The Sun.
London, England, 1834-07-16 00:00:00

(From the New York Papers of the 25th ult.)
"REPORT of the SECRETARY of the TREASURY.
" Treasury Department, June 16.
" Sir,—ln compliance with the resolutions of the Senate
of the 7th of May last, directing the Secretary of the
Treasury to report as soon as practicable to the Senate the
amount of duties received and accrued on foreign imports
during the first quarter of the year 1834, with a table
showing the comparative amount of that quarter, and the
corresponding quarter of the year 1833, and distinguishing
between the amounts accrued or received'at each port ;'
also, whether anything has happened since his annual re-
port was made at the commencement of the present session
of Congress, to vary in his opinion the estimate contained in
the said report of the proceeds of the duties on foreign im-
ports for the year 1834 ;' I herewith transmit the statement
required by the first resolution above-mentioned, by which
it appears that the duties which accrued from customs in
the first quarter of 1833, amounted to the sum of 5,789,114
dollars 87 c., and in the corresponding quarter of ,1834, to
the sum of 6,344,540 dollars, 40 c., and that the actual
receipts into the. Treasury from the same source in the for-
mer quarter amounted to 6,966,437 dollars, 09 c., and in
the latter to 4,435,386 dollars, 13 c. A few of the minor
ports have not been heard from, but they cannot materially
vary the result.
" In answer to the second '4resolution; .1 have the, honour
to state, that estimating the duties on, foreign imports in the
annual report made at the commencement of the present
session, it was assumed as the basis of the estimate, that the
imports of the present year would be nearly equal to those
of 1832. This estimate was higher than the average im-
ports of the five or six preceding years ; but, as stated in
that report, it was considered as a safe one ; because, al-
though the imports of 1831 and 1832 had been unusually
large, those of 1833 had gone still higher, and the general
state of commerce and the situation of the country justified
the belief that there would be no serious diminution in the
present year.
" From the comparative statement of the amount of
duties which accrued in the first quarter of the present year
and the corresponding quarter of 1833, it appears that the
amount of foreign imports in the first quarter of 1834 must
must have exceeded that of the corresponding quarter in
the preceding year. Several articles which form important
items in our ordinary imports, and paid duty in the first
quarter of 1833, were free from duty in the first quarter of
1834, and the rate of duty was reduced on others ; and the
difference between the amount of duty which accrued in
these two quarters would have been greater if the impor-
tations in the latter had not exceeded those of theformer.
" In some instances, without doubt, importations, which
in the ordinary course of our foreign trade would have been
made in the last quarter of 1833, were delayed until the
first quarter of the present year, in order to obtain the be-
nefit of the reduced tariff, which took offect on the Ist of
January last, and this circumstance has enlarged in some
degree the imports of the first quarter of 1834. But after
making the due allowance for the increase which may have
arisen from this cause, and which would be peculiar to the
first quarter of the year, the amount of duties which accrued in
the first quarter are sufficient to show that the imports of
the present year will most probably exceed the amount at
which they were estimated in the annual report, and be
fully equal to those of 1833, which were unusually large.
If this expectation should be realized, the proceeds of the
customs will exceed the amount at which they were esti-
mated by more than 1,000,000 dols. The difference in the
comparative receipts of the two first quarters, as shown by the
statement herewith transmitted, does not arise from any
fluctuation in commerce or diminished imPortations, but is
chiefly occasioned by the alterations in the times of payment
introduced by the act of 14th of July, 1832.
" The receipts of the first quarter, and the bonds already
taken, confirmed the opinion that the income from customs
will be greater than the estimate presented at the com-
mencement of the session. The actual receipts into the
treasury from customs for the first quarter of the present
year amounted to the, sum of 4,435,386 dols. 13 cents. ;
and the duties secured by, bonds payable in the second
quarter amount to the sum of 4,003,368 dols. 17 cents.
