The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-20
EDITORS coRREsPoNDENcE
lFrOm our regular correspondent

lfrom our regular coTfetpohuehtI
New YoRK, September 10, I645.
The natural and commercial history of coffee is
very curious, connected, as il is, with many inter-
esting facts. II seems the use Of coffee drink
was not known 10 the Greeks and Romans, or other
ancient nations. We have no notice Of coffee in
any published work prior to the 18th century.
Leonbart Ranwolf, German physician, is said TO
IN Europe, which, however, contained many errors
His work was published in 1878. II was said TO
he more accurately described by Prosper Albinus,
who was physician TO the Venetian consul IN
Egypt, in his work entitled "De Paniis Egypt, and
published in 1891 and 1892
"a public cohee-house was opened for the first
time in London, in 1852" in the reign Of Charles ii.
"A Turkey merchant, by the name Of Edwards,
having brought along with him, from the Levant,
some bags Of coffee, and Greek accustomed
TO make 1t, his house was thronged with vslters TO
see and taste this new sort Of liquor. And being
DESTROYS of gratifying his friends, without putting
himself to any Inconvenience, he allowed his SER
want 10 make and sell coffee publicly. In consequences
of this permission, the latter opened coffee house
IN ST. Michael's Alley, Cornhi, on the spot where
the Virginia Coffee house now stands. Garraway's
was the first cofeehouse opened after the great re"
When in London, few years since, visited Gar
raioays Cc6ee-house, which was found on narrow
alley, on the south side, and within few rods Of
Cornhill. II stands not far from several prominent
buildings in London--such as the Lord Mayors
mansion; the Royal Exchange between Cornh
and Threadneedle street; and the Bank of England,
on the latter street-al except the mansion-house
few rods north of Cornh and Garraways ancient
cofee-house. At the latter place, man may, to
this day, get excellent cup Of coffee, with other
articles OF refreshment he may require, as did on
several different occasions.
Ii is said the use of coffee was first introduced into
France between 1910 and 1864. The first coffee
house opened in that country, for the sale Of coffee
L. g.
one was opened for the first time in Paris.
Between 1850 and 1890, the Dutch first planted
coffee in Batavia In 1890, they sent plant to Eu-
rope at from berries Obtained from this plant,
that the first coffee plantations in the West Indies
and Surnam were derived"
The English revenue policy with regard TO the
importation of coffee, affords of the strongest
proofs in favor of low duties yielding the largest
revenue, to be found on the records of commercial
history. 1T seems, when the growth of coffee was
first commenced in the West India islands, and
prior to 1882, the duty coffee amounted to about
so cents per pound; but an act was then passed. in
complaint nth the petitions of West India plant
ers, reducing it to about 37s cents per pound-at
which rate il remained for many years-producng on
average only about $40 900 to S45 900 per annum
In consequence, however, of the extensive preva-
lence of smuggling, caused by the excessively high
duty the revenue declined in 1888 to 42, $685. or 10
about $4,000. II being found by the government
impossible to prevent its being handsomely intro
duced, it was compelled to reduce the duty to l2i
cents per pound, or to Cd sterling. The result Of
this judicious reduction was, that, instead of any
falling off in the revenue being realized it WINS imme-
dately increased to near three times its previous
amount, or to S7,200-or to about $35,000!-
showing that the consumption OF legally imported
coffee must have increased about ninefold! "a
STRIKING PROOF, AS Ma. Bryant EDWARDS HAS
OBSERVED, OF THE EFFECT OF HEAVY TAXATION IN
DEFEATING ITS oBJEcr."-[ Hist. Of Vast Indies, roll
ll ,.P; ao. , 49,, ~,
Culloch, "abounds with striking examples of the
superior producveness of low duties. In 1907 the
duty was Is. Sd. per pound; and the quantity enter
ed for home consumption was ITO, 164 pounds,
yielding revenue of 9l6l, PAS lis. 4d In 1903
the duty was reduced from Is. Sd. to Id and in
1909 there fewer than 9, 25l SAT pounds en-
tered for home consumption, yielding revenue of
f245 1856 IS. 4d.
'sThe duty having been raised in 1919 from 3D. to
ls. per pound, the quantity entered for home COM
sumption in 1924 was 7,993,041 pounds, yielding
revenue Of 9407, 544 As Cd. In 1924, however,
the duty being again reduced from Is. to 3D., the
quantity entered for home consumption in 1926 was
,766, 112 pounds, and in 1881 it had increased to
%, 627 pounds, yielding net revenue Of $685.,
ISL sterling.
"The consumption of the United Kingdom may, at
present. (ls40) be estimated at 100000 pounds,
yielding net revenue of 96O0,00
ported coffee to 4d per pound, (about cents) and
we find in the following year, le43, that the quaint
ty entered for home consumption amounted TO 3d.
974, 404 pounds The whole amount of imports,
exports, and consumption, amounting To g, 942 469
In the United States, as is well known, there Is
no duty on coffee The consequence is, that the
population Of this country consume about two-thirds
more than the same population in Great Britain.
The imporiations into the United States between
1871 and 1916, greatly fuctuated, caused by war
duties, &c. The most remarkable feature Of the
coffee trade u.s. its rapid growth in Brazil and the
annually augmenting importation OF i INTO the New
Orleans market, to supply the consumption of the
western people, while the importatons from Cuba
have diminished
In 1884, the imporations of coffee from Cuba into
New Orleans amounted, in round numbers, to
IL 1885, 900 lbs. and 70,7s7 bags; and from Brazil,
that from Cuba being estimated at 81 ASS, 67s, and
that from Brazil at S1SI 800.
In 1874 90 years. the imports Of coffee into the
same city were follows: From Cuba, 6, 1865, 1856
lbs. and 49, 784 bags; from Brazil, 81 800 SCI lbs
and l26, 800 bags That from Cuba being estimated
at $4ll ,454, and that from Brazil at " ,355,927
In my next may add a few other items with re-
gard to this important trade. At present, have not
time to say more.
All the stock in the Erie railroad may be consd-
cred as about taken up, or, as the rasor-srop man
would say, "oniy fs,o ieh." 1t will be great
road and the it is completed, the better for
this great and growing city.
It is reported on Change, that the Rainbow from
Canton has been telegraphed below. lift proves
to be true. she must have had remarkably quick
passage-probably in 80 days. | should not be the
least surprised il ii turns out to be the Rainbow
She is a splendid new ship, on her first voyage,
owned by Messrs. Rowland d Aspinwall Of this
city, and built in New York, at the ship-y yard Of
Messrs. Dimon & Smith. just before che was
launched went all through her, with Mr. Aspin-
wall and could not but admire the superior style in
which she was constructed, embracing all the new
improvements in naval architecture. Her materials
were also observed to be Of the very best quality.
II but the other day that she hosted her anchor
and bore away for the Celestial Empire; and here
she is again, back in her native waters. She was
expected TO prove fast sailer, and have doubt
she has fulfilled these expectations. She doubtless
brings much later news. Passing an auction store
in Wall street yesterday, was much amused at
the Chinese articles of manufacture--such spen.
did work-tabes, ccntre-tabes, work boxes, ivory
carved work-baskets, rich fans, tea boxes, chess