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COGNAC-H. PONET, Consular Agent.

SEPTEMBER 30, 1863.

I see nothing to report concerning sections 13 and 16 of the Consul's Manual. And as regards sections 152, 153, and 154, I can only refer you to my last year's report. I must add, however, that there have been of late some shipments made from here to the United States, but so small that it is hardly worth mentioning; but should the American war cease soon, we might hope for very large demands from your country, especially with the prospects here of lower prices for new brandies, caused by a very good crop which is just now being gathered. The average price of brandies during the past year has ruled from 190 francs to 170 francs per hectolitre.

Our

ROCHEFORT-A. G. BRILLOUIN, Consular Agent.

October 6, 1863.

crop may be considered this year as a magnificent one. Corn is generally good and plentiful; weight 77 to 80 kilogrammes per hectolitre. The average price has been 21 francs per 90 kilogrammes. It is now decreasing.

Barley. This country produces but little of that grain. It is generally forwarded to us by the country over Poictiers. The barley of the islands of Re and Oleran is worth 175 francs per ton, average rate.

Oats: good crop both for quantity and quality. Average price, 140 francs per ton.

Beans: mean crop and poor; grain, 150 francs per ton.

Oleaginous seeds: good crop.

Linseed: very abundant and first rate this year; 450 francs per ton.
Potatoes: mean crop; small fruit; 45 francs

per ton.

Wines: good ordinary crop for white, and middling for red wine. Great hopes on quality; last rains did much good.

Brandy: very few transactions took place this last season-first, on account of poor crop; second, by the dullness of transactions with the United States. Brandies imported there more than a year ago have not been sold as yet. The opinion is that low prices will be had.

I wish I could have been able to give you some explanation of the commercial movements between the ports of the United States and those of this consular district, but it has been out of my power, as the documents for 1862 are published by government in November or December only.

NAPOLEON-VENDEE-THOMAS P. SMITH, Consul.

SEPTEMBER 30, 1863.

Two important works touching the commercial prosperity of La Vendeé have been undertaken during the present year: the railroad to connect this department with the sea, and the improvement of the port of Sables d'Olonne, by deepening its harbor.

The governinent has awarded the former of these to a company representing chiefly English capital, and has granted to it a subsidy of about 13,000,000 francs; for the latter, which is under the supervision of the government, one million eight hundred thousand francs have been appropriated.

Owing to the want of these facilities there has not been any change of importance in this district during the preceding year, but, in view of these and works of a similar character that are progressing in various parts and ports of France, it is evident that the government of the Emperor is desirous of increasing the foreign commerce of the country.

ST. PIERRE, (MARTINIQUE)-W. F. GIVEN, Vice-Consul.

OCTOBER 6, 1863.

I have the honor to transmit herewith my report on the trade of this consular district during the year ended September 30, 1863. The total number of American vessels arrived was 21, of which 2 were barks, 9 brigs, and 10 schooners; aggregate tonnage, 3,781.

During the quarter ended September 30, 1863, for the first time perhaps in half a century, no vessels sailing under the American flag have entered any port of this island. This state of things is much against the interest of merchants here engaged in the American business, as this trade is now carried on in foreign vessels, which command higher freights than American vessels at this time. The war in the United States, together with the very low prices paid for sugar in the European markets, are causes which have conspired to produce a very depressing influence upon business in this island. Nearly all the extensive planters have lost considerably, compelling them to resort to the most rigid economy in everything, whilst all the prostrating effects usually resulting from such a state of things is apparent on all sides. Heretofore the exportations from this island to the United States have been very inconsiderable. Since the first of July last, however, owing to the continued low price of sugar in the European markets, added to the great decline in exchange in the United States, the merchants here have begun to export quite largely to the States, sugar to the amount of 626,739.98 francs having been sent up to this time, and 9,874.43 francs' worth of tamarinds. With a still further decline in exchange this trade may be considerably increased, and extend itself to other articles of export. The present high duty on sugar, however, naturally has a tendency to cause a considerable quantity, which would otherwise find its way into the United States, to be sent to the European markets. The only changes in the colonial tariff during the past year are in the articles of empty casks suitable for holding rum or sugar, (or staves capable of being formed into such,) which are now admitted duty free, and on smoked herrings, which are now admitted on the same terms as other salt fish of foreign origin, viz: 3 francs per 100 kilogrammes, instead of 7 francs, as heretofore.

