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Emigrants in 1862 came from the following countries: Prussia, 7,845 persons; Denmark, 2,812 persons; Mecklenburg, 2,195 persons; America, 1,635 persons; Sweden and Norway, 878 persons; Hesse, 636 persons; Hanover, 627 persons; Wurtemburg, 537 persons; Austria, 520 persons; Saxony, 355 persons; Bavaria, 331 persons; Baden, 326 persons; Russia and Poland, 232 persons; Hamburg, 219 persons; Switzerland, 163 persons; different countries, 766 persons.

SWITZERLAND.

ZURICH J. R. FAIRLAND, Consul.

JANUARY 15, 1863.

I have the honor of transmitting herewith the quarterly statement for the last quarter of 1862, showing the amount and clearances of goods exported to the United States from this and neighboring cantons during that period, and the amount of fees received for the verification of the invoices for the same. Upon the next page will be found a summary of the said statement.

Tabular statement showing the description and value in francs of the monthly shipment of goods to the United States from Zurich and neighboring cantons for the quarter ended December 31, 1862.

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Table showing the number of invoices and fees collected thereon in francs and

Period.

dollars.

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JANUARY 22, 1863.

I have the honor of presenting the following statement of the exportations in consignment (mostly) to the United States from within this consular district during the year 1862, together with some particulars regarding the silk trade of the canton of Zurich.

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During the last quarter of 1862, under the operation of the 17th section of the act of Congress of July 14, 1862, all invoices, excepting those of goods sent in the early part of October, were verified at the consulate. Only about one half, therefore, of the amount reported for the said quarter, or about 1,257,537 francs, represents the amount of goods exported to the United States in consignation during that period. The above table, thus modified, shows that in 1862 the consignments reached 6,526,747 francs, being 3,579,257 francs less than the consignments of 1860, but an increase of 639,006 francs over the consignments of 1861.

The silk trade of the Canton of Zurich employs a capital roughly estimated at about 50,000,000 francs, or say 10,000,000 dollars; in which estimate is not included the value of the buildings, looms, and various machines or apparatus used in the manufacture of silk goods.

It affords occupation to about 33,000 laborers (hand-workers,) the wages paid to whom are estimated in the gross at from 8,000,000 to 8,500,000 francs per

annum.

The number of looms engaged in the production of Zurich silk goods is said to be about 25,000, and it is estimated that from 200,000 to 250,000 "pieces" of silk are produced annually. As a general thing the looms are found in the houses of, and belong to, the peasants who work them, but a comparatively small number, mostly Jacquard looms, being the property of the manufacturers in whose service they are employed.

The principal kinds of silk goods manufactured in the canton of Zurich are

known under the name of Florence, Marceline, Gros de Naples, Poult de Soie, Gros du Rhin, serge, satin de chine, gros grain, cravats, satin.

The different countries to which these goods are exported are as follows: United States, Mexico, South America, England, East Indies, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Syria, Asia Minor.

Previous to the present war in America, the United States was the principal market for Zurich silks.

The following table will show the amount of raw silk consumed in the manufacture of Zurich silk goods during the last five years.

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Averaging the value of raw silk at forty-five (45) francs the Swiss pound, it will be seen that the value of the total amount consumed in the five years was 179,095,365 francs, or say about 35,819,000 dollars.

MARCH 30, 1863.

Referring to your despatch dated December 22, 1862, and circular No. 29, I have the honor to report that, immediately upon the receipt of the above, I addressed a communication to the government of the canton of Zurich upon the subject of the validity of oaths administered by the United States consuls at this place.

Under date of February 16, 1863, I received the answer of the cantonal authorities, informing me that there was no authority for foreign consuls within this canton administering oaths, and that consequently no oath so administered could be considered valid, or could afford any ground for an action for "perjury" in case a false oath was taken.

I deem it necessary, however, in this connexion, to inform the department that it appears that in most, if not in all the cantons of Switzerland, only those oaths prescribed by the cantonal or the federal laws are considered "oaths" in the strict and complete sense of the term. In other words, only false swearing in the case of an oath prescribed by law would constitute "perjury;" but an oath or affirmation voluntarily made and legalized by the proper magistrate would be considered in the light of a legal contract, the breaking of which would render the guilty party liable to prosecution for fraud.

APRIL 21, 1863.

I have the honor of transmitting herewith the quarterly statement for the first quarter of the present year, showing the amount and character of the goods exported to the United States from within the jurisdiction of this consulate during that period.

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The exports, it will be remarked, have been unusually large during the past quarter, and business generally within this district is at present in a most prosperous and flourishing condition.

For convenience of reference I append a summary of the accompanying

statement.

Statement showing the description and value in francs of the exports from Zurich to the United States during the quarter ended March 31, 1863.

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I have the honor of transmitting herewith the quarterly statement for the second quarter of the present year, showing the amount and character of the goods exported to the United States from within the jurisdiction of this consulate during that period.

Though somewhat smaller than those of the preceding quarter, the exports of the last quarter have been large, and business generally in this district continues active and prosperous.

Statement showing the description and value in francs of the exports from Zurich to the United States during the quarter ended June 30, 1863.

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OCTOBER 20, 1863.

I have the honor to transmit herewith the quarterly statement for the third quarter of the present year, showing the amount and character of the goods exported to the United States from my consular district during that period.

For convenience of reference I append a summary of the said statement, with, also, a comparison with the preceding quarters of the present year and similar (i. e., third) quarters of the years 1861, 1862.

Statement showing the description and value in francs of the exports from Zurich to the United States during the quarter ended September 30, 1863.

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Summary value of exports for the quarter ended September 30, 1863.

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In accordance with the general instructions of the department, I have the honor to report for the year, from October 1, 1862, to September 30, 1863,

inclusive.

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