are very apt to advance suddenly, when a competition of buyers having to provide for ships waiting for cargoes, favors the dealers in raising their demands. Calculation of the cost of 1st yellow candle tallow from St. Petersburgh, imported into London. 1 ton of 63 poods nett, bought in August at Ro. 37 per berkwert and drawn for at shipment at 41d. per Ro., 3 months date, would cost free on board £44 13 4 £1 66 Cost from the London scale, . Discount of £53 for 6 months at 2 per cent Cost for sale to clear a commission . Warehousing and rent not reckoned. £53 2 2 Bristles.-The supplies of this hair of hogs, are brought to St. Petersburgh for sale by the dealers trading therein, being collected by them throughout the whole empire, and prepared at their establishments in the interior, where the cleaning, assorting, and binding into bundles, is accomplished by expert workmen. There are two chief distinctions of quality made, namely, of bristles obtained from the ridge of the hog's back, and of those from the flanks of the animal. The former are selected and braacked into two sorts, viz: Okatka, into which the longest and strongest of 54 inches English and above are taken, and first sort, comprising the remainder, of less uniform length and strength. The latter are likewise picked into two sorts, viz: the dried or Suckaya, being the better part; and the second sort, composed of what remains. Bristles are of white, gray, black, and yellow color; it is most customary to assort the Okatka and Siberia bristles in equal proportions of white, gray, and black, and such are termed "assorted." Purchases are also made of single colors separately. Bristles sell by the pood, and are exported packed into casks holding between 9 and 94 cwt. nett weight; it is frequently preferred to have them put into half casks, or any smaller size that suits the buyer. The extent of the annual supplies varies a good deal, a greater number of full grown swine being killed in one year than in another, according as agricultural produce, fit for feeding them, happens to be scarce or abundant in the interior. During the undermentioned three years Russia furnished the following quantities for exportation, viz: in 1836, 19,686 cwt.; in 1837, 18,901 cwt.; and in 1838, 27,069 cwt.-average of the three years 21,8354 cwt. From St. Petersburgh, which is the principal market, the following quantities were shipped during the seven years from 1833 to 1839, viz: In 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 Averages. 913 1926 2193 1703 2124 2315 19132 8233 9015 75799 6335 6281 44624 6609 7156 45524 Okatka-cwt. 2222 1st sort, 66 10412 6487 5873 6737 6302 Dried, 66 3919 3315 3437 4115 3833 2d sort, 66 3844 3304 3415 3865 3675 Total, cwt./20397 14019 146511691015513 23301 24767 185082 The different descriptions of bristles which compose the supplies are either distinguished by the country or place they come from, as the Siberian and Velikaluga bristles, or by the names of the dealers that prepare and bring them forward, as Mesdrikoff's, Pockomoff's, Tapitzin's, Moscatinoff's, Sushkin's, Kuffshinnikoff's, M. Malkoff's, S. Malchoff's, Solotareff's, Yershoff's, Faleyeff's, Lashenkoff's bristles. The supplies from the interior arrive at St. Petersburgh at all times of the year, chiefly, however, between January and July. This article is never purchased on contract, the dealers selling their parcels for cash as they arrive at market and buyers offer, delivering them immediately into possession of the latter, who take them to their private warehouses till shipment. During winter, while the navigation is closed, the prices generally are cheapest, the number of buyers being then confined to a few of the principal exporters that receive considerable early orders. A season seldom passes over without considerable fluctuations occurring in the cost of this article. We are enabled to give the following report on the course of this trade in 1839, which season we consider to have been the more interesting, as its supply not only proved greater than was expected, but even exceeded all preceding years in quantity, an unusually great number of swine having been killed in consequence of the dearth of provender in the interior of the country. Report of the trade in bristles at St. Petersburgh in 1839.-The demand began very early, timely shipment being favored by the number of ships that wintered at Cronstadt. Considerable transactions took place as early as January and February, and up to 1st May about 8,500 cwt. had already been braacked. The demand continued steady during summer for all sorts except 1st, of which, however, very considerable purchases were made towards the close of the navigation, when reduced prices were submitted to by the dealers, after they had become aware of the unusual extent of the aggregate supply. Okatka.