After making a fair deduction from these amounts for re-
turn duties, which may yet be called for, and for debentures
and expenses of collecting, the net income of these two
, quarters may be safely estimated at 7,500,000 dols. And
if the third and fourth quarters should be only equally pro-
ductive with the two first, the receipts will equal the amount
at which' they were estimated in the annual report. But
under our present system of duties, the receipts from cus-
toms in the ordinary course of commerce will always be
greater in the two last quarters of the year than in the two
first. The woollen goods, which form so large a portion of
our imports, are for the most part brought into the country
in the third and fourth quarters of the year. The high du-
ties with which they are charged render them a very pro-
ductive source of revenue ; and being now payable in cash,
they enter into the receipts of the third and fourth quarters
in which the goods are imported; The receipts of these two
quarters of the year will, therefore, generally exceed those
of the two preceding ones by at least 1,000,000 dols. •
" Although not embraced in the resolution, it will no
doubt be gratifying to the Senate to learn that the receipts
from lands are equally encouraging, and will more than
equal the amount at which they were estimated. The re-
ceipts into the Tresury from this source, during the first
quarter of the present year, amount to the sum of
1,398,206 dols. 18 cents, while in the corresponding quar-
ter of 1833 they amounted to only 668,526 dols. 66 cents ;
and from the returns already received for the present quar-
ter, the receipts of the two first quarters of this year from
lands may be safely estimated at more than 2,000,000 dols.
In the annual report the receipts of the whole year. were
estimated at 3,000,000 dols. The information above stated
shows that the anticipated income from this source, as well
as from the customs, will be more than realized.
" Upon the whole, the inforniation received since the
annual report on the finances was made to Congress•affords
satisfactory evidence- that the extent of our foreign com-
merce has been fully sustained, and gives strong reasons
for believing that the receiptsinto the Treasiiry during the
present, year will- be greater than the amount at which they
were estimated at the commencement of the present session.,
" But I beg leave to repoit what I have already said in
the annual report from this department, that as the receipts
of each year, under the present system of short credit and
cash duties, must mainly depend on its own importations, as
the estimates for the year can never be made with as much
certainty as under the former system, when the receipts
chiefly depended on the duties which had accrued in pre-
ceding years, and which were ascertained and .secured secured by
bonds before the time the estimates were presented ; and
as all calculations on the amount of revenue hereafter to
accrue must be more or less uncertain, and are liable to be
affected by unforeseen contingencies, it would hardly be
proper to appropriate on a scale of expenditure fully equal
to the expected income. There is, however, no reason for
apprehending that the resources of the present year can fall
short of the estimate contained in the annual report ; and
it is believed that appropriations may be made with entire
safety according to that estimate.
" I have the honour to be, Sir, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, "R. B. TANEY, •
" Secretary of the Treasury.
" Hon. Martin Van Buren, Vice-President United States .
" and President of the Senate."
" LATEST FJLOM MEXICO.—We are indebted to a friend
for the following extract of a letter, dated Vera Cruz,
May 19, 1834 :
" Within a few days there has been a pronunciarhento
(disturbance) at Puebla. The express which arrived yes-
terday from the interior brings nothing certain. As usual?
all is conjecture here. A British frigate arrived yesterday,
which is to take to New York 300,000 dollars on account
of the British Government, for the Canadas." '—Journa4
of Commerce.

" EARTHQUAKE AT SANTA MARTHA.—The brig Me-
dina, Captain Spencer, from Rio Hache, New. Granada,
brings intelligence of an earthquake which happened at
Santa Martha on the 22d ultimo, and was continued in
successive shocks through the three
,follaving days. The
violence of the earthquake was so great as to destroy the
principal buildings of the city. The first shock was the
most severe, and lasted three-quarters of a minute. In the
course of the four days 60 distinct. sho6ks were experienced.
The earth cracked in fissures of six inches in width, and in
some places water, hot and sulphurous, was ejected through
the openings. No lives were lost, and few persons injured.
The city, at the date of the accounts, had been entirely de-
serted by the inhabitants. The first shock was sensibly felt
at Rio Hache, and fears were entertained that Carthagena
may have suffered severely from the. convulsion."

