Raisins being the principal export from this province to the United States, it is probably well to say that the estimated stock now left in the country, from the yintage of last year, is one hundred and fifty thousand boxes.

The larger part of this stock is in the hands of the exporters; hence the tendency of prices will be upward. To-day M. R. L. are held at $1 30 per box; and M. R. at $1 15 per box.

The markets of the world are generally supplied, and, of course, there is now but little demand The exports to America since the last vintage have not exceeded one-half of that of former years.

I am informed of no new commercial regulations, duties, or port charges worth reporting to your department.

Exchange on London is to-day quoted at 50, 25 and 30; Paris, 5.30; Hamburg, 44.95.

JUNE 4, 1863.

I have the honor to enclose herewith the copy of a very interesting despatch received a short time since from my estimable consular agent at Adra, Mr. Frederick Burr.

UNITED STATES VICE-CONSulate,
Adra, March 14, 1863.

I have the honor to transmit herewith, in continuation of former years, a statement of the total quantity of silver, lead, lead ore and zinc ore exported from this place during the past year, 1862.

The importance of this district, as one of the principal lead districts in Europe, and one whose whole produce is exported, is well known-Adra being the port where the chief shipment of lead and other minerals takes place.

Within the last two years another article of considerable importance has been added to our exports-Čalamine, or ore of zinc-the number of quintals exported in 1861, the first year, being 54,725, while in 1862 the quantity advanced to 103,599 quintals.

The export of lead exhibits a small decline last year, being 303,853 quintals in 1862, against 316,191 quintals in 1861. In the exports of lead ore, there is also a small decline last year of about 4,000 quintals. The mineral industry of this district has hitherto suffered greatly from the want of cart roads, all the transport being carried on by the slow and costly means of animal burden. A road is now projected from this place to Berja and El Fondon, which will greatly facilitate the transport of the ore and economize the cost of carriage. The ben

efit of this road will be great, and especially for the new export of calamine or zinc ore, which can very ill afford to pay the present high rate of transport. The whole coast of the province of Almeria, though presenting many dangerous points, and where frequent shipwrecks and maritime disasters are of yearly occurrence, has been hitherto entirely unprovided with light-houses.

This reproach is now about to be removed, as lights will soon be in operation on the well-known lofty promontory of the Cabo de Gata, and in some other places.

As regards this district of Adra, a light-house is being constructed at Punta de Elena, about half way between this place and Almeria, which will be serviceable on this low and dangerous line of coast.

The very peculiar dangers and deceptive appearances presented by this line of coast, which extends for a distance of about five leagues from west to east, I have, on a former occasion, fully and clearly pointed out for the benefit of navigation The light-house at Punta de Elena will probably be in operation before the end of the year, and will certainly tend to diminish shipwrecks on this coast, though from many local circumstances I fear it will not, by any means, wholly prevent them.

Statement showing the exports of lead, alcohol, zinc ore, and silver from Adra for different ports during the year 1862.

I had the honor to send you by the brigantine Edward Hill, H. Sylvester, master, which sailed from here on the 11th of June, for New York, to the care of the Hon. Hiram Barney, two specimens of esparte, (grass,) a production of the provinces of Almeria, Granada, Murcia, and Alicante. As the exportation of esparte from Almeria, one of the ports of this consular district, has grown so rapidly within the last two years, and because two or three cargoes, through the enterprise of the mercantile house of Loring Brothers, of this city, and Loring & Co., of Boston, have gone to America, it has seemed to me judicious and proper that this new article, from which a great deal of paper is being manufactured in England, should be brought to your notice, both by specimens of the grass itself, and a succinct statement of its use and history, and the benefits to be derived from encouraging its importation.

In 1861 an English house tried the experiment of making esparte into paper, and so well and profitably did the experiment turn out, that from the single port of Almeria the exportation, which was but a thousand tons in 1861, will reach twenty-five thousand in 1863.

Esparte is a natural growth of the valleys and table land of the provinces before mentioned, and yields two crops annually. Much discussion has recently arisen in the esparte districts, one party declaring that the grass should be pulled twice a year, and the other that it should be pulled but once a year, until the government of her Catholic Majesty has instituted an inquiry upon the subject, for the purpose of settling the dispute by royal order.

The majority is largely in favor of gathering two crops a year, and I am informed by those who are quite familiar with the subject that the second crop is equal, in all respects, to the first.

I use the word "pulled," for that is the manner in which the grass is gathered, instead of being cut.

Owing to the great demand for esparte, the price has nearly or quite doubled within the last eighteen months. It now costs on board, ready for shipment, about 19 reals per quintal, equal to 95 cents in American money.

There is one reason why the importation of esparte should be encouraged just now by the government of the United States. I make no account of the fact that its importation would probably lower the price of paper, but desire to present it in an entirely different view.

