"The coral fishery is a source of more profit than is, perhaps, generally known; and is attended with hardships, the bare thought of which might diminish some of that natural vanity with which the fair one contemplates the glowing ornaments that repose upon and contrast with her white bosom. I was standing on the marina, when I witnessed such a scene as I have described-a party of gaily dressed mariners, accompanied by women weeping and wailing as our northern females know not how to do. Their short and simple story I soon learnt; and the particulars I now send you as the result of my inquiries.

"Torre is the principal port in the south of Italy for the vessels engaged in the coral fishery, about 200 vessels setting out from hence every year. They have generally a tonnage of from 7 to 14 tons, and carry from 8 to 12 hands; so that about 2,000 men are engaged in this trade-and, in case of an emergency, would form a famous corps de reserve. They generally consist of the young, and hardy, and adventurous, or else the wretchedly poor; for it is only the bold spirit of youth, or the extreme misery of the married man, which would send them forth upon this service. For two or three months previous to the commencement of the season, many a wretched mariner leaves his starving family, and, as a last resource, sells himself to the proprietor of one or other of these barks; receiving a caparra, (earnest-money,) with which he returns to his home. This, perhaps, is soon dissipated, and he again returns and receives an addition to his caparra; so that when the time of final departure arrives, it not unfrequently happens that the whole of his scanty pay has been consumed, and the improvident or unhappy rogue has some months of hard labor in prospect, without the hope of another grano of compensation. Nor does the proprietor run any risk in making this pre-payment; for as the mariner can make no engagement without presenting his passport perfectly en regle, he is under the surveillance of a vigilant police. The agreement between the parties is made from the month of March to the Feast of San Michaele, (29th September,) for vessels destined for the Barbary coast-and from March to the Feast of the Madonna del Rosario, (October 2,) for those whose destination is nearer home. Each man receives from 20 to 40 ducats, according to his age or skill, for the whole voyage; while the captain receives from 150 to 400 ducats, reckoning 6 ducats to £1 sterling. These preliminaries being settled, let us imagine them now on the full wing-some for the coast of Barbary, and others for that of Sardinia, or Leghorn, or Civita Vecchia, or the Islands of Capri, San Pietro, or Ventotene, near which I have often seen them, hour after hour, and day after day, dragging for the treasures of the vasty deep. On arriving at the port nearest to the spot where they intend to fish, the "carte are sent in to the consul; which they are compelled to take again on return. A piastre is paid by each vessel for the magic endorsement of his excellenza-another to the druggist, and another to the medical man; while the captain, to strengthen his power, and in case of some of those gentle excesses which bilious captains are sometimes apt to commit, has generally on board some private "regalo " for his consul. The next morning perhaps they push out to sea, and commence operations; not to return that evening, or the next, or the next, but to remain at sea for a fortnight or a month at a time, working night and day without intermission. The more humane captains allow half of their crews to repose from Ave Maria to midnight, and the other half from midnight to the break of day; others allow only two hours' repose at a time; while some, again, allow no regular time-" so that," said a poor mariner to me, "we sleep as we can, either standing, or as we haul in the nets." Nor do they fare better than they sleep for the whole time they have nothing— literally nothing but biscuit and water; whilst the captain, as a privileged perron, has his dish of dried beans, or haricots boiled. Should they, however, have a run of good luck, and put into port once in fifteen days or so, they are indulged with a feast of maccaroni. These privations make it rather rough work, it must be confessed, for a mariner-especially when it is remembered that it lasts seven months; but if to this be added the brutality of the captains, whose tyranny and cruelty, as I have heard, exceed anything ever recounted to me before, we have a combination of sufferings which go far to justify the description given to me of this service by one engaged in it, as being an "inferno terrestre."

