QUANTITIES OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF PROVISIONS EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES.

The exports of breadstuffs from the United States to Great Britain and Ireland continue large. For four leading articles they have been as follows:

EXPORTS OF BREADSTUFFS FROM UNITED STATES TO GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

The import of breadstuffs into Great Britain has been very much promoted the past year by the anxiety of holders in Europe to realize cash, and by the removal of the duties. The result has been larger receipts in the British ports than ever before, with the exception of a famine year. Under these circumstances, the prices in England have fallen very low; the average for wheat being at the latest dates 44s. 5d. per quarter for the whole kingdom, against 100s. in the year 1847. This low price has promoted a much more extensive consumption; and yet, under the unusually active competition of Europe, growing out of political causes, the ability of the United States to supply advantageously at these prices is manifest in the table of exports. With a good harvest in England in 1848, and large foreign supplies, the demand for United States produce is this year larger than in any year previous to 1847. This is a fact so pregnant with importance to the whole agricultural interest, as to merit a constant recurrence to it. It is also to be remarked, that the purchase of such vast quantities of food by England is no longer attended, as in former years, by financial distress as an immediate result The quantity of breadstuffs imported for several years was as follows, for the year ending January 5, 1849:—

The immense imports of 1847, added to the railroad speculation and the outlay in Ireland, reduced the bullion to about £8,000,000 in October of that year, but it subsequently rose rapidly; and the large grain importation of 1848 did not prevent a continued accumulation of coin and fall in the value of money. This is the conservative influence of comparative free trade. Buying and sellpg result only in prosperity, if not interfered with. It is the attempt to restrain hat creates mischief.

As the Independent Treasury promotes a steadiness of prices, and promptly corrects the exchanges by preventing any disturbing inflation of circulating credits, so does it aid the more liberal commercial legislation of England and America in raising the federal revenues. By keeping prices regular and steady the surplus products of the Union find a market, constantly becoming more certain and of greater magnitude. It results that the proceeds of sales abroad, returning in the shape of dutiable goods, swell the revenue in proportion to the sales.

The leading items of federal revenue for the quarter ending March 31, as compared with the corresponding quarter, last year, were as follows:

1848. 1849.

UNITED STATES REVENUE, QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31.

Customs.

Lands.

.9,383,000....700,000..

176,200. .5,387,820. .15,647,020 ..8,374,928....389,566....2,185,350....2,734,500....14,680,044

This very unusual item of over two millions under the miscellaneous head requires explanation. As well might the whole revenue be called miscellaneous as to publish such vague statements, that, giving no information in relation to the operation of the department, are an evasion of the law requiring their publication. The revenue from customs has fallen off, it appears, about $1,000,000 on the quarter, and the sales of lands also considerably. The heads of expenditures are as follows:

Of the expenditure under the civil head, $1,030,050 63 was the sum advanced to the Messrs. Barings, of London, as a part of the instalment due Mexico in July, and may be considered a part of the war debt. If, then, we take the sum of the regular revenue, say customs and lands, making an aggregate of $9,764,494, we find that it exceeds the sum of the ordinary expenditure, namely, civil, army, navy, and current interest. ($6,599,830) by $3,164,664, and that there was $1,000,000 more debt paid than contracted, and that the amount of money in the United States Treasury has increased from $4,314,164, at the close of December, to $6.974,007, at the close of April, an increase of $2,659,843 This exhibits an exceedingly prosperous state of the finances. It is, however, a manifest extravagance to retain near seven millions in the Federal Treasury, when the government is paying 6 per cent. interest on a like sum, making a useless charge of $520,000 per annum on the Treasury. This difficulty grows out of the fact that the Treasury notes were allowed to be funded in a twenty years' stock; and as money becomes plenty and the stock in demand abroad, this privilege is availed of. Thus, the amount of Treasury notes outstanding Oct. 1, 1848, and May 1, 1849, was as follows:

The effect of this funding is to convert a debt, payable at the end of the year, into one payable at the end of twenty years. As the twenty years' coupon stock is now worth 12 per cent. premium, it is equal to a bonus of 12 per cent. to the government credit. The cost of this to the government will be the interest on $12,000,000 for 19 years, say $13,680,000, and this while there is the large sum of near $7,000,000 lying idle in the Treasury. The large sum of over $13,000,000, which must be produced by the labor of the American people, will be sent to Europe to increase the wealth of those who are now buying the United States stock. Under these circumstances it would seem to be important that the Secretary of the Treasury should be directed to enter the market and purchase stock at its current rate. If the government is compelled to give a premium, the stock must be, to it, worth as much as to the public.

