I have no means of filling up this table to the present time: excepting as to the year 1811, when the real value of the exports amounted to about 44 millions as appears by the following table. From the preceding, it should seem, that if we add to the official value about one half its amount, we shall approximate to what is Considered as the real value of goods exported. TABLE III. An Account of the real value of Exports from Great Britain in the years 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, pounds. pounds. pounds. pounds. pounds. pounds. pounds. 8,557,186 51,109,131 11,887,501 53,028,881 20,435,9406,400,363 3,111,748 1,136,955 11,446,939 Custom-House, London, 28th April, 1812. Month. Mag. for July 1812, p. 593. It will be observed that there are differences in the amounts of these tables, from each other, and from that which Walsh has given from the authors, I have cited. I do not know how to ač count for the differences, but I regard Mr. Irving's statements as entitled to superior credit. Since the American peace of 1783, it has been the fashion of all the ministers of Great Britain, from Pitt to Percival, at the annual opening of the budget, to dwell with almost exclusive interest on the state of the commerce of the country, on the vast and increasing amount of exports and imports, and the balance of trade. This seems to have arisen not merely from what I conceive false views of the relative importance of foreign commerce, but also from the necessity of conciliating the prejudices of the monied interest. This bias in favour of commercial statements appears to me to have been carried by Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Percival particularly, to a morbid excess. Even during the periods of war, the wonderful encrease of British commerce has been the theme of ministerial exultation; but the minister never thought fit to enter into any analysis of the items. It seemed as if the most effectual method ever discovered of encreasing the trade of the country, wa's to go to war with all the world, and contrive that no market whatever should be open to British goods. The success of these legerdemain calculations, was truly astonishing. The minister borrowed for instance twenty millions sterling: he laid out the greatest part of it, in cloathing, arms, provisions, &c. &c. for the use of the navy and army. The merchants and manufactures among whom this money was expended, entered the goods in the usual course for exportation, and all the other exports on account of government, were also entered at the custom house; these entries, swelling the bulk of export, are gravely used as evidences of the great encrease of foreign trade! We cannot therefore, if this actount of the matter be true, as I believe it to be, consider the gross statements of export and import of that country, as furnishing any accurate knowledge of the real state of foreign trade. I shall be glad to receive any authentic refutation of this view of the subject, if any person knowing otherwise, will furnish the facts: but I know this has been, and I believe it continues to be the case. OF THE TONNAGE OF GREAT BRITAIN. BRITISH NAVY. The following extract of a letter, address ed to Mr. Percival by lord Melville, on the subject of the establish ment of a naval arsenal at North fleet, presents within a small com pass a striking view of the progressive increase of the British navy: "The following short statement will remind you of the esta blishment of the different royal dock yards now existing in the kingdom. They are six in number, Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, Sheerness, Portsmouth and Plymouth. "Deptford was built in the reign of Henry the VIII. under whose sway, history tells us, this country possessed the first fleet composed of ships of war, belonging to the king: although I have heard that some archives, recently discovered in the tower, prove the existence of a fleet of that kind in the reign of the preceding monarch, Henry VII. "Woolwich yard was formed under the auspices of the same monarch. "Chatham was founded by queen Elizabeth, where the gunwharf now is, and where there was only one small dock: but that being too confined a spot, it was removed about the year 1622 to its present situation. "Sheerness was formed in the reign of Charles II. "Portsmouth by Henry VIII. being the third dock yard founded by him. "Plymouth by William III. about the year 1694, and in 1698 money was voted by the house of commons for completing it. "The progressive advance of our navy, will appear by attending to the following recital of its tonnage at different periods, from the reign of Henry VIII. to the present time. "Thus it appears, that notwithstanding the vast increase of our navy not a single dock yard has been added to it since the reign of William III. about a hundred and nineteen years ago, at which time the tonnage of the naval force of this kingdom amounted to near 160,000 tons : it is now near 800,900 tons, or about five times as large." The following statement is the amount and disposition of the British navy up to January 1, 1812. At sea, 115 of the line; 8 from 44 to 50; 126 frigates; 97 sloops; 5 bombs; 121 brigs; 32 cutters; 52 schooners-total 527. In port and fitting, 32 of the line; 8 from 44 to 50; 28 frigates; 38 sloops; 1 bomb; 29 brigs; 6 cutters; 21 schooners-total 162. Guard ships, 4 of the line; 1 fifty; 4 frigates; 5 sloops-total 14. Hospital ships, &c. 31 of the line; 3 of 50; 3 frigates-total 37. mission, 187 of the line; 20 from 44 to 50; 161 Total in comfrigates; 140 sloops; 6 bombs; 150 brigs; 37 cutters; 73 schooners-total 740. Ordinary and repairing for service, 70 of the line; 14 from 44 to 50; 59 frigates; 38 sloops; 6 bombs; 13 brigs; 2 schooners-total 202. Building, 31 of the line; 2 of fifty; 14 frigates; 5 sloops-total 52, forming the grand total of 994 Bri tish vessels of war, Comparative strength of the different Naval Powers, 1813. BRITISH NAVAL FORCE.-At sea, 79 ships of the line: nine from 50 to 44 guns-122 frigates-77 sloops and yachts-4 bombs, &c. 161 brigs-54 cutters-52 schooners, &c.——————In port and fitting, 30 of the line-11 from 50 to 44 guns-29 frigates-18 sloops-4 bombs, &c.-86 brigs-6 cutters-11 schooners, &c.Hospital ships, prison ships, &c. 28 of the line-2 from 50 to 44-2 frigates-1 yacht-Ordinary and repairing for service, 77 of the line-10 from 50 to 44 guns-70 frigates37 sloops-3 bombs-11 brigs-1 cutter-2 schooners.- -Building, 29 of the line-4 from 50 to 44 guns-12 frigates-5 sloops, &c.3 brigs-Making a grand total of 1545 vessels. RUSSIAN NAVY.-53 sail of the line-34 frigates-59 cutters, brigs, &c.-smaller vessels, 226, carrying in all 4,423 pieces of cannon. In this estimate are included ships of every class and condition, from a first-rate to a gun-brig; those that are building, under repair, and laid up in ordinary as unserviceable, as well as those that are in commission, and fit for immediate service. |