-The price for sorted Moscatinoff's, Sushkin's, Pockomoff's, and Malkoff's opened at Ro. 484, then advanced to Ro. 51 to 52, and at last came down again to Ro. 50; Kuffshinnikoff's, Faleyeff's, and other inferior sorts fetched Ro. 14 to 24 less; Solotareff's and Yaroslaff's went off at Ro. 45 to 474. Grays advanced from Ro. 41 to Ro. 424 to 454, and re-declined in autumn to Ro. 413. Black and yellow of good quality were much inquired for, the former at Ro. 484, the latter at Ro. 45% to 474. Velikalugas fetched Ro. 42% in the fore part of the season, latterly only Ro. 40. First sorts.-In January and February the prices were for Mesdrikoff's, Ro. 36% to 374; Yershoff's, Ro. 35; Pockomoff's, Ro. 342; Moscatinoff's, Sushkin's, and Kuffshinnikoff's, Ro. 32; Malkoff's, Ro. 324; Velikalugas, Ro. 30 to 30%, at which rates the demand was steady till the month of May; in June the inquiry slackened, and Moscatinoff's and others were bought at Ro. 32, with Ro. 31 for Malchoff's; in July the latter fetched only Ro. 30. In August a great deal was done in Mesdrikoff's at Ro. 35 to 35%; Sushkin's at Ro. 30 to Ro. 304; Tapitzin's, Ro. 30 to 30; Malkoff's, Ro. 30 to 294; Velikalugas, Ro. 284 to Ro. 284. In October about 120 casks were sold as follows: Pochomoff's, Ro. 32 to 314; Yershoff's, Ro. 30; Tapitzin's, Ro. 292 to 284; Moscatinoff's, Kuffshinnikoff's, M. Faleyeff's, at Ro. 284; Malkoff's, Ro. 284 to 28; Velikalugas, Ro. 28, and towards the very close a few casks Moscatinoff's at Ro. 274; Malkoff's at Ro. 264 to 254; Velikalugas at Ro. 254 to 254; Long cut firsts were long supported at Ro. 274 to 274; short cut with roots, at Ro. 244 to 224; short cut, Ro. 184 to 184. Dried remained very firm at Ro. 244 to 234 for Pochomoff's; Ro. 213 to 204 for Mesdrikoff's and Yershoff's; Ro. 17 to 16 for Faleyeff's; Ro. 15 to 144 for Velikalugas; Ro. 15 for Malkoff's; Ro. 14 to 144 for Tapitzin's; Ro. 14 to 14 for Kuffshinnikoff's, and Ro. 144 for Moscatinoff's and Sushkin's. Towards the close Ro. 1 less was accepted for the last named descriptions. For second sorts, there was a constant demand at Ro. 13 to 12 for Pochomoff's; Ro. 13 to 12 for Mesdrikoff's; Ro. 113, 104 to 10 for Yershoff's; Ro. 84 for Malkoff's; Ro. 8 to 7 for Faleyeff's; Ro. 74 to 6 for Solotareff's; Ro. 64 to 6 for Tapitzin's, and Ro. 64 to 5% for Sushkin's and Moscatinoff's. Siberian bristles went off at Ro. 524 to 574 for Okatka; Ro. 344 to 36 for first sort; Ro. 20 to 214 for dried, and Ro. 10 to 10% for second sort. Calculation of first sort bristles imported from St. Petersburgh into London, viz: 1 cwt. or 3 poods of first sort Sushkin's, bought in May, at £0 3 5 £16 9 11 1 17 4 Linseed. This grain forms a most important article of export from Russia. In 1838, the quantity reached 688,575 imperial quarters; namely, from Odessa 99,037 qrs.; from Taganrog 9,898 qrs.; from other southern ports 55,603 qrs.; by the western continental frontier 26,268 qrs.; from Archangel 74,698 qrs. ; from St. Petersburgh 196,346 qrs. ; from Riga, 202,650 qrs. ; and from Libau, Windau, Pernau, and Reval, 24,075 qrs. Of the whole, 261,814 qrs. went to Great Britain and Ireland, and 427,061 qrs. to the continent of Europe. In 1838 the quantity exceeded that of any preceding year, but the yield of the crops of this article is very variable, and no previous estimate can in any year be formed of the probable maximum of the supply, while perhaps the minimum may now be assumed at about 400,000 quarters. The chief general distinctions of linseed, made in trade, are those of sowing and of crushing linseed. The former is understood to be a select article shipped from Riga, Windau, Libau, and Pernau, in casks with official marks, warranting the seed to be fresh and fit for sowing; the latter is of various quality, intended to be used and fit for crushing only, and shipped from all ports of Russia, either in bulk, or in mat bags, called "Kools." At St. Petersburgh but a small part of the annual supply, derived from the nearer flax districts, arrives and is ready for shipment in May, June, and the fore part of July; for the principal part reaches that market from the middle of July till the end of September, and comprises what is called the Morshansk and Saratoff linseed, and uses to be of a quality superior to the earlier arrivals. The shipment is made chiefly in the mat bags, above alluded to, which are not paid for separately. The article sells there by the "chetvert" measure, forming the contents of a kool. Ten chetverts are found to measure out in England 7, and sometimes even 7 imperial quarters from the ship's side. Contract purchases for forward delivery are made in autumn, winter, and spring, either with the whole price agreed for, or part thereof, most frequently 25 to 50 per cent paid down cash in advance, at once or by instalments, the remainder being payable on delivery. Sales with only 10 per cent in advance are less customary for this article. The intercourse of the United States with Russia, both commercial and maritime, is founded on treaty regulations of perfect equality in the direct and indirect trade. The new Russian tariff went into operation January 11th, 1842; (a list of the duties on most of the principal articles, will be found in the Merchants' Magazine for July, 1842.) Duties on manufactured goods are materially increased by the new tariff. Many