The Express.
London, England, 1847-11-18 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENENG, NOVEMBSR 18, 1847.

Boar, salted previrdons, geoemies, slteireeigitt by steam and
mil vessels to St. Andrew- e, and he hen **interim
heavy and bulky articles to bs alms& es *dor, deals,
plaster, he." It is with reference tie the enstinont require-
meat' of each a description of testis that the engineer pro-
poses to seeks preparation in the first place. As there would
be oadleabledly regular steam baste running in connexion
with the selheed, the importance of connecting with nevi.
gable water is obvious, and it is accordingly suggested to
, have the deeds on tidal water, with convenient wharh for
vessels so that the railroad cars may be brought alongside of
1 the shipping, and heavy freight be discharged without in-
termediate transport. Two sites for such a terminal dep6t
pre described, and the report enters into a comparative esti-
mate of five different routes to these points, two of these
terminating at the north side and the other three at the
south side of the town. As the maximum gradient between
St. Andrew's and Woodstock, 80 miles, is 38 feet per mile
(or 1 in 140), one of the former routes nd two of the latter
are thrown out of the comparison, on the ground that their
adoption would involve gradients of 50 feet per mile (or 1 in
105), besides some very heavy cuttings. The choice, there-
fore, remained only between the lies originally surveyed in
1837, by the government, by the Charneook Lakes to the
Lighthouse on the north side of the town ; and the other by the
Waweig river to a block-house on the north. The latterroute
would requite heavy wailiag along the river St. Croix, close to
the United States boundary, and the final determination,
therefore, is made in favour of the original government line.
Close to the town a cutting of 15 to 20 feet will be necessary,
for a very short distance, through a rocky stratum, which
will be available for the construction of the wharfs. To the
lakes no expensive works are requisite. Along the margin of
the lakes there are no very heavy cuttings at any point, but
a considerable aggregate of excavation ,• the estimate for the
whole distance, however, we believe does not exceed 1,2001.
per mile for engineering, wooden rails and all. The most
expensive structure will be a bridge of 40 feet in height ;
and beyond the lakes the levels are very easy. The total
length will be 12 miles 64 chains, and the steepest gradient
lin 150. "The work begins," says *local chronicler, "and
will be prosecuted with energy. St. Andrew's has yet
brighter prospects before her, with the sheering view of rail-
road trains on the land, and fleets of ships in her noble bay.
So mote it be." We trust the sanguine hopes of the solo-
nista may not he disappointed, for the prosperity of British
North America is now contingent upon the railway inter-
connexion of the three provinces, of which we have here
certainly the first link.

INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE OF THE PRIN-
CIPAL COUNTRIES OF EUROPE AND THEIR
DEPENDENCIES.
LEITKR VI.
. .

The recent history of Belgium isthe best comment on the
remarks on the Dutch colonial policy that have been proffered
in the preceding letters. At the period of the foundation
of the' Mal,rchappy " in Holland, the Dutch King sought
to engage Belgian capital in the adventure ; but the stipu-
lation that the produce of Java was to be sold at periodical
auctions, to be held at Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Middle.
burg, was of course discouraging. There was, however, so
little perspicacity displayed by any party as to the real nature
of the field open for the new East India Company, that it
surprised both Belgians and Dutch to find that the exports
from Java could ri.e to 1,179,1991. value in 1829, while the im-
ports into that island from Europe did not exceed 767,11501_ of
which but 320,0001. were cotton and woollen wares, with Ne-
therlands certificates of origin. The discrepancy between
export and import to and from the colonies, and which, in
the last letter, is explained as arising from the rent collected
in produce, would be more striking than it appears from the
figures given above, if the valuation of the produce were
made at the prices current in Europe. It would then appear
that Holland drew from Java at least five times the value
that could be exported in Belgian manufactures. To this
had to he added the consideration that, owing to the choice
of exclusive Dutch ports for unloading the East India
vessels, goods from Belgium were saddled with car-
riage, commission, and charges before they became
exportable, that equalled the differential duty im-
posed on Englsh and other foreign wares, and the Belgians
thus had no advantage in competing with strangers. The
difference which the rent made in the balance of trade does
not seem to have been allowed for by any party. In fine, the
dinantent at their position lad the Belgians to think that they
Amid do better if they were independent, and took chance
with the other countries of Europe for a share in this trade.
They deemed it could not turn out to boles; than it was
under the circumstances that seemed to favour them before
their rivals in England and Germany, but which held out a
delusive prospect of advantage.
The speculation was not a bad one. A large portion of the
cottons now exported from Holland to Java, and all the
cloths and kerseymeres, are of Belgian manufacture. Bel-
gium Imports a large portion of its colonial produce from
the Dutch harbours, as it used to do, and by favouring the
cargoes of its own vessels neutralises the increased chugs
on its exports, which is the result of sending them to
Holland. The exports from Belgium to Holland, in 1846,
were valued at 43,816,378 francs. Of these there were ma-
nufactured goods to the value of 32,531,662 francs, or nearly
one million three hundred thousand pounds sterling. The
imports from Holland in that year reached 42,420,623 francs,
of which only between fourteen millions and fifteen mil-
lions of francs was specified in colonial produce.
The change which the increased production of the Indian
Archipelago is bringing about at 'Batavia, by inducing the
(Dutch) government to allow the shipping houses at that
capital to participate in the export trade, will be much in
Amour of Belgium. When the Belgians can draw their
dare of the exports from that island direct from Java their
manufactures will arrive there on the most favourable
terms, and they will stand better than they would in too in-
timate an alliance with Holland. Much misery has been
occasioned in Belgium by too great speculation on the profits
thatwere expected to result from a fret East India trade, and
the consequent impulse to found manufacturing and trading
companies. The rock upon which the mat of these split
was that invisible operation of the Java rent, to which had
to be added the wild credit given by English manufacturers
in North American markets, and the general demorali-
sation of South America, which for a time forced up
prices, but eventually occasioned great losses. Metallurgy
of late years has been a profitable occupation In Belgium,
notwithstanding the war which Prussia carries on through
the Zollverein tariff against the furnaces of Liege and
Namur. The Belgian workshops have their full share of
orders for locomotives and other machinery for continental
markets. The total export of machinery front Belgium in
1845 amounted to the value of five millions four hundred
and fifty eight thousand francs (200,0001.), of which nearly
five millions were of Belgian manufacture; arms, nails,
anchors, and cutlery exported, valued at 7,351,398 fr.
al Belgian manufacture, or 280,0001., while the importa-
tions of these objects for home use were almost null. The
home trade is protected by duties of 51. to 81. per ton. But
this protection is, of course, against the country as an ex-
pardng one. It leads to a caious roundabout trade, which
it is interesting to study.
The trade lists of Belgium show singularly unfavourable
balances in the dealings of that country with American, and
even with some Asiatic ports. Thus in 1845 we find :
FINNS. Difference.
Dna Importe 16,940,n00 Francs.
Export. 2,730,000
14,160,900
Rio de la Plata Imports 13,763,000
Exports 210,000
--- 13,570,000
rotted States lmports 28,083,629
Exports 6,394,033
20,690,496
Philippines
Exports Imports I,NZ,Igi
1,048,414
Cuba lmports 8,061,000
Exports 820,000
7,241,000
HMS lmports 3,057,975
Experts 54,083
3,303,892
60,014,042
On the other hand:

6CerMnii- ---
• Inmate Kioe,ooo
Exports 97,800,000
51.600,000
The trade with Germany thus haleness the traffic with the
Eut and West indite, which is Nudely carried on upon
British account. The English manufacturer supplies those
countries so cheaply, that he can afford to monopolise them,
and seeds the returns which us not of a nature to suit the
English market to Antwerp, which 11. this means is recover.
lag to place amongst the trading trues of Europe. Great
portion of these colonial wares goes to Germany, a few to
Promos, the rest are scattered about fofa market But it is
clear that not only the land transport, but the railways are
berated by this traffic. The old skippers and dealers
Of Antwerp hare also their share, and as this
Wien is managed with foreign capital it has
read it possible to lay out to much at home
rMr railway inuatmenta amount to. Antwerp is
by Ws arrangement made a leading station where
the genie of all countries are to be had at the cheapest rates,
audits business must prosper enormously if nothing bedoas
to prevent its recess. The working of this indirect trade
was ably pointed out at the recent tearer of political
sorender, at Brussels, by Mr. J. M'Adam, jun., secretary
to tbe Society for the encouragement of the growth of
flax la

The lake to acquire a mercantile navy in all haste has
tends the Belgians themselves throw difficulties in the way
of this mane. The differential duties imposed on
wens hoperessi under a foreign flag are all but suffi-
cient le destroy it. Now, it is char that if, instead
of dlsee~lfyt this indirect trade, they encouraged it
sa atwh es poenble, and by making a treaty with England
obtained the most favourable footing for their vessels in
English ports, it would in time grow so large as to give
int to Belgian vessels as well as others, and would
aria many artieles of their manufacture. For a
=tot overburthened with capital to object to trade
capitals of other osentrimehows no great mercantile
skill; but we must not flog* that laws are nowhere made
by merchants, awl Isentof all in Belgium.
to r. hircibly_itelpial sat the hopeless contest
whist Y eueryloires is Pius between the hand labourof
the
to
modithroey of England. In 1845, the ex-
pert at Bto linen France, which was 33,000,000 francs
ha MK declined to 20,000,000 francs in 1845, or about
to per. , S again, the use of English capital, which
would Yam a price for the flax grown, and a market
well melba asap yarn for foreigners to purchase in,
me aeliimai, while the internal consumption is heavily
I taxed. aril the people at Flanders are not yet relieved, as the
imioascod is the speech with which he opened
the
. . . .

The dada bnposed in Belgium on the textile fabrics do
the mennlbetaring interests of that country the greatest
Dy the treaty with Francs, the duties on French
linen rum are not much mere than half the duties levied on
l But the French, who cannot spin as cheaply
leath I=l, derive little or no benefit from this conces-
sion. It is dear, from the lug. quantities that pass Bel-
gium Is transit, how advantageous the importation of this

halfsaasubstured article is to those who draw it. The
transit of yarn is equivalent to a:Eluding an egad quantity
of Belgian plow goods trout the !market to which the yarn
. We astraot a few figures to show that the transit
ode still remains in Eostisit Lads, notwithstanding the
difference in the duty and its graduation to the fineness of
the yarn.

Lee pee.
LINEN TARN IN ICILOORAJOIES.
TAM IMPOITID. 1645.
Ditty per 100 Duty per 100 Duty pee 100 Ditty par 100
Kilegfesumn 1211ogrannocs. Ellessammes. KU047•00004.
from On
Coun
1
11. tdo
ted I la; _ Ounb f. On f. On f.
Prod 49 PM& 1115) French IT3
retßaglart 1.06
'AV 21110 a li.V 1004. irfa E117:71a Ira K 1304.
-- L---
Pnwas . TST 14 1 6.074 63 10 10 HO ..
Nostrod 287,139 6 123.133 TAO SAM .. 3,164
Tram* 19 19 161 6 non. .. 27 27