VI.-TRADE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. AN Account of the VALUE of the IMPORTS into, and of the EXPORTS from, the UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND, during each of the three Years 1854, 1855, and 1856; calculated at the Official Rates of Valuation, and distinguishing the Amount of the Produce and Manufactures of the United Kingdom Exported, from the Value of Foreign and Colonial Merchandise Exported :-Also, stating the Amount of the Produce and Manufactures of the United Kingdom Exported therefrom, according to the Real or Declared Value thereof; showing the Trade of Great Britain and Ireland separately and jointly. £ £ 177,381 272,685 124,338,478 214,071,848 29,808,044 243,879,892 97,184,726 YEARS. NAVIGATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. NEW VESSELS BUILT.-AN ACCOUNT of the Number of VESSELS, with the Amount of their TONNAGE, that were Built and Registered at the several Ports of the BRITISH EMPIRE, in the Years ending 5th Jan. 1855, 31st Dec. 1855, and 31st Dec. 1856, respectively. Year ending 5th January, 1855. Year ending 31st December, 1855. Year ending 31st December, 1856. VESSELS REGISTERED.-AN ACCOUNT of the Number of VESSELS, with the Amount of their TONNAGE, and the Number of MEN and Boys usually employed in Navigating the same, that belonged to the several Ports of the BRITISH EMPIRE, on the 31st December, 1854, 1855, and 1856 respectively. Note. The Accounts rendered for the Plantations for the Year ending 31st December 1855, are now corrected; and, as several Returns for that part of the Empire are not yet received for the last Year, a similar correction will be necessary when the next Accounts are made up. VESSELS EMPLOYED IN THE FOREIGN TRADE. AN ACCOUNT of the Number of VESSELS, with the Amount of their TONNAGE (including their repeated Voyages), that entered Inwards and SHIPPING ENTERED INWARDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, FROM FOREIGN PORTS. Tons. Vessels. Tons. Vessels. Tons. 211,128 621 117,977 21,340 5,374,551 174,545 572 114,366 22.787 5,270,792 246,679 527 123,259 26,029 6,390,715 SHIPPING CLEARED OUTWARDS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM TO FOREIGN PORTS. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND BANK OF ENGLAND RESPECTING THE ENLARGEMENT OF THEIR ISSUES BEYOND Downing Street, 12 Nov. 1857. Her Majesty's Government have observed with great concern the serious consequences which have ensued from the recent failure of certain Joint Stock Banks in England and Scotland, as well as of certain large mercantile firms, chiefly connected with the American trade. The discredit and distrust which have resulted from these events, and the withdrawal of a large amount of the paper circulation authorized by the existing Bank Acts, appear to Her Majesty's Government to render it necessary for them to inform the Directors of the Bank of England, that if they should be unable in the present emergency to meet the demands for discounts and ad vances upon approved securities without exceeding the limits of their circulation prescribed by the Act of 1844, the Government will be prepared to propose to Parliament, upon its meeting, a Bill of Indemnity for any excess so issued. In order to prevent this temporary relaxation of the law being extended beyond the actual necessities of the occasion, Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that the Bank terms of discount should not be reduced below their present rate. Her Majesty's Government reVOL. XCIX. serve for future consideration the appropriation of any profits which may arise upon issues in excess of the statutory amount. Her Majesty's Government are fully impressed with the importance of maintaining the letter of the law, even in a time of considerable mercantile difficulty; but they believe that for the removal of apprehensions which have checked the course of monetary transactions, such a measure as is now contemplated has become necessary, and they rely upon the discretion and prudence of the Directors for confining its operation within the strict limits of the exigencies of the case. We have, &c., To the Governor and Deputy- |