ABSTRACTS OF CONSULAR RETURNS AND OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS. GREAT BRITAIN. During the year ended September 30, 1862, but few important changes and modifications have occurred in the commercial legislation of Great Britain. Such as are deemed material, whether emanating from this or other foreign gov ǝrnments, are inserted under their respective heads. Statement of the imports from the United States to Great Britain and Ireland of the principal articles of United States produce, and their values, in the ten months ended October 31, 1862, compared with the corresponding period of the year 1861. Statement of the exports to the United States of the principal articles of British and Irish produce in the eleven months ended November 30, 1862, compared with the corresponding period of the year 1861. All values in pounds sterling are converted at the United States Treasury valuation of the pound or sovereign, $4 84. 3, 112, 294 1,063, 304 296,576 5,020,914 Total. Comparative statement showing the quantities of raw cotton imported into the United Kingdom, and the countries whence imported, from January 1 to December 31, during nineteen years, and also during eleven months ended November 30, 1862. ......... Pounds. 574,738,520 517,218,622 Pounds. 18,675, 123 Pounds. 9,674,076 Pounds. 65,709, 729 21,084,744 12,406, 327 88,639,776 ... 626,650,412 20,157,633 14,614,699 58,437,426 1846....... ........................................... ................................ 401,949,393 14,746,321 14,278,447 34,540, 143 364,599, 291 19,966,922 4,814,268 83,934,614 1862* 6,778, 128 19,145,392 49,342,048 Eleven months. 600, 247, 488 634,504,050 493, 153, 112 596,638,962 765,630, 544 658,451,706 722, 151, 346 681,629,424 780,040,016 654,758,048 833, 237, 776 961,707,264 819,500,528 30,299,982 19, 339, 104 26,506,144 24, 190, 628 19,703,600 24,577,952 21,830, 704 23,503,003 32,904, 153 34,616,848 24,882, 144 38, 248, 112 38,106,096 118,872,742 204, 141, 168 † Included in " Other countries." 28,353,575 Comparative statement showing the quantities of wool (sheep, lamb, and alpaca) imported into the United Kingdom from various countries during a period of nineteen years ending December 31, 1861, and also during eleven months of the year 1862. British possessions in South Africa. British possessions in the East Indies. British settlements in Australia. South America. Other countries. Total. Comparative statement showing the quantities of raw cotton imported to and exported from Great Britain and Ireland for eleven months of the years 1861 and 1862. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of despatch of December 24, 1861, in reference to the reduction of the expenditure for American seamen. A reply to the question, how to reduce the expenditures for the relief of destitute seamen, involves an inquiry into the present state of the laws with regard to the manning of ships and the employment of seamen, and the annunciation of some better system; for undoubtedly it is chiefly owing to the imperfections of the present system that so many seamen leave their vessels in foreign ports and become chargeable to the government, and there is no doubt very many shipwrecks are caused by inefficient manning and incompetent seamen. To arrive at any proper basis of legislation on these subjects, a commission of inquiry is necessary, of which one member should be an intelligent retired sea captain, whose antecedents are well known and of the right kind. |