ness of transportation, about 15 per cent on the whole amount-say some 7,500,000 piastres on the value of 50,000,000 piastres. On this basis, which is believed to be exact, the expenses of 59,003 packages, worth 182,000,000 piastres, should amount to 27,000,000 piastres. It has been determined upon by the Turkish Government to construct a good wagon road from Trebizond to Erzerrow,* a town of some importance, not far from the Persian frontier, which project, for the present, has been deferred, and the preceding statements of the trade which would pass over it is certainly sufficient to serve as an inducement for its future execution. Besides the preceding, it should also be added that the Commerce in transit to Persia pays to the Turkish Government a duty of 3 per cent, which makes a sum of 5,500,000 piastres per annum. In a few years, should the trade increase in the ratio of the past six years, this revenue would quite suffice to cover the expenses of the proposed route. The writer next adds, in behalf of the Commerce of France with Trebizond, "In the general table of the trade of Trebizond, which we publish, we are pained to observe a point which struck us in 1846, that France takes no part in this trade, whilst some forty years ago the Commerce of France predominated in the Levant." "The steamboats which now go to Trebizond belong wholly to the Turkish, English, and Austrian marines." After some expressions of confidence that the present President of the "Republic of France" will take proper measures to restore the lost trade of Marseilles, he continues: "The goods imported into Trebizond under the flags of different nations for the consumption of the interior of the country and those destined for Persia, amount to 243,342,000 piastres, or $9,793,680, and the exports to 110,471,000 piastres, or $4,418,840-making a difference between them of some 132,871,000 piastres, or $5,314,840, which is explained in the following table. The most important portion of this trade belongs to the Turkish marine, next to this to the Austrian, and next to the British. The first imports into Trebizond 132,730,000 piastres, or $5,309,200; the second 72,704,000 piastres, $2,908,160; and the third 35,406,000 piastres, or $1,416,240. The other nations engaged in the trade may be classed as follows: Greece, the two Danubian Provinces of Turkey, one Moldavia and Wallachia, the seven Ionian Islands, and Russia. In a general recapitulation of the same, we find 99 sailing vessels, and 73 steamers, together having 111,352 tons. The arrivals in 1851 were as follows: Ottoman sailing vessels, 71; steamers, 30; in all, 101; of 58,580 tons, and 13,380 horse-power, and importing goods of the value of 132,730,000 piastres, or $5,309,200. Austrian steamers, of 7,800 horse-power, and 23,300 tons, and importing 72,703,000 piastres, or $2,908,160 of merchandise. British sailing vessels, 6; steamers, 17; in all, 23; of 4,994 horse-power, and 15,742 tons, with 35,406,000 piastres, or $1,416,240 of merchandise. Greek vessels, 9; of 1,698 tons, and 1,355,000 piastres, or $54,200 of merchandise. Danubian vessels, 7; of 1,004 tons, and 550,000 piastres, or $21,000 of merchandise. Ionian vessels, 3; of 396 tons, and 257,000 piastres, or $10,800 of merchandise. The failure of this determination is attributed at Constantinople to the influence of Russia, which is, very naturally, desirous of having the transit trade of Persia pass through Georgia. The projected road was begun at the instance of the British Embassy at Constantinople. Making totally 99 sailing vessels and 73 steamers, or in all 172 vessels of every nation; which imported into the single port of Trebizond goods for internal consumption and transit to Georgia and Persia to the amount of 243,342,000 piastres, or $9,733,680. The departures for Trebizond in 1851 were— Ottoman sailing vessels, 51; steamers, 30; in all, 81; of 18,380 horse-power, and exporting merchandise to the value of 26,686,000 piastres, and specie 20,691,000 piastres, or $1,895,080. Austrian steamers, of 7,800 horse-power, and 23,330 tons, with merchandise of the value of 14,301,000 piastres, and specie 13,424,000 piastres, or $1,109,280. British vessels, 5; steamers, 17; in all, 22; of 4,994 horse-power, and 15,300 tons, and merchandise to the value of 11,782,000 piastres, in specie, 12,017,000 piastres, or $949,960. It must be remembered that the specie destined for Constantinople, (for all of this Commerce is between Trebizond and Constantinople,) indicated, refers entirely to the merchandise in transit to and from Georgia and Persia; whilst the following is a statement of the local Commerce, and that for the consumption of the interior of the country of which Trebizond is the first, in 1851 Ottoman steamers, 3,751,000 piastres, or $150,040 in specie. Russian vessels, 2; 382 tons; in ballast. French vessels, 1; 352 tons; a cargo of copper worth 1,726,000 piastres, or $69,500. Making, in total, 110,471,000 piastres, or $4,417,840, in 78 sailing vessels and 73 steamers; or total number, 151. It must be also here added that the great difference which exists between the amount of imports and exports is caused by the circumstance that, for a good portion of the goods which go into Persia, the returns are made to Europe-that is to say, by Tiflis, where they are converted into bills of exchange on St. Petersburg or on London. The reader will remember that Georgia now forms a province of Russia, During the year 1851 the