"Now let us view them at work. Every vessel carries about 12 contaj (a contaio being 200 pounds) of hemp to make the nets, which are changed every week. They are about 7 or ten palmi in width, and 100 or 120 palmi in length-worked very loosely, and with large meshes. On being thrown into the sea, the vessel is put before the wind, or else propelled by oars, until those loosely-formed nets have fastened upon a rock. Then comes the tug of war. If they have great good fortune, they will take a piece of 2 or 3 rotoli at a haul, (a rotolo being 33 ounces,) though this is a rare occurrence. In its natural state, the coral is either white or red, or even black externally, from the action of the sea. The white is very rare and very precious; comparatively a small quantity being sufficient to make a good voyage especially if it be taken "ingrosso," when it will fetch as high as 100 ducati, or more, the rotolo. The red "a minuto" is not very valuable; but if it be" scelta" and "ingrosso," it can be sold for from 25 up to 60 ducati the rotolo. As a rule, however, the round-shaped coral is much more valuable than the tree or the spiral coral.

Full fathoms five thy father lies;

Of his bones are coral made

So sang Ariel; without, I suppose, intending to lay down any rule as to the depth at which coral may be found. Indeed, it is found at all depths, from 12 to 16 palmi up to 150, or even more. At last, arrives the Feast of San Michaele, or of the Madonna del Rosario. As soon as the day dawns, the nets are slackened; no man will work more, even if treasures are in prospect. So, pushing into land, and taking up their "carte," away they set on their return-many as poor as when they departed; some with a few ducats in "sacco," and a new Phrygian cap, or dashing sash, or some article of finery, for the "innamorata "-all, however, being thoroughly tired out, and injured perhaps in constitution.

"The cargo being deposited in the "magazzin" of the merchant, is sold out to the retail merchants, who flock in from Naples and elsewhere; and is soon transformed into numerous articles of ornament or superstition-crosses, amulets, necklaces, and bracelets. And now these mariners have a long repose, till the spring comes round and sends them out again on this odious service though there are very few who make two or three consecutive voyages of this nature. Many vessels are lost in the season, owing to their long-continued exposure to all kinds of weather, and to their lying in amongst the coral reefs. However prosperous the voyage, life aboard the vessels " e la vita d'uno cane." Yet the service may be regarded as one of the most important in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies; as well for the wealth it annually brings in, as also for the school it offers for training hardy, well-disciplined mariners."

PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR.

The whole production of the sugar-growing countries of the world, in 1844, is set down at 778,000 tons, of which 200,000 tons were furnished by Cuba alone. In the following year, Cuba produced only 80,000 tons, but the increase from other sources was so great, that the total produce amounted to 769,000 tons, which was very little short of that in 1844. The consumption of sugar in the whole world is estimated at 840,000 tons, of which the United Kingdom consumes about 250,000; the rest of Europe, 425,000; the United States of America, 150,000; and Canada, and the other British colonies, 15,000. The growth of the United States does not exceed 100,000 tons, or about two-thirds of the consumption, and the deficiency is supplied by maple sugar and foreign importation. The difference between the total production of tropical sugar and the consumption of the whole world, is chiefly made up by the manufacture of sugar from beet-root, which now extends annually to 80,000 tons. The surplus stock held in Europe at the end of each year, has been about 130,000 tons; and, notwithstanding the necessity of keeping a large surplus is diminished by the increased celerity of communication, it is considered that a stock of 130,000 tons, upon an annual consumption in Europe alone of 675,000 tons, is not more than a moderate provision against the vicissitudes which attend the growth of the article.

Art. XI.-COMMERCE, AND THE MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE.

SEVEN or eight years since, a few friends of the missionary enterprise in Scotland, connected with the Scotch establishment, formed the purpose of attempting the infusion of a fresh spirit into the exertions of the Christian Church at large, for the speedier evangelization of the world, by uniting a "friendly competition" of talent and piety in the production of a work less ephemeral than the sermons, tracts and pamphlets, which dur ing the last fifty years have appeared on the subject of missions to the heathen. With this view they offered a prize of two hundred guineas for the best, and another prize of fifty for the second best essay, "on the duty, privilege and encouragement of Christians to send the Gospel to the unenlightened nations of the earth." The competition was confined within the United Kingdom, (not a remarkably liberal course for the advocates of universal evangelization) and the first prize was awarded to John Harris, D. D. This essay has passed through numerous editions in England and Scotland, and now (in 1847) we have the fifth American edition, published by Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, of Boston, a handsome duodecimo, of nearly four hundred pages, under the title of "The Great Commission; or, The Christian Church Constituted and Charged to Convey the Gospel to the World." The author of the essay maintains, that commerce is under no small obligations to missionary influence, and that the shipping of the commercial world derives as much advantage from Christian missions as its commerce. We should have been glad if the writer had treated more fully of the bearings of modern missions on commerce. There is reason to fear that they have thus far done more for commerce than that Christianity which must, in the fulness of time, baptize trade with a larger measure of its spirit and principles. We give below all that our author says on "the reflex benefits of Christian missions" on commerce :

