Articles.

1878.

1879.

1880.

1881.

Exports from the United Kingdom to the United States-Continued.

FOREIGN COMMERCE OF FRANCE.

According to French official returns, the foreign commerce of France was as follows during the year 1880: General imports, $1,179,809,000; special imports, $971,408,000; general exports, $889,174,000; special exports, $669,305,000.*

As compared with 1879 this shows the following increase: In general imports, $103,004,000; in special imports, $84,534,000; in general exports, $65,141,000; in special exports, $45,664,000.

The following details will give a clearer explanation of the foregoing increase:

The increase above noted in the imports of articles necessary to industry and the increase in the exports of special manufactures, are evidence of a prosperous condition of the manufacturing interests of the country during the year 1880.

The principal articles of import showing an increase or decrease during the year were as follows:

Natural products.-Wine, an increase of over $37,000,000 on that entered for consumption (the wine entered for consumption during the year 1880 was nearly threefold the total general imports of 1879); coffee, oil-seeds, table fruit, sugar, meats, cheese and butter, brandy and spirits. &c. A decrease is noted in cereals (over $13,000,000 in those entered for consumption), cattle, dried vegetables, cacao, and fish.

Articles necessary to industry.-Wool shows an increase in that entered for consumption of $39,220,000, an increase greater than the total import of 1879. The other articles showing an increase are lumber, cotton, coal, ores, mats and matting, steel and iron, raw hides, woolen yarn, saffron, silk, sulphur, &c. The imports of articles necessary to industry showing a decrease are flax, olive and other vegetable oils, grease, dressed hides, leaf tobacco, indigo, manures, linen yarn, petroleum and anilines, hemp, jute, zinc, &c.

The general imports represent all goods received in France; the special imports represent only those goods entered through the French customs for consumption; the difference between the general and the special imports represents the transit or transshipment trade; the general exports embrace this latter as well as special exports, but the special exports represent French products and manufactures alone, save those goods which are entered for consumption and afterwards exported. These, however, are not thought to amount to much. The special trade is therefore the trade proper

of France.