FOREIGN MISCELLANY.

THE awakening of nature has appeared; our mother earth is already dressed with her green and flourishing mantle; and the peaceful American farmer starts for the field to till the ground for a new and abundant harvest. Here are liberty, unity, and independence; everything is in a state of progress and of civilization; and, thanks to the creators of this glorious commonwealth, the present generation is enjoying the fruits of the noble deeds performed by its ancestors. It has acquired vast territories; and stands broader and stronger than any of the great powers of Europe. All this is the consequence of the blessings of free democratic government and sovereignty of the people; and all the gigantic institutions of this new country are merely derived from an industrious and intelligent nation taught at the school of republicanism. But if we pass from this continent to the old world, we are sure to meet with a very different state of things! No public industry nor social order-on one side we see anarchy struggling with despotism; true republicanism crushed by kings, or by men called liberals of la veille. It seems that Europe is on the eve of a great and general conflagration, in which tyranny or freedom must at last acquire the ascendancy, and dictate to the world.

A year ago the French made a revolution-glorious in its birth, and great for its democratic principles; a reaction followed that bloodless insurrection, caused by the wants of the poorer classes, and originated by the amalgamation of different parties. Next came a Dictatorship; and now a Napoleanic Republic, which will end in a constitutional monarchy, or with a new and bloody revolution. France has abjured her institutions and principles. In May, 1848, it was decided that all nations struggling for freedom should receive the support and sympathies of the Gallic people. In May, 1849, we see the Assembly in Paris decided to put down another republic-to interfere in favor of the Pope, against the will of the Roman people! This treacherous policy will condemn to an everlasting infamy the government and the people who permitted such an infamous step against a sister republic. There is certainly no nation more indebted to Italy than France. Many thousand children of this unfortunate land were slaughtered for the glory of that country, during the consulship and empire of Napoleon. The Italians fought bravely for France; and at present we see Gallic bayonets and cannons arrayed against the modern Romans, who attempted to return to a democratic life, and acquire a rank among other powers. The Republic of Rome was as sacred as that proclaimed in Paris. It was created by the majority of

the Assembly, and voted by the whole population. The Pope had been deposed, de facto et de jure, only of his temporal sovereignty; while the Democratic Roman Government had promised to respect and protect his sacred dignity of chief of the Roman Church. In 1831, when Louis Napoleon was a simple citizen of the Roman States, he, with his elder brother, took up arms, and marched with other liberals against the troops of Gregory XVI. Now that he is the President of France, instead of protecting the Romans, he goes against their government, and forgets his just conduct in so noble a cause! The affairs of Italy are still more complicated; and, thanks to the treachery of the Piedmontese government, the Austrians have entered that territory, and occupied the strong fortress of Alexandria. So we see the French in Civita-Vecchia; the Austrians in Alexandria; Leghorn contumacious; Florence servile; Catania reduced in ashes; and all Sicily surrendered to the hateful tyrant of Naples. But the cause of the Italian peninsula is not yet abandoned. In spite of all the efforts of her different enemies, the foreigners must evacuate soon, or find their graves in this revolutionary country. General G. Avezzâna, a naturalized American citizen, after having protested against the Piedmontese armistice, fought bravely in Genoa, and afterward went to Rome, called to discharge the office of minister of war; and when the leaders of the Roman Republic shall be compelled to leave the sanctuary of the true Italian freedom, from Rome they shall go to Ancona, and there can resist the hostile attacks of the French invaders, should they persist after the repulse they have encountered.

France is agitated and threatened with a new revolution, which may be decisive of the fate of the whole European continent. The President has become very unpopular, not only among the socialists, but even with his most faithful partisans, as Napoleon Bonaparte and General Montholon, both of whom have published an adress, in which they protest against the French intervention in Italy. The coming elections excite great interest, and if the modern French should so disgrace themselves as to choose a legislature of Legitimists, the Republic will have sunk into the arms of the Bourbons or Orleanists, who may return to Paris and rule France with an iron hand. The Socialists, although they are persecuted more than under Louis Philippe, are not inactive; they hold public meetings, and their ramifications have been extended even among the troops, doing much injury to the cause of true democracy. A banquet of Catholic priests, annexed to Socialism, took place in Paris, and the Abbé Franchard presided; there were more than 7000 persons, among whom were several women and soldiers. The regiments who sympathise with the Red Republicans are being removed from the capital, and a colonel of a regiment of the line, of the garrison of Paris, has been placed on half-pay for having addressed his fellow-soldiers in a language so democratic, as to endanger the presidential chair of Louis Napoleon. Mr. Duchesne, responsible editor of the Peuple, was again condemned to two years imprisonment, for having published an article against the proceedings of the government, concerning the trial of the individuals connected with the assassination of General Brea! Three representatives were arrested for having endeavored to foment riots in the streets. One of the arrested representatives, N. Louisy, a negro from Martinique, complained that he also had been arrested and thrown in a dark hole. Here the honorable representative uttered a most strange sound, like what was heard some years back in England, on the stage, from Mr. Rice, when enacting Jim Crow, and other imitations of negro character; this unusual sound, say the Parisian papers, excited great laughter throughout the chamber. year 1848 was the greatest epoch of popular revolutions, and 1849 will be the year of wars, and the largest field of action is going on with great progress in Germany. Frederick William, of Prussia, it will be seen, has refused the Imperial Crown of Germany; the different governments of this vast and interesting country have broken the national league, and decline to unite in a single body the whole German family, and the liberal sovereign of Berlin has resorted to a measure dear unto monarchs aspiring to absolutism; he has dissolved one chamber and adjourned another. The Berlin populace were treated in another