"In vain were all the attempts of the colonial government to establish a commercial intercourse with the Caffre tribes, until the Christian missionary had gained a footing amongst them. But not only does he now form a connecting link in the chain of civilization between the colonies and the Caffres and other tribes-by the introduction of the plough, he is likely to be the means of turning the attention of the aborigines from pastoral to agricultural pursuits; in consequence of which their cattle will no longer prove a source of irritation and conflict with the frontier colonists, and a much narrower compass of land will be sufficient for their comfortable support.

"New Zealand is unquestionably the key to India, on the one hand, as the Cape of Good Hope is on the other. And if, as events increasingly indicate, a wise policy should require our government to enter into a friendly treaty with that country, the measure would be greatly facilitated, if not entirely owing, to the favorable predisposition created in our behalf by missionary influence.

"Up to a very recent period the South Sea Islands were, in a commercial point of view, a complete blank; but now they are made to contribute to our wants, and to take off our manufactures, to a considerable extent. Sugar is cultivated, and taken in native-built vessels to the colony of New South Wales; and more arrow-root has been brought from thence to England in one year, than had been imported for nearly twenty previous years. Between two and three hundred thousand of the natives are now wearing European clothing, and using European implements and articles, who a few years ago knew nothing of our manufactures. "The shipping of our country, too, derives as much advantage from Christian missions as its commerce. This will appear, if it be recollected that intercourse between Europeans and the untaught islanders of the Pacific is always dangerous,

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The adventurous Magellan fell at the Ladrone and has often proved fatal. Islands; Captain Cook was barbarously murdered at the Sandwich group; the ship Venus was taken at Tahiti; M. de Langle and his companions were killed at the Samoas; the Port au Prince was seized at Lefuga; and the crew of the Boyd were massacred at New Zealand. And now, at all these islands, with the exception of the Ladrones, there are missionary stations, where between two and three hundred vessels annually resort; the crews of which look forward with delight to the hour when the anchor shall be dropped in the tranquil lagoon, and they shall find a generous welcome and a temporary home. Here, at the smallest possible expense, the captains can obtain a supply of fresh meat and provisions, refit their vessels, and recruit their crews.

"Formerly, also, when a wreck occurred, the natives hastened to plunder and murder, or reserved those who escaped from the sea for sacrifices. Witness the unhappy sufferers of the Charles Eaton, and the still more recent massacre of Captain Fraser and his crew on the coast of New Holland. But now, wherever Christianity has been introduced, the occurrence of a wreck is the signal for the exercise of the kindest feelings towards the sufferers themselves, and of the greatThe Falcon, the Sir Charles Price, est zeal for the protection of their property. and several other vessels, have been cast away at or near such stations; and not only have the captains and others attested that "not a nail was lost," and that all the attention was given to their personal comfort which kindness could bestow, but thousands of pounds have been transmitted to England and America as the proceeds arising from the sale of property saved on such occasions by native activity and zeal. Thus many a Christian missionary is, in effect, a British consul of the most unexpensive and efficient kind; and his congregation a society for the protection of British lives and property; while the missionary enterprise itself, by finding new havens at the antipodes for our fleets, opening new channels for our commerce, and every where multiplying the friends of our country, is eminently conducive to the prosperity of its temporal interests."

MERCANTILE LAW CASES.

THE LAW OF PATENTS-CASES OF INJUNCTIONS.

WE give below an important opinion of the United States Circuit Court, relating to the Law of Patents, delivered by Mr. Justice WooDBURY, and politely furnished by that gentleman at our request, for publication in this department of the Merchants' Magazine.* In the United States Circuit Court, Massachusetts District, May Term, 1846. W. W. Woodworth vs. J. Hall, et al.; W. W. Woodworth vs. J. Stone.