Merchants here engaged in the American trade, as well as those of the adjoining islands, suffer a great inconvenience from the want of a regular and more frequent communication with the United States. The best remedy for this would seem to be a semi-monthly mail, connecting at St. Thomas with the English packet from Demarara, which, if well conducted, there is every reason to believe would be properly sustained. At present there is but one through mail a month to the United States-that by the English packet-which, leaving here on the night of the 10th, and making connexions at St. Thomas and Havana, generally reaches New York on the 30th or 31st. But even this is sometimes uncertain and always exceedingly expensive. The French packet for Vera Cruz, however, which leaves Fort de France, the capital of this island, once a month, generally on the 3d or 4th, returning to that place on the 28th or 29th, calls at Santiago de Cuba, both on her way out and on her return. When a steam vessel chances to connect at Havana, the passage to New York

by this route is sometimes made in ten or eleven days; but it is generally very uncertain.

The credit system is very general here, and extends to the smallest business transactions. On large amounts a credit of from four to five months is generally allowed; in small transactions three months is the usual time of credit. For bills of exchange on Paris, at 90 days, 1 per cent. premium; at 60 days, 14 per cent.; and at 30 days, 2 per cent.

The population of Martinique at the last census was 135,991 souls. Appended to this report will be found some commercial statistics.

Comparative statement showing the importations from the United States at the port of St. Pierre for the years ended June 30, 1862, and June 30, 1863, respectively.

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Comparative statement showing the number of vessels arriving at the port of St. Pierre, with their aggregate tonnage, for the years ended June 30, 1862, and June 30, 1863, respectively.

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Comparative statement of the exportations from the port of St. Pierre, Martinique, to the United States for the years ended June 30, 1862, and June 30,

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I have the honor to enclose herewith a comparative table of the exportations of Martinique and Guadalupe from January 1 to September 30, 1863: Comparative statement of the exportations from Martinique and Guadalupe for the last three quarters of the year ended September 30, 1863.

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ALGIERS-EDWARD L. KINGSBURY, Consul.

JUNE 30, 1863.

I have the honor to present the following report of such information as I have been able to obtain during the few weeks of my residence here, amidst the busy preparation for my establishment and the ceremonies incident to my arrival, together with the ordinary duties of my post.

I regret to say that I have been much disappointed in regard to the general prosperity of this colony. Every department of the government is military, and all laws and regulations, many of which are evidently derogatory to the success of the colony, are executed by military force.

The legitimate effect of the laws and the mode of their administration appear in the depressed condition of agriculture and commerce. Very few foreign vessels enter this port, and I am told there has not been an American vessel here for the past six months. The truth is the country produces nothing for exportation, except to France, and the high tonnage duties imposed upon vessels visiting this port have debarred importation. In connexion with this subject, I have to report a change in the mode of exacting the tonnage duties above referred to. Heretofore foreign vessels arriving at this port were obliged to pay four francs per ton on the registered tonnage of the vessel; so that a ship of 600 tons, for example, would pay the same if she discharged one hundred tons, or less, of the cargo, as she would if she discharged a full cargo. Under the present regulation, or that which is to go into force very soon, a vessel will pay four francs per ton on the amount of cargo which she discharges; the same per head for every passenger. But until this duty is removed it cannot be expected that there will be much improvement in the commerce of the colony. The staple products of the country are tobacco, cotton, and fruit. The government purchases all the tobacco, paying also a high premium for the encouragement of its production, and manufactures it here; statistics of which I hope to be able to give in a future report.

I hear much talk about the culture of cotton, but I am informed that the efforts of those engaged in it have not been very successful. The climate is not favorable to its production; for before the plant attains its maturity_the rainy season sets in and destroys it. I have numerous inquiries in regard to the mode of culture in the United States, and any information which the government may give me upon the subject would, I have no doubt, aid me in obtaining information concerning matters of interest here.*

Several years ago a company undertook to build a road from Algiers to Blidah, but failed, and it was not until within a few months that the work was accomplished.

The Lyons and Marseilles Company have recently contracted to build a line from Oran to St. Dennis de Sig, and from thence through Milliana to Blidah. Also another from Phillipperville, on the eastern coast, to Constantine; all to be completed, I am told, within eight years. But people here who understand such matters express a want of confidence in the success of the enterprise. *

*

Those evidences of progressive civilization, the railroads, which so thickly traverse our own country, are scarcely known here.

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