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favorite way; the volleying musket played upon them. The king of Wurtemburg, after declaring himself against the constitution and the law of election, has been obliged to yield everything; the Chamber published a triumphant proclamation, and his stupid majesty left the court and the capital with a march that much resembles a flight. But the most important topic of the German question is the entry of the Russians into Austria, called by the young Emperor to subdue the valiant Hungarians. The intervention of Russia in the affairs of the Teutonic Empire, may be the signal of a general rising in Germany, not only against their established governments, but also against any foreign invader. We may expect to see Poland and Bohemia enter the field of battle in favor of the Hungarian cause, and the ferocious paysans of Gallicia annihilate the Russian and Austrian armies. The recent triumphs of the Hungarians have shown heroism and generalship in their proceedings, and may yet stand gloriously against the allied powers. The news from Hungary has awakened much excitement in Vienna, and fears were entertained that a fresh outbreak of the workmen will happen if the Hungarians should make any approach to the Austrian frontier. Pesth was evacuated, Bem marched against Windischgratz into Austria, and General Dombinski at the head of 15,000 men entered Pesth, amid the most extravagant demonstrations of joy. The war between Denmark and the Dutchies continues, fiercely contested on both sides. The Danes have been less successful than last year; after having lost a part of their squadron they have been defeated at Kolding, and were obliged to leave the city and trophies to the Schleswig Holstein troops. A long and bloody combat of six hours' duration ensued at Kolding, and almost the whole city was reduced to ashes after having been taken by storm. It is reported that preliminaries of new conditions of peace have been proposed by England and Sweden, and already. accepted by Prussia. They are the withdrawal of the troops from Jutland, and the simultaneous cessation of the blockade of the German ports by the Danes.

Spain is restored to internal peace; the Count of Montemolin, the aspirant to the throne, has returned to 38 Harley-street, London, and Cabrera, the Carlist General, was arrested at Perpignan, and taken to Fort Lamalgue. Queen Isabel can now devote herself most safely to the study of what are the best bonbons, and how the Pope can be best restored. Pius IX. has promised many gratuitous indulgences to the chaste Spanish Queen, should he ever return to his Vatican, against the will of the Roman people. But although there appears to be, in some parts of Europe, a temporary lull at this moment, we must believe that the storm is only momentarily suspended; we are sure that it has not blown away; and in less than a month all Europe will be set on fire. There will be a general war, not between nation and nation, but between freedom and tyranny. The struggle will be hard and terrible; it will be long and full of all the horrors of a battle of life and death; and we have faith that democracy shall rise proudly from the ruins of monarchy, and freedom shall be the only government of the whole European continent.

"Yet, Freedom! yet, thy banner, torn, but flying,
Streams like a meteor against the stormy wind."

ART UNION.-The great prosperity of this popular institution is such, we are pleased to hear, that it has purchased the lots adjoining to its present gallery for the purpose of doubling its size and accommodating an increased number of visitors, as well as to display an increasing number of rich specimens of American art. To the public spirit and patriotic zeal of the gentlemen who preside may be ascribed the means which has attended this effort to create a market for the works of American genius; and it is gratifying to note already, in the general increase of demand for pictures and works of art throughout the country, the perceptible fruits of their exertions. It is of little avail that brilliant pictures are produced, if there are none to appreciate. Gen. Wetmore and the other gentlemen are performing the singular service of producing a demand, by creating a taste for, and an ability to appreciate, the efforts of artists. The institu tion has become of great magnitude, and its arrangements for engraving, paper-making, printing and distributing, are on the most extensive scale, giving employment to great numbers of persons.