different steamers carried from Trebizond 17,300 passengers to Constantinople, and this part of their business is a source of no inconsiderable gain to them. Seven large steam frigates form this line; two are steam frigates belonging to the Sultan of Turkey, each 450 horsepower; two belong to the Ottoman Steam Navigation Company, of 250 and 350 horse-power; two Austrian steamers, of the "Lloyd Austrian," of 260 and 350 horse-power; and one English steamer of 300 horse-power. There arrived at Trebizond, from Constantinople, England, and Trieste, (in smaller quantities from the latter place,) 59,003 packages of diverse merchandise in transit, for Persia, valuing 182,000,000 piastres, or $7,280,000. Trebizond received from Persia for Constantinople 14,756 packages of goods of coarse kinds, of which 3,201 were bales of silk, valuing 25,000,000 piastres, or $1,000,000; the remainder consisted in gall nuts, tumbekis, Persian tobacco, for the narguila, (a water-pipe,) saffron, wax, almonds, leeches, pipe sticks, shawls of different kinds, carpets, &c., &c. Trebizond imported grains Barley.... Oats.. 3,200 Salt may be imported there to about 63,000 kilos, of 30 okes each (82 lbs.) Among the imports belonging to the local trade of Trebizond, or for transit to Persia and Georgia, all carried on horses' or mules' backs, were, in 1851, 6,424 cases of sugar in loaves, (English and Dutch,) and 630 large barrels of sugar, also English and Dutch, of which three-fourths were in loaves, and one-fourth in powder. There were, in 1851, 6,729 packages of Tumbekis of Persia, and 57,976 packages of merchandise for this country. The preceding gives an idea of the extent and importance of the trade open of the principal ports of the Black Sea, and yet contains but few of the details needed of the nature of the same. The notes, heretofore furnished to the Merchants' Magazine, may be considered as a correct exposition of the different articles of import and export, of which the trade is composed. The steamers, herein mentioned, all trade at Sinope and Samsoon on their way to and from Trebizond, and besides the great number of passengers which they take in or discharge there, the merchandise required at these places forms no inconsiderable portion of their gains. Samsoon and Sinope receive goods for the consumption of the interior of Asia Minor, and the former may be regarded as the port of Mosul and the chief places in Mesopotamia, even as far as Bagdad. An immense quantity of English cotton goods pass through them for the interior. These are generally purchased at Constantinople by native merchants, in small quantities, and shipped by them to the Black Sea. The Commerce of Great Britain in the Black Sea was, in 1830, quite insignificant, and there were some apprehensions entertained here at the time of the negotiation of the present treaty of the United States with Turkey, that American Commerce would greatly rival English interests. It was supposed that, besides the introduction of American commodities into Southern Russia and the ports of the Black Sea, American vessels would take an active part in the carrying trade of that sea. In a few years after the negotiation of the treaty, several American vessels went annually to Odessa, but this soon ceased. The return cargoes of these vessels were mostly hides, and there were even instances of rye being shipped at that period from Odessa to the United States. This has, of course, long ceased to be the case, and the trade with Odessa is now very inconsiderable. Only one vessel under the flag of the United States has, as yet, entered the Danube. This occurred in 1843, and the captain was welcomed with many evidences of good feeling for his country, by the authorities of Wallachia and Moldavia. Twenty years ago, the British trade with Trebizond, Persia, and Georgia, was almost nothing. Its present prosperity is due to the agency of the British consul at Erzeroom, Mr. Brant. This gentleman, an old merchant in the Levant, settled, as vice-consul, at Trebizond, and commenced there the introduction of English goods. In view of extending his operations to Persia and Georgia, he recommended to his government his appointment at Erzeroom, and the establishing of vice-consuls at Samsoon, Trebizond, Bat toom, and at Kaiseriych, in the interior, which being done, the fruits of their most valuable reports on the nature, extent of the produce, and demands of this country, are seen in the very extensive and valuable trade which now exists. It may be added here that Mr. Brant, and each of his vice-consuls, are themselves engaged in Commerce. In view of the increased relations of the United States with Turkey, and its probable future intercourse with Persia, it appears that the government at home could not evince a greater interest in the Commerce of our citizens than by establishing a commercial-consular agent at Trebizond. It can scarcely be expected that any commercial house in New York or Boston, patriotic as our merchants have always shown themselves to be, should send an agent to that place, pro bono publico, as such an agent would certainly be; and this seems to be especially the duty of a government, which derives its chief support from the Commerce of the nation. Such a public agent, if a commercial man, (and none other should receive the appointment,) would be able to explore the field thus open to the manufacturing and the mechanical industry of the people of the United States; and it would not