out and deepened, and yet there is no sufficient reason for believing that the Commerce of the Danube, by its mouth, would become more considerable than it is at present. The exportation will be limited to the produce of Moldavia and Wallachia, of a portion of Bessarabia and Turkey, in the environs of Tulcha. It may be mentioned, that the products of Hungary are not in demand for the Black Sea, or for Turkey, but for the Mediterranean and the countries out of the Straits of Gibraltar. From any part of the Danube, above the junction of the Saave, and for some distance below it, the produce may be transported to Fuime, by the Saave, and by land carriage, at equally cheap rates, as far as Galatz; and from Fuime, the freights would always be cheaper than from Galatz. So long as the difficulties at the "Iron Gate" exist, few products will descend from beyond it. An attempt was made with rape seed above the "Iron Gate" and brought it down to Ibraila; but as within the last few years, nothing has come from so high up, it must be supposed that it was not found profitable. The Bulgarians, for the most part find it advantageous to transport their produce to the Black Sea; and from a part of Bessarabia, it is better to transport it to Odessa. It may be remaked that in the trade between Vienna and Constantinople the plan has been made of discharging the steamer at Chernevoda, and to transport the passengers and merchandise, as far as Kustenja, by land, by which means two days are saved in the voyage; and if this route has been abandoned, it is on account of there being no shelter at Kustenja, and when it is bad whether, much difficulty is experienced in discharging and reloading the goods; but if there were a good harbor there, the trade between Constantinople and Vienna would again go by this route, and would not pass any more by the mouth of Sulina. Respecting the imports of Galatz and Ibraila by the Danube, during the period from 1837 to 1848, it is added— The tables of imports given each year show sufficiently the different articles imported into the Provinces by the Danube, and therefore the |