Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-10
LONDON. Eng., April %,

LONDON, Eng, April %, 1882.
The board of trade returns just issued
exhibit these figures: During tho month
of March the value of exports was declar-
ed TO be E2O,9S3,275, while during the
corresponding period of last year it was
Gl9,131,038. That this increase is not of
an ephemeral character is demonstrated
by comparison of the returns for the
three months which have Just ended with
those of the first quarter of last year the
exports Of which were valued at E53, 1885,
400, but during the corresponding period
OF this year the value reached COS, 739, 952.
The imports last month were valued at
G3S, SOS, while those of March, 1881,
were valued at CSC, Sl2,33G. The compar-
alive increase for the month has conse-
quently been Gl,16G,337. During the first
quartcr,of the present year the value of
the articles of food which Great Britain
obtained from abroad was over half n
million sterling in excess of what was
spent for the Same purpose during the
corresponding period of last year. The
apparently increasing dependence upon
foreign sources for food supply is n SUBJ
ect which many economists regard with
concern. The increased value Of the
British and irish manufactures exported
this year was close upon five millions
sterling, OF which more than two millions
must be credited TO iron and steel. Taking
the returns as whole, think that they
have never been so favorable since trade
began to revive as they are this month.
April sunshine, which sets so many
people hurrying off into the country to
see if the spring has really come; which
makes the birds weave their nests, and
tho flowers Of May begin to bud, brings
activity also into the yacht building yards
and yacht stations. The gentle airs and
bright skies of softening weather act upon
the pleasure fleets of England just as
they do upon the countless butterflies
which at this moment are unclasping the
wings sealed up by winter. Tho natural
list knows where TO look if he would see
that charming sight of the first few "gold-
en- whites" or " sulphurs" of the year
opened their unsullied vases to the SUM-
light and lluttcring away on their earliest
excursion into the sky. So, too, the
yachtman could easily denote the localities
where now or in few days to come,
those graceful butterflies of the seattle
schooncrs, cutters and yawls-may be
witnessed, assuming one by ono their
plumage of snowy canvas, and stealing
out upon their shadows for the spring and
summer cruising and racing. Already
there may be heard in a score of we'll
known haunts the busy thumps of the
caulkcr's hammer filling up seams, the
"tick-tack of those who arc mailing the
bright copper upon the shapely little YES
sells, while painters and gi!ders are busy
in decorating their outside and inside, and
decks arc brought to milky whitenoss, and
spars scrapcd and sand papercd and var
nished until they seem like new gold.
Notwithstanding contradictory state
mcnts that have appeared on the subject,
the French government have sounded the
English cabinet with regard to renewal
of negotiations for a new commercial
treaty. Its suggestions have not, however,
been met in the spirit anticipated, it being
the opinion of the English ministry that,