be, it is hoped, an indiscretion to add the suggestion that he be allowed by Congress a salary of $1,000 or $1,500 a year, until the advantages, or the inutility, of the agency could be ascertained. The coffee, sugar, and rum of America supplies the greater part of the vast provinces of Turkey in Europe and Asia; the cotton manufactories of New England are becoming the honest rivals of those of Old England; and it is not unreasonable to hope that they may again soon resume their place in the country where their name has been fraudulently or by stratagem assumed by English manufacturers, who forge the American stamps on their own cotton goods, so as to profit by the reputation which they had made for themselves. In connection with the foregoing, occasion is here taken to mention the injustice shown to the common wools (and there are none others) of Turkey by the tariff now existing in the United States. "Free Trade" certainly, as a maximum, does not consist in commercial rules by which agriculture is to be benefited versus Commerce, and vice versa. The farmer does not "plow the earth" to the disadvantage of the sailor, who "plows the main " for a livelihood, and the interference of a government in behalf of either is an injurious partiality. Left to their own resources, an honest rivalry should regulate these two forms of public industry. Nor, indeed, it would seem, should manufactures be injured by the partiality felt for agriculture. This theory the writer would extend to all countries and to all climates. Turkey produces an immense quantity of common coarse wool, which seldom costs more than eight cents per pound. No better quality of wool is raised in any part of Turkey, except the wool, or hair, of the white goats of Angora. It can, therefore, never become a rival to the wools raised in the United States, (if, indeed, so ungenerous an apprehension is entertained,) and should not be considered as such; and yet, in this light, Turkey wools are taxed by the present tariff, with but little advantage to the American. grower, and greatly to the disadvantage of the manufacturer, while the French, English, and German cloths are introduced at a rate of duty unequal to the prohibition put upon the raw material. In England, "things are managed better;" the manufacturer has no obstacles thrown in his way of making cloths to compete with those imported, if this, indeed, is practicable, and for the supply of foreign markets. And with the cheap water-power to propel the looms of thrifty New England, what nation in the world is better qualified for the economical manufacture of cloth, if permitted by the tariff? With a duty of 1 per cent on all common wools, they are freely introduced into England, where they are manufactured into cloths for the people of the United States, cheaper than they can now make them for themselves, notwithstanding the facilities given them so bounteously by nature. This, under a better and more liberal tariff, would be different, and not only could the manufacturer soon make cloths for the people of the United States as cheap as they now can purchase them from the English importer, but export them to Turkey and elsewhere in return for the raw material; and this, too, without any wrong done to the American wool grown at home. As by the liberal nature of the "Free Trade" system of the Ottoman government, all American goods and merchandise are admitted into Turkey on an ad valorem duty of 5 per cent, the excessive duty on the raw staple of the trade with the United States is considered an injustice and want of reciprocity. The native merchants of Constantinople have made an appeal to the Sultan's government, requesting it to use its influence with the government of the United States, to make a change in its tariff in their favor, and the subject may be soon laid before Congress, with what result yet rests to be learned. CONSTANTINOPLE, April, 1852. J. P. B. Art. III.-THE DIVINE USE OF COMMERCE. "There's a divinity that shapes our ends In the rise and fall of nations we behold the comprehensive and perpetual tendency of Divine purpose and power. His guiding cloud, somber or effulgent, is appointed to teach individuals and communities when to advance and when to pause. The most superficial survey of history is sufficient to teach us that Providence exercises an unceasing superintendence over human affairs, and that the consequences of both public acts and private intentions are subjected to permanent laws, the immediate sequences of which may not be clearly seen, but the ultimate result of which can never be wrong. Two grand principles were recognized and proclaimed by the better minds of pagan antiquity, namely, the immortal might of man's aspirations, and his eternal progressiveness under the beneficent care of Providence. Touching the first, Sophocles, in Antigone, expressed as follows the deep sense native to every emulative soul:-"Many things are wonderful, and nothing more wonderfu: than man: he can pass beyond the foaming sea, scudding through the waves as they roll around him; he wears away the wearied and inexhaustible earth, the highest of the goddesses, by means of the plow, which yearly turns it up by the strength of horses; and he catches also the tribe of any birds, casting lines around them, and all kinds of fierce beasts, and the race dwelling under the sea, with meshy well-woven nets; and by his artifice he entraps the wild beasts traversing the deserts, VOL. XXVII.-NO. I. 3 |