Enclosed are tables of the amount of imports and exports at the port of Cork, as compiled from official sources, likewise the amount of emigration. The report of Mr. Williams, consular agent at Waterford, is herewith enclosed. Statement showing the description and value, in British currency, of the exportations from the port of Cork to the United States for the last two quarters of the year ending September 30, 1863. 1, 539 11s. 8d.—$7, 451 76. Total value of exports, As there was no record of invoices kept by my predecessor, I am unable to obtain any for the previous quarters. Statement showing the description, quantity, and value of the importations from the United States at Cork for the year ended September 30, 1863. £185 0 0 700 0 0 £719 11s. 8d. 700 0 0 120 0 0 1,005 0 0 1,539 11 8 Quantity. Value. OCTOBER 28, 1863. I have the honor to enclose an account of the emigration from this port for the year ending September 30, 1863, and which should have been sent with despatch No. 69, on commercial information: Amount of emigration from the port of Cork for the year ending September 30, 1863. All the above embarked from Queenstown in the steamers touching here from Liverpool to New York, and the emigration is now flowing as rapidly as ever. H. Ex. Doc. 41- -2 Quantity. Value. BELFAST-JOHN YOUNG, Consul. DECEMBER 9, 1863. By way of contribution to your most valuable labors, I shall here condense together a few facts illustrative of the present state of agriculture in Ireland. The most noticeable feature is certainly the alarming decrease in the amount of acres under crop, and consequently in the product since the year 1847. From the annexed table it will appear that the cultivation of wheat in the year 1862 was only one-third the extent of it in 1847. In oats the decrease during the same period has been in the ratio of 11 to 7. Of barley the decrease has been one-half. The rye crop has sunk to one-third of the crop of 1847. On the other hand, there has been an increase in the quantities of potatoes, flax, and hay. In 1847 potatoes produced sixteen millions barrels; in 1863 the amount was seventeen millions barrels. The amount of flax raised in 1847 was two million stone weight; in 1862 three and a half million stone weight were raised. The enormous decrease of grain crops in fifteen years does not appear to have resulted mainly from unfavorable seasons, or at least to have been only slightly affected thereby, as the decrease is manifest without estimating the years 1861 and 1862. In those seasons which were unfavorable to wheat, the quantity raised was as follows: The decrease appears attributable to three causes : 851,000 "" 683,000 66 1. The removal of prohibitory duties on the importation of foreign grain; 2. The decrease of the native population, by one-third, through emigration to the United States and the British colonies; and 3. The newly inaugurated policy of many land owners in driving off the agricultural laborers and throwing their lands into grazing farms. # An inference from the above facts is that the poverty of the laboring population who remain has not been materially diminished by the vast emigration. This is proved by the existence of an increase, during the past fifteen years, in the quantity of potatoes cultivated. During the first seven months of 1863, 80,000 persons emigrated from Ireland. But it is satisfactory to notice that from 1862 to 1863 there has been an increase of 12,700 cattle under two years old, and of 19,000 under one year old. The number of acres under cultivation during the year 1863 is as follows: In wheat.. In oats... In potatoes. 264,000 1,948,000 1,023,000 The number of acres under cultivation for wheat during the last five years is From this we may fairly conclude that though the last summer has given a good harvest, the small quantity of wheat cultivated will leave the country as dependent on foreign grain as formerly. The cultivation of flax has rapidly increased. The number of acres under cultivation was as follows: or nearly double the amount raised three years ago. The causes of this increase are grave matters of history. While the markets of the world were fully supplied with cotton by southern slave labor, the linen trade, on which the prosperity of the north of Ireland and province of Ulster depended, was in a languishing condition. The town of Belfast has risen to its present wealth and beauty by the linen trade. * * * * * * * * * Orders are still flowing into the manufacturers, but their ability to meet the demand is held in check by the small quantity of flax produced. The machinery is here; the active capital is ready; the demand is great; but flax enough to meet it is not grown either in Ireland or elsewhere. Why should not the farmers of the United States step into the opening, and raise flax for export to this country? Flax can be cultivated in America, exported here, manufactured, and returned there, as was done before with cotton. This should be at once commenced. The free States cannot grow cotton, but they can produce flax in abundance, and thus destroy the foundation of slavery while they enrich themselves. While the wants of the world loudly demand a great increase in the growth of flax, it cannot be otherwise than anomalous to find that in many places in America it is grown only for the seed, while the fibre is thrown away. The growth of flax does not call for any extra amount of labor; it only requires ground carefully pulverized and kept free from weeds. The steeping of it may be attended with some difficulties at first, but as the article must be raised some people will soon find out the soft water necessary and the proper time necessary for submersion. Mills for scutching it must also be provided, but as the American people have thus far equalled, if not excelled, all other nations in improvements in machinery, these can readily be introduced as soon as the cultivation is fairly commenced. Great efforts are making at this time to introduce the cultivation of flax into Canada. In this important step towards national wealth I am confident that our own country will not be left behind, and that it is only requisite for our people to know that there is a demand to induce them to furnish a supply. WATERFORD-RICHARD P. WILLIAMS, Consular Agent. Summary statement showing the imports of grain, &c., into Waterford from all countries during the year ended September 30, 1863. MONTREAL-JOSHUA R. GIDDINGS, Consul-General. JUNE 12, 1863. In answer to the communication of the department, I would remark that the action of the executive council, as stated in enclosure No. 1 of my despatch 25, is final, and that sawed veneering is now admitted free of duty to this province. JULY 28, 1863 I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 3. To the inquiry therein, "whether any tonnage duties are levied and collected by the British authorities on American shipping, entering otherwise than by sea any port within my consular jurisdiction," I am enabled to answer that no such duties are levied except by the local authorities in certain ports for harbor purposes. The harbor commissioners for Montreal have levied tonnage dues on all shipping remaining twenty-four hours in this port at the rates stated in the enclosed printed circular. In Toronto and other ports in these provinces similar dues are collected for like purposes. Otherwise than this, no tonnage duties are collected by the British authorities on American shipping in this consular district. TARIFF. Rates and dues to be levied in the harbor of Montreal, under and by virtue of the act 18 Vic., cap. 143, on and after the 1st July, 1855. DUES TO BE LEVIED ON ALL VESSELS IN THE HARBOR. On steamboats measuring fifty tons and upwards, per ton of their burden On steamboats measuring under fifty tons, for each day reckoned as aforesaid, each.... On all other vessels, measuring from twenty-five to fifty tons per register each per day, reckoned as aforesaid.... On all vessels of less than twenty-five tons burden, each per day, as aforesaid RATES TO BE levied ON ALL MERCHANDISE, ANIMALS AND THINGS WHATSOEVER Landed or SHIPPED IN THE HARBOR. |