The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-01 00:00:00

MOVEMENT OF FRENCH COMMERCE.

According to the returns just published in the
Moniteur, the eastoms' duties received in 1552 amounted to
139,760,2641., being an increase of 22.607,425 f. over 1861,
and 15,063,083 f. over 18.50. 'The receipts of the month of
December alone amounted to 13,405,4871., being 3,713,961 f.
more than in 1851, and 3,614,631 f. more than in the
corresponding month of 1850. The increase on the
receipts of the year bore on a number of articles.
Compared with 1851, the import duties on coffee in-
creased from 17,400,7661. to 20,028,830 f.; raw cotton
from 12.759,2631. to 15,602,9311 ; raw wool, front
7,281,22.51. to 13,649,7811.; colonial sugar from 20,174,4791.
to 25,414,832 t.• and rough castings from 1,861.890 f. to
2,206,609 f. Among the few articles in which a diminution
is apparent may be mentioned olive oil, the crop of which
felled. Compared with 1851, the duties received on it fell
from 5,976,6631. to 3,887,1191. The same cause made the
receipts on sesame seed fall from 2,596,978 f. to 1,697,5481.
The first six mouths of 1852 were not very favourable for
exports, and the receipts on many articles were lees than in
the corresponding period of 1851. Since the month of
July, however, orders have become more numerous, and
the manufacturers have almost all made up for the lest
time. The amount of machinery exported in 1852 was
5,835,046 francs against 5,562,070 francs in 18.51 ;
millinery, 4,947,614 francs against 5,899,570 franca; wines,
2,436,904 hectolitres against 2,259,162; corn, 4,157,624
against 4,840,826; rough salt, 1,088,839 metrical quintal,
against 1,015,942; refined sugar, 160,068 metrical quintals
against 159,829; and woollen wove goods 67,396 metrical
quintals against 57,554. The movement of the general
navigation of French vessels as compared with 1851, shows
an improvement in sailing., but a falling off in arrivals. In
1852 18,710 vessels measuring 2,439,704 tons arrived, and
16,398 vessels of 1,863,226 tons sailed ; in 1851 the number
of vessels arriving were 17,424 and 2,201,917 tons, and
17,212 vessels of 1,886,269 tons sailing ; and in 1850 16,300
vessels of 2,068,963 tons arriving, and 15,626 vessels of
1,666,189 tons sailing.

The Debuts, after analysing the returns, says: "Our
foreign commerce for 18.52, although it has somewhat suf-
fered in certain parts of its exports, shows a marked pro-
gress over that of 18.51, but the situation calls for an ame-
lioration in our international relations ; it requires, if we
do not wish to see our national productions fall into a state
of torpor, and remain within their former limits; if we de-
sire to see it have a share in the new openings which are
being prepared in Asia, America, Africa, and Oceania, it
requires, we say, that we should effect efficient modifica-
tions in a crowd of tariffs and custom-house arrangements,
which prevent the entrance of many most important articles
of foreign manufacture, or weigh down with excessive du-
ties the raw material, or the matters which afford aliment to
labour and consumption. The connexion between nations
extends and gains strength by the same movement; the
Held of their undertakings becomes every day more en-
larged, and it is not by preserving amongst us the old and
powerless traditions of prohibition that we shall advance the
commercial fortune of France."