On the morning of the 11th instant, a melancholy
accident occurred at the factory of Mr. Rawlings, of Chippen.
ham. George White, a lad about 14 years old, was putting
on his frock to go to breakfast; and while in the act of so
doing, a part of it caught in the shaft, the velocity of which
drew him round, nearly severing his head from his body. He
was immediately extricated by some workmen on the spot, but
the vital spark had fled.—Salisbury Ijeraid.

(FURTHER PARTICULARS.)
The Moniteur contains an Official Report, addressed to
the King by the Minister of Commerce, on the subject of
the bounties allowed on the exportation of refined sugars.
In this report the Minister states, that by the law of 1833,
the bounties on the exportation of refined sugar were to be
considered as nothing more than a refunding of the duties
paid on the importation of the raw material. The only
question, then, to be decided was, to ascertain the precise
quantity of refined sugar that could be extracted from a
given quantity of the raw material. The proportion had
been calculated at 70 per cent., i. e. that every hundred
kilogrammes of raw sugar returned to the manufacturers 70
kilogrammes of refined sugar. The report goes on to state
that, considering the great improvements that have of We
years been made in the process of refining sugar, it was sup-
posed that this proportion was too small, and after a series
of experiments and calculations made under the direction of
the Minister and the Superior Council of Commerce, aided
by several skilful refiners and eminent chemists, the pro-.
portion between the raw material and the refined sugar
was recommended to be raised from 70 to 75 per
cent. Moreover (continues the report), there is no
longer any danger of a return to those abuses which
rendered the bounties on sugar a real financial sore.
Since the promulgation of the law of the 26th of
April, 1833, up to this day, the exportation of refined
sugars amounts only to about 1,200,000 kilogrammes, and
the bounties to 1,600,000 fr. The report next refers to
the importation of Muscovado sugar, permission to import
which was granted, at least in principle, by the last law of
finance. The Report proposes to establish, with regard to
Muscovado sugars, the same proportion as that intended to
be established between the raw sugars now used by refiners
and the refined product—namely, 75 per cent., the only dif-
ference to be observed being that this new proportion will
be immediately applied to Muscovado sugars not imported
previously to the establishment of the sugar bounties, but
shall not affect raw sugars until the Ist of November next.
The report thus concludes :—" The admission of Mum-,
vados will greatly facilitate our trade with the Brazils, and
it is particularly under this point of view that the measure
appears to me advantageous."—[Here follows a Royal Or-
donnance sanctioning the modifications proposed by the
Minister of Commerce.].
Another Report, addressed by the Minister of Com-
merce to the King, relates to the abolition of the prohibi-
tion of certain products of Asia, Africa, and America,
coming from English ports • which is followed by a Royal
Ordonnance, sanctioning die views of the Minister. This
Ordonnance authorises the importation for home use, no
matter from what ports they may come, of raw silk, un-
dressed India silk handkerchiefs (foulards), rum, arrack,
ratafia, and also of Cachemire shawls, coming from coun—
tries out of Europe.
This report is followed by a third, from the same Minister
to the King, on a proposed ordonnance, authorising a di-
minution of the duties upon various articles, the principal of
which we shall enumerate :—Foreign wool at present pays
a duty of 30 per cent. ad valorem, and a minimum is fixed,
below which no declaration of value can be received. The
minimum is If. per kilogramme for raw wool; 2f for
that which has been worked in cold water, and 3f. when
it has undergone the same process in hot water. The pro-
ject enacts that the duty shall be reduced to 20 per cent. and
the minimum suppressed. This change to come into opera-
tion from Ist September next. The bounties on exportation
are to be reduced one-third ; but this reduction is not to
take effect until Ist January, 1835, in order to allow time
to the manufacturers to dispose 'of that part of their stock
made from wool which bad paid the whole duty. The duty
upon tallow is reduced from 15f. to 12f. the 100 kilog. Raw
sulphur, upon which a duty of lf. the .100 kilog. was paid,
is now to pay but 25 centimes, and melted but not purified,
75 centimes. Sulphate of iron, or green copperas, 6E per
metrical quintal, instead of 40f. The duty upon copper
ore is reduced from If. to 10e. Smelted, copper, in bars or
sheets, imported in French ships from countries out of
Europe, If. ; from the bonding warehouses, 2f. ; and in
foreign vessels 4f., instead of 40f. the 100 kilog. Smelted
zinc, 50c., instead of sf. the 100 kilog. Prussian blue,
instead of 210 f., 150 f. the 100 kilog. Upon raw or
dressed hemp, or flax, the duty is reduced one half, and the
Minister recommends that no increase of duty should be
laid on the spun thread of foreign countries. A consider-
able diminution is to take place, varying from a third to a
half, according to the • employment of foreign or national
vessels, in the duties on ivory, mother-of-pearl, caoutchouc,
and various dyeing materials used in manufactures. The
duty on foreign ornamental timber is considerably reduced.
On ebony, three-fourths of the ald duty is struck off ; and
on mahogany and other kinds, one half. Nutmegs, instead
of a duty of 4f, 12E, and 15f. per kilog., will for the •
future pay only if., 2f, 50c., and 4E The duty on
--cloves, cinnamon, and pepper, from Guiana, is reduced
one half. Pepper from other places, one third. The
duty on watchworks is diminished from 20f. a kilog. to
sfr., and that on Chinese paper from 406 fr. to 200 fr., the
metrical quintal. The export of building timber is no
longer prohibited. These are the principal articles of the ta-
riff of duties affected by the Royal Ordonnance. The Report
then proceeds to state that several questions of great import-
ance remain to be decided upon by the Chamber of Deputies
in the next Session, when a Bill to that effect will be pre-
sented to them. Amongst these, continues the Report, is the
question relative to the importation of live stock, and the re-
duction of the duties on foreign coal and iron. With regard to
the two latter, involving so many and important interests, the
Minister recommends not to legislate by Ordonnance ; but
adds that the ameliorations called for on these points are
only adjourned for a few months, as the Bill on the Cus-
toms will be ready by the commencement of 'the Session,
and may be immediately laid before the Chamber. The
Minister proceeds to say, " I ought to point out to
your Majesty several reglementary provisions, contained
in the project of Ordonnance, the object of which
is to give greater facilities to our commerce. In order to
encourage distant commercial enterprises, the natural pro-
ducts of China, Cochin China, the Philippine and Sunda
Islands, shall be entitled to a reduction of one-fifth of the
established duties. On the payment of the mere droit de
balance, French steam-vessels are authorised to make use
of foreign coal ; cast iron, a less quantity of which than,
400 kilogrammes was not hitherto allowed to be imported,
may now be admitted in quantities as small as 25kilogram-
mes. Several bureaux shall be opened for the purposes of
transit. Bonding warehouses are to be established in the
town of Agde
,and Toulon. Permission has been given for - -
the establishment of a bonding warehouse in Strasbourg,
and a transit by Alsace."--(Here follows the Royal Or-
donnance
• referred to in this report, which fills several
columns • of the Moniteur, and to which, from want of
space, we must
_refer our readers, for further details on the
changes made in the tariff of duties.)

A most diabolical act of incendiarism was perlie-
Wated at Colerne early on Monday morning, the 30thult:,
when two ricks of hay containing about 15 tons, and tWo
straw-heaps, the property of Mr. Joseph Pinchin, were found
to be on fire. Greater damage was expected, as the ricks
adjoined the barn and cart-house; and the incendiaries had
fourstra waggons, one of which was con-
siderably sheaf-hole of the barn
moved towards owbaurrdnst. theso firem ew
took fire
fire and communicated to the roof, part of which falling
in, set tosome loose straw on the floor;. but the flames
fortunately did not rise high enough to `bnrn some straw, in
th,e,, air-bole on the other side, adjoining very, extensive pre-
mises-, which in that case would inevitably have been des-
troyed. One rick of straw was found uninjure4-notwith-
standing the whole of the loose straw round about it was
consumed. A reward of 2,00/. is offered -for a discovery of
he offender or offenders.—Salisbury Herald.