articles, however, formerly prohibited are now admitted on payment of very high duties; and the duties on the great body of articles previously admitted, have been all more or less increased. The duty on cotton, for the benefit of the quarantine establishment, is eighty copecks, in bank notes, per pood, (thirty-six pounds avoirdupois,) which is about eleven cents and 60-100ths, as per value of the silver rouble. The quarantine and additional duties remain as before, it being ordained that there shall be paid on all merchandise imported, an additional duty of one eighth per cent; that is to say, twelve and a half per cent on the duties of the tariff, which is thus collected. To the duty of the tariff is added the duty of the quarantine, and to this the one eighth per cent. There are also still other charges for the use of cellars and stores of entrepôt for merchandise. From consular despatches received at the department of state at Washington, it appears that the trade of the United States has materially diminished during the past few years. It is ascribed in part to the distress which has prevailed in the interior of the country, occasioned by the failure of the corn crops for the years 1839 and 1840, and the exclusion of the capital of the United States from the Russian trade; most of the cargoes of sugars imported into St. Petersburgh, in American vessels, having been in freight per foreign account. To this may be added the high price of Russian produce, and the little demand for it of late in the United States. It appears from official documents that the quantity of ootton imported into Russia from the United States in 1838, was 2,778,472 lbs., 1839, 2,104,482 lbs., in 1840, 2,203,017 lbs. ART. II.-THE WAREHOUSING SYSTEM. However slow has been the progress of political reforms, in the different nations of the earth, commercial ameliorations have marched with a much slower pace, and have been subject to greater fluctuations. The commercial regulations, however salutary in any particular country, and at any particular period of time, have too seldom afforded examples for the adoption of the nations and times that may succeed them. And even when sound and enlightened principles are brought to bear upon and control commercial affairs, the circumstance gives no guaran tee of their perpetuity. They may expire with the government which established them; and although another nation, with more favorable institutions in other respects, may succeed, yet the same commercial policy may not be revived. Although free institutions have always (and truly so) been considered favorable to the growth and extension of commercial enterprise, yet it is not enough for commerce and its highest degree of prosperity, that the people who cherish it are free. To give to it its greatest efficiency and usefulness, requires that its affairs shall be regulated by wise and judicious laws. Commerce, it is true, flourishes the best where least subjected to restrictive laws, and embarrassing taxes, and vexatious regulations of all kinds. From the cheapness and facility of collection, the most powerful nations of the present day raise their principal subsidies by the imposition of duties on commercial imports, and, in some instances, on exports also. The experience of modern commercial nations unite in favor of realizing sufficient duties on the importation of goods, in a great measure, to defray the expenses of government. But while they unite on this one point of the subject, there is no question in the whole circle of political economy that has so divided mankind, or has been, in its discussion and management, productive of greater evil. The whole question resolves itself into that of TAXATION, and the best mode of collection, whenever taxes are levied to support an economical administration of government. No one can complain, provided they can be made to bear equally on all classes and conditions of men. Taxation being necessary, it becomes a matter of serious consideration to fix the amount and mode of gathering it. We shall not stop to argue with that class of political economists, in this or other countries, who contend for the highest possible rate of taxation, for the purpose of securing a bounty to any manufacturing or other interest. Or with others, who prefer and advocate the raising of revenue by direct taxation, as being more equal, as every one would pay according to his wealth, and not according to what he might happen to comsume. We shall proceed to take for granted, that the cheapest, if not the best mode of raising a legitimate revenue, is by the taxation of commerce, or imposition of impost duties. And this being conceded, it is matter of great importance that this should be done by a method attended with as little burden and inconvenience to the merchant as the higher interest of the national treasury will permit: or, in other words, that the merchant should enjoy as much freedom and as great facilities in his commercial pursuits as the legal demands of his government will justify. One of these important and desirable privileges can only be secured |