On Commercial Statistics, and an Attempt at a Universal Commercial Code. By LEONE LEVI, ESQ

[Read before the Statistical Society of London, 15th December, 1851.] STATISTICS have, of late, acquired a prominent position, and are now generally acknowledged as best adapted to furnish materials for legislation. From the extent and accuracy of the information which they furnish we obtain enlarged views of the economical and commercial state of nations; yet the advancement is by no means systematic. Much remains to be done, in order that its achievements may result in universal benefit. What has been accomplished in some countries, and for some specific subjects, may be extended more generally, and we may at length be able to ascertain the state of nations at any given time, both severally and relatively to one another. But in order to arrive at this desideratum, the specific line of inquiry must be marked, and our present wants and defects be clearly traced out.

A work on the Mercantile Law of Nations, which I have undertaken, suggested to me the idea of illustrating the state of their commerce and finances, at the respective dates of 1840 and 1850. With this view I have sent to foreign countries blank schedules with the various items to be filled, and, in some cases, they were duly returned with the required information. The accounts within my own reach were of such varied dates and of so mixed a character as completely to frustrate my endeavour to realize my original idea.

But how could it be otherwise? The censuses of population are variously taken in some countries every ten years, in some every five years, and in some every three years; so that, except by calculation, we cannot ascertain the actual population of two or three countries at one date. In some countries the financial year ends in June, in others in January, and in others in October. Hence it is that writers of equal authority are often found contradictory, even in accounts of the same year. And as for the amount of agricultural produce, with few exceptions, no statistics are taken, though a subject of vital importance, and we are left to follow estimates which often prove most erroneous. Under such circumstances, whatever tends to rectify such defects, promotes at once the advancement of statistical science and the soundness of commerce: and two methods are here suggested, one to collect into a focus such information as may be accessible and mark out its deficiencies, the other to promote discussion and action, that such deficiencies may be henceforth supplied. I have attempted to accomplish the first, and the result is now submitted to your consideration.

The Statistical Chart now exhibited is the first of a series of annual statements intended to show the area of all countries; the population, distinguishing races and religion; the state of their finances, distinguishing the proportion of direct and indirect taxes; the amount

* Commercial Law, its Principles and Administration; or, the Mercantile Law of Great Britain compared with the Codes and Laws of Commerce of all Mercantile Countries, by Leone Levi. Dedicated to the Right Hon. the Earl of Harrowby.— London, Simpkin and Marshall, and P. Richardson; Edinburgh, T. and T. Clark.

expended for war establishments, for justice, and for commerce; and also for the interest of debts; the debt of each country, fixed and floating, and, where possible, the nationalities of the public creditors; the manufactures; the number of spindles and factories; the quantity of refined sugar, hides, cotton, silk, &c., manufactured; produce of grain, specifying the kinds, and of sugar, coffee, tea, oil, tobacco, hemp, &c.; mineral products, such as iron, coal, copper, tin, the precious metals, &c.; the imports and exports; the shipping, specifying the number of vessels and their tonnage, entered inwards and cleared outwards, and the number of vessels and tonnage belonging to each; the railway system, comprising the number of miles of railway constructed, in progress, and projected in each country, the capital invested, and the cost per mile; and, lastly, a table of currencies, weights, and measures, of all nations, compared with those of Great Britain.

This outline is, in itself, sufficient to strike the mind with the difficulty of reducing it into anything like a regular system; yet the attempt is made, and should it be worthy of the serious attention of men whose experience and knowledge render them able to discern its failings, and point out any amendment or improvement, I hope it may, in process of time, attain to that perfection which it aims at:

As to authorities, I have to state that, besides the direct information received by means of the schedules already mentioned, I was indebted to the Board of Trade, the Foreign Office, the Colonial Office, and the East India House, for a free access to their documents, and I have made use of the library of the British Museum and the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh. As to works, I obtained much information from "McCulloch's Commercial and Geographical Dictionaries," (last edition,) "Almanack of Gotha for 1851," "McGregor's Statistics," "The Economist," "Johnston's Gazetteer," (the author of which has kindly given to my labours much personal care,) and such other foreign works, atlases, &c., as the subjects and countries. required.

The Mercantile Marine of the World.

Number of Vessels, and Tonnage, belonging to the following Countries: