TABLE F.-Table showing the condition of the merchant marine of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of the year 1880.

TABLE G.-Statement showing the carrying trade of the mercantile marine of the AustroHungarian Empire, with foreign nations, during the year 1879.

TABLE G.-Statement showing the carrying trade, &c.—Continued.

Annual report by Consul Hancock, of Patras.

UNITED STATES CONSULATE,
Patras, February 28, 1882.

The year 1881 proved generally one of the best ever experienced by growers of currants (the principal produce of this country); not only was the crop the largest ever grown, and quality on the whole fine, but prices ruled high, consequent on the low stocks that existed in the markets of consumption when the new fruit became ready, the still increasing demand from France for wine making, and I may add from unwarranted speculation on the part of traders, which will cause some of them to have anything but pleasant recollections of the past year. The crop of currants has not yet all been shipped off, but it is certain that it will sum up to about 120,000 tons, against 92,337 tons in 1880, and about 20,000 tons more than any crop of currants ever produced. The shipments from the crop to date, as compared to last year's, are:

The average prices have been 24s. to 28s. per cwt. f. o. b. for the best, 228. to 24s. for medium, and 18s. to 22s. for the ordinary grades. The total value of the crop may be estimated at $11,250,000. The carrying trade has been principally under the British flag, the clearances from this port alone being 131 vessels, of 115,564 tons and 3,428 crew, of which

114 were steamers and the remainder sailing vessels. Freights have averaged about 27s. 6d. for United Kingdom, 30s. for United States, 25s. for north of France, and 278. 6d. for Hamburg and Antwerp per ton for currants in barrels and cases, with, in each case, 10 per cent. primage, and for south of France 17 to 20 francs, and 5 per cent. for currants in bulk and bags.

The grape crop, which ripens after the currant crop, suffered severely from excessive heat in the latter part of August, in many vineyards it was hardly worth gathering, and growers that had a third and half crop were considered fortunate.

The exports of wine from this port were of the value of about $40,000, and went chiefly to Germany.

The olive oil and grain crops were also short, the former in continental Greece being little more than required for local consumption, and is selling at equal to about $245 per tun. That the grain crops were short is nothing uncommon, as the peasants, particularly in this part of Greece, are chiefly employed in the cultivation of currants and pay little attention to other crops; therefore about two-thirds of the grain required for consumption is imported from the Black Sea. Prices have been about $15 per imperial quarter for wheat, $8.25 for Indian corn, $6 65 for barley, and $5 for oats.

The crop of valonea has been large and quality fine, say about 10,500 tons, against 2,650 tons in 1880 and 7,500 in 1879. Prices have been moderate, about $40 to $50 per ton f. o. b., according to quality. About two-thirds of the crop has gone to England and one-third to Italy and Trieste.

The port of Nauplia exported last year tobacco to the value of about $60,000, and Sultana raisins of the value of $38,000, and other articles, such as cheese, dyes, brooms, &c., not including currants, of the value of about $56,000.

At Calamata the crop of figs was good, and estimated to be worth about $500,000; price averaged about 14s. 6d. per cwt. f. o. b. The cocoons produced there were worth about $55,000, wine about $350,000, olive oil about $100,000, grain about $175,000, and other produce (not including currants), lamb skins, dye, valonea, sesame seed, &c., worth about $35,000.

The produce of Acarnania and Etolia, consisting of valonea, tobacco, licorice root, oats, Indian corn, wool, cattle, &c., is estimated at about $600,000.

The import trade at this port was brisk during the past year, but returns have not yet been made at the custom-house; if I can obtain them later on they will be sent.

The trade between the United States and Greece shows a fair increase. Imports.-Petroleum is the only article of any importance, as I have mentioned in previous reports, that comes direct from the United States, and of which it is possible to obtain any correct statistical information. In 1880 the trade was very insignificant, owing to a higher duty having been imposed, an abundant crop of olives, and other causes, but during the past year, notwithstanding that the high duty still continues, the receipts have been quite up to previous year; the figures, according to the landing debentures, have been as follows:

against 18,876 cases in 1880, 180,154 cases in 1879, 160,907 cases in 1878, and 132,060 cases in 1877.

Exports.-These consist solely of currants, and havebeen as follows:

The quantity is about 1,200 tons more than ever shipped direct to the United States in one year. The average price ($91.12 per ton) is high, for reasons given at commencement of this report. Four steamers cleared direct for New York; the remainder of the fruit was transshipped in London and Liverpool, with the exception of a few tons that were sent via Montreal.

