The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-01-14 00:00:00

grate attb Commerce.

The value of the commodities imported into the
United Kingdom from Guernsey and Jersey has, within
the last five years, exhibited a very considerable in-
crease. For the year 1856 the figures are £294,678,
and for 1860, £696,464, Among the chief articles
favours* distinguished in this respect are : Butter,
advanced from 12,214 cwt. in 1856 to 81,541 cwt. in
1860; confectionery, from 341 b. to 224,7351 b. ; eggs,
front 720,030 to 1,280,000; chesnuts, from 112 bushels
to 10,489 bushels; sueoades, from 2,9111 b. to 132,32110 ;
tobacco, from 122,3441 b. to 239,§051b. ; and wine, few
95.172 gallons to 163,864 gallons, On the other band,
• few of the ordinary imports show decreased quan-
tities. These are: apples, reduced from '85,626 bushels
In 1856, to 11,381 bushels in 1860; eider, hom 134,086
gallons to 99_,646 gallons ; and potatoes from 100.006
cwt. to 47,393 cwt. The value of the exports to those
islands from this country for the slime periods has
Smut, however, advanced in. an equal ratio, the total
being 1.113,975 for 1856, and £848,595 for 1860. The
items which show the largest amount of increase are
chemicals,
lasn, dearthtbeenrdwattarlenryi ale and beer, dTz.,§iiwaarneds
ass
stationery, and woollen plate,
raatenk
and cutlery,
aciretawnerellcery and watches,
LIS IMPORTS AND RIICEIPTS TOR 1861.—During
the year ending 31st December, 1861, the quantities of
tea taken out of the bonded warehouses of the United
Kingdom amounted, within • small fraction, to the
enormous total of 78 millions of pounds, and which
yielded, in duties to the Crown, more than 14 millions '
sterling. The entire importations for the year, when '
ascertained, will, in all probability, be found to be as
much as, if not more than, 90 millions of pounds
weight. Included in this quantity are 1} millions of
pounds brought from Nagasaki and Kanagows, two !
of the ports in Japan recently opened to British
commerce.

I DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE.—AOOOEnta from various
manufacturing towns in Lancashire convey information
as to the rapid spread of the distress, which for some
time has been prevalent. The support by which many
families sustain themselves from day to day during
this inelement season is said to be of the most meagre
description. In Manchester itself things are no worse
than they were soine weeks ago, although much cannot
,be said touching their improvement. At the present
moment (according to the chief constable's return,
which is made up to Tuesday evening) there are of the
46,708 operatives in Manchester 28,263 working full
time; 11,869 working short time; and 6,178 wholly
) unemployed.
REDUCTION IN TEE BANE RATE OF DISCOUNT.
The Directors of the Bank of England, at their meeting
on Thursday, reduced the minimam rate of disconnt
from 3 per cent., at which it was adjusted on the 7th
Nov. last, to 2i per cent. This measure was not
generally anticipated, although increased (sadness has
been experienced during the last few days ; add the
downward tendency is likely to be promoted by the
Payment of the dividends. The attention of the mone-
tary and mercantile public, however, has been chiefly
occupied in the discussion of the Amelia& affair. A
similar reduction has also been made in the allowance
for deposits. Messrs. Overeod, Gurney, and Co.,
Messrs. Alexander and Co., fro., will give lt per cent.
for money at call, and It per cent., with seven days'
notice of withdrawal. be Joint Stock Banks have
not yet fixed their rate, but it will no doubt be 1 per
cent.

A Nitw ROUTE TO InZLAND.—A new and direct
railway and telegraphic route between England and
Ireland has been annonnomi, by which a saving of
&tames of 285 miles will be attained. The new route is
frbm London direct to near Brig.:A and Gloucester, on
to Milford and St. David's-head, from thence by steamer
and submarine wire straight to Carnsare Pond, South of
Wexford, direct to Queenstown and Cork. Total
&Stance 464 miles, as against 739 miles, the length of
ttie present roundabout route, via Liverpool and Carlisle,
Pert Patrick, Donsghadee, and Dublin. The time and
distance saved by the new line, it will at once be seen,
are considerable. A most important advantage has been
secured by an exclusive concession to this company of
this privilege of establishing a station at Roche's Point,
at the entrance to Cork Harbour, where the pilote
reeide, and from whence they board the steamers.
News will be brenght to the station by the return pilot
boats, and transnutted thence direct to London, not only
anitenpating all messages which have to be dispatched
fret° Queenstown, but, in fact, reaching London a con-
siderable time before the mail tender can arrive at
Qimenstown. It is not unnecessary to point out that so
direct a line, giving thoroughly efficient communication,
will not only obtain a preference of existing business,
acknowledged to be exceedingly remunerative, but, by
its increased celerity and certainty, will tend largely to
meltiply the use of the wires, especially on the full
resumption of trade with America.
The termination of the difficulty with the Government
of the Federal States has naturally calmed great excite-
ment in the Liverpool cotton market, War with Eng-
land would have opened the Southern ports, while peace
with England closes them through the recognition of
the blockade, Prices have consequently advanced.
Suirats are id., and American id. per lb. higher than on
Wdnesday ; and of 26,000 bales sold, 18,000 have been
ta en by speculators and exporters. The Imports are
only 339 bales, in addition to 7,721 ProTionglY.
TEN TRADI OW BILPAST.—Tne linen trade continues
in a state of stagnation. The total value of exports for
thi eleven months ending the 30th of November was
e 3 335,771. During period
the same peod of the preceding
ye r, it was £3,951,285, showing a decrease of £615,494.
Thh 'great falling off is in the trade with the United
Stsit, the deficit amounting to £1,034,681, So long as
the civil war lasts there can be no improvement. The
events of the last month put a stop to all shipments.
Belfast, therefore, is almost as much interested in
the restoration of peace in America as Manchester
itself.

BANK OP ENGLAND.—The return of the Bank of
England for the week ending on the Bth instant, shows
the following changes compared with that for the week
preceding :
Increase in Circulation... 2268,485
Decrease in Public Deposits ... 2,802,869
Increase in -other Deposits ... 3,170,426
Increase in Government Securities ... 1,206,946
Decrease in other Securities 604,171
Increase in Bullion 84,578
Ricreare in Rest... 61,301
_
Decrease '

in Reserve ... ... ... 103,497
Bullion in both departments ... ... 16,00,017
Chreulation, including Bank Post Bills 21,086,675
The considerable changes in the public and other
deMeits Mille from the payment of the dividends. The
oaf feature of interest connected with them is the
amount. which the private deposite have attained, no
less than £18,206,488. This is higher than for many
years. The fact denotes that capital is gccumulatiug in
a greater ration than the means of employing it. The
Governmont securities show • heavy increase, indicating
tlia the Bank has been making advances to the Chan-
cell $r of the Eachequer, not for the dividends, but in
con ection with the recent naval and military demon-
I str ions. The other securities have declined through
rep yinente on the 4th; but the general effect upon the
res ve has been the temporary loss of only £103,497.
The bullion now exceeds sixteen millions. The nosition
of 111t3 Bank amply justifies the reduction in the rate of
interest.