September 30, 1863. Comparative tabular statement showing the value of the cargoes of English vessels entered at and cleared from the port of Laguayra for the years ended September 30, 1861, 1862, and 1863, together with the total tonnage and the number of vessels.

From the above it must be seen that this country must quiet, and industry, or general bankruptcy must prevail. be more hopeful, and they are looking for brighter days. cans have come here to do business within the past year. employed by them, and some of it quite successfully.

come back to peace,
The people seem to
A number of Ameri-
Over $200,000 are

CIUDAD BOLIVARH-CHARLES H. LOEHR, Consul.

DECEMBER 31, 1862.

General review of the whole export trade of the river Orinoco, province of Guayana, and general information during the eleven years ended December 31, 1862 :

1850. The value of exports to the United States amounted to $207,800 45, showing an increase of $41,176 85, as compared with 1849, in which year the value of exports amounted to $166,623 60. The productions exported were cocoa, coffee, indigo, hides, deerskins, sarsaparilla, Tonquin beans, mahogany, balsam copaiba, and cattle horns. The increased value of this trade had arisen from the advanced prices offered in the New York market for hides, deerskins, and coffee during the last two months of the year. The quantity of hides, and particularly of deerskins, shipped was unusually great.

1851. The value of exports to the United States amounted to $354,711 50, being an increase of $114,665 55 as compared with the previous year. There was also an increase of shipping of 950 tons. The exports consisted of the same as in 1850, with the addition of bark. This trade increased particularly in the article of cattle hides, of which no less than 206,548 were shipped to New York, with 12,226 deerskins.

1852. The value of exports this year amounted to $319,146 40, showing a decrease of $35,565 10, as compared with 1851. The productions corresponded to those of the previous year.

1853. The value of this year's exports to the United States amounted to $367,531 45, as compared with the previous year. There was also an increase of shipping of 90 tons. This trade rapidly gained ground, especially in the article of cattle hides, of which no less than 304,144, with 91,336 deerskins, were shipped to New York.

1854. The value of exports to the United States amounted to $713,148 15

showing an increase of $345,616 70, as compared with the previous year. The tonnage is nearly the same as in 1853. The unusual increase in value of exports was caused by the remarkably high price obtained in New York markets for cattle hides and other productions, of which there was a large increase in the quantity exported, as compared with the previous year.

1855.-The value of exports to the United States this year amounted to $744,315, showing an increase in value of $31,166 85, as compared with the previous year. This increase arose from the continued high price of cattle, hides and the largé additional quantity of them exported.

1856. The exports to the United States were $612,197 30, showing a decrease of $132,117 70, as compared with the previous year.

1857.-To the United States the value of exports amounted to $489,095 75, which shows a decrease of $123,101 55.

1858. The value of exports to New York amounted to $423,265 70, showing a decrease of $65,830 05.

1859. The value of exports in United States vessels amounted to $538,888 35, showing an increase of $115,622 65, with 111 tons in shipping. The increase arose from the very high price of hides and other products above those of the previous year.

1860. The value of exports in United States vessels amounted to $355,711 20, showing a decrease of $183,177 15. The number of hides shipped to New York were 123,530, with 9,663 deerskins.

1861.-The value of exports to the United States amounted to $261,057, being a decrease of $94,654 20. The civil war both in the United States and in Venezuela affected this trade.

DECEMBER 31, 1862.

General review of the whole import trade of the river Orinoco, province of Guayana, and also general information for a period of eleven years, ended December 31, 1861:

1850. The value of imports from the United States amounted to $89,367 85. The principal articles imported were bricks, flour, biscuit, potatoes, rice, hams, butter, cheese, oysters, cordage, oakum, tar, rosin, pitch, varnish, ale, cider, hay, medicines, shoes, stationery, beaver and felt hats, sperm candles, furniture, cotton shirting, madapollanes, and about 5,000 pieces of twilled and plain unbleached domestics. These latter goods met, and still meet, with a ready sale, and are in demand, as the fabrics are of a stouter and more durable quality than the English goods of the same description, and are preferred, although a shade higher in price.

1851. The value of imports from New York amounted to $130,966 55, exclusive of money, which exceeded $130,000, but of which no account is kept at the custom-house. The increase in imports, as compared with 1850, amounts to $41,589 70. These imports consisted chiefly of the same articles as those of the previous year, with the addition of checks and turpentine.

1852.-The value of American produce imported from the United States amounted to $139,439 30, showing an increase, as compared with 1851, of $8,472 75. Gold and silver coins were also introduced to the amount of $260,000, unnoticed in the custom-house accounts. The importations embraced generally the articles of the previous year, with the addition of lard and codfish. 1853. The value of imports from the United States amounted to $86,772 40, exclusive of money, which exceeded $390,000, to pay for cattle, hides, and other productions. The decrease of imports, as compared with 1852, amounts to $52,666 90, caused by the late disturbed state of the country. The imports comprised articles similar to those of the previous year.

1854. The value of imports from the United States amounted to $257,743 20, showing an increase of $168,770 80, as compared with 1853. There has also

been introduced about $325,000 in money, to pay for cattle, &c. The articles of imports were similar to those of 1853.