What follows may not be considered to appertain to a report of this description, but I add it on the principle that "when found, make a note of"; it is translated from an economical review published by Mr. A. Economo, at Athens:

According to the last census of 1879, the total population of the Kingdom of Greece amounted then to 1,654,072, divided into 13 provinces, 59 counties, and 356 municipalties, containing 108 towns and 3,577 villages and hamlets. The annual revenue of the treasury amounts to 51,481,260 drachmas and the municipal revenue to 6,795,905 drachmas. The following will give a more detailed information:

Political and geographical division and municipal revenue.

The total extent of the territory ceded to Greece by the Berlin Congress is 14,000 square kilometers, and the population is about 330,000, of which 295,000 belong to Thessaly and 35,000 to Epirus.

Thessalia was anciently divided into seven independent kingdoms, whose denominations, no doubt, the Greek Government will not change, viz, Pelasgiotis, Estiacotis, Thessaliotis, Phthiotis, Magnesia, Perraebia, and Dolopia. During the first years of the Byzantine Empire the whole country was called Thessalia. During the empire of the Comnenos the name was changed into Megalooallachia, owing to the settlement of a barbarous tribe of Wallachs in the country between Mounts Olympus and Pindus. During the Turkish occupation the whole province was called Tricala Santzak, taking the name from the capital, Tricala, which name was kept, though Larissa became the capital afterwards.

The population of Thessaly ceded to Greece, according to the official statements, is divided as follows: Greek, 245,000; Ottomans, 35,000; Wallachs, 10,000; and Jews, 5,000. All the above, excepting Wallachs, who are nomads, live together in the principal towns, say Larissa, Tricala, Volo, Carditza, Farsala, Domoco, and Almyro. Larissa, the capital of Thessaly, is inhabited by 18,000, of which 10,000 are Ottomans, 6,000 Greeks, and 2,000 Jews. Tricala has 10,000 inhabitants, of which 8,000 are Greeks, 2,500 Ottomans, and 500 Jews.

tomans.

Volos, the sea-port of Thessaly, has 5,000, of which 4,000 are Greeks, 700 Ottomans, and 300 Jews. Carditza has 6,000 inhabitants, of which 4,000 are Greeks and 2,000 OtFarsala has 1,200 Greek inhabitants, and 1,300 Ottomans. Domoco is inhabited by 1,800 Greeks and 400 Ottomans, and Almyro by 1,700 Greeks and 900 Ottomans. The agriculture and cultivation of Thessaly is principally done by the Greek population, who are also occupied in the cattle trade, which gives annually a considerable number of sheep, cows, horses, pigs, and mules for exportation. There are, also, 20,000 Mussulman peasants called Coniars.

West of Thessaly is the small territory of Epirus, ceded to Greece, which, owing to the mountainous position and limited extension, is not worth mentioning. The only town of some importance is Arta, not far from the sea, in the Gulf of Brevesa. This town is inhabited principally by Greeks and a few Jews, in all 6,000. The Ottomans living there before the territory passed to Greece have removed, principally to Jannina

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

Athens University.-Consisting of four so-called schools or branches, say, (1 Legal school, having 22 professors and 908 students. (2.) Medical school, having 38 professors and 728 students. (3.) Philosophical school, having 43 professors and 345 students. (4.) Theological school, having 9 professors and 49 students.

Gymnasia. In all the kingdom exist 24 gymnasia, of which 18 belong to the government and 6 are private. These together have 162 professors and 3,524 students; they contain four classes each.

Grammar schools.-There are also 89 grammar schools, of which 79 are kept by government, having 58 masters and 846 scholars, and have one to three classes; and 10 are private or municipal, having 26 masters and 445 scholars, and have one to three classes.

Elementary schools.-Besides the above there are 1,171 municipal schools, of which 1,032 are for males and 139 for females, having 1, 117 masters and mistresses and 67,415 boys and 12,229 girls. The total expense of the municipalities to keep up these schools amounts to 1,331,090 drachmas, and 129,670 drachmas are given by the government to the poorer municipalities having no means to keep a school.

Besides the above there are 290 private elementary schools, of which 183 are for boys and 116 for girls, having 7,463 boys and 4,703 girls.

I subjoin, also, the following, published in September last, but which has only lately come to my cognizance:

Tables showing the date of issue, amount, and paid up capital of Greek natio al debts up to 31st July, 1881.