In these cases, injunctions were granted, May Term, 1845, and at May Term, 1846, a motion was made, in the first-named case, to dissolve the injunction. An opinion was given at the same term, stating the facts, and retaining the injunction as to one of the defendants, but dissolving it as to the other, for reasons applicable to the merits.

Among the objections which were then urged against the validity of the patent on which the claim of the plaintiff was founded, were these:-Because it was signed by H. Sylvester, as acting Commissioner, rather than by Ed. Burke, Esq., the Commissioner; and because the patent had been altered at the PatentOffice since it originally issued.

For further particulars in relation to these objections, and the detailed facts on which they rested, reference can be had to the opinion and case, as drawn up. At an adjourned session of the same term, held at Boston, in September, 1846, the motion to dissolve the injunction was renewed as to the first case, and a like

JAS. B. ROBB, Clerk. A true copy of the opinion of the Court, delivered by Mr. Justice Woodbury, Sept. 21st, 1846.

motion made as to the second case, both of which are now to be disposed of. They were founded on the same grounds, accompanied by new evidence, offered under the first objection, to show that Mr. Sylvester, at the time of signing this patent, was not acting under any appointment made by the President, by virtue of the eighth section of the act of Congress passed May 8th, 1792; but, being then chief clerk in the Patent-Office, claimed to be authorized to sign it in the necessary absence of the Commissioner, under the power conferred by the second section of the act of 4th of July, 1836, recognizing the Patent-Office.

In respect to the second objection-the alteration of the patent-it was further proved that a mistake, as to the time it was intended to run when renewed, occurred in the patent itself, as well as the record and copy of it; the proof, at the first hearing, extending only to the copy. Thus it was issued for fourteen years, but was meant to be for twenty-eight, and was afterwards altered to twenty-eight. In answer to this, it was now shown that the Secretary of State subsequently expressed in writing his assent and sanction to the correction of the mistake, though he was not consulted at the time it took place.

The present motion was argued by Giles in support of it, and B. R. Curtis against it.

WOODBURY, J.-It is not necessary to go into many of the facts and principles considered in the former motion on this subject, and then disposed of;-but the new and material facts since obtained are to be examined, so far as they may weigh upon the objections, and affect the principles before settled.

The first inquiry now is, whether the chief clerk in the Patent-Office, not in truth having been specially appointed to be acting Commissioner by the President, in the absence of the Commissioner himself, could legally sign this patent, under the general provision in the second section of the patent law of A. D. 1836. The words of that section, as bearing on this question, are-" The chief clerk, in all cases, during the necessary absence of the Commissioner, or when the said principal office shall become vacant, shall have the charge and custody of the seal, and of the records, books, papers, machines, models, and all other things belonging to the said office, and shall perform the duties of Commissioner during such vacancy."

It is contended by the defendant that this clause empowers the chief clerk to act as Commissioner only when his office is technically, entirely, or de jure vacant; and not when he is merely absent from sickness, or other necessary cause, constituting a de facto vacancy, only, or a want of the Commissioner present to discharge the duties, arising from some such cause. It is certain that the words here used, looking no farther, appear to countenance the more narrow and limited view of the word "vacancy;" but if we look to the object of the clause-to other sections of this and the succeeding patent act-to the cotemporaneous construction placed upon it-to the long acquiescence under that construction, and the great public as well as private interests which have grown up in conformity to it within the last ten years, a broader meaning to the term seems fortified by the whole spirit of the act, and by the analogies of the case.

It is proved as a fact that the chief clerk, since July, 1836, has been accustomed to perform, under this section, all the duties of Commissioner during his necessary absence, and without any new special authority being obtained from the President, under the law of 1792. It has been uniform in the office to consider the word "vacancy" here as meant to cover an actual, or de facto vacancy, by a necessary absence from the city; and the act has been construed so as to include as a vacancy, for this purpose and object, the want of the Commissioner at the seat of government to discharge his official duties, arising from any necessary cause, rather than the want of him, merely, in consequence of his death or resignation.

It is conceded, also, that many patents during that period have been signed, and records certified, by the chief clerk, as acting Commissioner, under the second section of the patent law, and which must become invalid if this one be so pronounced, for that cause.

It is further apparent, from the fourth section of the same law, that, unless this