1855. The value of imports from the United States amounted to $261,496 95, as compared with 1854. There has also been introduced about $325,000 in money, to pay for cattle, &c.; and the imports were similar to those of 1854, with the addition of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmegs.

1856. The imports from the United States direct amounted to $232,475 65 in American and foreign vessels, showing a decrease of $7,021 30, as compared with previous years. Imports were the same.

1857-The imports from the United States direct amounted to $234,484 25, which shows an increase of $2,00S 60, as compared with the previous year. The imports corresponded to those of 1856, with the addition of black pepper, pickles, and brooms.

1858. The imports of this year amounted to $43,329, showing a decrease of $189,146 65, as compared with the previous year; but the amount of gold coin was about $195,000. The decrease appears to have arisen from the total change of government that occurred in the month of March of this year, and which caused a want of confidence in all mercantile classes. The imports are the same.

1859. The value of imports in United States vessels amounted this year to $51,165 40, showing an increase of $7,836 40, as compared with the previous year. There has been about $39,000 brought in money to pay for hides, &e. The imports the same as the previous year.

1860. The value of articles imported from the United States-amounted to $131,924 65, showing an increase of $80.759 25, as compared with the previous year; in this sum are included about $78,000 introduced in money; other imports the same as last year.

1861. The value of imports from the United States this year amounted to $136,279 55; showing an increase of $4,354 90, as compared with 1861. The exchange at this cost is invariably at the rate of $1 34 to one American or Spanish dollar.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

The duties levied in the year 1850 were the same on native as on foreign vessels, with or without cargoes, inward or outward bound, and amounted to upwards of 45 per cent. on imports.

The port charges, including pilotage and light-ship dues, were about $1 20 per ton, from which vessels that loaded with cattle, hides, or dried beef were

exempt.

The rate of profit on sales varied, and still varies, from 25 to 75 per cent., and still varies according to circumstances. Commission business is done from 5 to 15 per cent., according to the nature of the transactions.

Merchandise for New Granada, in transit, is alone allowed to be warehoused at this port, at the rate of 24 per cent. monthly; but must be reshipped or entered for consumption within six months after arrival.

The freight from the United States and Europe cannot be specified, as it entirely depends upon stipulations for return cargoes.

The stock of goods on hand in 1850 was unusually large, and could not be estimated under $780,000. The prohibited articles were then and still are bacon, salt, sugar and rum, unless in bottles.

By the law of the 23d April, 1850, the import duties were increased from 45 to 60 per cent., and port charges to $1 20 per ton on all vessels without excep tion, whether native or foreign.

The stock of goods on hand in 1851 was larger than for many years, and amounted to $845,000. The clandestine traffic carried on with perfect impu

nity by natives alone, between Trinidad, Demarara, and this district, could not be estimated at less than $130,000.

Since the law of the 23d of April, 1850, establishing a specific tariff of duties, so many additions and alterations had been made in that law, that it was almost impossible to say more than that the duties levied in 1853 ranged from 15 to 100 per cent. on the invoices deposited at the custom-house. The aver age duties for 1854 appear to have been 46 per cent.

The stock of goods then on hand was calculated at $910,000, and, considering the sales made for the twelve months, was at great variance with the custom-house returns of imports, and could only be attributed to the extensive clandestine traffic, and to very defective invoices, valued to evade the duties.

The average duties for 1855 appeared to be 51 per cent. The port charges were about $1 32 per ton on all vessels without any exception, whether national or foreign.

The savage and destructive nature of the civil war that broke out in March, 1859, and that is still carried on, especially in the adjacent provinces, has destroyed all confidence, and paralyzed every species of trade; and the same cause will prevent importations to any extent beyond the absolute consumption of this province, while the present insecurity of persons and property exists.

By the law of May, 1860, there is laid 20 per cent. in addition to the former 60 per cent. of duty on imports; and on many articles the duty amounts to 200 per cent. on their original value.

The port charges, including pilotage and light dues, amount to about $2 per

ton.

The rate of freight from Europe cannot be stated, as the arrangements are made for a return cargo to the United States at various prices for particular articles, and not by the ton.

The stock of goods on hand in 1860 was valued at $1,625,000, while the quantity of 1861 exceeded that of any previous year, and amounted to upwards of $2,600,000.

The excessively high duties on imports now levied have increased the activity in the contraband trade between Trinidad, Demarara and Venezuela, but it is not possible to ascertain its extent or value.

The freight from and to Hamburg and Bremen is generally about $20 per ton; and from and to the United States, about $15 to $17 50 per ton.

Tabular statement showing the exports from the port of Ciudad Bolivar for the year ended June 30, 1863, and the countries where shipped.

Tabular statement showing the imports at the port of Ciudad Bolivar for the year ended June 30, 1863.

Tabular statement showing the imports at the port of Ciudad Bolivar for the quarter ended September 30, 1863.

Tabular statement showing the exports from the port of Ciudad Bolirar for the quarter ended September 30, 1863.