Owing to the existence of privateers, I have no doubt that the government has been made painfully aware of the fact that American merchant vessels are not as readily chartered as in times past. For two years past, the preference has been given in this port to foreign vessels, but previous to that time our own vessels had the preference; and the result is that it not unfrequently occurs that American vessels leave here in ballast, while freights are actually seeking foreign bottoms.

If the importation of esparte is encouraged, it will be beneficial to our merchant marine; for it is very rare, indeed, that a vessel cannot get 75 or 100 tons of lead for the United States; and if you encourage the importation of esparte, it will enable our vessels to get charters of lead and esparte to the United States always. Three vessels that could get nothing else, recently got charters of this kind; and so it will be continually.

From the investigation that I have been able to make, I have been forced to the conclusion that esparte should be admitted free of duty. No duty is levied upon it by any of the governments of Europe to which it is sent. And as the act of July 14, 1862, admits linen and cotton rags, used in the manufacture of paper, free of duty, it occurs to me that esparte, used only for the same purpose, should also be admitted free of duty. If a duty is levied on it, I give it as my opinion, after fully investigating the subject here, that it will prohibit its exportation to America. From representations of its cost, a very small margin is left for profits by the exporters, and the liability of the cargo to perish in case of a long voyage renders the chances of profit precarious.

My principal reason for advising the encouragement of the importation of this grass to America is because I believe it will greatly benefit the American merchant vessels that engage in the carrying trade of the Mediterranean; and gov erned almost entirely by this view, I have thus ventured to address you at this length on the subject.

JUNE 30, 1863.

The commerce between this province and the States for the past three months has been so meagre, that it furnishes no basis for remarks.

No royal orders or decrees have been promulgated during the quarter, in any way affecting the commerce of the United States. The grain crop is a small one. a failure. Timely rains have saved it. The grape crop bids very fair. The vines are overburdened with young fruit.

For a time it was feared that it would prove

Statement showing the description, quantities, and value of exports from Malaga to the United States in American vessels during the quarter ended June 30, 1863.

There were no arrivals or departures of American vessels from Adra during the quarter ended June 30, 1863.

SEPTEMBER 30, 1863.

I beg to submit the following remarks on the commerce between this port and the different ports of the United States, for the year ending with this date, accompanied by the statistical tables usually forwarded at this season.

Staves. The importations from the United States direct to this province consist now only of staves. Owing to the high rate of exchange which prevailed between America and the continent during the early part of the year, merchants who had done business with America the previous vintage brought back much more of their money than usual in staves; and hence the number imported from America during the twelve months ending to-day considerably exceeds that of previous years. From September 30, 1862, to September 30, 1863, one million six hundred and fifty thousand and nineteen staves were brought to Malaga from the United States, estimated to be worth two hundred and ninety thousand one hundred and fifty-three-dollars. From September 30, 1861, to September 30, 1862, but eight hundred and ten thousand seven hundred and thirty-three staves were imported, valued at one hundred and twenty-nine thousand seven hundred and seventeen dollars. The importations of this year show an excess of nine hundred and six thousand and eighty-six staves over the pre

vious year, with an excess of valuation of one hundred and sixty thousand four hundred and fifty-six dollars.

Raisins. The crop of raisin grapes this year is larger than that of 1862; but owing to a summer almost unparalleled for heat, the fruit is inferior to that of last year. The export of raisins to the States begins more liberally than last year, for up to this date, nearly as many again raisins have gone to America since the beginning of vintage, as had gone at the same date and during the same period in 1862. From September 30, 1862, to this date there have been exported to different ports of America, by American and foreign vessels, four hundred and ninety-eight thousand one hundred and thirty-three boxes of raisins, valued at one million eight thousand and seventy-six dollars; being an excess of seventy-eight thousand one hundred and sixty-nine boxes over the previous year.

Lemons.-The crop is small and the fruit inferior. They are worth to-day about $2 87 per box.

Arrivals. Since my last annual report, but 37 American vessels have arrived at this port, in aggregate tonnage amounting to 13,595 tons.

Freights. There is no fixed rates for freights by American vessels. But few merchants will charter them at all, and only at very low rates. By foreign vessels freights from this port to the United States range from seven to nine dollars per ton.

There have been no new manufactories established in the province during the past year; no new port regulations materially affecting the commerce with America, and no new industrial establishments of any kind, have gone into operation.

A railroad from this city to Cordova has been for some years in the course of construction. On the 16th of the present month, the cars began running from Malaga to Adra, a distance of thirty miles.

Grain. The grain crops, owing to a long drought in the spring, are smaller than those of last year, and the grain quite inferior.

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Exchange.-On London, 90 days, sells at 50.30; Paris, 5.23; Hamburg, 45.

Statement showing the description, quantities, and value of exports from Malaga to the United States in American vessels, together with the total in American and foreign vessels, during the quarter ended September 30, 1863.

DESCRIPTION OF EXPORTS IN AMERICAN AND FOREIGN Vessels.